Chapter 7: The River is Green as Blue (4) What is the Panic? ...
Meng Xuanli turned at the sound, and the moment her eyes met that face, her heart skipped a beat. She involuntarily took a few steps closer, scrutinizing the eyebrows, the bridge of the nose, the shape of the lips... There was something inexplicably familiar about it.
After a while, she blurted out in a daze: "Su He...?"
But the other person quickly turned his head away, avoiding her inquiring gaze.
Meng Xuanli's heart sank, and he lowered his eyes to hide the emotions in them.
She recalled the time she first met Su He and noticed the small, teardrop-like mole beneath his eyelid. At this moment, she quietly reaffirmed that the face before her was as white as jade, flawless and smooth, without a trace of age.
She recognized the wrong person.
Su He had already died in the raging fire in Xuzhou, and his body was gone. How could he be resurrected?
Just as he was lost in thought, the other party's surprised voice rang out: "Su He? Who are you talking about, young lady?"
Meng Xuanli woke up as if from a dream, a faint smile of apology on his lips: "I'm sorry, I was distracted for a moment and recognized the wrong person."
"Why is it that you are in this quiet place?"
Changsheng Temple is unlike other places, with layers of green mountains and a sense of vitality even on rainy days. However, due to the frequent murders in this area, it is rarely visited.
"I've been having bad luck lately, so I came here to find some peace and quiet, perhaps to balance my feng shui." The man in white spoke in a gentle tone.
"I see."
Meng Xuanli smiled in response, his eyes moving over him imperceptibly: "Looking at your demeanor, you seem like someone who is dedicated to helping the world?
"Young lady, you have good eyesight." Su Zixu emphasized his tone and bowed. "My name is Su Zixu, originally from Qiantang. My parents passed away young, and now I live in the Eastern Capital. I can do my best to help at Renjitang and serve as a doctor."
Meng Xuanli pondered and said, "It seems I was right. Doctor Su, please take a seat."
Su Zixu smiled as he sat down and brushed his sleeves. "Young lady, you've asked me so many questions, but you haven't told me your name yet?"
"I..." Meng Xuanli hesitated for a moment, the corners of her lips curling slightly. "My daughter, Li Xuan, lives in the east of the city. I came here today to pray for the blessing of my husband."
When Su Zixu heard the word "husband", her hands on her knees trembled, and she muttered softly: "Li Xuan..."
He raised his eyes, his gaze scrutinizing: "Is the girl already married? It doesn't look like it."
"Yes." Meng Xuanli smiled gently, "Maybe it's because I was born with a younger face."
"I wonder what disease your husband is suffering from?"
Meng Xuanli bit his lower lip, a hint of worry crossing his brow as he lamented, "Five years ago, after a high fever, he developed a heart condition. I've sought medical advice for years, but his condition hasn't improved. The recent cold weather has only made things worse. That's why I came to this temple, praying to the gods and Bodhisattvas for mercy and to keep him safe."
"Heart disease?" Su Zixu's eyes flickered slightly as he pressed the issue, "Did he show any unusual symptoms when he became ill?"
Meng Xuanli opened her cherry lips slightly, but remained silent.
How could she know what it was like when the prince fell ill?
This time I just want to take this opportunity to ask Dr. Su for some advice, maybe I can find a way to save my life.
There is nothing more desperate than trying any possible cure.
"Miss?" Su Zixu saw that she was speechless and his gaze became deeper.
"He...is extremely frightening when he's ill." Meng Xuanli gritted her teeth and knitted, "Sometimes he weeps uncontrollably, sometimes he remains silent, and then he explodes in rage, and..."
What else could happen? Her mind went blank, and her fingertips grew cold with embarrassment.
Su Zixu's lips curled up slightly, and he interrupted at the right moment: "It seems that your husband's illness often occurs."
Meng Xuanli gave an awkward smile. "Sir, could you please give me some advice on how to deal with this? If anything happens to my husband again, I can still do my best to help."
Su Zixu's eyes flickered for a moment, then he regained his composure. "If you persuade others to study medicine, God will punish you. This is the first time I've encountered someone like you who invites herself into a trap."
Meng Xuanli's eyes lit up, thinking he had agreed: "If my husband can recover, Li Xuan will definitely reward you handsomely."
"Young lady, please seek help from someone else." Su Zixu cast his gaze towards the rain outside the pavilion. "I have been so busy lately that I am unable to attend to you."
"That... is she the young lady's maid?"
Meng Xuanli nodded absentmindedly, then came back to his senses, glanced at Dan Ruo, who had hurried over, and then stood up and bowed to Su Zixu: "I apologize for bothering you today, Doctor Su."
Su Zixu also stood up and returned the greeting: "We will meet again if fate allows."
After saying that, Meng Xuanli did not stay any longer and followed Danruo into the misty rain curtain, his figure gradually moving away.
Su Zixu withdrew his gaze and slowly unfolded his clenched left hand. His palm was covered in a dense, crisscross pattern of crimson scars, like entangled threads of love, or the marks left by a blazing fire.
*
It was November, and the weather was very cold with frost and dew.
That afternoon, Meng Xuanli went out to Wufangzhai to buy rose shortbread. On his way back, he heard people on the street talking about Renjitang. Remembering their chance encounter at Changsheng Temple, he suddenly had an idea. He ordered his carriage to wait and went in alone.
"Is the doctor here?" Meng Xuanli looked around the quiet pharmacy but saw no one.
The clever little medicine apprentice hurried forward and said, "Doctor Su is preparing the herbs in the backyard. If you don't mind, please wait in the inner room for a while."
"Thank you."
The cool breeze that filtered through the window caused Meng Xuanli to sneeze. Just as she was about to reach for her handkerchief, she heard a weary voice behind her: "What's wrong, Miss Li... have you caught a cold?"
“No.”
Meng Xuanli turned around and smiled faintly, his eyes falling on the visitor's slightly pale face: "But you, sir... look like you have caught a bit of a cold."
She had been studying medical classics diligently recently, memorizing every difficult question she encountered, and it all came in handy now.
Before entering the hall, she had no hope of seeing this "busy man" again, but she did not expect that this meeting would be unexpectedly smooth and less awkward than when they first met.
Su Zixu paused slightly and tilted his head slowly: "I'd like to hear the details."
"Sir, your face is pale, your spirit is dimmed, and your movements are a bit hesitant..." Before she could finish her words, Su Zixu interrupted her with a smile.
"Miss Li is self-taught? Your progress is quite fast."
Meng Xuanli smiled modestly: "In front of you, sir, I am just showing off my skills."
"Young lady, you've come here for your husband, haven't you?" Su Zixu turned and walked to the table, changing the subject. "Since you're so interested, why don't you take my pulse first? I'd also like to see how much you've learned."
Meng Xuanli was slightly startled, then smiled: "Okay."
She sat down as she was told, took the pillow and placed it on the table.
Su Zixu followed his instructions and placed his wrist on it. Meng Xuanli extended her slender fingers, and through a white handkerchief, gently touched the blue veins on his wrist. The pink and moist fingertips contrasted with the pale blue veins, like a spring peach blossom adorned with new leaves.
"The pulse is strong and firm... Sir, are you still feeling any pain?"
"Um."
Su Zixu just raised his eyes and saw Meng Xuanli leaning closer. He studied his face intently and said thoughtfully, "Sir, your cheeks are faintly flushed, and your lips appear pale..."
"how?"
"It must be that he's been overworked lately and accidentally caught a cold." Meng Xuanli deduced from memory, "Sir, am I right?"
"right."
Su Zixu looked at her intently, then lowered his head and whispered in an ambiguous voice, "My husband, has he had any symptoms recently?"
Meng Xuanli frowned slightly.
How could she know the prince's recent situation? Since she had used a fake identity in the first place, she could only continue to lie.
She stood up, maintaining a gentle smile on her face. "I've been following the prescription in the medical book and preparing it for him every day. It's been seven or eight days now, but there's still no improvement. I don't know why."
Su Zixu's eyelashes trembled slightly, and he cleared his throat and asked deliberately, "Are you feeling well?"
Meng Xuanli walked back to the chair and slowly sat down. "I feel a little better than before, but my body is still the same."
Su Zixu raised his eyes, his gaze resting deeply on her face, the corners of his lips raised slightly: "It looks like it's going to rain. I'll prescribe a prescription for you later. You can take it back and boil it for your husband to take."
"If there is a turnaround in the future, you can come to me again."
Meng Xuanli agreed with surprise.
When saying goodbye, Meng Xuanli saw Su Zixu walking to the door and said hurriedly, "Sir, please stay. I will go back on my own."
"The road is slippery due to the rain, Miss Li, please be careful with your steps." Su Zixu advised.
Meng Xuanli recalled his sick appearance and said with concern, "Sir, since you have caught a cold today, why don't you stay indoors and rest early to recuperate?"
Su Zixu was slightly startled when he heard this, and nodded slightly: "Miss Li, please go back first."
After saying that, Meng Xuanli opened her umbrella, and her slender figure disappeared into the misty rain.
In front of Renji Hall, petals were falling and raindrops were falling like a mess, making it look like the desolate and dilapidated scene on the eve of a country's demise.
Su Zixu raised his eyes and stared at her pretending to be normal. He walked to the corner of the street and quietly got on a canopy carriage. He did not slowly withdraw his gaze until the carriage completely disappeared at the end of the rain alley.
"Sir, all the herbs you requested are here." The young pharmacist brought over a package.
Su Zixu calmed himself down and said, "You go back first."
"yes."
After the little medicine man left, Su Zixu looked at the pedestrians hurriedly taking shelter from the rain on the street, then turned indifferently and went into the hall.
He slowly closed the door. The moment the door closed, the gentleness on his face disappeared, leaving only a pale expression. His expression was like that of a king of a fallen country trapped in an isolated city. His eyes were burning with resentment and unwillingness, and he wanted to break out of the siege and take back the mountains and rivers of his homeland that had long been overturned.
*
It was late at night and the study in the Duke's Mansion was brightly lit with candles.
"Guan Que, what exactly is your intention in doing this?"
Emperor Xiao Cong learned of the scandal surrounding the eldest daughter of the Meng family and thought he could use it to end the engagement. Unexpectedly, his nephew resorted to drastic measures, replacing the bride and even locking up his residence, claiming to be seriously ill and recuperating.
If he hadn't disguised himself, he might not even be able to step into the Duke's Mansion tonight.
Lu Guanque put down his purple brush and raised his eyes, the candlelight dancing in his bottomless eyes: "The time has not yet come. Please forgive me... I cannot speak to Your Majesty clearly yet."
"Your mother tragically died in Xuzhou. Your father, disheartened by this, fled to Chang'an to cultivate Taoism and ignore worldly affairs. You are the only one left in this great Duke's Mansion." Xiao Cong said anxiously, "How can I not be worried?"
"Your Majesty, rest assured." Lu Guanque said calmly, "I will take good care of myself."
Xiao Cong sighed.
He knew Lu Guanque's character very well. His mind was as deep as the sea, and he never spoke out what he wanted to do. Even a Daluo Jinxian would find it difficult to get a glimpse of it.
After a long pause, Xiao Cong finally couldn't help but ask, "Guan Que, I remember you've always disliked this marriage forced upon you by your grandmother. Why are you so determined to marry her now, and with a different person?"
Lu Guanque stood up and walked to the candlestick.
The flickering firelight cast a flickering shadow over his profile, adding to its unpredictability. His voice was low, a statement, yet also a promise: "Your Majesty will know in the future."
Before Xiao Cong could ask further questions, the study door was suddenly pushed open.
Uncle De stumbled in, his face filled with panic and sweat dripping down his face. "...Greetings...Greetings to His Majesty! The Crown Prince!"
Lu Guanque's brows furrowed, and he looked sideways: "Uncle De, what are you so scared of?"
Uncle De glanced at Xiao Cong who was sitting there, his throat rolled and he stammered, not daring to speak.
"explain!"
Lu Guanque's voice suddenly became harsh, and he rushed to Uncle De in one step, completely ignoring the emperor's astonished look.
"It was Miss Xuan Li..." Uncle De's voice trembled as he cautiously glanced at Lu Guanque's suddenly icy expression. "Just now, she was... kidnapped!"
boom!
The gentleness in Lu Guanque's eyes disappeared in an instant, turning into two sharp blades filled with murderous intent, flying swiftly into the darkness.
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