The people of Fu Guo Gong Fu were all impatiently waiting at the front door after receiving the Imperial Edict. Although, because of this incident, Fu Guo Gong Fu was heavily surrounded by Imperial Guards. But the fact that the Emperor granted mercy and allowed Qu Zhang Qing to recover first before being brought to trial was already extremely good news.
At this moment, Ji Shu Yu, Qu Fei Qing, and even Lao Tai Jun with a walking stick lead the crowd of people waiting in the front door.
The sound of a carriage passing over the limestone path was heard. The people's faces were all filled with joy and excitement, if not for the Imperial Guards preventing them from leaving the mansion, the crowd may have already rushed to the carriage.
After the carriage stopped, Jiao Da supported Qu Zhang Qing out of the carriage. Qu Zhang Qing slightly raised his head and saw his grandmother, mother, and sister looking at him teary eyed. Qu Zhang Qing only realized the beauty of the world after leaving the dark and humid jail of the Ministry of Justice. In his heart, his love and care for his family also increased. Seeing his family deeply worried for him. Even though the wounds hurt so much that he could not straighten his back, he still managed to move his pale white lips and show a comforting smile.
After waiting for Jiao Da to help Qu Zhang Qing walk the ten steps of stairs to enter the gates of Fu Guo Gong Fu, everyone immediately rushed up and lightly put Qu Zhang Qing on the soft seat of a sedan. The servants carried him running to Chu Yun Ge right away.
The one who sent Qu Zhang Qing over today was Jiao Da, who never strayed far from Chu Wang, so Gu laotaijun immediately treated him with courtesy and personally led him to the inner courtyard.
Jiao Da first glanced at the direction Chu Fei Yang left a while ago before he followed laotaijun to Rui Lin Yuan. He was planning to tell her everything that happened today.
“Xiaojie, nubi went to the back door of Fu Guo Gong Fu a while ago. Biao xiaojie's yatou told nubi that biao shaoye has been sent back by the Emperor!” Mu Chun entered Qi Luo Yuan filled with happiness and had immediately told Yun Qian Meng the good news.
“That is great. There are taiyi in Fu Guo Gong Fu, so I believe that biaoge will recover soon. Oh, have Mi mama and Ying Xia come back yet?” Hearing the words of Mu Chun slightly relieved Yun Qian Meng.
Regardless whether or not the injustice of Qu Zhang Qing had been cleared, a cell in the Ministry of Justice is not a good place to stay too long. Being there would make it easy for Su Yuan to do something in secret.
“Nubi will look outside.” Mu Chun bowed, then left the room.
After a while, Mi mama and Ying Xia quickly entered the inner room. The two looked worn, so Yun Qian Meng knew that they had returned urgently and she immediately put down the book in her hand to looked at them.
“Nubi greets xiaojie.” The two bowed.
“Mama, how was it? Will Ying Qiu be able to cure the poison?” Yun Qian Meng said nervously, her eyes tightly staring at the two people in front of her.
Hearing that, Mi mama smiled, and immediately replied, “Ying Qiu said that this poison is not hard to cure. But there is one ingredient of the antidote that is extremely precious. It is possibly that it can't be found in Xi Chu.”
Hearing the first sentence, Yun Qian Meng was delighted, but after hearing the rest, she lightly knitted her delicate eyebrows.
It was obvious that the person who had done the poisoning intended harm and would not be kind hearted enough to use a poison that was easy to cure.
So that was why the person behind this plan did not bother to send other assassins over after Qu Ling Ao was only hurt. He might have already foreseen that the poison could not be cured even by the taiyi from the physician's institute, and Qu Ling Ao was only awaiting his death. That was the reason for the confidence.
But, the situation was not yet at its final stages. How could she just give up?
“Did Ying Qiu mention the name and characteristic of the herb? We still have more than a month's time. I believe that we can surely find the antidote.” Yun Qian Meng could not help but increase her stubbornness. Her belief of not giving up until the last moment from her days as a police officer suddenly came to her mind, making her look incomparably firm at the moment.
“Xiaojie, the name of the herb is Hu Ge! Nubi doesn't know about the shape and other characteristics of the herb because there is no such herb in Xi Chu.” This time, the one who replied to Yun Qian Meng was Ying Xia who had come in along with Mi mama. Her eyebrows were tightly knitted when she spoke, as if she was thinking about something.
Seeing her expression, Yun Qian Meng felt a surge of rising hope and softly asked, “Ying Xia, do you know where to find this herb?”
If it was so, then she really received a great gift from Rong Yun He by sending her these two special and useful maids.
Ying Xia slightly nodded, and said with curiosity in her eyes, “Nubi remembers someone mentioning the name of this herb when I was young.”
After replying, she remained silent and started thinking again.
Yun Qian Meng did not bother her either, as long as she thought of where to find this Hu Ge, even if she needed to experience a thousand difficulties and a million dangers, she would find it.
Ying Xia lowered her head and thought deeply. She did not move for half an incense stick. Yun Qian Meng let Mi mama go out and rest for a while as she herself picked up the book she was reading a while ago then silently continued reading and did not disturb Ying Xia.
“Xiaojie! Nubi remembers!” Ying Xia suddenly shouted, but it did not surprise Yun Qian Meng who had continuously watched her.
Seeing her overjoyed, Yun Qian Meng also smiled and felt the joy. She immediately asked, “Who was it?”
“Xiaojie! Nubi remembered! In Xi Chu, I'm afraid this Hu Ge can only be found in one place. A few years ago, Nubi went to Pu Guo An along with Rong Xian taifei and Rong gongzi. While serving tea to Rong gongzi, Nubi unintentionally heard gongzi mention that Jiu Xuan shitai seemed to have gotten a small box of the precious Hu Ge by chance!”
Yun Qian Meng closed the book on her hands. Her lips showed a glimpse of a smile and her eyes shone with brightness, but her voice seemed to contain more seriousness than a while ago. “Since that's the case, quickly prepare a carriage to head to Pu Guo An!”
Ying Xia was quite surprised at Yun Qian Meng's words and immediately asked, “Xiaojie believes nubi? If nubi is wrong, it will tire xiaojie for travelling such a long distance.”
Yun Qian Meng just stood up, her hands lightly patted the folds in her skirt, then smiled and said, “Then I'm going to ask you, what can you get from lying to me? Whether or not I will go for nothing will be clear once I get to Pu Guo An.”
Ying Xia could not help but admire Yun Qian Meng for not being like the various xiaojie of other families who were overly suspicious. She immediately went out of Qi Luo Yuan to prepare the carriage.
For the trip, Yun Qian Meng only rode in a common and unnoticeable carriage. She only brought Ying Xia and Yuan Dong with her and even had Yuan Dong run the carriage. The carriage quickly went to the official road and headed towards Pu Guo An.
The horse's hooves stepped on the yellow soil and brought up a lot of dust. Because the speed of the carriage was too fast, Yun Qian Meng and Ying Xia both needed to hold on the walls of the carriage in order to sit stably.
Half a cup of tea's time after the carriage left the city gates when Yuan Dong's voice was heard from the outside. “Xiaojie, it seems like someone is following us.”
“Speed up.” Yun Qian Meng calmly ordered. Ying Xia and herself then held onto the carriage more tightly in order not to fall down.
Her going out today was just decided moments ago. She had gone discreetly in order to avoid the notice of the the person behind all the evil plans and prevent them from stealing the Hu Ge that could save a life.
But the opponent was very thorough; it might be that everything related to Fu Guo Gong Fu was being monitored.
A cold look appeared in Yun Qian Meng's eyes as she secretly thought, 'who are these people who had been following her since she left the house?'
The sound of an arrow whizzed by.
“Careful!” Yun Qian Meng pulled Ying Xia over based on instinct, then quickly pressed her head down. The moment Ying Xia's head was lowered, an arrow shot through where she had been seated. The arrow had gone right through the carriage wall from the other side.
It seemed like the person who shot the arrow used all of his strength, otherwise, Yun Qian Meng, who was inside the carriage, would not have heard the sound of the arrow and neither would the arrow have been able to pass through the thick walls of the carriage.
“Xiaojie! Are you alright?” In the midst of the extreme crisis, Ying Xia's became pale and had lost all the colour from her face, but at least she did not lose her mind. Her heart was filled with concern for Yun Qian Meng's safety as she closely shielded Yun Qian Meng's front.
“Yuan Dong, if we are being ambushed from the front, no matter who it is, just run through it.” Yun Qian Meng ordered with an unexpectedly calm voice. Her eyes were extremely cool but in her heart, she experienced unlimited anger. It seemed like the person really did not want Qu Ling Ao to live. If there were any moves were done to help him, that person would immediately eliminate the source of trouble completely.
Surprisingly, aside from the arrow a while ago, the road after was quiet and nothing dangerous happened again. This made the three of them more suspicious. They did not dare stop on the way and went directly to Pu Guo An.
“A group of useless grunts. You can't even catch a woman!” When the figure of the carriage was quickly receding, a voice filled with fury sounded from a hill. It was followed by two loud slaps.
“Please calm down, zhuzi. This is Xi Chu's official road. If something happened, it will surely be noticed immediately. We are just trying to find the thing that zhuzi lost. It is better not to do anything rash. Besides, a while ago, after beizhi shot the arrow, I noticed that someone at the back shot something at beizhi's arrow as well, causing the arrow to lose two-thirds of its power. I'm afraid that while we are following that carriage, we were also tailed by someone else.” The soldier who received the two slaps immediately half-kneeled and explained the situation.
The person coldly snorted and added a kick to the soldier. He mounted the horse and coldly said, “Follow that carriage carefully, see where the best place to attack is.”
The person's whip strongly struck the horse and the horse, feeling the pain, quickly rushed forward.
“Xiaojie, we have arrived at Pu Guo An.” Yuan Dong rushed the rest of the way. Even when they entered the mountains, she still did not slow down. Once the carriage stopped at the gates of Pu Guo An, did she stop and assist Yun Qian Meng. The three have not yet gone up the stairs, before the sound of a horse quickly galloping was heard.
Yun Qian Meng looked back and saw Chu Fei Yang rushing over on a horse. He did not even bring a single soldier or servant with him. Yun Qian Meng let out a sigh at his boldness.
On the other hand, after Chu Fei Yang had seen that she was unharmed, the worry in his eyes slowly faded. He pulled on the halter to stop, then immediately went down from the horse's back with swift movements he quickly walked up to Yun Qian Meng. Looking closely, though her hair seemed a little messy, it was still in place. The anxiety in Chu Fei Yang's heart finally went away completely. His lips turned into a smile, “Is Yun xiaojie going to pray for houye?”
When Yun Qian Meng heard his question, she immediately realized that Chu Fei Yang surely knew something, but she did not say the truth just to be safe. Following Chu Fei Yang's words she said, “Jiujiu remains unconscious and the people of Fu Guo Gong Fu can't leave the mansion. Only chennu is relatively free at the moment; therefore, I came up to the mountain to pray to Buddha in lieu of them, hoping to bless everything in Fu Guo Gong Fu would go smoothly.“
Seeing her speaking rather seriously, Chu Fei Yang did not expose her but also did not leave. He walked up the stone stairs and said, “Since that's the case, Yun xiaojie's thoughts are quite similar to benxiang's. We are both praying for our close relatives.”
Yun Qian Meng swallowed back the words of farewell. Thinking of the Hu Ge of Jiu Xuan shitai, she can only force herself to follow behind Chu Fei Yang and go up the stairs.
The moment the four of them arrived at the main hall of Pu Guo An, they saw Jiu Xuan shitai standing inside and ordering the disciples to complete some arrangements. Yun Qian Meng and Chu Fei Yang stopped their steps and waited at the side.
Jiu Xuan shitai quickly noticed the arrival of Chu Fei Yang and Yun Qian Meng. After briefly giving a few more orders, she walked to the two of them. One was smiling and pleased, the other calm and at ease. She calmly addressed them, “Long time no see, shizhu.”
When Jiu Xuan shitai turned to speak with her, Yun Qian Meng calmed herself down, smiled and said, “Qian Meng greets shitai. How is shitai?”
“Everything is good inside the temple. Did you two come here to pray or to ask for a fortune?” Jiu Xuan calmly spoke as usual. She waved her hands for a disciple come over, intending to have Yun Qian Meng and Chu Fei Yang be lead to the Buddha.
“Many thanks to shitai. But today, Qian Meng came here neither to pray nor to get a fortune. Instead, I have something to discuss with shitai.” Her eyes and brows filled with a sincere expression as Yun Qian Meng lightly shook her head at the offered gesture of the younger nun.
“If that's so, then please come with pinni to the inner courtyard.” Jiu Xuan shitai did not show much surprise with Yun Qian Meng's words. She brought Yun Qian Meng alone to a side room of the inner courtyard calmly.
On the other hand, Chu Fei Yang exited the main hall after they left and entered the inner courtyard from the entrance on the other side.
“Shizhu, what is the matter?” Jiu Xuan did not have the help of servants in her daily life. With Yun Qian Meng in her room, she surprisingly boiled a pot of snow water left from last year herself and took out tea leaves from a small box. Her long and thin fingers lightly pinched a few leaves into the white glazed porcelain teacup, then she poured the hot snow water to wash it. Afterwards, she filled the cup again and handed it to Yun Qian Meng.
Yun Qian Meng took the precious and delicate teacup from Jiu Xuan shitai, noticing that Jiu Xuan shitai was a person who lived a high quality life. Inwardly, she became more careful in preventing herself from saying something wrong and miss the chance of getting the Hu Ge.
Jiu Xuan was carefully examining Yun Qian Meng's actions. She lightly blew the steam, took a sip, and savored the taste of the tea, before she opened her mouth, “The tea of shitai definitely has a nice fragrance, leaving a rich aftertaste. Today, I came to ask for a favor from shitai. If what I will ask of you is too difficult for shitai, Qian Meng still would not have wasted this trip.”
Jiu Xuan shitai observed her optimism and inside her heart, she could not help but feel more respect for this little girl, so she spoke more gently, “Shizhu overpraises.”
Yun Qian Meng put down the teacup, raised her bright eyes, and spoke more seriously, “Shitai is rather particular even with drinking tea. The things you use are all of good quality. Presumably, your are also in possession of precious treasures that are never heard of by us normal citizens.”
Jiu Xuan shitai inferred that she was implying something in between the lines but did not urgently ask. Instead, she leisurely took a sip of the tea and said, “Hearing the words of shizhu, can it be that you are asking for something from Pu Guo An? But Pu Guo An is a place filled with the peace and quiet of Buddhism. Anything used here is totally different from the mortal world. it's very likely that pinni will not be able to help xiaojie.”
Jiu Xuan shitai seemed to be declining even before hearing what Yun Qian Meng was asking for. Her heart felt a bit tense, but her face was still all smile and calmness. She continued to pursuade Jiu Xuan shitai, “Shitai is known for saving all living things from suffering after becoming a nun. This time, what I am asking for is just something that can save someone's life. I hope that shitai can grant my wish.”
As Jiu Xuan heard Yun Qian Meng's explanation, knowing of the happenings in Fu Guo Gong Fu, she was able to partly guess that what Yun Qian Meng was asking for was most probably something like herbs or medicines.
But in the entire country, the palace was the one place where one could find all kinds of rare and precious herbs. The only thing that the palace might not have, perhaps, was the box of Hu Ge.
With this line of thought, Jiu Xuan began to fully understand, but...
Jiu Xuan put down her teacup and said in a cold voice, “Shizhu is a young lady from a distinguished family, and is also the blood-related niece of the current Empress Dowager. If shizhu needs something to help save someone's life, why don't you go ask the Empress Dowager?”
Yun Qian Meng saw her facial expression and immediately knew that Jiu Xuan shitai surely knew what she was asking for.
It was really inappropriate for her to ask for this extremely precious herb, but if this herb can be found in the palace, the Empress Dowager would have surely sent it to Fu Guo Gong Fu as early as possible. There would have been no need for her to take the risk and come over.
“Shitai, herbs are originally meant to save people's lives. However precious a herb is, if it can't fulfill its purpose, it is just an ordinary object. Qian Meng knows that it is presumptuous of me to come here today, but I request shitai to please understand Qian Meng's eager to save someone.” Yun Qian Meng's eyebrows were tightly knitted, her eyes were clear and teary, her face looked so sincere than anyone would soften their hearts when they looked at her.
Jiu Xuan shitai was one who does not care about the worldly affairs, does not let herself be influenced by things in the mortal world, and does not let anything shake her state of mind. But at the current expression of Yun Qian Meng, who was usually cool and calm, she sighed in her heart, and told the truth, “Shizhu does not know, but the herb you are asking for was already lost one and a half month before. Pinni gave orders for the whole of Pu Guo An to be searched, but found nothing. Therefore, today, it is not that pinni does not want to help. I have the heart but am incapable. Shizhu must go back and think of another way.”
While speaking, Jiu Xuan shitai stood up and opened the wooden door of the room.
After hearing the words, her heart was strongly shaken. Yun Qian Meng knew that there was no reason for Jiu Xuan to fool her, so she slowly stood up, curtsied to Jiu Xuan shitai, then left the room.
“Yun shizhu!” Jiu Xuan shitai unexpectedly called out to Yun Qian meng.
“Does shitai have some guidance to give?” Yun Qian Meng knew in her heart that Jiu Xuan shitai was not someone who spoke a lot. For the shitai to have called her, perhaps it was a favorable turn of the situation. Yun Qian Meng immediately turned back and looked at her.
“Inside Hai wangfu, rare herbs are all over the floor.” Jiu Xuan shitai only mentioned this one sentence and immediately closed the door of the room.
Hai wangfu?
Yun Qian Meng's heart tightened. She already incurred some animosity with Hai Tian because of the incident of her falling into the water last time.
Moreover, Hai wangfu originally wanted to have a relationship with Fu Guo Gong Fu. After the accident in Fu Guo Gong Fu happened, Hai wangfu did not mention the proposal again, presumably, to avoid the danger.
If they asked Hai wangfu for a precious herb to help save the life of Qu Ling Ao, the experienced and cunning Hai wang would probably not agree, or he may take this opportunity to ask for something excessive. If this were to happen, would Fu Guo Gong Fu not end up being controlled by others?
Yun Qian Meng slowly walked through the courtyards in between the rooms, her mind and thought focused entirely in the situation, ignoring her personal safety.
Only until a violent gust of wind crashed against her back did Yun Qian Meng become alert. With a quick dodge, she was able avoid a sneak attack. Following which, she caught the attacker off guard with an unexpected side kick that connected right in the chest of her opponent who staggered back. His hands covered his chest and was not even able to say a word through the pain.
“Shoot!” A cool sound came through. Yun Qian Meng did not even think before moving like lightning. She took the opportunity while the man was bracing his chest and moved to his back. She pulled out the golden hairpin from her hair and pressed it onto the person's neck, and coldly said, “If whoever dared to shoot, he will immediately stop breathing.”
“Stop!” A panting and dismayed voice came through, the archers hidden in the surroundings all revealed themselves. The person who screamed was surprised that his zhuzi was being held by a small girl. His face not only showed worry, but also amazement for Yun Qian Meng.
“Yun Qian Meng, how dare you grab me!” The person who had his throat pressed into by a golden hairpin suddenly shouted furiously.
Yun Qian Meng recognized the person from his voice. Could it be the assassin who boldly charged into the palace the other day?
Yun Qian Meng's face only showed a cold and merciless smile as she spoke in an equally cold tone, “Why will I not dare to? It's rather daring for you to attack me from behind.”
No wonder he was hurt by Wu daren the other day. He did Kung Fu like a cat with three feet. He could not even deal with a small girl like her, and he still dared to show his face.
Of course, this person gave Chen wang cause to almost ruin her reputation. Yun Qian Meng naturally would not forgive him or let him go. The hairpin in her hand was slowly poking into the skin of the assassin. Blood already started to slowly flow down the fair and white neck of the assassin. This scared his companions so much that they could not make a move carelessly.
“Are you all good-for-nothing? You can't even deal with a woman? Quickly shoot! Shoot her to death!” Thinking of the humiliation he had received in the brothel and now held by this woman, the assassin was momentarily ashamed into anger and he shouted to his subordinates rashly.
But in that same moment, the archers who were aiming their bows at Yun Qian Meng suddenly collapsed, leaving only the twenty plus bodyguards with swords looking nervously at their surroundings.
“Give him to me.” Chu Fei Yang unexpectedly appeared beside Yun Qian Meng, as she still held the assassin in front of her. Although impressed by Yun Qian Meng's courage, this kind of close contact between a man and a woman made Chu Fei Yang suddenly have the need to grab the assassin himself. The two fingers of his right hand easily pinched the neck of the assassin, rendering the man unable to move.
“Chu Fei Yang, don't think that you can escape today! I have this many people beside me, while you are alone and you even need to bring this woman with you. I'm afraid you can't fly away even if you had wings.” Although the assassin had already been held by Chu Fei Yang, but his voice still sounded wildly arrogant.
“Even if that is the case, I only need to catch you alone. Even if I'm facing a thousand soldiers and a million horses, benxiang will certainly succeed. Everyone, move back ten feet.” Chu Fei Yang still had a relaxed appearance, but the two fingers holding the assassin's artery slightly exerted more force, frightening the subordinates of the assassin into immediately obeying Chu Fei Yang's order.
With her hands, Yun Qian Meng wiped off the blood on her golden hairpin on the assassin's clothes, before she placed it back in her hair and stood to the side with a cold expression.
“How obedient! Don't worry, since benxiang let you go once, I can also let you a second time. But, last time, it was benxiang who owed you. This time, it's your turn to owe benxiang. Have you already thought of how to repay the favor?” Chu Fei Yang satisfyingly looked at the reaction of the enemy, as he spoke to him softly beside his ear. This angered the assassin so much that his whole body shook, and his eyes fiercely glared at Yun Qian Meng.
Yun Qian Meng only innocently shrugged her shoulders, and said with a tone that would drive a person crazy, “Your ability is inferior, why do you vent your anger on other people?”
When she spoke, Yun Qian Meng clearly felt Chu Fei Yang glance at her face with a smile. He was laughing because he easily took the hostage from her hands without the least bit of resistance!
Yun Qian Meng felt annoyed, but she could only blame that fact that she did not know the martial arts of this ancient time, otherwise she would surely compete with Chu Fei Yang to see who was better.
“Repay? It is your honor to do anything for me, how dare you ask for repayment! Are all people in Xi Chu this greedy and insatiable?” Although he was already in a difficult situation, the assassin was still very arrogant.
Yun Qian Meng suddenly looked at the assassin after hearing his words. The golden hairpin she put in her hair was once again pulled out and pushed against his throat. She coldly said, “Speak. Do you have anything to do with the incidents that recently happened in Fu Guo Gong Fu?”
Translated by: Lilian
Edited by: seriouspotato
Proofread by: Chocolate Morn