Chapter 67 Searching for a Person

Perhaps due to exhaustion, Long Langyue quickly fell asleep, sleeping soundly with her eyes closed, just like she had in the carriage.

Seventeen looked down at him, sighed softly, and carefully placed him on the bed.

Long Langyue was unusually quiet after falling asleep. His usually sharp eyes were covered, only highlighting his handsome face.

Thinking about it carefully, Mingyue actually revealed many flaws, whether it was her eyes or the incense, but no matter how I thought about it, I never thought it was the same person.

Seventeen blinked and came back to her senses. Looking at the man breathing evenly, she remembered what Yuanfu had told her before.

Yuanfu said that His Majesty sleeps little, is often troubled by worries, and does not sleep well. He asked Yuanfu not to disturb His Majesty when he is on night duty.

But this person is sleeping soundly now.

A slight smile played on his lips as he suddenly realized that Long Langyue was somewhat different from what he had imagined.

Her long ponytail slid down her shoulders, and Seventeen rested her elbows on the edge of the bed, quietly watching Long Langyue.

His winding black hair flowed like a river, wrapping around Long Langyue's shoulders and intertwining with his long hair.

Their identical black hairs were tangled together, like a pool of spring water disturbed.

Seventeen moved her lips, biting her lower lip in hesitation, before finally lowering her eyelashes and stretching her head forward.

Her black hair slid down to Long Langyue's collarbone again, revealing her thin but beautiful lips right in front of him. How could anyone resist?

Breathing intertwined with hair, melting and merging together, finally turning into a wisp of white smoke.

The warm touch was right in front of him. Seventeen stared blankly at the person in front of him, then suddenly realized what was happening and immediately got up and backed away. Just as he was trying to escape in a disheveled state, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.

The sudden movement caught Seventeen off guard, and she was pulled backward until her wrists were firmly pressed down and her back hit the hard bed.

Caught off guard, he frowned slightly and gasped, only to see the person who should have been asleep.

Long Langyue's dark eyes were as black as ink, and he didn't even blink.

Seventeen panicked. Wasn't he asleep? Then what had just happened...?

His thoughts were still in turmoil, but the thin, cicada-wing-like touch on his lips made him freeze instantly.

All his chaotic thoughts vanished. The touch, though light and faint, felt like a weight of gold, almost suffocating him.

Seventeen immediately pushed the person away and fled in panic.

Seventeen did not have a separate tent and should have been crammed together with the other soldiers, but Long Langyue had the deputy general set up a smaller tent next to his main tent, ostensibly to provide Seventeen with close protection.

Although the deputy general didn't understand who was protecting whom given His Majesty's skills, he still prepared a younger one to stay with Yuanfu as instructed.

The two beds were separated only by a screen. Yuanfu had already gone to bed, but he was still not sleepy. Hearing the sound of Seventeen returning, he asked, "Is it time? Then Seventeen, you can rest first. This old servant will go and keep watch."

He and Yuanfu had already agreed that one of them would keep watch for half the night. Seventeen, his cheeks flushed, mumbled, "That's about enough, Father-in-law, go ahead."

Yuanfu paused, his hand still wrapped in his outer robe, and narrowed his eyes. Why did this kid's voice sound a little off?

However, he wasn't that curious. He went around the screen and took a look, but couldn't figure it out, so he squatted down outside the main tent with his hands in his pockets.

The lights inside the main tent were still on... Yuanfu sighed inwardly and asked gently, "Has Your Majesty not yet rested?"

"Um."

Yuanfu lifted the curtain and went inside, earnestly advising, "Your Majesty, this old servant understands, but if you don't rest well, the dragon..."

His eyes widened slightly as he looked at His Majesty, who was lying diagonally on the bed as if... well, you know.

"Go fetch a basin of water."

Yes, yes.

Yuanfu bowed and took his leave. Once outside, he lightly patted his face and muttered to himself, "What a pathetic sight!"

However, thinking about it, he felt quite emotional. When His Majesty was still a prince, he was sent by the Empress to serve him. Over the years, he has not even had a concubine.

He was anxious; how could a monarch not have a warm bed? But there was nothing he could do.

Dajing is all show and no substance; it looks glamorous on the outside but is filthy inside. Just dealing with this mess takes a lot of effort.

His Majesty, a teenager, had to shoulder such a heavy responsibility.

It's fine now, who cares about his identity or gender, as long as His Majesty is happy.

In his opinion, it was only after the Seventeenth Prince arrived that he felt His Majesty had become more down-to-earth; his previous dignified and gentlemanly demeanor only seemed like a mask.

Yuanfu quickly convinced himself and happily went to boil and fetch water, overjoyed.

Long Langyue knew exactly what the old eunuch was thinking, so she closed her eyes and didn't bother to explain.

"Your Majesty, you must take care of your health, after all, the fate of Vice General Long is currently unknown..."

Yuanfu cautiously reminded him that although he was very happy that His Majesty and his beloved had made good progress, it would be a bit inappropriate if the Northern Army outside knew about it.

Our deputy general's fate is unknown, and you're here with a beauty in your arms?

Long Langyue took a deep breath and said coldly, "I know, get out."

Yes, yes.

Yuanfu stood guard outside with his hands in his pockets, looking at the full moon in the Northern Di desert, which was quite different from that in Yejing. He pondered how to arrange things if an empress was to be established. It didn't seem quite appropriate to have the seventeen guards wear empress's robes.

Oh dear, I'm a little worried.

*

The Northern Rong and the Northern Army camps were separated by a very wide grassland.

Since ancient times, the Northern Rong people have lived a nomadic life, and their people are known for their fierceness and robust physique.

The people of the northern lands in earlier times had some Northern Rong blood.

Long Xiaoyun shook out the strips of cloth he had picked up and used them to bandage the wound on his arm, so that he wouldn't bleed to death instead of being killed by the Northern Rong people.

After the bandage was finished, he put his clean outer robe back on and listened for footsteps.

"Brother Yun, get up."

A woman dressed in exotic clothing walked in. Her hair was a strange dark red, much like dried blood.

After being shot by the traitor, Long Xiaoyun fell off his horse. Instinctively, he immediately hid in the throng of people, unable to distinguish whether they were from the North or the Northern Rong. In any case, he covered his face first.

In the midst of the chaos, Long Xiaoyun had to make sure he wasn't trampled to death by the swarm of horses. He could only scramble to clear some space, grabbing a horse that had been abandoned due to injury and retreating first. But as he hid, he found himself disoriented.

Although he has been fighting against the Northern Rong in the north all these years, he has never really gone deep into this vast grassland, and now he is somewhat at a loss.

There was a deputy general in the Northern Army, and Xie Qingyan was also there, so he wasn't too worried. It was just that his own situation... was really giving him a headache.

Long Xiaoyun sighed inwardly, knowing that with his disappearance, the Northern Army would surely bring his elder brother back, and he would be scolded when he returned.

However, staying alive is more important than being scolded by my elder brother.

As he tried to walk back along the path he remembered, he became more and more silent.

Oh no, I really can't find my way.

Long Xiaoyun looked up at the sky and howled in despair. The grassland was already covered with flowers of all colors and wild grasses were growing wildly. If he hadn't gotten lost, he probably would have stopped to admire it properly.

Despite the beautiful scenery before him, Long Xiaoyun felt only a chill in his heart.

However, his many years of experience leading troops in battle have enabled him to distinguish between east, west, south, and north. Since the Northern Army is heading south from the Northern Rong, he should just head south... right?

......

Long Xiaoyun made a decision: if she could return safely this time, she would definitely study hard.

I should have known better than to skip school back then.

How did we end up in Beirong?

Long Xiaoyun was in despair, praying that the Northern Rong people wouldn't recognize his face. Fortunately, he wasn't small, so blending in wouldn't be too strange.

This border town is probably similar to the snowy town in Dajing, with few people, only some elderly people and children at home, as the young people have all gone out.

Bei Rong's wealth was different from Da Jing's, so Long Xiaoyun had to rest outside the town for a few nights, where he unexpectedly encountered this woman.

Upon seeing the woman, he immediately guessed that she might not be of Northern Rong blood, a fact later confirmed by casual conversations among the townspeople.

The woman's father was a Northern Rong person, and her mother was a Da Jing person.

When she was born, the relationship between the Northern Rong and the Great Jing was not so strained, and there were quite a few intermarriages between the two countries. However, after the Northern Rong and the Great Jing broke off relations, these mixed-race children found themselves in an awkward position.

The Northern Rong despised them for having the blood of the Great Jing, while the Great Jing despised them for having the blood of the Northern Rong barbarians. They disliked each other and wandered around until they arrived at this border town.

This small town is full of children left behind from the marriage between the Northern Rong and the Great Jing.

Although their families are different, they all share similar experiences, which makes them sympathize with each other.

The woman had no one else in her family, but she was simple-minded. Long Xiaoyun fabricated a story that he was also of mixed Northern Rong and Great Jing blood, and that he had infiltrated the Northern Rong army. After being discovered, he was severely beaten and thrown into the wilderness.

The other party actually believed it...

While trying to help with whatever he could, Long Xiaoyun secretly repented in his heart.

I was really just acting out of desperation; I'm not a bad person.

"Thank you for your help these past few days. My injuries have almost healed, and I will be leaving soon."

Long Xiaoyun smiled. The woman's mother was from Dajing and could speak the Dajing dialect, so she didn't give herself away.

But the woman lowered her eyes and said something that almost made Long Xiaoyun jump up.

"Brother Yun, I know you are from Dajing."

Long Xiaoyun froze. He didn't know what the Northern Rong people's attitude was towards the Great Jing people, but...

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I... I want to ask you for a favor."

Meng Qiuna looked at Long Xiaoyun with pleading eyes like a pair of dark grapes. Being looked at like that by such a beauty always made her a little embarrassed...

"What is it?"

"Brother Yun, you must have heard that my father was from the Northern Rong and my mother was from the Great Jing. After the Northern Rong and Great Jing became enemies, they fled here with me and passed away a few years ago..."

Meng Qiuna's eyelashes are very long, like a small fan.

"That's just what they say to outsiders, Brother Yun. When I saw you, I knew your identity was definitely different from the ordinary people of Dajing I had seen before. I want to beg you, please help me find my mother."

Only after hearing Meng Qiuna's description did Long Xiaoyun learn the whole story.

After Meng Qiuna was born, her father from the Northern Rong abandoned her and her mother and ran away. Her mother, a weak woman, struggled to survive in the unfamiliar land of the Northern Rong. Just when they had finally gained a foothold, the ensuing conflict between the two countries made it impossible for them to survive.

Her mother was at a loss and didn't know what to do. She wanted to go back to Dajing, but she didn't know how to get there. At this time, another couple from the Northern Rong who had married into the Dajing family told her that she could go to this border town to take refuge for a while.

And so, the three of them and the child traveled together, and Meng Qiuna's mother also learned how to get back to Dajing.

On the way, they encountered a group of wicked Northern Rong soldiers. Her mother gritted her teeth and single-handedly stopped them, allowing the other couple to escape with Meng Qiuna.

Even as a teenager, Meng Qiuna was already sensible enough to understand things. She watched helplessly as her mother fell under the swords of the Northern Rong army, unable to utter a sound.

She was then taken to this small town by the couple and raised as their own daughter until the couple passed away a few years ago due to a pre-existing illness.

Meng Qiuna's tears clung to her eyelashes as she recounted her story in a trembling voice.

"That's why I won't hand you over to the Northern Rong army. I hate them!"

She looked up at Long Xiaoyun, her eyes filled with a chilling hatred.

"But...how do you know your mother is still...?"

Meng Qiuna smiled slightly, got up and went out. After a while, she came back in with a small knife.

Long Xiaoyun's scalp tightened, and he immediately assumed a defensive stance, only to see Meng Qiuna make a cut on his collarbone.

Blood trickled down her wheat-colored skin. Meng Qiuna gasped, enduring the intense pain, and squeezed something out from her collarbone, handing it to Long Xiaoyun.

Long Xiaoyun was stunned by this scene, and it took him a long time to look down at Meng Qiuna's palm.

A bright red worm lay lazily in her palm, occasionally sucking up a mouthful of blood from the surrounding area.

"Back then, my mother was traveling on the frontier of Dajing when she met my injured father, and the two fell in love."

Meng Qiuna's voice was very soft: "I never expected my father to be such a heartless man, but my mother doesn't hate him because she had me. For her, a child is much more important than a man."

“My mother told me countless times that if I could go back to Dajing, to a place called Lingnan, there my grandparents, my loving family, and my home would be there.”

"But I was too young at the time, and I only remembered the place name Lingnan, but I didn't remember exactly where it was. Later, my mother stopped saying that."

Long Xiaoyun was shocked to learn that the person in question was from Lingnan... He then thought of the legend of Gu worms in Lingnan.

"This was planted on me by my mother during our escape. She said it was called some kind of Gu... I don't remember. She never taught me any of that."

Meng Qiuna lowered her head, withdrew her hand, and put the Gu worm back into her body.

Long Xiaoyun saw her actions and wanted to stop her, but it was too late.

“Brother Yun, don’t worry. This Gu worm was given to me by my mother to protect me. She told me that as long as the Gu worm is alive, she is also alive. Every day when I wake up, the first thing I do is to carefully stroke the Gu worm to make sure it is still alive.”

This sudden turn of events left Long Xiaoyun somewhat stunned, but after spending more than half a month with Meng Qiuna, he felt he knew her fairly well, and with the Gu worm as evidence, perhaps... it was true.

So he said in a deep voice, "Do you remember what your mother's name is?"

Meng Qiuna nodded gently, and her red lips uttered three words: "Chen Weige".

*

Seventeen yawned, dressed, and came outside the tent. Last night's events were too sudden and caught him off guard, but then he thought that he and His Majesty would have to face this day sooner or later, and whether they faced it or not, they would all be killed.

"Is it the Seventeenth Guard?"

A soft voice sounded beside Seventeen. He looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman dressed in simple clothes. Even in plain clothes, she could be seen to be a gentle and quiet person.

"Yes, and who are you?"

The woman chuckled and said, "This humble subject, Chen Weige, had a eunuch come to me a while ago, saying that His Majesty was tired from his journey and had not rested well, and asked me to prescribe some calming medicine."

"His surname is Shen." Seventeen thought for a moment and asked, "Is it that Divine Physician Shen?"

Shen Weige smiled faintly, her face already showing some wrinkles but still revealing the unparalleled beauty of her youth, though her eyes were filled with heavy weariness: "The title of divine doctor is a bit of an exaggeration. I just like to study some herbs."

Seventeen nodded and smiled, "Give me the medicine, I'll take it over. Thank you for your trouble, Dr. Shen."

Thank you.

"Your Majesty, it's time to take your medicine."

Long Langyue was still looking at the defense map. They were not very clear about the specific situation of the Northern Rong. If they rashly sent troops, they would probably not be able to annihilate them in one fell swoop. They had to plan carefully.

But the thought that Long Xiaoyun might have fallen into their hands made Long Langyue feel annoyed.

"What medicine?"

"Eunuch Yuanfu said that His Majesty has not rested well these past few days, so he asked Doctor Shen to prescribe a calming medicine."

Long Langyue nodded, took the medicine, and drank it all in one gulp: "Thank you so much, Doctor Shen."

"Dr. Shen doesn't like people calling her that."

Seventeen leaned over the table and glanced at the defense map, but couldn't understand it.

Turning her head back, Long Langyue raised an eyebrow and smiled, "How did you know?"

"I can tell, she doesn't seem to like the title of 'miracle doctor,' just call her 'doctor.'"

"Okay, tell the others as well."

Seventeen didn't speak, but felt a strange sense of fulfillment in her heart.

I only said it casually... Is it really necessary to take it so seriously? Besides, this isn't the first time Dr. Shen has been called a miracle doctor...

"Dr. Shen comes from Lingnan and is a master of both medicine and poison. He has been staying in the north for many years to share the burdens of the people and soldiers. He deserves more respect."

Long Langyue pondered what reward she should give, but Seventeen wasn't particularly interested in it, only exchanging a few words with her.

"From Lingnan? Isn't that very far from here?"

"Yes, I asked her why she was staying here, and she only said that she had something to do."

"Wow, that's amazing!" Seventeen tilted his head and thought for a moment before asking, "I remember His Majesty once mentioned that a princess married into Lingnan, didn't she?"

Long Langyue curled her lips and reached out to pinch Seventeen's chubby cheek, saying, "Yes, it's Fourth Sister. She's been married to Lingnan for many years."

"There's a connection to this. Fourth Sister married the Prince of Lingnan, who also has the surname Shen. So Doctor Shen is considered a collateral branch of the Prince of Lingnan's family."

Seventeen was being pinched on the cheek and glared at, but this time she wasn't afraid anymore. What Emperor His Majesty? You can't keep pinching my cheeks like that!

After letting go of her hand, Long Langyue said, "When Doctor Shen came to the North, my fourth sister specially sent a message saying that her experience was somewhat special and asked the North Army to take good care of her."

This time, Seventeen's curiosity was truly piqued. He leaned over the table, his dark eyes wide, and asked, "Special? How is it special? Can you tell me?"

Long Langyue found his adorable appearance amusing and couldn't resist reaching out to pinch him, but Seventeen stopped her in time.

"Your Majesty, please stop pinching my cheeks."

Seventeen complained softly, and Long Langyue's heart melted at the sound. She tried to suppress her feelings, but a slight smile still appeared on her lips.

Both of them understood what the other was thinking, but now was certainly not the right time to break the ice. Perhaps only after the Northern Rong matter was over could they...

"When Doctor Shen was young, Da Jing and Bei Rong had not yet become enemies. Bei Rong, as a vassal state, often came to Da Jing. At that time, there were many marriages between Da Jing and Bei Rong, and Doctor Shen was one of them."

Seventeen tilted his head and thought for a moment. He was still very young at the time and didn't quite understand these things. As he said this, he suddenly looked up. Long Langyue keenly noticed the change in his emotions and frowned, asking, "What's wrong?"

"...Your Majesty, I think I've remembered something."

Seventeen blinked, frowning as she pondered: "Because of what happened back then... I don't remember much, but His Majesty just mentioned intermarriage... Are the Northern Rong people generally taller and stronger? Do they have more defined features? And darker skin?"

Long Langyue thought for a moment and said, "Not entirely... but that's true for most of them. The Northern Rong people live a nomadic life, exposed to wind and rain, and they can't withstand it without a strong physique."

"The appearance of the Sugan is quite typical of the Northern Rong people, because the Northern Rong people were a branch of the original people of the northern lands."

“Uh, Your Majesty, my father looks like this too.” Seventeen scratched his chin, recalling his father’s appearance.

His mother was undoubtedly a stunning beauty, with delicate features and a slender figure. Everyone in the surrounding villages praised her. As for his father... he was a big, burly man, incredibly rough.

Previously, Seventeen didn't know what the Northern Rong people looked like, and he hadn't thought about it in that way. Now that he thinks about it, if the Northern Rong and Da Jing intermarried back then, and his family happened to be in Shiqi, could his father have also been a Northern Rong person?

Long Langyue hadn't thought of this. After picking up Seventeen back then, she had also investigated the identities of the deceased couple, who were both from Shiqi.

However, both bodies were already decomposed at the time, making identification impossible.

"That's right, it's not surprising. It's said that the people living in Shiqi Town are all from the Dajing region who intermarried with the Beirong people back then. However, due to the falling out, many people couldn't accept this group of people and drove them out."

Long Langyue naturally despised this behavior. No matter how hostile the Great Jing and the Northern Rong were, the common people were innocent.

Seventeen only suddenly remembered it and didn't take it to heart. She had never thought about this issue before because she looked more like her mother, a very typical Da Jing appearance.

"Do you still want to know about Doctor Shen?"

Long Langyue chuckled softly, "It doesn't matter whether Seventeen's father is a Northern Rong or not. As long as we know that Seventeen is doing well now, that's enough."

"Yes, Your Majesty, please continue."

"Back then, she married a man from the Northern Rong and went there with him. She then lost contact with her family. Later, when relations between the two countries soured, the Shen family even asked the King of Lingnan to search for her whereabouts, but to no avail."

Long Langyue gently ground the ink and drew something on another piece of leather scroll.

"But a few years later, she came back alone. No one knows how she got back, but she was in a terrible state. Her parents almost didn't recognize her."

"After she came back, she stayed in Dajing to recuperate until a few years ago when she took the initiative to come to the North. Her family tried to stop her but couldn't, and her parents were getting old, so they let her go."

As Seventeen listened, she noticed something amiss: "Judging from this account, something heartbreaking must have happened to Doctor Shen in the Northern Rong back then. Shouldn't he keep his distance from the Northern Rong and the Northern Lands? Why would he come here alone? Wouldn't that bring back painful memories?"

"Because I have come here to find someone."

Shen Weige's gentle voice rang out from outside the tent, startling Seventeen. Long Langyue, who had already noticed, smiled slightly.

The time he's been waiting for may have arrived.

After Shen Weige entered, she bowed slightly and said, "This humble subject did not intend to eavesdrop on your conversation. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

"Not at all. It is I who should thank Doctor Shen."

-----------------------

Author's Note: Happy New Year! I've combined two chapters into one for everyone to enjoy! I have to work tomorrow, so updates might be late; I'll probably be up tonight.