Dugu Jie pondered for a moment before saying, "Let me think about it."
Dugu Jie did not believe the prime minister's words easily. He secretly sent people to Sichuan and other places to inquire for several days. He learned that the legend of strange beasts was widely circulated in Sichuan and Shu, and then he believed it.
That winter, Dugu Jie sent four teams to Shu to search for the strange beast, but they never found the whereabouts of the strange beast.
After spring, when flowers bloomed, Dugu Jie became even sicker.
That day, after Nangong Xian finished teaching Dugu Sheng martial arts, she went to the palace to meet the emperor. Seeing Dugu Jie hiding in his bedroom, coughing and spitting blood, she felt heartbroken.
After secretly leaving the palace, Nangong Xian went straight to the Prime Minister's residence, met the Prime Minister, and asked him about the story of the Sichuan and Shu strange beasts, wondering whether it was true or false.
The Prime Minister said, "This is most likely true. As far as I know, Your Majesty has already sent people to investigate secretly. If it were false, Your Majesty would not have sent people to look for it."
Nangong Xian also felt that the Prime Minister's analysis was correct.
After leaving the Prime Minister's Mansion, Nangong Xian did not say goodbye to anyone. She took her Sun-Chasing Arrow and her most trusted subordinate Lingxiao and went to Shu alone.
The Prime Minister learned the news almost on the morning of the day Nangong Xian and Lingxiao left Kyoto. Upon learning that Nangong Xian had indeed gone to Shu, the Prime Minister smiled slyly.
"General, oh General, you are so loyal to our Majesty!" What a pity, as a general who protects the country, she shouldn't have to protect the country and want to occupy His Majesty at the same time!
She has taken possession of His Majesty alone. Where does that leave the vast harem? Where does that leave the Empress?
Nangong Xian had no idea that she had stepped into a trap from which there was no turning back.
She and Lingxiao traveled through wind and rain, and it took only five days to reach Shu. Lingxiao had already ordered his subordinates to investigate Mo Liansheng's residence. After arriving in Shu, Lingxiao led Nangong Xian to Yaowang Valley.
When they arrived at the Medicine Valley, Mo Liansheng was picking herbs in the fields. The Medicine Valley was at a high altitude, and spring had already arrived, so a thin layer of snow could still be seen in the valley.
Mo Liansheng wore a slate-gray gown and a fur scarf tied around his neck for warmth. His nose was slightly red from the cold. He carefully dug up a medicinal herb with a small hoe. He heard the sound of horse hooves and looked in their direction. He saw Nangong Xian, dressed in a fiery red, sitting atop a fiery horse, carrying a Sun Chaser Arrow, looking down at him from the path.
Mo Liansheng dropped the herbs in his hand in shock, hurried to the edge of the field, and kowtowed to Nangong Xian. "I didn't know the general was coming, and I'm sorry I didn't come to greet you!"
"Liansheng, there's no need to be so polite. It's me who came uninvited and disturbed the tranquility of the valley."
Mo Liansheng stared at Nangong Xian deeply for a while before saying, "General, I didn't know you were coming, so I didn't prepare a banquet. General, please follow me into the valley. I'll have my wife cook a few dishes and boil two pots of warm wine to warm you and the spirit guards!"
Upon hearing this, Nangong Xian showed a look of surprise. "Is Liansheng married?"
Mo Liansheng felt bitter in his heart, but a smile played on his face. He smiled sheepishly and said, "I've been married for six months. My wife is the daughter of the Valley Master, and she's also a doctor."
"Congratulations!"
Nangong Xian saw that Mo Liansheng was married, thinking that he had finally let go of her, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Lingxiao was also somewhat delighted to hear this news. His Majesty now had one less rival in love, so he could rest assured.
When they returned to the valley, Nangong Xian saw that Mo Liansheng's wife was already pregnant and had a beautiful face. He then teased Mo Liansheng, "I've heard that Sichuan and Shu are famous for their beauties. Now that I've seen Madam Mo, I believe it."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Mo lowered her head, two blushes of embarrassment appeared on her face, and her ears were red.
"How many months old is the baby?"
Madam Mo replied, "In reply to the general, the child is already four months old."
"It will be a bright and healthy child."
After dinner, Madam Mo and the old Valley Master left. After they left, Nangong Xian told Mo Liansheng the purpose of their visit. "Liansheng, His Majesty's health is declining. I'm afraid he may not have much time left..."
Nangong Xian lowered her eyes to glance at the bowl of wine in front of her. She paused for a moment before continuing, "I heard there's a strange beast in the Sichuan and Shu regions whose heart can turn bones into flesh and revive the dead. That's not true, but is it true?"
"To be honest, the moment I saw the general, I guessed his purpose for coming to Shu." Mo Liansheng picked up a peanut with chopsticks and put it into his mouth. He said, "Strange beasts do exist. As for whether the medicinal effects are as effective as the legend says, it is still unclear."
Hearing that such a thing as a strange beast really existed, Nangong Xian was delighted. "Then does Liansheng know where the strange beast lives?"
Mo Liansheng: "Speaking of this strange beast, I do know some information, but I don't know if it's accurate."
Lingxiao hurriedly asked Mo Liansheng: "Liansheng, what do you know?"
Mo Liansheng said, "I heard that the strange beast was last seen on the shore of a lake a hundred kilometers away. When it was seen, it was lying by the lake drinking water. Everyone speculates that the strange beast may live in that lake."
Hearing this, Lingxiao said, "Then let's go to the lake tomorrow to look for it. Maybe the strange beast is still hiding in the lake." They can only gamble now, gamble that they are lucky and that the emperor will not die!
Mo Liansheng met Nangong Xian's gaze. He put down his chopsticks and said thoughtfully, "Alright, then the general should rest early tonight. Tomorrow morning, we will set out to find the strange beast."
"good."
On the second day, Mo Liansheng bid farewell to his pregnant wife and took Nangong Xian and Lingxiao to the lake a hundred miles away.
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