55

The news about Huichun attacking Liangzhou was actually false information created by Lord Dun. He sent a soldier report to Yuhong Xun, prompting Yuhong Xuan and Zhao Wei to leave Jingdu separately to lead the troops from the western border and the garrison from Mei Changqiong. This strategy was employed because Yuhong Ye lacked the experience to handle the situation. Their departure from Jingdu also served to low Yuhong Xun's vigilance. If Yuhong Xun took no action, Yuhong Xuan and Zhao Wei were expected to return to the western border. However, in the event of any disturbance in Jingdu, Yuhong Xuan would lead the soldiers from the western to support Jingdu immediately. Meanwhile, Zhao Wei would lead the garrison under the control of Mei Changqing and Yuhong Ye to intercept any troops which disobeyed the Emperor's orders. This was Xu Xing's plan. 

It turned out that when Zhou Xiang disguised herself as a servant from Yuhong Xun's mansion. She secretly slipped out of the mansion during the lazy time when most people were taking nap. She ran to Princess Yun's mansion in hurry, where she met Nie Huanzhang and Yu Weiwei, and shared the eavesdropped information from Zhou Chuyu. Nie Huanzhang and Yu Weiwei immediately took separate actions. First, they informed Lord Dun, who promptly entered the palace. After meeting the Emperor and obtaining an imperial decree, he sent it over to Yuhong Xuan and Zhao Wei, stationed nearby. Yu Weiwei went to the royal army to protect the palace outside, While Yuhong Yang, leading the emperor's bodyguard, was the last line to defense inside the palace. Nie Huanzhang kept a vigilant eye on Yuhong Xun's action. Lee Da monitored the garrison in Jingdu closely. When Lee Da observed that the city gates were closed earlier than usual, he realized that the garrison in Jingdu had been bribed by Yuhong Xun. Knowing he had no influence over the garrison, he sought help from Nie Huanzhang because it was crucial to open the gate for Yuhong Xuan and his soldiers. 

Upon seeing Yuhong Xuan's arrival, Yuhong Xun immediately realized that he had been deceived. He angrily cursed:

"Yuhong Xuan, all of you colluded to deceive me. You, an unfilial son who murders the Emperor, our father, conspired with Yuhong Yang to secure your ascension to the throne."

Yuhong Xuan responded:

"Murder the Emperor, our father? What you say is your fifth brother, Yuhong Zhen. As for my father, our emperor, he is currently enjoying a game of weiqi with my teacher in my mother's palace. I have never expected you to rebel and attempt to seize the throne. Both you, like your younger brother, is the true patricides."

Nie Huanzhang was staring at Zhou Chuyu beside Yuhong Xun. Under the light of the torch, Chuyu's skin, who was already abnormal white, was a dead-like pale and there was the blood near the lips. It seemed that he was about to faint. This made Nie Huanzhang hurt in his heart so that he wanted to attack Yuhong Xun directly. It was obviously that Yuhong Xun understood his intention so he put his sword on Zhou Chuyu's neck, said with smile:

"Come here! Come here please! Maybe I'm so scared that the sword is shaken to cut this white neck. Yuhong Xuan, as long as I kill all of these soldiers, the palace will be mine and the emperor is in my hand no matter whether he is died or not."

Nie Huanzhang focused on Zhou Chuyu, who met his gaze and smiled silently, conveying a message: "Kill me!" Nie Huanzhang got his point and shook his head. At this moment, an arrow shot through the air, aimed at Zhou Chuyu. Panicking, Nie Huanzhang shouted: "No!" and swiftly spurred his Step Snow toward Zhou Chuyu. Others followed him, but Zhou Chuyu had been hit. Yuhong Xun embraced him, preparing to use him as a shield. But when he saw Yuhong Xuan and his soldiers coming, he threw Zhou Chuyu away. Nie Huanzhang swung his sword to ward off Yuhong Xun's sword and grabbed the rope that bound Zhou Chuyu's hands as he was falling down from the horse. Nie Huanzhang lifted the rope vigorously and picked Zhou Chuyu up with his other arm, which he held the sword in another hand. Nie Huanzhang didn't care about what was going on between the two sides. He put Zhou Chuyu on his horse slowly and carefully, kissing Zhou Chuyu on his head and pleaded:

"My baby, Please! I will bring you to be treated."

Zhou Chuyu said weakly:

"Ge, I want to go home."

At this time, Yuhong Xun, who was fighting with Yuhong Xuan, retreated to Nie Huanzhang's side. Witnessing this, Nie Huanzhang handed the sword to his another hand, and with a swift movement, he swung his sword across Yuhong Xun's waist directly. Because of this, Xun's body became stagnant, allowing Yuhong Xuan to stab his sword into Xun's chest, piercing the heart. Yuhong Xun fell and died directly. Yuhong Xuan declared immediately:

"Yuhong Xun is dead. If you continues to resist, you will be executed."

Of course Nie Huanzhang didn't hear this because he, who hugged Zhou Chuyu on the horse, had ridden to the mansion of Princess Yun's. He didn't know where to find the doctor, but there was one, Zhou Chuqi, there. As soon as he rushed into the mansion, he kissed Chuyu and murmured:

"Please, my baby, you must hold on. Don't let me be alone, Please! Please, baby!"

The tears in his eyes blurred his vision, and what was happening in the palace wasn't his business anymore. 

Nie Huanzhang looked at Zhou Chuqi with suspicion and asked:

"Could you treat him or not?"

Zhou Chuqi replied:

"This is my younger brother. Don't worry! I specialized in studying at the Royal Medical School. The arrow is deflected but a bit deep. The archer was quite forceful."

"Do you need my help?"

"Yes, you pull out arrow, and I'll apply medicine to stop the bleeding. Okay, one, two three."

As Nie Huanzhang pulled out the arrow, Zhou Chuyu's body involuntarily shuddered, and the blood spurted out. Fortunately Zhou Chuqi acted quickly, and the bleeding was gradually stopped. Nie Huanzhang couldn't help shedding tears and felt pain in his heart. Zhou Chuqi also spoke with a tearful voice:

"Well, why do you always cry so easily like a baby?"

"You're the same. To tell you the truth I'm really pain in my heart." Nie Huanzhang kissed Zhou Chuyu, continued, "I don't care if you accept us or not, but I want to tell you that I love him and I won't let him leave me again. I will stay with him forever."

"What I care about is whether he is happy or not. As long as he is happy, I will accept anything."

Nie Huanzhang expressed his gratitude and said:

"Thank you! But I need your help to persuade your parents. Of course it is my job but I need your help."

Zhou Chuqi replied:

"I will. Oh, forget to tell you that my parents have been found."

"That's great! Wangshi doesn't need to worry about them anymore. But where were they? And what happened?"

"Well, my parents didn't know what happened. They said the guards who were watching over them seemed to start looting their valuable when they didn't get their usual payment. The guards became lax and my parents seized the opportunity to escape. They begged their way to Jingdu and found Zhou Zheng. As for where were kept, it was in an estate outside a royal garden near Jingdu, a place where no one would go except some princes who hunt there sometimes."

Nie Huanzhang nodded and said:

"No wonder we searched both inside and outside Jingdu several times and couldn't find them. Are your parents saddened by seeing how things turned out for you all?"

"Well, there was nothing for Zheng and me. They can accept Zheng's divorce. As for Xiang and Chuyu, of course, they're very sad. They are taking care of Xiang in the embroidery house because of her abortion. Whenever my parents talk about them, they can't help but cry, especially my father. He blames himself because he thinks what Chuyu has suffered is for his wish. If Chuyu doesn't have pursued being a scholar, he should have stayed home for a normal life."

"It's not his fault. That asshole is a psycho."

"How is it outside? I heard the commotion has died down."

"I think it is over soon. That asshole is definitely dead. I stabbed him through his waist and right before getting on my horse, I saw the Eldest Prince stab him again. This is our revenge for Wangshi and you family. But how can we make up for Wangshi's suffering, your little mom's life and everything what your family had suffered, how to make up for these?"

Zhou Chuqi sighed and said:

"You're right. It is easier with boys but how about my sisters? They are under 20 years old. Their future will bother the rest of my parents's life."

"If there is anything your family needs, just let me know. Wangshi's sibling are also mine. Now matter who need help, Wangshi and I will stand by him or her."

"Thank you!"

"The bandaging is done. You can go and take a rest. I am here to keep my eye on him."

"Okay, I'm cooking the medicine. Oh, there is another thing I have to tell you. I want to move to the embroidery house. After all, it isn't my home but I will come here everyday to take care of Chuyu. As for Chuyu, is it possible for him to live here for a little longer time? I will hire a house in Jingdu for him to recuperate."

Nie Huanzhang strongly objected:

"No, you have to stay here. I know your embroidery house isn't big enough for many people to live there. And Wangshi needs the doctor to treat him. By the way, I will ask for an excellent doctor from the royal hospital to check Chuyu completely if you don't mind."

Zhou Chuqi pondered for a while and said:

"Okay, you're right. My skills and experience are not good enough to treat Chuyu. It is better for me to live here but I'm afraid that Princess Yun doesn't like this."

"Now she is my mother so she has to accept my friend and my brothers. And she knows which kind of the relationship Chuyu and I have."

"Does she accept this?"

"She didn't says anything about this. But, Chuqi, I can tell you I will be with Wangshi forever no matter whether my mother or your parents accept this or not."