Chapter 42

"How do we get there?" Sheng Xuan asked directly. "We can't just keep going to the military camp every day; it'll arouse suspicion."

Xiao Qiyun's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile, as if he had already prepared his words: "You naturally have your own methods." His fingertips traced the newly added vermilion mark on the sheepskin map, "General Sheng Chi is almost at the cult's outpost—"

Sheng Xuan's eyes lit up; this excuse was practically tailor-made for him!

He immediately straightened his back, and the slight dejection on his face was instantly replaced by a high-spirited "I'm going to get down to business" attitude: "Okay! I'll go find my brother right now!" As he spoke, he was about to rush out, looking like he was about to muster his troops and charge out.

"Wait a minute." Xiao Qiyun called out to him, slowly straightening his slightly wrinkled cuffs. "As for me..." He raised his eyes, gazing into the direction of the military camp, his tone carrying a hint of the arrogance unique to scholars.

“I have been studying border defense and military strategy, as well as the hardships of the people, with the Grand Tutor for a long time, but it has mostly been theoretical. Now that the soldiers on the front lines are shedding blood and the medical staff are saving lives, it is a good time to get hands-on experience and understand the situation on the ground. I will go to the military camp to ‘observe and learn’ and ask them for some practical advice. I am sure the Grand Tutor and the General will not object.”

Sheng Xuan's lips twitched as he listened. Look at this convoluted scheme—wasn't it just a way to find a plausible excuse to stay in the military camp and keep an eye on Su Zhelan? It's like he's really going to pursue some serious academic research!

"Hmph, whatever!" Sheng Xuan was too lazy to expose him and waved his hand impatiently. "Go if you want, or don't! I'm leaving first!" After saying that, he strode towards Sheng Chi's study, his black robes billowing in the wind, his back view exuding an impatient energy.

Xiao Qiyun watched his hurried figure disappear into the distance, shook his head helplessly, but a faint smile flickered in his eyes.

Without delay, he turned and walked towards his courtyard, preparing to change into more presentable clothes and bring a few "reference books"—when putting on a show, one must go all the way.

The general's mansion was filled with the fragrance of medicine in the early morning.

Su Yan was carefully filtering the dregs of the medicine with a silver sieve, his movements steady and deliberate, the only sound the soft patter of the powder falling. A young apprentice came running in, panting, but the news he brought made the silver sieve pause abruptly.

"Sir! The Second Young Master and His Highness the Crown Prince... they're going to the military camp! The Second Young Master said he's going to the vanguard camp, and His Highness the Crown Prince... His Highness said he's going to 'practice what he preaches,' to observe border defense affairs, and to study military strategy and combat tactics!"

Su Yan didn't look up, but gently placed the sieve on the table, making a soft "tap" sound. He picked up a cloth and slowly wiped his hands, but his fingertips applied a little pressure, causing his knuckles to turn slightly white.

"Understood." The voice was calm and even, revealing no emotion.

The young apprentice retreated anxiously. Only the occasional crackling of the silver charcoal in the medicine furnace remained in the pharmacy.

A moment later, footsteps sounded at the door.

Sheng Xuan, dressed in a sharp and smart outfit, exuded the spirited air of someone about to head to the "battlefield." Xiao Qiyun, on the other hand, remained as gentle and composed as ever, holding a book instead, the ink on the cover still seemingly wet.

“Mr. Su,” Xiao Qiyun spoke first, his manners impeccable. “I have been ordered by the Grand Tutor to go to the military camp to observe the practicalities of border defense and study military strategy among the soldiers. I have come to bid you farewell before my departure.”

Sheng Xuan quickly added, "Yes, sir, things are a mess on my brother's end. I'll go help him sort things out!"

Su Yan then slowly turned around. He didn't look at Sheng Xuan; his gaze, like two cold needles, pierced precisely at Xiao Qiyun: "Practice what you preach? Study military strategy? Your Highness's concern for the military and the country is admirable." His tone was flat, revealing no hint of praise or criticism.

"But... in military camps and drill grounds, amidst the clash of swords and the billowing dust; at frontline outposts, where life hangs in the balance, with blades licked and blood spilled. Your Highness, having spent so long in the imperial court, dealing with memorials and official robes, can you withstand that chilling atmosphere? Can you endure the tempering of blood and fire? Or perhaps..."

He paused, his gaze falling on Xiao Qiyun's spotless moon-white robe, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm, "Does Your Highness think that Zhelan, having spent so long in that harsh and desolate place, lacks a kindred spirit with whom he can 'discuss military strategy' and 'give advice on the state of the nation'?"

Xiao Qiyun's gentle smile froze for a moment, and the fingers holding the book tightened almost imperceptibly.

Su Yan's words were even more offensive than a direct insult—subtly linking his study of military strategy to Su Zhelan's existence, implying that his true intentions lay elsewhere.

"You flatter me, sir." Xiao Qiyun's voice remained steady, but the composure in his eyes had faded somewhat. "Border defense is a matter of paramount importance to the nation; mere theoretical discussion is ultimately futile. This junior..."

"Armchair strategist?" Su Yan interrupted him, his voice low but each word clear. "Your Highness, that child Zhelan crawled out of piles of corpses. The 'military strategy' he's seen is how to use a silver needle to keep someone alive amidst ruins, how to use a handful of herbs to stabilize morale when medicine is scarce. He didn't learn how to deploy troops, he learned how to survive in desperate situations. Are you going to 'practice' it yourself, intending to discuss 'the best strategy' with him amidst the cries of wounded soldiers, or do you want to teach him 'subduing the enemy without fighting' amidst the smoke of war?"

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp. "Your Highness, the military camp is not a lecture hall of the Imperial Academy, and Su Zhelan is not a student waiting for you to 'teach' him. Is your 'personal involvement' just adding to the chaos, or disturbing his peace?"

Xiao Qiyun's face darkened completely, his jawline taut. Su Yan's words shattered his carefully crafted facade of "righteousness," pointing directly to the core issue—he was after Su Zhelan.

Su Yan stopped looking at him and turned his gaze to Sheng Xuan. Sheng Xuan's heart skipped a beat when he looked at her, and she subconsciously straightened her back.

"And you too." Su Yan's voice was flat, but it made Sheng Xuan feel even worse than being scolded. "Does Sheng Chi have no one left to rely on, so he has to trouble the Second Young Master? Or do you think that the military camp is a place where you can show off your skills and chase after people?"

He took a step closer, his sharp gaze sweeping over Sheng Xuan's bloodshot eyes and stubble on his chin. "Haven't you slept well for days? Are your dreams filled with sword fights, or... something else that's keeping you on your toes?"

Sheng Xuan's face flushed red, as if he had been stripped naked in public; he was both ashamed and angry: "Sir! I..."

"What?" Su Yan interrupted him, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible weariness and a deeper sense of heartache.

“Zelan, that boy, has a heart as heavy as a weight. He went to the military camp to catch his breath and do something he could control. But you two, one under the guise of ‘helping’ and the other under the pretense of ‘inspecting military affairs,’ have been chasing after him one after another. Do you think he doesn’t have enough burdens on his shoulders? Or do you think he sleeps too soundly at night?”

He sighed, the sound particularly clear in the quiet pharmacy: "The military camp isn't here, it's not a stage for your fictional stories. People lying there are really going to die, and Zhelan holds real medicine that can save lives. If you really care about him, stay away from him and let him be a military doctor in peace. Don't use your ulterior motives to disrupt the little space he's finally found."

After Su Yan finished speaking, he stopped looking at the two of them, turned around and walked to the medicine cabinet. He opened a drawer, took out a packet of prepared medicine powder, and stuffed it into Sheng Xuan's hand: "Take this. It's for calming the nerves and relieving anxiety. If you go to the military camp looking like this, don't exhaust yourself before you can help the wounded soldiers."

He then picked up another small porcelain bottle and handed it to Xiao Qiyun: "It's for cleansing the mind and purifying the spirit. The military camp is dusty and smelly, so wearing this will make you more comfortable. Your Highness, when you are 'doing things personally,' please remember to take care of your health."

His movements were natural, and his tone could even be described as calm, but the silent expulsion and warning he conveyed made the two of them feel more embarrassed than any of his previous words.

Sheng Xuan clutched the packet of powder as if it were a branding iron, his face flushing red and then turning pale. He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word. Finally, he stomped his foot and turned to rush out.

Xiao Qiyun took the porcelain bottle, his fingertips icy cold. He watched Su Yan pick up the silver sieve again, intently filtering the medicinal powder, his straight back exuding an undeniable aloofness.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions, and bowed to Su Yan's retreating figure, his voice slightly hoarse: "...Thank you for your guidance, sir. This junior...takes his leave."

The footsteps faded into the distance, leaving only the dull thud of a pestle grinding herbs in the pharmacy, one sound after another, echoing in the silent air.

Su Yan stopped what he was doing, gazing at the rising sun outside the window, his brow furrowed. He picked up another packet of medicine he had just prepared—it was for Su Zhelan, and it contained an extra ingredient, Coptis chinensis.

"You brat..." he muttered under his breath, unsure whether he was cursing the two persistent ghosts or his disciple who was causing him so much trouble.

As night deepened, the candlelight in the study of the general's mansion had gone out, except for a single lamp still burning in the wing room behind the pharmacy.

Two figures sitting opposite each other were reflected in the window paper, and the scent of medicine mixed with calming incense wafted out from the crack in the door.

Gu Linzhao had just taken off his outer robe, which was damp with night dew, leaving him in only his undergarments, revealing his muscular arms. He picked up the herbal tea warming on the charcoal stove, took a sip, sighed contentedly, and looked up at Su Yan, who was still sorting herbs under the lamp opposite him.

"I heard... those two little brats are going to the military camp tomorrow too?" Gu Linzhao's voice carried a hint of languor from just having taken a bath, and a mischievous smile played on his lips.

"That kid Sheng Xuan said he was going to help his brother organize the armory, carrying sacks of arrows? Xiao Qiyun is even more outrageous, using the guise of 'hands-on practice and understanding military affairs,' he's carrying a military treatise and wants to go to the front lines to 'study' it?" Su Yan said irritably.

He shook his head, his smile deepening. "Goodness, this relentless pursuit is even more intense than when I chased you over mountains and valleys to find medicinal herbs back then!"

Su Yan was sorting dried Coptis chinensis slices into small porcelain bottles when he heard this. Without even looking up, he forcefully crushed a piece of Coptis chinensis with his fingertips, the bitter taste instantly spreading across his fingertips. He gave a disgruntled "humph."

Seeing his expression, Gu Linzhao became even more excited. He moved closer, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of amusement, as if he were enjoying the spectacle even more.

"What kind of spell did that kid Zelan cast on them? One after another, not content with causing trouble at the General's Mansion, they had to chase them all the way to that blood-soaked military camp? Sheng Xuan's recklessness is one thing, but Xiao Qiyun's mind... tsk tsk, he even used 'inspecting military affairs' as a pretext, it's really something for him! What do you call this? 'Where there's a will, there's a way'? Or..."

Before he could finish speaking, he received a light but not heavy blow to the head.

"Ouch!" Gu Linzhao rubbed the back of his head and cried out dramatically, looking up to meet Su Yan's glaring eyes.

Su Yan was still holding half a piece of Coptis chinensis in his hand, and the pestle had somehow ended up in his other hand. He had used that wooden handle to hit Gu Linzhao earlier.

His brows were furrowed, the candlelight flickering in his eyes, conveying a mix of annoyance at being teased and deeper concerns: "I'm talking to you about serious matters! Can't you be serious for once?!"

Gu Linzhao rubbed his head, not annoyed at all, but grinned, revealing a set of white teeth: "How am I being unserious? I'm just helping you analyze it!"

Seeing that Su Yan's expression had darkened further, he quickly stopped smiling and said seriously.

"Alright, alright, let's get serious. You called them to the pharmacy during the day, scolded them as much as you needed to, and gave them a good talking-to, but they still went anyway. You couldn't stop them."

Su Yan threw the piece of Coptis chinensis into the porcelain bottle, making a crisp "ding" sound.

He put down the pestle, rubbed his temples, and the candlelight flickered in the shadows beneath his eyes: "I know I can't stop him. That brat Sheng Xuan, once he's made up his mind, he won't change it. Xiao Qiyun... humph, his mind is as deep as the sea. He agrees to things on the surface, but who knows what he's up to behind the scenes."

Su Yan sighed, his voice lowering, "I'm just worried about Zhelan. That kid is a sensitive soul. He finally found some peace in the military camp, and with these two troublemakers gone, who knows how much more unsettling he'll become. The military camp is a place where swords and spears have no eyes; if he gets distracted again..."

Gu Linzhao stood up and walked behind him, his warm hands pressing on his tense shoulders and neck, kneading them with just the right amount of pressure: "You, you just worry too much. Zhelan looks thin, but he's tough as nails. Which of those wounded soldiers in the camp isn't more difficult to deal with than Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun? He manages to keep them calm. Besides,"

He leaned down, his chin almost brushing against Su Yan's temple, his voice carrying a reassuring smile, "Isn't there still me? I'll also be delivering medicine to the military camp tomorrow, and I'll keep an eye on things for you while I'm at it. If Sheng Xuan dares to cause trouble, I'll tie him up and throw him in the stable; if Xiao Qiyun dares to play tricks, I'll let him taste the newly prepared 'mute medicine'!"

Su Yan's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile as he was amused, and the grip on his shoulder loosened slightly, but he still didn't let it go: "Stop being so cheeky! Last time you messed with my medicine box, you almost poisoned Sheng Chi's messenger and made him mute for three days!"

"He deserved it! Who told him to touch my things!" Gu Linzhao said righteously, his grip softening further. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I watched Zhelan grow up; I wouldn't let him suffer."

Su Yan didn't speak again, but leaned back slightly, resting his weight on Gu Linzhao. The candlelight flickered, casting long shadows of the two of them against the wall.

After a long pause, Su Yan said in a low voice, "...Add another qian of Coptis chinensis to the medicine for Su Zhelan."

Gu Linzhao paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, "Alright, add it. Let him experience the 'good intentions' of you as his master."

The moonlight flowed quietly outside the window, and only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire remained in the pharmacy.

Gu Linzhao looked at Su Yan's still slightly furrowed brows and suddenly said softly, "Actually... if you're really worried, why don't you go and see for yourself?"

Before he could finish speaking, Su Yan suddenly sat up straight!

His eyes, which had just been weary, suddenly shone like stars that had been tempered in fire. His fingers gripped the pestle tightly, almost knocking over the lamp: "That's right! How come I didn't think of that!"

His voice suddenly rose, filled with a sense of exhilarating clarity and unwavering determination, "I'll go myself! I'll personally go to the military camp and keep an eye on things! I refuse to believe that with me there in charge, those two brats won't dare to do anything!"

The more he thought about it, the more brilliant the idea seemed. The gloom on his face vanished, replaced by a hint of eagerness: "Perfect! We need to keep an eye on them using the newly prepared 'Regenerating and Festering Ointment.' There's a lot of poison on the front lines; it won't work if it's not used correctly! And that kid Zelan, he probably didn't eat on time again..."

Seeing Su Yan's sudden change in expression, Gu Linzhao helplessly rubbed his forehead and let out a long, deep sigh: "Sigh... I knew it..."

He reached out and pressed down on Su Yan's shoulder, which was so excited he almost stood up. His tone was full of helplessness and doting, "Grandpa, look at the time! It's almost dawn! If we're going, we'll have to wait until tomorrow, right? The military camp isn't going to grow legs and run away! Are you in such a hurry now, planning to ride there tonight?"

Without a word, he snatched the book from Su Yan's hands, blew out the candle on the desk, leaving only a small lamp in the corner casting a dim yellow glow: "Go to sleep! We can talk about it tomorrow! Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up!"

In the darkness, Su Yan seemed to want to argue a bit more, but Gu Linzhao half-pushed and half-carried him back onto the bed.

The last light in the pharmacy went out, leaving only the cold moonlight outside the window, the bitter aroma of herbs in the air, and Gu Linzhao's faint sigh, full of helplessness, as if he were "making things difficult for himself."

The moonlight flowed quietly outside the window, and only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire and the two people's low whispers remained in the pharmacy, quietly melting the tension of the day into the tranquil night.