Chapter 253 - Illness and Chill

When dawn arrived, the atmosphere in Duanzhou City shifted abruptly. Soldiers patrolled the streets, alternating between the garrison and imperial guards, with all four city gates tightly shut. The sound of military boots and clinking sabers echoed everywhere. The mood within the mansion was heavy, with the guards on high alert, not daring to relax for a moment.

Xiao Chiye crouched before Li Xiong and asked, "Do you recognize them?"

Li Xiong had sustained injuries to his face and was applying medicine. He replied, "Yes, they're Four-Legged Snakes. They drink Geda'er's milk, and they stink."

Xiao Chiye frowned and said, "Not scorpions?"

"Before, they were scorpions," Li Xiong spoke hastily, stumbling over his words a little, "But later, they became snakes."

Ding Tao was utterly confused. "What do you mean by 'before' and 'later'?"

"They're Four-Legged Snakes," Li Xiong smacked his own arm. "My elder brother talked to them before. They're different from the sea, the sea… I can't remember Hyrigu's name… They're different from him, not like cattle or sheep."

In the eyes of the twelve tribes, scorpions were like Geda'er's livestock, holding a lowly status.

Xiao Chiye recalled Zhuo Li. Zhuo Li was also a Four-Legged Snake, but he possessed distinct characteristics of a Borderlander. From the looks of it, the Four-Legged Snakes were still scorpions, just with a different name.

"Serpents with Four Legs," Xiao Chiye lifted his gaze to look at Li Xiong, speculating, "They're the scorpions of A'muer, so their status is higher than Achi and Hyrigu's."

Li Xiong raised his thumb, saying happily, "Yes, they have land where they can run horses," but then he frowned and continued, "They're all wicked and like to hit people. They don't play with scorpions, and they're more expensive than scorpions."

Xiao Chiye rubbed his bone ring, spinning it gently.

Less than three days after Hason's death, the Serpents with Four Legs from A'muer appeared in the courtyard. Had they come with Zhuo Li's group, or were they already here?

"You did well," Xiao Chiye raised his hand to pat Li Xiong on the head. "Guard Lord here. Second Master will give you candy."

***

"Usually, you're meticulous about these things," Qiao Tianya said, his hair still damp as he arrived at the prison. "Why the carelessness today?"

Fei Sheng examined the corpse and shook his head when he heard this. "The assassin had a face typical of those from the Great Zhou and spoke the local dialect more fluently than either of us," he said, turning his head. "They even had identification documents."

Qiao Tianya flipped through the corpse's belongings.

Shen Zechuan had established the Zhongbo Yellow Register, where every household could be traced. If these assassins possessed identity certificates, it meant that they might have been lurking in Zhongbo even before Shen Zechuan.

"It's quite tricky," Qiao Tianya said in a grave tone. "They'd be impossible to distinguish among the crowd."

"There's only one clue," Fei Sheng pointed at the corpse's arm with a casual gesture. "Tattoos."

Qiao Tianya's gaze shifted downward, and sure enough, he saw the four-legged snake tattoo on the corpse's arm.

"Our master once instructed local offices to compile a list of names of those with tattoos when searching for Scorpions," Fei Sheng crossed his arms. "I've already sent a message to Yu Xiaozai in Dunzhou. If these two aren't on that list, they must have infiltrated the city during the invasion."

Qiao Tianya nodded, looking at Fei Sheng as he retracted his hand. His face devoid of a smile, he asked, "Have you considered why assassins would have such obvious markings on them?"

They were all members of the Imperial Guards, well-versed in the art of disguise. The Scorpions had their reasons for having tattoos, but why would the Four-Legged Snakes, who held even higher ranks, need them?

Fei Sheng's expression turned serious, and he let out a soft tsk.

***

Shen Zechuan woke up in the afternoon, and Xiao Chiye fed him medicine. Shen Zechuan's fever-ravaged mind was muddled, but he could still hear Xiao Chiye speaking, though the voice seemed distant at times.

"Lan Zhou…" Xiao Chiye muttered something, brushing Shen Zechuan's hair away from his cheek.

Shen Zechuan gasped for air, his lips wrapped around the spoon as he swallowed the last mouthful. Xiao Chiye wiped his sweat with a damp cloth. Shen Zechuan tilted his head, brushing the tip of his nose against the bandaged palm of Xiao Chiye's hand. His lips moved slightly.

Xiao Chiye leaned in to listen.

"Handkerchief," Shen Zechuan stammered, "mine."

"It's right here," Xiao Chiye said, covering Shen Zechuan's damp palm with his free hand, "I'll give it back to you when you're better."

Shen Zechuan was delirious from his illness, faint whimpers escaping his lips amidst the pain.

Xiao Chiye sprawled entirely beside the pillow, coaxing, "I promise."

Shen Zechuan didn't believe him. He frowned in a struggle, sadness flickering in his half-lowered eyes as he buried himself in Xiao Chiye's palm. Xiao Chiye's heart was thus manipulated by him, lowering his head to rest against Shen Zechuan's temple, his own face pressed against the other's sweat.

A bitter taste filled Shen Zechuan's tongue. With half-open eyes, all he saw were surreal visions; only Xiao Chiye's scent enveloped him, making him feel as if he were floating amidst a sea of grass. He called out softly, "Xiao Er."

Xiao Chiye kissed him, responding with a deep, resonant "Mm."

Shen Zechuan furrowed his brows several times, speaking in fragmented sentences, "I want… some candy…"

Xiao Chiye's suspended heart eased slightly as he got up to dilute honey water for him. Shen Zechuan only took two spoonfuls, savoring the sweetness on his tongue. Xiao Chiye then rinsed the handkerchief again and wiped away the sweat from the nape of Shen Zechuan's neck, feeling that the fever seemed to have subsided.

***

In the side chamber, the scholars were restless, the smoke from the opium pipes filling the room. None of them rose even by the tenth hour of the night, having forgotten about their meals, all their hearts hanging on Lord's condition.

"Tantai Hu, these doctors aren't of any help," Tantai Hu said, sitting in his chair, addressing Kong Ling. "Scholar, what do you think? Should I ride out of the city immediately and search for more doctors in Dunzhou?"

Gao Zhongxiong paled at the mention of a tiger, quickly waving his hand and saying, "No, no. The assassin today had a clear identity. If there truly is a spy among us, who would be able to tell?"

Kong Ling wore a worried frown.

The entire room fell silent once again. Soon, they heard the rain start falling outside. The guards took turns on duty, their lanterns lighting up every path within the residence, leaving no opportunity for anyone to slip through.

After the battle, everyone was exhausted. By the second hour of the night, those with weaker constitutions could barely hold on, slouching in their chairs, dozing off without actually falling asleep.

When Yao Wenyu entered the room, he removed his collar. The sound of the carriage startled several people awake. He folded the collar neatly on his lap and spoke softly, "Second Master is here, so Lord must be safe. I understand your anxiety, but now that the battle has ended, the cases in each provincial office have piled up. It wouldn't be proper to handle them before Lord wakes up. Cheng Feng and Shen Wei can stay here to guard. The rest of you should go back and rest. Tomorrow, the cases must be dealt with as usual. For minor matters, act on your own initiative, but for major ones, submit them to the side chamber, and we'll discuss and make a decision together."

Kong Ling also stood up and said, "With Lord currently unwell, it's indeed not appropriate to burden him with case files. Everyone, let's return for now."

All present rose in unison, bowing in assent, and withdrew from the chamber in an orderly sequence.

Gao Zhongxiong poured tea for Yao Wenyu, saying, "Yuan Zuo is sensitive to the cold; he should have someone attend to him on his journey."

Yao Wenyu accepted the tea and expressed his gratitude, saying, "With my windbreaker and cloak, I'm quite fine. It's been raining nonstop these past few days, but I've observed that the drainage system within the city is functioning well, with no incidents occurring."

"At the beginning of the year," Tan Taihu perked up, rubbing his scarred eye, "everyone is here. We're just afraid that the snow might melt and block the way, so we make a special passage through it."

"The Lamp State is congested, but it's not a significant issue. Lord Yu inspected the area and arranged for it to be cleared," Gao Zhongxiong explained. "We've received numerous messages from Chizhou these past two days. Apart from Lord Zhou's letter inquiring after the Marquis, there are discussions regarding the Eight Cities as well."

The Pan family has been stripped of their power, and Dan City missed the spring plowing. Now that it's June, the people will soon be worried about food when autumn harvest arrives.

"Liu is at war, and so is Qidu," Kong Ling said. "Rumor has it that the cabinet has instructed the Ministry of Rites to begin preparations for the ascension ceremony."

With Han Cheng's death, the Empress Dowager relied on her connection with Hua Xiangyi to spare her life but was completely confined to the imperial harem. The commands of the Eight Armies were returned to the Crown Prince, and Li Jianting had the Eastern Defense Army to protect him. The aristocratic families, preoccupied with their own affairs, could not possibly stop this.

"Given our situation as an outsider facing a city under siege, if we unite to assist Lord Governor, the frontier sands would pose no challenge," Yao Wenyu whispered softly. "But now, Qidu is fragmented. Xue Yanqing's elimination of the Pan family has already stirred unrest in the Eight Cities. The Crown Prince's ascension will only escalate the tension."

"Speaking of which," Kong Ling turned to Chen Yang, "we still have no idea what's happening in the border regions. Has the negotiation with the Bear Clan been settled?"

Chen Yang was sorting through military affairs when he said, "If the negotiation had been successful, Second Master wouldn't have been late. Da Lantai of the Bear Clan has agreed to our request and promised not to hinder Marshal's march northward. He took Hason's gift as a token of gratitude and indeed did not obstruct the Marshal's troops from entering Gedale. However, he violated the alliance by launching a sudden attack on the border region when Second Master was preparing to deploy troops to Duanzhou."

As Qi Zhuyin had predicted, Da Lantai relied on no one. He had no intention of submitting to A'muer or being controlled by Shen Zechuan. The request from Hason and Shen Zechuan presented an opportunity for him. He aimed to seize the southern Sky-Locking Pass, which had lacked a strong garrison since Feng Yisheng's departure.

The Bear Clan lived in the southern grasslands, and Da Lantai knew there was no place for them in the desert. They trekked through mountains and rivers to return closer to their ancestral land, willing to risk everything in a desperate fight for survival.

Xiao Chiye's iron cavalry clashed with the Bear Clan's horses in the sandy dunes.

After two days of battle in the border region, Da Lantai fell there. The Bear Clan seemed unable to cross that threshold and could only retreat once more into the desert.

"Marshal Xiao has handed over Hason's reinforcements left in Gedale," Chen Yang raised the military report in his hand. "An urgent dispatch came last night reporting that Marshal discovered A'muer was mobilizing troops during his return journey."

Upon hearing this, the entire hall instantly tensed up.

Gao Zhongxiong stammered, "Tha-tha-that means another-battle…?"

Chen Yang signaled for him to calm down and said, "It's just a troop mobilization. After all, the main commander of the battlefield is gone, so A'muer needs to send someone who can replace Hason… I think it might be him himself."

Because Xiao Chiye had not returned Hason's head.

"The specific military arrangements will depend on Lord Second's instructions," Tan Taihu reassured the scholars. "They won't be able to reach our city walls, no matter what. We have the upper hand now. Even if A'muer leads the troops himself, he might not surpass Hason. Besides, he'd need Lord Second's permission to cross the Tea Stone River."

The tension in the anteroom slightly eased. As they spoke, they heard commotion in the corridor. Chen Yang lifted the curtain and peered outside.

Ding Tao was crying, snot bubbling as she tugged on Chen Yang's sleeve, shouting, "Brother! Let the doctors in quickly! The Lord is burning up again!"

The doctors stood huddled in the corridor, discussing treatment plans in hushed tones. The rain washed over the garden's nine-mile fragrance, scattering petals across the ground. Qiao Tianya and Fei Sheng returned, drenched from the rain, hastily wiping themselves dry under the eaves.

"All the doctors who treated Yuan Zhuo before are here," Qiao Tianya tossed his handkerchief aside. "Even the physician from Juexi is here. None of them can cure him?"

"This fever keeps recurring," Chen Yang whispered, avoiding the window. "They say it's damaged his vitality, like a delicate porcelain vase that no one dares to medicate."

"Last time, they said the same thing about Yuan Zhuo," Qiao Tianya didn't scold the doctors. After a moment's pause, he continued, "The Lord's health was ruined by medications in his youth, but he's been carefully tended to at home these days. This shouldn't be happening."

"Our master wants to get better and has been taking his medicine on time," Fei Sheng wrung out his damp cloth, worried. "…It must still be due to the injuries from that day."

The air in the room was thick with the scent of medicine, and no one wanted to provoke Lord Second just then. They waited under the eaves for summons. But moments after the servant entered with the medicine, they heard Shen Zechuan retching.

As the night deepened, fog rolled in, casting a pale light on the rain. Footsteps echoed continuously within the courtyard. The rain had soaked the garden, necessitating a change of bedding.

Fei Sheng spoke with unease, "Prepare a brazier to dry things up."

Chen Yang observed the blood-soaked gauze, unsure whether it belonged to Xiao Chiye or Shen Zechuan.

Li Xiong sat cross-legged by the door, dozing off on his own for a while. He woke up at the fourth watch, and Fei Sheng instructed the kitchen to serve him food. Li Xiong buried his head in a large bowl, devouring his meal. Once he was full, he continued sitting there, staring at those who entered and exited.

Before his words faded, a hand reached out from the side, gently pushing away his opium pipe.

Qiao Tianya turned around and looked at Yao Wenyu.

"Too pungent," Yao Wenyu said as he spun the wheelchair, facing the main house.

The delicate smoke rose, dissipating into the damp night, softening the unseen gentleness. Qiao Tianya pushed himself up on his knees and extinguished the pipe.

In the silence of the dawn, the courtyard was dark and then illuminated again. The guards on continuous night duty were also exhausted. Fei Sheng leaned against the pillar, closing his eyes to recuperate. Suddenly, his ears twitched, and after a moment, he heard a sound at the entrance.

"Someone's back," Fei Sheng leaped down the steps. "Gu Jin is back!"

One of the lanterns hanging under the eaves had gone out. Xiao Chiye, hearing the commotion, waited for a moment before lifting the curtain slightly.

"Second Master," Gu Jin knelt on one knee in the outer chamber after his journey through wind and rain, "I'm late! I heard on the way that Ducheng was surrounded by cavalry, and I didn't even have time to hasten the horses!"

Xiao Chiye shot up from his inner chambers. The few people under the eaves listened intently. The raindrops still lingered on Gu Jin's face as he met Xiao Chiye's gaze without hesitation, saying, "Second Master, the Master... is indeed gone."