Danger
"Click—"
The director's shout cleaved the heavy atmosphere on set like a blade. Chu Yiran released his grip on the "patient's" neck, his knuckles still retaining the arc of his grip. This doctor-patient conflict scene had been filmed seven times, and it was finally time to wrap up.
"Brother Ran," Sun Xiaoxiao jogged over and handed him her phone, her voice anxious, "I have bad news, Su Jing—"
Before Sun Xiaoxiao could finish speaking, headlines from various entertainment news outlets popped up on her phone screen: [Top star Su Jing suffers accident on set, chandelier falls, causing serious injury]
Chu Yiran's breath hitched, and he reached out to open the message—
In the popular video, Su Jing is holding a bottle of perfume in a photo studio when, in the next second, a whole row of chandeliers suddenly crash down, accompanied by screams from the staff. The video shakes violently as Su Jing is knocked to the ground, and red liquid flows down the tile grout like a river.
The comments section was also in an uproar.
"Isn't this too dangerous? Don't the brands check the filming locations?"
"My friend at the hospital said that Su Jing died on the spot..."
"Is the person upstairs spreading rumors about someone's life or death an idiot? They're making money off this kind of traffic!"
...
Chu Yiran switched to WeChat, opened Lin Wanxing's chat window, hovered his fingers over the keyboard for a long time, and finally sent a message—
I saw Su Jing's message. How is he?
Lin Wanxing replied instantly: [The person has been sent to Jiangcheng Central Hospital.]
Another message followed immediately: [I just arrived, and Su Jing's condition isn't good...]
Chu Yiran looked up and saw the brightly lit public hospital across the street through the floor-to-ceiling window.
This time, their filming wasn't done in Hengdian. The crew rented a private hospital in Jiangcheng, which was separated from Jiangcheng Central Hospital by only a four-lane road. Su Jing was right across from them at that moment...
The film crew was already packing up the props and preparing to wrap up filming. Sun Xiaoxiao asked, "Brother Ran, are we going back?"
Chu Yiran suddenly took off his white coat and threw it to Sun Xiaoxiao: "You go back first."
The electronic screen in the lobby of Jiangcheng Central Hospital displayed "Neurosurgery in Progress." Chu Yiran pulled down the brim of his baseball cap and followed the signs to the neurosurgery operating room. From the end of the corridor came Lin Wanxing's tearful voice: "Concussion and intracranial hemorrhage, still in surgery... Uncle and Aunt, please don't worry, I'm here for you..."
Chu Yiran walked over, and Xiao You saw him: "Brother Ran, you're here."
After Lin Wanxing hung up the phone, Chu Yiran asked, "How is the situation?"
Lin Wanxing shook her head, her eyes a little red: "The doctor said the situation is very dangerous, and they just issued a critical condition notice... I've already notified Su Jing's parents, but they're both abroad and won't be back for a while..."
Zhao Wei pounded his thigh in frustration: "It's all my fault for not paying attention! It's all my fault!"
The operating room lights went out, and the surgeon came out with his mask off. The others immediately surrounded him.
"The surgery was successful, but the cerebral edema has not completely subsided. He needs to be observed in the ICU for at least 72 hours."
Lin Wanxing asked worriedly, "Doctor, when will the patient wake up?"
"That depends on the patient's willpower." The doctor wearily rubbed the back of his neck. "The fracture in his right hand has been treated; the main issue is intracranial pressure..."
Chu Yiran's gaze passed over the doctor's shoulder and fell on the hospital bed that was being pushed out. Su Jing's pale face was mostly covered by a breathing mask, with only his forehead, which was wrapped in gauze, visible. A strand of black hair that wasn't covered was wet and stuck to his temple. He looked extremely weak.
"Family members can look through the glass." The nurse pushed the gurney towards the ICU. "Visiting hours are 3 PM every day..."
Lin Wanxing jogged after him, while Chu Yiran stood still until he heard the sound of the hospital bed wheels rolling over the floor from around the corner, at which point he realized his palms were sweating profusely.
"Su Jing," Chu Yiran murmured softly, "Do you want to die first without me killing you?"
He glanced in the direction of the ICU, then turned and went home.
After returning home, Chu Yiran took a shower and then went to bed, but he couldn't fall asleep until 3 a.m.
He sat up abruptly in bed and took out a tortoise shell and three copper coins from the bedside table.
The three copper coins clinked softly inside the tortoise shell, landing face down, their dark patterns gleaming coldly in the moonlight. Chu Yiran's Adam's apple bobbed, and his hand, reaching out to pick them up, froze in mid-air—a terrible omen.
——
Su Jing had many life-or-death moments, but only once did Chu Yiran almost think he was really going to die...
On the outskirts of Luoyang, tens of thousands of craftsmen worked day and night, ostensibly to build a temporary palace for the newly appointed Prince Jing, but in reality, a secret plot was brewing. The craftsmen's chants mingled with the crisp sound of armor rubbing together, and privately trained soldiers were arrayed behind the beams and pillars.
Su Jing stood on the high platform, watching the gray-blue roof tiles cover the third palace roof, his black cloak fluttering in the north wind.
"Your Highness," the young girl said, her slender fingers like orchids, handing a teacup to Su Jing, her eyes gentler than the tea itself, "Please try this year's Mengding Dew."
"Thank you for your trouble, cousin." Su Jing didn't even glance at her. "This isn't a place for you."
Shen Ruoqing felt a little embarrassed, while Shen Ji, who was standing next to her, reached out and took the tea from his daughter and drank it.
“We’re all family. Ruoqing is just worried about how hard you’ve been working these past few days,” Shen Ji said calmly, blowing on his teacup as he looked at the magnificent palace before him. “Jing’er, your palace will be completed soon. Shouldn’t it be filled with some life?”
Su Jing remained silent, but Shen Ji brazenly asked, "Jing'er, about your marriage to Ruoqing—"
“The Empress Dowager has just passed away; discussing marriage at this time is against etiquette,” Su Jing interrupted him directly.
Six months ago, not long after Su Jing returned to Luoyang, news came from Jinling that the Empress Dowager had passed away.
"Then let's set the engagement first!" Shen Ji said discontentedly, slamming down his teacup. "Jing'er, have you forgotten our agreement? I promised to give my all to help you defend Linzi, and the conditions were clear—if you ever gain a foothold, you would marry Ruoqing as your principal wife. Now that you've been enfeoffed as Prince Jing for half a year, shouldn't you have some definite news by now?"
"Stand firm?" Su Jing sneered. "Uncle, you've had it too easy these past six months and forgotten that Northern Qi is eyeing us covetously and that Father Emperor has abandoned me like a worn-out shoe. Now that the Empress Dowager has just passed away and Father Emperor's health is deteriorating, do you think I'll have an easy time if the Crown Prince ascends the throne? If I'm really sentenced to death by imperial decree one day, will you be willing to let my cousin go to the underworld with me?"
"You—" Shen Ji was speechless, and before he could say anything more, Shen Ruoqing quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"Alright, Father!" Shen Ruoqing took Shen Ji's arm. "Cousin has great ambitions. He should establish himself before starting a family. Don't pressure him!"
As she spoke, she pulled Shen Ji away.
As the sun began to set, it cast long shadows on the blue brick ground. Su Jing stood at the edge of the platform and frowned almost imperceptibly. Then, she naturally took a half step back and retreated into the shadow cast by the pillars.
Chu Yiran, who was not far away, clenched his fist. He had come to report on military affairs, but he did not expect to witness this scene.
"General Chu."
A deep voice interrupted his thoughts. Huo Yan—the militia leader during the Linzi uprising, the man who shot an arrow through the throat of a Northern Qi general—now wore the armor of the Southern Soviet Army, his brows still bearing the sharp edge of a rough-and-tumble warrior.
"Two Taoist priests are requesting an audience outside Prince Jing's residence, claiming to be your old friends."
Chu Yiran's heart skipped a beat: "It must be Master and Senior Brother." He smiled and strode away.
Su Jing, who was not far away, also noticed the commotion and beckoned Huo Yan over to ask what was going on.
——
Inside the main hall of Prince Jing's mansion, Daoist Jingyang sat upright, drinking tea. His Daoist robe was still spotless, and his whisk lay across his lap, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance.
Shen Zheyu stood beside him, dressed in white, a gentle smile still playing on his lips.
"Master! Senior Brother!" Chu Yiran's voice was filled with long-lost joy.
Jingyang raised his eyes and smiled slightly: "It's been a long time; you've become much more composed."
Shen Zheyu's gaze lingered on him for a moment, then swept over Su Jing behind him and nodded in greeting.
Su Jing stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Daoist Master, you have come from afar; I am so sorry for not welcoming you properly."
Jingyang waved his hand: "Your Highness is too kind. This humble Taoist has not descended the mountain for a long time. This time I am merely taking a leisurely stroll and happened to come see my good-for-nothing disciple."
Chu Yiran asked impatiently, "Senior brother, how are my parents?"
Shen Zheyu considered for a moment, then hesitated before saying, "After General Chu was recalled to Jinling, he has been in charge of the Imperial Guards. After the Empress Dowager passed away, Princess Anning has been staying at home, and I heard she is quite grief-stricken. Fortunately, His Majesty summons her from time to time to comfort her..."
Chu Yiran's fingertips trembled.
He knew that his parents' situation must be much worse than before. On the day he and Su Jing returned from Northern Qi, his father was accused of "leading the enemy deep into enemy territory and the prince being captured." He was dismissed from his post and recalled to the capital, where he was reassigned as the commander of the Imperial Guard. Ostensibly, he was being transferred back to the central government to protect the emperor, but in reality, he was being stripped of the Chu family army's military power and placed under their watchful eye.
The emperor and the crown prince had long been dissatisfied with Chu Yiran because he sided with Su Jing. Before the new year, they directly assigned him the nominal title of "Suiyuan General" and banished him and Su Jing to the north.
"Don't blame yourself." Shen Zheyu saw through his thoughts and patted him on the shoulder. "Your parents are of high status; no one would dare to harm them easily."
Su Jing stood aside, his gaze falling on Shen Zheyu's hands. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He stepped forward and interrupted, "Master Jingyang and Master Shen have come a long way and must be tired. I have had some tea, fruit, and seeds served. Why don't you all sit down and have a detailed discussion?"
After they were seated, Su Jing took the initiative to ask, "You two Taoist priests traveled all the way north from Jinling. What did you see and hear along the way?"
"What we saw along the way..." Shen Zheyu paused, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of his teacup, "...nine out of ten houses were empty, and corpses of the starving were everywhere."
As he spoke, his expression seemed somewhat reluctant: "Recently, the Jiangnan region has been plagued by severe floods. The disaster relief funds allocated by the imperial court have been embezzled at every level, and the price of rice in Jiangnan has risen to ten taels per shi (a unit of dry measure). Ordinary families simply cannot afford it. Flood victims can only eat tree bark to fill their stomachs, and there have even been cases of mothers exchanging their children for food..."
Su Jing sneered, unsurprised: "Daoist Master, you travel the world. From a Daoist perspective, how should this world be interpreted?"
Master Jingyang lightly swept his whisk, his expression serene: "The way of Heaven is constant; it does not exist for Yao, nor does it perish for Jie. The rise and fall of all things have their own reasons, which cannot be forced by human power."
"Oh? Well, what a reasonable explanation..." Su Jing said dismissively, "I believe that human will can overcome nature. If the way of heaven does not favor me, then I will rebel against the way of heaven."
Master Jingyang did not refute, but simply stood up and said, "Your Highness's ambition to reach the heavens naturally has its own plans... This humble Taoist has troubled you for a long time, and it is time for me to take my leave."
Seeing them get up, Chu Yiran quickly asked, "Master, why are you leaving so soon?"
Master Jingyang smiled at Chu Yiran, then turned and left: "You are not of this world, so there's no need for you to linger."
Shen Zheyu hurriedly followed, and before leaving, he instructed Chu Yiran, "Aran, if anything happens, remember to blow the copper whistle to call the carrier pigeon to find me!"
"Don't worry, senior brother," Chu Yiran forced a smile, "everything is fine."
But everyone knows that the so-called "everything is fine" is nothing but self-deception.
—Just after the end of the year, an urgent summons arrived from Nanjing.
"His Majesty is celebrating his fiftieth birthday and has specially invited Prince Jing to return to the capital to offer his congratulations..."
When the envoy read the imperial edict, Su Jingzheng had a persistent high fever, and his bedside was surrounded by doctors.
"His Highness is ill with worry and cannot bear the wind." Chu Yiran coldly blocked the envoy at the door, still clutching freshly brewed medicine in his hand, its bitter aroma filling the air. "If you insist on forcing your way in, then please do so..."
The envoy had just lifted one foot when Chu Yiran continued, "By the way, I must remind you, sir, that Prince Jing suffered from the plague during his time in Northern Qi. If this disease becomes contagious—"
Before he could finish speaking, the envoy hurriedly bowed and took his leave.
When the second imperial edict arrived, Su Jing was disheveled, chasing butterflies in the garden of the Prince's mansion.
The envoy, holding the bright yellow scroll, hadn't even announced the imperial decree when the man suddenly stumbled into the mud. His hands, covered in mud, reached for the envoy's robes, and he chuckled foolishly, "Father, you've come, Father..."
The envoy was startled and retreated, but Su Jing suddenly jumped up, stomping barefoot on the pool of spring water and splashing the envoy all over.
When the third imperial edict arrived, Su Jing was in the stable, embracing an old horse and weeping bitterly, saying that it was his reincarnated mother.
"He's gone mad... truly mad..." the envoy muttered to himself.
For more than two months, Su Jing failed to respond to the three imperial edicts. The whole city of Luoyang was spreading rumors that the plague that King Jing had contracted in Northern Qi had not been cured, and now he was suffering from a persistent high fever and had gone completely mad.
The envoy stayed in Luoyang from the beginning of spring to the height of summer, but in the end he had no choice but to return to Jinling to report back.
Not long after, the fourth imperial edict arrived, but this time it was not for Su Jing.
"Grateful for the deep longing of the Marquis of Zhenyuan and his wife for their son, the General of Suiyuan is hereby summoned back to the capital for a reunion."
Chu Yiran stared at the imperial edict, his fingertips growing cold.
This is an open conspiracy.
Su Jing could feign madness, but he couldn't. His parents were in Jinling; he had to go back.
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