Perfect Match – CH 051

Chapter 51

Teng Yue placed the person in the outer courtyard, but soon the medicine there ran out. He sent people to fetch medicine from the inner courtyard. The old lady’s medicine storehouse mainly stored precious raw herbs; prepared medicines were perishable, had limited storage, and were not suitable for the specific ailment. Teng Yue personally went back to Liumingxuan.

Deng Ruyun saw that he was also covered in blood, but he walked as if nothing was wrong. He quickly walked to her.

“Does Yunniang have any medicine to stop the bleeding and treat wounds? The more the better; Shen Yanxing is badly injured.”

It turned out he had brought back Shen Yanxing.

Teng Yue and the others had gone to see him outside the city before the New Year, but returned without finding him, not expecting him to suddenly appear like this.

Deng Ruyun naturally had a rich supply of medicines, but each medicine had different uses. She said, “Why do I not go with you?”

Teng Yue nodded repeatedly. Upon reaching the outer courtyard, Deng Ruyun stepped into the room, immediately assaulted by an overwhelming stench of blood.

Shen Yanxing’s face was completely covered in blood, making it impossible to see clearly. He lay there dressed in black night clothes, seemingly unconscious. The blood seeped into the black clothes, appearing colorless, but Shen Xiu, who was constantly cutting open his clothes, had hands covered in blood, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

“Brother, brother, wake up!”

Deng Ruyun had heard Teng Yue mention Shen Xiu once. Shen Xiu was a child Shen Yanxing had taken in on the battlefield. Orphaned, he took the Shen family name and became Shen Yanxing’s sworn brother. Later, when the Shen family fell from power, the entire family came under Teng Yue’s command, and Shen Xiu became Teng Yue’s bodyguard.

At this moment, Old Madam Lin arrived, bringing Qingxuan and Ziyuan with her. These two were much more capable than Shen Xiu. Deng Ruyun saw them quickly clean Shen Yanxing’s wounds and immediately apply medicine to stop the bleeding.

Shen Yanxing had quite a few wounds, two on his abdomen and thigh, which were almost fatal. But Deng Ruyun noticed that many of his wounds were either partially healed or repeatedly torn open, indicating that he had not only been injured in battle that night.

“These knife wounds have been there for over a month,” she could not help but say.

After saying this, he saw Teng Yue slowly close his eyes, and he looked full of guilt.

“It was my oversight.”

Shen Xiu shook his head repeatedly. “Do not blame yourself, General. My brother kept it from us, not even my aunt, not even me!”

Old Madam Lin said that it was not important. “The key is what he’s been hiding. Why did he suffer such a serious injury after so long?”

Shen Xiu did not know either, but Teng Yue said the man was found near Tongguan, a place where three provinces meet. Luckily, Kong Hui had connections in Tongguan Garrison, which allowed him to report the incident.

“Judging from the time he left, it seems he came from the direction of the capital.”

Teng Yue pondered briefly, speculating in a low voice.

“I heard that General Wu of the Shenji Battalion offended Hong Gui, the nephew of the Chief Eunuch Hong Jin, a few months ago. He was accused of treason, and his entire family was banished from the capital. Originally, he was to be stripped of his property, exiled, or even executed. However, military officers from various regions petitioned to protect him, and the Emperor, remembering General Wu’s decades of service in the Shenji Battalion and his modifications to countless firearms and cannons—from fighting Japanese pirates on the coast to repelling the Tatars in the northwest—spared him from the confiscation of his property and only banished him to his hometown in Shaanxi. General Wu and the late General Shen were fellow disciples, the closest of brothers. Shen Yanxing must be…”

Before Teng Yue could finish speaking, the unconscious Shen Yanxing suddenly coughed and gasped. Deng Ruyun quickly took a pill, had Shen Xiu crush it, and gave it to him to drink with water.

About fifteen minutes later, Shen Yanxing’s coughing subsided, and he slowly opened his eyes.

“Madam’s medicine has worked!” Shen Xiu exclaimed.

Teng Yue quickly followed and, seeing the situation, said to Deng Ruyun, “Thanks to your medicine! But he still seems a little disoriented. Could you let him say a few words?”

If he had truly been escorting General Wu’s family back home, then, given his severe injuries, General Wu’s family was likely in no better shape, their fate uncertain.

Deng Ruyun nodded and said, “I will try.”

Everyone watched with bated breath.

She rummaged through the medicine bottles and found a bottle of medicinal liquid. She dripped some into her palm, rubbed her hands together to warm it, and then applied it to Shen Yanxing’s temples. She also dripped a few drops and rubbed them into his philtrum.

After she finished, Shen Yanxing truly woke up in just a few breaths.

Not only did Teng Yue excitedly grasp Deng Ruyun’s hand, but even Old Madam Lin was surprised, looking Deng Ruyun up and down several times.

“Yunniang’s medicine is truly potent.”

Deng Ruyun smiled and bowed her head, repeatedly saying she did not deserve such praise, and then called for Shen Xiu.

“Give General Shen some water, and he should be able to speak again.”

Shen Xiu quickly poured half a cup of water down Shen Yanxing’s throat, and he fully woke up. He saw Teng Yue and paused, stunned.

Teng Yue asked him directly, “What are you staring at? I asked you if you were escorting General Wu’s family. Then why are you so badly injured? Who was chasing you? Where is General Wu’s family now?”

Teng Yue asked several questions in succession, but Shen Yanxing seemed somewhat dazed.

“You’ve already guessed… But Yu Chuan, do not ask anymore. This matter concerns our sect; it has nothing to do with you. Do not interfere.”

Everyone had hoped he would wake up and tell them what happened, but unexpectedly, he shook his head and refused.

Deng Ruyun saw Teng Yue’s face darken. “What do you mean by that? You are injured like this, how much better off can the Wu family be? Are you risking your life to save them, too?”

Shen Yanxing coughed heavily, clutching his chest. “It was not just me protecting them all the way. Our families specializing in mechanical weaponry, and other families, also helped. They should be able to…”

But Teng Yue scoffed. “If they could protect you, would you be so badly injured?”

Teng Yue did not want to waste any more words and asked directly, “Is General Wu’s family hiding near Tongguan?”

Seeing that he had guessed everything correctly and was about to go to their aid, Shen Yanxing hurriedly got out of bed.

“Yu Chuan, do not go!”

He suddenly cried out urgently, “The man chasing General Wu is Shi Zeyou! Even if you are masked and concealed, he will most likely spot you!”

Upon hearing Shi Zeyou’s name, Deng Ruyun paused, noticing Teng Yue’s slight hesitation and Old Madam Lin’s swaying, her face turning pale.

“That Shi fellow has reappeared…”

Before Shen Yanxing could finish, Old Madam Lin stepped forward and stopped Teng Yue.

“Shi Zeyou is working for the Chief Eunuch’s nephew. We have not had anything to do with him for years, but if you appear before him now, will he not see you again? He will remember his old grudge against the Teng family, drag the Wu family’s score into it, and then complain to the Chief Eunuch about you. How will we face the future?!”

This was Old Madam Lin’s greatest fear in recent years.

Previously, Shi Zeyou alone had brought endless trouble to her family. Her eldest son and husband both died tragically during the suppression. If Shi Zeyou had not fallen from power, how could Teng Yue have risen through the ranks in such a short time?

But the Teng family had not even fully consolidated their power, and now Shi Zeyou had ingratiated himself with the Chief Eunuch.

Old Madam Lin knew he was currying favor with the Chief Eunuch, but she had not expected it to reach the point where he was secretly working for the Chief Eunuch’s nephew.

Given this, if he were to find even the slightest “mistake” and report it to the Chief Eunuch, how could Teng Yue escape unscathed?

Cold sweat broke out on Old Madam Lin’s forehead. “Can Kong Hui and Wang Fuxiang not take their men over?”

Teng Yue hesitated for a moment. He said Kong Hui’s men had just been lent to his relatives and could not be called back immediately, and Wang Fuxiang’s men were far away in Ningxia.

“They do not have any useful men around them right now, but Mother, I do.”

He turned to look at his mother.

Old Madam Lin tugged at his sleeve. “But you cannot go!”

The room was filled with the mingled smells of blood and medicine, swirling in everyone’s breath. The candlelight, burning through this thick, overwhelming atmosphere, seemed to be tinged with a dark, bloody hue, flickering eerily.

Deng Ruyun looked up and saw Teng Yue smiling, his eyes half-closed.

Beneath his eyelids, his eyes flickered in the dim candlelight.

“General Wu was a meritorious and loyal general. Without his improved firearms, we border guards would have suffered countless defeats and lost our lives.”

“Now he is persecuted by those in power; his entire family’s fate is in danger. Some have petitioned for his life; others have protected him and sent him home. If I had not known, I would not have cared, but today I know. I even witnessed Shen Yanxing covered in wounds while protecting the Wu family, while General Wu’s family lies in this cold night, their fate unknown.”

“If I were to think only of myself now and allow Shi Zeyou to murder the entire Wu family, how would I be any different from that Shi fellow?”

He looked down at his mother.

“Mother, do you think your son still has the face to use General Wu’s weapons to kill the enemy? Or the face to meet my murdered father and elder brother in the afterlife?!”

His words echoed like the clatter of a musket, reverberating through the room.

Deng Ruyun’s nose suddenly stung with tears at his words; Shen Yanxing frowned and closed his eyes, while Old Madam Lin’s tears fell to the ground.

“But…but what will you do?”

Teng Yue said there was no need for anything. “Your son is fine. Your son is not a reckless fool. Shi Zeyou is a man who cannot lead troops and only knows how to climb over the corpses of others to get to the top. Do you think I will expose myself to him?”

As he spoke, his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Perhaps, taking this opportunity, I will end him with an arrow.”

With that, he turned and strode out.

Old Madam Lin could no longer stop him and could only watch him gallop away.

Seeing she could no longer restrain Teng Yue, Shen Yanxing quickly instructed Shen Xiu to follow.

Deng Ruyun also watched him stride away without hesitation. He had already dispatched men and horses, ordering them to hurry towards Tongguan.

As dawn broke, Deng Ruyun watched his departing figure. But as he left, he seemed to sense her gaze and turned back to look at her.

“Do not worry, I will be alright,” he mouthed softly, a smile playing on his lips in the pale light of the horizon.

Then he mounted his horse, leaped past the gate, and even the sound of his hooves vanished into the pre-dawn night.

Deng Ruyun stood frozen in the courtyard, but behind her came Old Madam Lin’s panicked voice.

“No, no… That Shi Zeyou is not so easy to deal with. We cannot act rashly, absolutely not…”

She said anxiously as she chased after him, but she was walking too fast and tripped and fell down the steps of the corridor.

“Old Madam!”

Qingxuan and Ziyuan were terrified and rushed to help her, but Old Madam Lin had twisted her ankle, her face contorted in pain.

Deng Ruyun repeatedly said she could not move anymore, “Otherwise, the ankle will get even worse.”

But Old Madam Lin did not care about her foot at all, repeatedly saying, “We cannot let Yu Chuan go like this. The more he encounters Shi Zeyou, the calmer and more cautious we must be!”

However, she could not take a single step. Old Madam Lin grabbed Deng Ruyun’s hand.

“Yunniang, could you go for me? You must persuade Teng Yue not to act rashly!”

Deng Ruyun blinked slightly.

She said, “Alright.”

*

According to Shen Yanxing, General Wu and his family were currently hiding in Huayin County, near Tongguan.

Deng Ruyun had come by carriage, so naturally, she could not match Teng Yue’s speed and had not caught up with him yet.

Huayin County was peaceful. She first assigned the guards given to her by Old Madam Lin to patrol the nearby streets and alleys, hoping to make contact with Teng Yue’s people.

She herself thought for a moment, applied makeup, and disguised herself as a passing merchant’s wife. She bought two gleaming silver hairpins from a jewelry store on the street and wore them in her hair. She also dressed her guards as shop assistants, pretending to stroll through the streets.

Deng Ruyun also bought two bolts of cloth for her guards to carry, making her look even more like a wealthy merchant’s wife.

The guards, accustomed to carrying swords and spears, felt a little awkward carrying two bolts of cloth. One whispered to Deng Ruyun, “Madam, will even the General not recognize us like this?”

Deng Ruyun smiled. “If that’s the case, he will be furious.”

Upon hearing this, the guards all laughed.

In the past, whether accompanying the General, the Old Madam, or escorting Young Lady Teng Xiao, these three were mostly stern and solemn, making the entire Teng Mansion seem a bit colder than elsewhere; no one dared to joke.

But the Madam was completely different. Especially in recent months, the General and Madam had grown closer, the General and Young Lady Teng Xiao were increasingly joking, and the Madam was even more amiable towards them. Some of them had even asked Xiuniang for medicine, finding the Madam’s medicine far superior to those sold outside.

Today, in such a tense situation, the Madam had actually told a joke, instantly easing the tension with a few laughs.

The group strolled and laughed through the street, unnoticed, with no need for concealment.

However, as they passed a dog stall at the end of the street, one of the dogs suddenly barked at Deng Ruyun.

Startled, Deng Ruyun turned to look, only to be surrounded by guards.

Just then, a guard standing before her said, “I see the General’s men; they are up ahead.”

Upon hearing this, the group ignored the barking dog and hurried forward.

Sure enough, it was Teng Yue’s men ahead. Upon seeing them, they turned into a dark alley. Deng Ruyun was about to ask, “Where is the General?” when all the guards turned away and scattered to the side.

Someone grabbed her wrist from behind and pulled her into their arms.

“Why are you here? Did Mother send you?” Teng Yue asked, looking at her in surprise.

Deng Ruyun did not answer him immediately, but he looked her up and down.

“Why are you dressed like this? You look like a merchant’s wife, but…it’s quite pretty.”

As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on her face, making Deng Ruyun’s cheeks flush slightly.

But this was no time for such talk. She quickly asked him,

“Have you found General Wu’s family?”

Her question made Teng Yue straighten up.

He said no, “But we saw the people Shen Yanxing left behind. They said they did not see any Wu family members leave the city; they are probably still hiding in the county town.”

Hidden in plain sight, that was safe enough.

But then she asked, “Did you run into Shi Zeyou?”

Teng Yue’s expression darkened slightly, but he shook his head.

Deng Ruyun breathed a slight sigh of relief. Although he had changed into inconspicuous clothes, his tall stature made him quite noticeable even in the bustling city.

She simply pulled him into a clothing store, changed him into some merchant’s clothes, and bought him two bags of roasted chestnuts to carry.

Having changed his appearance, he quickly blended in with the other traveling merchants.

No one stared at them anymore; some even gave them a wide berth when passing by.

Teng Yue, who had been slightly avoiding them, now walked confidently down the street like Deng Ruyun. He could not help but remark, “Yunniang is really clever.”

Deng Ruyun did not take his praise seriously, only telling him not to just carry two big bags, “Peel some roasted chestnuts and eat them; make it look like you are doing it right.”

Teng Yue smiled and peeled a warm chestnut, stuffing it into her mouth.

Deng Ruyun almost choked, saying, “You can eat it yourself.”

The group walked and looked around the street, but when they passed the dog stall, the dog in the stall suddenly started barking again, barking repeatedly at Deng Ruyun.

Deng Ruyun was not frightened, but this time, the barking sound inexplicably reminded her of the old dogs in her family’s old house.

Those old dogs were raised by her deceased brother, serving him faithfully. Deng Ruyun had kept them to guard the house, and they had hunted down countless thieves.

But last year, her uncle and aunt poisoned three of them, causing Deng Ruyun immense heartache. She entrusted the remaining dogs to her Uncle Ya for proper care and treatment. Why was there such a similar barking sound here?

Deng Ruyun was suspicious, and then suddenly something occurred to her. She was about to go and take a closer look when a guard rushed in with news.

“General, we’ve met up with General Wu’s personal guards!”

General Wu’s personal guards were wounded, if not more so than Shen Yanxing, but their injuries were not fatal, and they could still move with difficulty.

Upon hearing that General Teng from Ningxia had personally come to meet him, he knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.

Teng Yue quickly helped him up. “How are the old general and the others?”

The guard said that Old General Wu and his wife were alright, “but their two sons are missing.”

He explained that the two sons were boys left behind by General Wu before his death; the older brother was thirteen, and the younger brother was only eleven. They had followed their grandfather, Old General Wu, on his journey back to their hometown from the capital, facing numerous life-or-death situations along the way.

“Unexpectedly, they got separated from us in Huayin County. Actually, I know the two sons are in the north of the city, but Shi Zeyou’s men also know this. They are guarding the north of the city searching for the two sons. We cannot get through, and the sons cannot get out either; it’s been several days.”

He said that Shen Yanxing was seriously injured in a fight with Shi Zeyou’s men because of this.

Teng Yue pondered for a moment, then sent a few men with his personal guards to fetch Old General Wu and his wife. He told them that Kong Hui had arranged for men at Tongguan Garrison to help him. “First, get them out of Huayin. The two young men do not need their help; leave them to me.”

Seeing that he had brought ample men and had now taken on a difficult task, and after receiving instructions, the Wu family guards could not help but kneel down and kowtow to him.

“General Teng’s great kindness will be forever remembered by the Wu family! However, with villains in power at court, General, please protect yourselves!”

The Wu family had faced constant assassination attempts since leaving the capital. Everyone knew that the Wu family had offended the Chief Eunuch’s nephew and would not escape unscathed. No one dared to openly and honestly assist them against the Chief Eunuch’s influence.

Yet so many people still secretly escorted him, from the capital to Shanxi and then to Shaanxi province, like a relay race. Countless people secretly helped, and the Chief Eunuch’s nephew repeatedly sent additional men, even sending a military general like Shi Zeyou himself.

If it were not for Shen Yanxing’s unwavering support, the Wu family would have been nearly ruined. But General Shen was, after all, only human.

Even Old General Wu felt there was no way out and decided to fight Shi Zeyou and his group openly, to die before the world, and to let everyone see what kind of world this had become.

Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better. General Shen left, and General Teng arrived!

The Wu family guards kowtowed repeatedly.

When Teng Yue helped him up, he saw that Old General Wu’s eyes were bloodshot, and blood was flowing from his forehead.

Deng Ruyun watched silently, horrified.

Teng Yue gripped the arm of the Wu family’s personal guard tightly.

Deng Ruyun saw him speak slowly, “There are always those who go against the tide in this world.”

His eyes were piercing, and he spoke each word deliberately.

“I, Teng Yue, though unworthy, wish to be that person.”