Chapter 234: Meeting Uncle, Stone Gate Carving
Although the trip was a bit hasty, after Xiao Qinggu's order was conveyed, the people below still handled all the diplomatic matters before Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qingxu set off.
Qu Qi's documents have been delivered for some time. When the time comes, just say that they were prepared in advance to avoid gossip and rumors that Dayu was disrespecting Qu Qiguo.
After the long team arrived at an inn, Xiao Qingxu ordered them to stop and rest for a while before setting off again.
Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qingxu took Lu Heying, Ji Suxian and others to have dinner in a house, but Ju Gongcheng was nowhere to be seen.
Bai Xiaoye asked, "Where did Ah Cheng go?"
Cheng Yishui replied: "He should be staying with his brother."
Since Xiao Qingxu woke up, Yao Lao has been gone. Ji Suxian has never seen the original appearance of "Xiao Qingxu" and did not dare to take the job. He had to ask the Poisonous Mother-in-law who was still in the palace to help "Xiao Qingxu" restore his original appearance.
Although Poisonous Granny didn't know how to restore the original appearance of a person who had been undergoing plastic surgery to look like others since childhood, she knew that Master Shanhe was knowledgeable in this field, so she immediately pulled Master Shanhe over.
Master Shanhe returned to secular life after Xiao Qinggu ascended the throne. His name was Xu Shanshui, and he didn't mind making a good relationship. Xiao Qingxu knew how powerful he was, so he immediately pulled "Xiao Qingxu" and thanked him repeatedly.
Xu Shanshui waved his hand, suggesting it was nothing special. Back when he was still in Langjiang, someone in his clan had already taken to using plastic surgery as a form of torture. He was young at the time and thought it was fun, not seeing the cruelty, so he took the opportunity to learn from them. However, he never used this delicate technique again. Before operating on "Xiao Qingxu," he captured several monkeys for experimentation.
The day Shang Yuwan woke up happened to be the day Xu Shanshui finished operating on "Xiao Qingxu" - from that day on, he was no longer "Xiao Qingxu", but himself, Ju Gongche.
When Ju Gongcheng learned that his brother was still alive, he didn't feel much emotion. He just felt sorry for his brother's suffering, but he didn't blame Xiao Qingxu for apologizing. Xiao Qingxu himself was still young at the time, and the decision and the deal were made by Bai Xiao and Ju Gongche. He had no reason to blame Xiao Qingxu.
Ever since Ju Gongche was able to remove the veil on his face, Ju Gongcheng has been sticking with him every day and has even stopped thinking about hidden weapons.
Bai Xiaoye nodded. That was true. After all, the two brothers had been so close yet couldn't recognize each other for so many years. It was only natural for them to spend time together and get closer.
After the meal, everyone went about their own business. Xiao Qingxu asked Shang Yuwan, "Did grandma look for you yesterday?"
Shang Yuwan lowered her head to look at the letter, nodding as she read. "Yes, she came to see me the day I woke up, and gave me some jewelry and medicinal herbs. Yesterday, when she heard that we were leaving, she brought her grandfather to chat with me and gave me a jade bracelet."
Before she woke up, the Xu family's lotus viewing banquet had already ended. Shang Yuwan had originally wanted to go to the Xu family to apologize for not being able to attend the banquet, but she didn't expect that Old Madam Xu would have come to the Prince Qi Mansion first and pulled her aside to talk about her heartache and self-blame. If Shang Yuwan hadn't changed the subject in time, Old Madam Xu would have burst into tears on the spot.
"Grandma is easily sentimental. It would be nice if she could talk about something else."
After chatting for a while, everyone set off again.
A month later, Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qingxu arrived at the territory of the Zhenbei Army. The north always gets cold quickly, and for some reason, the snow came unusually early this year.
If they wanted to go to Quqi Country, they had to obtain permission from General Zhenbei with the documents given by Xiao Qinggu. General Zhenbei Xu Yi was Xiao Qingxu's uncle. Upon learning that they were passing through, he had people prepare to welcome them.
The team stopped at the walls of Zhaocheng. Shang Yuwan, draped in a cloak, her cheeks flushed, a thin layer of sweat on her forehead. She lifted the curtain of her carriage and, amidst the swirling snow, saw a man in the distinctive uniform of a Zhenbei Army general strolling toward them.
Bursts of coughing erupted from the car. Shang Yuwan exhaled a puff of white mist and turned to get out. After she got out, he stood on the side of the car, his arm outstretched, waiting for someone. Shortly afterwards, Xiao Qingxu, who was wrapped tightly in a blanket, opened the curtain. His face was pale, his cheeks slightly sunken, and even the fingertips on Shang Yuwan's arm were cold.
Shang Yuwan frowned silently. Their carriage had the most charcoal fire, and even though she'd broken into a sweat, Xiao Qingxu's body still hadn't warmed up much. These past few days, the closer they got to the north, the more frequent Xiao Qingxu's coughs became.
"Are you okay?"
Xiao Qingxu got out of the car and whispered, "It's okay, don't worry... cough cough cough..."
Shang Yuwan wanted to say something, but he held her hand.
Twelve whispered to the side: "Your Highnesses, people are coming."
Xiao Qingxu looked at the person who came, and Shang Yuwan couldn't ignore him either. He looked up and saw a man with red cheeks, dry lips, and a somewhat feminine appearance walking up to them.
Ji Suxian secretly studied the man. She had met the Xu family before. Though the eldest master was old, she could still vaguely recall his androgynous face in his youth. Brother Xiao was also androgynous, and this uncle... they were all of the same lineage. The whole family looked like bodhisattvas, but their job wasn't to save people, but to kill them.
"Xu'er." The man spoke in a hoarse voice that was completely inconsistent with his appearance. "I haven't seen you for many years. You have grown up."
Xiao Qingxu looked at Xu Yi deeply, then bowed and said, "Uncle."
In fact, going north to Qu Qi could be carefully considered and wait until the next spring, but Xiao Qingxu and Shang Yuwan are unwilling to wait. Shang Yuwan wants to fulfill Achan's long-cherished wish, and on the other hand, he also wants to find a way to save Xiao Qingxu in the relics left by Wen Qijun.
Will they be able to find a way to save him? Shang Yuwan didn't know, but she still wanted to fight for it.
The reason why Xiao Qingxu couldn't wait to go north was just to take the opportunity to see his family.
He could sense that his time was running out. He didn't even have half a year left to act recklessly.
"This is His Royal Highness the Regent." Xu Yi saluted Shang Yuwan, who quickly helped him up.
"No, no, uncle, you don't have to do this!"
Xu Yi didn't insist after hearing this. He took a deep look at his nephew, whose fingertips were frosted white, and said, "Let's go. You've all had a hard time on this journey. I've prepared some wine and food, and I'm waiting for you to come and rest."
Xiao Qingxu lowered his eyes and said, "Yes."
After entering the city, everyone took out half of the frostbite cream they had brought and gave it to Xu Yi. Everyone had dinner with laughter and joy, and then went back to their rooms to rest.
"Xu'er." After the banquet, Xu Yi called Xiao Qingxu, "Do you want to go to the city wall?"
Xiao Qingxu was slightly startled, then turned to look at Shang Yuwan. The latter nodded and put the warm hand warmer in his hand into his, "Go."
Xiao Qingxu's hand warmer always cools down quickly.
Xiao Qingxu smiled back, couldn't help coughing a few times, and followed Xu Yi.
Ji Suxian came to Shang Yuwan's side, "Sister-in-law..."
"I know." Shang Yuwan patted the back of her hand gently, "But he also wants to see his family. There's no reason for us to stop him."
"..." Ji Suxian lowered her eyes. Shang Yuwan's hands were shaking.
Twelve's thoughts drifted away, and he thought of Zhao Qinglian who was far away in Langjiang.
"Xu'er, you shouldn't have come here."
At the base of the wall, Xu Yi and Xiao Qingxu stood face to face, and did not go up to the city wall where the cold wind was blowing.
Xiao Qingxu smiled, his voice as light as the thin snow on the branches: "But I miss my uncle, and I want to come and see you."
"I haven't seen you for so many years, I almost forgot what my uncle looks like."
Xu Yi pursed his lips. Seeing that he had become extremely thin, he said, "Mother wrote to me saying that your health is getting worse day by day. It seems to be true."
Shang Yuwan had exhausted herself for the Shang family, and wasn't Xiao Qingxu equally exhausted? Furthermore, his body was several times weaker than Shang Yuwan's. No matter how he tried to hide it, the sunken cheeks and the hands that couldn't even warm themselves were the clearest proof.
Xiao Qingxu smiled bitterly, "Isn't she the same?"
Shang Yuwan seemed healthy, but her hair was growing grayer and grayer. After a while, her hair would be completely white. No matter how much black hair cream Ji Suxian gave her, it was useless.
They both knew why the other avoided talking about it, but they chose to accommodate each other, thinking that they would gain something if they could spend one more day together.
A moment of tenderness is enough to withstand the wind, frost, rain and snow in this world.
Xu Yi was silent for a moment, then said, "I heard that there's a Tianshan Mountain in Quqi Country, and a goddess lives on the top of the mountain. If a destined couple climbs to the top of the mountain and makes a wish to the goddess, then they will be together again in their next life."
"If you have time, you might as well give it a try."
Xiao Qingxu chuckled: "When did uncle start to believe in ghosts and gods?"
Xu Yi glanced at him and said, "You can go if you want."
Xu Yi did not keep Xiao Qingxu to chat about too many family matters. He asked about the Xu family's situation, said a few words to take care of himself, and then sent Xiao Qingxu back.
There were still candles lit in his and Shang Yuwan's room, and he could tell at a glance that Shang Yuwan was waiting for him.
"Go ahead, don't keep people waiting."
After Xu Yi left, Xiao Qingxu was about to push the door open when it was opened.
"You're back." Shang Yuwan looked at him with a smile.
Xiao Qingxu smiled and said, "Yes. I'm back."
The two fell asleep in each other's arms. In the middle of the night, Xiao Qingxu secretly opened his eyes and looked at Shang Yuwan.
Seeing that her eyelashes didn't even flutter, he got up quietly, sat at the desk, and opened a crack in the window.
Tonight's bright moon was rarely hidden behind the clouds. Xiao Qingxu used that little moonlight to write something on the paper.
His movements were very light, but Shang Yuwan's eyes still opened a little.
However, Shang Yuwan did not stand up to ask what Xiao Qingxu was doing. She did not move until Xiao Qingxu stuffed the letter into the envelope marked "Fifty-nine".
Xiao Qingxu's slightly cold body crawled into the quilt. Shang Yuwan seemed to be unaware of it and reached out to hug Xiao Qingxu in a daze.
The next morning, Xu Yi read the document, stamped it, and let Shang Yuwan, Xiao Qingxu and others go.
The crowd continued to head north to Quqi Kingdom.
Half a month later, Yi Buyuan finally received the person - Xiao Qingxu started coughing up blood.
He always wiped the blood he coughed up silently and never let Ji Suxian feel his pulse again. Shang Yuwan smelled the blood but said nothing. He just asked Ji Suxian to make him some more blood-tonifying soup.
Yi Buyuan's face looked a little weathered and tired, but the moment he saw Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qingxu, he still smiled like when they first met.
He finally got the "east wind" he had been waiting for!
Faced with Yi Buyuan's enthusiasm, Shang Yuwan held Xiao Qingxu's hand tightly, and no matter how much Yi Buyuan said, she just smiled slightly.
Because when Achan was in Quqi before, she had only revealed her true face to Wen Qijun and Yi Buyuan, so the people of Quqi Kingdom did not know that Shang Yuwan's current body was the physical body of their prophetic disciple.
Yi Buyuan noticed that something was wrong with Shang Yuwan, so he completed the process as quickly as possible, and then took people to find Wen Qijun's body in the dark and windy night.
Because Xiao Qinggu openly supported Yi Buyuan, some people secretly became more obedient. They followed Yi Buyuan through many twists and turns, avoiding everyone's eyes, and arrived at a hidden cave.
There is a door in the cave, carved from the hardest white jade. The door is divided into two leaves, and the two leaves together form a... painting?
Shang Yuwan tilted his head, "Master and disciple?"
She looked carefully and found that the stone gate did indeed depict a master and disciple.
The master is a woman, and the apprentice... seems to be a boy with animalistic tendencies - the master is wearing a Taoist robe, with a mole on her forehead, and her eyes are full of compassion for the world. She bends down, and stretches out one hand to the child, as if she wants to gently place it on the apprentice's head, and her pity seems to be overflowing.
On the other hand, the apprentice was lying on his hands and knees, looking up at his master. He was covered in dirt and had no clothes on. His eyes were like those of a little wolf, wanting to bite someone when they weren't paying attention.
Shang Yuwan's hand suddenly moved. Because Xiao Qingxu was holding her hand, he took a few steps forward, and Shang Yuwan also had to follow him a few steps.
"He's crying." Xiao Qingxu suddenly said.
Shang Yuwan tilted her head forward. The master was above the left door, his outstretched hand blocked by the crack at his fingertips. The apprentice was below the right door. She squinted and saw that there was indeed a tiny tear in the corner of the apprentice's eye.
"What is he crying about?"
This is a painting left by Wen Qijun. Although Shang Yuwan doesn't know its deeper meaning, she feels it's incredibly important. A mole on the forehead... is it referring to Ah Chan? That's not right. How could Ah Chan have an apprentice?
Ji Suxian asked, "How do you know this is a master and disciple? And not a woman showing pity to a child?"
Shang Yuwan touched his chin and said, "I just know that they are a master and disciple. As for the reason... I don't know either."
The words "master and disciple" suddenly popped into her mind the moment she saw the painting. Perhaps Wen Qijun and Achan had mentioned the painting's origins? But Shang Yuwan hadn't inherited Achan's memories and didn't know what the painting meant.
Xiao Qingxu stared at the painting.
But the woman in the painting wasn't Ah Chan. Aside from the mole, Ah Chan's face looked nothing like her master's. This disciple... he felt vaguely familiar, yet couldn't place him. Did Wen Qijun have some back-up plan, one they hadn't yet discovered?
But now Xiao Qinggu has ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, and there have been no riots in Dayu. As long as Xiao Qinggu is a good emperor, the "peace and prosperity" that Wen Qijun wants will surely come in the future. What is the purpose of this painting?
Given Wen Qijun's personality, he must have known that Shang Yuwan wasn't the only one coming here, and he wouldn't leave them something useless for no reason. What's the deeper meaning of this painting? Is he looking for this apprentice? Or the master?
Yi Buyuan raised his hand silently: "Achan, why don't you go in first."
The prophet said that if Achan came to Qu Qiguo to find him, his body could only be seen by Achan.
Yi Buyuan was very convinced of Wen Qijun and resolutely refused to allow Xiao Qingxu to follow him in.
Shang Yuwan believed that Wen Qijun would not harm her. After taking the paper money brought in by Cheng Yishui, she reached out to touch the two stone doors.
The moment his fingertips touched the stone door, Shang Yuwan's heart seemed to sense something, its beating rhythm suddenly accelerated, his pupils suddenly shrank, and he retracted his hand as if he had been electrocuted.
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