Page 171

Yet, before the letter was complete, Gu Changjin felt a sharp pain in his chest, and a blob of thick ink splattered onto the rice paper.

He awoke, and the dream abruptly ended.

No, perhaps it was the memory of another Gu Changjin that had come to a sudden halt.

There was indeed a "Madam Feng" in this world – his dreams had never been mere illusions.

Heavy raindrops pelted the canopy, and damp air seeped through the cracks in the carriage windows.

Gu Changjin's embrace around Rong Shu tightened slightly.

He still remembered that, in that dream, the first four characters he had written were "My wife, Zhaozhao."

Chapter 66

The carriage raced through the downpour for a full two hours before reaching Bin Nan Street.

Shiiun had received word from Gu Changjin's messenger beforehand and had prepared the room he had previously occupied. Initially, he was unsure why his master had suddenly returned to Yangzhou, but upon seeing the girl in his master's arms, he understood.

This is for Miss Rong.

Gu Changjin carried Rong Shu into the house and instructed softly, "Fetch some hot water."

Shiiun observed his pale face and acknowledged with a "Yes," before stepping out to arrange for the hot water.

In her dazed state, Rong Shu felt someone meticulously wiping her face and hands. In her confusion, she instinctively assumed it was Madam Shen and softly called out, "Mother."

Gu Changjin paused in his handkerchief-wringing motion, turning his head to look. The girl's eyelids remained still as she murmured that one word before sinking back into a deep slumber.

The man lowered himself and gently wiped away the bloodstains on her neck with the damp cloth.

Her skin was as lustrous as jade. Even though he controlled his strength, her neck still turned red from the touch.

Gu Changjin wasn't sure if he might have hurt her. After a few gentle swipes, he stopped.

His gaze swept over her rain-soaked shoulder, and something suddenly came to mind.

There should be a cinnabar mole on her right shoulder.

The crimson blood swayed gently in the water, as Gu Changjin gazed at the dark, obscured gaze reflected within. He rose from his chamber and stepped out.

Chang Ji crouched in the flower hall, fanning an old bamboo fan at the medicinal cauldron. The lid, lifted by the steam, clanked rhythmically.

"Master, please wait a little longer, your medicine will be ready soon."

Pausing, he added, "Shiiun has found you a clean set of clothes. You should change now to avoid worsening your wounds."

On their way to Shen Yuan from the ferry, all three of them were drenched in rain. While he and Heng Ping were unbothered, their master's injuries had been persistent, and exposure to the rain might exacerbate the situation.

General Liang's efforts in suppressing the pirates had earned him the lead role, and unless unforeseen circumstances arose, he would surely become the next Governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

This was not the outcome Xu Fu had hoped for.

To fulfill his promise to the deranged Xu Fu, the master had no choice but to endure his injuries, reducing the four daily doses of medicine to just one, attempting to deceive her with a melodramatic display of self-sacrifice.

Xu Fu controlled every aspect of the master's life, yet she truly cherished his existence. Assuming no complications, this act of self-inflicted suffering should convince her.

But now, an unexpected turn had occurred. If their master intended to stay in Yangzhou, the injury could no longer be delayed.

"How are Miss Luo Yan and Mother Zhang?"

"Miss Rong was pierced in a vital spot by that hairpin. Although Mother Zhang's life is spared, it's uncertain if she'll regain consciousness. As for Miss Luo Yan, the poison hidden under Mother Zhang's nails was highly toxic. Heng Ping gave her his antidote, and the toxins have been cleared. She should wake up in a few days."

Chang Ji narrated diligently, noticing a slight easing of Gu Changjin's expression. He pondered for a moment and continued, "Will there be any trouble for the master returning to Yangzhou without permission?"

Just like Liu Yuan, Gu Changjin had received a secret order to investigate Liao Rao's case. Now that the case was resolved, they were supposed to return to the capital to report.

Moreover, the Sixth Vast Hall was awaiting their master's return. Upon learning that their master had detoured back to Yangzhou, who knew what assumptions they might make? Chang Ji genuinely worried for his master's fate.

Gu Changjin was well aware of Chang Ji's concerns.

"Liu Yuan will cover for me. The boatman yesterday was from the Warrior Camp. I instructed him to turn back to Yangzhou, and he must have consulted Liu Yuan, who gave him permission to escort me back. Do you recall what the boatman said when we disembarked today?"

Chang Ji thought for a moment before replying, "The boatman asked the master to recover peacefully in Yangzhou and wished for a swift recovery."

Upon finishing his words, he sat up abruptly and exclaimed, "Eunuch Liu plans to use the master's injury as an excuse to conceal the situation!"

The dreary winds and rains of Yangzhou did not extend to the canal just hundreds of miles away, where a dozen magnificent ships of the Great Yin bureaucracy sailed along the waterway.

In the lead ship's cabin, Qi Xin was also curious about why Gu Changjin had suddenly decided to return to Yangzhou.

Their fleet of over ten vessels had set sail together from Yangzhou, heading for the capital.

The previous night, halfway through their journey, a personal guard from the Warrior Camp had paddled over in a small boat to their vessel, vigorously knocking on the master's cabin door. He announced that Lord Gu wished for the boatman to turn back towards Yangzhou.

The boatman dared not comply and hurriedly sent someone to inquire of Liu Yuan.

Liu Yuan was sound asleep at that moment. Upon hearing the guard's report, he pondered for a moment before replying, "Lord Gu's old injuries have flared up, preventing him from accompanying us to the capital to fulfill his duties. Instruct the boatman to take him back to Yangzhou so he can properly attend to his health."

After enduring his doubts for half the night, Qi Xin finally asked, "Does Master know why Lord Gu insists on returning to Yangzhou?"

"I'm not sure," Liu Yuan said slowly, savoring the sea fish they had caught that day. "But I do know that whatever has made him determined to go back must be no trivial matter. If I were to stop him and something truly did happen in Yangzhou, wouldn't that make an enemy of him?"

He lifted his gaze to look at Qi Xin and continued, "We've worked hard to put the incident with Miss Rong behind us during this trip to Yangzhou. Why obstruct his path? After all, his not returning to the capital won't hinder our affairs."

Qi Xin replied, "I merely believe that with Minister Gu around, there would be more assurance in Liao Rao's affair with the Second Prince."