Chapter 94 Planning
When Cen Yan brought the person over, Master Zhao was surprised, but not entirely unexpected.
On the contrary, his young apprentice was speechless for a moment when he saw the two scouts who had been shot by arrows.
"I don't know if the information about the poison Hao San brought back is true or false. Comparing the reactions of these two people after being poisoned, do you think we need to adjust the medication, Master Zhao?"
"If you want to use acupuncture, you can try it on them; it doesn't matter if they live or die."
Cen Yan explained it this way.
Master Zhao rubbed his hands together. Although it wasn't very kind of him, there really wasn't a faster way.
"Let me give it a try."
Cen Yan: "Do you need two guards to hold him down?"
While rummaging through the acupuncture kit, Master Zhao said, "Yes, we need it. It wouldn't be good if the needles were inserted crookedly during the trial."
After assigning two guards to Master Zhao, Cen Yan went to check on the medicine being prepared for Zhuang Dongqing. It had just been started and was simmering over a low flame, bubbling away. Cen Yan smelled it and guessed it would be very bitter.
Zhao Ye's other apprentice was tending the medicine stove, fanning the fire with a palm leaf fan. Cen Yan arrived and sat down next to him. The apprentice was puzzled and glanced at Cen Yan several times. Cen Yan told him not to worry about him and to continue brewing the medicine as usual. They followed Zhao Ye, and Zhuang Dongqing had been studying medicine under Zhao Ye for the past two years. They often met when Cen Yan came to pick up Zhuang Dongqing.
Therefore, he could also sense Cen Yan's unusual calmness.
Therefore, they became even more cautious, keeping a close eye on the heat and not daring to make the slightest mistake.
Cen Yan's mind was not on the medicine stove.
He just wanted to find a place to sit down and sort out his current situation and thoughts.
Hao San, Xu Si, and Liu Qi have all been dispatched. Right now, only their personal guards and Master Zhao remain in the manor to protect them. If there are any further plans, they will have to wait until everyone returns before proceeding...
That's perfect, it gives him time to think it over.
After sitting for about half an hour, Cen Yan finally left. No sooner had he left than his apprentice wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. Although Cen Yan hadn't caused any trouble, the apprentice felt that this period of time was more agonizing than any other time he had spent watching the fire.
I couldn't help but secretly hope that Zhuang Dongqing would recover soon.
If he gets better, everyone else will get better too.
*
When Cen Yan returned to the main house, Zhuang Dongqing was still asleep, and Liu Fu was keeping watch over her.
Liu Fu is very meticulous. Over the years, he has taken care of Zhuang Dongqing and him in a very orderly manner, so Cen Yan is quite at ease.
After staying by Zhuang Dongqing's bedside for a while, listening to the other's steady breathing, Cen Yan gradually felt the accumulated fatigue creeping into his eyes. When he felt sleepy, Cen Yan whispered, "Bring me a couch so I can lie down for a while."
Liu Fu had someone carefully prepare it, and instead of placing the soft couch in the outer room, he put it directly next to Zhuang Dongqing's bed.
Cen Yan glanced at it but said nothing, and Liu Fu stopped making adjustments.
When they returned with the thin blanket, Cen Yan was already lying on the couch, his eyes closed, but he opened them again after Liu Fu arrived.
His eyes were clear; he hadn't fallen asleep at all.
Liu Fu then whispered a suggestion, "Young Master, I'll stay here. Why don't you go to the next room and take a nap, Your Highness?"
In Liu Fu's eyes, Cen Yan had been working non-stop for two days.
Cen Yan replied without hesitation, "No need, I can't sleep anywhere else."
Liu Fu paused for a moment, then said very tactfully, "Then I'll be gentle and call you when the young master wakes up."
Cen Yan nodded, and after Liu Fu finished draping the blanket, he closed his eyes again.
Outside, the sky was bright, but inside the main house, the doors were tightly closed and the light was dim.
Liu Fu lay at the foot of Zhuang Dongqing's bed, keeping watch. Zhuang Dongqing was fast asleep. Cen Yan, who had been unusually awake, was completely calmed down by the sound of Zhuang Dongqing's breathing or the occasional chirping of cicadas outside. He also fell asleep.
*
An hour and a half later, Cen Yan opened his eyes.
I sat up straight, and my energy had fully recovered.
Zhuang Dongqing was still asleep.
The good thing is that nothing unusual has been observed so far, and the toxin seems to have very limited effect, just as Master Zhao predicted.
But Cen Yan didn't dare to gamble. He carefully touched Zhuang Dongqing's forehead to make sure everything was alright before going to the bathroom to wash up.
When Liu Fu brought over his everyday clothes, Cen Yan realized that he was still wearing his night clothes.
"Let's put up a screen."
Liu Fu whispered from the outside, "An An has woken up. Grandma sent someone to report that she wants to see the young master."
Cen Yan: "Have you already told him that Qingqing is back?"
Liu Fu: "Grandma came to ask about the young master's condition, but she wasn't sure and hasn't said anything yet. She's just comforting An'an."
Cen Yan let out a soft breath.
"Okay, I'll be there in a bit."
Liu Fu was relieved.
After tidying up, I stepped out of the bathroom, just as Hao San's messenger arrived.
Cen Yan glanced at Zhuang Dongqing again, touched his pale cheek, and went outside to listen to the report in the courtyard.
"As the master predicted, the governor led his troops to the foot of the mountain and started fighting as soon as they reached the top."
"Fortunately, the brothers were prepared and made arrangements in advance. As soon as chaos broke out, they immediately took down the governor."
Cen Yan nodded.
Without a leader, the battle will be much easier.
As he had predicted, the governor fell from power, and the troops he brought from Hangzhou lost their leader. When Hao San exposed the private army, the generals who knew about it immediately panicked. Not all the soldiers he brought knew anything either; some surrendered immediately, indicating that they were a unit that knew nothing about the governor.
Of course, some put up a stubborn resistance.
Cen Yan: "The private soldiers on the mountain can capture people alive as prisoners."
"Those whom the governor brought, all who resisted to the death, were killed on the spot without exception."
They are different in nature.
Even if those on the mountain aren't private soldiers, they're all bandits now. Even if they're captured alive, whether they can survive under the law is another matter.
But if the soldiers the governor brought with him don't die, they might be able to return to their camp.
This is like a drop of water falling into the ocean; it's hard to say what role those who return will play or what position they will rise in the military.
Cen Yan didn't want to leave himself with such a future problem.
To nip it in the bud, since things have gotten this bad, it's best to eliminate everything completely.
Thinking of Zhuang Dongqing's current situation, Cen Yan lowered his eyes, casting a shadow in his gaze.
We gave them too much credit, thinking we could take things slowly, which led to this mess.
Upon receiving the order, the messenger immediately turned back.
After calming down and composing himself, Cen Yan finally set off to see the little one.
*
Around noon, Zhuang Dongqing finally woke up.
I woke up from hunger.
The front of the chest is pressed against the back.
Liu Fu sent someone to inform Cen Yan. Just as he helped Zhuang Dongqing up, the slightest movement caused tears to fall from Zhuang Dongqing's eyes, startling Liu Fu and Zhuang Dongqing herself.
This was the scene that greeted Cen Yan as he entered the room.
"What's wrong?"
Zhuang Dongqing quickly wiped away her tears. When she raised her hand, she found that her palms and wrists were carefully bandaged. The bandages were so thoughtful that they covered the wounds while being thin and breathable.
He paused, and a handkerchief was the first thing he did to stick to his face.
Cen Yan gently wiped Zhuang Dongqing's face and asked him again, "What's wrong, Qingqing? Does it hurt?"
As soon as she finished asking the question, Zhuang Dongqing burst into tears again.
Cen Yan sighed inwardly, understanding what had happened, and sat down by the bedside.
"No, it's not that, it's..."
When he opened his mouth, his voice was hoarse and his speech was slurred; Zhuang Dongqing broke down.
Cen Yan was very patient, wiping his face while comforting him, "It's okay, our Qingqing has suffered. If you want to cry, just cry. It will make you feel better..."
After she finished speaking, Zhuang Dongqing's tears flowed even more uncontrollably.
Zhuang Dongqing closed her eyes in despair.
Cen Yan avoided his wound, gently held him, wiped his face and stroked his back to comfort him.
After venting, Zhuang Dongqing muttered, "I don't know what happened either."
Cen Yan replied, "I know."
After a moment of silence, her voice was so soft it was almost ethereal, "The stitches were too painful."
It's actually quite normal. Zhuang Dongqing was practically being held captive at the time and had no choice but to persevere. After the stitches were done, it's hard to say whether she fainted or fell asleep. In such a situation, once she woke up, she would definitely think about what happened back then. In addition, the wound would be pulling on her, and that pain would definitely be churning deep inside her and lingering.
Zhuang Dongqing had her face wiped again, and following Cen Yan's words, she thought about the level of pain from stitches without anesthesia.
Oh, level six or seven... then it's alright.
Thinking of something, Zhuang Dongqing glanced at Cen Yan again and asked, "Isn't it embarrassing?"
I clearly said I would stick to it.
Cen Yan: "How could that be? You're already very impressive."
"Besides, the poison will affect your mental state to some extent, but you'll be fine once the antidote is taken."
Zhuang Dongqing hesitated, "Poisoning? Can it cause this?"
"certainly."
He spoke with too much certainty.
It felt like a way out, but Zhuang Dongqing readily accepted it. "Hmm, I didn't expect them to smear poison on their arrows. That's wicked."
Cen Yan did not agree, but touched Zhuang Dongqing's face. His calmness made Zhuang Dongqing feel that something was wrong.
"Get up and eat something first, to fill your stomach."
Starving, Zhuang Dongqing immediately shifted her attention.
*
"dad!"
As he was being helped out of the main house, a red ball of fluff rushed toward him with lightning speed.
Before Zhuang Dongqing could react, Cen An'an, who had rushed forward, was swiftly picked up by Cen Yan, stopping her momentum.
"Slower."
Two very ordinary words, yet they inexplicably carry an imposing aura.
Zhuang Dongqing was taken aback by the tone of his voice, and the little boy immediately shrank back, weakly saying, "An'an forgot, Daddy."
"Okay, I'll put An'an down now, and you can talk to your dad properly, okay?"
Okay.
Cen An'an twisted her left hand around her right, somewhat hesitant to hug Cen Yan's neck and act coquettishly.
Cen Yan put the little one down, and the little one hugged Zhuang Dongqing's leg, saying in a sweet voice, "Daddy, An'an missed you so much."
Zhuang Dongqing asked in surprise, "What did you call me?"
"dad--!"
Cen Yan: "I've been calling it correctly for no reason these past few days. I'm waiting for you to come back so I can hear it for you."
Zhuang Dongqing was indeed pleasantly surprised and happily teased the little boy. After hearing the proper "Dad" several times, he beamed with joy and subconsciously wanted to pick up Cen An'an. Just as he reached out his hand, he belatedly realized that his current situation did not allow it, so he stopped with his knees slightly bent. At the same time, Cen Yan took his right hand, touched the crown of Cen An'an's head, and praised him, "Our An'an is so great."
"Oh right, An'an is really amazing."
The little brat smiled and revealed a row of tiny teeth.
Cen Yan fed Zhuang Dongqing lunch.
He fed Zhuang Dongqing and Cen An'an with them, but ate by himself.
Moreover, Cen Yan made the little brat sit opposite them, strictly forbidding him from climbing onto Zhuang Dongqing's lap during the meal and asking for a hug.
This rule has always existed, but... well, it's not usually enforced this strictly.
Firstly, the child is still young.
Secondly, they were somewhat indulgent towards Cen An'an, thinking that once or twice was harmless.
But today, Cen Yan had a stern face, and the little brat, who usually overstepped his bounds, was unusually well-behaved, not daring to overstep the line in the slightest.
Zhuang Dongqing felt...
After taking another sip of porridge, Zhuang Dongqing said, "Otherwise, I'll do it myself. I can manage."
Cen Yan didn't move an inch. "Rest."
It's a very ordinary remark, but it leaves you speechless.
Much later, Zhuang Dongqing realized the difference in the situation, because Cen Yan was not consulting him at this moment, but informing him, so although his tone was no different from usual, it was very forceful.
And so, the adults were served their meal.
The two-year-old is independent and self-reliant, and he obediently finished his meal with a spoon.
After tidying up, Cen An'an was handed to her grandmother, and Cen Yan then took a pair of chopsticks and began to eat.
They used the leftover patient meals from Zhuang Dongqing, and did not ask the kitchen to make any extra.
Zhuang Dongqing couldn't stand it anymore and suggested, "Let them add some more dishes. How can they be full from just steamed buns and plain porridge?"
Cen Yan: "No, this is fine. There are also meat buns."
Zhuang Dongqing had a bad feeling. "You're not going to be having meals with me all this time, are you?"
"Can't?"
"No, well, it's fine if I'm craving it, but you should just eat normally..."
The last syllable faded away as Cen Yan looked at him.
Zhuang Dongqing felt that Cen Yan was not quite right.
After looking at Zhuang Dongqing, Cen Yan resumed his usual routine, saying as he ate, "Then you'd better hurry up, so I can eat fried and stir-fried dishes with you, as well as flower cakes, poria cocos cakes, tea cakes, oh right, and your recent favorite braised shrimp..."
Glug—
After listening to a few, Zhuang Dongqing subconsciously swallowed.
The movement had barely begun, even unconsciously, when Cen Yan seemed to sense it and his eyes instantly turned towards her.
Caught red-handed, Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
Cen Yan: "You're just craving it? Are you sure?"
"..."
Now we're not entirely sure.
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