“You…?” Ning Wanwan was shocked, unable to speak, “Who are you exactly?”
Gui Wudu smiled and asked: “Have you seen a portrait of Zhan’s mother?” Suddenly, Ning Wanwan recalled the face before her, almost identical to Si Zhan’s mother. She boldly guessed, “You couldn’t be… Si Zhan’s maternal grandfather?”
Gui Wudu nodded: “My surname is Qin, name Wudu, father of Qin Suying, master of the Penghao Sect.”
Ning Wanwan never imagined that the famous Poison Saint Gui Wudu was Si Zhan’s maternal grandfather. Now she understood why he had approached her as a traveling physician, with the fire spirit and prescription as his secret efforts to save Si Zhan’s life.
Overjoyed, she stepped forward: “Since you are Si Zhan’s maternal grandfather and the Poison Saint, you must know how to save him?”
“I naturally know.”
“That’s wonderful!”
Ning Wanwan grabbed Qin Wudu’s arm and hurriedly walked out. “Please, grandfather, come out of the mountain to save Si Zhan. He’s almost gone.”
Qin Wudu pulled her back. “I cannot leave this mountain.”
“Why?” Ning Wanwan asked, confused.
“Because I planted the Bone-Eroding Cold poison.”
Qin Suying’s speculation was correct, but she underestimated Ling Ziru’s wariness of Si Zhan. No mother would want her child to endure such inhuman torture. From Qin Suying’s perspective, without her harsh strategy, Si Zhan could have perished in the inner palace. However, she did not know the pain Si Zhan had endured alone.
“So you’re not coming down the mountain because you’re afraid Brother Zhan will resent you and Mother after knowing the truth?”
Qin Wudu’s expression was vacant, lost in thought. After a moment, he smiled and said, “He will surely resent me, so keeping it hidden is best.”
“But Brother Zhan is still waiting for you to save him…”
“The one who can save him is you,” Qin Wudu said steadily.
“Me?” Ning Wanwan was stunned.
“There are two doses of the Bone-Eroding Cold antidote. The first can be directly taken by Zhan to reconstruct his meridians.”
However, Zhan has suffered from the Bone-Eroding Cold for many years. While he can take medication, he cannot consume potent drugs. The Bone-Eroding Cold antidote is extremely potent.
Ning Wanwan felt an ominous sense of dread. “So the second dose contains seven pills. It must be taken by a woman with a pure Yin body. Seven days later, she must sleep with Zhan to transmit the medicine to completely detoxify him. Both doses must be taken within half a year; otherwise, Zhan will surely die.”
Seeing Qin Wudu’s hesitation, Ning Wanwan realized it wouldn’t be simple. “What will happen to the woman who takes the antidote?”
Qin Wudu replied, “At best, her meridians will be damaged, and she’ll experience qi deviation.”
“And at worst?” she asked.
“Her meridians will be severed, and she will die immediately.”
Ning Wanwan fell silent, reflecting on the gravity of the situation. “So this is a cure that exchanges life for life…”
Qin Wudu added, “I can find a woman willing to sacrifice her life for Zhan, but he may not agree.”
Understanding Zhan’s nature, Ning Wanwan said, “Give me the antidote first. I’ll handle the rest.”
Qin Wudu took out a brocade pouch and handed it to her.
She opened it to find two small medicine bottles, which she sniffed and stored close to her body.
“Zhan’s life is now in your hands.”
Ning Wanwan stiffened, then looked up at Qin Wudu. “You agreed to save Brother Zhan under the pretext of governing Qianan, but had you already anticipated the current situation? Without the eight-thousand-strong army of the High Commander, Qianan would have collapsed from within.”
Qin Wudu set down his teacup, glanced at the distant lake, and sighed. “All of this was Ying’er’s decision. Her every plan was to ensure Zhan could survive.”
“I understand,” Ning Wanwan stood to bid farewell. “I will keep today’s conversation a secret from Brother Zhan.”
Qin Wudu sighed softly. “After you leave, there will be no more of this mountain. Whether Zhan lives or dies will be left to fate.”
When his vanguard chased after, they discovered a dense number of Ding Nan troops waiting in the mountain forest.
A vanguard of ten thousand returned not a single one. When General Gao went to provide support, he saw corpses of his army scattered across the mountains and plains. Then, a deafening battle cry came from the rear of the main force. Turning his head, he saw a man and a woman in light armor, holding weapons, attacking from both sides.
He had nowhere to escape and was pierced in the chest, thrown from his horse. With the commander fallen, Gao’s army collapsed, completely routed. From this point, no one dared to invade the Qian Nan border again.
After recovering, Si Zhan spent his days playing with his three-month-old son, Chang’an, buying every toy in the street markets to enrich his world. On this day, Si Zhan sat Chang’an on his lap at the tea table in the main room. Chang’an held a wolf-hair brush, while Si Zhan’s hand guided his small one in scribbling on rice paper. Ning Wan Wan sat nearby, propping her chin and smiling as she watched them.
Suddenly, Yuan Bi entered and reported: “Master, Madam, there’s a mysterious woman outside seeking an audience.” Si Zhan frowned and said: “Do not admit her.” Ning Wan Wan asked: “Do you know who she is?” Yuan Bi replied, “She only said she’s from Bian Du and that the masters will recognize her upon meeting.” Ning Wan Wan thought: A woman from Bian Du… Could something have happened there? She quickly said: “Then let her enter.”
Yuan Bi left briefly before bringing in a veiled woman dressed in a golden-embroidered peony dress.
The woman glanced at the three-person scene, her gaze lingering on Chang’an in Si Zhan’s lap. She approached, removed her veil, and smiled: “This daughter, Han Shu Ya, pays respects to the Duke of Yi and greets the Duchess.”
Si Zhan, playing with Chang’an, turned to Han Shu Ya: “What brings you here?”
Han Shu Ya replied: “I was sent by my father to deliver a letter to the Duke.”
Si Zhan paused, handed Chang’an to Ning Wan Wan, and faced Han Shu Ya: “Bring it forward.”
The narrative continues with political intrigue involving the imperial court, succession struggles, and military conflicts.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting. I advise you to give up this idea. You’d better pray that your grandmother is safe. Otherwise, I won’t waste this bargaining chip. If I want the throne, I’ll seize it myself. I won’t tolerate anyone threatening me! Do you understand?”
Han Shu Ya nodded, her pupils trembling. Si Zhan let go of her with disgust and walked aside to wipe his hands.
“Hack cough…” Han Shu Ya knelt, covering her neck and coughing violently.
“Someone, take Miss Han away and treat her well.”
Yuan Zhu immediately entered and dragged Han Shu Ya out.
“Yuan Bi.”
Yuan Bi entered and knelt on one knee, awaiting orders.
“Send a message to Miyue. Release the palace maid rescued from the Cold Palace and have her spread rumors in crowded places about Si Suo’s background, ensuring everyone knows he is the illegitimate child of the Empress Dowager’s affair with a guard.”
“Yes!”
In the fifteenth year of Zhaoren’s reign, spring, Si Zhan ascended the throne in Qianan as the legitimate royal heir, proclaiming himself Emperor Jing. A month later, he personally led a 50,000-strong Southern Pacification Army northward, moving through an empty land. Citizens opened city gates to welcome the disciplined army.
The kings of Chen and Yan, who had falsely claimed an imperial edict to exploit the chaos, were unable to capture the city despite a long siege. Rumors of Si Suo’s illegitimacy damaged their cause. Frustrated by the prolonged siege, soldiers began harassing nearby villages, tarnishing their reputation.
