When the morning bell of the Great Sheng Imperial Palace rang, the sky had yet to fully brighten.
The vermilion palace walls stretched silently through the thin mist, like a giant beast coiled deep within the capital. Guards stood on either side of the palace road, holding halberds upright. Their armor plates glinted coldly in the morning light. When their shoes stepped across the bluestone slabs, the sound was enclosed by the high walls, making it seem especially heavy.
Xiao Yuan got down from the carriage.
Chi Banyue held onto the carriage wall and followed behind him. Her brows and eyes were gentle, her posture delicate and frail, like a flower in need of protection.
At least, that was how she appeared in the eyes of outsiders.
There were already quite a few officials and princes entering through the palace gates.
When someone saw Xiao Yuan, they were first startled, then their gazes fell unobtrusively upon his complexion.
Pale, cold, with faint dark shadows beneath his eyes.
Although he still stood perfectly straight, if one looked carefully, they could notice that his steps were a little slower than usual.
News traveled quickly.
Yesterday, Prince Su had been assassinated and nearly died.
Many people knew about it, yet not a single person would ask about it openly.
In the imperial court, concern was often sharper than a knife.
Xiao Yuan walked forward without looking to either side, the wound around his waist and abdomen faintly aching.
After rushing about last night, handling the supplies, and barely sleeping the entire night, his injuries were indeed becoming difficult to bear.
If Su Muchen were here, he would probably frown and say that he was not following the doctor’s instructions.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yuan’s footsteps paused almost imperceptibly for a moment.
Chi Banyue happened to see it and lowered her voice. “Your Highness, does your wound hurt?”
Xiao Yuan said indifferently, “It doesn’t.”
Chi Banyue whispered, “If you force yourself like this, that otherworldly physician would probably become angry if he found out.”
Xiao Yuan gave her a cold look.
Chi Banyue immediately lowered her eyes, her voice delicate and gentle. “This servant has spoken too much.”
But inwardly, she was laughing terribly hard.
It seemed that what His Highness could least bear now was neither the Crown Prince’s provocations nor the Emperor’s suspicions.
Rather, it was the possibility that that otherworldly physician might become angry.
Interesting.
Far too interesting.
Chi Banyue could only accompany Xiao Yuan to the vicinity of the palace hall, but she only needed to be seen by those who were targeting Xiao Yuan for her purpose to be achieved.
Before entering the hall, Xiao Yuan saw Crown Prince Xiao Sheng.
Xiao Sheng was twenty-seven that year. He wore an apricot-yellow python robe. His brows and eyes resembled the Emperor’s somewhat, except that his eyes were colder and more gloomy.
Standing beside him were the Third Prince, Xiao Yan, and the Fifth Prince, Xiao Jin.
The Third Prince, Xiao Yan, had a tall and sturdy figure, sharp brows and eyes, and ambition that was not concealed in the slightest.
The Fifth Prince, Xiao Jin, was much more gentle and refined. There was often a smile at the corners of his lips, making him seem like a graceful and humble gentleman.
Only Xiao Yuan knew very clearly.
Among these people, the one most skilled at smiling while stabbing someone with a knife was Xiao Jin.
When Xiao Sheng saw Xiao Yuan, he revealed a trace of concerned concern.
“I heard that you were assassinated yesterday. I was deeply worried. Now that I see you are able to enter the palace, I am somewhat reassured.”
As soon as these words were spoken, quite a few surrounding officials looked over.
Xiao Yuan’s expression remained indifferent.
“Thank you for your concern, Imperial Brother.”
Xiao Sheng’s gaze fell around his waist and abdomen.
“Is the injury serious?”
“A minor injury.”
Xiao Sheng’s smile did not change. “An assassin capable of injuring Seventh Brother must not have been simple. Have you found out their origins?”
Xiao Yuan raised his eyes and looked at him.
“We are investigating.”
Xiao Sheng sighed. “There are actually such reckless people in the capital, daring even to assassinate a prince. If you need anything, the Eastern Palace can send people to assist.”
Xiao Yuan said, “No need to trouble yourself.”
The refusal was decisive.
The air fell silent for a moment.
The Third Prince, Xiao Yan, laughed. “Seventh Brother still has this temperament. He trusts no one.”
Xiao Yuan looked at him. “Does Third Brother trust?”
Xiao Yan’s smile stiffened.
Xiao Jin spoke at the appropriate moment, his tone gentle. “Seventh Brother has only just suffered an assassination attempt, so it is inevitable that his emotions are unsettled. Third Brother, don’t take offense.”
Xiao Yuan gave him a cold glance.
Xiao Jin continued smiling.
“Only, Seventh Brother’s body has yet to recover. Why force yourself to enter the palace? Father Emperor cherishes his princes the most. If he knew that your injuries were serious, he would surely permit you to recuperate at your residence.”
Cherishes.
Hearing those two words from Xiao Jin’s mouth almost made Xiao Yuan want to laugh.
If Father Emperor truly cherished him, he would not have hastily ended the matter when Xiao Yuan was poisoned at the age of ten merely because the imperial physician said, “A palace servant made a mistake.”
Nor would he have, after his mother consort was tortured to death, merely bestowed a thin coffin and hastily buried her.
And even less would he have hurried to push him toward the northern border before yesterday’s assassination had been investigated.
Xiao Yuan said indifferently, “No need. This younger brother’s life is tough.”
Those words caused the few of them to fall silent briefly.
A trace of coldness flashed through Xiao Sheng’s eyes.
At precisely this moment, the eunuch’s shrill voice rang out.
“Commence court—”
Everyone stopped speaking and entered the hall to pay their respects.
Inside the Golden Hall, the dragon throne hung high above.
The Emperor of Great Sheng, Xiao Che, was already sixty years old. His face was thin and gaunt, his eye sockets slightly sunken, yet his gaze remained sharp and gloomy.
He sat upon the dragon throne like an old beast that still refused to put away its fangs.
The assembled officials cried out in unison, “Long live His Majesty.”
When Xiao Yuan knelt, the wound around his waist and abdomen was pulled, and pain suddenly stabbed deep into the gaps between his bones.
Yet his expression did not change in the slightest.
The Emperor’s gaze swept across the assembled officials before finally settling upon Xiao Yuan.
“Xiao Yuan.”
Xiao Yuan lowered his head. “Your son is here.”
The Emperor looked at him for a moment.
“I heard that you were assassinated yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“How are your injuries?”
“A minor injury. It is nothing serious.”
The Emperor said indifferently, “The capital’s security has deteriorated. Even a prince can be assassinated. The Ministry of Justice and the Capital Prefecture should investigate.”
The Minister of Justice and the Governor of the Capital immediately stepped forward to plead guilty.
The Emperor appeared furious, but in truth, there was not much anger in his tone.
Xiao Yuan sneered inwardly.
He knew that in the end, they would probably produce a few dead assassins and a few bandits, and then let the matter quietly disappear.
The person who had truly made the move would continue standing in the imperial court, dignified and righteous, calling him Seventh Brother.
Sure enough, Crown Prince Xiao Sheng stepped forward and said, “Father Emperor, Imperial Brother’s assassination pains your son greatly as well. However, the military situation at the northern border is urgent, and another report has arrived in the capital today.”
The Emperor’s gaze darkened.
“Present it.”
A eunuch delivered the memorial to the Emperor.
The Emperor read it several times, and his complexion became increasingly ugly.
The atmosphere inside the hall sank.
The Crown Prince said at the appropriate moment, “The border disturbances in the north have yet to be quelled, and an epidemic has also broken out. The transport and deployment of provisions is difficult. Without a capable minister stationed there, I fear the situation will be difficult to stabilize.”
Once these words were spoken, quite a few officials lowered their heads.
Everyone knew that the “capable minister” mentioned by the Crown Prince could only be the Prince Su who had just been assassinated.
The Third Prince, Xiao Yan, said, “Imperial Brother is familiar with military affairs, and in previous years he rendered meritorious service at the border. If Prince Su goes there, I imagine he would be the most capable of stabilizing the morale of the army.”
The Fifth Prince, Xiao Jin, said gently, “It is only that Imperial Brother is injured now. Would this be too strenuous?”
His words sounded considerate, yet they placed Xiao Yuan even higher.
If he refused, he would be disregarding the people of the border and the military situation.
If he agreed, he would be entering the situation while wounded.
The Emperor looked toward Xiao Yuan.
“Xiao Yuan, what do you say?”
Xiao Yuan lowered his head.
Everyone in the hall was waiting for his answer.
He could feel his wound throbbing with pain.
He could also feel the medicine pouch inside his sleeve lightly pressed against his wrist.
That was what Su Muchen had given him.
He suddenly remembered what that person had said last night with a cold expression—
You’d better not nearly get yourself killed again. As long as you’re alive, I have leverage.
Leverage.
A faint trace of coldness surfaced in Xiao Yuan’s eyes.
Very well.
Since they all wanted to push him to the northern border, then he would go.
It was simply that, in the end, who would become whose leverage remained to be seen.
He raised his head, his voice calm.
“Your son is willing to go.”
The hall fell silent for a moment.
The Emperor looked at him. “You are injured.”
“The soldiers and common people at the northern border cannot wait for your son to recover.”
The words were beautifully spoken.
So beautifully that even the Crown Prince slightly furrowed his brows.
The Emperor seemed quite satisfied.
“Good. With this resolve, you have not failed my years of teaching.”
Xiao Yuan lowered his eyes.
Years of teaching?
If torment, cold indifference, and suspicion could also be considered teaching, then he had indeed been taught for many years.
The Emperor said, “I appoint you Commissioner of the Northern Border, and you shall command thirty thousand troops. You will depart in three days. As for provisions…”
He paused.
The Minister of Revenue immediately stepped forward, his face troubled.
“Your Majesty, disasters have continued to occur throughout the various regions recently, and the treasury’s resources are strained. The northern border can only be allocated one month’s worth of provisions for now. The remainder will have to wait until further supplies can be gathered.”
One month.
The coldness in Xiao Yuan’s eyes deepened.
Among the intelligence Xia Lanshi had organized last night, the provisions at the front line had only half a month’s supply left.
If the imperial court allocated only one month, and the Crown Prince’s people tampered with them along the way, by the time they reached the northern border, there might not even be half a month left.
…This was not sending him to quell the border disturbances.
It was sending him to his death with a group of people who were nearly starving to death.
The Crown Prince’s face was full of concern.
“Father Emperor, with the treasury in such difficulty, Imperial Brother will surely be able to understand.”
Xiao Yuan said indifferently, “Your son understands.”
A trace of smugness appeared in the Crown Prince’s eyes.
However, in the next moment, Xiao Yuan continued, “Only, the military situation at the northern border is urgent. If provisions are insufficient and the army’s morale becomes unstable, I fear the opportunity for battle will be delayed. Your son asks for little. I only ask that Father Emperor permit me to act with discretion and allocate grain from local granaries along the way to meet urgent needs.”
The hall instantly fell silent.
The Crown Prince’s smile faded.
The Third Prince, Xiao Yan, abruptly changed his expression.
The Fifth Prince, Xiao Jin, lowered his eyes. The smile remained at the corners of his lips, but it was no longer relaxed.
—Act with discretion.
Allocate grain from local granaries along the way.
This was equivalent to giving Xiao Yuan a portion of discretionary authority.
If the Emperor agreed, Xiao Yuan’s trip to the northern border would not merely be an exile. He would truly have a blade in his hands.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes, danger hidden within them.
“You want authority?”
Xiao Yuan knelt upright.
“Your son wants the northern border to remain peaceful.”
These words carried tremendous weight, and they were extremely clever.
The Emperor could suspect that he wanted power.
Yet in front of the entire court, he could not deny the safety of the northern border.
The hall remained silent for a long time.
Finally, the Emperor laughed once.
“Good.”
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened slightly upon hearing this.
The Emperor said, “I grant you permission to act with discretion. If any local official evades his responsibilities, you may execute first and report afterward.”
“Your son accepts the decree.”
When Xiao Yuan lowered his head, his eyes were filled with coldness.
On the surface, this decree was a favor.
In reality, it was another shackle.
If the northern border was pacified, it would be because the Emperor had employed the right person.
If something happened at the northern border, then it would be because Xiao Yuan had abused his authority and acted recklessly.
That was precisely what he wanted.
Without authority, he could save nothing.
With authority, at least he could take a gamble.
After court was dismissed, the Crown Prince personally walked over to Xiao Yuan’s side.
“Seventh Brother is indeed loyal and brave.”
Xiao Yuan said indifferently, “Imperial Brother flatters me.”
Xiao Sheng lowered his voice. “Only, the northern border is bitterly cold and snow-covered, and the epidemic is fierce as well. Seventh Brother must take good care of yourself. Don’t die on the road.”
His final sentence carried an implication.
Xiao Yuan looked at him.
“Imperial Brother, rest assured.”
He said calmly, “My life is tough.”
Xiao Sheng’s eyes turned cold.
Xiao Yuan did not look at him again and turned to leave.
When he walked out of the main hall, a cold wind blew directly into his face.
Xiao Yuan pressed his fingers against his waist and abdomen.
It hurt.
But he could still endure it.
When Chi Banyue helped him into the carriage, her fingertips lightly touched his sleeve. She lowered her voice and asked, “Your Highness, how is your wound?”
Xiao Yuan said, “It hasn’t reopened.”
Chi Banyue raised an eyebrow. “You say that as though you’re afraid someone will scold you.”
Xiao Yuan gave her a cold look.
Chi Banyue immediately smiled gently. “This servant will shut up.”
The carriage left the palace.
After the curtain fell, Xiao Yuan closed his eyes wearily.
Today’s game had been dangerous, but he had obtained what he needed.
The authority to act with discretion.
The right to execute first and report afterward.
This blade had been personally handed to him by the Emperor.
Next, it would depend on whose throat was cut by the blade first.
◆◇◆◇◆
Over at Guichen Studio, Su Muchen had been busy the entire day.
After the wooden sign announcing that the shop had reopened was hung up, business was still not particularly good, but it was better than having no one pay any attention to the place before.
Two nearby residents came in during the morning and bought tea leaves and handmade soap.
In the afternoon, a young girl was attracted by the words “Overseas Rare Goods.” She came in and looked around for a while, eventually buying a paper umbrella and taking several photos of the shop.
Su Muchen had originally wanted to stop her.
But after thinking about it, since Guichen Studio was reopening, it could not look too much like a haunted house hiding secrets.
A moderate amount of exposure would instead help conceal the real abnormalities.
He specifically reminded her not to photograph the backyard or the depths of the corridor.
The girl happily agreed. Before leaving, she even said that the shop had a great atmosphere, like an ancient-style secret realm hidden within the city.
Su Muchen’s feelings were complicated after hearing this.
She was not wrong.
This shop really did conceal a secret realm.
And on the other side of that secret realm was a prince who refused to follow medical instructions.
At dusk, Xiao brought back another batch of supplies, this time in a larger quantity.
Besides the half-box left over from last night, there was also a large amount of soap, water purification tablets, gauze, gloves, masks, and compressed biscuits.
There were also several bags of coarse salt and white sugar with their outer packaging removed.
Su Muchen looked at the boxes covering the floor, and his head began to ache again.
“With this much, can it fit through the door?”
Xiao said, “In batches.”
“We may not be able to deliver it all in one night.”
“Then do it over several nights.”
Su Muchen frowned. “Xiao Yuan is going to the northern border soon. There may not be enough time.”
Xiao opened a new sheet of oil paper and folded it as he spoke. “Then send the things that are most life-saving first.”
Su Muchen lowered his head and looked at the list.
Medical supplies, drinking water, and hygiene.
These three categories had to take priority.
Food and warmth were also important, but in the early stages they could be tested in small quantities.
He picked up his pen and rearranged the order.
“Tonight, send the medicine and water filters first. Soap second. Food last.”
Xiao nodded.
Su Muchen wrote for a while before suddenly asking, “Do you think the first batch of supplies will be useful on Xiao Yuan’s side?”
Xiao looked up at him. “Worried?”
“I’m worried about wasting them.”
“Muchen.”
Su Muchen’s fingers paused.
It was the first time Xiao had called him so seriously like this.
No “Young Master,” no teasing, and his tone was more solemn than usual.
“The things you prepared are very useful.”
Su Muchen was stunned for a moment.
Xiao lowered his head and continued wrapping the soap, his tone returning to its usual lazy manner.
“Although your drawings really are ugly.”
Su Muchen: “…”
He really should never have expected Xiao to say anything nice.
As night deepened.
11:56 p.m.
A faint sound of a door lock came from deep within the corridor.
Su Muchen immediately raised his head.
White light appeared.
Xiao Yuan walked out from the door.
His complexion was slightly worse than last night. There was a faint weariness beneath his eyes, but his back remained straight.
Su Muchen frowned at first sight.
“Did you go out today?”
Xiao Yuan’s movements paused.
Xiao slowly drank tea beside them.
Xiao Yuan said, “I entered the palace.”
Su Muchen fell silent for two seconds.
“You have such a deep wound across your waist and abdomen, an arrow wound on your shoulder, and your fever just went down. And then you went to the palace today?”
Xiao Yuan said, “Court affairs cannot be avoided.”
“Court affairs can’t be avoided, so wounds can be avoided?” Su Muchen said coldly. “Do you think those holes in your body were drawn on?”
Xiao Yuan: “…”
Xiao put down his teacup, struggling to hold back his laughter.
Xiao Yuan glanced at him.
Xiao immediately looked at the ceiling.
Su Muchen picked up the first-aid kit. “Sit down.”
Xiao Yuan did not resist.
He could even be said to have sat down skillfully in the wooden chair.
This made Su Muchen even angrier.
Because he realized that Xiao Yuan had already begun getting used to coming here for follow-up treatment while injured.
He coldly removed the bandages and examined the wound.
Sure enough, there was slight oozing of blood along the edges of the wound on his waist and abdomen.
It was not serious.
But it was enough to make Su Muchen’s expression darken.
“This is what you call ‘it hasn’t reopened’?”
Xiao Yuan lowered his head and glanced at it.
“It’s only bleeding slightly.”
“Then do we have to wait until your intestines fall out before it counts as reopening?”
Xiao Yuan: “…”
Xiao finally could not hold back his laughter and let out a sound.
Su Muchen turned his head. “What are you laughing at? Come over and keep the accounts. Emergency follow-up fee, secondary wound-treatment fee, and mental damages for refusing to follow medical instructions. Write them all down.”
Xiao smiled and picked up the pen. “Okay.”
Xiao Yuan looked at Su Muchen. “I will pay.”
Su Muchen was briefly choked by those words.
He had only been speaking out of anger. He had not expected the other party to take it seriously.
He lowered his head and continued disinfecting the wound, still refusing to relent verbally. “You’d better be able to afford it.”
Xiao Yuan said indifferently, “I can.”
Xiao said quietly from the side, “His Highness has deep pockets.”
Su Muchen rolled his eyes and ignored them.
After treating the wound, he asked, “How did you make use of the things from last night?”
Xiao Yuan handed him a roll of paper.
“Xia Lanshi recorded it.”
Su Muchen took it and unfolded it.
The handwriting was neat and slender. It recorded in detail the results of testing the supplies.
The gauze and disinfectant were clearly effective.
The fever-reducing medicine was effective for two patients with high fevers, but it still needed to be observed to see whether the fever would return.
The cleansing effect of soap was excellent, especially for washing hands before and after treating wounds.
The proper way to wear masks needed to be taught, as some people were not accustomed to them.
The water purification tablets had not yet been tested on a large scale.
The compressed biscuits were very filling, but their taste was peculiar.
There was one final line.
—Doctor Su, may I ask, if a patient suffers from persistent diarrhea and has a large amount of watery stool, how should it be treated?
When Su Muchen saw this line, his brows immediately knitted tightly.
“Watery stool?”
Xiao Yuan said, “Xia Lanshi said there are similar symptoms in the reports from the northern border.”
Su Muchen’s expression darkened.
High fever, vomiting, diarrhea, watery stool.
Contaminated water sources.
He could not make a diagnosis without testing, but this was already an extremely dangerous signal.
“It could cause rapid dehydration.”
Xiao Yuan asked, “Dehydration?”
“It means the body loses a large amount of water and salt.” Su Muchen picked up his pen and immediately wrote a new list. “In this situation, you can’t just drink water. You need to replenish salt and sugar.”
Xiao Yuan watched him write.
“Salt-and-sugar water?”
“More accurately, oral rehydration salts. I can buy ready-made ones, but since you’ll need to use them in large quantities over there, you’d better learn a simple formula.”
Su Muchen took out a sheet of paper and wrote down a simplified version.
Clean water, salt, sugar, the proportions, and precautions.
After finishing, he felt that the ancient measurements were inconsistent, so he simply added, “I’ll give you measuring spoons. You can’t just add them by feel. If it’s too salty, something can go wrong. If it’s too diluted, it won’t be effective enough.”
Xiao Yuan nodded.
Su Muchen looked at Xiao. “How much oral rehydration salt can we buy?”
Xiao was already placing an order on his phone. “There isn’t much in stock, but we can buy a batch first. The ingredients for the simple formula will be easier to prepare in large quantities.”
Su Muchen said, “We have to send some over tonight.”
Xiao nodded.
Xiao Yuan looked at Su Muchen’s tense expression and asked, “Is it serious?”
Su Muchen raised his eyes.
“If it really is the kind of disease I’m thinking of, in severe cases, it can kill someone within just a few hours.”
The shop instantly fell silent.
Xiao Yuan’s gaze darkened.
Su Muchen lowered his head and continued writing.
“We still can’t be certain, but we’ll prepare for the worst-case scenario first.”
He wrote quickly, one sheet after another.
Patient rehydration, separate toilets, feces disposal, wastewater kept away from water sources, caregivers washing their hands, utensils boiled, vomit and excrement buried.
By the time Su Muchen finished writing, his fingers were already somewhat sore, but he did not stop.
He knew very clearly that once these words were sent over, they might save several more lives.
Xiao Yuan stood to the side, watching him write rapidly with his head lowered.
The lamplight fell upon Su Muchen’s slightly disheveled black hair, illuminating his pale and focused profile.
These people clearly had nothing to do with him.
The northern border was clearly just a place separated from him by time and space, a place that should not even exist.
Yet he was still this serious.
Xiao Yuan suddenly remembered asking him before why he had saved him.
At that time, Su Muchen had said that it was because watching him bleed so miserably was an eyesore.
Thinking about it now, perhaps this person’s reason for saving people had never been complicated.
If he saw someone, and they could be saved, then he saved them.
It was only that he deliberately made his words sound unpleasant, as though he were afraid others would see that he was soft-hearted.
Su Muchen finished the last sheet and raised his head, just happening to meet Xiao Yuan’s gaze.
“What are you looking at?”
Xiao Yuan said, “Watching you write.”
Su Muchen: “…”
He immediately lowered his head and looked at his own handwriting.
It really wasn’t particularly good-looking.
“As long as you can understand it, that’s enough.”
Xiao Yuan said quietly, “Mm.”
Su Muchen looked at him suspiciously.
He always felt that there was a trace of amusement in that “mm.”
But Xiao Yuan’s expression was normal, and there was no way to tell.
Su Muchen could not be bothered to investigate. He stuffed the newly written papers into a waterproof bag.
“Give these to Xia Lanshi. He looks like he’s better at organizing things than you.”
Xiao Yuan asked, “You trust him?”
Su Muchen had never even met Xia Lanshi. Yet from a single record, he could judge Xia Lanshi’s ability.
“His handwriting is good, and his organization is clear.”
Xiao Yuan: “…”
Su Muchen pushed the new supply list toward Xiao Yuan.
“Send these boxes tonight. The oral rehydration salts and measuring spoons will arrive later. If we can’t make it in time, send them tomorrow night.”
Xiao Yuan said, “Three days from now, I will depart for the northern border.”
Su Muchen’s movements paused.
“That soon?”
“The imperial decree has already been issued.”
Su Muchen frowned.
He knew it would be soon, but he had not expected it to be this soon.
Three days.
There were too many things to prepare.
And the amount that could be sent through the door was limited.
This was simply not enough.
He was silent for a moment before picking up his pen again.
“Then we’ll adjust the plan.”
He wrote three words on the paper.
—Priority.
“First, supplies related to epidemic control.”
“Second, treatment for wounded soldiers.”
“Third, portable high-calorie food.”
“Fourth, warm clothing and supplies.”
“Fifth, other trade goods.”
Xiao Yuan asked, “Trade goods?”
“Soap, sugar, mirrors, things like that.” Su Muchen said, “These can help you exchange for money, favors, and supplies in Great Sheng. But right now, they aren’t the most urgent.”
Xiao Yuan’s eyes shifted slightly.
Su Muchen looked at him. “You have gold in your hands, but once you reach the northern border, it may not immediately turn into food. You need things that can open up local granaries, merchants’ grain stores, and people’s goodwill.”
Xiao Yuan was silent for a moment.
“At court today, I asked the Emperor for the authority to act with discretion.”
Su Muchen was stunned.
“What does that mean?”
“I can allocate grain from local granaries along the way. When necessary, I can execute first and report afterward.”
After hearing this, Su Muchen’s expression became complicated.
This was power, but it was also a target.
Although he did not understand the details of Great Sheng’s imperial court, he had not read palace-intrigue novels and history for nothing.
“In other words, if you do well, it’s because the Emperor is wise. If you fail, it’s because you abused your authority?”
Xiao Yuan looked at him, his eyes shifting slightly.
“You understand.”
Su Muchen sneered. “Studying folk literature about vicious competition within royal families is still somewhat useful.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan let out a low laugh.
Very short.
But this time, Su Muchen saw it.
He froze for a moment.
Xiao Yuan also quickly restrained his expression.
The shop suddenly became somewhat quiet.
Xiao held a box of soap and looked left and right, feeling that he really should not say anything.
But he still spoke.
“You two, there’s still capacity for the door tonight. Why don’t we send the goods first?”
Su Muchen immediately came back to his senses.
“Send them.”
The boxes were pushed to the door one after another.
Xiao Yuan grasped the bronze ring, and white light appeared.
This time, there were more supplies than last night.
Su Muchen stared at the cloud-and-water pattern on the door, holding a notebook in his hand. Every time a box went through, he recorded one entry.
First box, medical supplies.
Second box, drinking water.
Third box, soap.
Fourth box, supplementary food.
When the fourth box was sent through, the white light began to weaken.
Su Muchen immediately said, “Stop.”
Xiao Yuan glanced at the remaining boxes.
He did not force it.
He had already learned that there were certain rules here that could not be forced through.
Especially the rules set by Su Muchen.
“We’ll send them tomorrow night.”
Su Muchen said, “Tomorrow night.”
Xiao Yuan nodded.
He put away the waterproof bag and picked up the medicine Su Muchen had given him.
Before leaving, Su Muchen suddenly called out to him.
“Xiao Yuan.”
Xiao Yuan turned back.
Su Muchen hesitated for a moment before saying, “Before you leave for the northern border, you’d better come one more time. I’ll prepare some more personal medicines for you.”
Xiao Yuan looked at him.
Su Muchen felt uncomfortable under his gaze and added, “You’re our only customer. It’d be troublesome if you died.”
A trace of amusement seemed to surface in Xiao Yuan’s eyes again.
“All right.”
White light swallowed his figure.
The door closed.
Su Muchen stood where he was, seemingly still hearing that “all right” beside his ears.
Very quiet, yet it firmly settled somewhere within his heart.
Xiao poked his head out from the side.
“Only customer?”
Su Muchen said coldly, “What are you trying to say?”
Xiao smiled. “Nothing.”
He simply felt that if this continued, this only customer would sooner or later become the only something else.
However, if he said that aloud now, Su Muchen would probably become embarrassed and angry.
“But…” Xiao put away some of his smile. “Listen to one piece of advice.”
“What?”
“Don’t invest too much of your heart in someone from another world.”
“…What do you mean?”
Xiao’s gaze drifted into the distance as he said calmly, “This door cannot remain open forever. Sooner or later, the two sides will become unable to communicate, and everything will return to its ordinary state.”
He spoke these words calmly, yet they struck directly at Su Muchen’s heart.
That’s right…
He and Xiao Yuan were people from two different worlds. They had only met because of this door.
Then, if one day this door closed again and could no longer be opened, their only connection would be severed just like that.
He believed that he merely regarded Xiao Yuan as his important customer, as well as his first patient. Yet when Xiao reminded him like this, why was there an indescribable sense of loneliness in his heart?