As soon as they left the palace, a carriage emblazoned with the Cui family totem came rushing towards them.
With a mere glance from the Grand Elder, Zhu Er, the carriage driver, immediately pulled the carriage to a halt.
Before A Xun and the others could even ask, the Grand Elder interrupted them in quick succession. "Head straight back to Qinghe at once!"
Although they were confused, under the scrutinizing gazes of the other noble families around them, they obediently complied.
Originally, they were supposed to head straight back to Qinghe, but halfway through the journey, the Grand Elder suddenly split off a small contingent.
Together with the carriage that had brought the Grand Elder back from the imperial city, they stealthily made their way along a small path towards Mount Zhu.
No matter how much A Xun pleaded to know about Cui Jintang's whereabouts, the Grand Elder remained tight - lipped.
The Grand Elder, who usually had a fierce look in his eyes, now had a faint trace of sorrow between his brows.
Mount Zhu.
Facing the woodcutter guarding the mountain gate, the Grand Elder showed great respect. "Please convey our message. The Cui family of Qinghe requests an audience with the venerable Master Chaojuzi."
Without a moment's hesitation, the woodcutter declined. "Mount Zhu has its rules. Outsiders are not allowed to enter. It's still daylight. You all should leave quickly."
Just as the Grand Elder was in a bind, Zhu Er quickly took off the jade pendant hanging from his waist.
"Senior, our young lady is a disciple of Master Chaojuzi."
The woodcutter squinted his cloudy eyes and carefully examined the jade pendant. Only then did he suddenly realize. "So it's Jintang. You may go in then."
"The mountain path is rough. Please walk up the mountain on foot."
The Grand Elder let out a sigh and finally lifted the carriage curtain that no one was allowed to approach.
There revealed a pale and motionless face.
Zhu Er's eyes almost popped out in shock. "Young lady?!"
On one side of the carriage, the wet - nurse was holding a child who had been sleeping for a long time, her eyes empty and lost.
---
Outside the house, a gentle drizzle was falling, while inside, the air was filled with the fragrance of medicinal herbs.
The dancing flames in the charcoal brazier cast flickering shadows on Master Chaojuzi's wrinkled face.
Master Chaojuzi's bony fingers were resting on Cui Jintang's cold wrist on the couch.
Her eyes were calm, like an ancient well without a ripple.
After a while, she withdrew her hand and picked up a purple jade needle from the small table beside her.
She aimed precisely at the center of Cui Jintang's forehead and inserted the needle.
Then, she quickly inserted needles into the eighteen major acupoints on Cui Jintang's body one after another.
After a long time, Master Chaojuzi picked up a pottery bowl at hand. Inside the bowl was the medicine she had brewed with rare mountain treasures.
She carefully pried open Cui Jintang's teeth and slowly fed her the medicine.
After an incense - stick's time, Cui Jintang let out a soft murmur, and her weak breath finally resumed.
Her chest began to rise and fall slowly and steadily.
Master Chaojuzi stared intently for a long time. After confirming that Cui Jintang was out of danger, she slowly exhaled.
Zhu Er, who had been extremely nervous beside her, heard this and carefully asked, "Senior, how is the young lady?"
Master Chaojuzi got up, leaning on her walking stick. Seeing this, Zhu Er quickly stepped forward to support her, but she waved him away.
She slowly said, "This child took the fake - death pill made at the third watch of the night. She also left some leeway when she did this to herself. Fortunately, we arrived in time. Her life is saved."
Hearing this, the tension in Zhu Er's shoulders immediately melted away. He was overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you, Senior!"
Master Chaojuzi turned around. Her gaze fell on the baby wrapped in brocade in the wet - nurse's arms.
The child was sleeping soundly, with a pink face and a sweet breath, completely oblivious to what had happened in recent days.
Thinking of her eldest disciple who was trapped in love, Master Chaojuzi couldn't help but let out a sigh.
Master Chaojuzi stretched out her hand and gently picked up the baby from the wet - nurse's arms.
When she felt the warm and extremely light weight in her arms, her eyes were filled with tenderness and love.
Looking at the child's features, Master Chaojuzi couldn't help but feel a bit sad. "This child looks seven - tenths like Rou'er."
Mentioning Xie Rou, the wet - nurse finally couldn't hold back her tears. Tears rolled down from her empty and listless eyes one by one.
Finally, she covered her face with both hands and cried uncontrollably.
Master Chaojuzi patted the wet - nurse's shoulder with her old hand.
Her voice was gentle. "Hongniang, you've done a great job. You've brought Rou'er's child home."
The wet - nurse couldn't hold back any longer. She broke down in tears, constantly murmuring Xie Rou's name.
As if sensing something, a tear quietly rolled down Cui Jintang's face on the couch.
---
Later, historical records stated:
In the autumn of the nineteenth year of the Yan Kingdom, Pei Zhaolin, the left censor - in - chief, led the Black Armored Army to attack the imperial city and massacred the palace. For a while, the dead were strewn everywhere.
Fortunately, the noble families rushed to the rescue with their troops and finally wiped out the rebels. Pei Zhaolin was also captured alive.
That night, Empress Xie died in the chaotic army while protecting the emperor.
The crown prince was kidnapped by the rebels, and his whereabouts were unknown.
Pei Zhaolin's actions aroused public outrage. The common people jointly submitted a memorial, asking for him to be executed by being torn apart by chariots.
However, the emperor, considering that his ancestors had been loyal and good officials, did not implicate his clan. He only executed Pei Zhaolin and left his body in a mass grave, letting him fend for himself.
Unexpectedly, Pei Zhaolin was not destined to die. He struggled to survive from the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, changed his name, and joined the army.
In five years, with his iron - fisted methods and astonishing strategies, he rose step by step from a despised criminal to a powerful and feared figure who held sway over the entire court.
---
In the twenty - fifth year of the Yan Kingdom.
"Slap!"
A crisp and resounding slap suddenly interrupted the music in the Ruanhong Pavilion.
The slap left a bright red mark on Zhu Er's face.
From the attic, Cui Jintang just felt her own face ache just by looking at it.
But instead of getting angry, Zhu Er covered his face and even grinned foolishly at the charming courtesan Yu Li, whose face was flushed with anger.
Yu Li gritted her teeth and scolded. "You, you stupid blockhead! Clumsy oaf! Talking to you is like playing the lute to a cow! You... you should leave quickly!"
In her life, she had only met people who were glib - tongued and pretended to be refined. She had never seen such a stubborn fool who only knew how to smile stupidly and take the beating.
Zhu Er seemed not to hear the scolding. He smiled foolishly. "Even when Miss Yu Li is angry, her voice is as sweet as a warbling oriole!"
Yu Li was completely at a loss. Regardless of the gazes of the passing guests, her face flushed with shame, and she turned around and ran up the attic.
"Hey? Miss Yu Li, don't you want this wild ginseng? The wild ginseng stew I make is delicious!"
Hearing his voice, Yu Li ran even faster, as if there was some fierce beast chasing after her.
Cui Jintang couldn't bear to watch any longer. She covered her forehead and sighed.
After a while, Zhu Er walked in with a wild ginseng in one hand, looking completely confused.
Cui Jintang was extremely frustrated with him. She poked his arm with her silk fan.
"You saved Yu Li from the other guests before. She said she was weak and had nothing else to repay you. But what did you do? You immediately said you could teach her how to punch to strengthen her body."
"Once wasn't enough. This time, you even took the wild ginseng and asked if she was feeling better?"
Cui Jintang glanced at the bright red slap mark on his face and sneered. "A Xun was right. While others are good at sweet - talking, you can only take Miss Yu Li's slaps."
"I'm willing to!" Zhu Er blushed and quickly defended himself.
Cui Jintang shook her head with a smile. She immediately decided to give up communicating with this dull - witted fellow.
Suddenly, she felt a slight tug on her skirt.
She looked down and saw a little boy about five years old, wearing a brocade jacket, tightly holding onto her sleeve.
The little fellow tried hard to keep a straight face, trying to look calm, but his slightly trembling hands completely betrayed his inner fear.
He looked up at her with a tiny voice, with a faint trace of a sob. "Auntie, can we go home?
"The sisters here all want to touch An'er's face and say they want to take An'er home. An'er is scared!"
Cui Jintang's heart softened. She bent down and stroked his face.
"Auntie will take An'er home right away."
Cui Jintang stood up and glanced at the women beside her.
They guiltily looked away.
Well, the sky is really blue!
Cui Jintang put on her veil hat again and was about to leave quickly when, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a figure in black at the stairs.
The figure was tall and straight, with a cold and chiseled side - profile, carrying an indescribable sense of familiarity. It suddenly disappeared from her sight.
Immediately afterwards, the madam of the brothel wiggled her waist and led a dozen beautiful girls into his private room with a beaming smile.