Chapter 81
On the following day, the Prince of Western Xia personally brought an apology gift to the door, but was turned away by Prince He for a meeting.
The gatekeeper politely said, “Your Excellency, your timing is unfortunate. Our Lord has matters to attend to today and has already informed us not to receive guests.”
Li Angshun expressionlessly placed the generous gift in the hands of his subordinate behind him. Just as he was about to leave, his steps halted. Remembering something, he turned to the gatekeeper and inquired, “Has Prince He ever been on the battlefield before?”
Such information was not a secret. The gatekeeper replied, “The Prince has indeed been on the battlefield before.”
Li Angshun smiled faintly, “Many who have been on the battlefield carry hidden scars.”
The gatekeeper let out a sigh, “That’s true. Fortunately, our Lord’s constitution is quite strong. Even if he sustains some injuries, he recovers quickly.”
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*
With the back and forth visits of the Prince of Western Xia, the Chief Minister of the Capital City quickly reported the matter to Gu Yuanbai.
Gu Yuanbai mused, “Why does it involve Prince He again?”
Rubbing his temples, he had no patience for these trivial matters anymore. “Continue monitoring. Just make sure they don’t act recklessly within my Da Heng Capital City.”
As for Prince He, so be it. He still believed that his dear elder brother had a functioning brain. He wouldn’t possibly collaborate with someone as insignificant as the Prince of Western Xia.
The Chief Minister of the Capital City, responding to Gu Yuanbai’s orders, then withdrew.
A nimble eunuch stepped forward and gently massaged Gu Yuanbai’s temples. As Kong Yilin entered the hall, he observed this scene with a hint of concern. A thought suddenly crossed his mind, “Your Majesty, do you still remember the woman from the bandit den in Lizhou?”
Gu Yuanbai reclined in his chair, his eyes closed, allowing his nerves to rest. “I remember.”
He sighed, “That woman had a difficult life.”
Yet in the eyes of countless men in the world, few would truly understand the hardships women faced. Kong Yilin couldn’t help but feel a tinge of lament as he observed his tired-looking emperor. He spoke with genuine concern, “Your Majesty, the court is teeming with numerous talents. You need not personally attend to every matter.”
“Of course,” Gu Yuanbai replied, “but recently, every matter seems to require my attention. Anyway, let’s not discuss this. I recall that the woman took her own life because her family had been massacred by the bandits, correct?”
“Yes,” Kong Yilin nodded, “But later, I learned from Minister Sun that the woman was a physician.”
Gu Yuanbai raised an eyebrow, “Oh?”
“She comes from a lineage of renowned doctors. She learned some medical skills from a young age. After questioning her, Minister Sun of the Supervisory Office found out that since she had some medical knowledge, she wondered why she should go down the mountain in search of medical help. She asked, ‘If I understood medicine, would I even have the chance to leave the mountain in this lifetime?'” Kong Yilin lowered his voice, “Originally, she had intended to end her own life, but after Minister Sun told her about the court’s plans to suppress bandits and fight corruption, she changed her mind. After the governor of Lizhou was apprehended, she followed us to the capital.”
“Indeed,” Gu Yuanbai nodded in agreement.
When he heard the terms “female physician” or “renowned doctor,” he had no reaction. It was as if he had long accepted that no matter what kind of doctor it was, they wouldn’t be able to cure his illness.
Kong Yilin couldn’t help but glance at His Majesty.
Compared to the day of the imperial examination, His Majesty seemed even more frail. The fingers protruding from his sleeves seemed as if they could snap with a single touch due to the weight of his heavy robes.
Kong Yilin may not have understood the art of observation, but he could tell if a person was healthy or not with a single glance.
Even if His Majesty’s appearance was still pleasant, it couldn’t hide the signs of weakness.
Kong Yilin averted his gaze and pursed his lips several times, but could only offer a dry suggestion, “Your Majesty, if you don’t mind a woman’s medical skills, could you allow her to check your pulse?”
It was only then that Gu Yuanbai opened his eyes. His gaze swept over Kong Yilin before he motioned toward the corner where two wolves were lying. With a smile, he remarked, “If this woman of great courage isn’t afraid of those two wolves, then she’s welcome to check my pulse.”
*
The woman had indeed arrived.
Xue Yuan once said that if anyone touched even a single finger of Gu Yuanbai, a single strand of his hair, the two wolves would bite off that person’s finger. Whether others believed it or not, Tian Fusheng did, because every time he served tea and water to His Majesty, the two wolves would lower their bodies and fix their fierce gazes on Tian Fusheng’s hands.
However, it was strange that despite this, every day when the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Office took the pulse and conducted medical examinations on His Majesty, the two wolves showed no signs of aggression.
This time was no different.
The woman brought back by Minister Sun from the bandit’s den in Lizhou was named Jiang Bajiao. She had a beautiful appearance but a tall stature, and what was rare was a touch of heroism still present between her brows. Jiang, the female physician, respectfully saluted His Majesty and opened a pouch of medicines, “Please raise your hand, Your Majesty.”
Gu Yuanbai lifted his hand. He admired such women and smiled faintly. With another finger, he pointed to the two wolves walking slowly over, “With these two present, can you remain calm?”
As if understanding Gu Yuanbai’s words, one of the wolves approached and licked the finger he extended with its rough, crimson tongue. The damp saliva made the finger glisten. Gu Yuanbai was surprised, then helplessly looked at the wolf.
Jiang Bajiao also froze when she saw the two wolves, but she forced herself to remain composed and proceeded to check Gu Yuanbai’s pulse.
Tian Fusheng wanted to step forward and wipe His Majesty’s hand, but when he looked at the wolves, he dared not. Tian Fusheng frowned and said, “How come Miss Jiang can approach without any issue, but whenever I try, they keep staring at me?”
Gu Yuanbai pondered for a moment and then realized, “She carries the scent of medicine.”
Tian Fusheng blinked, “Huh?”
Gu Yuanbai snorted, thinking to himself that Xue Yuan had thought of everything. He even thought of the royal physician who needed to take his pulse up close. Could it be that those words Xue Yuan said about anyone who dared to touch him having their fingers bitten off were actually true?
*
“Master,” the deputy general pointed to the water flask tied to Xue Yuan’s waist, “Is that flask filled with fine wine?”
Xue Yuan had a water flask on him, yet he was using another one to drink from. Hearing the question, Xue Yuan grinned and playfully patted the water flask at his waist, lowering his voice, “This is something even better than fine wine.”
The deputy general grew curious, “Oh, what could that be?”
Xue Yuan replied, “Soup, a mesmerizing soup.”
The deputy general burst into laughter, “Master, you’re joking.”
With an arched eyebrow, Xue Yuan didn’t argue. After finishing his drink, he strode to a secluded spot, removed the mesmerizing soup flask from his waist, and sat down.
After days of scorching sun, the water in the flask seemed to have reduced. Xue Yuan opened the lid, took a sniff, and the fragrance subtly infiltrated his senses. The water had been thoroughly infused with the aroma of herbs and incense. Even after all this time, there was still a hint of spring water scent. (Translator’s note: Damn, he’s crazy. This is the bathwater!!!)
Xue Yuan actually felt like taking a sip, but every sip meant one less, and he was reluctant. He was currently covered in a foul smell, and the men in the military camp carried the same odor. The only fragrant thing was Gu Yuanbai’s bathwater.
What if every sip cost him one sip less? What would he do then?
Calculating the time, the Wanshou Festival should have begun. He had been on the road for over ten days. He wondered if the person in the palace would remember him occasionally.
His fingers fiddled, and the brief respite was coming to an end. Xue Yuan tucked the flask back at his waist and stood up. “Move it, all of you.”
The deputy general hurried forward, and they walked ahead together. The spirited horse was tethered to a tree, busily munching on grass. When it saw Xue Yuan approaching, it kicked its hooves in resistance.
The deputy general chuckled, “This fine horse is truly intelligent. It knows we’re setting off, so it won’t eat anymore.”
However, Xue Yuan didn’t respond to his comment.
The deputy general turned curiously, only to see Xue Yuan’s expression turning serious. He was staring at a tree and suddenly reached forward, grabbing onto something. The deputy general stepped closer to take a look and found a yellow grasshopper in Xue Yuan’s grasp.
The deputy general was taken aback.
Xue Yuan crushed the grasshopper and looked around. “It seems we’re about to enter the northern plague-stricken area.”
“Protect the provisions, prepare torches and large nets,” Xue Yuan released the reins, leading the horse away at a brisk pace. “Find the officials who specialize in dealing with locusts and ensure they’re well-prepared.”
*
By the end of September, it was the eve of the Wanshou Festival.
Gifts from various countries and regions had all been deposited in the national treasury. Regarding the gifts from those influential figures, Gu Yuanbai had them returned and subtly hinted at the issue of the northern locust disaster.
These influential figures were indeed astute and resourceful. They immediately responded to the Emperor’s suggestion and learned about the northern locust disaster. Gathering together, they decided to dispatch a hundred thousand ducks to the north to eradicate the locusts.
When locusts congregated in large numbers, they emitted toxins. The yellow ones were poisonous, while the green ones, when separated from the swarm, were not. It was the toxicity released by mass gatherings of locusts that prevented birds that fed on them from approaching.
Autumn locusts could only survive for three months. As they neared the end of their lives, they would find a place to lay eggs, known as the nymph stage. During this period, the toxicity in their bodies would dissipate. That was when ducks, approximately a hundred thousand in this case, could devour them. Each duck could consume around two hundred locusts a day, swiftly curbing the locust infestation.
Calculating the timing, the influential figures realized that if they sent the ducks to the northern border now, by the time they arrived, the locusts would be in their nymph stage. The ducks would be effective in devouring them. After consuming the locusts, these well-fed ducks could even become the soldiers’ nourishment. Why wouldn’t they seize this opportunity?
The Emperor burned the letters sent by the rebellious forces and refused their valuable gifts. Now he finally knew where to show his loyalty, and these influential figures were determined not to miss this chance.
They were busy demonstrating their loyalty to the Emperor. As for the Emperor in the capital city, a tiny glimmer of hope to survive had ignited within him.
A few days ago, after Jiang the female physician examined Gu Yuanbai’s pulse, she confessed, “This humble woman’s abilities are limited.”
Following Gu Yuanbai’s faint smile, she fell into deep thought for a moment before saying, “However, my grandmother once gave birth to a premature child at the age of forty. My uncle suffered from congenital deficiencies, incredibly weak, yet he lived until before I was captured by the bandits to the mountains. By that time, his health had improved significantly. I’ve also examined his pulse. With proper care, he should be able to live a long time.”
At that moment, Gu Yuanbai closed his eyes, his face serene and unperturbed. No one could fathom the turmoil within him. “Oh? But your family members were all massacred by the bandits.”
“That is indeed the case,” Jiang, the female physician, fell silent for a while. “But if I recall correctly, my grandfather had another younger brother. Most of our family’s medical texts were in his possession. These two brothers were separated during their youth due to famine, and it’s been forty years since then.”
“My grandfather mentioned to me that he possessed only fifty percent of the recipe to treat congenital deficiencies. However, his younger brother was even more gifted. If this great-uncle of mine managed to keep a substantial number of medical texts during the famine and survived, there must be a recipe among them capable of treating His Majesty’s condition.”
Whether the dispersed famine refugees from forty years ago were still alive was unknown. Nevertheless, after Jiang, the female physician shared this information, officials from the Supervisory office immediately pressed for more details. They were digging to the bottom of the issue, fully intending to find this lost great-uncle.
Even if the man had already died, even if his medical texts had been sold off, or even if he had lost his medical expertise, as long as there was a glimmer of hope, the officials from the Supervisory Department were as energetic as if they were injected with vitality.
Although Gu Yuanbai hadn’t explicitly mentioned it, he tacitly approved of the Supervisory office’s actions.
A glimmer of hope ignited within him, but this spark of hope was faint and fragile. Gu Yuanbai dared not let it grow too much. Instead, he patiently waited for the final outcome with rationality and composure. Until an answer was found, he shifted his focus to matters such as the locust plague, nomadic issues, and the Wanshou Festival.
Amidst this calm yet restless atmosphere, the day of the Wanshou Festival finally arrived.
On that day, Gu Yuanbai dressed according to the elaborate attire of the Da Heng Dynasty’s Emperor. As all his accessories adorned his person, he held his breath, gazing at the reflection of himself in a bronze mirror.
An elite among the elite, incomparably noble.
Gu Yuanbai raised an eyebrow and smiled, his crown gently swaying. The air was scented with incense as the dragon patterns on his yellow robe danced. He turned around and walked slowly towards the exit. Tian Fusheng stepped forward to support him. “Your Majesty, today will surely exhaust you.”
But when the entire world bows and celebrates for me, is it still impossible to overcome fatigue?
For an ambitious individual, such honors could be addictive, akin to the sweetest poison. Gu Yuanbai smiled without speaking, stepping steadily towards the Golden Luan Hall.
Once the Emperor was seated on the dragon throne, officials below, dressed in dragon robes, stood in orderly formation on both sides. Under the rising sun in the east, they collectively recited congratulatory messages and paid their respects to Gu Yuanbai.
Simultaneously, altars were prepared across the nation. Local officials, dressed in uniform attire, stood in their government offices, leading their subordinates in bowing three times towards the direction of the capital city. “May the Emperor enjoy good health, and may there be peace throughout the realm!”
Incense smoke filled the air as regions across the country celebrated the Emperor’s birthday. During these three days of rest, artisans paraded through the streets, displaying the prosperity and abundance of Da Heng under the current rule.
Wealthy local figures or officials even funded the distribution of cakes imprinted with the characters “Longevity and Abundance” to the common people for free, seeking auspicious blessings.
There was no curfew for these three days, and wine shops and restaurants bustled with activity, vibrant and lively. Amidst the constant stream of people, phrases like “How’s the harvest?” and “Good weather and abundant rain” were exchanged, leading to hearty laughter. Almost unanimously, people would exclaim, “This year promises a bountiful harvest.”
Meanwhile, in the distant northern region.
Squinting at the midday sky, Xue Yuan pulled his reins and called out, “Dismount and form ranks!”
The soldiers, donned in armor, didn’t hesitate for a moment. As soon as the command was given, they swung off their horses.
Cavalry formed their ranks, followed closely by infantry. In the blink of an eye, the large formation took shape, exuding a powerful and intimidating aura.
Facing the direction of the capital city, Xue Yuan and his men raised their robes, elegantly kneeling down. In a clear voice, Xue Yuan proclaimed, “Wishing for the prosperity of Da Heng, wishing for the Emperor’s well-being and longevity.”
This voice spread through the ranks of officers, echoed from one to another. Tens of thousands of soldiers, who were fed by the Emperor’s provisions and clothed in the Emperor’s attire, also knelt down in unison. It was a dense and overwhelming scene, and as their voices merged, the birds in the dense forest took flight, startled by the resonance.
“Wishing for the prosperity of Da Heng! Wishing for the Emperor’s well-being and longevity!”
Xue Yuan and the soldiers shouted these words three times in unison. He gazed into the distance, thinking to himself that if shameless immortals truly existed in the heavens, they better listen carefully.
With so many people offering prayers for Gu Yuanbai, no matter what the young Emperor was like, he would have to live a long and healthy life.
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Thanks for the chapter