“Yes, I will.” Li Fuxiang reassured her, “I will. They won’t escape. One day, I will cross the Hucha Sea and deal with that doghole of Xumo’er, along with the dirt pit of Fox Hu.”
Langdu took his medicine and went to sleep. His junior disciples, thoroughly reprimanded, obediently carried the medicine bowls downstairs, where they encountered Gao Yuexing and solemnly bowed to her.
Gao Yuexing asked, “What are you doing?”
Zhuli lowered his head, staring at the tips of his shoes, and said, “The princess consort, as a woman, endured the hardships of wind and sand, traveling thousands of miles to the western frontier, while we men hid in the Medicine Valley, enjoying the peace and prosperity won by the blood of countless predecessors. Yet we dared to voice complaints—this is truly unacceptable. We have shamed our master and senior brothers’ teachings, and we have shamed our parents and ancestors back home.”
Li Fuxiang glanced at them and said, “I serve the royal family of the Great Xu Dynasty as a sovereign. You serve the common people of the Great Xu lands as the populace. It is the sovereign’s duty to worry about the state and protect the people; this is only natural.”
Gao Yuexing lowered her gaze in silence.
Li Fuxiang was the Prince.
And she was the princess consort.
They were sovereigns, nurtured by the people.
There is no such thing as enjoying glory and wealth without giving something in return.
But this truth was something she had only come to understand after living through two lifetimes.
A person’s innate nature is determined by the heavens. Li Fuxiang will be a good prince in the future.
The disciples of Medicine Valley were sent upstairs to sleep, leaving two to take turns watching over Langdu.
Li Fuxiang observed Gao Yuexing’s expression and asked, “Can Langdu’s injuries be saved?”
Gao Yuexing replied, “Once we return to the Song Niang Inn, we’ll have access to all sorts of emergency medicine. I’ve already sent a message to my sister, Yaonu; she should arrive in the next few days. If it still doesn’t work…”
Li Fuxiang said, “I also have arrangements. Don’t worry; someone will ensure she gets here safely.”
Gao Yuexing nodded.
Li Fuxiang added, “Stay at the inn and take care of things properly. I need to head out again.”
Gao Yuexing finally perked up. “Where are you going?”
Although Li Fuxiang said he was leaving, he wasn’t in a hurry. He even had the leisure to chat with Gao Yuexing for a moment. “There’s something suspicious about the subordinates of Xumo’er who attacked you. Don’t you think?”
Gao Yuexing asked, “What do you mean?”
Li Fuxiang replied, “You had only been out of Fox Hu King City for less than half a day before Xumo’er caught up to you. When do you think they started keeping an eye on you?”
Gao Yuexing was adept at thinking things through. When they were ambushed, doubts had indeed crossed her mind. However, amidst the chaos of the Hucha Sea and her concern over Langdu’s life-threatening arrow wound, she hadn’t had the time to dwell on it.
Now, as she calmed down, she said, “I understand. They must have been watching us as early as when we were in Fox Hu King City, right?”
Li Fuxiang said, “Then why did they wait until you left Fox Hu King City to act? Don’t they know that making a move in the city would have been the safest option?”
Gao Yuexing followed his train of thought. “Yes, why is that…”
Li Fuxiang gave her time to think.
After a moment, Gao Yuexing said, “The only thing I can think of is that perhaps Fox Hu King City doesn’t allow them to act?”
Li Fuxiang: “Then he’s working against us behind Fox Hu’s back.”
Gao Yuexing frowned in confusion. “Hasn’t Fox Hu already pledged allegiance to Xumo’er? If Xumo’er wanted to attack us in Fox Hu’s royal city, he’d only need to give them a heads-up. Why go to so much trouble?”
Li Fuxiang: “What if they don’t want Fox Hu to know about this?”
A group bound together by mutual interests, conspiring in disgrace.
Xumo’er didn’t want his ally to know what he was up to.
So, he’s likely planning to betray his ally, isn’t he?
Gao Yuexing: “What do you think?”
Li Fuxiang: “Do you think the attackers knew who we were?”
Gao Yuexing thought seriously and replied, “Logically, if they truly knew our identities, capturing us alive would be the most profitable move.”
Li Fuxiang: “So, they didn’t know.”
Gao Yuexing furrowed her brow. “Then does that mean they ambushed us solely to kill the Medicine Valley merchants?”
Li Fuxiang: “You have to understand, this Hucha Ancient Road is under Fox Hu’s jurisdiction. If any citizens of the Great Xu Dynasty die here, Fox Hu won’t be able to escape responsibility.”
Gao Yuexing looked up at him. “Do you already have a theory?”
Li Fuxiang nodded. “Fox Hu’s position is awkward. On one hand, they are a vassal state of the Great Xu Dynasty, continuously paying tribute year after year. Nominally, they’re still on our side. On the other hand, they harbor rebellious intentions, colluding with Xumo’er to seize our lands. Ah Xing, remember this: people who play both sides are the most despised.”
Xumo’er is undoubtedly shrewd.
If they weren’t, they wouldn’t have amassed a military force that could rival a nation.
Li Fuxiang calculated that Xumo’er likely wouldn’t face any difficulty subjugating Fox Hu now. However, they refrained from acting rashly for fear of alarming the emperor of the Great Xu Dynasty. Once their wolfish ambitions are exposed, the western border defenses of the Great Xu Dynasty would immediately become vigilant.
If someone were to die within the territory under Fox Hu’s control—especially people of significant status—Fox Hu would inevitably be held accountable.
Li Fuxiang: “Fox Hu stands between us and Xumo’er. No matter which side wants to start a war, they must first deal with Fox Hu. To both me and Xumo’er, Fox Hu is a thorn in the side. And just as I can think of ways to drive a wedge between them, they must have thought of it too—possibly even earlier than I did.”
Gao Yuexing: “I understand what you mean. Xumo’er also wants to provoke Fox Hu into completely severing ties with us.”
Li Fuxiang: “Perhaps I should take more drastic measures. I’m going back to Fox Hu’s royal city.”
Gao Yuexing couldn’t guess his plan.
Li Fuxiang got up, preparing to leave.
Gao Yuexing also stood up.
Halfway out the door, Li Fuxiang stopped and turned around, waiting for her to follow. “What’s the matter? Do you have something to say to me?”
Gao Yuexing shook her head and said, “No, but let me escort you part of the way.”
Li Fuxiang mounted his horse, while Gao Yuexing walked ahead, leading the reins. A lantern hung from the horse’s head, casting a faint light on the narrow path ahead.
Gao Yuexing said: “The Hucha Sea is full of dangers. Perhaps you really should wait until dawn to leave.”
Before Li Fuxiang could respond, she seemed to think of something, smiled, and said, “Oh, I forgot. You’re different from normal people. For you, daytime and nighttime are no different—except for when you’re sleeping.”
His pair of eyes…
As long as he rested properly, he could treat the night as if it were day.
Gao Yuexing asked: “How many days until you’ll return?”
Li Fuxiang replied: “Hard to say. I’ll return as soon as it’s done.”
Gao Yuexing didn’t ask specifically what he was going to do. After walking half a mile together, she released the reins and said, “Go on.”
Li Fuxiang took the reins from her and, without looking back, spurred his horse forward.
Gao Yuexing stood alone in the same spot. In the deep night, it quickly became impossible to see anything. Only the silent and boundless night surrounded her as she stood there for a long time.
At midnight, Langdu’s body temperature surged, as if he were burning up.
Gao Yuexing didn’t dare close her eyes the entire night.
By morning, as the sun rose, his fever subsided slightly.
On the second-floor corridor, Gao Yuexing paced back and forth twice. Calculating the time, she said to Zhuli, who was waiting nearby, “From the Song Niang Inn to the Medicine Valley, even at full speed on horseback, it’ll take three days. Time isn’t on our side.”
Zhuli wiped his tears and said, “It’s our fault as disciples for not mastering our skills, leaving Senior Brother without help.”
Gao Yuexing abruptly stopped in her tracks and said, “No, we can’t just wait passively. Bring me your medicine chest. I’m going to remove the necrotic flesh from Senior Brother’s wound.”
Zhuli froze for a moment, then exclaimed in shock, “Ah—”
Gao Yuexing said firmly, word by word: “Remove the necrotic flesh.”
In Medicine Valley, Yaonu had personally taught her that for external injuries, if the vital areas were not damaged at the time, the greatest danger came from infections festering inside.
Although Langdu’s injuries were severe, he had survived the night. That meant, for now, the wounds were not in critical areas.
Gao Yuexing decided to try a method she had read about in books.
Langdu was awake.
When Gao Yuexing pushed open the door, she saw his half-open eyes staring into the distance, lost in thought. She said, “Senior Brother, the books say that necrotic flesh must be removed. I want to give it a try.”
Though Langdu’s spirit was weak, he heard her words clearly. He almost didn’t hesitate and agreed, “Go ahead.”
Zhuli brought the necessary tools. Gao Yuexing rolled up her sleeves and said, “My medical skills are unrefined, but I’m fortunate that Senior Brother trusts me.”
Langdu asked Zhuli for half a pill to keep his mind sharp. Holding it in his mouth, he said to Gao Yuexing, “Think of me as a dead horse being treated like a living one. Don’t hesitate—just do it. I’ll be watching. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, I’ll guide you.”
The inn provided its strongest rice wine.
Gao Yuexing applied numbing powder to Langdu’s wound. After waiting for nearly fifteen minutes, she poured the wine over his wound and meticulously cleaned it from the inside out.
Langdu frowned deeply.
Removing necrotic flesh and scraping bones is never painless.
Gao Yuexing carefully heated the blade over the fire. Before making the incision, her wrist trembled uncontrollably, but she grabbed hold of her own wrist and forced herself to steady it.
Langdu opened his eyes suddenly and said, “Zhuli, go call the others outside and let them come in and watch. It’s rare to witness such a scene—let them learn something.”
Gao Yuexing knelt by the bedside.
She heard the disciples of Medicine Valley quietly entering one by one, standing silently behind her, not daring to utter a word.
When Gao Yuexing made the first incision, Langdu gripped the bedding beneath him tightly.
Powdered medicine was applied layer by layer.
Gao Yuexing’s cuts were precise and measured.
Langdu instructed, “Necrotic flesh must be removed thoroughly. Don’t hesitate. Cut deeper and make it complete.”
Gao Yuexing replied, “Understood.” She pressed the blade deeper into the incision by an inch.
Meanwhile, Li Fuxiang rode at full speed and arrived outside the gates of Fox Hu’s royal city. The gate guards stared at him curiously.
These small-time guards had never seen the true face of Prince Xiang and only thought that this young man dressed in the attire of the Central Plains looked refined and handsome, hardly resembling a villain.
But Li Fuxiang, gazing at this dusty city he had once led an army to conquer, paid no attention to these gatekeepers at all.
The guard asked him for travel documents.
Sitting on his horse, Li Fuxiang raised his voice and declared, “I am Li Fuxiang. After two years, I am returning to this place. Summon your king to meet me at the gates!”