Chapter 109 [VIP]

"Dr. Qiu, please come in." Ziyan led Qiuji into the palace.

On the eve of New Year's Eve, Qiuji brought his daughter to Fangze Palace. Qiuji's daughter, named Qiushui, was sixteen years old, the same age as Tengluo. She had always loved lively gatherings. Lu Xuejin arranged for Tengluo to take Qiushui to Yue Lanxin's place so they could attend the palace banquet together. She also bestowed a house upon Qiushui, so she could settle down in Shengjing in the future.

Qiu Ji never asked Lu Xuejin for anything in return; Lu Xuejin had given it all to his daughter. He always loved his daughter dearly, and was therefore even more grateful to Lu Xuejin.

Also traveling to Fangze Palace were Imperial Physician Jia and Imperial Physician Gu.

The Golden Palace was bustling with activity. Lu Xuejin hadn't woken Xue Yi, and the palace banquet proceeded as planned, with a large group of ministers gathered in the front hall. Although it was still lively, it was different from usual. First, Xiao Qi was still waiting to see the Emperor, having heard from the imperial physician that Xue Yi was unwell and had to wait. Second, both Lu Xuejin and Song Zhao were absent.

One of them remained hidden in Fangze Palace, meeting with a group of imperial physicians, while the other stayed in the library on a deep winter night. Song Zhao, accompanied by candlelight, continued to focus on the classics that the monk Jialing had transmitted to the Hu people.

Physician Gu: "Dr. Qiu, are you really so confident? I've only read about this skull-cutting surgery in books... The chances of success are extremely slim. What if it fails?"

Imperial Physician Jia said, "His Majesty's health cannot be delayed any longer. If surgery is not performed, the disease may recur... and next time we may be powerless to save him."

Akikichi: "Three years ago, I performed a craniotomy using anesthetic and a large amount of bio-etching fluid. The surgery was successful... According to ancient records, many patients died from postoperative infection... I used spring water from the mountains to boil the bio-etching fluid, then distilled and quenched it. This method produces a highly pure bio-etching fluid that can prevent infection. In addition, I washed the wound hundreds of times with cow lungs and sheep stalks, boiled and soaked the bio-etching fluid, and first tested it on animals. If there were no problems after using it on animals, then it would be used in surgery... This ensures absolute safety."

Physician Gu's eyes widened as he listened, his beard twitching as if he wanted to take notes. "Dr. Qiu is truly brilliant! Brilliant! Although Mafeicao is a forbidden drug, it can relieve pain if the dosage is controlled! The erosion solution can prevent infection... wash it off after contact with the scalp! But even so... Dr. Qiu, in our records of hundreds of skull-opening surgeries, there isn't a single successful one. This... is still worrying!"

Akikichi: "I have already performed surgery on hundreds of animals. The cold winter is the best weather... The colder the environment, the better, and the higher the temperature, the easier it is to get infected. Our surgery needs to be performed in a cold environment, with the surrounding air filtered through multiple layers, and with the help of some other tools. I have already arranged all of this in advance... The lambs I have crippled are still alive and well, and you two just need to cooperate with me."

Physician Jia quickly cupped his hands and said, "I truly admire Physician Qiu's high level of understanding. We will obey your orders if you need anything."

Lu Xuejin: "I trust Doctor Qiu's skills... I entrust my brother with everything. If he were replaced by someone else... his heart ailment would naturally be cured without treatment."

The imperial physician, Gu, observed the gentle-looking young man. Perhaps it was the heat in the hall, but he was sweating profusely. He quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead and saw that the top scholar was dignified and gentle, his flowing red robes reaching the floor, making him look like a bloodless judge who casually decided the life and death of the monarch.

Qiu Ji: "Pre-operative preparations will still take some time... Lord Lu, please wait here for news. I, Qiu Ji, will certainly live up to your mission."

Lu Xuejin: "Thank you. If there is any news... please ask Doctor Qiu to come and inform me, and I will go there immediately."

"yes."

Under the cover of night, Physician Jia and Physician Gu followed Qiu Ji along the vermilion wall. Both were passionate about medicine. They felt no regret for leaving the city on New Year's Eve; instead, they were tense and excited about the experiments they were about to participate in.

The subject of this experiment is none other than the current ailing monarch. If the monarch can be cured, it will be a merit that will be remembered for eternity. Not to mention the monarch, even if it were an insignificant commoner... the very act of performing this surgery would be an honor enough.

Lu Xuejin watched the three figures disappear into the distance. The carriage swayed forward. A large amount of calming incense was burning in his palace. He carried Xue Yi and placed him on the carriage. The faces of the guards were not clearly visible in the winter night. Instead, the stars shone brighter, making the shadows on people mottled.

"...Let's go."

The carriage rumbled and crushed the ice shards, leaving two overlapping gray shadows. It was almost New Year's Eve, a tradition of Wei capital… or rather, a tradition of this land: a palace banquet was held the night before New Year's Eve, followed by a family reunion on the actual day. A faint glow of smoke rose beside the palace wall, its crimson flames crackling and blazing.

The explosion sounded like a thunderclap shattering the earth, and after the dazzling shattering, the world fell into silence.

Lu Xuejin watched the firework explode near his ear, his ears ringing. The night was soft, accompanied by a cold loneliness. He watched as the shadow of the carriage completely disappeared.

When a person makes a correct decision based on reason, they are always sometimes influenced by emotions, becoming dull and abnormal. He realized that his emotions had been drawn out of his body and then returned. He stood there thinking for a long time, unable to move. For a long time, he regretted his decision, rehearsing in his mind how he would catch up with the carriage he had personally seen off and put his brother down.

Even if his lifespan is short, it doesn't matter. Since he has taken on this mission, he only needs to fulfill his responsibility until he sees his brother off to the end. As for his brother, if his brother knew about this... if his brother knew that his memory would be erased, his personality would be erased, and his frail soul would be taken away.

What would the older brother do?

The older brother might rather commit suicide than let himself disappear.

But he wouldn't do that... His control over everything ultimately triumphed over the morality driven by emotion, and he needed to personally write a perfect ending for Xue Yi, the brother of his own.

All the broken order... will eventually be restored by him personally.

“Young Master, Lord Cui wishes to see you,” Ziyan said.

Lu Xuejin then came to his senses, looked away, and asked, "I know... Where is he now?"

"Outside the palace... Young master, would you like to go? This servant will prepare the carriage immediately."

Lu Xuejin boarded the carriage. He traveled along a long, straight palace road. Further in, the scene was bustling and lively, with the palaces brightly lit in the distance. As he walked out, the place became quieter. The snow on the eaves had quietly melted, reflecting a transparent illusion under the bright lights.

The city of Shengjing was bustling with activity on New Year's Eve, the festive atmosphere spreading through the layers of streets and alleys. After the Spring Festival, the weather gradually warmed up, and the willow trees in some areas sprouted emerald green buds, which then sprouted again after a snowfall.

Cui Ruhao was at the city gate entrance when he spotted the thin figure in the distance from inside his carriage. He saw Cui Ruhao gazing at the passing people, lost in thought, his eyes filled with a warm yet melancholic light.

“Lingjie—” he called out.

Cui Ruhao also saw him, and his eyes lit up immediately. He put his hands in his pockets and smiled.

"Lord Lu... It's been a long time. I've wanted to contact you for a while, but you've been so busy with palace affairs that I didn't know when to do so, and it's been delayed until now... How have you been, Lord Lu?"

Lu Xuejin: "I'm doing well. How about Lingjie? Lingjie hasn't written to me in a long time... I've been busy with work and haven't been able to reply. Seeing you now puts my mind at ease."

Cui Ruhao blushed and said embarrassedly, "Of course I'm fine... Miss Wei treated me very well. Before she left, she arranged a courtyard and guards for me. Old Master Wei came by earlier and was very unhappy to see me... However, Miss Wei wrote a letter to Old Master Wei, and he did not report me to the authorities. I really don't know how to thank Miss Wei."

“Old Master Wei is kind-hearted, and you are the person Wei Ning wants to protect. He won’t do anything to you, so don’t worry,” Lu Xuejin said. Sensing something, she said to Cui Ruhao, “Wei Ning is still in Lidu... He will probably be back in a while.”

"Does Lingjie miss her?"

“Well… I… I’ve been busy writing. It’s only during these brief breaks that I miss Miss Wei,” Cui Ruhao said.

Lu Xuejin smiled and comforted her, "Don't worry. I can tell she misses you a lot, she'll be back soon."

Cui Ruhao smiled upon hearing this. His eyes, which had been melancholy and downcast, were now brightened by the cleansing, looking even more dazzling than a lamp.

Lu Xuejin then asked, "What articles have you been writing lately?"

The two walked together through the streets and alleys, where large swathes of scarlet lanterns bloomed on both sides, their candles burning and casting a halo of light. All around were huge red goldfish and lion dance figures. The goldfish were made of several people, and their eyes and tails were very lifelike. The huge fish eyes reflected the figures of children, made of glass like colorful stained windows, and red candied hawthorns dripped sugar juice.

Cui Ruhao stared intently at the goldfish and said, “I’m writing some research articles on ancient books… I heard a while ago that Lord Song has been studying the classics of the Hu people, so I borrowed some to take a look. He seems to be studying the stars and the future… I wonder when Lord Song became so superstitious. As I was thinking this… I read many books and became quite engrossed in them myself.”

"Do you like those lanterns?" Lu Xuejin asked, following his gaze. He seemed thoughtful and said to Cui Ruhao, "It's the festival... shall we go up and take a look? It seems like they're giving away lanterns for solving riddles. If you like goldfish, we can choose a goldfish lantern if we win, how about that?"

Cui Ruhao said in surprise, "This, this... alright. We'll listen to Changyou."

Lu Xuejin: "A few days ago, Song Zhao sent me a book... perhaps one of the ones Lingjie read. He deciphered the Hu people's prophecy. The so-called prophecy... is that everything we see before us will eventually disappear a thousand years later."

“Lord Song is truly remarkable…” Cui Ruhao said, “The Hu people’s classics are about life and death, about the past, present and future. Their writing is different from Chinese; their writing changes… The meaning of each character has a definition that is not in the current tense depending on the combination of characters; therefore, it is obscure and difficult to understand. I have read many of them, but I still do not understand them.”

Seeing Cui Ruhao's earnest expression as he spoke about the matter, Lu Xuejin paused slightly and said, "If you are interested, I will have someone send some books from the library to you tomorrow. How about that? If you would like to come to the library, that's fine too. You can come whenever you want, how about that?"

Cui Ruhao: "Changyou... thank you. The library is too difficult for me to go there. If, if there are any remaining books that no one is using, may I take a look? Perhaps it would be troublesome for Changyou."

Lu Xuejin: "Of course. Rest assured, it is a good thing for those books to fall into your hands."

Cui Ruhao smiled shyly, his smile both bashful and bright.

"Here it comes! Take a look! Guess the lantern riddles! A beautiful woman is seen through the hazy mist, lying in wait day and night, unable to meet. She cannot advance even a hundred feet, and is afraid to look down at others with a proud and aloof expression."

What is the solution to this problem?

"It all boils down to love! No matter how I think about it, it's always my beloved! My heart is torn by love, and we can't be together! Though she's right in front of me, she's like a distant horizon! My feelings for her are so hard to reach, I can't even get half an inch closer! Even my proud and aloof nature can't help it!"

These riddles were far too easy for Lu Xuejin. After winning ten rounds, he let Cui Ruhao choose two lanterns. Cui Ruhao chose two beautiful goldfish, one red and one gold. The two of them carried them, passing by children setting off fireworks. Beautiful smoke billowed out beside them, brushing past the goldfish in a dazzling display.

Lu Xuejin: "There's a teahouse up ahead... How about we go and have a seat on this festive day?"

Cui Ruhao held the lantern, looking it over carefully, and then gently placed it in his arms. He lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought, and his expression softened considerably, with tears glistening in his eyes.

"Changyou... New Year's Eve is almost here. Is it inappropriate for me to come and see you today?"

Lu Xuejin walked through the crowd, glancing sideways at Cui Ruhao, and said, "How can it be inappropriate... Your summons today came at just the right time. I was originally alone in the palace, and my brother was not here either. I didn't like the palace banquet... Now I feel very happy to be able to stroll through the bustling city with you."

"What about the festival? Have I caused the festival any trouble?"

Cui Ruhao quickly replied, “Of course not… Changyou and Miss Wei are both my benefactors. I… I have never been as happy as I am now. I’ve always been alone. In previous years, I spent New Year’s Eve in my study, sometimes watching others go out in pairs, and sometimes I was very envious. Because of my eccentric personality, I could never make friends, and I didn’t dare to interact with others… Changyou and Changyou don’t mind me, and I am incredibly grateful. Today… today I am so happy that I feel I would have no regrets even if I died now. I have Changyou and Miss Wei by my side, and for me… for me, that is enough.”

Lu Xuejin's eyes softened as she replied, "Don't talk about death. Today is an auspicious day... There are many years to come. If you want to come see me on New Year's Eve, you can come anytime, and we can spend it together."

"It's not just Lingjie who is grateful, Wei Ning and I are too... Being eccentric is not a fault, but rather quite endearing."

Cui Ruhao: "Is that so? But Miss Wei often says that I have a bad personality... I am very worried about this."

Lu Xuejin: "Hmm... She's always liked to say the opposite of what she means since she was little. If she doesn't like something, she says she likes it; if something is bad, she says it's good."

At this point, the two exchanged a smile, and fireworks exploded in the sky. The goldfish in their hands collided. The goldfish, their tails outstretched, revealed their crystal eyes, shining brightly as they collided.

A note from the author: