Denghuangtai

Fortunately, this time Yun Zheng detected a faint pulse, and his heart, which had fallen into the icy pool, was pulled back up.

"Has the Grand Master arrived yet?"

The chief secretary cautiously replied, "It's already late at night, and the Grand Master of Ceremonies lives far away. It will probably take some time for him to come and go."

Although it was true, the chief clerk's voice trembled uncontrollably as he answered, and he finished speaking cautiously, holding his breath as he waited for Yun Zheng to question him.

As expected, Yun Zheng frowned immediately after hearing this, but he did not show the thunderous anger that the Chief Secretary had predicted.

Yun Zheng carefully wiped the bloodstains from Pei Qingyan's lips. "The doctors at the nearby clinics..."

Before he could finish speaking, hurried footsteps suddenly came from the passageway.

An elderly man with white hair was dragged in by the guards of the Grand Minister's mansion. The old man's face was flushed and his breathing was disordered.

"Rude...rude..."

The old man clutched his chest, and even though he was out of breath, he still pointed at the guard who had pulled him and cursed him.

Yun Zheng stood up, drew the long sword from the guard's waist, and pressed it against the old man's neck. His dark eyes were filled with a coldness, and the surging ferocity stained with blood couldn't be suppressed and overflowed.

"If you waste any more time treating patients and saving lives, I'll send you on your way."

The old man was just an ordinary doctor practicing medicine; he had never seen anything like it before. He was immediately terrified, breaking out in a cold sweat, his legs trembling. He stammered, "My lord... spare my life..."

"Stop talking nonsense and save people."

Yun Zheng had little patience and urged him with a stern face.

Under duress, the old man dared not say more. He walked shakily to Pei Qingyan's side, grabbed Pei Qingyan's wrist, and after taking his pulse for a moment, took out a wrapped silver needle from his medicine box. The needle tip gleamed coldly.

Yun Zheng stared intently at the old man's every move, watching him insert silver needles into Pei Qingyan's body one after another.

After a few needles, Pei Qingyan, who had been lying there motionless, suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"What are you doing?"

Yun Zheng roared, pressing his long sword against the old man's neck once more.

"Marquis Yin'an..." Although the old man was trembling with fear, he still recognized the famous female general of the Great Zhao at a glance. He said with a regretful tone, "Marquis Yin'an has been on the battlefield for a long time, and her muscles and bones have accumulated many old wounds. In addition, she has been plagued by worries and depression. Over time, she has become outwardly strong but inwardly weak, and her blood and qi have become stagnant. This severe injury is like the last blow before the snow mountain collapses, which has shaken out all the long-standing diseases hidden in her body."

Yun Zheng silently sheathed his longsword. "Is there any hope?"

"It depends on whether it's treating the symptoms or the root cause."

Upon hearing this, Yun Zheng gritted his teeth, his murderous intent and killing aura emanating from him without any concealment.

That’s it again!

"Whether it's treating the symptoms or the root cause, save this person and heal them." Yun Zheng's voice was icy, and his tone left no room for argument.

"This... is a bit difficult," the old man said truthfully.

Before he could finish speaking, Yun Zheng glared at him.

Although the old man was apprehensive, he continued truthfully, "Lord Yin'an is weak both externally and internally, and his injuries are particularly severe. If it's just a matter of treating the symptoms, it can be cured with more time. But if we want to address the root cause..."

The old man paused for a moment, then said, "Judging from the pulse, the illness has been chronic for a long time and is difficult to reverse. Even if we do our best, we can only guarantee that the patient will be out of danger for seven years at most."

The room fell silent immediately.

The chief clerk hurriedly went to check on Yun Zheng's reaction.

Yun Zheng gripped the hilt of his knife, his eyes lowered, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

"My esteemed sir," the old man deduced from Yun Zheng's words and actions that he might be a powerful figure in the court, and thus boldly pleaded for Pei Qingyan, "The Pei family has been loyal and righteous for generations, with several generations dying on the battlefield. Although Marquis Yin'an is a woman, her achievements are no less than those of her father and brothers. I humbly beg you, sir, to consider these achievements and plead for Marquis Yin'an's life. At least, let her spend her final days in peace."

The last sentence was like a stab to Yun Zheng's heart. A layer of mist rose before Yun Zheng's eyes, and a constant buzzing sound filled his ears.

"My lord! I beg you!"

Seeing that Yun Zheng remained silent for a long time, the old man assumed that Yun Zheng was unwilling. However, as an ordinary citizen, it was rare for him to meet such important figures. If he did not take the initiative to seize the opportunity, he did not know if he would ever have such an opportunity again.

In desperation, the old man decided to take the plunge and knelt down before Yun Zheng, kowtowing repeatedly.

Even if he dies under the blade of this unknown nobleman today, he will still plead for the Marquis of Yin'an!

Inside the cell, the old man's kowtows echoed loudly. Yun Zheng stared at the old man, his eyes bloodshot.

He suddenly recalled the spring of the sixteenth year of the Jianyuan era, when the late emperor decided to launch a northern expedition, and Pei Xuan was ordered to lead the army.

On the day the army set off, he and Pei Qingyan mingled in the crowd to see them off. At that time, the people lining the road also knelt on the ground, kowtowing to Pei Xuan, praying for the safe return of the Great Zhao War God.

At that moment, Pei Qingyan looked at these devout people and couldn't help but sigh, "When will I be able to be like my father, wielding a weapon to defend my country, being remembered and cared for by all the people, living up to my martial arts skills and the lives of all the people under heaven?"

"My lord, I beg you!"

The old man kowtowed as he spoke.

"Pei Qingyan, you've got what you wanted." Yun Zheng thought to himself as he stared at Pei Qingyan, who was lying there motionless.

He stepped forward and lifted the old man up, saying, "The most urgent task is to treat the sick and save lives."

"Can……"

The old man, true to his word, wanted to continue, but Yun Zheng shut him down with the words, "If you keep nagging, I'll chop her down with one stroke."

Yun Zheng spoke with absolute certainty, and the old man was immediately intimidated, not daring to say anything more, and turned around shakily.

"You stay here and guard this place," Yun Zheng instructed the chief clerk. After speaking, he gestured towards the assassin who was bound hand and foot and knocked unconscious on the ground, and then gave the order to the gray-robed man.

"Take him and come with me."

After saying that, Yun Zheng was the first to walk out of the cell.

Inside the interrogation room, a large wok was already set up, and the firewood underneath was burning brightly, so that you could feel the heat as soon as you entered.

"Grand Minister of Works." Upon seeing Yun Zheng, Li Ji immediately fawned over him.

Yun Zheng's expression was sinister, and he waved his hand, signaling him to take his men away.

Inside the interrogation room, only Yun Zheng, the gray-robed man, and the assassin the gray-robed man was carrying remained.

Without Yun Zheng giving any instructions, the gray-robed man tied the assassin to the wooden stake, then picked up a bucket of water and poured all the water inside onto the assassin.

In the dead of winter, the water was drawn from a well, and when poured on you, it was incredibly cold.

The assassin jolted awake from his unconsciousness.

Opening his eyes to find himself in unfamiliar surroundings, the assassin was initially taken aback. Seeing Yun Zheng's murderous face, he couldn't help but inwardly lament, "How did I end up in the hands of this living devil?"

Yun Zheng noticed the assassin's subtle shift in expression. He toyed with the whip made of twisted copper coins strung on a strip of raw cowhide. "Since you know me, you must know my methods. I'll give you a chance: confess who's behind this, and I'll grant you a quick death. Otherwise..."

Yun Zheng raised his hand and lashed the assassin with his whip. The assassin's black clothes were ripped open, and the flesh beneath was torn open, leaving a wet patch of blood on the black garment.

If it were an ordinary person, such a lash would have made them beg for mercy. But this assassin only whimpered.

"A tough nut to crack?"

Yun Zheng sneered, raised his hand and lashed out with his whip again. The assassin continued to wail, still refusing to beg for mercy.

"Interesting." Yun Zheng became interested, turned around and took a piece of iron that was red-hot from the fire, and pressed it directly onto the wound that the assassin had just been whipped into a bloody mess.

Still wailing.

"If you're so capable, then don't beg for mercy." Yun Zheng's tone was flat, his expression indifferent, but a trace of killing intent emanated from his body.

"My lord..."

The gray-robed man beside him whispered, "His jaw was just removed by Marquis Yin'an."