After Rescuing The Sickly White Moonlight - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Stop Looking, Fierce Beasts.

Liang Yi’an was silent for a moment. “How did he know for certain that I would drink the medicine? Was he not afraid of accidents!”

Zheng Yanzhang concluded: “Therefore, they must have a backup plan. Your Highness, the day of the Autumn Hunt will be very dangerous.”

Liang Yi’an stood up and smiled: “Rather than living in trepidation, it is better to go with the flow and meet their moves as they come.”

Liang Yi’an turned to Lin Yu and said: “I heard you know some medical arts. How about staying by my side on the day of the Autumn Hunt?”

Lin Yu agreed without hesitation.

Zheng Qingyun was surprised by his decisiveness and felt somewhat worried, but Lin Yu’s attitude was firm, and Liang Yi’an was very satisfied.

In the period that followed, a bowl of medicine was still delivered to Liang Yi’an every day, except he did not drink it; instead, it was swapped for medicine meant to clear heat and reduce internal fire.

Half a month later, at the hunting grounds.

Zheng Qingyun insisted on coming along no matter what. Zheng Heng had no choice but to agree, though he forbade him from running off. Zheng Yanzhang also told Guanqi and Guanyi to keep a close eye on him.

Since that night of discussion in the study, Lin Yu seemed to have suddenly become very busy. During class, Mr. Fang did not allow the two to whisper, and after class, he was dragged away by Zheng Zhili to practice with the martial arts master. When he returned at night, he would fall asleep immediately. Zheng Qingyun hadn’t shared a meal with Lin Yu for a long time.

However, Zheng Qingyun’s daily medicine was still personally decocted by Lin Yu and served to him by hand.

Zheng Zhili saw Zheng Qingyun looking around as if searching for something and found it amusing: “Stop looking, Xiao Yu is with the Crown Prince.”

Zheng Qingyun was somewhat disappointed and retorted to his second brother huffily: “I wasn’t looking for him! Who said I was looking for him?”

Zheng Zhili humored him: “Fine, fine, fine. You weren’t looking. I was looking for Xiao Yu, alright?”

He looked at Zheng Qingyun’s huffy face and chuckled inwardly. It seemed the third brother was truly angry; once Lin Yu returned, there would be quite a show to watch.

Zheng Qingyun wrapped himself in his cloak and brooded.

Lin Yu, who was currently tying a quiver by the Crown Prince’s tent, had no idea someone was already mourning for him. The morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the air carried a chill of moisture.

He sneezed and thought to himself: It really is a bit cold in the outskirts.

Li Quan carefully carried a bowl of soup into the tent, with Lin Yu following closely behind. Liang Yi’an looked up, and Li Quan understood the signal; with a wave of his hand, everyone else in the tent exited.

Lin Yu sniffed carefully and tasted a bit of the soup, then said to Liang Yi’an: “Besides deer blood and ginseng, this contains Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica). The Cang Zhu (Atractylodes) Your Highness usually drinks conflicts with Bai Zhi.”

Liang Yi’an nodded. With a slight tilt of his wrist, the bowl crashed to the ground. Those outside the tent only heard Liang Yi’an’s voice sounding somewhat exasperated: “Li Quan! You clumsy fool, I hadn’t even finished my soup!”

Followed by Li Quan’s panicked pleas for mercy: “Your Highness, forgive me! Your Highness, forgive me!”

The sun climbed over the treetops, and the sound of horns startled the birds in the forest.

The Emperor’s Black Armor Cavalry cleared the way, and the gold-threaded dragon flags swept across the grass.

Liang Jin led a group into the forest. Among the princes, except for Liang Yi’an and the Second Prince Liang Yi’nan, the rest were too young. However, Noble Consort Zhang had previously reported to the Emperor that Liang Yi’nan had a slight fever during the night and had just taken medicine, so he would not accompany the Emperor.

Liang Jin pulled the reins and spoke to Liang Yi’an: “An’er, how about a match with Imperial Father?”

Liang Yi’an smiled: “Then I ask Imperial Father to show some mercy, and not let your son lose too embarrassingly.”

The two groups moved in opposite directions.

Liang Yi’an led his people into another part of the forest to search for prey.

Lin Yu followed beside Liang Yi’an, a faint worry growing in his heart.

The change occurred in the next second.

The roar of a tiger rose in the forest. From the southwest, the cries of the Imperial Guards surged like waves. The horses seemed to sense the danger as well, nervously pawing the ground with their hooves.

Liang Yi’an’s expression changed. Pulling the reins, he exclaimed: “Not good, Imperial Father is in danger!”

The group turned their horses around and sped toward Liang Jin’s location.

Striped tiger claws tore through the imperial flag, the claws gleaming white in the sunlight as they lunged straight for Liang Jin.

“Protect the Emperor!” Eunuch Wang shouted.

The Imperial Guards formed a formation in front of Liang Jin and drew their bows. The next second, arrows flew toward the fierce tiger like rain.

The pain provoked the tiger; it let out a great roar and lunged into the crowd to bite before being subdued by the Black Armor Cavalry.

Liang Jin aimed at the tiger’s neck, and three arrows “shoo-shoo” tore through the air, accurately striking the beast.

Everyone’s attention was on the Emperor. The tiger was covered in wounds, lying on the ground panting heavily, at the end of its strength. Guards stepped forward with ropes to bind it, waiting for Liang Jin to decapitate it as the top prize of the hunt.

Few noticed a shadow of black appearing behind Liang Yi’an.

Zheng Zhili, who was not far away, felt his eyes nearly split with intensity as he shouted: “Your Highness, watch out!”

Liang Yi’an looked toward the sound, only to see a sinister wolf baring its teeth, saliva dripping to the ground, charging rapidly at him.

Lin Yu’s pupils contracted. He saw the white horse beneath Liang Yi’an suddenly go mad, its front hooves rearing up; Liang Yi’an nearly fell off the horse.

Lin Yu hurriedly lunged forward to pull the reins tight so Liang Yi’an could dismount safely, but as he neared the saddle, he caught the scent of She Chuang Zi (Cnidium Monnieri).

His eyes widened. She Chuang Zi would make a horse restless, or even frenzied!

He pulled the reins with all his might, but his strength was too weak; he was nearly lifted off the ground by the horse.

Zheng Qingyun snatched the crossbow from Guanyi’s hand and pulled it to full draw.

“Shoo!”

The arrow flew out, plunging straight into the horse’s belly. Zheng Yanzhang’s whistling sword grazed Lin Yu’s sleeve and pierced the white horse’s body. Zheng Zhili’s red-tasseled spear also pinned the wolf to the spot. However, the maddened white horse kicked Liang Yi’an over. Lin Yu grabbed Liang Yi’an, and the two rolled down the hillside.

Lin Yu’s back slammed into a tree, and Liang Yi’an’s chest throbbed with pain from the horse’s kick. Both coughed up a mouthful of blood and passed out.

Liang Jin hurried over, directing people to carry the injured back to the tents.

The scene was pure chaos.

Zheng Qingyun’s strength left him. He put down the crossbow and was about to go check the situation when he noticed a flash of green in the corner a thin, small figure.

He silently noted that silhouette.

Liang Yi’an had some hairline fractures in his ribs and needed quiet rest. Lin Yu’s back was covered in a large bruise, though his internal organs were fortunately unharmed.

Zheng Qingyun sat to the side, looking worriedly at the unconscious Lin Yu.

The Imperial Physicians were in the Crown Prince’s tent, taking turns with the diagnosis.

A candle burned out. Zheng Qingyun replaced it with a new one. The flame popped, and Lin Yu coughed twice in discomfort, opening his eyes.

His back was injured, so he couldn’t lie flat. He was uncomfortable lying on his stomach, so with Zheng Qingyun’s help, he sat up.

Amidst the sound of the night watch drums, Zheng Yanzhang lifted the curtain and entered. He had come to see how Lin Yu was doing.

Seeing Zheng Yanzhang, Lin Yu spoke urgently: “Someone placed She Chuang Zi under the Crown Prince’s saddle, mixed in with insect-repellent herbs like mugwort and mint. No one noticed. Horses react very strongly to She Chuang Zi, which is why it went mad. This was their backup plan.”

Zheng Yanzhang’s expression changed sharply.

This was no accident.

Zheng Yanzhang quickly told Lin Yu not to be anxious and to mind his own body.

Lin Yu pulled a nameplate from his robes a small piece, not even as large as his palm.

This was something he had accidentally discovered among the weeds.

Lin Yu remembered that when Suo Lou’s house was raided, the warehouse was piled with many similar plates. There were different lines and patterns on the back of the plates, but he had died before he had the chance to decode them.

Seeing the plate, Zheng Yanzhang’s gaze shifted: “You found one too?”

Lin Yu blinked: “Big Brother found one elsewhere as well?”

Zheng Qingyun placed another piece on the table and spoke: “One slid out of the tiger carcass’s stomach. It was just cleaned.”

Lin Yu placed the two pieces together. The three of them looked at them for a long time but couldn’t make sense of them.

Looking at the lines on one of the pieces, a flash of inspiration hit Zheng Qingyun. He dipped his finger in a bit of tea and drew a few strokes on the table.

Lin Yu and Zheng Yanzhang waited for him to finish. After the final stroke was complete, Lin Yu recognized it: “Mount Song’an.”

Zheng Qingyun nodded: “There is a sheer cliff at Mount Song’an; no one has ever been to the bottom.”

Zheng Yanzhang let out a cold laugh: “I fear those who have been there never returned. I will go report to the Emperor. You two rest well and don’t worry.”

As soon as Zheng Yanzhang left, the tent suddenly became quiet.

The breeze outside moved the curtains, lifting the flap, and the candlelight flickered occasionally.

Zheng Qingyun didn’t speak. He simply had Lin Yu take off his upper garment. Lin Yu didn’t know what he was going to do, but seeing Zheng Qingyun’s somewhat dark face, he obeyed obediently.

Zheng Qingyun took off his shoes and knelt behind him, using ointment to help him apply medicine.

Lin Yu was startled by his actions and quickly grabbed his hand: “Wait, wait, wait, Qingyun. This won’t do. I’m not seriously hurt.”

Zheng Qingyun shook off his hand and said coldly: “Shut up.”

Lin Yu didn’t dare make a sound. He could see Zheng Qingyun was angry and didn’t dare go against him.

He knew he hadn’t spent much time with Zheng Qingyun lately; the other was angry, and it was his fault. If Zheng Qingyun was harsh with him, he had to take it.

Zheng Qingyun finished applying the medicine and wrapped the wound.

After a moment of silence, as if he simply couldn’t get over the anger, he gave Lin Yu a pinch on an uninjured spot.

Lin Yu exaggeratedly cried out in pain. Zheng Qingyun quickly began to rub it a few times, only realizing Lin Yu was teasing him when he heard a bit of laughter. He flared up in embarrassment: “Lin Yu! I am very angry right now!”

Lin Yu stopped laughing, turned around, and looked up at Zheng Qingyun, who was kneeling on the couch and was a bit taller than him.

Suddenly, a moment of enlightenment hit him. Lin Yu knew how to coax the other person.

He comforted gently: “Qingyun, don’t be angry anymore. It was my fault. But look, aren’t I fine?”

Zheng Qingyun pointed at his heavily wrapped chest and back: “You call this ‘fine’?”

Lin Yu pulled him down to sit and looked him straight in the eye: “These are all minor injuries; they’ll heal in a few days. I’m very sorry for not spending much time with you lately. I apologize to you. Don’t be angry anymore, okay?”

Zheng Qingyun’s tone was a bit aggrieved: “You’re not allowed to keep things from me in the future. I treat you as a very important person. You’re not allowed to lie to me, and you must stay by my side always! Do you remember?”

Hearing these rather possessive words, Lin Yu couldn’t help but chuckle. However, thinking these were just the words of a child, he didn’t correct him. He quickly tucked away his smile and answered seriously: “Alright, I promise you.”

He extended his pinky finger: “Pinky swear.”

Zheng Qingyun was a bit confused: “What is a pinky swear?”

Lin Yu explained: “It means we make a pact. Once we’ve sworn, it can’t be changed. Whoever changes is a little dog.”

Zheng Qingyun also extended his pinky and hooked it with Lin Yu’s. He heard Lin Yu’s gentle voice: “Pinky, pinky, bow-and-key, a hundred years no change, whoever changes is a little dog.”

“Stamp it!”

The two small thumbs pressed against each other.

Only then did Zheng Qingyun show his first smile of the night.

But he accidentally pulled the arm he had overexerted while drawing the crossbow today. He let out a light gasp of pain. Lin Yu hurried forward to check, forgetting that he was injured as well.

The two looked at each other, froze for a moment, and then both burst out laughing.

Meanwhile, in the Emperor’s tent, Liang Jin listened to Zheng Yanzhang’s report with a dark face.

His gaze fell upon Liang Yi’an, who had his eyes closed tightly and a pained expression. Beside him was the Empress, silently weeping, her eyes full of heartache and rage.

Looking at the unconscious Liang Yi’an, Zheng Yanzhang was quite worried.

Liang Jin turned his jade thumb ring and shouted sternly: “Wang Fu, investigate! Investigate for me! Who was so audacious as to try to harm my Crown Prince!”

As the group exited the tent, Zheng Yanzhang happened to glance to the side and saw a thin figure enter Noble Consort Zhang’s tent.

Zheng Yanzhang’s heart stirred slightly.

Noble Consort Zhang had a son whose age was not much different from Liang Yi’an’s.

And, Noble Consort Zhang seemed to be the niece of Suo Lou.

Inside her tent, Noble Consort Zhang removed her hairpins and combed her hair. Upon learning the news of the Crown Prince’s injury, the corners of her mouth curled into a satisfied smile.

It didn’t matter if the medicine wasn’t drunk; the goal was achieved regardless.

“Imperial Mother, I’m tired.” Liang Yi’nan yawned and lunged into Noble Consort Zhang’s embrace.

Noble Consort Zhang took her son’s hand and walked slowly to the bedding.

“Good son, go to sleep.”