Chapter 42: Fourteen Coins of Heart’s Blood

Chapter 42: Fourteen Coins of Heart's Blood

Upon returning to the office from the monthly review, Mei Changsheng handled official documents as usual.

The city affairs of Ruzhou were not as complicated as those in the various departments of Shang Jing, and could even be considered leisurely. However, the provincial examination was just eight days away, and as the emperor-appointed chief examiner of Ruzhou, Mei Changsheng needed to prepare for the examination papers, verify the candidates, and prevent cheating.

He did not have the kitchen prepare another bowl of longevity noodles in the end, settling for some porridge instead.

Outside the louvered window of the office, the phoenix-tail bamboo swayed, but it could not block the scorching heat. Mei Changsheng sat upright at his desk, his formal black-patterned robe meticulously fastened, the embroidered collar around his throat tight and stifling, yet he did not loosen it at all.

Several lower-ranking officials who came to report were genuinely impressed by the new magistrate's strictness.

On such a hot day, even if the higher-ups granted permission to use ice boxes in the office, the coolness would dissipate quickly. With the heavy formal robes, few could keep their collars buttoned and sleeves rolled up. But look at Magistrate Mei, dressed so neatly without a single bead of sweat; he truly was a refined man from Shang Jing.

Jiang Jin thought to himself that Master wasn't unaffected by the heat; he was just feeling cold inside. He had witnessed how lively Master's birthday celebrations used to be, but now, being alone, the coldness felt like falling from the clouds to the depths.

Master was not one to show his emotions openly, so all Jiang Jin could do was ensure there was plenty of iced tea and refreshments available, guarding against Master's exhaustion and heatstroke.

As for saying "Happy Birthday," Jiang Jin dared not mention it.

If it wasn't the right person, more well-wishes would only add salt to the wound.

Approaching the late afternoon, Mei Changsheng saw that the work was nearly done and, unusually, dismissed the staff early.

In the vast office, he was the only official left. He changed into a casual sleeveless outfit in the inner room and went to the small training ground at the back, beginning to practice archery.

This was a task he set for himself, requiring him to shoot a hundred arrows daily. Shooting arrows was easy, but what was difficult was pulling the bowstring fully with each shot.

Just like practicing drinking strong liquor had once injured his throat, he also strained his arm during archery practice. After three days of rest, when he picked up the bow again, he made sure to make up for the missed three hundred arrows. Over two months of persistence, he progressed from a one-stone bow to a two-stone bow.

Summer days were long, and when the purple-blue twilight seeped through the sky, Jiang Jin brought over a copper candle holder.

The sound of arrows slicing through the air continued unabated. He glanced around the target stands, roughly counted, and approached Mei Changsheng, saying softly, "Master, you've already shot over two hundred today."

"Just wait a bit longer." Mei Changsheng's breath was slightly ragged, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead into his eyes, making them red, but he ignored it, focusing intently on the bullseye ten paces away. His spine was taut, his fingers holding the arrow steady, drawing the bow, exhaling slowly, and releasing.

"Tsk, off again." The man squinted in dissatisfaction, using the opportunity to retrieve the arrow to ask, "Did you find anything about Master Faran?"

His breath was labored from fatigue, and his hoarse voice sounded less clear. Jiang Jin was taken aback by the question.

Previously, he had been ordered to investigate Master Faran, but since there was nothing particularly unusual and the current pressing matter was the political situation in Shang Jing, he had forgotten to report back to Master.

Hearing the question, Jiang Jin truthfully replied that there was no abnormality.

Seeing Master's silence, seemingly unsatisfied, he scratched his head, placed the candle holder on the nearby weapons rack, and pondered aloud:

"Is there something you feel is amiss? I investigated this Imperial Uncle's entire life, and apart from his reputation for being a ladies' man in his youth, there's nothing untoward. The year he became a monk, there was no special event in the palace."

At this point, he glanced at Mei Changsheng's arm and apologized, "Master, too much of a good thing can be harmful. Let's practice tomorrow. Look, it's getting dark, and there are many mosquitoes here. What are you waiting for?"

Mei Changsheng did not answer, taking another arrow, gritting his teeth, and drawing his slightly trembling arm under the strain, releasing an arrow that hit the bullseye.

"The year he became a monk was the year the Imperial Princess came of age."

"Huh?" Jiang Jin hadn't noticed this, counting on his fingers, confirming it was true.

Some subtle connections beneath the surface, once mentioned, made Jiang Jin recall a baseless rumor he had heard, hesitating before saying:

"If there was any conflict before the master became a monk, it might have been because of his blue eyes... It was rumored that Emperor Xuanling was not of royal blood, that the Empress had conceived before she was favored... When Emperor Mu heard this, he was furious, ordering the execution of those spreading the rumors and personally affirming the Empress and the ninth prince's status. After that, no one dared to mention it—"

Before he finished speaking, the front hall erupted with the sound of clashing blades, and Jiang Jin looked at Master in alarm.

Mei Changsheng casually took an iron-tipped arrow from his quiver, playing with it in his hand, murmuring, "A prince with unusual eyes, a monk skilled in medicine..."

"Master, the front!"

"It's fine."

The two walls of the small training ground each hung a silk-thread lantern, plus the oil lamp Jiang Jin brought, providing the only light in the courtyard. The flickering shadows cast Mei Changsheng's face in a dim and distorted light.

The elongated shadow of his eyelashes fell on his high nose, resembling a fragment of a mask covering his eyes.

"How many people's interests in Luoyang have I touched? No reaction would be abnormal."

The arrow in his slender fingers twirled like a pen, and he continued indifferently, "I heard that his attendant caught up with the Imperial Princess's convoy on her way to the palace and met her face-to-face?"

There was a fight outside the office, yet Master was talking about monks! Jiang Jin, smelling the blood, felt a chill run down his spine. Only now did he understand why Master had dismissed the staff early and why he had secretly brought so many people, positioning them around the office.

He finally understood what Master had been waiting for.

An assassination attempt.

But seeing Master talk calmly, Jiang Jin strangely calmed down, almost possessed, continuing the conversation, "It seems there was indeed such an incident. I wonder what he said to Her Highness..."

"As an elder concerned about the younger generation and knowledgeable in medicine, he must have given her something valuable." Mei Changsheng, with his habit of deduction, concluded, "Faran."

"I should really thank him in person."

"Ho!" A black-clad assassin broke through the defenses and rushed into the training ground, brandishing a knife. Jiang Jin was startled, stepping forward to block, suddenly feeling a gust of wind behind his ear. An arrow, swift as a star, grazed his earlobe and pierced the assailant's left shoulder.

"Why did it miss again?" Mei Heting maintained the shooting stance, the light casting a shadow across his face, and laughed irritably.

The assassin, bewildered, stared at the man smiling calmly in front of the blade, then realized he was still alive, pain igniting a fierce courage. He severed the arrow shaft and attacked again, only to be cut down by a guard rushing from behind.

"Sir!"

The guard, panting heavily, sheathed his sword and saluted, "They're all captured. These men swallowed poison after being apprehended, leaving no survivors. Please forgive us, sir."

"This method sounds familiar." Mei Changsheng finally tossed the bow to the stunned Jiang Jin, wiping a blood droplet from his forehead.

"It's better this way. Today is my birthday, and it would be unbecoming for me to dirty my hands with blood."

Mei Changsheng seemed uninterested in who had ordered the assassins to kill him. He took out a handkerchief to cover his nose from the stench of blood and walked back into the house, bypassing the corpses in the courtyard.

The task of cleaning up the bodies fell to Jiang Jin.

Jiang Jin stood there, gazing at where the master had been standing moments ago. He then looked at the target riddled with arrows opposite him, lost in thought for a moment before snapping back to reality and getting to work.

Before an hour had passed, news of the incident reached the imperial palace.

Two secret guards from the Imperial Princess's entourage, Ying Xiao and Song Tai, came down from the mountain under the stars to check on Mei Changsheng.

By this time, Jiang Jin had nearly finished cleaning up. In the past, he had often dealt with Ying Xiao and Song Tai at the princess's residence. Now that the household had split, he was even more courteous than usual, assuring them that the master was unharmed.

Ying Xiao insisted on seeing him in person. "I have orders from the palace to see with my own eyes that Lord Mei is well." She started toward the lit pavilion.

"Please stop," Jiang Jin said, following the master's instructions, stepping aside to block her at the steps. "It's late, and it might not be convenient. My master is indeed unhurt and fine. Please reassure Her Highness."

As soon as he finished speaking, a voice cut through the darkness: "If he's fine, what harm could come from a quick look?"

A figure emerged from the connecting gate between the front and back courtyards, draped in a light blue silk cloak.

Stepping into the light, a delicate hand lifted the hood, revealing a face with deep furrowed brows.

"Her Highness the Imperial Princess?!"

Jiang Jin only knew to follow protocol but hadn't heard the master mention that the Imperial Princess would come herself. He had assumed that given their current relationship, she would merely send someone to inquire after him—could it be that everything was part of the master's plan?

He did not dare neglect his duties and quickly bowed. Xuan Mingzhu waved him off impatiently.

Without waiting for an announcement, she lifted her robe and ascended the steps, pushing open the door and entering the room as if it were her own.

When the Imperial Princess decided something, no one could stop her. Upon entering, she saw a room bathed in candlelight, with a graceful figure reclining by the couch. Seeing her, he immediately rose.

Xuan Mingzhu hurried over and said, "Don't move."

Mei Heting, without his formal attire, still rose to greet her elegantly.

Seeing him in a loose white robe, his pale face slightly flushed, Xuan Mingzhu frowned deeply.

"I am remiss, Your Highness."

Mei Heting felt it was disrespectful to meet the Imperial Princess like this and attempted to put on his outer robe, but his brow furrowed as he raised his arm.

Xuan Mingzhu noticed and asked sternly, "Are you injured? Where? Is it serious?"

Even though the assassination attempt had ended, Xuan Mingzhu was still furious when she heard the news.

She pondered and realized that perhaps her previous advice to the emperor to show leniency toward Prince Chuguang's faction had allowed the traitors to strike back. She immediately ordered the identification of the assassin's body, which turned out to be one of her accomplices.

Thus, Xuan Mingzhu's visit was not just a formality but driven by guilt.

Officially, Mei Heting had helped the court eliminate rebels, and her oversight had almost cost him his life; as the Imperial Princess, she owed him an explanation.

Privately, he was Bao Ya's father. If anything had happened tonight, she couldn't bear to think of Bao Ya losing both parents.

For both reasons, she needed to see him with her own eyes.

If she had sent Ying Xiao and Song Tai alone, they might have been misled.

"Is it your arm?" Xuan Mingzhu frowned, reaching for his sleeve.

Mei Heting, as she lowered her gaze, took in the fragrant green tresses. He stepped back half a pace and said weakly, "Your Highness shouldn't be here; it could tarnish your reputation. I am truly fine."

But the more he said this, the more worried Xuan Mingzhu became, knowing he always hid his troubles. She raised her voice, "Stop hiding and let me see!"

What reputation? She wasn't here for a rendezvous. Honestly, they had shared everything before. How could he bring up such nonsense?

Mei Heting's eyes softened at her tone.

Xuan Mingzhu pulled back his sleeve without hesitation, gently moving it to the light, revealing the blood-stained bandage.

Xuan Mingzhu gritted her teeth, her eyes darkening. "This is my fault. Are there any other injuries?"

Mei Heting winced slightly, a faint smile of reassurance on his lips, and slowly shook his head.

With no choice, he gestured for her to sit at the table, sitting beside her shakily.

Using one hand, he poured her a cup of tea, his gaze lingering on the Bodhi beads on her wrist. "Your Highness, please do not blame yourself. This was within my expectations, but there was a slight miscalculation. The wound is not deep and will heal in a few days."

"I don't want tea," Xuan Mingzhu said, her voice still harsh. "I came here for official business. You are a valued minister, a hero in eliminating rebels, and a mentor in the Ruzhou provincial exams. You cannot use yourself as bait! Think of Bao Ya and Mei Yu and Mei Heng."

Mei Heting listened quietly and lowered his long lashes. "Yes, I understand my mistake."

Deep down, he knew she had come for justice and for the sake of their children, not for personal reasons.

She didn't care about the depth of his wounds or whether they hurt; she just wanted to confirm that he was alive.

But he was still happy, simply because she had come. He stared openly at the sleeve near his pinky finger.

The cool, smooth touch was from a lotus silk dress.

Finally, on his birthday, he had seen her attire with his own eyes.

Remember the first year they were married, the first birthday she celebrated for him, she wore an extremely beautiful golden silk flowing fairy dress, presenting herself as a gift before him.

That day, he scolded her.

It was the first time in his life he had been harsh with someone, and that someone was the Imperial Princess, his wife. After the words left his mouth, the young maiden under the vermilion walls of the Hanlin Academy was stunned, her round eyes welling with tears, and even he was frightened into a daze.

It was because the splendid attire on her graceful figure was the same one she had painstakingly removed from him the night before, piece by piece, as his blood surged like a tide...

He apologized to her afterward but couldn't tell her that he wasn't angry; he was overwhelmed with a tumultuous emotion he didn't know how to handle.

The treasure he held dear, he wanted to keep hidden, not wanting anyone else to see even a bit of it.

Every year thereafter, Mei Heting would silently pay attention to the princess's attire, yet no matter how beautiful and captivating the dresses were, none could surpass the initial flowing fairy dress in his memory.

She never wore that ethereal dress again.

In truth, he hadn't been worthy of her since then.

These seven years were originally an extra blessing bestowed by heaven, yet he remained stubbornly unaware.

A self-imposed cocoon, not blaming others.

Seeing Mei Heting lower his head in silence, his pale face looking solitary and desolate, Xuan Mingzhu paused, realizing that her haughty tone might not be appropriate. After all, he had just suffered an injury in the line of duty, and her direct reprimand seemed like an intentional use of her status to pressure her ex-husband.

So she softened her tone and said, "Of course, this palace will dispatch some personnel to avoid such incidents in the future. Mei Qing, rest assured and recover. If you need any medicine, inform this palace. It would be a pity if your writing hand develops a lasting ailment."

After saying this, she cautiously asked, "Will it delay the first provincial examination on the ninth?"

If she weren't in Ruzhou, it would be fine, but since she was here, she needed to inquire about the examination matters in her territory.

If Mei Heting couldn't manage, she would have to urgently submit a memorial to the throne requesting a replacement examiner, as matters concerning the emperor's students couldn't be delayed.

Mei Heting's eyelashes dimmed momentarily, then he quickly raised his gaze, a clear and elegant smile appearing in his eyes, "This minister will not let anything go wrong."

Hearing this, Xuan Mingzhu felt relieved and stood up, "Alright, then this palace will take leave."

The cold silk sleeve slipped away from his skin, like a cold blade being brutally pulled out of his heart, causing pain a hundred times worse than the wound on his arm.

Mei Heting's eyes instantly darkened.

"Your Highness."

Xuan Mingzhu turned around, the water-colored cloak around her creating a layer of moonlit ripples.

Her face was calm as she waited for the next words from Governor Mei.

His gaze was clear and distant, devoid of any impurities. Mei Heting released his clenched teeth, smiled, and bowed politely, "Thank you, Your Highness, for coming to visit this humble minister tonight."

Xuan Mingzhu waved her hand, pulling the hood back over her head, and stepped out with soft footsteps.

The imperial princess's sedan chair returned to the temporary palace.

The lamp flickered, and Mei Changsheng slowly sat back down, gazing at the night sky through the open door.

On the day he was born, there was no moon.

His gaze drifted, and the cup of tea she hadn't touched had cooled. He picked it up and drank it slowly, sip by sip.

After escorting the imperial princess's entourage out of the government office, Jiang Jin returned. When he entered, Mei Changsheng's smile still lingered on his face, as if carved there permanently.

Jiang Jin called out carefully, "Young Master," glancing at his arm, his eyelids twitching.

Mei Changsheng placed his right hand on the table, unbandaged, revealing a new wound, neither deep nor shallow.

"What are you trying to achieve?" Jiang Jin sighed, changing the dressing without saying more. Suddenly, Mei Changsheng asked, "Are you afraid of me?"

Jiang Jin's movements froze.

Mei Changsheng didn't look at him, his voice low, "Sometimes I'm afraid of myself too. Jin, don't be afraid of me."

People praised the young master of Jiangnan for his noble character, yet he was so base, having sworn never to approach her, but today, he found excuses to justify his actions.

He couldn't meet her directly, so he gambled on her nature, betting that she would come to him, adding another cut to ensure she would speak to him longer.

He was like a thief playing against himself, shamelessly stealing a birthday gift for himself.

Shameful, yet he indulged in this shame, unable to touch her, yet his whole body rejoiced, relishing every word, every expression, every scent of the moonlit visitor, unable to let go.

He feared he was going mad.

The young master, silent under the lamp, had a fragile aura. Jiang Jin's heart softened, and he blurted out, "How could I be afraid of Young Master? Young Master, rest assured, Jin will always follow you and serve you loyally!"

Mei Changsheng chuckled softly, "Very good. There is something I need help with."

Jiang Jin asked what it was, and Mei Changsheng took out a piece of paper from his clothes and laid it on the table.

Even wearing casual clothes, he kept this page close to his body.

Jiang Jin looked at the young master's smile suspiciously, feeling a bad premonition. He reached for the paper, and his eyelids twitched upon seeing it.

After reading the three lines, he stood up in shock.

The yellowed paper read: "To treat blood deficiency, take 6.4 taels of the partner's heart blood, mix it with medicine, and take once every ten days, three times in total, for a cure."

To treat blood deficiency, one needs the heart blood of a partner who has shared intimate relations, weighing 64 taels, mixed with medicine, taken once every ten days, three times in total, for a cure.

This was not a remedy but sheer heresy! Jiang Jin remembered the day the young master tore a page from an old book obtained from Yongzi Yan, probably this very page.

"You, young master, have always been the most composed and perceptive person. This... this is not a proven remedy; it's unverifiable. How can we take it seriously?" Jiang Jin's limbs were ice-cold.

Mei Changsheng nodded calmly. "Yes, I've secretly consulted several renowned doctors, and they all said it's at most thirty percent reliable. In my view, it's only ten percent."

For that ten percent, it's worth a gamble.

Blood Withering Syndrome could claim someone's life at any moment. Since coming to Ruzhou and seeing Xuan Mingzhu twice, even though she seemed in good health, he felt as if a sword was constantly hanging over his head, its ominous dragon's roar never ceasing in his ears.

She couldn't afford the time to slowly verify its truth.

The man lifted his head, his gaze shining like a deity. "The fastest way to verify it is to try it and see the results."

The prescription was based on Grand Physician Zhou's original formula. Even if it's ineffective, adding my blood won't cause any harm.

"Imperial Princess won't agree..." Jiang Jin pleaded despairingly. "She won't allow young master to take such a risk, nor will she drink this medicine."

"She'll never know. How could I burden her with such a heavy weight?"

Mei Changsheng said, "I'm not taking unnecessary risks. I still need to be of use to her, care for our children, and support our parents. I'm just... taking a chance."

He undid the left side of his robe, smiling at Jiang Jin, his middle finger precisely touching the crescent scar.

"Sixty-four coins of heart's blood, three times. Your young master can do it."