Lu Qianqiao lay flat on the stone bed, eyes tightly closed, breathing slowly.
War Ghost A silently walked to his side, raised his hand to test his breath under his nose, then pried open his eyelids to take a look, before turning back and saying in a low voice: “No immediate danger to his life.”
War Ghost B nodded: “Take him away. Following Madam’s wishes, send him to Jiaoping Pass.”
“He’s in the final stage of awakening. The slightest mishap could cost him his life. Why must Madam be so urgent?”
“How can our clan live in disgrace underground? Even if we die, we should die on the battlefield! Madam bears to send her own son to the battlefield not only to preserve his honor alone, but also that of our entire War Ghost clan. At times like this, feminine compassion is unnecessary.”
War Ghost A bent down to lift the unconscious Lu Qianqiao, shouldering him, when he suddenly remembered something and said: “His wife.”
“I’ll watch over her. Until the dust settles, I won’t let her leave the Imperial Tomb.”
Before he finished speaking, the door was kicked open with great force. Si Lan rushed in with panic written all over his face. Seeing Lu Qianqiao hoisted on a War Ghost’s shoulder, he immediately moved to charge forward.
War Ghost B raised his hand to block: “Little demon, no need to seek death.”
But unexpectedly, Si Lan rushed to their side and dropped to his knees with a thud, saying solemnly: “I once swore that no matter where the General goes, I will follow him to the death! Please let me follow him this time as well!”
War Ghost A was astonished: “Could you be one of his former subordinates? But you don’t seem to be human.”
“Ten years ago, I was saved by the General. Since then, I vowed never to abandon him.”
War Ghost B nodded approvingly: “Good, knowing gratitude and repaying kindness—you’re a true man. Young Master’s trip to Jiaoping Pass indeed poses mortal danger. Follow along the way and take care of him—perhaps you can help him survive this ordeal.”
“Thank you for your blessing!”
…Unexpectedly, what the General had predicted came true. When he lost his five senses and entered the most dangerous awakening period, the War Ghost clan would send people to take him away. Li Chaoyang would not tolerate her son remaining in the gloomy underground palace, barely surviving. Every War Ghost throughout history had passed through their transformation ordeal this way—in the slaughter and bloodshed of the battlefield, they would either awaken or die.
War Ghosts were a clan that valued honor and dignity. Nothing was more shameful than dying ignominiously. Li Chaoyang’s son especially could not bring such disgrace.
“Little demon, where is Young Master’s wife?”
This casual question made Si Lan clench his fists. He replied without hesitation: “I don’t know. After the General lost his five senses, she ran away on her own.”
War Ghost B smiled: “Ran away? What a heartless girl… Never mind, you go ahead first. I’ll search around the Imperial Tomb area.”
This War Ghost was quite suspicious indeed.
Si Lan silently followed behind Lu Qianqiao, slowly walking out of the underground palace.
If Xin Mei were found by him… No, it shouldn’t be so easy to find her. That room was very well hidden, and surrounded by traps… But what if he really found her? How would he explain this to the General?
Cold sweat broke out densely on Si Lan’s back. Thinking of Xin Mei’s maddening personality, while wanting to cough up blood, he became even more worried.
Little girl, you must take care of yourself!
Completely unaware, Xin Mei was obediently following his words, sitting in the secret chamber competing with Official Zhao for sweet melons.
“Miss, suppose—I’m just saying suppose! Someone took the General away, and you two are about to face a life-and-death separation. What would you do?”
Official Zhao held a melon in one hand and wielded a brush with the other, scribbling on paper as he filled in the plot for his newest, most classic theatrical piece.
Xin Mei answered without thinking: “Nothing special—just go bring him back!”
Official Zhao was so shocked his brush trembled: “Uh… you won’t cry? Won’t make a scene? Won’t be heartbroken and despairing? Such a bland reaction will hurt the General’s fragile heart!”
Xin Mei frowned: “Official Zhao, you’re never right about anything!”
“Nonsense! The General is still an innocent young man—how can he compare to a worldly, experienced, mature, and dashing good man like me?! Say it again—the General has been taken away and faces a tragic death. What should your reaction be?”
“Go bring him back. I won’t let him die. No one can make him die.”
…What a domineering response!
Official Zhao wept with emotion, like a deity touched by divine inspiration, and began writing frantically: “What exactly did you just say? Say it again! I want to plagiarize it for my new play!”
“Is it the theatrical piece about me and Lu Qianqiao?”
“Yes, yes! Look, Miss—in the end, I have the General die at the hands of his furious mother, and you, just pregnant with the General’s child, miscarry from extreme anguish. Then you two, one dead and one mad, entwined forever until the ends of the earth…”
…
With no one around, could she give this crow-mouthed old fool who also stole her melons a good beating?
She raised her hand to grab the few trembling whiskers by Official Zhao’s mouth when suddenly they heard steady footsteps in the corridor. Both froze.
The footsteps stopped in front of the door. “Clank, clank”—two very polite light knocks.
“Miss Xin, please open the door.”
An unfamiliar, cold male voice.
Official Zhao shrank into a ball in fright, shaking his head vigorously: Don’t open the door, don’t pay attention to him!
“I know you’re inside, along with a rat spirit.”
Xin Mei thought for a moment, then stood up and opened the door. Standing before the door was a War Ghost in white clothes, with a face like cold jade and dark red eyes, like… uh, like lychees.
He clasped his hands together, bowed, and said coolly: “I am Li Min. By Madam’s orders, during Young Master’s awakening period, I am responsible for watching over Miss Xin at the Imperial Tomb.”
Xin Mei was stunned for a long time before finally speaking: “Um… who is your Madam? Who is Young Master?”
“Young Master is your husband, General Lu Qianqiao. Madam is Young Master’s mother, Lady Li Chaoyang.”
She thought about it: “I’m not a child. I don’t need watching over.”
Li Min’s expression didn’t change: “Young Master has now gone to Jiaoping Pass for the honor of the War Ghost clan, to suppress peasant rebellions. Whether his awakening succeeds or fails will be decided in these coming days. Please, Miss Xin, quietly wait at the Imperial Tomb.”