On Plum Blossom Island, an unexpected guest arrived.
Li Qingzhi sat beside Sui Yunzhu, his head lowered in shame. When he returned today, he hadn’t realized he was being followed and unwittingly led the person to the island.
This person was none other than Gao Dazhuang!
Having been a eunuch for some time, his mannerisms had become increasingly effeminate. Even the way he held his teacup could make one’s skin crawl.
“Ahem,” he cleared his throat and said to Mo Sigui, “These subordinates of mine…”
Mo Sigui blew out a smoke ring, interrupting him, “Take them all away. It irks me to look at them.”
“Sir, since we’ve come out, we don’t intend to go back,” Li Qingzhi said, a hint of killing intent emanating from him.
“Hmph,” Gao Dazhuang sneered, pointing his finger, “You think everyone is as foolish as you? If I meant to capture you and take you back, would I dare come to the island alone?”
He pointed at An Jiu, “You’re an ungrateful white-eyed wolf. What a waste of the few gu worms Grandpa gave you.”
An Jiu narrowed her eyes, “Have you decided to walk the irreversible path of a eunuch?”
Gao Dazhuang quickly withdrew his hand, rolling his eyes and ignoring her.
“Sir, if you have something to say, please speak directly. If we can help, it would be a way to repay your kindness in setting us free,” Sui Yunzhu said.
“Finally, someone who understands,” Gao Dazhuang glanced at the others. “It’s truly exhausting talking to people like you.”
He took a sip of tea and adjusted to a more comfortable position. “I didn’t follow the rules in using the gu worms because I planned to recruit you under the Second Prince in the future. Who knew you’d be capable enough to escape? Forced melons aren’t sweet, so I won’t force you. I’ve come this time to ask for a small favor.”
“Please speak, sir,” Sui Yunzhu said.
“Many court officials have submitted memorials to punish General Ling. The tide has turned against him, and there are many sycophants around His Majesty. I fear it doesn’t look good for General Ling this time,” Gao Dazhuang said. “The Second Prince wants to save General Ling. If that’s not possible, he hopes you can help break him out of prison.”
Li Qingzhi was about to nod immediately, but Sui Yunzhu spoke first, “We can only do our best.”
Meaning they wouldn’t risk their lives.
“Yunzhu,” Li Qingzhi said angrily, “General Ling is loyal to the country. How can we not risk our lives to save him from this injustice?”
“No one is stopping you from risking your life,” Sui Yunzhu replied.
Though it seemed heartless, he vaguely felt something was amiss behind this matter. Before figuring it out, he wouldn’t make any rash promises.
“What about you?” Li Qingzhi asked An Jiu.
An Jiu paused before answering, “I’ll act according to the situation.”
“You’ve all seen General Ling in battle! For such a hero, is it so difficult to lend a hand in his time of need?” Li Qingzhi’s greatest wish in life was to become a man of integrity like Ling Ziyue, but fate had driven him from that path.
Everyone remained silent.
Mo Sigui leaned back in his chair, blowing smoke rings that rippled like water before him.
“It’s good that you’re willing to help,” Gao Dazhuang stood up. “I’ll head back now. I’ll keep things quiet on my end for as long as I can. Take care of yourselves.”
Sui Yunzhu saw him to the door, and after a moment’s hesitation, Li Qingzhi followed.
An Jiu and Mo Sigui remained motionless in their chairs.
When the two returned, Mo Sigui tapped out his spent pipe. “In the future, don’t bother me with these tedious matters of yours!”
As Mo Sigui had arrived on the island first, the others subtly deferred to him as the leader. When Gao Dazhuang arrived today, they had pulled him out to entertain the guest.
“Doctor Mo, how can this be a tedious matter?! General Ling’s fate is tied to that of the entire Song Dynasty,” Li Qingzhi said, displeased.
Mo Sigui had already staggered to the doorway. Hearing this, he turned back and said, “I don’t care about these things! But I can see clearly that tying a country’s fate to one person is not necessarily fortunate.”
In times of danger, having one person to rely on while others hide behind them, unaware of the true perils, will make people increasingly naive and weak.
This was easy to understand, at least for An Jiu, just like Mei Yanran was to Mei Jiu.
If Ling Ziyue could continue to guard the border, it would be a good thing. But who could guarantee this person would stand unfaltering for a lifetime? The Song Dynasty’s current predicament was not something one or two people could reverse.
“Put in mortal danger to find a way to live,” Sui Yunzhu sighed deeply. “That someone must die for this is a great irony. Doctor, care to guess whether the wolf will devour the weakened lion, or the lion will kill the wolf?”
“Sigui!”
Cheng Changying’s urgent voice came from outside, accompanied by rapid footsteps.
As soon as he appeared, he said, “Miss Lou has fainted at the ferry dock.”
Everyone came to their senses, only to see a blur as Mo Sigui had already disappeared. They hurriedly followed.
When An Jiu reached the dock, Mo Sigui was kneeling on the ground, cradling Lou Mingyue’s head. Upon closer inspection, she saw he was using his fingers to press on a wound between Lou Mingyue’s shoulder and neck.
The wound was very deep and gaping, seemingly having severed a major artery. But as she had been bleeding for so long, the pressure had decreased. The blood wasn’t spurting out but flowing steadily between Mo Sigui’s fingers into the lake, staining a large area red. The surrounding Dream Flowers absorbed the blood, growing wildly at a visible rate. In a short time, the buds had opened into voluptuous red blossoms, more vivid than the blood itself.
“Mingyue, don’t sleep!” Mo Sigui growled.
An Jiu rarely saw him so distraught, his gaunt face speckled with blood.
Mo Sigui slowly channeled his qi into her to ensure she wouldn’t lose consciousness during this time.
Lou Mingyue’s eyelashes were matted with blood. She struggled to open her eyes, her throat moving, cracked lips trembling, but unable to utter a word.
“Ajiu, get my silver needles out,” Mo Sigui said.
An Jiu, accustomed to receiving his treatments, knew he liked to keep his needles in his bosom. She stepped forward to retrieve them and helped support Lou Mingyue’s head.
Mo Sigui freed one hand and swiftly inserted the silver needles around the wound.