Chapter 69 Prince of Ning Returns to the Capital

Chapter 69: Prince Ning Returns to the Capital

As evening fell, heavy snow swirled through the air.

An understated yet luxurious carriage came to a halt outside the palace gates.

Attendants quickly placed a small footstool and lifted the carriage curtain, while another servant opened an umbrella to shield the doorway.

An elderly man in a gray-black robe stepped out first, leaning lightly on an attendant’s arm. He had a long, graying beard and carried himself with quiet dignity.

Following him, a young man of striking, youthful handsomeness descended from the carriage.

The youth wore a navy-blue brocade robe, draped with a thick, jet-black cloak. A band of white fox fur lined the neckline—soft, warm, and snug against his throat, shielding him from the biting wind.

The elder took the umbrella from the attendant and walked to the young man’s side, saying gently, “Your Highness, let us enter the palace.”

Baili Ming nodded in acknowledgment and reached for the umbrella—but the elder gently pressed his hand down and whispered, “The palace is not like ordinary times. It is better for your servant to hold it for Your Highness.”

Jiang Yongshou was not only Baili Ming’s mentor and senior but also his most crucial ally at present.

Thus, though Baili Ming held princely rank, he treated Jiang Yongshou with the reverence due a family elder—heedful of his counsel in all matters and deeply attentive to his well-being, mindful of his advancing age and sparing him from menial tasks.

Had they been within their own domain, Baili Ming would certainly have taken the umbrella himself under such conditions.

But now, entering the palace, informality would be inappropriate.

So Baili Ming offered no further objection and stepped forward beside him toward the palace gates.

Inside, palace staff continuously cleared snow from the pathways to prevent slips and falls.

Xiao Xiangzi had been waiting some time with several bearers and a sedan chair. The moment he saw them enter, he stepped forward to greet them with a formal bow and said, “The snow is heavy today, and His Majesty feared you might catch a chill. He has specially granted a sedan chair.”

Baili Ming immediately bowed toward the palace interior and replied, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Xiangzi smiled warmly—his bearing already echoing the composure of his master, Eunuch Hong Fu.

He gestured toward the sedan chair and said, “His Majesty and the Grand Tutor have prepared a banquet in Fukang Pavilion. May I trouble Prince Anhuai to proceed?”

Having left the capital for his fiefdom with his father at a young age, Baili Ming was unfamiliar with most of the palace’s halls and pavilions. He knew only that Fengtian Hall hosted morning court sessions, Yangxin Hall served as the emperor’s residence, and Cining Palace housed the Grand Empress Dowager—the rest remained largely unknown to him.

He glanced at the sedan chair, thinking how much more comfortable it would be if Jiang Yongshou could ride instead.

Yet palace protocol was strict: it would be unthinkable for an unofficial advisor to ride in a sedan chair while a prince walked.

Moreover, Jiang Yongshou’s entry into the palace itself was already a special imperial courtesy. Baili Ming dared not provoke complications—he only wished to complete the banquet quietly and depart swiftly.

Were it not for protocol, he would have preferred to remain in his fiefdom indefinitely.

He stepped into the sedan chair and found the seat cushioned with thick fur. Two warm hand warmers and a blanket were also provided.

He spread the blanket over his legs and cradled the hand warmers—barely feeling the cold beyond the curtain.

Xiao Xiangzi called out, “Lift the sedan!”

The chair rose steadily and was carried deeper into the palace.

After only a few steps, Baili Ming lifted the curtain and hesitantly asked Xiao Xiangzi, “Eunuch, may these hand warmers be given to my advisor?”

Xiao Xiangzi’s expression remained unchanged—not the slightest trace of surprise. He smiled gently and said, “Of course.”

Delighted, Baili Ming quickly passed the hand warmers through the window and said, “Please pass them to him.”

Jiang Yongshou, walking slightly behind the sedan chair, watched as Baili Ming handed something to Eunuch Hong Xiang. The young eunuch then turned and approached him, offering two warm hand warmers and saying, “His Highness sends these for Master Jiang.”

Jiang Yongshou hurriedly expressed his gratitude before accepting them.

Over fifty, his constitution was no longer what it once was. Already, the cold had seeped deep into his bones; his hands were icy.

The warmth of the hand warmers instantly heated his fingertips—and seemed to spread all the way to his heart.

Fukang Pavilion stood adjacent to the imperial garden. Built by Emperor Chengzong for a beauty who had once been an opera singer, it had been gifted to her as her residence.

Yet the beauty passed away before Emperor Chengzong’s death.

When Emperor Yingzong ascended the throne, he added a terrace to the pavilion’s second floor—taking advantage of its proximity to the imperial garden and its two-story structure.

From this terrace, one could gaze directly upon the garden’s scenery, leisurely sip wine, and relax in comfort.

Chu Jiubian had chosen to hold the banquet on this second-floor terrace for good reason.

Beyond offering views of the imperial garden’s blooming red plum blossoms and falling snow, Baili Ming was the sole one among the seven vassal princes who belonged to the same generation as Baili Hong.

The other six vassal princes were all addressed as “imperial uncles” by Baili Hong, owing to their seniority.

By contrast, Baili Ming was merely Baili Hong’s cousin.

Coupled with his previous greedy conduct during the Hexi County affair, an overly elaborate or formal banquet hosted by Baili Hong for him might appear weak.

As the appointed time drew near, palace servants prepared the banquet.

The terrace was tidied once more, and incense burners and ornamental flowers were arranged.

Given the cold weather and outdoor setting, seating was not arranged in the traditional low-table-and-cushion style, but rather around a round table with four chairs.

Since Prince Anhuai and Baili Hong were considered family, this welcome banquet took the form of a “family dinner”—making it entirely appropriate for them to dine together at one table.

Moreover, such an arrangement—once known publicly—would earn praise for Baili Hong’s harmonious relations with his kin and his lack of imperial pretension.

It would also demonstrate that he had not grown cold or distrustful of his family after ascending the throne.

This way, should any vassal prince later harbor improper ambitions, Baili Hong could act against them without fear of damaging his reputation.

After all, everyone would know that the young emperor treated the vassal princes as family—hosting them with family-style banquets.

If compelled to move against any vassal prince, it would clearly be due to that prince’s own faults.

With public opinion already shaped in his favor—and the influence networks of the Wang and Yuan families firmly under Chu Jiubian’s control—Baili Hong’s reputation would remain untarnished.

Returning to the preparations: besides tables and chairs, Chu Jiubian had also ordered ten braziers placed around the terrace.

The three sides of the terrace not facing the imperial garden were shielded from the wind by screens—rendering the terrace not only warm but also pleasant.

Baili Hong and Chu Jiubian arrived on the terrace together.

The young emperor wore a thick golden dragon robe, with a small fox-fur cloak draped over his shoulders. The soft white fur made his delicate face appear even more tender—lovelier than the fluffiest steamed bun.

“Wow!” the child exclaimed excitedly, dashing to the railing facing the imperial garden and peering through the gaps. “It’s so pretty, Sir!”

Chu Jiubian walked over and stood beside him, gazing at the garden filled with red plum blossoms and falling snow. He smiled and said, “It truly is beautiful.”

“If only Uncle were here too.”

As Qin Xiao drew closer to the capital, the little boy mentioned his uncle with increasing frequency.

Chu Jiubian was momentarily lost in thought before smiling and saying, “He’ll be back soon. When he returns, we can come here again to see it.”

“Mm!” The child’s eyes sparkled, and he nodded emphatically with his little head.

Standing high, one can see far.

Baili Hong noticed Xiao Xiangzi accompanying a sedan chair along the palace road outside the courtyard, heading their way.

“Sir, Prince Anhuai has arrived.”

Chu Jiubian acknowledged with a sound.

Baili Hong looked up at him with his small face and asked, “Grand Tutor, why did we allow Prince Anhuai to bring his advisor into the palace?”

He had spotted the old man following beside the sedan chair. The man was quite old and ought to be staying home in such weather rather than venturing out.

Chu Jiubian gazed at the sedan chair and said, “The matter of Hexi Commandery earlier likely wasn’t Prince Anhuai’s own intention. Today, let’s see how this Mr. Jiang ‘assists’ him in managing his domain.”

Baili Hong pondered his words carefully and began to understand the situation.

He had heard from the Grand Tutor that this Prince Anhuai, Baili Ming, was his cousin, only eighteen years old. Like him, Baili Ming held great power at a young age and was easily influenced.

During the floods in Hexi Commandery, when Uncle had no grain, he asked Baili Ming for help, but the latter tried to profit from the situation by demanding control over Hexi Commandery.

But now the Grand Tutor said it probably wasn’t Baili Ming’s own idea.

So Baili Hong figured that it must be this Mr. Jiang who influenced Prince Anhuai’s judgment.

Just as some people, seeing his youth, might try to trick him.

But he had Uncle and the Grand Tutor with him. They taught him how to think independently, and often, as long as his ideas and opinions weren’t harmful, they allowed him to try freely rather than controlling him outright.

Thus, Baili Hong knew that Uncle and the Grand Tutor truly had his best interests at heart.

He just wondered how this Mr. Jiang had been teaching Prince Anhuai.

The sedan chair stopped outside the courtyard. Baili Ming alighted, smoothed his robes, and then entered the courtyard.

Chu Jiubian led Baili Hong to their chairs and asked, “Do you remember what to say?”

The little child patted his small chest and said, “Rest assured, Grand Tutor, I remember everything.”

Footsteps sounded from downstairs. Chu Jiubian turned to look, and Baili Hong followed his gaze.

At the stairway, a lean figure emerged from behind a screen and stepped forward.

It was a man in his thirties, with a thin mustache and wearing a navy blue official robe.

The man raised his eyes to meet Chu Jiubian’s gaze, immediately bowed, and said, “This subject pays respects to the Emperor, and greets Grand Tutor.”

“Rise,” Baili Hong said.

The newcomer was not Baili Ming, but the Historian Xun Xiuran.

The Xun family had been invited to serve as Historians by Emperor Hui of the Great Yu Dynasty after the unification of the previous dynasty.

Emperor Hui specifically wrote an edict announcing to the realm that Historians held no official rank but were impartial recorders who would faithfully and impartially document what they saw and heard.

He also decreed that from his reign onward, all rulers, including himself, were barred from arbitrarily executing Historians.

Historians were not to show personal bias into their records, and court officials were absolutely forbidden from forming friendships with Historians.

Throughout the court, Historians had always been invisible tools. At first, people were unaccustomed to their presence, but as generations passed, everyone paid no attention to the Historians perpetually stationed in the corner of the hall.

Legend says that after the overthrow of the Great Yu Dynasty, Emperor Taizu of Ning once considered killing the Xun family Historian of the time and appointing someone else.

But he read the Historian’s records.

They frankly documented the brutal rule at the end of the Great Yu Dynasty and impartially recorded the cause he championed during the uprising—completely free of personal bias from start to finish.

Facing the sword at his neck, the Xun Historian of the time didn’t even blink. When Emperor Taizu asked if he was afraid, he replied that he had never violated the Xun family’s ancestral teachings nor had any ties to factions, so even in death, he was not afraid to face his ancestors.

The Xun family’s family creed was: always remain distant from all contemporary figures, be a pen, be a recorder of history.

Emperor Taizu admired the Xun family’s principles and spared the Historian, continuing to entrust him and his descendants with recording the history of Great Ning. He even granted them an official post, a unique post outside the Six Ministries, dedicated solely to recording history with a stipend nearly equal to that of a third-rank official.

However, Historians did not serve daily—they only stood quietly behind the ranks of officials during morning audiences.

Alternatively, when significant events occurred in the palace or the world, they would fully document the proceedings along with the words and actions of the emperor and officials.

For instance, when Baili Hong ascended the throne, when Qin Xiao was enfeoffed as a prince, when Chu Jiubian descended from heaven, etc., this Historian dutifully recorded the events.

Similarly, regarding the Hexi Commandery floods, his records might only summarize the cause and effect in a few sentences, but the investigation process involved considerable effort from Xun Xiuran and other Xun family members. At the time, Xun Xiuran even sought out Qin Xiao to ask about the specifics of Hexi Commandery.

Qin Xiao, unconcerned with how posterity would judge him, spoke frankly, even detailing how he witnessed the lingchi execution.

And Chu Jiubian watched as this Historian took up his brush, writing phrases like "Prince Ning Qin Xiao employed lingchi punishment" on paper.

Also, during the previous Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, Xun Xiuran, an official without rank, sat at the end of the banquet, likely recording everything that transpired.

Today’s banquet was Baili Hong’s first meeting with a vassal prince since his accession, so Xun Xiuran naturally had to be present to document it.

Chu Jiubian had previously ordered a secluded area behind a screen set up with a desk, chair, hot tea, and meals prepared for Xun Xiuran’s convenience.

“Take your seat,” Chu Jiubian said.

Xun Xiuran bowed in acknowledgment, then withdrew to the designated seat. A brazier glowed beside him, and brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were all neatly arranged.

He had barely sat down for a few moments when Baili Ming arrived with Jiang Yongshou.

Chu Jiubian’s status was unique, and his identity as a "celestial" granted him even higher standing. Privately, Chu Jiubian carried himself as a divine being, having several times encountered the Grand Empress Dowager in the palace without paying respects.

It was the same now; seeing Baili Ming and the other arriving, he remained seated like Baili Hong.

Only after Baili Ming and Jiang Yongshou paid homage to the emperor did Baili Hong speak: “Prince Anhuai, there’s no need for such formality. Please sit and warm yourself.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Baili Ming replied, sitting down somewhat awkwardly.

He instinctively glanced at Jiang Yongshou, noticing the latter’s complex expression, as if uncertain whether he should sit or not.

“Mr. Jiang, please sit as well,” Baili Hong said with a smile, his voice childish yet clear and crisp. “Today is a family banquet. Mr. Jiang has taken good care of Prince Anhuai and is not an outsider.”

Jiang Yongshou scarcely dared believe these words, but with the emperor having spoken, he didn’t dare disobey. He could only smile in acknowledgment and carefully take his seat.

Baili Ming felt nervous, yet he couldn't help but secretly observe his little cousin, who was just over three years old.

He was clearly just a child. At that age, Baili Ming himself had still been hiding in the arms of his father and mother, being coddled. Yet, the Baili Hong before him already carried himself like an adult—his words and actions were proper, and he interacted with others with surprising ease.

Baili Ming thought that Baili Hong was exactly what a young emperor should look like.

As for an emperor, he ought to maintain some distance, finding it hard to get close.

But Baili Hong happened to be an especially endearing child. When he smiled, his eyes curved into crescents, his voice was soft and milky, and from time to time, he would call Baili Ming "older cousin." It didn’t take long for Baili Ming to feel completely won over, his originally gentle gaze growing even more affectionate.

This welcome banquet, which he had worried about for so long, seemed to have genuinely turned into nothing more than an ordinary family gathering, making him feel increasingly at ease.

Yet, every time he let his guard down completely and wanted to grow closer to the emperor, Jiang Yongshou by his side would create a disturbance or say something to interrupt him, silently reminding him not to overstep boundaries and forget the proper distance that should be maintained with the emperor.

Chu Jiubian observed the interaction between these two throughout the entire banquet. He barely spoke, leaving it entirely to Baili Hong to play the host.

Chu Jiubian believed that the people drawn by the system would undoubtedly be of sound moral character, so he knew that the idea of "trading grain for Hexi Commandery" could not have been Prince Anhuai’s true intention.

Now, seeing how the two interacted with Jiang Yongshou, he felt even more certain of this.

A young ruler and a powerful minister—especially since Baili Ming’s personality was even softer than Baili Hong’s, and he lacked resolve—made it all too easy for him to be manipulated by his subordinates.

But this Jiang Yongshou seemed truly loyal toward Prince Anhuai. Every interruption and reminder was actually for Baili Ming’s own good.

If Baili Hong were a calculating emperor, or if Baili Hong were under Chu Jiubian’s control, then the words and actions Baili Ming might let slip after lowering his guard could very well harm him.

So, from Jiang Yongshou’s perspective, his reminders were completely reasonable.

As for the matter of Hexi Commandery, if no one else was pulling the strings behind the scenes, then Jiang Yongshou’s encouragement for Baili Ming to act that way might genuinely have been intended to expand Baili Ming’s influence.

But Baili Ming was a content man who preferred to stay out of trouble—something even Chu Jiubian, who had just met him, could see. How could Jiang Yongshou not know?

Knowing full well that Baili Ming had no desire to engage in political struggles yet deliberately pushing him into the spotlight suggested that Jiang Yongshou’s motives were impure.

Was he serving two masters at once?

Chu Jiubian lowered his gaze, careful not to reveal even a hint of emotion.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yongshou noticed and was somewhat surprised by the way Baili Hong and Chu Jiubian interacted.

A young emperor and a powerful minister—Baili Hong was so young that he could easily become a puppet in the hands of a minister. Yet, Baili Hong’s current demeanor didn’t resemble that of a child who had been coddled into incompetence at all. In fact, compared to an ordinary prince, he seemed even more bright and precocious.

Whether in his words, actions, or the way he expressed his thoughts, there was already a faint glimmer of what an "emperor" ought to be.

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao had truly done an excellent job raising Baili Hong.

This was completely different from what Jiang Yongshou—and even other regional powers—had anticipated.

Though everyone at the table had their own thoughts, the meal proceeded relatively smoothly.

Xun Xiuran remained quietly seated throughout. It wasn’t until the banquet ended and the masters had all left that he lifted his brush and added the final line to the paper, summarizing:

"Jingrui Year One, December 15th: Prince Anhuai, accompanied by his strategist Jiang, entered the palace for an audience. The Emperor and the Grand Tutor hosted a banquet at Fukang Pavilion, where they enjoyed plum blossoms and brewed tea. Host and guests alike all enjoyed themselves."

Several days later.

He wrote on a fresh sheet of paper: "Jingrui Year One, December 22nd: Snow accumulated inches deep. Prince Ning Qin Xiao returned triumphant. The Emperor and the Grand Tutor canceled morning court and led all officials to welcome him outside the imperial city."

Baili Hong was bundled up with heat patches stuck all over his body by Chu Jiubian. He held a small hand warmer, wore a fox fur hat on his head, and the lower half of his face was buried in the thick fur of his collar, leaving only his large eyes watching eagerly on the official road outside the city.

Chu Jiubian stood beside him, clad in a pristine white fox fur cloak over his deep purple official robe.

His silver-white hair cascaded over his shoulders, seeming to blend into the cloak, making the scattered dark strands at his forehead appear exceptionally soft and bright.

Behind him stood six rows of officials, all draped in dark cloaks and holding hand warmers to keep from freezing.

During the morning court, a soldier had rushed back to the palace to report that Prince Ning would arrive at the city gates in another half an hour.

Baili Hong immediately grew restless, looking urgently at Chu Jiubian.

Chu Jiubian stepped forward and suggested that since Qin Xiao had achieved great merits, the Emperor going outside the city to welcome him would demonstrate the importance placed on his contributions.

Naturally, when this story spread, people would praise the harmonious and affectionate relationship between the Emperor and Prince Ning, as well as the Emperor’s deep appreciation and care for those who had rendered great service.

Baili Hong eagerly agreed, saying "Yes," and the other officials had no grounds to object.

Since ancient times, there had been precedents of emperors leaving the city to welcome triumphant generals. Moreover, Qin Xiao’s status was special, and he had indeed rendered extraordinary service. It would have been inappropriate for Baili Hong not to go out to greet him.

Thus, this scene at the city gates came to be.

Baili Hong was so anxious he kept wanting to pace, but with so many people watching, he forced himself to hold still.

Chu Jiubian remained calm, his gaze fixed quietly on the official road.

Only when a dark speck appeared at the edge of his vision did he suddenly tighten his grip on the hand warmer, his eyelashes trembling involuntarily.

Amid the blowing snow, a contingent of riders approached from the distance at a steady, unhurried pace.

The group of several dozen was on horseback, with only a carriage drawn by two horses in the center.

The carriage was simple and unadorned, but the character "Qin" on its curtain was bold and prominent.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on that carriage, watching as it drew nearer and nearer until it came to a stop.

The accompanying soldiers all dismounted. The driver stepped down and placed a stool beside the carriage.

At the same time, the carriage curtain was lifted from within by a hand with distinct, well-defined knuckles.

Next, the hem of a black robe adorned with gold patterns swayed into view, and a man of imposing, stern demeanor descended from the carriage and walked toward the crowd.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty," Qin Xiao said with a bow.

As the regent and Baili Hong’s uncle, Qin Xiao was not required to perform grand ceremonies to the emperor except on major occasions such as the coronation. Even a bow was considered a significant gesture of respect.

Baili Hong’s eyes reddened, tears falling uncontrollably.

He hurried forward, raising his small hands as if to help Qin Xiao up, but he couldn’t reach. Instead, he pitifully said, "My beloved subject, please rise."

In front of so many people, he couldn’t call him "uncle," much less let his uncle hold him. The little child was quite upset.

But seeing that his uncle had truly kept his promise and returned safely, he couldn’t help feeling happy.

For a moment, he was deeply conflicted.

Qin Xiao looked down at the child’s tear-reddened eyes. He couldn’t wipe them for him, so he could only offer a reassuring smile.

Baili Hong, however, was easily comforted. He wiped his tears away with his own small hand and looked up at his uncle, smiling to reveal a row of tiny white teeth.

Having gained a little weight during the winter, the child’s soft, round cheeks were even fuller than before, indeed very much resembling a steamed bun.

Qin Xiao curved his lips and raised his eyes to look straight ahead.

The civil and military officials were lost in their own thoughts.

Some among them still clung to a sliver of hope, wishing that Qin Xiao had been severely injured or even perished. But now that he had returned safely, they could only bow in unison and say, "Hail your triumphant return, Prince Ning!"

Qin Xiao's gaze, however, did not fall on them but rested on the young man leading the group.

The other appeared not to have lost weight, nor gained any; even clad in thick winter robes, his figure remained light and graceful.

A snowflake landed on the young man's thick, dark lashes, quivering briefly before melting, dampening his eyelashes.

Qin Xiao slowly shifted his gaze, roving gradually across the young man's face.

Chu Jiubian also gazed at Qin Xiao.

When he left, the jasmine was still in bloom; now it was the season for plum blossoms to flourish.

Qin Xiao looked just as before—handsome, steady, and stern—but he was noticeably thinner than when he had departed, appearing more defined.

His entire demeanor was like a honed blade, sharper than ever.

The man's gaze was deep and complex, somewhat fierce, carrying a meaning Chu Jiubian couldn't decipher.

"Rise," Qin Xiao said to the crowd, though his eyes still lingered on Chu Jiubian's face.

Chu Jiubian avoided his gaze and turned to Baili Hong, saying, "Your Majesty, let's return to the palace."

"Mm," Baili Hong nodded, eagerly boarding his own carriage.

The driver was none other than Qin Zhaoyang, who had made a point to clear his schedule amidst his busy schedule.

Knowing Qin Xiao would return this morning, Qin Zhaoyang had specifically cleared his schedule to openly welcome Qin Xiao under the guise of being Baili Hong's coachman.

Seeing the lord safe and sound, his tightly wound heart finally settled, and he even managed a rare smile.

"Hyah!" he urged the horse forward first. The officials naturally boarded their respective carriages but did not move; according to rank, Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian should depart first.

Qin Xiao looked at Chu Jiubian without speaking, simply watching.

About four or five meters separated the two, feeling both distant and strangely close.

After a long moment, as several Ministers couldn't help but lift their carriage curtains to look out, Chu Jiubian pursed his lips and said, "The carriage is up ahead."

Qin Xiao smiled, then stepped forward to stand just a step away from him, his voice low: "Let's go."

Chu Jiubian looked up at him.

Up close, he noticed Qin Xiao's face was alarmingly pale.

He said nothing, turning first to walk toward the carriage, with Qin Xiao following closely by his side.

Minister of Works Jian Hongzhuo watched their retreating figures, chuckled softly, and let the carriage curtain fall.

The other Ministers wore varied expressions, also lowering their curtains.

The procession, just as when they arrived, processed grandly back toward the palace.

But just after passing the main street, before reaching the palace gates, guards went from carriage to carriage notifying everyone that the morning court session was canceled. The officials were asked to proceed to their duties, with any matters to be discussed the next day.

In the second carriage at the front, Chu Jiubian gazed intently at the man seated across from him.

The man leaned against the carriage wall, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.

His voice was somewhat strained, but he still managed a smile and said, "It'll be better in a moment."

Chu Jiubian mentally commanded, "System, check what's wrong with his body?"

"Host, the examination requires..."

Before it could finish, Chu Jiubian interrupted, "Deal."

The system paused, then after two seconds said, "The subject is suffering from delayed hemothorax. The condition is critical; surgical treatment is recommended."