Chapter 44: Rise and Fall

Wu Ye's eyes flashed coldly; just as he was about to forcefully pull me back, a gray‑haired elder blocked him.

I stared at his oddly childlike, persistent face, frowned and said, "Who takes the medicine isn't any different… alright, alright… if I'm coming, I'm coming!"

After sprinkling the powdered medicine on him, I was about to stand up when he seized my wrist, and his hoarse voice sounded beside my ear: "You haven't bandaged it yet!"

I gave a faint smile and kindly reminded, "Fu Junmo, if I bandage you now, I reckon your death will be near."

Ignoring his angry expression, I continued, "Let me go back. Once we confirm that the antidote to 'Qian Chong Wan Hua' is genuine, I'll tell you how to treat this gunshot wound."

"Aooo—" a burst of cheers erupted from afar; I looked up and saw the blazing fire on Fu Junmo's tower ship, and thought silently: Wei Lingfeng is truly extraordinary!

The faces of the men in the warship changed abruptly; I looked at Xuan Tian, whose face showed a hint of satisfaction, then he anxiously glanced this way and shouted, "Fu Junmo, Yao Guo Crown Prince, this General knows it's you! Your fleet is finished. If you safely return the Empress of Qi Guo, I can guarantee you a safe departure!"

I was taken aback; Xuan Tian isn't one to fake, I knew from the start, and his frantic expression now seemed genuine. So is he truly willing to forgo the chance to capture the Yao Guo Crown Prince for my safety?

Why? Is this his intention, or Wei Lingfeng's?

"Wei Lingfeng really is kind to you!" My body was yanked sharply; I nearly fell onto Fu Junmo, but I still brushed his wound, seeing his lips turn blue from pain, and I felt apologetic: "Sorry, I didn't mean to… Besides, you were the one who pulled me…"

"Ruo'er!" My body was suddenly held tightly in Fu Junmo's arms; I could feel blood seeping through the fabric, and for a moment I forgot how to react. He croaked, ignoring the pain in his chest, and whispered, "If I hadn't married Lan Yingyue and had truly married you, would you…?"

"No." I pushed him away in one motion, my expression calm yet resolute as I answered.

Seeing the dim light in his eyes, I turned my head away, unwilling to ponder those meaningless things, and said lightly, "Also, Fu Junmo, remember that 'if' will never occur in this world."

He finally released his grip on my shoulder with a sigh, and after a long pause asked, "What about Wei Lingfeng? Do you love him?"

"No." I answered categorically.

"Then why… are you still willing to marry him?"

Indeed! Why am I still willing to marry into Qi Guo? I gave a wry smile and said, "Probably because he schemed me. But for me, whether it's the Lan family or the palace of Qi Guo, there's really no difference."

Xuan Tian watched our actions, feeling both embarrassed and anxious, and shouted again, "Fu Junmo, Miss Lan is now our Empress of Qi Guo; Crown Prince, please restrain yourself. If you still won't let her return, this General will have to follow imperial decree and take extraordinary measures!"

Fu Junmo's aloof face unexpectedly showed a self‑deprecating, lonely smile; he forced himself up, supporting his chest, and said lightly, "You may go. Also…" He paused, and a strong emotion flickered in his eyes; his hoarse voice turned gentle, "Do not expose Xin Luo's identity; it will bring disaster. Take good… care of yourself."

A wave of sour pain and irritation rose in my chest; that look, that feeling, I truly couldn't bear. I nodded silently, pulled Wu Ye along, and was about to leave.

But Fu Junmo's voice rang from behind, "The person who made you weep for him in the tavern is your true love, isn't it?"

I slowly turned to face him, a hauntingly beautiful yet radiant smile appearing on my face; I shook my head and said softly, "He is not my true love."

I lifted my slender finger to my chest, steadied my trembling voice and said earnestly, "He is… the one rooted deep in my heart."

With Wu Ye's support, I lightly descended back onto the tower ship; Xuan Tian hurried to gather all the soldiers back onto the vessel, and hundreds of them enveloped me in layers of protection, ordering the ship to set sail.

After confirming that Luo Fugen truly is the antidote to 'Qian Chong Wan Hua', I walked to the bow, gathered internal energy, and shouted, "Fu Junmo, there's still a bullet lodged inside you; if you don't have surgery to remove it, once the surrounding flesh rots you'll be dead! The medicine just now not only detoxifies but also staunches bleeding, enough for you to survive until you reach shore."

Seeing Fu Junmo still propping his frail body at the bow, I took a deep breath, withdrew my gaze and the inexplicable guilt in my heart, and said lightly, "In any case, take care of yourself!"

After speaking, without looking back, I was surrounded by a crowd, lifted the Xiao Yin who had somehow appeared at my feet, and headed toward the cabin.

Returning to the original room, everyone respectfully withdrew, except Xuan Tian, whose face remained ashen inside, apparently having something to say about my recent actions.

I couldn't help but laugh, and was too lazy to bother him. After carefully examining Xin Luo and Xin Hui's wounds, I found the external injuries already scarred, presumably healed by Xiao Yin, and the 'Qian Chong Wan Hua' toxin was truly cured.

I exhaled a long breath, thinking silently: Though today lasted only a few hours, the perils were beyond what an outsider could comprehend.

"Empress, you…" Xuan Tian's face flushed, words caught in his throat.

I suddenly cut him off and asked, "Why would you let Fu Junmo leave? Isn't your whole scheme just to lure that big fish?"

Xuan Tian looked at me with some anger, and after a while said apologetically, "It's because the Emperor ordered that, regardless of circumstances, the Empress's safety comes first. Not even… the slightest injury is permissible!"

I felt something churning tumultuously in my chest, making it hard to suppress, so I waved my hand and said lightly, "Sorry, General Xuan, I've caused you worry. May I ask you to step out first? I'd like to rest properly."

After fourteen days and six hours aboard the ship, I swore that if Xuan Tian didn't say I could disembark, I would go mad.

But when he finally said I could get off, I began to worry again; it's only been half a month, does the overland route still take over half a month? The thought sent a chill through me.

All along I felt no sense of being sent off in marriage, let alone the feeling of marrying into a nation as its Empress.

Nevertheless, after disembarking I issued my first order— I will travel in simple attire; as for that massive flower carriage, I simply stuffed a female official into it to make up the numbers.

I don't know whether General Xuan is immune to my odd tricks or simply knows he can't dissuade me, so he just went along.

Thus, I blended into that massive group of 'Marriage Protectors' and pretended to march forward; when tired I didn't hesitate, climbing onto the carriage to rest, ignoring the female official's convulsing, near‑vomiting expression.

Of course I chose simple travel, not because my mind was water‑logged, but because it offers a great perk— I can slip away to wander at any time without delaying the itinerary.

That day, the convoy entered a strange country.

Why call it strange? Because along the way I've passed many small states, and all I see is a desolate landscape left by war.

Occasionally I see a few that look somewhat prosperous; according to Xuan Tian, those are merely vassal or allied states of the three great powers.

But this country… as I look across, the common folk wear bright smiles, as if the very air is saturated with a strong sense of peace and happiness.

What moves me most is that this nation's wealth gap exists but is far less stark than elsewhere. On the streets you often see men and women dressed in identical uniforms. Yes, you heard right—men and women.

Whenever the common folk see them, they bow deeply with sincere respect, never a hint of falsehood. I suppose they are either soldiers or officials.

Looking again at the officers' faces, their expression is outwardly modest but inwardly proud and confident.

Just from this brief stretch of bustling street, I seemed to glimpse the implementation of a modern democratic system, leaving me astonished. What kind of people, what policies, could produce such a scene?

"Xuan Tian, what country is this?" Since I was in plain clothes, to avoid suspicion I addressed him by name.

Xuan Tian's brows knit tightly, and he answered unconsciously, "This place used to be a mixed settlement of the Wind‑Chasing Tribe and the Nomadic Tribe, with no specific country name. It was once chaotic to the extreme, and I never expected that a few months of neglect…"

"Young lady and young master, you're from elsewhere, aren't you?" the elderly vendor selling women's ornaments, who seemed to have overheard our conversation, asked with a smiling face.

I hurried over, about to ask in detail, when two middle‑aged men rushed out from beside us and shoved themselves in front of me.

One of the men, his face anxious, asked, "Old man, we were residents here; half a year ago my brother and I went out to seek our fortunes, and when we returned we found…"

The old man showed no surprise, stroked his beard and laughed, "Do you have parents, wives, children left here?"

They hurriedly nodded, "Yes, yes! Before we left we asked the neighbors to look after them, and we don't know whether they're dead or alive now."

"Don't worry! As long as your wives and children still have a skill, they're surely doing fine now; go back quickly…"

The two men responded eagerly, rushed out of the crowd and ran toward the familiar direction.

The old man, still behind them, shouted loudly, "If you can't find them at your former residence, don't rush; you can go to the palace to check the household registration…"

Watching the men's silhouettes—I was dazed for a while—until the old man's voice came again: "Girl, what question were you about to ask?"

I was stunned, quickly nodding: "Sir, I'm really curious—who exactly is the person implementing benevolent governance here?"

Although I had only just encountered a little, I was still extremely surprised; these policies are certainly nothing compared to modern people governing themselves, but in ancient times they were a remarkably progressive reform measure.

Who exactly has such lofty foresight?

The old man smiled apologetically: "It's not that I'm unwilling to tell the young lady the young master's name; it's that not only me, but even few adults in the palace have had the fortune to see the young master's face."

"Young master?" My heart tightened, I exclaimed in surprise, "You don't even call him the emperor?"

"Hahaha..." The old man laughed proudly, his voice filled with utmost reverence, "What is the emperor? Just a title. In our Yi State, everyone's heart holds only the young master!"

I furrowed my brows slightly, speaking solemnly: "From your manner of speech, old sir, you are clearly a reclusive expert; why would you willingly set up a stall here to trade?"

The old man finally gave me a serious look and nodded: "Miss, your eyesight is truly excellent; I indeed studied for a few years. However, in our Yi State, I certainly wouldn't count as an expert. Since there are people in the palace a hundred times more capable than I, I might as well take it easy here—what's wrong with that?"

Only now did I truly feel admiration for this perpetually smiling old man. Such carefree, such broad-minded nature is rare in an age when everyone yearns to achieve fame and make a name for themselves under heaven.

Just as I was about to ask again, I heard a deep, rumbling drum suddenly echo throughout the whole street. Upon careful listening, I could tell the drumbeat kept repeating a pattern of three long, two short.

In the next second, I noticed everyone's expressions on the street had changed. The officials' faces showed both disbelief and tension, as if they had instantly slipped away and rushed off in one direction.

As for the commoners, besides astonishment on their faces, there was even greater ecstasy; they actually flung down their stalls at random and surged toward the direction the officials were running.

Nevertheless, even in such a crowded situation, they still made sure to attend to the elderly, weak, women, and children first, so although the scene was chaotic, it remained orderly.

The old man, who had been half‑closed eyed, suddenly opened his eyes wide and muttered, "The young master actually will come, the young master actually comes here…" Having said that, he no longer paid attention to us and rushed out with the crowd.

I was practically shocked by the sight before me—this… even if a modern super‑emperor idol descended, it wouldn't be exaggerated to the point of emptying the streets of ten thousand people!

Darn it! I'm becoming ever more curious about just what kind of person this young master is.

I had lifted my skirt, about to go join the fun, when I saw a military‑official‑clad person panting as he rushed up to me and Xuan Tian, bowing his head to report: "Mother… Miss, Miss Xin Hui urges me to hurry and tell you that Young Master Xin Luo has come down with a high fever, and now…"

My heart gave a sudden jolt—this morning, when Xin Luo said he was tired before heading out, I thought it was nothing serious, so I left only Xin Hui and Wu Ye by his side, told him to rest well, then went out to play, never even thinking to check his pulse properly.

Damn it! I cursed under my breath, summoned my internal energy, and sprinted madly toward the inn where we were staying…

Xin Luo's fever finally subsided on the sixth day, his body leaving no aftereffects.

Yet I felt an inexplicable worry; when he had the fever, he only half‑opened his eyes once, and at that moment, with only me sitting beside him, his eyes strangely appeared silver.

Just what identity does Xin Luo have? What secrets are hidden on his person?

The convoy has been traveling on this land road for about ten days, and now we have entered Qi State; I can clearly see that Xuan Tian's originally taut string has relaxed considerably.

Suddenly a commotion came from ahead; I hastily lifted the curtain and eagerly asked, "What's happening?"

Just as I was about to step down, I was forced back by the terrifying glare Xuan Tian threw at me. I saw several ragged‑clothed people kneeling before the soldiers ahead, repeatedly kowtowing and crying, "Sir, please don't burn our village, sir! ……"

Hmm? Thinking we were troops come to "loot and plunder," I glanced at Xuan Tian, whose face looked rather embarrassed, and secretly thought: What so‑called number‑one strong state under heaven—still as black as all crows!

As far as the eye could see, not far off there were indeed a dozen or so villages, but they all looked lifeless and gloomy.

This Xuan Tian fellow, instead of taking the proper official road, insists on taking these country lanes—probably to save time. Those days, because Xin Luo had a fever and we couldn't leave, he grew anxious like ants on a hot pan, saying we would miss the deadline.

The soldiers walking in front all glanced at me somewhat nervously, preparing to step forward and kick those civilians aside.

I withdrew my gaze, my eyes falling on those villagers blocking the road, and suddenly startled, I shouted, "Hold on!"

That soldier staggered for a moment, not yet recovered, only feeling a red flash before his eyes—I had already leapt over him to stand beside one of the villagers.

I carefully examined his whole body and indeed found large, bean‑sized blisters on his arm, with a faint reddish patch around them. I then took his pulse…

I turned back and shouted loudly, "Nobody is allowed to come over!"

Wu Ye and Xin Hui, who had been closely following behind, were startled by my fierce, solemn expression and stood there dumbfounded.

I drew a deep breath and spoke word by word: "This village has been infected with plague, and……" I paused, then after a long while, reluctantly said, "It's smallpox."

As soon as those words left my mouth, every soldier's face showed fear. Xin Hui and Xuan Tian, their faces full of panic, rushed forward, apparently trying to pull me away from those people.

Smallpox, also called variola in modern times, in ancient times lacking vaccine technology, is a death symbol even more frightening than war.

"Mother——!!" Amidst the crowd, a scream rang out, and a soldier suddenly bolted, recklessly rushing toward those villages.

I was startled, knowing his mother lived in that village, and involuntarily shouted, "Wu Ye, stop him!"

But his cry was like a slogan; in an instant, several other soldiers began shouting for different relatives and charged out of the ranks madly……

Everyone was stunned by what they had just heard; Wu Ye alone could not possibly hold back so many people.

My expression hardened; I circulated my internal breath and projected my voice far away: "Do you want to watch your comrades go to their deaths? Quickly stop them! This is an order!"

A few minutes later, those several people, faces full of grief and despair, were brought and forced to kneel before me—some still struggling desperately, others already weeping aloud.

Who says men don't lightly shed tears? They simply haven't reached the point of heartbreak yet.

I don't know why my heart suddenly felt a sour ache; I crouched down, level with them, and softly asked, "Do you have any relatives in the village?"

"My mother, my mother raised me all alone……"

"My wife has been waiting for me to return!"

"My whole family is in 'Redhead Village'; sob…… I was clearly fine before I left……"

My whole family is in Red Head Village, wuu... Clearly I was fine before I left...

The soldiers standing around who had not acted rashly also bore looks of despair and sorrow; perhaps… they too had loved ones trapped inside, but they possessed deeper rationality and loyalty to the ruler and patriotism.

I clenched my fists and asked, "Aren't you afraid of death?"

The first soldier who had rushed out, his gaze unfocused, looked at me and sobbed, "My mother is already dead; what am I risking my life for? I might as well be dead……"

Back when I was in the Wanderers Group, seeing such a scene I would certainly have hesitated not at all and gone all‑out to rescue; I couldn't help but bitterly smile in my heart, then became utterly resolute.

"Xin Hui!" I loosened my clenched fist, rose, pulled the obstructive phoenix crown from my head, and calmly said, "Go prepare a large amount of hot water!"

Xin Hui showed an understanding smile and said, "Yes, Miss!"

"Xin Luo! Go gather charcoal— the more the better—and then grind it into powder!"

Xin Luo clapped happily and said, "Does Xin Luo also have something to do? But…… Xin Luo alone……"

"Wu Ye!" I turned solemnly toward him, handed him the twenty silver notes that Wei Lingfeng had given me, and said, "Later I'll write you a prescription; go to the nearest pharmacy and buy these medicines— the more the better, the faster the better……"

"Listen up, all of you——" I projected my voice far with internal energy, "Those who want to save your relatives, those who want to aid your comrades, go help those three; those fearful of infection should properly guard this wagon. But……"

"You all listen to me——" I used internal power to send my voice far away, "Those who want to save your relatives, those who want to help your comrades, go help those three; those afraid of contagion, stay and guard this carriage properly. But..."

I paused, my gaze sweeping over the few people kneeling on the ground in shock, and coldly said: "Before those three have prepared the materials to prevent smallpox, no one may approach these villages without my order! Violators will be punished by military law!"

"Did you hear that clearly?"

"Your Highness, you're crazy!" Xuan Tian grabbed me anxiously, "If you go to that village alone and get infected——"

I smiled faintly, cutting him off: "General Xuan, I also need your help."

Xuan Tian stared, then asked blankly: "Can I help too?"

"Yes!" I solemnly said, my expression turning grave: "It seems the authorities have decided to abandon these villages; I believe this place has already been blockaded and is doomed to destruction. No matter whether you use authority or influence, in any case, let me go in and then help me hold them off!"

"But Your Highness, you……"

I ignored Xuan Tian's dazed expression, my gaze sweeping over all the officers and soldiers present, and asked loudly: "Let me ask again—have you all heard clearly?"

I ignored the dazed expression of Profound Heaven, my gaze lightly sweeping over all the officers and soldiers present, I loudly asked: "I'll ask again, did you all hear clearly?"

(End of Chapter)