This was an exceptionally spacious room, flooded with light. A large desk stood by the window, piled with various famous calligraphy rubbings, inkstones, brush holders, and other scholarly accoutrements. Two shimmering golden scimitars hung upon the wall; by no means did this look like a woman’s chamber.
"This is my room," Ming Shao explained, as if sensing my confusion. "The view from the window is quite vast. Once you are able to get up, I will take you to see it."
My heart stirred slightly, and I instinctively lowered my gaze.
"Imperial Physician Wang has already visited," Ming Shao said comfortingly. "The injuries are not severe; your coma was mainly due to blood loss. You will be fine after some proper rest. I haven't sent word to Master Ji’s manor yet, fearing they would only worry needlessly." He reached out to tuck the thin quilt around me, smiling gently. "Sleep for a while."
I had a bellyful of questions for him, but my body was leaden, and I drifted back into sleep before I knew it.
In my hazy state, I heard the voices of girls speaking.
"We specifically brought some tonic soup over." This girl’s voice sounded familiar.
Ming Shao’s tone was flat. "You can leave it here."
"Big Brother, we’re here to replace you. You haven't closed your eyes for days," another girl’s voice said coaxingly. "Let us look after Sister Ji. You should go to Father’s study and rest for a bit."
Had I been unconscious for that long? Had Ming Shao been the one caring for me all this time?
"Cousin, Imperial Physician Wang said there’s no more danger as long as Miss Ji wakes up. You’ve been exhausted for days; you really should go rest." Hearing the word 'Cousin,' I suddenly recalled that unpleasant scene on Mount Chan. So it was her—Lin Qinghong, the daughter of the former General of Resounding Might, Lin Chengwu. This was someone I had offended... and she was calling me Miss Ji?
Good heavens, exactly how many people knew that Xi Xia was actually Ji Wuchao? To hide that fact, I had specifically prepared a bedroom in the side courtyard where Baofu and Aunt Fu lived, creating the illusion that Xi Xia was merely a guest staying at the Ji Manor...
"I am not tired," Ming Shao’s voice carried a hint of impatience. "Go back."
"We came specifically to change Miss Ji’s dressings. Aunt said that if you are always the one doing it, if word gets out..." It was still Qinghong’s voice, thick with complex emotions.
Ming Shao said coldly, "Qingping faints at the sight of blood, and you need a maid to pull a splinter from your own hand. Which of you knows how to change a dressing? Go back and tell Mother that Xi Xia has just regained consciousness, and I do not feel at ease leaving her to anyone else. Once we return to the capital, I will personally go to Master Ji’s manor to apologize. Now go; I need to change her bandages."
I remained lying on my stomach, not daring to move an inch. I only peeked through a tiny slit of my eyes. Qingping was carefully placing a tray of medicine on the low table by the bed. Behind her, Qinghong stood with a complicated expression, biting her lip and staring fixedly at Ming Shao.
This girl must have grown up by Ming Shao’s side and developed feelings for him, hoping to marry him. It suddenly occurred to me that Ming Shao was a young prince; he would naturally marry many wives, and he likely wouldn't mind adding her to the collection. An image I had once imagined flashed through my mind: Ming Shao walking in front, followed by a flock of gaudy wives and concubines...
A sudden pang of discomfort rose in my chest.
Ming Shao closed the door and turned back toward the bed. I realized he was about to change my dressings, and I was... well, covered in wounds. I felt a sudden wave of embarrassment. In such a mortifying situation, should I continue to pretend to sleep? If only I had turned my face toward the wall while sleeping, he wouldn't have seen me blushing...
Feeling his hand lift a corner of the quilt, I couldn't help but cry out, "Don't... I... I'll do it myself..."
Ming Shao’s movements froze. I stole a glance at him; he seemed to be blushing slightly as well.
He coughed twice, then said with forced composure, "Xi Xia, if you move recklessly, your wounds might reopen. The maids haven't seen injuries this severe; they likely wouldn't even know which medicine to apply first. I don't dare risk letting them do it. There are currently two people who can change your dressings: Imperial Physician Wang, or me. Take your pick."
Neither seemed like a particularly good choice...
"Then... I shall go call for Imperial Physician Wang." Ming Shao covered me back up and turned to leave.
"You... wait..." I hurriedly called him back, stammering, "It’s better if... you do it..."
A faint, amused expression appeared on Ming Shao’s face. I quickly closed my eyes and began to give myself a mental pep talk: *This is an emergency; don't let your mind wander. Right now, his role is just that of a doctor. Back in my old life, when I was injured and sent to the hospital, the doctors who bandaged me were men too. In a doctor's eyes, there are only patients, not genders...*
A slight chill touched my skin as the soft quilt was pulled away. I instinctively bit my lip. I felt Ming Shao use scissors to gently snip the bandages wrapped around me, then begin dabbing the wound on my back with a cloth soaked in medicinal fluid. His movements were incredibly gentle, and I gradually began to relax.
A cool sensation spread from the wound, and the pain seemed to lessen, replaced by a slight numbness. The air was filled with the scent of Purple Sedge grass, deep and lingering. I recalled the Poison Fairy mentioning that Purple Sedge had sedative and hypnotic properties...
I thought hazily to myself: *Maybe I should concoct some of my own medicine for external injuries...*
My eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
I actually fell asleep right there, lying on my stomach.
When I woke again, it was late at night. Perhaps because I had slept enough, I felt refreshed this time, as if my injuries had already half-healed.
Ming Shao’s tall frame was half-reclining, squeezed onto a daybed. The candlelight flickered, tracing the beautiful contours of his face. Seeing him in such an awkward sleeping posture, a warm feeling welled up in my heart. Had he been looking after me like this all these days?
As if sensing my gaze, his eyelashes fluttered, and he opened his eyes.
"Hungry?" he asked. I shook my head, then immediately nodded.
Ming Shao rose to leave, but I quickly called him back. I felt there was something I had to say to him. Seeing my serious expression, he sat back down. "What is it?"
"Thank you," I said sincerely.
Ming Shao asked amusedly, "Just to say that?"
I hesitated for a moment, then said, "You... you don't blame me?"
He looked bewildered. "Blame you for what?"
"For hurting your pride. I mean... about me wanting to break the engagement." After saying this, I watched his face cautiously.
Ming Shao was only startled for a moment before he smiled again. "Why bring that up now? Regarding that matter, if anyone else had asked to break the engagement, I might have found it strange. But coming from you, I am not surprised at all. You always seem to know exactly what you want." He gazed deeply at me, the candlelight reflecting brilliantly in his eyes. "Xi Xia, do you hate me?"
I shook my head vigorously. "How could I?"
He seemed to breathe a small sigh of relief. "Changing a royal marriage is very troublesome, and it would have a great impact on the lady’s reputation. My suggestion is to maintain the status quo for now. You can just treat me as a brother. If there ever comes a day when your heart belongs to someone else, I will certainly find a way to help you."
This was an answer I hadn't expected. I stared at him blankly, not knowing what to say. Was he always this considerate of others?
I shook my head, pushing that strange feeling back down into the depths of my heart. Searching for a topic, I asked, "By the way, how did you happen to save me so coincidentally that day?"
"The meadow where I found you isn't far from the Falling Star Spring Ranch." Ming Shao smiled slightly, as if reading my mind. "I had an appointment with my guards for an early morning horse race. We had only run two laps when I saw the signal flare you sent up."
I had wanted to discuss the Ninth Lord’s martial arts with him, but talking for so long had made me weary. Then I heard Ming Shao say, "Yesterday, Master Luo from the Ministry of Justice sent a message."
My spirits immediately lifted.
"Master Luo wants you to focus on recovering," he said, reaching out to tuck in the corner of my quilt. "The Ministry has already begun gathering evidence based on the ledgers. It seems Lady Changping has been involved in things other than the private gold mine and human trafficking."
"Where is she?" I pressed.
"Considering her special status, the Ministry has temporarily placed her under house arrest at Sishui Manor."
I was fuming. What "special status"? Just because she married a prominent man, she could do whatever she wanted?
I indignantly propped myself up from the bed. "I’m going back to argue with Luo Jin! What kind of world is this?! Is there no regard for the law?!"
Ming Shao didn't respond. I glanced at him strangely, only to find him blushing and turning his head away. I looked at him, then at myself, and suddenly realized that I only had bandages from my chest to my abdomen; my entire shoulders were exposed. I quickly flattened myself back down.
My face felt scorching hot; I wished I could find a hole to crawl into.
A pair of hands pulled the quilt over me. I heard the sound of Ming Shao stifling a laugh. "Don't move recklessly again, or the wounds will reopen."
As it turned out, the Poison Fairy’s medical skills were superior to those of the Imperial Physician. Nevertheless, Ming Shao insisted I wait until the wound on my back was completely healed before letting me return to the capital. The wound on my left shoulder had also begun to scab over. When I was getting dressed, a maid held up a mirror for me to see; I feared a large, ugly scar would be unavoidable once it healed.
I returned in a carriage from the Prince Jing Manor. Because I was anxious to find Luo Jin, I went straight to the Ministry of Justice as soon as I reached the capital. When I entered, Luo Jin was busy organizing case files with a group of clerks. Upon seeing me, his face lit up with surprise and joy. "You’re truly alright?"
I nodded and asked him point-blank, "What’s the situation?"
Luo Jin pointed to the piles of files on the desks, the floor, and the cabinets. "The evidence is mostly organized. I am currently writing the memorial; the case is too large, I must consult the Emperor."
As he spoke, he brought me a cup of hot tea and motioned for me to sit. "In summary, there are three main charges: first, illegal gold mining; second, human trafficking; and third, the looting of ancient tombs from the previous dynasty."
I was stunned. I suddenly remembered that night eavesdropping under the window, when Lady Changping complained, "They keep asking for silver incessantly, as if we can perform magic."
Who exactly was asking her for silver?
Although there were no clear leads on this point yet, I had an intuition that this case wouldn't be as simple as "squandering it on herself," as Luo Jin had suggested.
Luo Jin went to the morning court session. Chen Zhan, myself, and the other brothers involved in the case waited anxiously at the office for news. The evidence was ironclad, yet for some reason, everyone felt unsettled. It wasn't until after lunch that Luo Jin returned, looking dejected. Seeing his expression, we looked at each other, our hearts sinking. Chen Zhan couldn't help but ask, "My Lord, what happened...?"
Luo Jin stood in the center of the courtyard, looking at us, then at Li Xiu, who was watching expectantly from behind the moon gate. He shook his head despondently. "The Emperor said the eastern front is tense. The State of Chu has been frequently sending reinforcements to the front lines over the past year or two; war could break out at any moment. Many officers and soldiers at the front are former subordinates of the Protector General, Liu Tielin. If we deal harshly with Lady Changping now, the soldiers might lose heart." He sighed and added, "The Emperor also said that Lady Changping is a favorite of the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager is currently ill; if we punish Lady Changping severely, it might disturb her recovery..."
I looked at Chen Zhan, then at the other brothers. After the initial shock, a dark fire began to flicker in everyone’s eyes.
Suppressing my anger, I tried my best to remain calm. "And what is your opinion, Master Luo?"
Luo Jin cupped his hands toward the Forbidden Palace. "The world belongs to the Emperor, and the officials are the Emperor’s subjects..."
I closed my eyes, grabbed my silver saber, and started walking out. Luo Jin stopped me, looking uneasy. "Where are you going?"
I pushed his arm aside and said flatly, "To the palace, to see the Emperor."
Luo Jin turned pale with fright. "Xi Xia, you must stay calm. Although you hold a seventh-rank military post and have the right to an audience, this is a grave matter. You must think carefully. Today in the court, the civil and military officials were in a heated dispute, and the Emperor was furious. You..."
I glanced at him without a word. I flipped onto my big black horse and galloped toward the Forbidden Palace.
When I reached the Nanhua Gate, a group of military officers who had just finished their court session were exiting. They all stopped when they saw me. A few of them looked familiar, though I couldn't recall where I’d seen them. I unbuckled my silver saber and handed it along with my waist token to the herald eunuch, then knelt respectfully at the foot of the jade steps. "Seventh-rank military officer Xi Xia of the Ministry of Justice requests an audience with the Emperor on a matter of great importance."
The old eunuch took the items and trotted inside.
The military officers who had just come out gathered at the foot of the steps, whispering and gesturing, showing no intention of leaving. They looked like they were waiting for a good show; could it be that they were just discussing this very matter?
Before long, the herald eunuch trotted back to me and said in his raspy voice, "The Emperor asks Officer Xi: what matter do you wish to present?"
I knew those officers were watching me. Was it a case of "enemies meeting on a narrow path"—were they truly General Liu Tielin’s former subordinates?
Ignoring everything else, I raised my head and spoke loudly: "I wish to ask the Emperor: the case of Lady Changping has ironclad evidence. Illegal gold mining is punishable by death by a thousand cuts according to the law; human trafficking is punishable by hanging; and the looting of ancient tombs is punishable by exile. With all three crimes committed, I wonder how she should be punished according to the law?"
The old eunuch’s expression changed slightly. He stole a glance at the group of officers behind me, bowed, and ran back inside.
A man behind me said in a gruff voice, "The General’s bones are barely cold, and his lady is a widow. Why must you, a woman, be so intent on driving her to a dead end?"
Such a question was within my expectations. I didn't turn around, but answered calmly, "The state has its laws, and the military has its regulations. Even the General himself—could he disregard the law simply because of his military merits?"
He was choked by my words. Another person nearby said, "Where does Officer Xi’s approach leave the General’s honor?"
I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "If the General had a malignant tumor on his body, may I ask you lords: would you call a doctor to cut it out, or would you give the General a thick robe to desperately hide the tumor away?"
Another voice said indignantly, "Sharp-tongued woman! You..."
I raised my head and looked directly at these generals who had returned from the front to report on their duties. I said, word by word, "The General and the soldiers at the front are also people Xi Xia holds in great respect. But the law knows no favorites. I ask you lords to also think of those poor women who were sold to barren lands and filthy dens. Just because they didn't marry a husband of prominent status, do they deserve to be slaughtered at will? If they were your own sisters, what would you do then?"
The faces of these men instantly darkened.
Everyone in the court knew that these soldiers back from the front were not to be trifled with, and I knew it too, but I had no other choice.
I sighed inwardly, thinking: *If I offend them, so be it. At this point, I can only take it one step at a time. If they make things difficult for me in the future, I’ll find a way out then.*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
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王太医 | Imperial Physician Wang | A doctor serving the royal family.
林成武 | Lin Chengwu | Former General of Resounding Might, father of Qinghong and Qingping.
林清荭 | Lin Qinghong | Ming Shao's cousin, daughter of Lin Chengwu.
林清萍 | Lin Qingping | Ming Shao's cousin/sister, daughter of Lin Chengwu.
紫茵草 | Purple Sedge | A fictional medicinal herb with sedative properties.
落星泉 | Falling Star Spring | A location/ranch near the Sishui Manor.
刘铁林 | Liu Tielin | The late Protector General, husband of Lady Changping.
南华门 | Nanhua Gate | A gate of the imperial palace.
大楚国 | State of Chu | A neighboring/rival country.
护国将军 | Protector General | A high-ranking military title held by Liu Tielin.
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