Chapter 212 Issuing a Challenge: A Decisive Battle to the Death
The guards were reporting to Xiao Xuance about the recent events: "Lord Zhufeng and Physician Hua arrived in Changlin County this morning."
"The people you asked us to keep an eye on before, their final destination is also in Changlin. They are still using the name of Doctor Hua to kill people indiscriminately. So far, they have killed more than 200 people, and they used extremely cruel methods such as poisoning to kill them."
Zhuiying roared, "They're inhuman! Those people didn't do anything to them!"
"Your Highness, when Physician Hua is cleaning up his own household, I feel I can lend a hand."
If they continue killing, even more people will die.
Xiao Xuance did not make a decision immediately, but instead asked the guard, "How are the preparations going on Doctor Hua's side?"
"Hua the Divine Physician's eyes have recovered. He even sent a message by carrier pigeon to his disciples and followers of the Medicine Ghost Valley to rush to Changlin County. He also issued a challenge to his junior brother, intending to fight to the death here."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a knock sounded at the door, "Knock knock!!"
The guards and Shadow Chaser's eyes sharpened as they gripped their sword hilts. "Who?"
Yun Zhaoxue spoke up, "It's me."
"Go open the door quickly." Xiao Xuance's voice was somewhat urgent, unlike his usual calm.
"Princess." Zhuiying went to open the door and invited her in to sit down.
Xiao Xuance rinsed the cup with hot water before pouring her tea.
He said to the guard, "Continue."
The guard said, "Your Highness, I have said everything I needed to say."
Upon receiving his gaze, Zhuiying briefly recounted to Yun Zhaoxue what the guard had just reported.
Yun Zhaoxue suddenly asked, "Did those people have symbols of centipedes, snakes, spiders, and scorpions on their bodies, and their clothing was somewhere between that of the Miao and Han ethnic groups, right?"
"Yes! It's them. The princess has seen them before?"
"I saw him, just now, in the lobby of the inn."
The guard was somewhat agitated. "They actually showed up here? We lost track of them, and they even killed two of our guards."
"Your Highness, should we have our men inform Physician Hua now?"
"We can notify them, but don't act rashly for now, and there's no need to send anyone to follow them. Tonight, send a few more people to guard the area near the inn. I've already instructed Xiao Wu to keep the candles lit. If the candles go out, it means they're in danger, and we should rescue them immediately."
"Yes! I will arrange it immediately."
After the bodyguard retired, only three people remained in the house.
Yun Zhaoxue suggested that they go to see Doctor Hua tonight to remove the Gu poison from Yang's body. In case something else happens after the fight and the Gu poison is not removed, she will remain unconscious, unable to eat, and cannot be fed much mineral water or nutrient solution. She can only be fed a little to keep her alive, and if it is delayed, her body will become weak.
Zhuiying said, "But Master Liao said that we are not allowed to go out for more than an hour. The round trip will take about half an hour."
"How about I knock those escorts unconscious?"
“No need for such trouble. The person has woken up. If something happens, we will be held responsible. Zhao Jiu is easy to talk to. Tell him that he is going out to find a doctor and will be back in an hour. It should be fine.”
Xiao Xuance clenched his large hand on the wheelchair. "Why does Xue'er think Zhao Jiu is easy to talk to?"
He always remembered the somewhat envious tone in her voice when she said Ye Hongying had three men, and the way everyone looked at him with a hint of pity, as if they had already anticipated that he would be cuckolded.
She never seemed to have promised that he would be the only man in her life.
“He just reminded me to be wary of those people…” Yun Zhaoxue noticed that his tone seemed a bit sarcastic.
What does he mean?
Is she jealous because she feels Zhao Jiu is getting close to her?
She tilted her head and leaned closer to the man's handsome face. "Are you jealous?"
Xiao Xuance slightly turned his head away, averting his gaze, and denied, "...No."
“You have it.” Yun Zhaoxue reached out and gently stroked his cheek, then quickly lifted his chin with her index finger and turned his face back.
"Look at you, your ears are practically burning up. You still say you're not jealous? So what if you're jealous? What's there to be embarrassed about? It's normal for someone as beautiful as me to be anxious and insecure."
Yun Zhaoxue felt that his shy and blushing appearance was more in line with a twenty-two-year-old young man. His stern face and serious expression made him look several years older.
Whether in her past life or this one, she loves her younger brother who is both fierce and gentle.
First, it excels in that aspect; second, it has that vibrant energy.
"I'm not teasing you anymore. We've finished talking about serious matters. Now let's get down to business." Yun Zhaoxue got up and pushed him toward the bed.
"What important matter is it?"
It was too sudden; he wasn't prepared, and besides, the environment here was too rudimentary.
Just as he was lost in thought, Yun Zhaoxue had already moved him to sit down on the edge of the bed.
Yun Zhaoxue then asked Zhuiying to bring over a low stool and a medicine box.
"Here, let's change the dressing on your leg first, and then we'll take Mother to get rid of the curse."
Watching his master being teased, Zhuiying, who was trying hard to suppress his laughter, only snapped out of his daze when he was called out, and took the stool and medicine box over.
Seeing his suppressed laughter, Xiao Xuance waved his hand and said, "Go and prepare the carriage first."
"Yes!" Zhuiying bowed and withdrew.
Yun Zhaoxue sat on a low chair, put on gloves, and carefully removed the old gauze and plaster covering the wound.
"The wound has healed, there is no redness or pus, and it is recovering very well. According to the current recovery, the stitches can be removed in three days, but you still can't get out of bed."
Xiao Xuance said, "I feel much better now, and I can get out of bed and stand up for a while."
"It's only been a week, it's not ready yet, we have to wait another week."
Clean the wound with Lingquan water, then use iodine solution to disinfect the skin around the wound. Wrap it with a layer of sterile gauze and apply the Black Jade Broken Skin Ointment given by Hua Murong until the entire lower leg is wrapped. Wrap it with another layer of gauze and secure it with tape.
After changing the dressing, Yun Zhaoxue put on gloves and washed her hands.
Xiao Xuance pulled her to sit down on the edge of the bed and wiped her hands with a handkerchief.
Her hands were delicate and smooth, without a single callus on her palms. Xiao Xuance was curious about how she could treat wounds so skillfully.
Before marrying, he had someone investigate Princess Zhaoxue and they had met a few times.
They are the same person, but they have different personalities.
The magical holy water, and the tent, raincoat, seasonings... he had never seen those things before.
Xiao Xuance was worried that she would suddenly disappear one day, leaving him and never being able to find her again.
He unconsciously tightened his grip on her hand.
"Let go, you're hurting me." Yun Zhaoxue cried out in pain and forcefully pulled her wrist away.
Suddenly, she was forcefully pulled into a firm embrace, her full breasts were squeezed, and she unconsciously let out a muffled groan, "Mmm~ It hurts..."
Yun Zhaoxue grabbed his arm and pushed him away forcefully, "What are you doing? It hurts so much!"
She raised her hand and rubbed it to relieve the pain.
Xiao Xuance's handsome face was full of apology. "I'm sorry, I suddenly wanted to hug you. Is your area swollen and painful again? Let me... massage it for you?"
The book says that pregnant women often experience breast swelling/pain.
"Slap!" Yun Zhaoxue slapped away his outstretched hand. "Do you know how? I'm afraid you'll hurt me. That's your son's food. If you let them go hungry, they'll grow up and pull weeds from your grave."
It feels much better after a while, and I don't need to press it anymore.
"Yes, I've learned it from books."
Xiao Xuance remembered that she had mentioned chest pain several times, and asked his men to find books about pregnant women. The "Complete Collection of Prescriptions for Women" recorded theories and treatments for all aspects of menstruation, leukorrhea, pregnancy, childbirth, and miscellaneous diseases.
One of the volumes specifically recorded methods of massage and soothing, which he learned from the book.
"Go ahead and press, but don't touch me indiscriminately."
"good!"
Yun Zhaoxue took his hand and placed it in front of her.
Xiao Xuance controlled his strength very lightly.
"You haven't eaten? Put some effort into it."
Yun Zhaoxue reached out and hooked her arm around his neck, pulling him closer. She raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Oh dear, young man, why is your face so red even through our clothes? You already have a child, yet you're still so innocent."
Xiao Xuance dared not look at her there, his gaze fixed elsewhere, his heart pounding wildly. "This is my first time... pressing."
Yun Zhaoxue lightly tapped her Adam's apple with her cool fingertips, her breath sweet as orchids, "Then you've come out on top, you've broadened your horizons."
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