Chapter 94 Escape in the dead of night, obediently wait for your humble servant to return.
Amidst the vast expanse of yellow sand, a convoy of carriages and horses stopped close to the hillside to avoid the sudden sandstorm.
Half an hour later, the wind gradually subsided, but the yellow dust stirred up by the strong wind still lingered in the air, as if covering the eyes with a layer of yellowish paper, making it difficult to see clearly.
Zhao Qiming covered his mouth and nose with a damp handkerchief and walked with difficulty to a carriage.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Xie Nianzhi nodded slightly to the dust-covered man: "I am deeply grateful to Physician Zhao for braving the wind and sand to examine my maid's pulse."
Zhao Qiming brushed the dust off his robes and bowed in return, saying, "This is my duty, Your Highness, there is no need for thanks."
Zhao Qiming originally intended to board the carriage to consult a doctor, but seeing that the princess had no intention of getting off, he could only stand by the carriage shaft and glance inside out of respect for the hierarchy.
The yellow sand obscured the sun, making the interior of the vehicle dimly lit. A slender woman could be vaguely seen leaning against the vehicle wall, her head covered with a black veil.
Zhao Qiming had never seen such a strange patient before, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
“My maid has committed a wrong and feels ashamed to show her face to others, so she covers her face with a black gauze hat.”
Xie Nianzhi said in a calm tone, "I would like to trouble Imperial Physician Zhao to take her pulse and see how many months pregnant she is?"
Zhao Qiming quickly concealed his surprise and nodded in acceptance.
The woman inside the car slowly extended her arm, revealing a section of her fair wrist beneath the hem of her emerald green silk sleeve. Her skin was as white as a lotus root half-hidden in the blue waves.
Zhao Qiming remained calm, raised two fingers and gently placed them on the woman's wrist, scrutinizing her intently.
In an instant, his calm face was suddenly disturbed. He forgot his manners and abruptly turned his head to look at the woman in the car, as if he wanted to see the face hidden under the veil.
Xie Nianzhi, who had been observing quietly, suddenly became serious, but her tone remained gentle: "Did Physician Zhao find anything wrong? Could it be that the fetus is too far along and abortion medicine is no longer appropriate?"
The two wolf-men standing behind the cart shaft gripped their curved swords tightly.
Zhao Qiming felt cold sweat trickle down his nose. He released his hand from the woman's wrist, forcing himself not to wipe away the sweat. After a few moments of silence, he lowered his head, opened his medicine box, and said, "Is the princess playing a trick on me? This woman is not pregnant."
The look of surprise shifted to Xie Nianzhi's face.
A hint of suspicion flashed in her eyes: "But she's been vomiting non-stop these past two days, and her period is more than half a month late..."
"Stagnation of Qi and blood, emotional distress, and invasion of cold pathogens can all lead to poor circulation of Qi and blood. Her pulse is floating and weak, indicating internal deficiency of Yin and blood, which is caused by lack of sleep and excessive thinking. As for the vomiting..."
Zhao Qiming glanced at the closed car window and said in a calm voice, "It's probably because the car is stuffy and the air is stagnant, not because she's pregnant."
He took out several packets of medicine from the wooden box and instructed them:
"Here are several prescriptions to replenish qi and blood. They need to be simmered over a low flame and taken morning and evening. The journey is currently bumpy and the temperature is fluctuating. Her qi and blood are already weakened. If she is not taken care of soon, she may become seriously ill. Fortunately, the princess is considerate of her servants and noticed it in time."
Inside the carriage, the woman's slender shoulders trembled slightly, and faint sobs could be heard from beneath her veil.
The doubt in Xie Nianzhi's eyes gradually dissipated, and he said gently, "Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician Zhao."
Zhao Qiming silently packed his medicine box, his gaze no longer fixed on the carriage, and bowed deeply, saying, "This humble official takes his leave."
The dust floating in the air finally settled, and sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, scattering across the open field.
Just as celestial phenomena change in an instant, so too do people's states of mind.
Xie Nianzhi removed the light veil from the woman's face, revealing a beautiful yet dejected face. Tears silently slid down her cheeks, falling onto her green dress and spreading deep and shallow wet marks, like dew-covered lotus leaves, a sight that evoked pity.
"Your Highness should be glad that you are not pregnant with his child."
Xie Nianzhi gazed intently at the woman, his fingertips tenderly wiping away the tears on her cheeks. His voice was soft and gentle: "The medicine tastes very bitter, and it will cause excruciating pain afterward, a heart-wrenching pain, as if a part of you is being ripped away and can never be brought back..."
Chu Yueyuan's long, thick eyelashes trembled.
"Princess...did you drink it before?"
"I've drunk it three times."
Seeing the woman's teary eyes suddenly show surprise, Xie Nianzhi smiled lightly, her voice calm to the point of numbness: "Or maybe four times... In short, too many times, so many times that I will never get pregnant again."
“But if I don’t do this, I will be trapped in that place forever, trapped next to that stupid, pig-like man. Just thinking that a part of me is his makes me feel nauseous. With the one you love, you give birth to blood and flesh; with the one you hate, you give birth to festering sores. It will only make my body stink more and my life more and more unbearable.”
There is always something hateful about a pitiful person, and there is always something pitiful about a hateful person.
Chu Yueyuan saw the sorrow on Xie Nianzhi's face.
From a pampered young lady in the capital to a destitute noblewoman seeking refuge in Jingzhou, she was forced to marry a man she hated. In just three years, she aborted her children several times, ultimately damaging her very health.
No wonder every time she saw Xie Nianzhi, she felt that Xie Nianzhi's pale complexion had an inescapable sickness, which was actually a kind of witheredness that came from the root of her being.
Xie Nianzhi gently stroked the woman's rosy, healthy face, his tone tinged with envy: "Your Highness is truly fortunate, unlike me..."
"So the princess blames all her misfortunes on me?"
"I don't blame Your Highness, I'm just curious, what would it be like if Your Highness became as unfortunate as I am?"
Chu Yueyuan completely rejected her point of view and coldly retorted:
"The princess knows in her heart that the person who caused your misfortune was never me. But you dare not investigate further, because when you married the son of Governor Chen, you were willing to make a sacrifice for your clan. Once you resent and regret it, you will no longer be the sister who endured humiliation in Prince Chun's heart, nor the benefactor who put the overall situation first in the eyes of your clan. You will go from a selfless savior to a pitiful and resentful woman."
Xie Nianzhi's pale face was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere, like a white wall after the rain, with damp traces seeping out little by little.
Chu Yueyuan continued, "Although you have long been filled with remorse, you have never dared to show it in front of your family. You can only vent your resentment on those who are more fortunate than you."
"Princess, you might as well ask yourself, who do you hate most? Is it me? Is it your cousin who was trapped in Beiting back then? Or is it your own brother who chose the entire clan and abandoned you?"
"Smack..."
Chu Yueyuan's cheek turned to one side, burning with pain, but she didn't seem to care as she raised the corners of her lips, her tone filled with pity:
"It seems the princess already has the answer in her heart."
Xie Nianzhi stared at Chu Yueyuan, his beautiful eyes filled with coldness, appearing gloomy and deep: "I hope that when Your Highness and the Great Khan are enjoying their spring night together, you can still understand Lord Pei, who is unable to leave the capital because of his power."
————
As the convoy drew closer to the border, Erhe tightened his guard over Chu Yueyuan.
Aside from eating, drinking, and relieving herself, she was bound hand and foot, with no chance to escape whatsoever.
Whenever Xia Lian bound her hands, she would deliberately tighten the rope until the rough hemp rope dug deep into her delicate flesh, only then would a sickly, satisfied smile appear on her face, and she wouldn't forget to add a sarcastic remark:
"Your Highness has truly been wronged..."
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
That day, while the carriages were resting, Xia Lian, as usual, carried a food box and bent down to enter the carriage. Just as she was about to untie the rope binding the woman, she suddenly noticed that her snow-white skin was covered with red rashes.
Xia Lian hurriedly looked at the woman's face and immediately let out a scream.
Before long, Zhao Qiming, carrying his medicine chest, strode towards the carriage at the front of the line.
Before he even got close, he heard Erhe's furious roar: "How could you, you lowly slave, be so good at your job? How did these red rashes appear on her face and body?"
"This servant has been serving Your Highness with all my heart... Ah!"
Before Xia Lian could finish speaking, Erhe kicked her to the ground.
"You lying, lowly slave, drag him away and kill him!"
Erkh's face was filled with anger. Just thinking about how the delicate woman had leaned against him and wept, inadvertently revealing the marks on her wrists, filled him with murderous intent. He wished he could chop the lowly slave to pieces and feed her to the wolves.
"Great Khan, spare my life! Spare my life!"
Xia Lian was pale and ignored the excruciating pain in her ribs. She scrambled to the ground and kowtowed, begging for mercy.
Xie Nianzhi stood quietly to the side and spoke gently: "Khan, please reconsider. This place is not far from the city. If her body is discovered, it will surely alarm the local government. At that time, the capital... will inevitably find out our whereabouts. I have already sent someone to invite the imperial physician. I hope that the Khan will calm down for now."
Erkh sneered: "When I, the Khan, kill someone, how could I leave any trace?"
Despite saying that, he was still wary of Pei Muwei, so he spared the maid's life.
"Where is the imperial physician? Why hasn't he arrived yet?"
Zhao Qiming stepped forward calmly, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble official greets the Khan. May I ask where the patient is now?"
"You wait here, I will summon you back in!"
Erkh bent down and stepped into the carriage, his green eyes fixed on the woman on the bed, and threatened, "If Your Highness dares to secretly reveal your identity to this person, I will kill him."
Chu Yueyuan had just finished crying, her watery eyes still red, and her voice was low and hoarse: "My appearance is ruined, which only makes the Khan dislike me. If I can't be cured, why doesn't the Khan kill me too?"
Erhe raised his eyebrows and quickly coaxed, "I went to great lengths to bring you to the northern border. Even if your face is pockmarked, you are still the most beautiful woman on the grassland. How could I bear to let you die?"
Zhao Qiming waited outside for a moment, and then Erhe's deep voice came from inside the car:
"Come in."
The carriage was extremely spacious, with a dark blue curtain separating the inner and outer sections. The Great Khan's voice came from behind the curtain:
“Come and see why these rashes suddenly appeared on her body and face. If you can’t cure them, I’ll throw you into the forest to be eaten by wolves.”
The curtain twitched slightly, and the woman's arm emerged from behind it, her snow-white skin covered with a dense, terrifying rash.
Zhao Qiming reached out and touched the patient's wrist, paused for a moment, and then said, "Judging from the pulse, the patient's mind and spirit are exhausted, and his body is weak, so that evil qi has entered his body and he has contracted smallpox. This disease is very contagious. Please, Khan, immediately cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief."
Upon hearing this, Erkh froze. He looked down at the woman in his arms, feeling as if he were holding a sizzling hot potato, but he still refused to admit defeat: "This Khan has always been in good health, how could I be easily infected!"
Zhao Qiming continued, "The Ephedra Detoxifying Decoction can cure her illness, but the prescription contains thirteen herbs. I only have nine herbs on me, so I am missing four. I beg the Great Khan to give me a fast horse so that I can go to a nearby town and replenish the missing herbs."
Erkh frowned, a look of hesitation in his eyes, as if he were weighing the pros and cons.
The journey from the border by carriage and horse is only three days. If you stay even a moment longer, more variables will arise.
Just then, the woman in his arms suddenly began to writhe in pain, unable to bear the red rashes covering her body any longer. She grabbed her arm with her long nails and scratched several rashes open in an instant, causing blood to gush out, like cracks on a flawless piece of jade, a shocking sight.
Erhe felt a pang of pain in his heart and quickly took her hand, coaxing her in a low voice, "Bear with it for a moment, I will take Physician Zhao into the city to get the medicine."
The next morning, Herhe brought back the missing medicinal herbs. Zhao Qiming then suggested that after the patient took the medicine, acupuncture at several acupoints on the tiger's mouth (between the thumb and index finger) would be used to accelerate the recovery from smallpox.
Seeing that Zhao Qiming had been behaving himself along the way, Erhe lowered his guard and agreed to let him perform acupuncture on Chu Yueyuan.
Xia Lian was kicked and seriously injured by Erhe, so Xie Nianzhi had no choice but to send another maid named Qiushuang to monitor Chu Yueyuan.
When Qiu Shuang learned that the rash on Chu Yueyuan's body was contagious, she only dared to hide in the outer cubicle, covering her mouth and nose tightly with a handkerchief, and occasionally lifting the curtain to peek at the imperial physician who was giving the woman acupuncture.
Zhao Qiming bent down and removed the silver needles from Chu Yueyuan's hands one by one, his voice extremely low:
"After entering the city, the Great Khan kept a close eye on me. I was incompetent and could not find an opportunity to send out the news that Your Highness was trapped."
Chu Yueyuan coughed heavily twice, and noticing that Qiu Shuang had moved further away from behind the curtain, she quickly seized the opportunity to ask:
"Do you remember the route?"
Zhao Qiming nodded affirmatively: "This place is Jiaozhou, and the nearest city, Huangwei, is thirty li away. It can be reached in half a day by fast horse. There is a garrison outside the city. Judging from its flags, it is General Geng under the Regent's command who is in charge."
This is undoubtedly good news.
Chu Yueyuan's eyes flickered slightly as she quickly considered the current situation. She felt that she could no longer sit idly by and wait for death, otherwise, once the convoy left the border of Daqi, even the last glimmer of hope would be gone.
She leaned closer and whispered her plan to Zhao Qiming.
Qiu Shuang heard the coughing inside stop for a while, so she covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and carefully used a wooden stick to lift the curtain.
Just then, Zhao Qiming came out carrying a medicine box. His thick eyebrows and large eyes, visible through his face mask, gave him a sincere and reliable look. He took out a dose of medicine from the box and said gently:
"I have a detoxifying powder here. You can sprinkle it into clean water, then soak a handkerchief in it and cover your mouth and nose to block the pathogens and avoid being affected."
Qiu Shuang happily accepted the medicine packet, repeatedly expressing her gratitude: "This servant will certainly do as instructed."
Three days later, the red rash on Chu Yueyuan's body gradually subsided.
Erhe saw that the woman's appearance had returned to its former beauty. More importantly, after this illness, the woman seemed to be moved by his sincerity. In recent days, her attitude towards him had become much gentler, and she even took the initiative to ask him about his life on the grassland.
Erkh was in high spirits and prepared to set off.
Before leaving, Zhao Qiming mentioned that there weren't many medicinal herbs left and hoped to go into the city to purchase another batch.
Erhe did not hesitate, but he was still very thoughtful. He asked Zhao Qiming to list the required medicinal materials. To be on the safe side, he decided to personally lead several capable subordinates into the city to purchase the necessary items in order to avoid any unforeseen complications.
"The chestnut cakes that the Khan brought back last time were quite delicious. When we enter the city later, could you please bring some back for me?"
The further north you go, the colder it gets.
Inside the carriage, Chu Yueyuan wore a felt hat and a narrow-sleeved, dawn-colored, double-breasted Hu-style robe. The turned-down collar revealed a sky-blue brocade lining. The two bright colors clashed, but instead of appearing vulgar, they accentuated her fair skin and beautiful features, giving her a unique charm.
When she raised her head and looked up, the ruby tassels hanging from her felt hat reflected the sunlight, making her peach blossom eyes appear full of deep affection.
Erkh stared at the woman with her natural allure, and couldn't help but lift her chin, laughing, "What's so difficult about that? Since Your Highness likes that family's chestnut cake, I'll just bring back the baker who makes the cakes. From now on, you can eat them every day in the Canglang tribe."
Chu Yueyuan glanced at Erhe and rolled her beautiful eyes slightly: "If my appetite causes the cook to be separated from his family and live apart, I will not do such a despicable thing."
"Very well, Your Highness is indirectly criticizing me as immoral..."
Every gesture of a beautiful woman is picturesque; even when she glares at someone with a cold face, her eyes are subtly alluring, exuding a captivating charm.
Erkh felt a burning desire to kiss her, but he was also worried that the little she-wolf, who had finally become docile, would reveal her claws. He had no choice but to suppress his restlessness.
"Then I will only bring back chestnut pastries."
Erkh pinched her tender cheek hard, his dark green eyes flashing with undisguised possessiveness, his voice deep:
"Just wait patiently for me, Khan."
These words were very familiar to Chu Yueyuan, and she couldn't help but be momentarily dazed.
In the past, whenever they faced danger, the man would always stand in front of her, his clear, cold phoenix eyes shining like stars, gently instructing her: "Be good and wait for your humble servant to return."
This time, however, she couldn't wait for him anymore.
It was late at night, and the wind picked up.
The experienced Grey Wolf Man had covered the carriage with thick cotton blankets beforehand, but even so, the howling wind outside could still be clearly heard.
Usually after nightfall, Qiu Shuang would come to Xie Nianzhi's carriage and report in detail everything she had observed during the day.
Tonight, Xie Nianzhi waited in the car for a long time, but Qiushuang did not return.
Xia Lian, standing to the side, looked pale and sallow. She endured the pain from her old chest wound, stuffed the gilded bronze plum blossom hand warmer into the bedding, and advised, "Princess, you should rest first. The wind outside is biting cold. Qiu Shuang must have been lazy and gone to sleep. I will call her over to report to you first thing tomorrow morning."
Xie Nianzhi remained silent, her gaze fixed on the calligraphy scroll in her hand, her eyes colder than the wind outside the car.
The words Chu Yueyuan spoke that day were like a blinding ray of sunlight, illuminating her gorgeous robe crawling with lice and revealing the darkest secret in her heart.
She resented her brother, resented her people, and regretted the choices she had made.
People praise her for her utmost benevolence and righteousness, willing to sacrifice her own happiness in exchange for the peace of her entire clan.
But how many people can truly empathize with the bitterness behind this praise?
No!
She alone truly endured this pain.
After returning to the capital, everyone said that she had escaped her misery, that her husband who had tarnished her identity was dead, that her brother had returned to the court, and that her family had regained its former glory.
They all felt that she should let go of the past and look forward with composure amidst the overwhelming praise.
But those painful memories were like shackles, locking her forever in the past.
She could not speak out, could not harbor resentment, and could not regret.
Just as Chu Yueyuan pointed out the truth without reservation—once she regretted it, she went from being a savior to a pitiful and wretched woman.
Her sacrifice will also become an absurd joke.
Ever since Chu Yueyuan exposed her bloody secret that day, Xie Nianzhi has refused to see those bright eyes again, and can only try to find out about her situation through her maid.
The news that Qiu Shuang brought back undoubtedly surprised Xie Nianzhi.
Hearing that Chu Yueyuan and the Great Khan were getting along well, the woman seemed to have let go of her attachment to her homeland and was ready to go to the Canglang Kingdom to start a new life.
Unlike Erhe, Xie Nianzhi did not think that the woman had resigned herself to her fate; instead, he remained extremely wary of her.
The howling wind outside the car window grew louder and louder, like a lament.
Xie Nianzhi's gaze suddenly darkened. Ignoring Xia Lian's pleas, she pushed open the carriage door and, braving the howling night wind, walked step by step towards the brightly lit carriage ahead...
"Whoa—"
Erhele stopped his horse, frowned, and looked at his men who were rummaging through the grass with lanterns in the distance. A sense of unease flashed through his heart. He quickly dismounted and strode over to them.
"What happened? What are you looking for?"
Upon seeing the Great Khan, Nagur's face showed unease and guilt: "Your Majesty, it's...it's that Empress Dowager Chu has disappeared..."
Erkh's gaze suddenly darkened, like a wolf that had lost its prey and burst into rage: "What do you mean she's gone? She was clearly still in the car when I left!"
Nagur quickly explained, "It was Princess Nianyi who discovered it first. She said that half an hour ago, she went to visit Empress Dowager Chu and found that the maid who was responsible for guarding His Highness was unconscious, and Empress Dowager Chu was also nowhere to be found!"
Erhe narrowed his long eyes, scanning the endless, dark wilderness around him. He still had freshly baked chestnut cakes from Huangwei City in his arms. He had been riding at full speed, and the warmth emanating from the cakes was comforting his chest. But when he heard the news that the woman had escaped, his heart instantly turned cold.
"Fool! How could a weak woman like her be hiding alone in the wilderness? Quickly take stock of the men and see if anyone is missing!"
Nagul suddenly realized: "Yes, I'll go right away!"
After a short while, Nagur carefully counted his men twice and indeed discovered something amiss.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician Zhao, who was in charge of treating Empress Dowager Chu, has also disappeared, and one of his horses is missing!"
Erkh's face was ashen. He suddenly pulled out a beautifully wrapped chestnut cake from his pocket and slammed it to the ground, his voice filled with anger:
"Liar! She's been lying to me all this time..."
The chestnut cake, now broken into pieces, rolled out of the kraft paper bag, its heat and sweet aroma spreading through the air, only to be instantly dispersed by the cold north wind.
In the darkness, Xie Nianzhi, draped in a plain white cloak, emerged from the shadows. Her expression was calm as she softly reminded, "Great Khan, please calm down. Since Empress Dowager Chu and Imperial Physician Zhao are riding on the same horse, they cannot be traveling fast and should not have gone far yet. It is not too late for the Great Khan to send men to chase after them now."
Erkh's expression softened slightly, his green eyes gleaming eerily in the night, and his voice was hoarse:
"She betrayed me first, and this time, I will show her no mercy!"
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