Chapter 36, Thirty-Sixth Side: Arm Loss
Jiang Linzhi is a madman, and the people he teaches are also madmen.
No matter how well-mannered Qi Lingjun appeared on the surface, he couldn't hide his ruthless and insane nature. He had been gone for a long time, and drops of blood still trickled down his path.
Jiang Linzhi could still feel the blood flowing from his hands, warm and continuous, as if it were coming from someone else's body.
She stood there blankly for a long time until Lu Huantang helped her up, and then she came back to her senses.
Jiang Linzhi stared blankly, then raised his hand to cover Lu Huantang's wound, saying, "Doctor! Doctor! Quickly bandage the wound! What are you all kneeling for?"
Blood kept flowing, and Jiang Linzhi hurriedly moved aside, muttering, "Why can't it be stopped? Can't the bleeding be stopped after the sword was removed? Will I lose too much blood? In this hot weather, will it get infected and fester?"
She kept asking the same questions over and over, and everyone noticed that something was wrong with her. After the doctor finished bandaging her, the maid Zhan Yan immediately took charge, taking everyone who had heard about the incident outside to give them a dressing down, leaving the two of them alone.
Inside the room, Jiang Linzhi kept asking the same question, as panicked as a child who couldn't find her way home in the night. Lu Huantang held her head and made her look directly at him, saying seriously, "Jiang Linzhi, look at me."
Jiang Linzhi looked up upon hearing this, her eyes empty and sorrowful. This immediately struck a nerve with Lu Huantang, whose heart had just hardened.
Just now, Lu Huantang felt that Qi Lingjun was about to die together with Jiang Linzhi, so he quickly reached out and broke the sword blade and hilt, without leaving much blood. He knew that Jiang Linzhi was asking so many questions not because he was worried about him, but because he was worried about Qi Lingjun, so he explained seriously, "I didn't draw my sword just now. He will know to find a doctor. Nothing will happen, nothing will happen."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Linzhi's eyes slowly filled with tears, which then fell in large drops.
Seeing her like this, even a stone would have melted, let alone someone who already cared about Jiang Linzhi. He tenderly wiped away her tears, but afraid that his rough hands might hurt her, he quickly took out a silk handkerchief to wipe them away for her.
Jiang Linzhi looked at his hands, which were only stained with Lu Huantang's blood, but felt as if they were covered with Qi Lingjun's blood.
"I...I..." She opened her mouth but couldn't say a word. Suddenly, she burst into tears, disregarding her image.
That night, Jiang Linzhi cried uncontrollably, recounting her past with Qi Lingjun in broken sentences. Even the intelligent Lu Huantang couldn't understand a single word, and could only gently hold her and let her vent her emotions.
He had considered countless ways to replace Qi Lingjun, but he never expected it to be this way, where he hadn't even lifted a finger. He also hadn't anticipated Jiang Linzhi's strong reaction. Lu Huantang's eyes were unfathomable. Today's apparent break hadn't truly chilled Jiang Linzhi's heart towards Qi Lingjun, leaving behind a potential source of trouble.
The most troublesome thing is that Jiang Linzhi has been stained with the powder from the snuff bottle.
After coaxing the exhausted Jiang Linzhi to sleep, Lu Huantang was wide awake and got up to find the itinerant doctor.
The traveling doctor, who was fast asleep, was shaken awake. He groggily opened his eyes and saw a pair of bright eyes on a dark figure. Startled, he immediately got up and grabbed a stick.
“It’s me,” Lu Huantang said, pressing down on the stick. “I’ve come to you for treatment.”
The itinerant doctor, panting heavily, patted his shrunken chest and said, "I'm going to die! I thought it was a wolf. Its eyes were so scary. I'm really going to die!"
Lu Huantang arrived at the dilapidated temple outside the city under the stars and moon. He didn't have time to waste words with him at the moment, so he put down a gold ingot and said, "I want to ask about the snuff bottle."
Seeing such a large piece of gold, even the most agitated mood dissipated. The itinerant doctor sat down again and said, "Ask away."
"If the powder from the snuff bottle is sprinkled on a wound, will the person be the same as the person who uses the snuff bottle?"
Seeing that the question from the visitor was too dangerous, the itinerant doctor cautiously whispered, "What are you going to do? This thing is a capital offense here."
“I know that it is not illegal in the Wu Kingdom.”
The itinerant doctor was skeptical, but for Jinzi's sake, he told the truth: "Smelling this stuff, eating it, or sprinkling it on the wound are all the same, there's no difference. Unless you have strong willpower and never smell it a second time, you might survive, but..." You clicked your tongue and shook your head, "Your body will be depleted, and you won't live long."
"Isn't there any other way to cure this poison?" Lu Huantang asked anxiously.
"Poison?" The itinerant doctor looked up at Lu Huantang, accidentally twisted his neck, and patted the dry grass beneath him. "Sit down and talk. This is a strange thing that I discovered."
Lu Huantang sat down, but the itinerant doctor wasn't in a hurry to speak. He pulled out a gourd of wine from under the withered grass, took a sip, and cautiously looked around before mysteriously saying, "This matter is something I'll tell you, but you only need to know the details yourself; it's not something to be told to outsiders. Years ago, I got a Crimson Flower and secretly hid it to make snuff bottles. You know, it's not a big deal for us to just pick a Crimson Flower. If I really made something from it, the money would flow in like water. I tried hundreds of methods, but none of them worked. Once, a rat ate the Crimson Flower, and what did you do then?"
Seeing that Lu Huantang was cold and ignoring his suspense, the itinerant doctor stretched out his hand, which looked like a withered branch: "Not enough."
Lu Huantang placed another gold ingot.
The quack doctor's arm was nearly crushed by the weight of the withered branch. He was satisfied and said, "This 'Crimson Beauty' isn't poisonous at all. Besides being bright and pretty, it's completely useless. This little girl from the Jiang family is quite adept at deception. If you really want the antidote, just ask her what she added to it, and that will be the antidote."
After the initial shock came immense disbelief, which is only natural; even someone as calm and rational as Lu Huantang was not immune. If all of this were true, then all those spies and assassins from the Wu Kingdom over the years had simply been sent to their deaths.
The Wu Kingdom cannot cultivate the Crimson Flower; the Crimson Flower is merely a facade. The Sui Kingdom's secret is like a city wall that cannot be touched, but once touched, it's a crumbling structure ready to collapse.
He decided to put that aside for now. If what the itinerant doctor said was true, Jiang Linzhi would definitely know the antidote. He returned to the Jiang residence under the cover of night.
He climbed into bed in the dark, found Jiang Linzhi's slightly cold hand, and slowly took it in his own, finally feeling relieved.
Disturbed, Jiang Linzhi mumbled, "Where did you go?"
Lu Huantang brushed the hair that was stuck to Jiang Linzhi's face and said softly, "You got up to use the restroom, go back to sleep."
Jiang Linzhi mumbled a response again, still half asleep, and went back to sleep.
An hour earlier, at the Regent's Palace, Jiang Jinyi finished processing some documents and came out to see Jiang Qilingjun sitting by the window, staring blankly at the trees in the courtyard. What a dignified and gentlemanly appearance he was; it was as if the blood-covered vengeful ghost he had just witnessed was not him at all.
Jiang Jinyi walked over, leaned against the window, and followed his gaze to the tree, saying, "Mr. Qi is injured, so it's best not to worry too much."
Qi Lingjun lowered his eyes and said respectfully, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. However, there are some things that need to be thought through as soon as possible, otherwise it would be a sign of excessive worry if kept in one's heart."
Seeing that Qi Lingjun had no intention of resting, Jiang Jinyi had someone pour him a pot of warm water and sat on the windowsill to chat with him. Having finally brought this talented individual, whom he had long admired, under his command, Jiang Jinyi couldn't wait for him to figure things out on his own; he needed to give him a push.
Jiang Jinyi raised his cup and said, "You've taken the medicine, so you're forbidden from drinking tea and alcohol."
Qi Lingjun had lost too much blood and definitely needed to drink more water. He silently poured himself a glass and sipped it slowly.
Jiang Jinyi suddenly remembered that today was Qixi Festival and said, "It's Qiqiao Festival today, aren't you going out for a stroll?"
"Since no one invited me, I naturally didn't go," Qi Lingjun said calmly.
"With your demeanor, sir, you could easily have anyone come to invite you. I guess you just don't want to go with those people," Jiang Jinyi joked.
"She went with Lu Huantang this year, and even when they encountered an assassination attempt, she still played along. She's truly... a hopeless case." Qi Lingjun's words were blunt, but he still left Jiang Linzhi a red line, keeping the fact that she had been tainted with snuff bottle powder a secret. This was the last thing he would do for his former master, using their past relationship. The next time they met, it would truly be a fight to the death.
The scouts had already reported Jiang Linzhi's injury, but Jiang Jinyi truly didn't know the details. Hearing Jiang Linzhi's willingness to risk her life for her lover, Jiang Jinyi unconsciously tightened his grip on the silver cup in his hand. After a moment, he coldly scoffed, "With someone like you, a reincarnation of Zhuge Liang, assisting her, she hasn't been taught to stand on her own; instead, she's become increasingly unruly. She's truly hopeless. But rest assured, sir, you are now my man, and I will certainly pave a bright future for you."
The Regent personally poached Qi Lingjun and personally appeased him—a unique occurrence for Qi Lingjun. Yet, the person in question remained unmoved, saying indifferently and respectfully, "Thank you for your appreciation, Your Highness. I am willing to serve Your Highness wholeheartedly and do my utmost."
Jiang Jinyi smiled slightly and gestured for a maid to come forward. The maid stepped forward carrying a tray covered with a yellow cloth and respectfully presented it to Qi Lingjun.
Jiang Jinyi said, "Sir, open it and see if you like this gift?"
Jiang Jinyi did not hesitate to refuse. He lifted the yellow cloth, revealing his official robe embroidered with peacock patches lying quietly on the plate.
Seeing Qi Lingjun hesitate for a moment, Jiang Jinyi pressed his advantage, dismissed the maid, took the tray himself, and held it in front of Qi Lingjun, saying, "Sir, would you be willing to create a prosperous era for the Sui Kingdom together with me?"
By immediately offering him the title of a third-rank civil official and lowering his status, Jiang Jinyi was both seeking talent and testing his abilities. Having a master like Jiang Linzhi before, Jiang Jinyi's ambitious words would surely have swayed him, making him willing to go through fire and water for the greater cause.
Qi Lingjun had seen too many storms. He stood up, bowed respectfully, but did not immediately accept the tray. Like a pine tree on a high mountain, he remained humble and self-disciplined: "Before agreeing, I would like to make three rules with Your Highness. If Your Highness is unwilling, I will not bother Your Highness."
"Please speak, sir."
"I am doing this for the greater good, following the fall of Wu, not for any particular person or thing. If Your Highness ever becomes as closed-minded as my former master, I will never fawn upon you. This is the first point." Qi Lingjun's eyes were clear, and he immediately laid out his bottom line.
"That is also what I desire." The form of address was lowered again, without the slightest hint of arrogance.
“I may kill my former master honorably, but I will not betray him. Please understand, Your Highness.”
"Okay. What about the last point?" Jiang Linzhi's life or death was not up to Qi Lingjun to decide.
"Finally, this is a gift I'm presenting to Your Highness." Qi Lingjun accepted the heavy tray, returning the favor. "Lord Lu and Jiang Linzhi have already exchanged marriage invitations. If they get married, the Jiang family's money bag will truly be out of our control."
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