A mix of joy and sorrow, with much activity day and night.
Jiang Heng was astonished by the bright lights of the streets—they should still be under lockdown, and there shouldn't be any pedestrians on the streets at this time. While puzzled, he was also relieved that he had come at a good time, making it easier to seek medical help.
However, when Jiang Heng was young, his father would invite doctors to treat him when he fell ill. After the family fell into poverty, he fell ill and was weak all over, and could only suffer alone. He was unable to seek medical treatment and had no idea where the clinic was. When he asked, no one answered. He could only run around and almost covered half of the city until a flying eaves appeared where the lights were about to go out.
It's the plaque for the medical clinic.
The clinic was only lit by the lamp in the main hall. Jiang Heng was overjoyed and stepped inside. A female doctor in flowing white robes greeted him.
"Please don't be hasty, sir. Tell me what's wrong." The female healer's voice was gentle and flowing, but it didn't hinder her movements. She had already stepped in front of her medicine box, ready to act.
"The guest of the Supervisor's residence suddenly suffered a relapse of the poison, his abdomen was bruised and purple, and his life was hanging by a thread," Jiang Heng said, still a little out of breath. "It was a recurrence of an old poison."
The female healer frowned upon hearing this. She had only been treating patients for two years, and in that time she had seen no fewer than a thousand people with similar symptoms. She then replied to Jiang Heng, "Young master, do not worry, this poison can be cured."
Jiang Heng pursed his lips and nodded, thinking that the timing and location were perfect. A sound like the clatter of an abacus filled the air, and the female healer brought out a fast-acting pill, placing it in a porcelain bottle, saying, "One pill at a time will be effective." Only then did Jiang Heng realize he was penniless, and he broke out in a cold sweat.
"It's alright, young master, please use it first. You can pay for the medicine later." The female doctor noticed Jiang Heng's predicament and quickly wrapped up the medicine and presented it to him.
Jiang Heng bowed in thanks, and when he reached the gate of the mansion, the guards were waiting, seemingly scolding him for returning so late, but Jiang Heng had no mind to care. After entering the gate, he ran to a side room.
The man was already unconscious. Jiang Heng took out the porcelain bottle, poured out a pill, and fed it to him. Only then did Jiang Heng check his pulse; thankfully, he was alright. Jiang Heng breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Jiang Heng had always suspected this man, he was only on guard. If this man were truly a righteous person, he might very well protect him. He didn't want to watch this man die from his illness. This man was also a farmer who followed him, and he trusted him.
The morning mist was thick, and before he knew it, it was already the sixth watch. In two more hours, he would be taking a sedan chair to the palace examination.
The man showed signs of waking up, but Jiang Heng, preoccupied with his thoughts, didn't notice. When the man opened his eyes, he saw Jiang Heng standing beside him, looking haggard, and was overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
"Thank you for saving me, young master," the man said weakly.
Jiang Heng was both surprised and delighted: "It's good that it's alright... but this poison is too dangerous. If I go into the palace to test it, I'm afraid my brother will have no one to take care of him. I really can't rest easy."
"Haha... I am already a dying man. My return to life today is only thanks to you, young master. If I were to die... it would be my fate." The man appeared very calm.
After the man drank the water, he regained most of his strength. He suddenly said to Jiang Heng, "Young master, I was previously called Ah Xi. You are another person who has given me a new life. Please give me a name."
Jiang Heng himself was not yet of legal age, let alone someone else's serious matter. He was somewhat puzzled by these sudden words.
Jiang Heng said, "Brother, you have gone to great lengths to protect me all the way, so it is only right that I, Jiang Heng, help you." When they met eyes, the man's gaze was unusually sincere. Jiang Heng realized that he could not refuse, so he continued, "Since you have the nickname A-Xi, then let's add Cheng to it and call you Cheng Xi."
The man laughed and said, "Fu Chengxi, very good!"
Jiang Heng's heart sank, but his expression remained unchanged as he smiled and asked, "Brother's surname is Fu?"
Fu Chengxi replied, "Yes, the one who gave me my first life was none other than the Xiang State Preceptor."
Jiang Heng suddenly felt that everything made sense, and asked with a smile, "Oh? Then the Imperial Advisor must love the people like his own children."
Fu Chengxi thought to himself that this was truly an easy gift, and replied, "Of course. The Imperial Preceptor not only provides relief to us abandoned people, but also treats us with great kindness."
Jiang Heng sneered inwardly. This man was either lying or had been deceived. If he could live peacefully with Fu Qinxiang, why would he follow the landless peasants westward, enduring hardships to dig wells, introduce seeds, and cultivate the land? Whatever the reason, this man must have been sent by Fu Qinxiang, blending in with the peasants to pass himself off as genuine.
“That would be excellent,” Jiang Heng said.
"The Imperial Advisor is also recruiting talented individuals from all over the land, she..."
"Announcing the Emperor's praise to the Jiang clan for their attendance at the palace—departing immediately—" Their casual conversation was interrupted by a voice from outside the door.
Jiang Heng patted Fu Chengxi on the shoulder, then tried to get up. Just as he was about to stand up, his clothes were tugged, and he turned around.
Fu Chengxi stared at him intently and said, "Young Master, are you willing to become the Imperial Advisor's right-hand man? To serve the country and protect the people?"
Jiang Heng's gaze quickly shifted from concern to indifference as he slowly said, "I have an agreement and cannot attend to both." Ignoring the crumpled and soiled corner of his robe, he broke free, entrusted the medicine to the servant, and attempted to step outside.
With a thud behind him, Fu Chengxi fell to the ground. He used all his strength to roll over to his knees and choked out, "Please reconsider, young master!"
Jiang Heng turned around at the sound, and saw a pool of blood beneath the man. But the man was poisoned internally, so there shouldn't be any external injuries. He glanced around the wooden bed and, sure enough, a cold glint shone from within the bedding.
Jiang Heng's expression turned disgusted. This person probably thought he was overly kind and wanted to take advantage of him, which was why he came up with this plan.
"Jiang Heng, come quickly! You won't be waited for late!" A constable in red shouted as he entered the room looking for him. This was an attendant constable. The people in the mansion looked at Guo Zheng's face and, seeing that he was not angry, they all held their own. Jiang Heng was afraid that he would be controlled by this strong man again, so he called the servants at the door to help him up, and then followed the constable to the sedan chair.
Guo Zheng stood at the door, no longer as imposing as when they first met. Now, facing Zhao Chen's men, he seemed somewhat defeated.
Jiang Heng bid farewell to Guo Zheng, thanked him for his appreciation, and promised again that he would repay the favor. After saying this, he got into the sedan chair.
“I did not mean to offend you by calling you by your name. The Attendant foresaw that the Grand Preceptor would use a divisive tactic, so he specifically instructed me to come and resolve the situation. I hope you will forgive me, young master,” said the officer who was escorting him on horseback.
"Mr. Jiang is extremely grateful."
Passing by the clinic, Jiang Heng took out half of the loose silver Guo Zheng had given him and asked the officer to give it to the female doctor.
The palace bells on the sedan chair carried an irrepressible joy, a joy that seemed to reach the heavens.
—————
"How is it? Any progress?"
"Still no sign of the governor!"
"This is really troublesome..."
"Let's think of ourselves first!"
"The governor wouldn't..."
"Shut up!" Zhou Ze shouted, and the entire team fell silent instantly. The crowd was puzzled and resentful, but when they saw Zhou Ze, their eyes turned sorrowful—the boy's right eye was a bloody mess.
"You should know that since the Junior Minister and the Governor-General were separated at the same time, they should be able to look after each other. Furthermore, their combat experience is vastly different from ours. Since we were able to retreat alive, I'm sure they can overcome all difficulties even more." Zhou Ze was only fifteen years old, and although his voice was somewhat childish, every word he spoke was powerful.
The wailing people gradually quieted down after hearing this. Wang Sheng had noticed the commotion long ago, and after bandaging up the other brothers, he limped over.
"Young man, rest well. We'll go to Hengdao Mountain together after we've finished reorganizing here," Wang Sheng said, while constantly observing Zhou Ze's injured eye.
Zhou awkwardly turned his head away and said, "So what if he's blind? The Sand Soldiers' eagles are a bit too fierce. As long as he's alive, that's all that matters."
Wang Sheng sighed softly, stuffed the medicine into Zhou Ze's arms, and left.
—————
On the green field, the sand dunes were piled high with soldiers and horses, like mud. Judging from sight and hearing, their numbers outnumbered the cavalry five to one. Even if the cavalry, with their three thousand elite troops, were to fight three against one, they would still find it difficult to contend with them.
As I held my breath and focused my attention, a long cry rang out, and flashes of lightning streaked across the sky. I looked closely and recognized it as an eagle.
Their swift riding was exposed, so they sounded the retreat.
—————
This was their first battle against the Shajie tribe. For nearly forty years, the Great Zhao had always paid tribute with gold and silver treasures. Now, the emperor had suddenly issued an order to attack the Shajie tribe, and they were unsure whether to attack the enemy or themselves. Previously, they only knew that the Shajie tribe was invincible on horseback, but now they also learned that this tribe used eagles as scouts and used surprise attacks to defeat the carefully laid plans of the Sata cavalry.
The golden goblet was waved in the court, stained with the tears of the people and soaked in the blood of the soldiers, a sweet and intoxicating sight.
—————
Xiao Hanjin got separated from Zhao Peiming. The night was shrouded in mist, making it impossible to discern directions. Xiao Hanjin could only spur his horse and gallop straight in one direction. He had lost too much blood and was exhausted, collapsing onto the horse's back. He didn't know how long he had been galloping when he saw what appeared to be lights in the distance. Xiao Hanjin dismissed it as a hallucination and then completely lost consciousness.
The red blossoms burning in the snow are winter plum blossoms… no, they're peach blossoms, but why do peach blossoms bloom in the dead of winter? How strange. But to still be alive is strange in itself, so thinking about it that way, it's not so strange… Either way, death is inevitable, yet they choose to live on so precariously. Snow, snowflakes falling, why are they so hot?
Xiaohan frowned, then suddenly opened her eyes.
This action startled the person in front of him. The sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy looked astonished, his eyes flashing with unease, and his hand holding the hot towel hung in mid-air.
Xiaohan realized that her expression was too ferocious, closed her eyes and said, "I didn't mean to scare you, I'm really sorry."
Seeing that he meant no harm, the boy relaxed, turned around and called his parents in. Soon, two elderly people, well past fifty, came in, put down the medicine, and left.
The boy brought the medicine, scooped some out with a spoon, tested the temperature to his lips, and after confirming it was suitable, gently placed the spoon to Xiao Hanjin's lips. Xiao Hanjin felt a slight warmth, drank it, and then opened his eyes.
The boy's appearance was different from those in the Central Plains, especially his eye color, which had a faint orange tinge. Xiao Han was completely mesmerized. The boy turned his head away, avoiding her gaze, and muttered something Xiao Han couldn't understand.
"What is it that you have to say, young master? Could you please tell me more?"
The boy shook his head, rummaged through the wooden cabinet and found a stack of rough paper. He searched through the pages one by one, and finally held up a piece of paper to Xiao Han. On it were crooked words: "I am from Xinjiang and do not understand Mandarin."
Xiao Han was genuinely amused by the words, finding them amusing. He reached for the stack of papers and began to read them himself. His smile froze on the last page. That page was the most densely written, with several lines prominently displayed: "If any soldiers are saved by him, do not be disrespectful. If there are any new words, please bestow them upon this young master to aid future military commanders. Two hundred and thirty-seven subordinates."
Xiao Han looked up at the boy, who was looking at him with gentle and docile eyes, much like a domestic rabbit.
Xiaohan is actually quite talkative, talkative and patient, but when she encountered someone with whom she couldn't communicate, she remained silent all night.
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