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"Rest assured, my lords, the Emperor is an old acquaintance of Mr. Taibai. He once... uh, it's not convenient for me to say, not convenient at all."
Little Li's expression changed slightly, his eyes flickering as he shook his head with excitement, lowering his gaze.
His animated denial made the Zhao Family Brothers exchange knowing smiles, their eyes glinting with a lewd light. No wonder their father and several uncles called the Emperor a fool who stood by without taking action. It seemed that even a fool was smarter than him. After all, it was the Retired Emperor who had pushed him to the throne. Since ascending, he hadn't accomplished a single significant task; he spent his days on trivial matters and remained oblivious to the bizarre events happening right under his nose. If it weren't for the Shen Family, not only would he not be Emperor, but the world would have long since changed hands.
"My lords, this matter must remain confidential. You mustn't let the Imperial Physicians know about this, as they would never agree to the Emperor taking this prescription."
Seeing them silent, Little Li awkwardly shrank his neck and then slapped himself across the face with a loud crack. He quickly adopted a pleading tone.
"Father-in-law, rest assured, we won't leak a word of this. Tomorrow my brother and I will gather the ingredients for this prescription and strive to relieve the Emperor's worries as soon as possible."
Zhao Yangwu raised an eyebrow, propping up Little Li's thin chin with one hand and exhaling lightly.
Little Li shivered and hurriedly bowed in thanks before rushing out of the tent, followed by the eerie laughter of the Zhao Family Brothers.
"Damn it! Luckily I'm clever; otherwise, those two vampires would have drained me dry."
As he stepped out of the tent, Little Li felt goosebumps all over his body. His gaze fell on the soldiers patrolling back and forth, and he couldn't help but spit on the ground, speaking in a sarcastic tone.
The next day, while the main force continued towards the border, one of the Zhao Family Brothers was missing. However, everyone kept silent about it as if they were unaware.
*
Zhushan County Office.
In less than ten days, Xia Muxin was already able to get out of bed and move around, which was quite different from Uncle Fu's previous diagnosis.
"Ming Yi, take me to see your master. I've been lying here for nearly ten days; I'm going moldy! Besides, I can't seem to remember anything no matter how hard I try. Since he is someone very important to me, perhaps seeing him will jog my memory."
At that moment, she was supported by Auspicious and Propitious as she walked directly toward Xiao Yan's study. Finding the door tightly shut, she knocked a few times before speaking up.
During this time, Ming Yi had been at the county office. Due to the sudden outbreak of war at the border, Xiao Yan had mobilized all the forces of the Yamen to protect Zhushan County. He had been coming home late and leaving early, feeling quite exhausted. Today, he happened to be delayed by some matters and was discussing important issues with Ming Yi in the study when Xia Muxin's voice came from outside the door. The two exchanged glances and simultaneously got up to walk toward the entrance.
With a creak, they opened the door and stepped out, their gazes landing on Xia Muxin.
Xia Muxin had been well taken care of recently, her complexion rosy and her face noticeably rounder. At this moment, however, she looked somewhat aggrieved as she gazed at the two, her eyes filled with longing.
"Miss Xia, you... you can move now?" Ming Yi exclaimed in surprise, a hint of something unusual flickering in her eyes.
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin was momentarily taken aback and lowered her head shyly. Then she smiled and said, "Yes, didn’t you say Sister Tang is a renowned healer? After taking her medicine, I feel much better. This morning I could move my legs; I didn't expect to be able to get out of bed. Fortunately, Auspicious and Propitious helped me; otherwise, I would have stumbled after just a few steps. I've been feeling restless inside, vaguely sensing that there are many things I haven't completed. Occasionally, unfamiliar faces flash through my mind, and I wonder if they are my family. At the same time, I really want to see them."
As Xia Muxin spoke, a hint of shyness crept onto her face, making her lower her head even more, her voice growing softer.
Seeing this, Ming Yi and Xiao Yan exchanged troubled looks. After a long pause, Ming Yi sighed and said, "Miss Xia, it's not that we don't want you to see the master; it's just that his current condition is very concerning. We fear that remembering everything might be too much for you to bear."
"But sooner or later I have to face it, right? What difference does it make whether it's today or tomorrow?"
At that moment, looking into her stubborn eyes, Ming Yi felt somewhat lost. However, they could not disrupt what was planned. After a pause, she said, "Then follow me."
In a little over half a tea's worth of time, Ming Yi led them to a quiet and elegant room. The furnishings inside were simple yet tasteful. Two elderly maids greeted them upon their arrival but were soon waved out by Ming Yi.
On the bed lay a tall man with striking features; at this moment, his eyes were tightly shut as if he were asleep. His breathing was uneven—sometimes rapid and sometimes slow—his complexion fluctuating between pale and flushed. The entire room felt cold and lifeless, sending chills down one’s spine without a trace of warmth.
"Will he... wake up?"
Xia Muxin took a step forward, her gaze fixed tightly on the sleeping face, and suddenly choked out, "Is he... the one who killed my entire family?"
This matter was no longer a secret throughout Celestial Glass. Xia Muxin's awareness came as no surprise to anyone; it was just that the atmosphere was particularly heavy, and no one dared to respond to her words.
They stood there in silence until Ming Yi finally spoke up.
"In a few days, people from the Marquis's Residence will come to take the master back. They said that even if... he is dead, he must return to his roots."
As he mentioned returning to one's roots, Ming Yi could no longer contain himself and rushed out.
Xia Muxin stood in Shen Muhan's room for nearly two hours. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly clutched her head and sank down in pain. By the time Uncle Fu arrived, before he could even approach her for treatment, she abruptly looked up. Her clear eyes were bloodshot as she coldly stared at Ming Yi and said in a chilling voice, "Did he... kill my entire family?"
Ming Yi's pupils dilated, his face turned pale, and he seemed as if all life had been drained from him, like a wooden statue. He remained frozen until Xia Muxin walked past him with an icy demeanor.
"Let me go! You wicked people! How dare you restrict my freedom? I want to go home! I miss my parents..."
"Shen Muhan, you heartless monster! How could you kill my family? They treated you so well..."
"Shen Muhan, I will have nothing to do with you ever again! If anyone should die, it should be you..."
After returning to her own room, Xia Muxin sat there all night. The next day, she packed a few changes of clothes to return to Daimiao Village but was stopped by Ming Yi and others who guarded her closely, not allowing her to step outside even once. Every day she pounded on the door like a madwoman, her words dripping with blood from hatred, resentment, and blame...
It wasn't until ten days later that Shen Muhan was taken away by people from the Marquis's Residence. Only then did Xiao Yan come to her door and let her out, immediately driving her away from the county office.
Xia Muxin never expected they would burn bridges after crossing them. Once Shen Muhan left, he treated her like she was nothing—she felt like she could spit blood in frustration. However, instead of going back to Daimiao Village, she bought a horse and stocked up on provisions before heading straight out of the city.
"Indeed, the most venomous heart belongs to a woman. In this world, it's best not to offend anyone—especially not a madwoman."
Upon hearing this news, Xiao Yan couldn't help but shiver all over as he shook his head nervously. Just as he finished speaking, two individuals from Auspicious and Propitious kicked open his door—one holding a whip and the other a candle. Xiao Yan quickly covered his mouth in shock, his eyes wide open. After a long moment of silence, he finally pleaded for mercy:
"Two ladies, ancestors, it's the master's intention for you to serve that woman, not mine. How could I dare... ah... ah... help! Your honorable lord is about to be killed by these two shrews..."
Outside the door, the two guards on duty yawned, turning a deaf ear to the scene. They had witnessed such a spectacle thirty-one days a month.
*
"Look at what? Never seen a handsome guy before? Hurry up and finish what our prince ordered, or you'll die right here."
It was yet another desolate place, with tents pitched all around. Xia Muxin's hands and feet were not bound, but her mouth was still silenced. At that moment, a makeshift earthen stove was boiling a large pot of water. Nearby, several soldiers dragged over a few live sheep, preparing to slaughter them. One soldier tossed some garlic cloves and ginger pieces at her, signaling her to clean them. However, Xia Muxin's gaze was fixed on the sheep. A few soldiers thought she was drooling over their extraordinary looks and began to mock her.
Instantly, laughter erupted around her.
These soldiers were unaware of Xia Muxin's true identity and considered her just a mute. With the Third Prince backing her, they found her unappealing but dared not act too harshly; occasional mockery was unavoidable. The Third Prince turned a blind eye to it and even nicknamed her "You Stinky Girl."
Over time, everyone got used to calling her that and often made jokes about her appearance, mostly in ridicule.
Each of these men was tall and burly, their arms thicker than their own thighs, sporting scruffy beards and speaking in coarse tones with rough movements, resembling brutes.
This was precisely the type Xia Muxin despised.
Suddenly, she picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at the man who was about to slaughter the sheep. With a thud, the stone struck him right between the eyebrows, instantly opening a gash from which blood gushed forth.
- End of Chapter -
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