Hidden Shadow – CH 078

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Awakening

Lou Xiaowu did not answer, looking at Mo Sigui with hopeful eyes.

Mo Sigui examined it carefully for a moment, picked it up, sniffed it, frowned, and immediately wrapped it up. “Where did you get this thing?”

“Is there really a problem?” Lou Xiaowu asked anxiously. “What kind of poison is it?”

Mo Sigui carefully wrapped the thing and stuffed it into a bottle he carried with him before slowly saying, “It’s a plague gu. Actually, it is a kind of poison, but it is extremely terrifying, almost like it has life. Within seven days, the whole city would be empty, hence the name ‘gu.’ Those afflicted by gu initially feel as if they’ve caught a cold, with their cheeks flushed red like peach blossoms and their eyelids turning crimson. Breathing would become heavy; they would be bedridden after three days and die in seven. The terrifying thing is that after death, the entire body is infected with plague, and anyone who comes into contact with it is doomed.”

Yao-Ye exclaimed in surprise, “Then you?”

“Do not be afraid. Judging from this cut, the person infected with the gu was probably still alive when the finger was severed. This gu needs the warmth of a corpse to nourish itself. If the person was still alive when the finger was cut, the poison would lose its activity, and it would not spread unless ingested or by touching the wound.”

Mo Sigui asked Lou Xiaowu, “This person has probably been infected with the gu for at least three days, right?” The ten fingers were connected to the heart; if the gu poison had spread to the heart meridian, it must have been at least three days.

Lou Xiaowu nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, it has been exactly three days since the finger was severed. Is there any hope?”

Mo Sigui, seeing that she was not worried about being infected but instead asked this question, knew that the person afflicted with the gu was her close relative. However, he could only shake his head. “The poison has already invaded the heart meridian. Even if the person who cast the gu gives an antidote, it is useless. If that person has high internal strength, they must be executed and burned immediately, because this gu absorbs internal strength; the stronger the internal strength, the more potent the gu poison will be.”

Lou Xiaowu’s eyes were red. “This is my aunt’s severed finger. Many people in our family have fallen ill within three days. The patriarch ordered all the infected to be frozen and placed in an ice cellar. Some have already gone to Mei Mansion for help. Since you know about this, do you have a solution?”

Lou Xiaowu had gone with them to Mei Mansion, but halfway there, she heard that Mo Sigui was in Bianjing, so she and the main family members split up.

“The poison is potent, but the antidote is not difficult.” Mo Sigui took out a porcelain bottle, poured out a pill, popped it into his mouth, and then gave one to each person.

“Physician Mo, please save my Lou family! I, Xiaowu, will repay you with anything!” Lou Xiaowu knelt before Mo Sigui.

Mo Sigui pondered for a moment, then reached out to help her up. “The fortunes of the Mei and Lou families are intertwined. Let’s go.”

After saying this, he turned to An Jiu. “You can enjoy yourself in Bianjing first. I will return soon.”

“Alright,” An Jiu replied.

Even though Lou Xiaowu was lively, she was in no mood for reminiscing at this moment. After the matter was settled, she bowed to An Jiu and hurriedly left with Mo Sigui.

The sound of hooves faded into the distance, and Yao-Ye ordered the carriage to return to the mansion.

“It sounds extremely dangerous. I hope My Lord can handle it,” Yao-Ye sighed.

An Jiu remained silent; this matter was truly too strange. The four great families had just been attacked during the trial, and the Lou family was in trouble upon their return! The Mei family would likely suffer the same fate.

The Mei family anticipated this and would certainly leave Elder Qi to oversee things. The Lou family also knew that going to Mei Mansion would most likely be unsuccessful. The most likely option was to send Mo Sigui, which was why they sent Lou Xiaowu to invite him in advance.

“You do not like him, so why are you worried?” An Jiu asked, puzzled.

Yao-Ye looked at An Jiu. “My Lord is not listed in the Mei family genealogy. He also has no connection with the Lou family. It is understandable if he would not go on this trip; he’s going only out of respect for Elder Qi’s upbringing. I’ve served the Mei family for many years. Although I’ve never been close to My Lord, I know he’s seen it all and can be somewhat cold-hearted, but if someone can win his heart, he will go through fire and water for them.”

Meeting her expectant gaze, An Jiu thought for a moment but still could not grasp the meaning. “What do you mean?”

Yao-Ye lowered her voice, “It means find a way to marry him! My Lord is much better than that Second Young Master Hua; at least we know each other’s background!”

“He and I are cousins.” An Jiu had not even considered that possibility. Even if they were not cousins, An Jiu would never tolerate Mei Jiu marrying a physician! Subconsciously, she felt that physicians were all crazy and perverted. Mo Sigui seemed relatively normal now, but her father was still a charming man in public!

Yao-Ye, unaware of the details, asked curiously, “The Song Dynasty law does not prohibit marriage between cousins; you should know that, young lady!” Mo Sigui and Mei Jiu’s mother were sisters and cousins, so marriage was naturally permissible.

An Jiu, unwilling to discuss further, simply said, “We will see.”

Yao-Ye, noticing her apparent resistance, wondered if she had truly fallen for a philanderer like Second Young Master Hua! If so, this marriage, whether it succeeded or not, would be a tragedy!

Back at the residence.

After bathing, An Jiu squatted by the fireplace. Seeing the new trinkets she’d bought that evening on the table, she could not resist approaching. She picked one up and examined it, her elegant dress flowing, her long, black hair half-dry and draped behind her.

“Young Lady, it is getting late; rest,” Yao-Ye reminded her.

An Jiu ignored her, intently fiddling with a small dovecote.

The carriage, shaped like a graceful little bird, had wheels on both sides and a recessed center where the bird’s body should be. The entire carriage was no bigger than two fingers, exquisitely crafted and adorable.

Yao-Ye noticed that since her young lady returned from her trial, she seemed to live entirely in her own world. Whatever she wanted to do was completely unaffected by others, so she stopped trying to persuade her and simply let her be.

The night was dark and frosty.

The crowds in the dimly lit streets gradually dispersed. In a dark alley, a figure stood quietly, dressed in black, close-fitting clothes, cloaked, blending into the darkness.

His ears twitched slightly, and he coughed softly.

A dark figure landed lightly like a swallow, kneeling before him. “Commander, something has happened to the Lou family. Young Lady Mei and Mo Sigui have already gone there.”

“The reason for the Lou family elder’s poisoning?” The commander’s voice was low and cold.

The man’s throat tightened. “It’s not yet clear, but we’ve discovered a group of uninvited guests lurking near the Mei family residence in Bianjing.”

“Do not act for now; observe secretly,” the commander ordered. “Go.”

“Yes!” The man quickly left.

The situation was clear: the ambush during the trial was just the beginning. That group had managed to silently kill dozens of Imperial Guards in just two hours; their strength was truly terrifying.

Such formidable power—who else could be the mastermind but the Emperor?!

These men risked their lives, living a life of constant danger and squalor, yet instead of dying in their mission to protect the Song Dynasty, they perished at the hands of their own master! The commander clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking.

A gust of cold wind swept through the alley. After calming down slightly, the commander’s mind was filled with doubt again—the current Emperor appeared carefree and focused on alchemy, but in reality, he was extremely calculating and suspicious. He should not do something that would cause discord between the Emperor and his ministers. Even if he wanted to eliminate the Konghe Army, he should not be so hasty.

However, he could not rule out the possibility that the Emperor had taken too many elixirs and damaged his mind!

The commander composed himself, and his figure disappeared into the darkness.

The next day.

After finishing breakfast, An Jiu changed into men’s clothing and went out for a stroll.

Unfortunately, Mei Jiu’s body was too graceful, attracting frequent glances from passersby. An Jiu was extremely sensitive to stares, constantly feeling like she was being watched. After wandering around for an hour, she nearly suffered a nervous breakdown.

She seemed rather erratic, and Yao-Ye, unable to bear it any longer, suggested, “My young lady, there’s a teahouse over there by the river. Let’s sit there for a while.”

This was exactly what An Jiu wanted to hear. “Alright.”

Willows drooped along the riverbank, their bare branches covered in a thick layer of white frost. The river shimmered, a thin mist dissipating, like a veil of gauze—a truly beautiful scene.

The teahouse was built right by the water, offering seats by the window to admire the river view.

An Jiu sat down in a private room, watching the people across the river washing clothes on the bank and the boats on the river carrying goods for sale. This vibrant scene of life deeply moved her.

“It’s time to stop,” An Jiu thought to herself. “You say you need to be strong, but it is all bullshit! Mei Yanran risked everything to keep you alive, and this is how you repay her? I’ve lived two lives, and I’ve never seen a more despicable creature than you!”

Her heart pounded strangely.

An Jiu had only spoken offhand, harboring no hope for Mei Jiu, when she suddenly heard her weak voice, “An Jiu.” An Jiu stopped drinking the tea she was about to bring to her lips.

“I want to live, I want to live like them…” Mei Jiu trembled.

Mei Jiu had already woken up due to An Jiu’s powerful mental influence, but she forced herself to sleep every day, trying not to think about anything troubling.

She wanted to save her mother, but she was filled with fear of life in the Konghe Army, especially after witnessing the cruelty of the trials, where human life was treated less than grass. She wanted to escape the Mei family and live an ordinary life, but she felt guilty towards her mother. Every time she thought of her mother suffering in purgatory, her heart could not find peace.

If only she could just fall asleep! Unfortunately, fate had other plans. Under An Jiu’s mental influence, she was forced to wake up.

“What should I do?” Mei Jiu murmured.

Yao-Ye lowered her head and asked, “What did you say, my young lady?”

Mei Jiu jolted awake, realizing she had regained control of her body. Terrified, she cried out, “An Jiu! An Jiu!”

She had not even figured out what to do; how could this be…

Yao-Ye, startled, steadied her. “My Young Lady, what’s wrong?”

Mei Jiu hugged Yao-Ye, tears streaming down her face.

Just as Yao-Ye was about to ask again, a buzzing sound came from outside the window. Startled, Yao-Ye looked up and saw three powerful arrows hurtling towards them. She instinctively pulled Mei Jiu aside.

The two fell to the ground. Yao-Ye looked at Mei Jiu’s terrified and disoriented state, filled with questions, but she did not have time to think further. “Guards!”

Guards rushed in.

“Protect the young lady!” Yao-Ye shielded Mei Jiu and hid her in a safe place.

Mei Jiu was almost in despair. She had just been awakened by An Jiu in a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, but why did she have to encounter this upon waking up!

“No attackers found!” the entering guard said.

What happened? In broad daylight, someone actually attempted to assassinate Young Lady Mei! Yao-Ye had too many things she could not understand today.