Chapter 46 Burning with Fury

Chapter 46: Heart and Liver Turned to Ash

A cold wind swept across the sandy soil outside Wangyue Pass, whirling away the blood that littered the ground.

Temperatures on the frontier swung wildly between day and night. Now, deep into the night, a layer of white frost had quietly crept over the ground and rooftops.

Outside the pass, Daqi soldiers were still clearing the battlefield, disposing of corpses and collecting weapons. The work made them sweat profusely, their hot breath meeting the cold air and dissipating into puffs of white mist.

The northwest frontier had endured the arrogance of those bandits for years, and everyone had long been simmering with pent-up fury.

When Xiao Yunlang, then still a prince, arrived two years ago, they hadn't had their fill of fighting before he was recalled by the court. Now that he had returned, everyone was eagerly awaiting action, their morale soaring.

This time, they weren't short on provisions either. With full bellies, everyone had strength. Some of the lower-ranking soldiers had families who had suffered at the hands of the bandits, and now, finally able to exact bloody vengeance, they had fought with a frenzied, red-eyed intensity.

Daqi casualties were few; the ground was mostly strewn with the bodies of mounted bandits. Deeming them ill-omened, the soldiers wanted to gather and bury them far away. Pei Jingchen was also pushing a cart amidst the battlefield. Someone recognized him and called out.

"My lord, as a personal guard, why are you doing this kind of work yourself? You should be guarding His Highness!"

Having won a battle, everyone was naturally in high spirits, but Pei Jingchen couldn't muster a smile. He pushed the cart. "No. I'm not a physician, I'd be no help there. Being here, looking at these bastards who deserve to die a thousand deaths, makes me feel a bit better."

Hearing this, the smiles on the men's faces faded. The entire escort team from Wangyue Pass had been completely wiped out. People had already been sent to Tasha Road to collect the remains of their fallen brothers, and also...

Inside the pass, a certain noble was hanging by a thread.

The soldier looked around, unsure if it was out of guilt or something else, and lowered his voice. "When we first heard that the capital had forced a husband on His Highness, and from the Jiang family at that, everyone was indignant and felt he'd been wronged. But that one... he's not what we expected, is he?"

Xiao Yunlang had quickly won over the locals soon after arriving at the border years ago. Hearing of his plight, everyone had privately cursed both the emperor and the Jiang family.

Pei Jingchen sighed.

After this incident, Jiang Yanzhou's stance could no longer be hidden. His willingness to risk his life to ransom back a court official proved he could never be the same kind of petty, scheming, profit-obsessed scum as Jiang Linque. And also...

Xiao Yunlang hadn't moved an inch from Jiang Yanzhou's side since leaving the battlefield.

Now that the Jiang family was a shadow of its former self, to Emperor Yonghe, Jiang Yanzhou's life was already worthless. The frontier was where he could still be of use.

He was supposed to counterbalance Xiao Yunlang, but he hadn't.

Given all this, anyone who wasn't blind could see there was something extraordinary between the two of them.

If something really happened to Jiang Yanzhou...

Pei Jingchen shuddered. He wanted to wipe his face, but seeing his filthy hands, he was forced to stop.

"No, I'd better go check." He set down the cart and took off running. "Find someone to take over!"

Inside Wangyue Pass, lights blazed. Around the Crown Prince's residence, shadows flitted about, many people inside and out, but everyone was deathly silent. The vast courtyard was so quiet not even the chirp of an insect could be heard.

Jiang Yanzhou had slit his own throat in front of the mounted bandits' camp. When he was first brought in, servants carried in basins of clear water and came out holding basins stained crimson. No one knew how many towels had been stained red.

The blood that flowed out had carried away his vitality. Jiang Yanzhou lay there, his complexion like cold, pale jade.

Xiao Yunlang liked white, but not this kind of white. He also liked red, but not the bloody red at Jiang Yanzhou's neck.

Xiao Yunlang stood rigidly by the bedside. His breathing came in ragged bursts as he looked at Jiang Yanzhou, aching everywhere.

Jiang Yanzhou's act had felt like a knife to his own heart.

The scene he witnessed when he galloped back would become a nightmare he couldn't shake off for many years to come.

A few days earlier, when he had led the troops out, Xiao Yunlang had appeared to be chasing the mounted bandits to the foot of Tenglian Mountain, but in reality, he had deliberately forced them in that direction.

He had led his men out of the pass, leaving behind a garrison in Wangyue Pass suitable only for defense. To the west, they couldn't support the Zhengpeng Camp. To the enemy, this seemed like a perfect opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Zhengpeng Camp.

After forcing them there, Xiao Yunlang used the terrain to his advantage for a lightning strike, then rapidly withdrew. If the enemy truly attacked Zhengpeng Camp, they would be perfectly encircled.

While traveling along the road towards Wangyue Pass, when they killed the mounted bandits' scouts along the way, Xiao Yunlang had sensed something was wrong.

Why were there scouts here?

As it turned out, they encountered another group of mounted bandits several dozen *li* outside Wangyue Pass.

Jiang Yanzhou's frame was slender, yet his figure stood out so starkly, like a drop of water mistakenly fallen into the yellow sand. His movements were so swift, too swift for even Xiao Yunlang, astride a divine steed, to reach him in time.

From the moment Jiang Yanzhou appeared in Xiao Yunlang's sight, everything happened in the blink of an eye.

There was also a horse that charged behind Jiang Yanzhou. The Hanlin academician, covered in grime, threw himself from the saddle, grabbing and yanking Jiang Yanzhou's arm away.

The force was too great. The two tumbled to the ground, landing apart.

Fortunately, Jiang Yanzhou had already been some distance from the bandits. Xiao Yunlang ordered archers to fire from the flank, driving back the bandits outside the camp.

When he scooped Jiang Yanzhou up, he pressed his hand against his neck. Blood soaked his entire hand and sleeve.

The Crown Prince felt as if his heart and liver were scorched to ashes, the pain unbearable.

If he hadn't returned ahead of schedule, what would have become of his young master?

Xiao Yunlang still hadn't removed his armor. His clothes were stained with blood, making him look like a disheveled, rigid iron statue.

"The bleeding has stopped!" the physician said. "But the most dangerous period is still uncertain. The wound could reopen at any moment. If it had been just one inch deeper..."

I'm afraid even a deity would have found it difficult to save him.

The physician swallowed these words and focused on the essentials. "I've immobilized his neck using bone-setting techniques. His neck absolutely must not move. He has lost too much blood; his body temperature must be maintained. Next, we need to monitor his breathing and watch for fever. He cannot be left unattended."

Several charcoal braziers were lit in the room, making the physician sweat profusely. Warming bottles had already been placed in Jiang Yanzhou's bedding. Xiao Yunlang asked, "Should we add another quilt?"

The physician hurriedly waved his hand. "A quilt that's too heavy could also make it difficult for him to breathe. No more can be added. You can continuously rub his palms and the soles of his feet. That will also help maintain warmth and allow you to monitor his temperature at all times."

Xiao Yunlang's leaden feet finally moved heavily, his armor clinking. He said, "I'll do it."

Attendants quickly stepped forward to help Xiao Yunlang remove his armor and change into clean clothes.

Xiao Yunlang washed Jiang Yanzhou's blood from his hands, warmed them over a hand-warmer, and only then reached into the bedding, repeatedly rubbing Jiang Yanzhou's hands and feet.

The physician went out to prepare a leather water pouch for medicine. With Jiang Yanzhou's neck immobilized, medicine could only be poured into a narrow-necked deerskin pouch and fed to him drop by drop from the side.

Before the medicine was ready, Jiang Yanzhou's throat tightened slightly, and he began to cough.

Xiao Yunlang quickly supported the side of his neck. With every cough, Xiao Yunlang's heart leaped into his throat, his eyes fixed on the snow-white bandage around Jiang Yanzhou's neck, not daring to look away, fearing fresh blood would seep through.

Fortunately, Jiang Yanzhou only coughed two or three times before stopping.

Xiao Yunlang sat back down and continued rubbing Jiang Yanzhou's hand. When he squeezed the soft tips of his fingers, he couldn't help trembling, pressing down heavily once, as if calling out to him.

Or as if holding him back.

Feng Yi hurried in. Without turning his head, Xiao Yunlang asked, "When will Mu Baicao arrive?"

Mu Baicao had journeyed to the northwest a month ago and had been corresponding with Xiao Yunlang.

Xiao Yunlang, having calculated the approximate date of Jiang Yanzhou's arrival and fearing he might fall ill or feel unwell due to the unfamiliar border climate, had summoned Mu Baicao to stay nearby a few days earlier.

"He's on the way. We've sent someone to fetch him; he should arrive soon," Feng Yi said, his heart heavy but compelled to present what he held. "Your Highness, the military report..."

Xiao Yunlang said, "Read it."

Feng Yi unfolded the report and began reading.

The bandit group they had wiped out today was one that had long roamed the banks of the Lütuo River, suspected of links to minor states like Fengjia. The bandit leader had been killed in battle.

The Zhengpeng Camp was operating normally. The mounted bandits had only attacked the grain transport team at Wangyue Pass and had not reached the camp.

Their ability to bypass sentry defenses and set an ambush on Tasha Road strongly suggested the presence of an insider. Ganguan Pass must have already received the news and was conducting an investigation, though the identity of the insider...

"Official Liu said that Hanlin Academician Zhang's words and actions were odd; it's highly likely that information was leaked through him. He suffered broken ribs from being trampled by a horse and is currently unconscious."

It was also this Hanlin Academician Zhang who had turned back and grabbed Jiang Yanzhou's hand.

But whether he had actually helped Jiang Yanzhou remained uncertain.

"Physician," Xiao Yunlang said, his voice cold and hard, "don't let him die before he talks."

Feng Yi: "Yes."

"Bring paper and brush. I'll dictate; you write."

Pei Jingchen arrived at the door just in time to catch this and immediately turned to fetch writing materials, passing them in. Xiao Yunlang's hands were occupied, so he dictated the dispatch, with Feng Yi transcribing.

After finishing, the two withdrew. The physician and his medicine boy entered, carefully feeding medicine to Jiang Yanzhou.

Jiang Yanzhou had lost too much blood; a strong restorative tonic was essential. Fortunately, his health had improved over the past few months. If he had still been as frail as when he first entered the Crown Prince's residence, he likely wouldn't have survived.

In his dazed state, Jiang Yanzhou seemed to want to turn his head, moving slightly.

Xiao Yunlang simply removed his outer robe, got under the covers, and lay down, holding Jiang Yanzhou in his arms.

He clasped Jiang Yanzhou's hands, pressed against his feet, and felt Jiang Yanzhou's breath from up close—from his bloodless lips over to the bandage on his neck.

Xiao Yunlang had seen many wounds, but none had frightened him like this one.

Skin torn, flesh mangled, a bloody mess.

He didn't know how Jiang Yanzhou had mustered such strength, how he could be so brutal.

...No, precisely because it was his own neck, he could be so brutal.

Xiao Yunlang didn't want to think about anything now. He only wanted Jiang Yanzhou to recover first.

The charcoal fire and the bed warmer made him uncomfortable, but as long as Jiang Yanzhou's body remained warm, it didn't matter.

The Crown Prince himself became a human-shaped heater, keeping his eyes open, not daring to sleep.

Throughout the night, Jiang Yanzhou remained completely unconscious, not coughing again, not developing a fever, and the wound didn't seep blood heavily again.

Just before dawn, as a sliver of pale light slowly crept across the horizon, as if the darkest and most difficult time was about to pass, Xiao Yunlang suddenly sensed something wrong.

In the room, which felt like an oven, Jiang Yanzhou's palms suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. He began to tremble faintly and unconsciously. Xiao Yunlang, pressed against him, immediately noticed Jiang Yanzhou's body temperature had abruptly changed.

The warmth maintained all night suddenly turned icy. The little heat from rubbing couldn't be retained. Xiao Yunlang immediately rolled out of bed, pressed the blankets down around him, and shouted loudly, "Military physician!"

The physician jolted awake, sprang from his seat, and rushed into the room in a panic.

Servants and the medicine boy began bustling about again.

The physician lifted the blankets and inserted needles into Jiang Yanzhou's upper body. Xiao Yunlang stood by silently, watching helplessly as Jiang Yanzhou's thin chest twitched intermittently, sometimes so weakly that the rise and fall was almost imperceptible, as if it might cease at any moment.

Xiao Yunlang's heart felt as if it were about to shatter.

The physician's hand administering the needles couldn't tremble, but each time he checked Jiang Yanzhou's pulse, his eyes filled with growing despair. Just as he too was about to give up, the door was suddenly slammed open with a bang.

Xiao Yunlang whipped his head around.

Feng Yi had used his full qinggong to carry Mu Baicao directly here: "Your Highness, the Young Miracle Doctor—!"

Mu Baicao, already disheveled and dusty from riding hard, had just experienced a martial artist's lightness skill. He was about to catch his breath when he was grabbed by the scruff of his neck and hauled over.

Xiao Yunlang: "Baicao, hurry!"

Mu Baicao took one look at Jiang Yanzhou's condition and immediately lost any chance to breathe. He reached out to check Jiang Yanzhou's pulse while lifting his eyelids.

The military physician quickly yielded his position, wiping sweat from his brow. The arrival of the Young Miracle Doctor nearly moved him to tears of relief, as he had been at his wits' end.

But it was too early to rejoice. Mu Baicao's expression was grave. After taking the pulse and unwrapping the bandage to examine Jiang Yanzhou's wound, he stood up and said to the physician, "Re-bandage him properly, then finish the last two needles of the acupuncture procedure you were just using."

As he spoke, he spread out his own needles. The physician said, "Those two acupoints are inherently dangerous..."

"At this point, we have to use them. You know there's no other way!" Mu Baicao had a servant bring water, directly placing a small stove over the charcoal brazier in the room. "I need to steam my needles with medicine. Is there ginseng soup? Give him another bowl!"

His tone at the sickbed was commanding and authoritative. The physician had no choice but to insert the two additional needles. The medicine boy brought a sheepskin water pouch. Seeing Mu Baicao's urgency and exhaustion causing his hands to shake, Xiao Yunlang took it directly and carefully fed Jiang Yanzhou a few sips of the ginseng soup himself.

Mu Baicao was steaming his needles with some unknown medicine that smelled terribly foul. As the medicinal vapor began to fill the room, Jiang Yanzhou's body trembled.

Mu Baicao picked up the steamed needles, had the physician remove the original ones, and before inserting his own, said, "Hold his head steady. This needle insertion will be somewhat painful. We must not let him strain the wound on his neck again."

Xiao Yunlang moved to sit beside him and cradled Jiang Yanzhou's head. Mu Baicao said, "Everyone else, please leave. I need quiet."

The others filed out, leaving only the three of them. Mu Baicao inserted the first needle without hesitation.

With the first needle, Jiang Yanzhou showed no reaction. The second, the third... By the seventh needle, Jiang Yanzhou suddenly began to struggle, his chest heaving violently, and a muffled groan escaped his lips.

Xiao Yunlang held him down firmly while whispering, "Jiang Yanzhou, Jiang Niangui... I'm here. I'm here. Can you hear me?"

Cold sweat dripped from Jiang Yanzhou's temples. He showed no reaction to Xiao Yunlang's words, only his eyeballs moving beneath his eyelids. His willow-leaf-like brows knitted together sorrowfully, a heartbreaking sight.

Xiao Yunlang called to him, soothing him. He heard Jiang Yanzhou's injured throat emit broken moans of pain. At one point, Jiang Yanzhou's lips moved slightly, as if trying to say something.

Xiao Yunlang leaned closer.

He heard Jiang Yanzhou faintly whisper in a breathy voice, "It hurts..."

Xiao Yunlang hurt too.

Mu Baicao administered a set of needles decisively yet carefully, taking half an hour. Although Jiang Yanzhou appeared to be in distress, his breathing noticeably stabilized. Xiao Yunlang, touching his face, could also feel warmth returning.

Another half hour passed as Mu Baicao slowly worked the silver needles at the acupoints, then gradually removed them one by one.

After completing the acupuncture, he unwrapped Jiang Yanzhou's bandage, saw that the wound was only oozing slightly, applied medicine again, re-bandaged it, and then took Jiang Yanzhou's pulse, lowering his eyes and falling silent.

He was waiting, and Xiao Yunlang was waiting as well.

The medicine on Mu Baicao's needles entered Jiang Yanzhou's body and gradually began to take effect. After the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, the Young Miracle Doctor finally raised his eyes and let out a long, deep sigh of relief.

He withdrew his hand and stood, his legs somewhat numb. He retreated to lean against the table, then nodded toward Xiao Yunlang.

The heart that Xiao Yunlang had held suspended all day plummeted back into his chest, the pain finally bending that iron-forged spine of his.

Stiffly, he released his hands from supporting Jiang Yanzhou's head, tugged his clothes straight and tucked the quilt firmly around him. The emotions he had forcibly suppressed now surged back with twice the intensity, and his usually steady, rock-solid hands finally began to tremble uncontrollably.

He staggered a step and sat down on the chair by the bed. He looked at Jiang Yanzhou and, still uneasy, reached to touch his hand, wanting to confirm his temperature once more.

When his fingers brushed against those warm, soft fingertips, the Crown Prince's eyes suddenly reddened.

He grasped Jiang Yanzhou's hand, brought his fingertips with difficulty to his own lips, lowered his head, and trembled as he touched them lightly.

...I almost died there with you, Jiang Niangui.