disordered breathing
Jie Xiangsi looked down at the blood gushing from her chest. The blood quickly stained her clothes, and her body rapidly lost its temperature.
Before losing consciousness, she heard a loud bang not far away, so loud it hurt her ears.
...
With a deafening tremor, the smell of saltpeter and sulfur instantly filled the entire governor's mansion.
The pungent smell startled the Northern Barbarian general, who was brandishing his sword. He abruptly turned to look at Zhang Xu: "How can there be fire mines?!"
Zhou Yanzhi stabbed the sword-wielding Northern Barbarian with a backhand stroke, then quickly retreated to the side carrying the unconscious Xie Xiangsi. At the same time, Xiao Jiangsheng, who had just realized what was happening, shouted, "Retreat!"
At his command, in an instant, the Xiao family army on the battlefield retreated to the gate in perfect order.
Amidst the billowing smoke, a petite figure emerged from the shadows of the governor's mansion's high platform. Looking at the towering Northern barbarians on the ground, she let out a cold laugh, "You audacious Northern barbarians, how dare you offend my Great Zhao! Your grandma will make sure you never return!"
After saying that, she waved her hand slightly, and before the Northern Barbarians could react, countless black boxes sparking with fire were thrown to the ground like rain.
In an instant, flames erupted everywhere, followed by one deafening roar after another, and thick black smoke stung people's eyes.
Through the thick fog, Jing Zigui, dressed in a blood-stained red robe, held a silver spear and looked up at Zhao Liuyi on the high platform. His eyes were filled with admiration. After a while, he said softly and arrogantly, "Mine."
Unexpectedly, there were also fire and bombs. In a short while, when everyone looked outside again, the governor's mansion had already been blown into ruins. There were not many Northern Barbarian soldiers hidden inside the governor's mansion to begin with.
The ground was littered with limbs, broken swords, and shattered knives.
As the thick smoke dissipated, the remaining Xiao family soldiers quickly stepped forward to subdue the Northern Barbarians who were still alive, and viciously vented their anger at losing their comrades on them.
For a time, the screams of the northern barbarians echoed continuously in the empty governor's mansion.
Jing Zigui nailed the spear into the hem of Zhang Xu's clothes that were dragging on the ground as he crawled. He walked over and looked him up and down. Seeing that his hands and feet were intact, he clicked his tongue in disappointment.
"It seems I'll have to do it myself."
The next moment, he picked up the broken knife beside him and, with a smile on his face, viciously chopped off Zhang Xu's feet.
"Now you really have to crawl."
As dawn broke and the distant sky turned a pale white, the rebellion at the governor's mansion that night was finally quelled.
...
Several days later, in a small courtyard of the Jing residence.
Hearing the woman on the bed mutter "cold," Zhou Yanzhi quickly reached under the quilt and took out a hot water bottle, then put the newly prepared hot water bottle inside.
As Xie Xiangsi's brows smoothed out, his own brows furrowed involuntarily.
"Knock knock—"
Suddenly, two soft sounds came.
Zhou Yanzhi opened the door, and the person who came in was Zhao Liuyi.
Zhou Yanzhi: "Miss Zhao."
Zhao Liuyi: "Lord Zhou."
Zhao Liuyi glanced cautiously at the woman still unconscious on the bed, then turned to Zhou Yanzhi, her voice very soft, "Is Xiangsi still not awake?"
"Hmm." Zhou Yanzhi nodded slightly.
She has looked like this ever since she fainted at the governor's mansion that day.
Even though the most horrifying sword wound on his body was slowly healing, he was still drowsy and couldn't wake up. He kept saying "cold" and only calmed down a little when he was holding a hot water bottle.
These past few days, both he and Xiao Jiangsheng have interrogated Zhang Xu day and night, using every kind of torture imaginable, but he stubbornly refuses to say what he gave Xie Xiangsi that day.
“I see…” Zhao Liuyi lowered her eyes, then took out a packet of medicine powder from her purse, and looked up to meet Zhou Yanzhi’s gaze. “I heard that Xiangsi keeps saying ‘cold,’ and I suddenly remembered something I once talked about with her.”
Handing over the powder, Zhao Liuyi explained, "This medicine is called 'Wangyue San,' a medicine from the Northern Barbarians used to treat high fever. After taking it, you will feel cold all over your body, which is exactly what Xiangsi is experiencing now."
Changing the subject, she continued, "However, the usual Wangyue Powder did not cause unconsciousness, and the chills did not last this long. But, I think you can start with this medicine first."
Zhou Yanzhi took the powder and nodded his thanks, "Thank you, Miss Zhao."
Zhao Liuyi returned the bow and shook her head, saying, "Xiangsi is my dear friend of many years, and I also hope that she is safe and sound."
"……Um."
Watching Zhao Liuyi walk away, Zhou Yanzhi lowered his eyes.
Turning around, he walked to the bedside, his long fingers gently brushing across Xie Xiangsi's forehead, and whispered almost inaudibly, "Xiao Yan."
Wake up.
...
As evening fell, the moon rose above the branches, and the night dew was heavy.
Inside the main hall of the Jing residence, the lights were still on. Jing Zigui, the master of the house, looked at Zhou Yanzhi, who was silent to the side, and then turned to look at Xiao Jiangsheng, who had a solemn expression on his face. After a long while, he sighed helplessly.
"Hey you guys, stop being so silent all the time. At least eat something! What if you exhaust yourselves to death before Miss Jie wakes up?"
"We have already sent people out to investigate the 'Moon Gazing Powder,' and we believe good news will come soon. Cheer up, everyone."
After saying that, he pushed the two bowls of noodles towards the two of them again, "Eat some, it's a specialty of Danzhou!"
After a while, the two blinked and slowly reached for their chopsticks.
Suddenly, a bird's cry rang out.
Looking up, one sees a huge falcon. Wu Goulang, who had traveled to the capital, has returned to Danzhou with a letter.
Seeing this, the two immediately put down their chopsticks and pushed the noodles aside. Watching their eyes light up for a moment, Jing Zigui raised an eyebrow. Alright, the real "food" is here.
Zhou Yanzhi took the small bamboo tube tied to Wu Goulang's feet, took out the letter, opened it, quickly scanned it, and a serious expression appeared on his face.
He handed the letter to the two people beside him, his tone somewhat heavy: "Qi Minghua said he couldn't see the person, and he wasn't sure what kind of poison it was. He needed to see the person to make a judgment."
Upon hearing this, Jing Zigui felt Xiao Jiangsheng's breathing become heavy beside him.
Indeed, Qi Minghua is the youngest head of the Imperial Medical Academy in the history of the Great Zhao Dynasty. If even he is not sure, then it is indeed a bit tricky.
However, when Jing Zigui turned to look at him, he saw the worry in his eyes that was no less than that in Zhou Yanzhi's eyes. His eyes couldn't help but shift, and he even looked at him with a hint of inquiry.
However, Zhou Ce'an could worry about it, since Miss Jie was the one he loved. But why should he worry about Xiao Jiangsheng?
Not related by blood or marriage.
After a long pause, Xiao Jiang said in a deep voice, "Then let's return to the capital."
Zhou Yanzhi nodded; he thought so too. With the Emperor surrounded by dangers, Qi Minghua was definitely not allowed to leave the capital, so they had to return.
As long as Jie Xiangsi remains unconscious, his heart will never be at peace.
Then, as if remembering something, he changed the subject and added, "Song Baiyu didn't return to the capital either."
Upon hearing this, Jing Zigui raised an eyebrow, leaned closer to Xiao Jiangsheng to look at the contents of the letter, then leaned casually against the table and chuckled, "He's not stupid after all."
When they were cleaning up the battlefield that day, they searched the entire governor's mansion, even finding the secret passages. But they couldn't find a trace of Song Baiyu. They didn't know when he ran away; he had run away quite quickly.
Xiao Jiangsheng said coldly, "But he will definitely return to the capital."
Zhou Yanzhi nodded. "Not bad."
Now that they've discovered he's not dead and is "colluding" with Xiao Jiangsheng in Danzhou, he'll surely return to the capital to report what's happening in Danzhou to his master, thus striking first.
"Then..." As if remembering something, Jing Zigui looked directly at Zhou Yanzhi with her peach blossom eyes, her tone tinged with a hint of mockery, "If you return to the capital, wouldn't it be like attending a banquet at Hongmen?"
Sensing the glee in his tone, Zhou Yanzhi, already annoyed, was even more speechless. He glared at him irritably and said maliciously, "If I die, I guarantee you won't get a single cent you want."
Upon hearing this, Jing Zigui's smile vanished instantly. He stood up abruptly and retorted defiantly, "Zhou Ce'an, you broke your promise!"
Zhou Yanzhi glared at him. "What? If I were dead, you could reason with a dead man? You're quite something."
Jing Zigui was furious, "Zhou Ce'an! You have no shame!"
Zhou Yanzhi calmly replied, "Oh, so what?"
Jing Zigui was even angrier: "You!"
"Alright!" Unable to contain himself any longer, Xiao Jiangsheng shoved the enraged Jing Zigui back down, then turned to Zhou Yanzhi on the other side and said, "The situation is urgent, you all need to be serious and stop arguing!"
Knowing they were in the wrong, the two stopped talking and went their separate ways.
After a long pause, Xiao Jiangsheng spoke, "In that case, let's return to the capital immediately."
“No!” Zhou Yanzhi interrupted, “Right now the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. If you return to the capital, they will definitely catch you. Without enough evidence, you won’t be able to explain yourself. Then, your Xiao family’s case will be really hard to overturn.”
Xiao Jiangsheng fell silent.
How could he not know?
Now he is a criminal awaiting punishment, and is also accused of treason. Without evidence, if he returns to the capital now, it would be tantamount to handing himself over to the enemy to be killed.
Zhou Yanzhi was different; he was the emperor's nephew and the empress dowager's most beloved grandson, so they wouldn't do anything to him.
Moreover, the person behind this hasn't shown up yet, so he still needs to investigate.
Not returning to Beijing was his best and most rational choice.
But Yan Yan was his sister, his last remaining family member in the world. The more pain he felt when he took her body away and buried her, the happier he was when he learned that she was alive in Jie Xiangsi's body.
He would not be at peace until she woke up.
Seemingly sensing Xiao Jiangsheng's concerns, Zhou Yanzhi said solemnly, "Don't worry, I, Zhou Ce'an, swear that I will protect her with my life."
Upon hearing this, Jing Zigui raised an eyebrow again.
What exactly is going on? Something feels off.
After a long silence, Xiao Jiang slowly spoke, "You can only be a caregiver. You must not have any improper intentions, you must not lay a hand on her, you must not verbally harass her, you must always go along with her, you must not let her suffer any grievances, you must not make her angry, you must not..."
Outsider Jing Zigui: "..."
Listening to his long string of instructions, Jing Zigui felt a strange feeling again. He had thought that Xiao Jiangsheng liked to comfort people who were in love, but now he felt that Xiao Jiangsheng was like an old father.
He barely had time to hear the long string of words, but Zhou Yanzhi, standing beside him, not only listened attentively but also nodded in agreement from time to time, saying, "Don't worry, I will never let her suffer any injustice..."
Jing Zigui: "..."
Why is he so obedient, yet he turns his back on you and refuses to pay?
A gentle evening breeze stirs, the candlelight flickers softly, the long night stretches on, and I sleep soundly through a night of sorrow.
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