Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 130 Under the Mask
Tan Huaike asked in confusion, "How do we solve this?"

The masked man said, “This poison is called Nirvana. The alchemist who concocted it has been found, interrogated, and secretly executed. The antidote has also been destroyed. I went to the capital a few days before you. After finding the alchemist in the palace, I hurriedly searched the alchemist’s alchemy room and found the Nirvana formula in a secret compartment. I copied it down.”

"Since it was a secret execution, how did you know the details?"

"..." The masked man did not answer, but said, "The poison of Nirvana is extremely treacherous. If taken in large quantities, it will be very potent, directly entering the meridians and causing death in an instant; if taken in small quantities, it will be mild, seeping into the internal organs and causing the poison to take effect over time; if you take the antidote given to you by the Empress, it will drive the poison into your bones, at which point medicine will be ineffective, and even a great immortal cannot save you."

Seeing that he was deliberately avoiding the question, Tan Huaike stopped asking.

However, the fact that he could clearly know the time limit and results of the investigation in the central palace, and that he had such a good understanding of this poison, meant that he must have his own backers and connections in Andu.

It would be wonderful if someone like that was willing to help me.

Tan Huaike took the prescription from him, which listed dozens of poisonous ingredients. He couldn't help but sigh, "So complicated... no wonder it gave Fufeng such a headache."

The masked man advised, "Give this formula to Fufeng and let him study and prepare it carefully. He should be able to make the real antidote after your wedding to the Third Prince. After that, you must get away as soon as possible and find a way to get rid of the troubles caused by the marriage alliance, so as not to give the Empress another chance to attack you."

“Now that the sorcerer has been severely interrogated and executed, we should have found out who was behind him,” Tan Huaike asked. “Do you know who wanted to poison me?”

“You are very quick-witted.” This time, the masked man didn’t keep them in suspense and said, “The one who instructed the sorcerer to poison you was Yu Wendong, the Grand Master of Ceremonies. The Empress Dowager knows this, but she doesn’t intend to pursue it further. The Crown Prince does not hold military power, the Fifth Prince’s maternal clan is powerful, and many important officials in the court are wavering. It’s not difficult to find out who did it, but the difficulty lies in how to deal with them.”

"So the massacre of the marriage procession and the assassination attempt at the year-end sacrifice in Zhangye Prefecture weren't because the real masterminds couldn't be found, but because they didn't want to investigate and dared not act." Despite being prepared for the hardship of revenge, Tan Huaike still couldn't hide her disappointment. She had thought that as long as she could meet with those in power and tell them the truth and the injustice, at least those murderers would pay the price.

“You experienced it firsthand. Those pieces of evidence were either destroyed or covered up. What can you use to expose their conspiracy?” the masked man said. “If it’s just about revenge, you can guess who’s causing trouble for the Crown Prince. Those courtiers who are most unhappy about the Third Prince forming an alliance with the Western Region through marriage are the masterminds behind the scenes.”

"But there's nothing we can do but wait for the ultimate winner to settle accounts. Otherwise, if we're not careful, we might not only fail to bring down our enemies, but also find ourselves in a hopeless situation."

The masked man calmly offered his advice.

He himself ended up like this, and he doesn't want Tan Huaike to repeat the same mistake.

After calming himself down, Tan Huaike looked up at him and asked, "Are you from the Eastern Palace? A subject of the Crown Prince?"

The masked man sighed, "I am merely a knife held in someone else's hand."

Tan Huaike stepped forward and said, "Including the year-end sacrificial ceremony, this is the second time you have saved me."

She reached out, wanting to touch the Nuo mask on his face.

The masked figure took a step back and turned his head to avoid her fingertips.

Tan Huai Ke stubbornly took another step forward, cornering him until his back pressed against the closed door. She didn't withdraw her hand, nor did she rudely lift his mask; she simply stopped there and asked, "Why can't you tell me who you are?"

"You don't need to know who I am."

"At least let me remember what you look like, right?"

"My face... is horrible."

"It's okay, I won't be scared by my savior."

On the neck, which the Nuo mask couldn't cover, she could already see some scars. This person had worn a mask both times he appeared, probably because he didn't want his damaged appearance to frighten her.

Tan Huaike tried placing his fingers on the edge of the Nuo mask.

This time, the masked man did not move aside.

So she removed the red Nuo mask and saw his true face.

From his neck to the left side of his face, and across to the bridge of his nose, were mottled and gruesome scars—marks left by burning. Tan Huaike could hardly imagine the persecution and suffering this man had endured, or how he had managed to escape death. The right side of his face was relatively intact, and his former handsome features were still faintly visible; however, most people would avoid such a face at first glance.

After carefully examining his face, Tan Huaike nodded and said, "Alright, now I remember what you look like. Can you tell me your name?" The masked man took the mask back from her and put it back on himself, saying, "Don't push your luck."

"You can see my face? But you can't call me by my name?"

"..." The masked man listened intently to the sounds of the guards next door.

Seeing those bright red ears, Tan Huaike couldn't help but chuckle: "How come you're so shy? Your ears turn red as soon as you're embarrassed?"

She paused for a moment after saying that.

For some reason, she suddenly thought that Shen Tu Zhuo was the same, perhaps because their profiles were somewhat similar?
The masked figure made a shushing gesture, glanced back at her, and silently climbed out the window.

A moment later, there was a knock on Tan Huaike's door.

The guards asked, "My lord, is there any inconvenience?" They seemed to hear a slight noise coming from the room.

Tan Huaike coughed a few times, making the sound of putting down his teacup: "It's nothing, cough cough, chest tightness and wheezing at night, drinking some tea will help."

Seeing that she was alright, the guard returned to his room with peace of mind.

The masked man waited outside the inn with his arms crossed until everything fell silent.

The night sky over Andu is even more desolate than that over Hexi.

She said this was the second time he had saved her.

Actually, it was the third time.

But... it's probably better that she doesn't remember.
-
The next morning, the four guards, relieved of their fatigue, drove the carriage smoothly back to the Fengyi County villa.

Seeing that she had returned safely, everyone was finally relieved.

Aisha asked, "Why are you alone? Where is the Third Prince's old flame?"

Zhou Wencong: "..." How did his past with Xu Guanbai become so widely known? Oh well, it's common knowledge in Andu anyway, there's no way to hide it.

Tan Huaike said, "It is believed that Lady White Snake has been kept in the inner palace by Her Majesty the Empress."

Aisha nodded, glanced at Zhou Wenzong, and said, "Well, that's fine. It saves her from hanging around in front of the Third Prince every day. It's okay to have some old feelings, as long as she doesn't try to steal your husband."

Tan Huaike said helplessly, "Brother Wang is overthinking it."

Zhou Wenzong quickly got to the point: "Did the Empress Dowager summon you and give you any instructions?"

Tan Huaike replied, "To ensure the smooth progress of the marriage alliance, Her Majesty the Empress confirmed the next steps with me and also gave me a method to remove the remaining poison from my body."

After all, she was the Third Prince's birth mother. She concealed the truth about the fake antidote and the Nuo masked man, and only took out the prescription. She said to Fufeng, "This poison is called Nirvana, and it was made by a sorcerer. It is said that the antidote is very difficult to make, and the slightest error can lead to a huge mistake. Physician Fufeng, I entrust my life to you."

Fu Feng took the prescription and said excitedly, "Good, good, good! With the prescription, things will be much easier. Just hold on a little longer, and I'll help you recover properly."

That being said, on the surface, Princess Mohe's condition was getting worse and worse, and her health was deteriorating day by day.

A few days later, the Empress issued an edict that the wedding date of the Third Prince Zhou Wencong and Princess Mohe Alan would be moved up.

The Grand Astrologer consulted the tortoise shell and determined an auspicious day for the wedding, which will take place on the sixth day of next month.

Meanwhile, the Qianjin Canal had been completed, and Shentu Zhuo, carrying the recommendation document from the Grand Master of Ceremonies, rushed to Andu without stopping.
-
Next chapter: Can you please stop following me?