Chapter 125 Bad News 2: All for One, All for One; All for One, All for One.

The next day, although the rain had stopped, the sky did not clear up. The gray clouds hung low, shrouding the entire mansion in a lingering damp fog, making it oppressive and suffocating.

Because Qin cried all night, she was too weak to get out of bed when she woke up in the morning and could only rest quietly in her room.

Inside the Bodhi Hall, only Madam Zhang and Madam Xue remained to attend to Madam Wang at her bedside. Cui Ying quietly followed behind the two aunts, serving water and medicine, doing whatever chores she could, and observing Madam Wang's condition.

In just one day, Wang Shi had become emaciated, her cheeks were deeply sunken, her face was ashen, and her empty eyes stared blankly into one place, looking like a horrifying sight of someone who had exhausted all their energy.

Holding a bowl of yam and barley porridge, Madam Xue sat on the edge of the bed, tears streaming down her face. She sobbed and pleaded, "Mother, please, for the sake of our whole family, have something to eat. We haven't had a bite to eat or drink for a whole day and night. How can your body take this? I beg you."

But Wang remained unresponsive, as if her soul had already left her body, leaving only an empty shell, oblivious to everything around her.

Having no other choice, Xue could only get up with red eyes, hand the bowl of porridge to Zhang, and say helplessly, "Third sister-in-law, please try to persuade her, but Mother won't listen to me."

Madam Zhang took the bowl and sighed, "It's not that Mother can't listen to you. Didn't the imperial physician diagnose her yesterday? Mother is overwhelmed with grief, and the pain has attacked her heart, causing damage to her heart meridian and the blockage of her seven orifices. Now she probably can't even perceive who we are or what we're saying."

Madam Xue wiped away her tears with her handkerchief and said anxiously, "Is this how it's going to be? Although my eldest brother is... but isn't my second brother still in the Northern Desert? The most urgent thing is to find a way to rescue him as soon as possible. There are only two nephews in charge in the Northern Desert now. They are so young, what use are they?"

Although Xue and her sister-in-law Qin had been at odds for many years, they understood the principle of sharing both prosperity and adversity, and were quite good at prioritizing things.

Zhang shook her head, her brows furrowed with worry: "We are both women, even if we are anxious as if our hearts are on fire, how can we worry about these things?"

As soon as she finished speaking, tears welled up in Madam Xue's eyes, and she sobbed, "What should we do? The fire is burning our eyebrows, how come there isn't even anyone who can put out the fire?"

Zhang paused for a moment, then whispered to Xue, "However, I heard that His Majesty summoned Lord Wang Shanxiao to the palace before dawn. I suppose he is to send him to the northern desert to take charge of the overall situation and try to rescue my second brother."

"Wang Shanxiao?" Madam Xue's eyes widened in surprise, and her voice rose considerably. "Didn't they say he broke his leg back then and could never ride a horse again?"

Zhang frowned slightly, signaling her to lower her voice.

Just as she was about to speak again, Wang, who had been lying stiffly on the couch like a withered tree, suddenly sat up, her chapped lips moving as she shouted in a hoarse voice, "No! Absolutely not!"

Her eyes were wide open, bloodshot, and suddenly a bright light flashed in her empty gaze. Her pupils trembled, and her whole body shook, as if she had heard something extremely terrifying. She gritted her teeth and uttered each word slowly and deliberately:

"Absolutely not! We absolutely cannot let Wang Shanxiao go to the northern desert!"

Everyone was startled by this reaction, and their eyes all fell on Wang Shi.

Madam Xue was startled at first, then her face lit up with joy. She rushed to the bedside and cried out in a tearful voice, "Mother! Mother, can you hear us? Have you woken up?"

Although Zhang was equally excited, she felt strange when she recalled Wang's words. She frowned slightly and murmured, "Strange, why would Mother be so opposed to Lord Wang going to the northern desert?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Xue sighed, "What's so hard to understand? Lord Wang is my nephew and Qilang's uncle. We're blood relatives, the closest of flesh and blood. Besides, he already has a disability from a serious injury he sustained in his early years. The northern desert is such a dangerous place. I'm sure you're worried that he'll have a very bad time going there, which is why you're so strongly against it. That's only human nature."

Zhang nodded, her expression softening: "You're right, I was overthinking it."

After saying that, she stepped forward, picked up the warm tea on the table, and gently advised, "Mother, don't be anxious. Have some tea to calm your nerves. We can discuss the rest later."

With Wang Shi awake, everyone in the room relaxed considerably, and the atmosphere was no longer as deathly still as before.

Only Cui Ying, who had been standing quietly by the sidelines, remained silent throughout.

She lowered her head, her long eyelashes fluttering beneath her eyes, the name "Wang Shanxiao" swirling in her mind, her lips slightly pursed, lost in thought.

...

Around noon, a light drizzle began again, pattering heavily on the eaves, which was quite unsettling.

Xiao Qiyu arrived in the rain, her wet hair clinging to her fair cheeks. Pushing open the door to the front study, she immediately saw Xiao Heng packing his bags in a hurried manner, not even noticing the teacup on the table that had been knocked over.

"Brother," Xiao Qiyu's heart tightened upon seeing this, and he quickly stepped forward, his voice turning somber, "What are you doing?"

Xiao Heng turned to face Xiao Qiyu, and saw that his hair was disheveled, his eyes were bloodshot, and his stubble was clearly visible on his chin. It was a look of dejection that Xiao Qiyu had never seen before.

"I must petition His Majesty to proceed to the Northern Desert immediately." Xiao Heng's voice was hoarse, his eyes burning, and his tone exceptionally firm. "No matter what, I must bring my father back."

Xiao Qiyu frowned deeply and strode over, reaching out to press down on Xiao Heng's arm as he packed his bags, trying to calm him down: "Brother, this matter needs careful consideration. The situation in the northern desert is constantly changing. That Ashina Boketu is treacherous and cunning, and his military tactics are unpredictable. You have never been on a battlefield before. Going there rashly is no different from sending yourself to your death."

Xiao Heng abruptly shook off his hand: "But I can't wait any longer!"

Seemingly realizing he had overreacted, he immediately closed his eyes, suppressing his surging emotions. His expression was full of pain as he forced himself to remain calm and said, "Whether I open my eyes or close them, all I see are images of my father being tortured in the Turkic royal court. Those barbarians who eat raw meat and drink blood used all sorts of cruel methods, like tearing out hearts and skinning people. My father is old and won't last much longer. I can't let my mother be a widow, and I can't let my grandmother lose another son."

"elder brother!"

Xiao Qiyu's tone also became urgent, and he said seriously, "Now is not the time to act rashly. Remember what I just said. You have never been to the battlefield. If you go now, you will be sending yourself to your death! You don't want your mother to be a widow, and you don't want your grandmother to lose another son. Then can you bear to let your mother, who is old and white-haired, bury her son, and let your grandmother lose another grandson?"

These words resonated deeply, and the room fell silent for a long time.

Xiao Heng opened his lips and let out a bitter laugh: "Seventh Brother, you're right."

“I’ve never actually fought a war; going to the battlefield would be tantamount to suicide, but Seventh Brother—”

Xiao Heng opened his eyes and looked at Xiao Qiyu, his eyes bloodshot and filled with pain: "My uncle fought in countless battles and was a renowned warrior on the border, but he still died on the battlefield?"

Xiao Qiyu took a deep breath and was speechless.

Xiao Heng turned around and continued packing his bags. After finishing in a few moments, he was about to leave.

As the two brushed past each other, Xiao Qiyu grabbed his arm, his knuckles turning white, and said slowly and deliberately, "I have analyzed Ashboktu's recent military campaigns in detail. This man is extremely skilled at luring the enemy deep into his territory and dividing and weakening them. He is not someone that can be dealt with by mere brute force. Third brother, don't go. I can work with you to plan and rescue Second Uncle together."

Xiao Heng stopped arguing with him and shook his head in resignation: "Seventh Brother, you still don't understand what I mean."

He turned his head and looked into his younger brother's young eyes: "I know I have a high chance of dying, but even if I die in the northern desert, on the way to save my father, it's better than living a life of luxury in the capital, watching time pass by helplessly."

Xiao Heng yanked Xiao Qiyu's hand away, took a big step, and his figure quickly disappeared into the rain outside the study.

Xiao Qiyu stood quietly in place, his outstretched hand still loosely clenched.

In that brief moment, he may not even know what he was thinking, but after regaining his senses, he did not hesitate at all and immediately chased after him.

The two brothers walked quickly through the courtyard of the Marquis's mansion, one after the other, their imposing presence causing the servants to give way.

Xiao Heng rode his horse out of the mansion toward the palace, and Xiao Qiyu followed closely behind on horseback.

The rain was pouring down. Two fast horses rode across the street, their figures quickly disappearing into the misty distance at the end of the long street. The water splashed by their hooves splashed onto the pedestrians, drawing many complaints.

"Who are those two people? Riding horses so fast in the rain, are they crazy?"

"It seems to be the young master of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion."

"I have a brother who works in the government office. I heard that something big has happened at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence..."

Amidst the dense murmur of conversation, an umbrella was slightly lifted, revealing the face of a young woman with delicate eyebrows and long eyes, possessing a charming yet extremely shrewd appearance.

Qian Qiuchan listened to the surrounding chatter and gazed in the direction the two brothers had vanished. Her face showed no curiosity or sympathy like the others. Instead, a smug smile slowly crept onto her lips. The smile was cold and eerie, devoid of any trace of human life, as strange as a vengeful ghost.

She sneered inwardly: Heaven truly has eyes! Even the high and mighty Xiao family has come to this day, proving that Heaven is fair. What about a distinguished family? What good are a family full of loyal martyrs? When faced with a matter of life and death, can't they only watch helplessly, unable to do anything about it?

Thinking of how she had dutifully served as Xiao's wife, only to be locked up in the manor and left to die of old age, Qian Qiuchan's hatred was so intense it felt like a venomous snake was coiling around her, her heart was being squeezed so hard she could hardly breathe, and she felt she needed to kill someone to feel better.

Looking again in the direction the two brothers had left, a glint of malice flashed in her resentful eyes. Suddenly, her gaze fixed on the spot where Xiao Qiyu's figure disappeared, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curled up.

The Xiao family is already in enough chaos anyway.

She thought to herself: Let this already murky water become even murky.

The thought of her family about to turn on each other made Qian Qiuchan almost burst out laughing.

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Author's Note: Don't worry, don't worry, Sister Qian is just making a cameo appearance; she won't be in the story anymore.