Chapter 129: Clear Sky Day Chapter 108: Two Liang of Bone Ash

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Marquis Lu already knew that these were all people brought back by the Imperial Guard from Zhu Zhi's mountain villa — there were doctors, maidservants, and the Sixth Prince's men.

These people originally did not need to be brought here; it was only because Zhu Zhi's condition was special tonight, and the matter involved the sacrifice and the Sixth Prince, so for the convenience of the Emperor sending people to interrogate at any time, they were temporarily detained here.

What drew Marquis Lu's attention was that youth kneeling at the very back; he wore blood-soaked clothes, his hair was disheveled, the wounds on his body had already been treated and medicated, and he trembled as he clutched a bundle of beast-skin jacket whose original color could no longer be discerned.

His features were concealed beneath the messy hair; his body outline and bearing entered Marquis Lu's eyes first.

Marquis Lu approached; the Imperial Guard saluted; the youth still knelt clutching the jacket.

"Raise your head and let this old man have a look."

The old man's authoritative voice fell, yet the youth did not obey and raise his head; he only lifted his eyes.

In those eyes, still blood-red after the killing, leaked a vigilant aggression, not a trace of shrinking fear.

Marquis Lu met his gaze for a moment, then lowered his gaze to the youth's shoulders and back and long arms, and then asked: "What is your name?"

The youth hesitated an instant, then answered: "Shan Gu."

He had come this time precisely to answer.

"Spine of the mountain, a good name." Marquis Lu asked again: "What is your surname?"

Shan Gu lowered his eyes: "Zhou."

"Zhou Shan Gu." Marquis Lu repeated softly, then asked the final question: "What connection do you have with Zhu Zhi?"

The youth's voice was low and weak yet also cold: "Enemy."

"Take good care of him." Marquis Lu lifted his foot and left, leaving the Imperial Guard with a simple instruction.

Before long, Fine Clothes Guard Commander He Pingchun arrived; he first looked toward Deng Hu, who was kneeling: "The Sixth Prince has finished receiving his punishment; you all may temporarily leave on your own."

Then he looked at those doctors and that youth who had been besieged by Zhu Zhi's men, and said to his subordinate: "Take them down, interrogate the details carefully, there must be no omissions whatsoever."

"Acknowledged."

Shan Gu was helped up by an Imperial Guard; that guard quietly conveyed to He Pingchun: "Marquis Lu just spoke, saying to take good care of this lad."

He Pingchun glanced over and said: "Mm, he is a victim; it is merely interrogation."

Speaking, he raised his hand to signal a Fine Clothes Guard at his side to step forward and help the person over.

The spider woman covered in fire ash rose along with the doctors, subconsciously looking toward the clusters of firelight in the distance; though she did not know in which blaze that evil spirit was ultimately burning, every point of firelight tonight held extraordinary significance.

The crowd departed in order; amid the tall dense canopy, a grey shadow matching the night's color flew away soundlessly like a bird.

Firelight swayed everywhere; Liu Cheng and Guo Shi led palace attendants through a stretch of dim tree shadows.

The palace attendants followed neither too close nor too far; Guo Shi sighed and admonished: "Crown Prince, now is not the time for you to be frightened and withdraw; the Sovereign Father has been troubled and angered, you ought to serve decoctions and properly fulfill filial piety. Look at that Sixth Prince — he even accepted punishment in order to fulfill filial piety toward the Sovereign Father."

Under the jumping firelight, Liu Cheng's gaze flickered bright and dark; he said in a low voice: "Sixth Brother just returned to the capital — no, he hasn't even entered the city yet — and he already killed someone, angering Imperial Father… I originally thought that with this return to the capital, he would inevitably be cautious in every way."

Yet not only was he not cautious, he even mobilized so recklessly.

"Being overly cautious accomplishes nothing…" Guo Shi sighed: "Not only can it not accomplish anything, it will also invite bullying, even losing everything including one's life."

Liu Cheng's face paled slightly; he was about to speak, then heard Guo Shi continue: "Your Highness is noble as the Crown Prince; you need only keep reverence for the Sovereign Father. Apart from the Sovereign Father, all others are ministers; you are the sovereign. If the sovereign is suppressed in momentum and courage by the ministers, what is damaged is also His Majesty's face."

By the end, Guo Shi's tone carried a hint of a smile: "Your Highness has now sat securely in this Crown Prince position; you have long since not been alone; only by boldly nurturing a fearless heart is right…"

Liu Cheng's expression was blank.

Fearless heart? How could one nurture that?

A moment later, he turned his head as if thinking, but gazed toward the distant altar's direction.

His sight blocked by the gloom, the altar could no longer be seen, yet that ink-vermilion figure dancing in the fire, drawing a great bow, remained before his eyes… she looked so fearless, standing alone before mountains and rivers, between heaven and earth, as if a true transcendent god or ghost.

She is called Hua Li.

In Qu Yuan's "Mountain Ghost," there is both the line she recited — "East Wind Drifting, Spirit Rain Falling" — and a line "Riding Red Leopard, Followed by Patterned Cat," describing the Witch God's procession: riding a red leopard, followed by a patterned wildcat, which is the Hua Li.

She is both the Witch God and the Patterned Cat.

Such coincidence, such divine subtlety, truly like a heaven-bestowed person.

Just unknown how she is now? To what extent are her injuries severe?

Liu Cheng wanted to send someone to inquire a thing or two; he hesitated a moment, then still spoke to instruct the palace attendant behind him.

The palace attendant acknowledged and withdrew; Guo Shi said with a smile: "This witch Hua Li is indeed extraordinary; Your Highness should not offend or neglect her, yet also remember not to get too close… after all, she is a witch."

Liu Cheng lowered his eyes: "I know."

After the decoction was fetched, Liu Cheng personally led people to deliver it to the Emperor's residence.

After Marquis Lu and Yan Xiang discussed the northern war situation for a while, Marquis Lu then opened his mouth about the Sixth Prince matter: "This old minister has already heard of the villa incident. The Sixth Prince is of youthful temperament; his conduct was indeed somewhat improper, but this matter is also not entirely incomprehensible. Your Majesty has punished him; let it be laid to rest. Afterwards it is unwise to keep it in mind, lest it further harm the father-son bond."

The Emperor looked up; the old man who had not commanded troops for many years was still open and aboveboard as before; his words were very direct, yet all were heartfelt words.

Before such an old man, the Emperor also spoke directly: "Why does Marquis Lu plead for him?"

"Speaking of private feelings, this old minister pities the Sixth Prince." Marquis Lu's tone added some complexity: "The events of that year — the child was ignorant and innocent; plus it was ultimately this old minister who crippled one of the child's legs; two parts of guilt are unavoidable."

The child innocent, two parts guilt…

The Emperor fell silent.

Some emotions are only stirred by such overly plain words.

And tonight's great sacrifice's lingering embers seem not yet dispersed; at that time he too once sank into that heaven-piercing shock, wrapped in the mountains and rivers' heaven-and-earth qi, the most primal human flame in his heart also awakened for an instant.

Some say witchcraft can beguile hearts; some say truly high witchcraft can heal hearts; tonight he was very clear he had not been beguiled; that instead brought him a trace of long-lost thorough clarity.

Marquis Lu continued: "But apart from these trivial private feelings, this old minister also considers for state and family, for Great Qian; if father and son are estranged, the people's hearts below will surely fluctuate… Since Your Majesty has summoned the Sixth Prince back to the capital, if he has shortcomings, people should naturally be made to carefully teach and guide him."

The Emperor remained silent as before. Lu Hou was a very common type of straightforward martial minister, holding the simple notion that "family harmony brings prosperity to all things." Though not profound, it had its own logic.

Yan Xiangguo said nothing more, merely kneeling in place and listening quietly.

"Lu Hou's painstaking efforts, Zhen understands them all," the Emperor said, his voice tinged with fatigue.

Lu Hou then stopped the subject and added: "When this old subject came over just now, I saw a boy claiming the surname Zhou. At first glance, he seemed a fine seedling for a martial officer..."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor asked: "Surname Zhou? What is his background?"

At this moment, Crown Prince Liu Cheng entered to deliver medicine.

After Lu Hou raised his hand in a salute, he continued speaking.

Not long after, the Taichang Temple Minister also came to request an audience.

"How is that flower fox now?" the Emperor took the initiative to ask.

The Taichang Temple Minister knelt on the straw mat to salute, then stood upright and answered: "Your Majesty, Hua Li's injuries are numerous and severe, with excessive blood loss. She may be said to have risked her life to complete this Nuo Ritual. Fortunately, her heart meridian was not injured, and she barely preserved her life, but she is truly weak and has now lost consciousness."

The Taichang Temple Minister's tone was moved and worried, and the corners of his eyes had been red for some time.

Liu Cheng's expression was also shaken and worried, while Yan Xiangguo put on a serious face and asked: "Did she reveal what exactly happened during those two days and one night of her disappearance?"

"She has already explained this matter," the Taichang Temple Minister relayed somewhat solemnly: "At that time, when she entered the Black Tomb to drive away the Nuo, a guard suddenly raised a blade against her. The accompanying Wu Nu, A Zhou—the very Wu Nu who hanged herself—blocked the blade for her. When she stepped forward to support her, the ground gave way beneath her feet, and she suddenly fell into the Underground Tomb."

"She actually fell into the tomb below?" Lu Hou spoke first, raising his white long eyebrows: "No wonder she vanished into thin air..."

The Emperor was also slightly startled: "The tomb chamber is filled with mechanisms; how could she alone escape?"

"Hua Li claims..." the Taichang Temple Minister said solemnly: "It was through the protection and guidance of the Grand Ancestor that she was able to escape death."

The room fell silent again. After a moment, the Emperor asked: "From where did she emerge?"

"It is said she discovered a hidden Robber's Cave."

Such a miraculous matter was simply unimaginable, and Liu Cheng couldn't help but ask: "Then... after leaving the Robber's Cave, what happened?"

"She should have returned to Changling immediately," the Taichang Temple Minister said. "Hua Li finished answering these questions, then had no strength left to support herself, and thus passed out."

"Your Majesty," Yan Xiangguo raised his hand and said: "I have heard that two other Wu Nu died strangely one after another. Now it seems they were mostly accomplices silenced to keep them quiet. Whether this matter is the seduction of evil spirits or someone instructing them, it must be thoroughly investigated."

The Emperor nodded with a heavy gaze.

Lu Hou rarely praised a Wu practitioner: "In any case, this Hua Li indeed has something extraordinary about her."

To escape from a tomb chamber filled with mechanisms, and to complete such a great sacrifice; previously, she had also accurately predicted the collapse of Changling.

Lu Hou had always been half-believing and half-doubting regarding ghosts and spirits, but he was well-read and experienced, and could not help but believe that there indeed existed extraordinary people in this world, such as the Baili State National Preceptor mentioned earlier, who could see through a person's fortune, misfortune, life, and death at a glance, and could not be judged by common sense.

Such extraordinary people mostly come bearing a mission; once they appear in the world, they inevitably draw the attention of all.

If a monarch can make good use of them, they can benefit the country and bring peace to the people.

Conversely, if they cannot be used well, they can easily become those who bring disaster to the country.

Night was nearly over, and the Emperor was already exhausted; many matters could only be discussed later.

In comparison, the much older Lu Hou's spirits were still fine. Anyone could see that since recovering his daughter, this Old Marquis Feng, who originally rarely appeared before people, had become even more vigorous in old age.

The people took their leave one after another, and only then did they see that dawn was about to break.

Too many things had happened this night.

Those who were once glorious beyond measure were burned by fierce fire; those who escaped death revealed anomalies through the Nuo Dance; and there were also those who returned from afar, descended from the sky to shoot down an evil spirit, then turned their head to receive ten strokes.

The one who escaped death was now barely conscious, uttering a weak sound: "I, I want something, help me..."

The Yu Si Wu Nu who had guarded her without leaving the side of the bed immediately leaned her ear over: "What do you need? Just say it!"

Whether it was jade nectar from the heavens or brain marrow from the earth, she was willing to go find them all!

The Yu Si Wu Nu had not slept for a long time, and at this moment her mind was in chaotic disarray.

She was unwilling to leave, always guarding Hua Li, as if guarding a damaged supreme treasure, willing to offer everything she had to restore and repair the damage to the supreme treasure.

The girl on the bed said weakly: "Two taels..."

The Yu Si Wu Nu hurriedly asked: "Two taels, two taels of what?"

The Minister had said, His Majesty has already spoken; as long as Hua Li can be cured, whatever rare medicinal herbs are needed, just have someone send them over.

But the weak voice said: "Two taels, Zhu Zhi's bone ash..."

The Yu Si Wu Nu looked at the girl who could barely open her eyes a little and might pass out again at any moment.

Even though the Yu Si Wu Nu had stayed up until her mind was in disorder, and as a Wu practitioner her acceptance had always been high, at this moment she also deeply felt that this request was too strange.

But she still quickly agreed: "I will think of a way to get them right away..."

Saying this, she was about to turn and dig up Zhu Zhi's bone ash, but suddenly thought of something, and hurriedly turned back to ask: "For internal use or external use?"

Shaowei, who was about to pass out again, reacted sluggishly upon hearing this. After a moment, she suddenly opened her eyes wide like copper bells in her mortal illness and said: "... Just place it under my pillow!"

For this instant, it was like a final rally before death. After giving her instructions, she passed out again.

This time she fainted for a full three days, until it was time to set out to return to the Shen Ci.

The first day she was truly unconscious, the second day half-conscious, the third day she pretended to be unconscious. Shaowei knew her mind had not fully returned to its place and she needed some time to think over the situation and regain the meticulous order of being human.

After this incident, she, who was usually so impatient, had actually taken on a calm air of secretly observing and acting only when the time was right. In terms of learning to be a complex person, she could be said to have mastered it thoroughly.

But why had the house slave still not come to look for her?

On the first night after returning to the Shen Ci, Shaowei waited until midnight, but did not wait for a single sound.

She had been secretly thinking for two days, storing up a belly full of thoughts and questions, but at this moment she could not wait for any sign of the house slave.

After waiting another day like this, Shaowei was anxious as if on fire, and was just about to go out despite her injuries when she finally waited for the house slave who came to visit her that evening.

The solitary small courtyard was suitable for secret meetings. The two Wu Nu responsible for caring for Hua Li were destined to sleep until dawn.

An oil lamp was lit in the room. Shaowei on the bed heard the noise and propped herself up to sit. Seeing the house slave sneak in, she immediately lowered her voice and threw out the first question: "How is Shan Gu now?"

"Don't worry, he didn't die. He's with the Brocade Guard."

While the house slave spoke, he came to the bedside and sat cross-legged. He took out a ceramic jar from his bosom and placed it on the small table beside Shaowei: "Black Fish Soup, stewed by Mo Li. Drink it while it's hot."

Shaowei had no mind to drink this. She hurriedly asked: "How is he in the hands of the Brocade Guard? Are they still interrogating him? How are his injuries?"

Good night, everyone.