Chapter 53#

The carriage that followed came to a hurried stop before the thatched cottage. Before the young woman could even think, she saw a young man jump down from the carriage, his back to them. He then reached toward the carriage and helped down a frail figure wearing a hooded bamboo hat.#

“They should be people coming for a consultation,” the old woman remarked.

The young woman’s emotions eased slightly, but she remained vigilant. “Arriving right on our heels—this seems a bit off.”

The old woman patted her shoulder, signaling her to relax. “I’ll go take a look.”

“I’ll go with you,” the young woman said, still uneasy.

The group of three consisted of the coachman, who was clearly a trained martial artist, and the two young men who had disembarked, though their backgrounds were unclear.

Outside the cottage, Ye Xuanjiu halted the horse and tied it up.

Qi Hanzhou noticed two sets of wheel tracks on the ground and paused slightly. “Are we too late?”

The person he was supporting, Ying Fusheng, had just alighted and was now looking toward the corner of the fence in the distance. The dust on the ground revealed two empty spots. “They should have left already. This place looks like a pharmacy.”

“Two medicine baskets are missing,” Ying Fusheng said, standing beside Qi Hanzhou, gently sniffing the air. He caught the strange medicinal scent. “The owner went out to gather herbs and hasn’t returned yet. The medicine is still brewing, so they can’t have gone far.”

Just then, Qi Hanzhou looked into the distance. “Someone’s coming.”

A figure emerged from deep within the herb field.

When Ying Fusheng saw the hunched old woman approaching, his body stiffened slightly. She walked with a cane, her movements slow. But when she looked up, her eyes held a certain vitality—an inexplicable familiarity. Yet, at the same time, it didn’t quite match.

Qi Hanzhou noticed Ying Fusheng’s hesitation. Did he know this person?

They had rushed over as soon as they received news of Empress Xu leaving the Huguo Temple. Fortunately, they had planted an informant near her beforehand, which was how they learned she had come here. But the person she was meeting turned out to be an old woman.

Just as they were hesitating, a young woman strode briskly out from behind the old woman.

“Excuse us, is this place…” Qi Hanzhou began, searching for an excuse, but from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Ying Fusheng’s strange expression through the gap in his bamboo hat. His gaze was fixed intently ahead, seemingly staring at the young woman.

The old woman immediately noticed Ying Fusheng, who appeared slightly frail. “Are you here for a consultation?”

“Yes,” Ying Fusheng spoke up first. “Is the doctor’s surname Chen?”

Doctor Chen looked at the young gentleman wearing a bamboo hat, standing behind someone who seemed to be his older brother. Hearing his youthful voice and the accurate guess of her surname, she replied, “That’s right. Please wait a moment, both of you.”

Qi Hanzhou turned to look at Ying Fusheng. How did he know that?

“Xuqiu…”

The old woman’s voice faltered as she called out, quickly clearing her throat and correcting herself. “Tidy up a bit so we can examine the young gentleman.”

Qi Hanzhou looked at the young woman. “And this is?”

“My surname is Chen,” the young woman said briefly, offering no further explanation, clearly unwilling to engage in deeper conversation.

“Miss Chen,” Qi Hanzhou nodded in acknowledgment.

Chen Xuqiu… Ying Fusheng watched as the young woman approached and began clearing the items inside the house. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. How could she be Chen Xuqiu!?

In his past life’s memory, amidst the silent snow of the deep palace, a hand had reached out to him, pulling him back from the brink of death. That person was a female official in the palace, working in the Imperial Medical Bureau, who happened to encounter him while treating the nobles.

But that didn’t match. The face in his memory was aged. If it weren’t for the resemblance in her features and the time they had spent together, he wouldn’t have recognized her. The woman before him was young, seemingly in her twenties, which didn’t align with the female official from his past life—the one who had treated him and even taught him the life-sustaining technique.

After his rebirth, he had asked Song’an to investigate the Imperial Medical Bureau but had found no one matching the description.

Back then, he had assumed that Chen Xuqiu hadn’t yet taken up a post in the palace. He never expected to meet her here, like this.

Thinking about it more carefully, although Chen Xuqiu was old in his past life, she had still walked steadily.

He had attributed it to her being a doctor, but now it seemed the issue was more complicated than that.

Ying Fusheng’s mind was in a whirl. Why had Empress Xu come here? What was the relationship between these two women? As he hesitated, Chen Xuqiu had already cleaned the consultation table. Her gaze briefly landed on Ying Fusheng, still wearing his bamboo hat. She said curtly, “Take that off first. It’s hard to read your complexion.”

Ye Xuanjiu entered the room, looking at Qi Hanzhou in confusion. Weren’t they here to investigate Empress Xu!?

Qi Hanzhou signaled him to stay quiet. The cottage seemed simple, but it was packed with medicinal herbs. The cabinet by the wall was fully stocked, and he could spot some rare ingredients. Having worked with military doctors at the border, he recognized a few herbs. But the medicinal scent in the air was different from the usual… This old woman was no ordinary doctor.

Doctor Chen could tell that the two before her were wealthy and influential. “She’s always been like this. Please don’t take offense, noble ones.”

Before she could finish, Ying Fusheng had already removed his bamboo hat. As soon as he did, Doctor Chen’s expression turned serious. She carefully observed his complexion, and Chen Xuqiu, standing behind her, frowned, her gaze locked onto Ying Fusheng.

Doctor Chen’s voice grew grave. “Young gentleman, extend your hand. Let me feel your pulse…”

Just then, Qi Hanzhou, standing by the door, suddenly tensed. “Watch out!”

The next moment, arrows flew in. Qi Hanzhou spun around and slammed the door shut, but the arrows’ force shattered the cottage’s flimsy defenses, piercing through the walls!

Ying Fusheng had just placed his hand on the pulse cushion when Qi Hanzhou grabbed him and pulled him back in a swift retreat.

Qi Hanzhou scanned the window and saw black-clad figures on horseback stopping abruptly outside. The night had darkened, and the men, dressed in night attire, had their faces covered. As he looked, one of the black-clad men noticed him, and another arrow flew toward him without hesitation. These people were here to kill!

“Shuangyue is her maid. If she doesn’t see her at Huguo Temple, she’ll become suspicious,” Ying Fusheng said, staying low behind Qi Hanzhou. He didn’t dare peek out. “She probably knows about this place.”

They had arrived discreetly. These attackers weren’t after them—their target was likely Chen Xuqiu and the old woman.

Empress Xu couldn’t come alone every time. As a long-time informant embedded by her side, Shuangyue might have sensed something was off. Today, when Shuangyue left the palace to escort Empress Xu, that was already unusual. When she arrived and didn’t find Empress Xu, the mastermind behind the scenes would act swiftly and decisively.

These men outside wouldn’t leave without a fight. They couldn’t let the Brocade Guard be exposed yet. Qi Hanzhou shot a glance at Ye Xuanjiu and, without hesitation, tore off the hem of his robe to cover his face. He saw Ying Fusheng shrinking behind him, then looked at the woman protecting Doctor Chen.

“We’ll stay inside,” Chen Xuqiu said.

Ying Fusheng warned Qi Hanzhou, “Be careful.”

The young boy hid himself well in the shadows. Qi Hanzhou only glanced at him briefly before bursting through the window alongside Ye Xuanjiu. Both were seasoned warriors from the border. As Ye Xuanjiu drew the attackers’ attention, Qi Hanzhou flicked his wrist, sending a cold flash of light straight into a horse’s flank!

The horses reared in panic, forcing the black-clad men to dismount.

Their leader turned and saw an arrow embedded in the horse’s tail. He glared at Qi Hanzhou—this man had snapped off the arrowhead and used it as a projectile! But it was too late; Qi Hanzhou had already closed in, his cold sword aimed at the leader’s throat!

Once engaged, Qi Hanzhou could tell these men’s techniques were ruthless. He couldn’t drag this out. He had to end it quickly.

Outside the cottage, blades clashed and shadows danced. Inside, Ying Fusheng crouched low, peering through the holes the arrows had torn in the walls, watching the chaos. His mind raced. Empress Xu had come here because she needed something from these women. But today, someone had been sent to silence them. This had to be connected to Empress Xu’s purpose here.

Someone had been watching Empress Xu’s every move. Shuangyue’s unusual departure from the palace today, Empress Xu leaving Huguo Temple… Something must have happened to make Shuangyue choose to eliminate witnesses first, without even knowing the full situation.

And Chen Xuqiu…

Ying Fusheng watched her protectively shield Doctor Chen, remembering how Chen Xuqiu had become a female official in the palace in his past life… He thought for a moment.

“Before we arrived, what did the noble visitor tell you?”

His sudden question made Chen Xuqiu wary. Seeing the sudden shift in Ying Fusheng’s tone, she stared at the young man but said nothing.

“Miss Chen, the men outside are here to silence you,” Ying Fusheng said calmly. “From the moment that noble visitor appeared here, they never intended to let you live.”

Chen Xuqiu’s expression flickered. Doctor Chen, still protected behind her, patted her shoulder soothingly.

Just then, another commotion erupted outside.

Ying Fusheng snapped back to attention, looking at Qi Hanzhou.

After a few exchanges, the assassins were showing signs of fatigue. Clearly, they were no match for Qi Hanzhou and Ye Xuanjiu. Ying Fusheng was about to refocus when he noticed a few of the men reaching toward their waists, as if hiding something.

Outside the cottage, Qi Hanzhou’s sword had already closed in on the assassin leader’s vital point. As the blade gleamed, he suddenly shifted his technique. The leader, caught off guard, widened his eyes, seemingly recognizing the swordsmanship. “You are Qi…”

Before he could finish the name, his hand froze at his waist. From a distance, Ying Fusheng saw this and shouted, “Stop his right hand!”

Hearing Ying Fusheng’s cry, Qi Hanzhou acted without hesitation, severing the man’s arm. The leader didn’t even have time to react before Qi Hanzhou subdued him. Meanwhile, the other assassins, seeing this, drove their short blades into their own bodies, ending their lives.

Startled, Ye Xuanjiu watched the assassins fall and quickly sheathed his sword as he approached.

Ying Fusheng emerged from the cottage, but the moment he stood up, his vision suddenly darkened. He tried to grab something for support but grasped at air. He cursed inwardly. Just then, Chen Xuqiu steadied him.

Chen Xuqiu frowned. “Are you alright?”

Ying Fusheng withdrew his hand and muttered a thanks.

Outside, the black-clad men had all killed themselves. Ye Xuanjiu stepped forward, about to pull down their masks to see their faces, when he saw their skin rapidly decay and age, their flesh rotting away. Startled, he stumbled back several steps.

He leaned in for a closer look, but a voice cut him off—

“Don’t touch them!” Chen Xuqiu shouted.

Ye Xuanjiu stopped.

Qi Hanzhou sheathed his sword and stepped back. The rest had all rotted and died. He turned around. The leader, whose right hand Qi Hanzhou had severed before he could act, suddenly bled from all seven orifices and died—clearly from poison.

These men were death warriors. If they couldn’t kill in one blow, they killed themselves, leaving no survivors for interrogation.

Ying Fusheng helped Doctor Chen out of the cottage. When Doctor Chen saw the decaying bodies, she murmured in shock, “This is Plum Blossom Rot.”

“It’s a secret poison from the previous dynasty,” Chen Xuqiu explained briefly to Ye Xuanjiu. “It acts fast. The victim’s entire body dies, and the corpse becomes a deadly toxin. Anyone who touches it will die.”

“If you had touched him, you’d be just like him now,” she added.

Such a sinister substance, taking others with it even in death.

Ye Xuanjiu shuddered at the thought. Qi Hanzhou used his sword to lift the dead man’s face, but it was unrecognizable. The poison had corroded their bodies and most of their clothing. “Destroying the evidence—they didn’t want us to find anything from the bodies.”

But one was still intact.

The death warrior whose right hand had been severed hadn’t gotten the chance to use his dagger. In the end, he must have swallowed poison, leaving a complete corpse. Chen Xuqiu approached, examined it, and determined it was safe before nodding to Qi Hanzhou.

Qi Hanzhou stepped forward to inspect. When he lifted the clothing, nothing seemed unusual—until he reached the waist.

On the dead man’s waist was a strange, intricate tattoo. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to depict a blooming flower at its center.

In that instant, a surreal vision flashed before Qi Hanzhou’s eyes—a chill wind howling from afar, a fleeting figure, a shattered armband revealing a similarly intricate tattoo that gradually overlapped with the one before him. Finally, he heard the heart-wrenching cries of the people of Youzhou City.

“Qi Hanzhou,” Ying Fusheng called.

Qi Hanzhou snapped back to reality, covering the tattoo. His expression quickly returned to normal.

Qi Hanzhou’s expression had momentarily slipped, and only Ying Fusheng noticed. Qi Hanzhou recognized that tattoo—or rather, he had seen it before. Ying Fusheng stored that observation away, committing the tattoo to memory.

Ye Xuanjiu quickly came over, holding a small projectile. His expression was grim. “Young General, look at this.”

The design was unfamiliar, not from the imperial family or the military. It was a privately made weapon.

Ye Xuanjiu hesitated before adding, “If I’m not mistaken, I’ve seen this before in the Eastern Palace.”

At these words, both Ying Fusheng and Qi Hanzhou’s expressions hardened.

These men were death warriors from the Eastern Palace!

“What did the noble visitor ask you?” Ying Fusheng turned to Doctor Chen. After this incident, the two women’s wariness toward them had eased slightly. Doctor Chen hesitated but eventually explained that Empress Xu had asked about the Madness Seed Poison. “The noble visitor has only come a few times, just for consultations and herbs. Nothing more.”

Hearing the symptoms, Qi Hanzhou immediately thought of the Empress Dowager.

That strange, persistent illness of hers—Empress Xu was actually investigating this!?

“We didn’t tell the noble visitor about the Changxin matter,” Chen Xuqiu said bluntly. “But that substance comes from Xishu. In the capital, it’s only found in the imperial palace. It’s extremely rare elsewhere.”

Ying Fusheng pondered for a moment, a bad feeling creeping over him. “We need to get back quickly.”

Seeing that the attackers had destroyed their carriage, Chen Xuqiu offered, “I’ll fetch the horses. You can ride into the city fast.”

Qi Hanzhou ordered Ye Xuanjiu to take the two doctors to safety. Chen Xuqiu had already brought the horses. Qi Hanzhou mounted one, and Ying Fusheng followed. Ying Fusheng extended his hand and said coldly, “I learned horseback riding from Shen Yunfei on the outskirts of the capital.”

Qi Hanzhou hesitated for only a moment before pulling the man onto the horse. “Hold on tight.”

The two galloped off. Ye Xuanjiu sent word for others to clean up the scene. “You two will come with me to a safe place. The death warriors’ failure will be discovered soon. It’s no longer safe here.”

“Thank you,” Doctor Chen said.

But Chen Xuqiu frowned, watching the departing figures. She vividly remembered the strange look the young gentleman had given her, especially the suspicion in his eyes when he learned her surname. As a doctor skilled in reading faces, she could tell that his health was extremely poor, and his lifespan seemed short. Just now, when she had touched his hand, she had felt his pulse—

“Have that young gentleman of yours take care,” she warned.

Ye Xuanjiu hesitated. “Miss Chen?”

Chen Xuqiu said, “His condition is very bad.”