Chapter 202: Injured

In an instant, Shen Miao's heart tightened.

If Xie Jing Xing had hide it a little, most likely he would force himself to look like nothing had happened and Emperor Yong Le would not have said that 'Prince Rui is injured' in front of the Lu and Ye families. At this moment, Emperor Yong Le did not conceal anything so did it mean that the matter was already so serious that it could not be hidden?

Ji Furen stood by Shen Miao side and immediately held Shen Miao's hands tightly. Most likely she was afraid that Shen Miao would be anxious and in turn comfort her, "There would inevitable be friction in the hunting grounds and most likely it is only a minor injury. With so many guards protecting, it should be nothing." However her face became more worried.

Shen Miao did not want Ji Furen to also be thrown into disarray and immediately agreed with her but her heart did not think so. For Emperor Yong Le to let Xie Jing Xing return to the city first and not expose Xie Jing Xing to these officials, it meant that the injuries that Xie Jing Xing sustained was definitely not as simple as some 'minor injuries'.

She glanced around and did not see Xie Jing Xing, Tie Yi or Gao Yang and her heart became even more anxious.

Emperor Yong Le did not seemed to want to talk much even though he had hunted a lion, he did not have a happy expression on. Everyone guessed that it was due to Prince Rui's injuries and also know that Emperor Yong Le was not happy as everyone knew that Prince Rui and Emperor Yong Le had a strong relationship. No matter if Prince Rui's injuries was serious or not, two of them went into the inner fields but the injured one was Prince Rui thus Emperor Yong Le's heart would not be happy. Thus no one dared to go up to talk to Emperor Yong Le, even Consort Jing quietly restrained her arrogance and carefully served at the side.

Since the lion was hunted, there was no need for everyone to stay at the hunting grounds. Emperor Yong Le wanted to return to the Palace and the officials and their family also wanted to return to their residences. When everyone was being cautious, Lu Zheng Xuan asked Emperor Yong Le about matters on the sixtieth sacrificial ceremony as though nothing had happened. Emperor Yong Le usually give some face to Lu Zheng Xuan on normal days but today left with a cold scoff and a swipe of his sleeves. That dissatisfied attitude were obvious to the officials and they whispered but not only did Lu Zheng Xuan not get angry, he seemed to be somewhat happy, making that fierce and sinister face look even more terrible.

Shen Miao also hurried back to the residence of Prince Rui as she was worried about Xie Jing Xing's injuries. Ji Furen and Ji Yu Shu also wanted to go but Shen Miao shook her head, "This matter has not been clarified and one feared that it is not that simple. If YiMu and Yu Shu go over now, it would be easily exploited by others. I will return first to take a look and YiMu and Yu Shu can come over once His Highness is better." After pausing, she then said, "At such a time, the more one cannot be thrown into confusion."

Even though Ji Yu Shu and Ji Furen did not know about the ins and outs of this matter, they were after all people who has exchanged blows with the Imperial power, thus they could slowly understand Shen Miao's words. Ji Daren was deeply convinced of Shen Miao's words and Ji Yu Shu and Ji Furen no longer clamoured to follow.

The few people then parted ways. Shen Miao immediately rush back to the residence of Prince Ding with Mo Qing and entourage without stopping. Ba Jiang and Hui Xiang comforted Shen Miao, "Furen rest assured. Master's martial arts skills is not weak thus normal people would not be able to harm him. Perhaps this is Master's plan to confuse the enemies."

Shen Miao shook her head, "My heart does not feel good." It was indeed not good as it felt like something was blocking her heart and this feeling made her feel uneasy. She could not wait to appear in the residence of Prince Rui and see what was wrong with Xie Jing Xing.

Ba Jiao and Hui Xiang looked at one another and did not say anything more.

Upon reaching the residence of Prince Rui, Shen Miao directly headed to the doors upon alighting from the horse carriage. The guards at the doors quickly open up the doors and Shen Miao stepped in but realized that the residence was surprisingly quiet.

If it was as usual, Tang Shu would have come over to welcome long ago to greet or bring over some sweet soup. But there was no one today.

Shen Miao's heart became anxious and headed to the courtyard without a second word. She coincidentally saw Tang Shu walking to and fro in front of the room doors with a look of concern.

Shen Miao's heart thumped. Tang Shu just happened to saw her. Shen Miao immediately went up and did not say anything else to him and asked, "How is he?"

"His Highness's injury is very serious. Gentleman Gao is currently giving him medical treatment." Tang Shu sighed with a face full of worry, "I have not seen His Highness like this for a long time."

Shen Miao thought about it before pushing the door to walk in.

Upon entering the room, she first smell a strong scent of blood. Tie Yi, who was always by Xie Jing Xing's side, was also present, wringing a cloth quietly and one would be shock upon seeing the basin of fresh blood. Gao Yang's brows were tightly locked and she was slightly startled upon seeing Shen Miao entering before saying, "You know about it."

Shen Miao quickly walked to the head of the bed. Xie Jing Xing's eyes were tightly closed and his face was like paper that even his lips were pale white. The top half of his clothes were pulled apart and there was a layer of arrow wounds at his abdomen but the deepest one was a knife wound and was different from the one Shen Miao saw. This knife wound was fresh and because it was on top of his old wounds, it seemed that with the old wounds and new injuries, it became deeper.

The thing that made Shen Miao sweat was that the blood surrounding the wound was purple. She pointed to Xie Jing Xing's wound and her tone of voice was somewhat unstable, "This…"

"Soaked in poison." Gao Yang directly and efficiently cut her words off.

It was as if Shen Miao was struck by lightning.

After a while, she stabilised her mind, "Can you detoxify it?"

Gao Yang shook his head.

"This is not made by one poison but a mixture of several poisons. If I am to detoxify it, one would need to distinguish what kind of poison it is. This would require time but his injuries could not wait for that long."

"If he cannot wait for that long then you think of ways for him to wait. In short, his life is in your hands, there cannot be any mistakes." Shen Miao shouted out sternly.

Gao Yang was stunned on the spot. He knew that Shen Miao was not as kind and warm as she seemed but it was his first time seeing Shen Miao being this fierce and harsh. She seemed to be a superior instructing an official.

Even Tie Yi was stunned. He had always felt that even though Young Madam was smart and schemes, her attitude was rather soft and would always have a gentle smile on her face and was lacking some viciousness. If she were to stay by Xie Jing Xing's side, she would inevitably be a drag in the future. Now upon seeing Shen Miao's appearance, he made him think about the Late Empress.

Shen Miao took a deep breath and calm her emotions before asking Gao Yang, "Currently, how many days can he withstand and how many days do you need to cure his poison?"

"He can at most withstand seven days and I would need at least half a month to work on the detoxification." For the first time, Gao Yang had an expression of helplessness. "The imperative thing is that he cannot even withstand seven days as his old injuries have flared up."

Shen Miao looked at Xie Jing Xing. When he laid on the bed, he looked very quiet, just like an honourable noble gentleman but his arrogance seemed to be his skin that he live with which hid numbers knives. The last time when Shen Miao saw Xie Jing Xing's body, he had seen that there were many old wounds on his body.

She suddenly thought about something and said to Gao Yang, "Wait first." She then went out of the room and walked to another room. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu was waiting outside. At that day, both of them did not go to the hunting ground and waited for Shen Miao in the residence but a heavily injured Xie Jing Xing came. They were very flustered and feared that Shen Miao would be too worried and wanted to console her but they saw Shen Miao headed directly to the dressing table and took out a small box from under the dressing table and opened it up.

There was a round thing in the box and also a medicine bottle. Shen Miao grabbed the medicine bottle and hurried back to the room where Gao Yang was and pass that medicine bottle to Gao Yang, "There are three Gui Yuan Pills here. Can this help him?"

That small box contained the trousseau that Luo Tan and Feng An Ning gave when she was married off. Luo Tan gave a compass but Feng An Ning gave her three Gui Yuan Pills. Gui Yuan Pill was something that could help one to prolong their lives and could give an additional breath to those that were dying. This was a good thing that the medical physician of previous dynasty of Ming Qi left behind and it was a rare thing that Feng An Ning gave three of it. Shen Miao suddenly remembered it and did not know if this thing was useful to Xie Jing Xing.

Gao Yang was joyous, "Where did you get this from?" He took the bottle over and pick one pill out to take a look and smell it, "It is correct. This is Gui Yuan Pill. With this, he most likely can hold out for around ten days."

Shen Miao sighed in relieve and heard Gao Yang saying, "But I might not be able to be able to create an antidote in ten days."

"No matter if you can create it or not, you have to try. If it does not work then we will talk then. Now you are a doctor and should not worry about not being able to do it."

Tie Yi and Tang Shu, who followed in, looked at Shen Miao strangely. One did not expect that at this time, she, a female, would be as calm as this.

Actually Shen Miao was not as calm as she looked on the surface. It was just that at this time, it would be useless if one was flustered. She need to keep her mind awake and think about what to do next.

Gao Yang nodded his head, "I will give him acupuncture now and coordinate with the Gui Yuan Pill to stabilise him temporarily. You all go out first."

Shen Miao looked at Xie Jing Xing and her heart seemed to be tightly held as she walked out. After she was out, she said to Tang Shu, "You all withdraw first. I want to be alone for a while."

Tang Shu wanted to speak but stopped. At the end he still said, "In any cause, Furen must take care of one's health. These old servants would do our best to cooperate with Furen.

Shen Miao complied. After Tie Yi and Tang Shu left, she send off Jing Zhe and the few. Shen Miao stood outside the room and looked at the courtyard and now became extremely tired.

After a long time, she went to sit down on steps at the courtyard.

The weather during the sixth month was blistering hot, especially so in Great Liang as it would be warmer earlier, but the ground was cooling and the wind was whistling. Shen Miao actually felt cooler. She was thinking if Xie Jing Xing meet with an unexpected death, what should she do? It seemed that it was rational for her to think about her life in the future and what needs to be done. However at this moment, she could not persuade herself to think about the future rationally as if all these were things that she did not want to think about.

When did Xie Jing Xing's position in her heart became this important? It was so important that once she thought of losing this person in the future, one felt that the remaining time would be bland. If one had not experience the taste of sweet honey, one would be able to tolerate it but when one lose it after a taste, everything would become unacceptable.

Someone's footsteps were heard and one did not know when did Pei Lang walked into the courtyard and sat down upon seeing her sitting at the steps. After hesitating for a moment, he then said, "Don't worry, he is Great Liang's Prince of First Rank. It is not easy for something to happen to him."

rough in his mouth and sourness in his heart. Speaking of which, he had never seen Shen Miao like this. In front of Pei Lang, Shen Miao would always have ready plans to meet for any situation and be all imposing, absolutely pressing him down. When Pei Lang was locked in the underground prison in the residence of Prince Ding, he did thought before if Shen Miao would be conscience-stricken by the matter and worry of his life and death. He finally saw how Shen Miao looked like when she was worried of others. When Shen Miao was worried about someone's life and death, there was no aggressiveness and sharpness and there was no difference between her and a normal weak female.

He had always felt that he was sitting very close to Shen Miao but the distance between them was like far and distant.

Pei Lang said, "Return to the room, the wind is strong."

"No need." Shen Miao looked out, "Your health is not fully recovered. Don't worry about me and return to rest first."

Pei Lang was silent for a while, "I will accompany you."

Shen Miao was disinclined to persuade him. At this moment her mind was not on Pei Lang and her heart was thinking all about Xie Jing Xing's injuries.

Gao Yang was busy the entire night.

Shen Miao also sat for the entire night.

Speaking of which during the night when she was waiting for Xie Jing Xing's news, Ji Furen napped but Shen Miao did not sleep at all. She had not close her eyes for two days but she was mentally attentive.

Shen Miao was silent. Her gaze was slightly cloudy and Pei Lang felt something

When the rooster called three times, Gao Yang opened the doors and walked out and saw Shen Miao and Pei Lang sitting at the steps in front of the doors. He could not help but be slightly startled before saying, "You both had sat for the entire night."

Shen Miao messaged her already numbed need and asked Gao Yang, "How is he?"

"Stable for the time being. The effectiveness of the Gui Yuan Pills are good. Next I will be studying the ways of making the antidote for the poison. No one should bother me." He then looked at Shen Miao again, "For these days, would trouble you to take care of him."

Tang Shu who just arrived and heard it, could not help but asked, "If you are unable to get it out in ten days?"

Gao Yang did not speak and the atmosphere became heavy in an instant.

"Go ahead." In a blanket of silence, Shen Miao spoke. Her voice was very calm, as if the person who was laying on the bed with his life hang by a threat was not her husband.

Gao Yang looked at her seriously, "I also wish it would be successful. If it isn't I would not be happy in this lifetime."

He turned around and left.

Tang Shu looked at Shen Miao and then looked at Pei Lang again, "Furen. Gentleman Pei. Both of you have been vigil the entire night and not eat anything. Now that Master's condition has stabilised, it is better to eat something first and take a rest, else when Master's injury recovers, both of you will be sick."

Shen Miao nodded her head, "Bring it to the room. I will rest a while in this room so that it is more convenient to take care. In addition, send people to pass a message to Ji Furen, saying that His Highness condition is temporarily stabilised but have yet woken, thus one need not come over at the meantime."

Tang Shu nodded his head. Pei Lang looked at Shen Miao and saw that Shen Miao had already walked into the room and sat on the chair in front of the bed and his gaze timed before he turned around and left.

Gu Yu quickly brought a bowl of porridge over and Shen Miao let her leave and closed the doors. There was only Shen Miao, the unconscious Xie Jing Xing and Tie Yi. As she ate, she asked Tie Yi, "What exactly is going on? Can you tell me now?"

Tie Yi was hesitant.

Shen Miao's hands stopped and she stared sternly at him, "That day you followed him and entered the inner fields so no one knew more clearly than you on what had happened. Even if you only recognise him as your only master, you cannot conceal it from me."

Tie Yu quickly said, "Furen, it is not so. It is just that this subordinate is not clear about Master's plan this time. Master had discussed it with the Emperor and Mo Yun Army was not even used. However there seemed to be changes in the middle of it as the Emperor was at death's door in the inner fields and there was someone who hid in the Imperial Army. Master blocked that attacked for the Emperor and there was poison smeared on the sword. Someone wants the Emperor's life."

Shen Miao in that very moment had seemed to be connected all the pearls with a string and a vague guess of an answer appeared in her head. This hunt seemed to be Emperor Yong Le and perhaps the Lu family's gamble. Emperor Yong Le wanted to use his life to bring down the entire Lu family and the Lu family wanted to make use of this opportunity to deal with Emperor Yong Le and did not expect that Emperor Yong Le had the determination to die.

However Emperor Yong Le's plan of burning both the jade and stone was not informed to Xie Jing Xing, or could be said that Emperor Yong Le knew that Xie Jing Xing would not agree to it. Thus Xie Jing Xing could only 'change the plans' and save Emperor Yong Le's fate and thus suffer such a serious injury.

Shen Miao silently looked at the youth who was lying on the bed. He was always so proud and stubborn and was good at knowing everything like the back of his palm to scheme that he would lift things up highly and place it down gently, smiling casually at everything. Because he was used to showcase his strengths, it had made everyone forgot that in some situations, he was only an ordinary person and would grow old, sick and die. Once he was injured, he would be in jeopardy and it was possible for him to completely disappear from this world.

Shen Miao's heart burst in pain as she recalled the sentence of 'wait for my return' that Xie Jing Xing said to her before entering the inner fields. Looking at this situation in front, she felt that it was extremely piercing to her eyes.

The effectiveness of the Gui Yuan Pills was not long-lasting. So what could be done if Gao Yang was unable to develop an antidote? Shen Miao frowned as she looked at Xie Jing Xing and her nails gradually dug into her palm.

Matters in front and at the back have to be taken care of. If nothing could be done on matters in front then the main culprit have to experience ten times more pain.

In Wei Yang Palace, Emperor Yong Le fiercely threw the memorandums in his hands onto the ground.

Empress Xian De sighed and bent down to pick the memorandums up.

"Hi Lu family is really courageous enough and his heart is ambitions." The Monarch's expression was as deep as water, "At such a time one even trust around in front of Zhen. Zhen could not wait to skin and drink his blood."

"The Lu family replied of their formidable power and even took the risk. If Jing Xing did not protect with his life…" Empress Xian De did not continue speaking.

Hearing this, a flash of pain appeared in Emperor Yong Le's eyes, "Zhen would rather it is Zhen that die."

"Jing Xing is a child with a strong sense of righteousness and loyalty and Your Majesty knew that he would not agree to it. Thus at the beginning one did not tell him at all. Even if Your Majesty had arranged everything, for Jing Xing's perspective, he would not be happy and it would be a shackle for him. Your Majesty did not considered his feelings at all."

Empress Xian De's words had thorns in them and did not give Emperor Yong Le any face at all. Emperor Yong Le was already not happy and was somewhat in rage upon hearing those words.

"Your Majesty need not be angry. At the moment, Jing Xing has not yet wake up and this matter is imperative. Blame and anger are all secondary." Empress Xian De saw him as such and reminded him.

Emperor Yong Le closed his eyes, "Zhen understand. Zhen only have this one younger brother."

"Gao Yang is taking care of Jing Xing's injury and the residence of Prince Rui has yet to send any information over but Your Majesty, at this moment the more important point is that the Lu family has started taking action."

"Zhen understands." Emperor Yong Le's lips hooked up slightly. At this moment his appearance became seventh to eighth tenths similar to Xie Jing Xing. It was obvious a smile but it made one feel the coldness and danger from him. He said, "He wants to deal with Zhen but Zhen did not die so it is Zhen's turn to deal with him. Everyone has military power and the Lu family has lived long enough. This time, if anything minor happens to Xie Yuan, Zhen want the all the nine generations of the Lu family to be buried with him." He paused before speaking again, "If Xie Yuan recovers, they too have no way to escape."

Empress Xian De paused slightly before looking at the skies outside. It was just shining brightly outside the Imperial Palace in the sixth month, but at this moment, it was overcast.

The skies after all had to change.

In the Gao residence, Gao Yang just returned and immediately a fierce imposing voice, "Gao Yang, you are clearly a person of Great Liang's Long Ye but lied to me that you are a person of Ming Qi's Ding capital. You are not whatever Imperial Physician but Great Liang's Chancellor of Health Affairs. You are a liar."

Luo Tan stood at the doorway in anger and her expression was somewhat gaunt and there were dark traces under her eyes. She looked at Gao Yang with an expression that Gao Yang must give an explanation on the matter.

Gao Yang returned back to refine the medication. The medicine room was in his residence and there were also numerous herbs in his residence. The Gao residence and the residence of Prince Rui was not far away thus he returned to his residence to refine the medication but did not expect to be interrogated by Luo Tan upon his return.

The maid by Luo Tan's side looked at Gao Yang with apologies. On the morning of the Imperial Hunt, she had directed Luo Tan away according to Gao Yang's instructions but one did not expect that Luo Tan slipped off herself and saw Gao Yang walking with the officials for prayers to Heavens. Luo Tan was foolish on small matters normally but on bigger matters, she would be especially alert. She turned her head around and asked the maid about it. When the maid saw that it was useless to conceal, she could only pour everything out.

For Luo Tan's perspective, this was somewhat unacceptable. Gao Yang was just a doctor so it did not matter if he was in Great Liang or Ming Qi but he was clearly Great Liang's Chancellor of Health Affairs but became an Imperial Physician in Ming Qi. There was no different as being an enemy spy in Luo Tan's eyes. Moreover the Luo family was of military lineage and when Luo Tan was young, she and Luo Qian would often listen to the shows the theatre troupes put up and most of the stoies were about loyal and righteous men who fell by hidden attacks from spies.

Luo Tan originally had a good impression of Gao Yang. Even though he had some minor shortcomings, he treated and took good care of her normally but now the person who took care of her became the bad person, Luo Tan's heart could not accept it at all.

It was truly an example of when it rains, it pours. Gao Yang at this moment was busy with Xie Jing Xing's matter and this coincides with Luo Tan's matter. If it was the past, he would definiately explain to Luo Tan nicely but time was of the essence here. After thinking that Shen Miao's heart must not be feeling good as she was alone in a foreign country and her husband was hanging by a thread so perhaps it was better to have a sister company her at her side. He then said to the servant by his side, "Tell her then. I will go in to the room and no one is allowed to enter." After finishing, he walked to the medicine room by himself.

Luo Tan had thought that Gao Yang would explain his difficulties, after all she still did not believe in her heart that Gao Yang would do such a mean and shameless thing. She had not expect that not only Gao Yang did not explain, he even ignored her and entered the room. She said, "Hey. What is the meaning of this? Explain to me first, are you…"

"Young Lady Luo." The servant by Gao Yang's side quickly stopped her and said, "This lowly one will inform you. In fact, things are somewhat trickly at the moment. Today Gentleman has gone out to provide medical treatment. His Highness the Prince of First Rank of Prince Rui residence had gotten into trouble and currently need Gentleman to treat."

Luo Tan was startled, "Prince Rui? Isn't that my MeiFu? What happened?"

The servant wiped his sweat, "This is a long story."

At the other end, Shen Miao was still in front of Xie Jing Xing's bed and rubbed her eyes before sitting back up again.

After napping for a while, she was much more alert. She turned to the male on the bed and his eyes were still closed as if he was sleeping. Seeing that nothing was happening to him, Shen Miao's heart was relieved. But her heart was still restless.

Shen Miao had felt that after her rebirth, she had always been stable and clam and it was because of her previous life experience, she could master things that other could not grasp and thus would not be at a forced position. But at this moment, it was indeed the first time in this lifetime where she felt helpless. Even though it did not happen to her, she fell more upsetting than if it happened to her.

But she did not have medical skills or understood poisons and could only have the three Gui Yuan pills to bring out. She had placed all her hopes onto Gao Yang and this made Shen Miao not used to it. She slowly reached her hands out and held onto Xie Jing Xing's hand that was on top of the bed, as if this action would make her heart feel at ease.

Tang Shu came over to bring some hot tea and snacks for Shen Miao. Shen Miao had not being eating or resting well that she looked haggard. Tang Shu said, "Furen eat something, it is very tiring to take care of Master like this."

Shen Miao said her thanks and suddenly remembered something. She hesitated before asking, "Tang Shu, two years ago when His Highness came to Long Ye, was he also like this?"

Two years ago, there was another reason for Xie Jing Xing to return to Long Ye. On the battlefield with Northern Jiang, there were Emperor Wen Hui's people in the Ming Qi's Xie family army and those people wanted his life. Xie Jing Xing had escaped death but was unable to avoid serious injuries. It sounded like it was also a life and death situation and fortunately Gao Yang was by his side and with Xie Jing Xing's great fortune, else there would not be today's Prince Rui of First Rank.

Tang Shu was stunned before glanced over at Xie Jing Xing on the bed. His eyes started recalling as he spoke, "So Furen knew about it too. Indeed when Master first returned to Long Ye, he was sent back to by others. At the beginning the doctors all said that they lacked the strength to reverse the situation and even Gentleman Gao was also helpless. However at the end Master went pass it. It was truly a miracle."