Chapter 63: Yan Capital

Chapter 63: Yan Capital

After Qiao Wan finished speaking, silence once again fell over the tent.

It wasn't until a faint crackle from the charcoal brazier nearby, with tiny sparks, that Mu Chi finally regained his composure.

He lowered his eyes, saying nothing more. He quietly placed the wooden comb aside, then with a deft twist of his fingers, fashioned an elegant bun. Pulling out the dressing case, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Which one should you wear?"

Qiao Wan glanced at the neatly arranged hairpins in the dressing case—each one a luxurious piece—but remained silent.

Mu Chi waited a moment, receiving no reply, so he picked out a mandarin duck hairpin adorned with kingfisher feathers.

"Not that one," Qiao Wan said, frowning.

Mu Chi paused briefly, put the hairpin back, and instead picked up a golden phoenix hairpin made of filigree.

This time, Qiao Wan did not object.

Mu Chi inserted the gold hairpin into her hair, gazed at it fixedly for a moment, then silently walked to sit behind the writing desk, his expression distant.

He rarely regretted anything. From childhood, every action he took, every person he killed, every vengeance he exacted—he had never regretted any of it.

Without exception.

Over the years, he had reveled in fervent conflicts and wars, manipulation and bloodshed. Every step he took, even if paved with flesh, blood, and bones, he never wavered or retreated.

But now, for the first time, Mu Chi felt something called regret.

He had once personally pushed a Qiao Wan, whose heart and eyes were solely on him, toward someone else, orchestrating her marriage with his own hands.

And he dared not even imagine how she must have felt when she learned the truth.

A pang in his chest. Mu Chi couldn't help but curl up slightly, his breathing growing heavier.

Qiao Wan glanced at Mu Chi through the bronze mirror, surprised that he hadn't lost his temper.

"Prince, the medical officer is here," Si Li's voice came from outside the tent.

Mu Chi snapped out of his daze, glanced at Qiao Wan, and responded.

Si Li quickly led a medical officer inside, followed by two young men carrying medicine chests.

"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Highness," the medical officer said. Originally an Imperial Medical Officer, he had been dispatched to Guyang just a few days prior. Little did he expect that, within two or three days, the Crown Prince would summon him back urgently through the night.

Mu Chi acknowledged him.

The medical officer stepped forward. "Does Your Highness wish to apply medicine to… the wound on your face?" The medical officer hesitated to point out the suggestive marks directly.

Mu Chi glanced at Qiao Wan. Noticing her annoyed sidelong glance, he relaxed slightly. "No need," he said. "Check Princess Changle's pulse."

"Yes."

The medical officer cautiously approached Qiao Wan and took out a fine silk handkerchief. "Princess, please."

Knowing that her recent poison flare-ups were unusual, Qiao Wan did not refuse. Nor did she take the handkerchief, simply rolling up her sleeve to reveal her slender, pale wrist. "Just check my pulse directly."

The medical officer glanced nervously at Mu Chi. Seeing that he frowned but did not object, the medical officer nodded in agreement.

The tent fell into deep silence.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the medical officer finally released her wrist with a frown.

Qiao Wan was puzzled. "What is it?"

The medical officer pondered for a moment. "Has Princess Changle recently been to any damp and hot places?"

Qiao Wan was taken aback. It was the depths of winter in Jiuyuan City—where would there be any damp and hot places?

"The hot springs," Mu Chi said calmly from the side.

The medical officer bowed respectfully and asked further, "Has Princess Changle been sleeping well these past few nights? Any discomfort in her organs?"

Qiao Wan paused, answering vaguely, "Sometimes my chest feels stuffy and hot…"

Mu Chi added, "Between 1 AM and 5 AM, she suffers from dryness in the mouth and abnormal feverishness."

Qiao Wan glared sharply at Mu Chi.

He paused briefly, then lowered his gaze.

The medical officer, sensing something amiss, turned to Mu Chi and bowed. "Princess Changle has long had accumulated toxins in her body, causing weakness and resulting in unbearable heat and pain. It is likely that visiting the hot springs accelerated the toxin’s activation. Fortunately, she took antidotal medicine, which provided some relief. Unfortunately, the medicine was not the right remedy."

Qiao Wan was stunned. "Will I die?"

Mu Chi frowned.

The medical officer fell silent for a long moment before speaking. "Princess Changle’s spleen and stomach show signs of gradual decline. If the accumulated toxins are not neutralized, the flare-ups will likely become more frequent until…" He did not finish, only adding, "My medical skills are limited. I can identify the cause but not the cure. If we can summon my teacher, there may be hope."

After writing a prescription, the medical officer left with Si Li, leaving Qiao Wan and Mu Chi alone in the tent once more.

Qiao Wan said nothing further, unconsciously touching her chest, her mind in turmoil.

A gradual decline of the spleen and stomach?

So, she was like that old tree she had once seen outside the city—outwardly lush and thriving, but inwardly rotting and decaying.

"After the battle of Guyang, you will return to Yan Capital with me," Mu Chi said abruptly, breaking the silence that had lingered since the medical officer's departure.

Qiao Wan looked at him belatedly. "Wha—" She cut herself off as understanding dawned. "No."

"That medical officer’s teacher is the Director of the Great Qi Imperial Medical Institute," Mu Chi said. He was also the one who had treated Mu Chi’s injuries and kept him alive against his will when he was imprisoned in the dungeon.

"So what?" Qiao Wan retorted.

Mu Chi paused. "Qiao Wan, this is no time to be foolish…"

"Who’s being foolish?" Qiao Wan sneered, the frustration of being confined these past few days and the agitation of learning about her illness boiling over. Her words tumbled out unchecked. "What does it matter to you whether I live or die? Instead of properly marrying Qiao Qingni, why are you keeping me here? Even if I die tomorrow—"

"Qiao Wan!" Mu Chi cut her off sharply, his eyes slightly reddened as he stared fixedly at her.

Memories of holding a corpse flooded his mind, and Mu Chi swayed unsteadily.

Qiao Wan fell silent, her eyes welling up after a long moment.

She did not want to die. Though few treated her with genuine kindness in life, death was even more painful.

She had seen Qiao Heng’s emaciated, skeletal form after he stopped taking his medicine, and she had witnessed her mother’s agony as she lay on her deathbed, faded like a dying lamp.

She had no desire to become such a withered figure. She wanted to live well.

But she also didn't want... to step into another cage.

Mu Chi forced himself to calm down: "Qin He and Wen Xubai already know your identity. Do you think you can still stay in Jiuyuan City?"

Qiao Wan's eyelashes trembled slightly.

"Jiuyuan City is primitive, and medicinal herbs are scarce. You and Yicui can go to Yan Capital and continue running the Gold and Silver Studio. Chu Wujiu will also hire the best tutors. Uncle Zhang is advanced in years, and I will have someone search for his granddaughter."

Mu Chi stood up: "This is not up for discussion."

With that, he got up and walked out of the tent.

"Mu Chi!" Qiao Wan was furious.

Mu Chi just strode out of the tent.

Si Li had just escorted the physician away and hurried over with a letter in hand: "Young master, a military dispatch from Guyang."

"Mm." Mu Chi responded, took the letter, and walked forward, but then suddenly stumbled.

Si Li quickly supported him: "Young master?"

Mu Chi's Adam's apple bobbed: "...It's nothing."

*

The conflict in Guyang had reignited, and this time, Alhe had sent a large army right up to the gates of Guyang City.

Great Qi's troops were already stationed atop the city walls, and the battle between the two armies was imminent.

Mu Chi led troops to reinforce Guyang, leaving the barracks at the West Mountain pasture much quieter.

When Qiao Wan woke up, the tent was empty. She sat in a daze inside for a while, and just as she was about to get up, the inner flap of the tent was lifted.

Qiao Wan frowned. She had long said she didn't like being disturbed, but when she looked up, her gaze froze.

"Miss, you're awake?" Yicui was holding a bowl of warm water, followed by two maidservants carrying trays, looking at her with delight. "Please wash up first, then drink your medicine."

Qiao Wan stared at Yicui for a long moment before saying, "Yicui? How did you get here?"

"It's not just me." Yicui said with a smile.

Qiao Wan was puzzled, but then a crisp voice came from outside the tent: "Sister Wan—"

Then a small figure rushed toward her.

Qiao Wan caught Chu Wujiu in a full embrace, pinched his little face, and looked at Yicui in surprise: "You all came?"

"Uncle Zhang still needs to stay at the Gold and Silver Studio today, so he didn't come," Yicui paused here, "Someone came to pick us up at Yin hour this morning to keep you company, miss."

Qiao Wan fell silent, quietly dressed herself, and Yicui brought over a bowl of murky brown medicine: "Miss, please drink your medicine first."

Qiao Wan recognized the familiar smell as the same medicine she used to drink in Lingjing. She couldn't help but frown: "But it doesn't work..."

She stopped mid-sentence and looked at Yicui.

Yicui lowered her head: "Yes... Guard Si left a few days' worth of medicinal ingredients."

Qiao Wan looked at the medicine in front of her. She knew what Yicui meant by "medicinal ingredients." Her fingertips trembled slightly, and after a long moment, she lifted her head and drank it.

With Yicui and Wu Jiu's company, Qiao Wan had someone to chat and pass the time with each day, and she rarely felt distressed anymore.

On the ninth day, the weather cleared up, and the atmosphere in the barracks became much livelier than usual.

After dinner, Qiao Wan, Yicui, and Wu Jiu, all three, went together to a rampart on the east side of the barracks to look at the stars.

Wu Jiu's small figure ran around playing under the distant night sky, while Qiao Wan stood by, smiling as she watched.

"Miss." Yicui's voice suddenly called out.

Qiao Wan turned to look at her.

Yicui pursed her lips and said softly, "Miss, I used to always think that I was just a maidservant, and that this life would probably only ever be that of a maidservant. In the future, I would find a man who was also of servile status, start a family, have children, and that would be my life."

"But after leaving Lingjing with you, miss, you showed me a broader world. Yicui has no great aspirations, and I don't really understand the deeper meaning of these things, nor do I know what you truly want, miss. But Yicui knows that if you lose your life, then everything is gone."

Qiao Wan turned her head and gazed at her, stunned: "Yicui..."

Yicui looked up, her eyes slightly red, but she smiled calmly: "Yicui hopes that you live, miss."

Apart from Wu Jiu's occasional laughter and play, everything around them seemed to have fallen silent.

The night sky was exceptionally beautiful tonight, adorning the bleak winter night.

Qiao Wan didn't know when she returned to the tent. She just lay quietly on her side on the bed, staring blankly into the darkness of the corner.

When Mu Chi rushed back to the barracks overnight, it was already the dead of night.

The armor on his body was as if drenched in blood, scarcely recognizable from its original cold silver color, and a pungent smell of blood swept through.

Si Li followed closely behind Mu Chi the entire way without rest, only relaxing when they reached the barracks.

The situation on the battlefield changed rapidly. The young master had hardly slept these past few days, and finally, yesterday, he managed to breach Alhe's fortified defenses and took their leader captive.

The defending soldiers pressed their advantage, but the young master just silently rode back to the barracks on a fast horse.

Si Li watched as Mu Chi dismounted and headed straight for the central tent, then turned to go to his own tent. After the journey back, he was completely exhausted both physically and mentally.

But the next moment, he saw the young master standing at the entrance of the tent, not going in.

Si Li was puzzled and mustered his strength to go forward and ask, but then he saw the young master turn and go straight to the rear camp. When he returned, he had changed into clean white clothes.

Si Li fell silent and tactfully returned to his own tent.

Mu Chi sniffed himself, making sure there was no more smell of blood, then lifted the tent flap and went in.

The candle that Qiao Wan always left burning before bed was now only a small stub, flickering, emitting a faint light.

By this faint candlelight, Mu Chi looked at the slender figure with her back to him. His cold limbs seemed to gain a trace of warmth, and he couldn't help but eagerly step forward, carefully wrapping his arms around her from behind, letting his chin rest quietly on the hollow of her shoulder, curling his body around hers and holding her gently.

Crushing fatigue swept over him, and he couldn't help but close his eyes.

Qiao Wan had woken up late this morning and had slept lightly at night. Sensing that she was being held tightly, she guessed that Mu Chi had returned.

His breath also felt cool, and soon it became even, brushing against the back of her neck.

Qiao Wan frowned. She still remembered when she first asked him to sleep with her, he had remained vigilant all night without sleeping.

But now he fell asleep so quickly...

An absurd yet genuine thought suddenly popped into Qiao Wan's mind: Perhaps the reason he kept her trapped was because this madman, with his icy body, couldn't sleep peacefully through the night, and she ran warmer than most people.

He held her, and her warmth was just enough for him.

To him, she might be nothing more than a sleeping aid.

Thinking this, Qiao Wan shifted slightly, and Mu Chi instinctively tightened his embrace.

Qiao Wan frowned, a surge of irritation rising within her. She vented her frustration by raising her elbow and jabbing it hard into his midsection.

A low, muffled groan sounded in her ear, followed by a weary, drowsy murmur: "Qiao Wan, even Yan Capital sees snow every year..."

Qiao Wan froze, her hand pausing mid-motion. After a long moment, her eyelashes fluttered, and she lowered her gaze.

*

The battle of Guyang between Great Qi and Alhe ultimately ended with the capture of Alhe's commanding general.

The remaining Alhe forces fled northwest, and Great Qi's army pressed their advantage, winning several smaller battles.

But these events had little to do with Qiao Wan.

She had ultimately decided to go to Yan Capital—the prosperous capital of Great Qi.

She wanted to live; she could not bear to watch herself wither away into a dried-up, skeletal figure.

As Yicui had said, without life, how could she ever attain freedom?

Besides... now that she knew she might merely be Mu Chi's sleeping aid, perhaps one day he would find another woman who could help him sleep and let her go?

Even if he didn’t, once she regained her health, she could surely find a way to freedom.

Qiao Wan didn’t know when Mu Chi had ordered the Gold and Silver Studio emptied. Apart from Qing Ya, who had been taking care of Chu Wujiu, the maids and guards were given silver and dismissed.

Thinking back, Qiao Wan realized that in her three years in Jiuyuan City, aside from Mrs. Qin, there was no one else she truly cared about.

So she only sent a letter to Mrs. Qin. But Mrs. Qin had eventually learned her true identity and sent back a message: "May the princess enjoy a life of peace and health."

They left Jiuyuan City on the third day after Great Qi’s great victory.

Qiao Wan sat in a lavish carriage, ignoring Mu Chi who sat across from her, and instead listened to the occasional hawkers' cries from the quiet streets of Jiuyuan City.

She remained calm throughout the journey, only pausing when they passed the Zhenxiu Pavilion, where she often bought pastries. She pushed open the window.

There weren’t many customers at Zhenxiu Pavilion that day. Qiao Wan glanced inside, her eyes drifting to the second floor where she usually went, and then she froze.

The lattice window was wide open. Mrs. Qin stood there, supported by her maid, watching her depart. After a long moment, she raised her hand to wipe beneath her eyes.

Qiao Wan paused, then suddenly smiled.

Someone in Jiuyuan City would remember her—it hadn’t been a wasted journey after all.

Qiao Wan raised her hand to close the window, but just then, the sound of a xun drifted through the air.

Her hand on the window stiffened. After a long moment, she followed the sound.

A slender, gentle-looking scholar in white robes stood under a tree not far away, surrounded by fallen snow, quietly playing a black ceramic xun.

The melody was ethereal and lingering, a simple tune from Jiuyuan.

Qiao Wan took one last look at the scholar, quietly closed the carriage window, and gazed absently into space.

She vaguely remembered her first visit to the Wen family, when Wen Xubai had awkwardly said, "I can play the guzheng, but I don’t know how to play the xun."

She had half-jokingly replied, "You could learn it someday."

It was also on that day that Wen Xubai learned her identity and agreed to the engagement.

The sound of the xun continued to drift melodiously as the carriage moved farther away.

Mu Chi listened to the faint sound of the xun with a grim expression. He didn’t know the reason for the music, but it was undoubtedly connected to Qiao Wan.

But thinking that Qiao Wan would soon be in Yan Capital, and the two would likely never meet again, he suppressed the ache in his heart and lowered his gaze.

*

Mu Chi led the capital’s army straight toward Yan Capital. The journey had been smooth, with every city along the way opening its gates to let them pass.

Only when they passed through Shengzhou were they ambushed by a group sent by the Alhe tribe.

Mu Chi ordered all his hidden guards to protect Qiao Wan while he led the troops to engage the enemy.

They set out in the evening and resolved the ambush by the next morning. The civilians who had been taken hostage by the Alhe forces knelt to express their gratitude, but Mu Chi only felt increasingly agitated.

It was as if, the moment he left Qiao Wan’s side, she would vanish.

Just as Mu Chi was about to order Si Li to handle the aftermath, he noticed a couple holding an infant in swaddling clothes begging Si Li. They said the baby hadn’t eaten all day, and the mother had no milk to feed it, pleading for some food.

Si Li, soft-hearted, ordered his men to bring food for the couple.

Mu Chi scoffed coldly and was about to look away when he paused.

The couple, having received the food, also begged for hot water to soften it, carefully feeding the baby bit by bit.

Overjoyed, they embraced each other, and the baby in their arms seemed to sense their happiness, giggling happily.

The baby wasn’t the least bit cute.

Even when it laughed.

Yet Mu Chi found it hard to look away.

Perhaps because of what had happened with Chu Wujiu, he couldn’t help wondering what it would be like if he and Qiao Wan had a child someday.

It definitely shouldn’t be like him—a monster, nothing worth resembling.

It would be better if the child took after Qiao Wan, so it wouldn’t be disliked.

"Is your baby about a week old?" an elderly woman nearby asked the couple in the local dialect.

"One week and two months..."

Mu Chi frowned and was about to turn his horse around when another voice came from behind: "Your baby is so easy to care for, not like mine—every time, they fuss for one or two nights, nearly sending me to the brink of death..."

Mu Chi’s grip on the reins tightened, and he unconsciously glanced at the baby again.

The baby seemed to sense something, happily babbling and waving its tiny hands in his direction.

Mu Chi’s gaze turned cold. Remembering the old woman’s words, he suddenly found the baby’s face terrifying.

"Young master?" Si Li called out softly from below the horse.

Mu Chi snapped back to reality. "I leave this to you."

With those words, he urged his horse forward and galloped away.

Inside the carriage, Qiao Wan was playing a hook-hiding game with Yicui and Wu Jiu. Wu Jiu guessed correctly and was clapping joyfully with laughter when several respectful calls of "Your Highness" came from outside.

The laughter in the carriage immediately ceased. The next moment, the carriage door was opened, and Mu Chi stood in front of the carriage, dressed in white robes with a crimson brocade cloak draped over his shoulders, his demeanor elegant and dazzling.

Yicui sensibly took Wu Jiu’s hand and returned to her own carriage.

Disappointed, Qiao Wan withdrew her gaze and took a deep breath to ease the smothering irritation in her chest. Just as she was about to sit back down, a figure flashed before her eyes, and she was pulled into a forceful embrace.

Mu Chi buried his head in the crook of her neck, exhaling softly.

Qiao Wan’s body went rigid at the intimate gesture, then understood.

This lunatic probably hadn’t slept well again last night.

Author's Note:

Doggy (nickname for Mu Chi): At this moment, I’ve even thought of names for our future children—but never mind, human children don’t deserve my wife.

Wan Wan: Oh, I see. This guy treats me like a sleeping aid tool.

Moving the plot along~ Next chapter, we’ll shift locations slightly~

The story blurb is coming soon!

Don’t worry, Doggy needs some training to become sensible~

Regarding the completion timeline mentioned in the comments yesterday, it’s based on the outline—I expect to finish the main story this month (extra chapters aside).

But, well, I tend to stray from the outline while writing, so everything is subject to change 23333.

It won’t be too long, though~

The first 50 comments on this chapter will receive a small red packet (monetary gift)!