Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 6 Changes in the Western Suburbs (Thanks to the leader of "Hua Fei Hua Yue Ye")

The window frame was beautifully carved. Pei Nian stood outside the window, looking into the house through a gap in the window screen, his cheeks dimly illuminated by the moonlight.

Just now, Gu Caiwei checked Gu Jingnian's wound and found that he had started bleeding heavily again. She asked for money for needles and insisted on stitching it herself despite being pregnant.

The reason is also very good.

"My father has fought for many years and has been wounded countless times. I have been the one who treated him all along, so I won't bother you."

She also complained that Kaipingsi said he would take care of Gu Jingnian but did not know how to treat the wound. Although the hemostatic drug was very effective, bleeding would naturally occur after the effect wore off, so how could it not be sutured?

For a long time afterwards, Pei Nian could only see her back, but did not say anything useful.

It was not until the fourth hour of the morning that Gu Caiwei stopped, with blood all over her hands.

"Si Niang must be tired too, she should go back and rest." Pei Nian said, "I'll send someone to take Si Niang back."

"No need."

Gu Caiwei was indeed tired. She didn't say much to Pei Nian. She was helped by her maids to get into the carriage. She sat there and stared at her blood-stained hands in a daze for a while.

"Madam, are you going home?"

"Wudinghou Mansion."

"But...it's not even daybreak yet."

"Then go and wait." Gu Caiwei closed her eyes in exhaustion and murmured, "My brother was ignorant and frightened Miss Shen. I will go and apologize."

She also did not forget another matter, so she called over a guard and said, "There is an old coroner in the Shuyang Prefecture who is a miracle doctor and saved A-Nian's life. Please go and thank him on my behalf and invite him to the mansion as a worshiper."

"Yes."

"Let's go."

The carriage was moving slowly. A maid lifted the curtain and looked out. She whispered to Gu Caiwei, who was resting with her eyes closed, "Madam, there is a hook following you."

--------

"The Gu siblings have a secret."

Pei Nian sent Gu Caiwei away and came to a conclusion in his heart.

But she was not content to just find out the obvious.

"Has Mr. Chu been invited?"

"Replying to the investigation, Jingxin Hall is closed and will not accept any visitors."

Pei Nian had no choice but to give the order: "It will take years to raise the head."

She always felt that something was wrong. Gu Jingnian looked seriously injured, but his life was not in danger. Could it be that he had met a miracle doctor?
You can only be sure of this by asking a real miracle doctor.

"Will it be too much trouble..."

Tingqiao Bing spoke quickly, but before he could finish his words, Pei Nian glanced at him and he immediately fell silent.

"Oh, right." Pei Nian took two steps and said, "The coroner from the Shuyang Prefecture..."

"Su Changfu."

"Since you have the ability, transfer to Kaiping Division."

"Yes."

Jingxin Hall is a private residence located north of Kaipingsi, separated from the Kaipingsi Beiya Prison by only an alley.

This area is full of evil spirits and few people come here, so it has become a rare secluded place in the core area of ​​the capital, where you can enjoy peace and quiet in the midst of noise.

After entering the inconspicuous little wooden gate, you will find a different world inside. Flowers and trees are scattered around the elegantly maintained courtyard, and a small building is hidden behind a bamboo garden.

The only drawback is that the light from the south is blocked by the high wall of Kaipingsi, so it seems a bit dark during the day.

Pei Nian came in person, and then a boy in blue came out to greet him, saying unhappily, "Pei Ji Shi disturbed you in the middle of the night, what's the big deal?"

"I would like to see Mr. Chu."

"The master is not here. He left home seven days ago and has not returned yet."

"When will you come back?"

"I don't know."

Pei Nian had no choice but to say: "I have a seriously injured person who needs to be treated, can you treat him?"

"can."

The boy in green was very confident and agreed immediately. He led the two of them around the bamboo garden and into the side hall. On the hall hung an ancient plaque with four large, vigorous characters inscribed on it - "Accumulate good deeds to become virtuous."

When Tingqiao Bing saw the plaque, he was stunned, thinking that it was totally inconsistent with the cruel Mr. Chu.

After putting the man down, the boy in blue rolled up his sleeves, untied the cloth wrapped around Gu Jingnian and took a look.

"Well, it was handled well. It's just some flesh wounds. Just rest."

"Skin and flesh wounds?" Pei Nian said, "He is seriously injured."

"The bleeding has stopped, the wound has been stitched, what else can I do? Can I embroider a flower on it?"

"Is he a miracle doctor?"

"Whether it's a god or not is another matter. This is the only way to treat external injuries. But I have to say that the medicine is very effective... Okay, don't disturb my raccoon."

The boy in green was quite arrogant. He stopped looking at him and stood up and said, "Pei Jishi, there is no need to send everyone to Jingxin Hall. This is not a clinic."

"You boy..."

Tingqiao Bing was indignant and wanted to explode, but was stopped by Pei Nian.

The boy in blue was really young, and not even as tall as the dwarf, but his aura was strong, and he wanted to send the guest away immediately.

"We are neighbors, so I won't serve tea to you. Walk slowly. Oh, I will have the servants clean up the corridor that you have made dirty. Don't worry about the case."

After saying this, he straightened his sleeves casually and unrestrainedly, bowed and left.

"Damn, there are so many bird people."

Tingqiao Bing was indignant and could not help but curse. He lowered his head again and saw Gu Jingnian on the stretcher already asleep, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth. He said unhappily, "What sweet dreams are you having?"

Pei Nian's feeling of doubt could not be dispelled, but he had no choice but to look at Gu Jingnian deeply.

"Let's go, take it back..."

There is a small low courtyard in the northwest corner of Kaipingsi, called Yanei, which provides daily living for officials.

Gu Jingnian is not a criminal, but an important witness. He is seriously injured and needs rest, so he is placed here in the name of recuperation.

To put it bluntly, it is house arrest.

After tossing and turning for a whole night, he had lost too much blood and was extremely tired. After being placed on the couch, he really fell into a deep sleep, not giving Pei Nian a chance to ask questions.

The sky gradually brightened and the sound of insects and birds could be heard outside the window.

Gu Jingnian didn't know how long he had slept before he was awakened by the sound of footsteps.

Then, there was a conversation outside the door.

"It's the Lieutenant Colonel of the Left Army of the Imperial Guard who is here to visit. Please open the door."

The sound of unlocking the door rang out twice before it was interrupted by a deep, steady, but very hoarse voice.

“This is a nice lock.”

"despair."

There was a slight sound, and someone praised awkwardly.

"General Lu has great finger strength."

The door was pushed open, and a tall figure stood in the sunlight, his armor shining brightly.

The one who came was Lu Yanning.

Lu Yanning came from a distinguished family. His mother was Princess Kangning, the cousin of the Emperor of Rui, and his father was Lu Taizhi, Marquis of Zhenyuan.

The Lu family has been a family of Chinese descent for generations, but Lu Yanning did not want to be protected by his family. He joined the army at a young age and served as a personal soldier under Gu Beiming. The following year, the Pu Rou tribe surrounded Gu Beiming's tent. He led more than a hundred cavalrymen to charge straight into the army and killed the Pu Rou prince. He became famous in one battle and made several contributions afterwards until he was transferred back to the Imperial Army.

Gu Jingnian has complicated feelings towards his brother-in-law Lu Yanning.

Gu Jingnian had no idea about love. When he was a child, he thought he would live with his elder sister forever. It was not until Lu Yanning appeared that he realized that he was not the one who was going to spend the rest of his life with his elder sister.

Compared to his bleak life as an illegitimate child, Lu Yanning became famous at a young age and attracted worldwide attention.

At that time, Gu Jingnian was tormented by his envy and even jealousy of Lu Yanning. He finally told his father what he had been holding in his heart.

——"I can also become a hero, a match for thousands of enemies, famous throughout the world. I can accomplish the great cause of unifying Zhongzhou that you always talk about..."

Gu Beiming suddenly attacked and slapped him hard, knocking him to the ground.

Then, he crushed his arrogance with one foot.

In order to curb his ignorant thoughts, Gu Beiming spent three days to teach him a lesson, causing him great pain so that he would remember the incident.

"You see him as a fearsome figure, but you don't see his family background, his profound knowledge, or the 108 warriors behind him who can shake the heavens and break through the enemy lines. Who do you think you are?"

Gu Jingnian had to endure his father's cruelty since he was very young, but that incident was still fresh in his memory. Whenever he thought about it, his hands would tremble unconsciously.

……

"woke up?"

Lu Yanning's gentle question brought Gu Jingnian back from his trance. His voice was unusually hoarse, and his face was covered with stubble and dust, making him look very slovenly, totally unlike his usual handsome image.

"I just came back from the western suburbs yesterday and heard that something happened to you. Kaipingsi is directly under His Majesty, so I can't force them to release you. Give me two days and I will plead with His Majesty."

"Thank you, brother-in-law."

"We are a family, so we don't talk about strangers."

Lu Yanning was indeed not shy. He held up a food box and shook it, saying, "I haven't had breakfast yet, so I'll eat here. If it's inconvenient for you to get up, just watch me eat and satisfy your craving."

He hooked a table with his foot, sat down on the couch, and started talking while eating.

"Did you see that alien last night?"

"Yes."

"We have seen many strange people and animals in the army, but it is rare to see one that can crawl out of a person's stomach. We call it a leech... It tastes good, you can try one."

As Lu Yanning spoke, he stuffed a soup dumpling into Gu Jingnian's mouth.

"Viper leech?" Gu Jingnian chewed and murmured, "Male viper, corpse leech?"

"You know that too?" Lu Yanning said, "It has the characteristics of both a male viper and a corpse leech. Scholar Wen gave it the name."

"Is that the Yong soldier that my father captured? There is a mark on his face."

"Yes, that's the trouble."

"This does not mean that my father is colluding with foreign enemies."

"You don't know the details."

Lu Yanning put down the food in his hand and his expression gradually became solemn.

He fell into deep thought, and after a while he came back to his senses and started from the beginning.

"After the Battle of Yangshachuan, my father-in-law presented captives to the capital, including 300 captured Xionghu soldiers of Yong State. The Xionghu Army was feared by the world, and your majesty was very pleased that my father-in-law was able to capture their army. Seven days ago, the emperor personally went to the parade ground in the western suburbs to pacify the captives, but unexpectedly, something unexpected happened."

Gu Jingnian knew that the news he had heard from Feng Niang was true.

"Assassinated?"

"Not only that, on that day, most of the 300 bear and tiger army prisoners turned into leeches."

Lu Yanning paused as he spoke.

He didn't know how to describe the scene of that day, and subconsciously raised his hand, looking a little helpless.

The following words were somewhat incoherent.

"You only encountered a leech last night, with three heads and a snake body."

"But on that day... there were countless snake heads on the training grounds. Everywhere you looked, you could see bloody mouths."

"It started out as just one roar, but they seemed to be able to wake up their companions, and soon it became a chorus, making the sound disturbing."

"The smell was also toxic. We couldn't react at all and many people fainted."

"In just a moment, the entire school ground turned into a living hell."

"When I turned my head, I saw that Doctor Liu from the Ministry of Rites was bitten by several leeches and torn into pieces. Deputy General Wang Yan had his neck bitten off. General Li in front of the palace was wearing heavy armor and his blood was sucked dry. Only skin was left covering his skull, and his eye sockets were empty..."

"It looked like it was raining blood. Everywhere I looked, there were just endless leeches."

"I didn't change my color when I was surrounded by thousands of soldiers, but at that time... I don't know what I was thinking. It was not until I heard someone shouting 'Protect the emperor' that I saw the right army in front of the palace was defeated."

“Protect the emperor! Protect the emperor! I kept shouting like this until my voice became hoarse, and only then did I calm the army’s morale.”

"In this battle, 437 soldiers of the imperial army died, and the blood flowed like a river."

"In the end, they set fire to the Western Suburbs Parade Ground until it was reduced to ashes. But that was the most horrifying scene. The dense leeches were twisting and screaming wildly in the fire..."

"I looked at the fire and thought, if those monsters can't be burned to death, the Imperial Army will be finished. Then Shuyang City will not be able to be defended, Rui Kingdom, and even the entire Zhongzhou may be destroyed."

"The fire burned for a long time, and it burned my heart."

"When the fire finally quieted down, I felt like I had died all over again."

At the end of his speech, Lu Yanning licked his completely cracked lips and opened his palms to show Gu Jingnian.

Because he had been swinging at the vipers non-stop that day, his knuckles were cracked and the calluses on his palms were all worn off, but his bloody palms had not yet completely scabbed over.

But these are not enough to describe the tragedy of that day.

Gu Jingnian still couldn't imagine what the scene would be like if the leech he saw last night turned into three hundred of them. Instead, he remembered Gu Beiming's words "You don't know how high the sky is or how deep the earth is."

"After the war, we couldn't tell the bodies of the fallen soldiers apart." Lu Yanning sighed, "We could only give a piece of bone to their families."

In the distance, the requiem seemed to still be echoing.

Yesterday was the seventh day since the death of the victims of this incident. The funeral procession outside the city of Shuyang moved slowly. There were no bodies, not even ashes.

The sun is shining outside the window and everything is peaceful.

Gu Jingnian came back to his senses and asked, "Such a big change has happened, how come it hasn't been spread? It seems that few people know about it."

"It's not a big deal if I can let you know, or it's already irreversible."

After Lu Yanning finished saying these things, he took a long time to digest the emotions that had resurfaced in his heart, and pinched his stiff face.

"Don't tell Si Niang about this in detail."

"it is good."

"It's very unfavorable to my father-in-law right now."

Lu Yanning no longer concealed his worry.

"Before offering the captives, my father-in-law never warned you of the possibility of a change, which led to your majesty being nearly assassinated. In addition, there was a secret report that he had actually encountered the Viper in the Battle of Yangshachuan, and was defeated and captured as a result. The court must have suspected that all this was a conspiracy between my father-in-law and the Yong Kingdom. You didn't see your majesty's face at the time. I have never seen it... Alas."

Gu Jingnian had always known that the Gu family was in trouble, but he didn't expect it to be such a big trouble.

"Brother-in-law."

"Ok?"

"Since I can't protect the Gu family, I have a way to prevent you and Sister from being implicated."

At this moment, if Gu Jingnian were in charge of the matter, he would decisively cut off his own arm and tail, abandon the Gu family, and only protect Gu Caiwei.

But Lu Yanning shook his head firmly and said, "No, I will protect the Gu family."

"He who can ensure the safety of his wife and children is a real man."

This is Gu Jingnian's only expectation for Lu Yanning.

"I know, but I have to clear my father-in-law's name."

Lu Yanning hesitated for a moment and said slowly, "Many things are not as simple as you think. This matter involves factional disputes in the court. If we take a step back, we will be ruined and our family will be destroyed. Therefore, we should not give in and not let even a drop of dirty water be thrown on my father-in-law."

Seeing that he had made up his mind, Gu Jingnian reached into his pocket and took out a few pieces of paper he found in Master Ma's bedroom.

Unfortunately, they were soaked in blood and turned into a ball of cardboard in my arms.

He had no choice but to tell Lu Yanning orally everything that happened in the pharmacy and the contents of the paper.

Finally, Gu Jingnian said, "Father was framed. He couldn't have arranged for 300 captives to assassinate the emperor. Given his personality, if he really had a conspiracy, he would have made other preparations, such as sending troops to the capital, or even contacting the Yong Kingdom to raise troops. The leech might have been raised by someone."

"Feeding?"

Lu Yanning was stunned. He had never thought of this possibility.

In fact, Gu Jingnian was just guessing based on the prescription he found in Master Ma's house, but he couldn't understand it, so he could only make a guess.

More importantly, he knew that the spy from Kaiping Division was listening outside the door, so he guided the conversation and tried to exonerate Gu Beiming.

"I saw a map that marked a valley a hundred miles outside of Shuyang City. There was a small inscription next to it: 'Male vipers like moisture, their spit out fluid to form a swamp, while leeches eat carrion and live in hot and humid places.' So I guess that vipers and leeches might be raised there."

Those sixteen words were made up by Gu Jingnian.

He didn't know whether there were leeches in the valley, he only knew that it was the only clue to find Master Ma, and that Master Ma might know something.

But he said it with certainty.

"If it's true, it can prove that someone tampered with the prisoners of war after they entered Beijing."

"This is not a joke. I'll go check it out." Lu Yanning asked, "Where is the valley?"

Gu Jingnian threw away the paper in his hand and said, "I'll draw it again."

"No need to bother."

Lu Yanning took out a leather map from his arms. Gu Jingnian looked at it carefully for a while before pointing.

"here."

"I'm leaving now. The sooner I go, the sooner I'll be back."

Lu Yanning stood up and prepared to leave, but then smiled and patted Gu Jingnian on the shoulder.

His palms were covered with scars, yet they were broad, strong, and warm, just like his smile.

"I'll take care of everything. Nothing will happen to the Gu family..."

　I recommend a book by an author with great imagination, "My High-level Martial Arts Gradually Abstract": Based on my more than 20 years of experience in cheating, any game will become very powerful as long as it has a bug!

(End of this chapter)