"Then, when will my brother wake up?"
The girl gently bit her lower lip, looking pitiful.
"It will take at least one or two hours, or at most three to five hours, before they wake up. The injury was probably caused by accidentally triggering the remaining literary energy in their body." Seeing the girl's confusion, He Shu explained, "The so-called literary energy is the light that the bandit's hand emitted, as you mentioned."
Crystalline tears swirled in her eyes, but wouldn't fall.
The girl looked at her mentally disabled younger brother, who was fast asleep and unable to wake up, with pity.
Sobbing, "I just hope you wake up, sob sob sob..."
Seeing that she was in a sad mood, He Shu did not want to disturb her, so he asked the old man what had happened and if there was anything unusual. Otherwise, how could it have triggered the stagnant literary energy in his meridians and caused such a severe backlash? For an ordinary person, such an injury would be enough to take their life.
On the surface, the old man looked miserable and absent-minded. He had to call him "old man" twice before he responded. In reality, he was cursing Qi Shan in his heart. He was not as good as this guy who could pretend so easily. What if he accidentally revealed a flaw?
He could only cower and stammer as he spoke.
He Shu asked Heaven, and Heaven answered Earth.
The main point is to make no sense.
Even He Shu, with his considerable patience, was rendered speechless and could only place his hopes on the still-weeping girl. After a long while, the girl finally stopped crying. Her eyes were red and swollen, making her a pitiful sight. Well, that doesn't include the old man. He just felt his colleague was playing a perverted game, and that failing to find a husband back then was the right thing to do.
The girl stammered, "I don't know either..."
He Shu asked again, "Is there anything unusual at all?"
The girl hesitated: "...To be honest, there were some strange things. Before my brother fainted, he said things like 'It's on fire' and 'It's all fire,' and then he vomited blood... His whole body was burning hot, which was frightening. When our benefactor came, he wasn't that hot to the touch."
He Shu murmured in confusion, "On fire? Scalded?"
What kind of strange symptoms are these?
Following this clue, it seems as if an external force intervened, inadvertently stirring up the remnants of literary energy that had been dormant for many years. In a heavily guarded military camp, teeming with experts, the aura that one takes for granted is indeed a threat to an ordinary person harboring hidden dangers.
He Shu did not press the matter further.
He picked up his pen and wrote a prescription for nourishing the body and strengthening the foundation, then handed it to the guard to get the medicine. He then gently comforted the young woman, saying, "I have other important matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer. If you need anything, just tell him, and he will take care of it."
He Shu pointed to the guards who were following him.
This guard was a gift from the King of Gao. Although he had some ulterior motives, he was generally conscientious in his duties.
The young girl bowed gracefully to He Shuying: "Thank you, benefactor."
He Shu did not linger and got up to leave.
The guards also took the prescription to get the medicine and brew it.
When only three people remained in the tent, the pitiful expression on the girl's face vanished completely, as quickly as if nothing had happened, leaving the old man speechless. The girl gracefully wiped away her tears and said calmly, "Has justice suddenly backfired? Has someone discovered it?"
It's probably not because it's a copy of the perfect scholar's way.
Luan Xin had previously copied his own "Exquisite Painting," Qin Li's "Clouds and Mist," and even He Shu's "Great Fortune Under Heaven," without the individuals being copied noticing. This demonstrates the extremely subtle nature of Luan Xin's scholarly approach of "drawing inferences from one instance to another." The sudden backlash could only be attributed to either being discovered by someone like a 20th-rank Marquis, or the copying target exceeding his own limits.
Seeing the young woman discussing official business, the old man also put aside his extraneous thoughts and analyzed seriously: "If we are exposed, it won't be long before someone will conduct a large-scale search of the camp and check each one. The commotion will be significant."
We'll find out the answer soon.
The girl nodded: "That's the only way."
The air fell into a heavy silence again, until the old man broke it: "What's going on between you and this He Buzuo?"
The girl's expression froze.
Finally remembering that he had just performed a stunt in front of his colleagues, and in front of colleagues he didn't get along with, he felt an indescribable embarrassment well up inside him, and even had the urge to find a crack in the ground to crawl into. His toes dug at the top of his shoes.
The girl coughed awkwardly.
He gave a vague answer: "We had some interaction before and got along well."
The old man: "..."
Birds of a feather flock together.
What kind of good person can get along with Qi Yuanliang?
What a waste of He Shu's upright and righteous face! Who would have thought he was such a hypocrite and rebel at heart? No wonder he has such a scholarly philosophy as "Great Fortune Under Heaven." He looked thoughtfully at the girl's slightly altered face.
Needless to say, He Shu took them in because of their faces.
"Your face is..."
“Imitating He Buzuo’s younger brother.” Before the old man could finish speaking, the girl interrupted him, nipping his colleague’s outrageous speculation in the bud. “He Buzuo and his younger brother are twin brothers born of the same mother, but they look different. When the two brothers were born, He Buzuo was healthy while He Haogu was weak. He Buzuo doted on and indulged his younger brother, and he did everything he asked of him.”
Time was of the essence; there wasn't enough time to completely reshape the face, and that would easily reveal flaws. The girl could only make minor adjustments to her features, trying to make them as similar to He Xin's as possible without altering his overall appearance. She paid particular attention to the placement of the two moles on his face, fixing them precisely. This trick worked.
The old man remained silent for a long time.
Are you sure you two are friends and not enemies?
The girl replied matter-of-factly, "Of course."
If they weren't friends but enemies, why would I bother writing a letter to recruit He Shu? Would He Shu really refuse because he thought my chosen lord had a short lifespan? He would have already come charging in, sword in hand, just like Liao Jia. I may have many enemies, but that doesn't mean I don't have like-minded friends. This is a stereotype and a slander!
The old man reluctantly believed it.
I started to look forward to seeing a good show.
What good show are we going to see?
Naturally, it's a good time to watch the show of my colleague's identity being exposed!
If you walk by the river often enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet.
If He Shu discovers that this dramatic young woman is actually his like-minded friend Qi Yuanliang, I wonder how he will laugh at him.
He Shu, who was being talked about by the two, was also not at ease at the moment.
As soon as he returned to his tent, he saw a fifth-rank official who seemed to have something on his mind and was hesitant to speak. "Ask me if you have something to say," he said.
Fifth-class doctor: "Master, this matter is too strange."
The parents treated the girl in a very different way.
He Shu's brow relaxed, and a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes.
"Because of that woman?"
The fifth-rank physician hesitated before speaking, saying, "This person bears a striking resemblance to the Second Master. It's quite a coincidence that she's appearing before the Master at this crucial moment; I'm worried there might be a trap. I humbly suggest that the Master and she avoid getting too close; one should always be wary of others."
Parents certainly don't need to remind them on a daily basis.
However, when it comes to the second uncle, the parents are somewhat blinded by their own involvement.
He Shu simply smiled nonchalantly: "Indeed, one should be wary of others, but there's no need to be wary of everyone. The three of them are all ordinary people—one is old, one is mentally challenged, and one is frail and weak, unable to even kill a chicken. They struggle to survive, so even if they are truly being manipulated, their capabilities are likely limited. If you're worried, just send someone to keep an eye on them. As long as they're alright, keep them and support them; the He family has plenty of resources to feed them."
He wasn't exaggerating. The situation of the main branch of the He family in their ancestral home was unclear, but his smaller branch had accumulated some wealth in recent years. They could easily support three to five hundred people, if not a large one. Supporting the grandfather and his two grandsons was, in a way, paying for that facade.
"In terms of appearance, she even looks more like a child of the ancient than some of my nieces... Perhaps it is truly fate..." It was because of this that he felt pity for her.
The fifth-rank doctor couldn't say anything more.
The parents seem easy to talk to, but once they've made up their minds, they rarely change them. Three ordinary people, how could they possibly cause such a stir?
He Shu sat down to study the book, but he couldn't concentrate.
The girl's face would flash through my mind from time to time.
The fifth-rank physician keenly sensed his agitated state.
He said, "Parents, would you like to light some calming incense?"
He Shu put down the book in his hand, thinking it over and over, still feeling that something was wrong: "Don't you think that woman looked like a person?"
“Eyes are eyes, nose is nose… If it doesn’t look like a person, then what does it look like?” The fifth-rank physician casually replied, only to realize he had misheard. “Your subordinate is dull-witted.”
He cautiously guessed, "Is it like the ladies of the household?"
He Shu shook his head: "No."
Who is that?
"I don't know either, there's just a strange sense of familiarity... not because of her face, but because of her mannerisms..." Lost in thought, he went through everyone he knew, but couldn't recall who this familiarity stemmed from. Was it just his imagination?
Well, as long as they stay by my side, the truth will eventually come out.
The fifth-rank physician suddenly turned his head to look outside the tent.
A stranger came in.
"What are your instructions, Grand Preceptor?"
He Shu recognized him as one of Wu Xian's trusted confidants.
The "Imperial Advisor" he mentioned was a title personally bestowed by Wu Xian not long ago, a position of extraordinary status. It is said that on the day of the Queen's burial, Wu Xian received guidance from a blue dragon in a dream. The dragon told him that obtaining this person would grant him the Mandate of Heaven! After waking up, Wu Xian immediately went to invite the person down the mountain to assist him, taking him wherever he went, showing him great favor and not being able to leave his side for even a moment!
Of course, these are just public statements.
To put it bluntly, it's just a little trick to fool the public.
Firstly, it was to create public opinion around Wu Xian, making the outside world believe that the Mandate of Heaven was on his shoulders; secondly, it was to curry favor with the Eternal Life Cult and offer them a small reward. In addition, since this Grand Preceptor was indeed powerful, the ministers had no objections and accepted the so-called "Grand Preceptor".
The Imperial Advisor was arrogant and aloof, preferring to stay alone. He didn't even respect Wu Xian and disdained interacting with outsiders.
Why did they send someone to look for me today?
One doesn't visit the temple without a reason.
He Shu guessed the other party's intentions.
The Grand Preceptor's confidant clasped his hands in a salute to He Shu, speaking humbly while his expression held a hint of arrogance: "I dare not presume to give orders. It was the Grand Preceptor who sent me to inquire whether there has been any unusual activity near your camp, sir. Is it the presence of villains or the work of evil spirits?"
"A villain's appearance? Evil spirits at work? May I ask, has something happened to the Imperial Advisor?" He Shu's smile gradually faded. "I just arrived, and I haven't even had time to unpack my luggage yet. The Imperial Advisor sent someone to ask about these things..."
As he spoke, a hint of coldness crept into He Shu's eyes.
The Grand Preceptor's confidant did not take his threat to heart.
With a forced smile, he replied, "Just now, a lowly person spied on the Grand Preceptor's cultivation and was caught red-handed by him. Unfortunately, the thief was quick and escaped. The Grand Preceptor sent me here to look for him, as we absolutely cannot allow such a threat to lurk in the camp..."
"What is the background of that petty thief, that he is so audacious? The Grand Preceptor is surrounded by experts and the defenses are tight, yet this thief still managed to escape?" He Shu saw that his words did not seem like an excuse, so he reluctantly believed him to some extent, but still remained skeptical of the remaining seven parts. King Wu Xian's high regard for the Grand Preceptor was obvious to all, and coupled with the Grand Preceptor's own strength, even a sixteenth-rank Grand Master would not dare to say that he could come and go as he pleased.
The Imperial Advisor's confidant replied, "I don't know for now."
He Shu then asked, "What are the characteristics of the petty thief?"
The Imperial Advisor's confidant replied, "I don't know either."
He Shu hadn't expected the other party to be so clueless. How could they catch a thief if they knew nothing? He suppressed his displeasure: "He Shu and the guards didn't see anyone suspicious, nor did we hear any noise. If we have any news, we will definitely send someone to inform the Imperial Preceptor..."
The Grand Preceptor's confidant looked around.
Just as He Shu had said, none of the luggage he carried was opened, and the furnishings inside the tent were simple and completely exposed, not at all like a place to hide someone. He Shu noticed his gaze and gave a wink to the fifth-rank official, who understood and opened the luggage. The luggage was quite large, but it was full of clothes, ornaments, and books, not the thieves the Grand Preceptor's confidant suspected.
The Imperial Advisor's confidant then turned and left.
After he had walked away, the fifth-rank doctor muttered angrily, "He's really a dog relying on his master's power. How dare such a scoundrel disrespect the head of the family."
He Shu gave him a warning look.
The fifth-ranking official fell silent.
"Don't you understand the principle that trouble comes from the mouth? How can you talk nonsense about demons and monsters? You shouldn't even think about such things, let alone say them. If there's a next time, you'll have to face the punishment yourself!"
The fifth-rank physician clasped his hands and said, "Yes."
He Shu fell into deep thought, as if asking him a question, or perhaps murmuring something to himself.
"Was he deliberately provoking us, or is there some truth to it?"
He had no connection with the Imperial Advisor, and wasn't particularly outstanding under Wu Xian. Why would the other party bother to intimidate him? He Shu sent a fifth-rank official out to inquire. The camp was peaceful; there were no so-called thieves, not even any soldiers who had made mistakes.
"I went out to inquire, but there was no news of any thieves appearing in the Imperial Preceptor's camp. Master, what do you think about this matter... what exactly is the other party trying to do?" The fifth-rank physician was inclined to believe that the other party was doing it on purpose. "I'm afraid they're just looking for trouble and deliberately making fun of you."
He Shu couldn't figure it out either, so he simply stopped thinking about it.
The young girl and the old man were also secretly watching what was happening outside.
The appearance of the Grand Preceptor's confidant was naturally not kept secret.
Bad news, someone's here.
Good news, he's gone again.
Even better news: his comatose colleague has woken up.
The old man breathed a sigh of relief: "It seems they haven't suspected us. Your scholarly way is still somewhat useful."
Not only can appearance be disguised, but meridians can also be disguised.
Otherwise, He Shu's act of taking Luan Xin's pulse would have exposed his identity.
The young woman ignored the old man, her gaze fixed on her intellectually disabled brother, who showed signs of waking up. After waiting patiently for a while, the latter struggled to open his eyelids, his gaze slowly focusing. His first words were: "There is hope for my path as a scholar to be fulfilled."
The girl handed him a bowl of water.
"Tell me slowly, what happened?"
The intellectually disabled younger brother slowly took two sips to moisten his throat.
The regrettable addition to the sentence is: "But the hope is slim."
︿(￣︶￣)︿
Some people asked why there are no combinations of "double character" and "courtesy name" in the text. It's not that I couldn't use them, but they're just too hard to remember. There are already enough characters who have been dismissed from their posts _(:з」∠)_.
However, if you really want to choose a name, a double character is easy to come up with, for example, the He brothers.
He Shu, courtesy name not written → He Shu, courtesy name X Shu
(X can be a respectful title, such as Gong, Weng, Jun, Zi, Da, etc., or it can be a birth order.) As long as the given name and courtesy name are related, this is the simplest way. The source is "shuo er bu zuo" (述而不作), and "bu zuo" (不作) can also be paired with "you wei" (有为), which is exactly the opposite of the meaning of the given name and courtesy name, and also conforms to the rules for choosing a courtesy name.
The congratulatory letter has an archaic style; it can be modified using the same method.
It's very simple, right? Did you learn it?
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