T/N: Thank you so much to Rereadm for the Kofi donation! Here’s a double update!

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Just as everyone expected, Song Changsheng’s “resurrection from the dead” could be said to have demolished the sacred teachings of the Baifu Sect. When the swordsmith first died, this group of people lost their composure and spouted a lot of big words about how the “Baifu Buddha Mother punishes traitors.” Not only was that “traitor” not punished, but he was also living a glorious life. The leader was furious, and even Feng Xiaojin, who had never cared much about such things, warned Liu Hengchang not to talk too much during this period, so as not to get into trouble.

“Okay.” Liu Hengchang nodded repeatedly.

Feng Xiaojin looked at the medicine basket in his hand: “Those witch doctors still won’t allow you to treat Yunyou?”

“Yes, although it isn’t them who won’t allow it, but the Master.” Liu Hengchang said, “But the ban has been relaxed recently, and I was allowed to check his pulse. Young Master Yunyou’s wounds are indeed gradually improving, so there is no need to worry too much.”

“That he was injured is a good thing right now, because he doesn’t have to face Liang Shu again.” Feng Xiaojin said, “Compared to Yunyou, I am more concerned about Yunle. She hasn’t returned for many days.”

Liu Hengchang probed: “I hear that Yunle-guniang is receiving worship from believers all over the country. She has never been this busy before. It’s like……”

Like they were doing their best to win over the most hearts and cause the most riots in the shortest amount of time. There was miasma in many villages and towns in the Southwest.

“It’s not your business, so leave it alone.” Feng Xiaojin closed his eyes. “Go and see Yunyou, the leader should be in his room now.”

Liu Hengchang bowed his head and exited the room. When he looked into the distance, a beam of light was illuminating the green mountains.

. . . . . . .

Liu Xian’an stretched out his hand, trying to catch the sunlight between his fingers, but the light slipped away and his fingers were also detained.

Liang Shu gripped his hand tightly: “Don’t always think about those elusive things. Grasp something practical, that you can see and touch.”

For example, His Royal Highness Xiao Wang himself could also be seen and touched, and was quite practical. Liu Xian’an looked at him and smiled, so Gao Lin had to raise his hand again, signaling all the guards behind him to pause. Really, I’m impressed. Adding up all the peacock tails all over the mountain, our prince has opened them all alone. How can he tease Second Young Master Liu every two steps?

Fortunately, there were still military affairs in Garrison City. If it were a peaceful year, it was estimated that this short mountain would take a year to cross, moving two steps here and three steps there.

Gao Lin tsktsktsk’d. Along the way, although Cheng Suyue’s speech was a bit slow, she still refused to listen to her brother’s nagging. So Lieutenant General Gao had no choice but to hold back all his words in his stomach, waiting to talk to Ku You after returning to the city.

Everyone went back together enveloped in rumors.

Chang Xiaoqiu asked: “What are the rumors?”

A-Ning inquired around, then came back and said: “Nothing special. It’s just the old sesame and rotten millet routine taught by the Baifu Sect, with some other tricks added.”

For example, Liang Shu had been classified as part demon. It was said that the reason Song Changsheng came back to life at all was because of his manipulations behind the scenes, and that while his body was still alive, his soul was held in the hands of the Baifu Buddha Mother. These demons fought against destiny and forged puppets, which would definitely bring disaster to the Southwest. The following rhetoric was familiar to everyone, always returning to the old path of, “if you want to exorcize evil spirits and ward off demons, you must worship the Baifu Buddha Mother.”

Chang Xiaoqiu frowned and said: “Now that they have released rumors of evil spirits causing trouble, they will definitely take action in the future.”

A-Ning nodded: “My young master also says the same thing. The Baifu Sect lost face to Song-xiansheng’s matter, and will be eager to seek compensation elsewhere. That is why the prince is rushing day and night to Garrison City.”

Chang Xiaoqiu squeezed in front of him and asked again: “What else did Second Young Master Liu say? Did he say that the prince will send troops to battle?”

A-Ning gave him a strange look: “Why do I feel that you look very happy?”

“I have admired the prince for many years, and now that I have the chance to fight alongside him, isn’t it a matter of course that I am happy?”

“I don’t think so.” A-Ning shook his head. “War is bound to be accompanied by casualties. I have many senior brothers and sisters, and after returning from the battlefield, even their dreams are stumps of limbs and seas of blood. They suffer from nightmares and fears, and it usually takes more than half a year of recuperation before they get better. They are just ordinary military doctors, and soldiers who need to charge forward will face crueler scenes than this, so fighting is not something to be happy about.”

Chang Xiaoqiu was stifled by these sonorous and forceful words, and choked out a sentence after a long moment, but isn’t the blood shed in war exchanged for a greater peace?

“I didn’t say that war is wrong. War is necessary. It’s only that this is a very serious matter and there is no need to be so elated.” A-Ning sent over the things in his hands. “Okay, help me carry these for a while, I’m going to help my young master get off the horse.”

The gates of Garrison City were not far away. A-Ning ran quite fast, but still failed to help him. Liang Shu took Liu Xian’an in his arms and lightly brought him down from the horse. As soon as Liu Xianche came out through the city gates, he saw this intimate scene between the two, and his chest went tight again. In broad daylight, such shamelessness!

“Da-ge!” Liu Xian’an ran towards him.

Liu Xianche’s expression softened a little. First he caught his little brother, and then cupped his hands toward Liang Shu: “Your Highness.”

“First Young Master Liu, you need not be so polite with me.” Liang Shu asked, “How are Ku You’s eyes?”

Liu Xianche didn’t answer, but sent his little brother back to his residence to rest. Liu Xian’an sighed deeply in his heart, look, I said that once Da-ge found out that I have medical skills, there will be a lot of troubles in life — at least, there would be no rest because of various exams. There will be rounds of strict inspections, and someone like me who ran out to self-study will definitely not be let off. If Father finds out, I might even be punished.

“There’s no way,” A-Ning said. “If the Village Master learns of the young master’s abilities, he will be so happy.”

“Being happy won’t delay him punishing me.” Liu Xian’an wiped his face with a handkerchief. “The two things should not be confused. Happiness is happiness, and rules are rules. Hmm……but there are not so many rules in Xiao Wang Palace, and the prince said that everything will be up to me in the future.”

That was no good. A-Ning thought to himself, the young master is going to be spoiled by the prince. If he wants sweets, he’ll get sweets, and if he wants to lie down, he’ll just lie down.

From this point of view, it was actually good that the First Young Master was here. At least someone could manage him.

Liu Xian’an tidied up briefly and then went to the front hall, where everyone was gathered. Ku You was sitting on a chair with a cloth covering his eyes. His sight was blocked, but his hearing had become more sensitive. He took the initiative to greet: “Second Young Master Liu.”

Liang Shu had just heard all about Ku You’s condition from Liu Xianche’s mouth. He now had the correct answer, but couldn’t say a word. He could only watch Liu Xian’an diagnose Ku You and then sit down at the table to write down the treatment steps.

Commander Ku was puzzled: “Why is it silent all of a sudden?”

It must be silent. Which exam room have you seen that was not silent? Gao Lin patted his shoulder and joked: “What, do you want me to sing you a few lines?”

Ku You was speechless. Such garrulousness, please take care of this poor person who can’t see.

But for the time being, no one was free to supervise him. There was a crowd of people in the room, the invigilator overseeing the exam, and the one taking the exam. In the middle of writing, Liu Xian’an frowned and stopped writing for a long time, as if stumped. Seeing this, Liang Shu immediately cleared his throat and stood up, walking over: “This lord……”

As a result, he was stopped by First Young Master Liu after two steps.

Gao Lin held his forehead. It was too embarrassing, truly, Xiao Wang Palace had suffered a crushing defeat.

Only the unaware Ku You was still trying to figure things out: “What is it, is it the Baifu Sect?”

Gao Lin stuffed a sour plum into his mouth: “Don’t worry, it’s not the Baifu Sect’s turn yet. You sit still.”

Ku You was caught off guard, and grimaced at the sourness.

It took Liu Xian’an half an hour to finish the medical prescription and hand it to his elder brother.

After reading it, Liu Xianche didn’t say whether it was right or wrong, but said: “After dinner, come to the study with me.”

It sounds like you’re about to hit me with a ruler.

Liu Xian’an said “Oh” with a drooping head, and secretly rubbed his palms to warm them up in advance. Liang Shu felt distressed at the sight, so he pulled the man to his side and tilted his head to whisper: “It’s all right, I’ll go with you after dinner.”

Liu Xian’an asked: “To watch me being beaten?”

“To prevent you from being beaten.” Liang Shu said, “If that doesn’t work, I’ll just take the punishment for you. How about it?”

Although Liu Xian’an was a wandering immortal who didn’t care about etiquette at all, he also knew that his elder brother was a commoner, and it would be a little too much for him to use a ruler to beat the dignified prince, so he didn’t take this sentence to heart. But in the end, Liang Shu really did accompany him into the study.

Liu Xianche asked in confusion: “What business does the prince have?”

Liang Shu’s expression didn’t change: “I’ve also come to listen to medical theory.”

Liu Xianche warned: “But it’s very boring.”

Liang Shu smiled: “It’s no bother.”

No matter how boring it was, could it be more boring than the group of white-bearded old men in the Imperial study? Bobbing their heads in self-satisfaction, saying that being a gentleman was a matter of every moment, not just in front of others. No matter how much energy he had, the sound made him sleepy, but he still survived.

It was a minor thing, just a trifle.

Seeing that he was so persistent, Liu Xianche said no more, and ordered a servant to bring a pot of strong tea for His Royal Highness Xiao Wang. He paid no more attention to him, and focused on carefully teaching his little brother how to diagnose and treat Ku You’s disease under the lamplight.

Treating gold blindness required a lot of accumulated practical experience, and this knowledge was very different from what Liu Xian’an had read in books. He lay on the table and listened very intently.

Liu Xianche had never seen his little brother like this before, and was gratified in his heart. Seeing that he didn’t even have a brush in his hand, he was not angry, but knew that the other was talented and wouldn’t forget. His fondness grew more and more.

The two brothers talked about Ku You’s illness, gold blindness, and many other eye diseases. When it came to the time when the singing of the cicadas in the trees disappeared, it was only then that the exchange was reluctantly ended. 

Looking back, His Royal Highness Xiao Wang was propping his head up with one hand and sitting motionless at the table — sound asleep.

“…….”

Liu Xian’an promptly said: “Da-ge, you go back first. I’ll wake the prince.”

Liu Xianche hesitated to speak, but gave up in the end, because he was tired and didn’t want to talk about it.

After his elder brother left, Liu Xian’an approached Liang Shu cautiously on tiptoe, and observed his features carefully in the lamplight. Although the two had shared a bed and slept together many times, he slept until noon every day and never saw the other’s sleeping face so attentively. Looking and looking, the tip of his heart became soft, and he couldn’t help but stretch his index finger out to touch, but was pulled into the other’s arms.

Liang Shu didn’t even open his eyes. He just smiled and lowered his head, nuzzling him indiscriminately, and asked: “Causing trouble again?”

“Not causing trouble.” Liu Xian’an leaned against his chest. “Why is the prince so unguarded tonight?”

“Why be on guard, there’s no danger in this room,” Liang Shu answered sleepily. “Hearing your footsteps and voice, I feel that the years are very stable.”

In a trance, he felt that he had returned to his childhood. He hadn’t grown up yet, and didn’t play the role of having the country in his heart. He was lawless and carefree, and even if he got into trouble, he would be taken care of by Emperor Brother. He hadn’t felt this way for a long time, so he cherished it now, and couldn’t bear to open his eyes, just wanting to drag the person in his arms back to his dreams. The two sat side by side, basking in the moonlight and watching the lotus pond and frogs in the palace. 

Liu Xian’an helped him to a soft bed in the corner and took off his boots and socks. He covered him with a quilt and heated the brazier more.

Liang Shu was resting here, and he didn’t want to go back to the bedroom alone, so he wrapped himself in a cloak and lay down by the table for the night.

On the other side, the First Young Master had returned, but A-Ning’s own young master hadn’t come back for a long time. Thinking that he was being punished for his lack of studying and was copying books all night, he didn’t dare to disturb him. After finally getting through the night, he was about to go out the next morning, but Liu Xian’an was already rubbing his sore neck, walking through the garden by himself.

“Young Master.” A-Ning hurried to meet him. “You haven’t slept through the night and must be exhausted. Go back to the room and drink some hot soup first.”

“I’m fine.” Liu Xian’an said with a wrinkled face: “It’s just a stiff neck, rub it for me. By the way, tell Lieutenant General Gao that the prince is still resting in the study.”

“The prince has been with the young master?”

“Yes, me and the prince have been together the whole time.”

A-Ning was confused when he heard this, and then thought in horror, what reason was there for the prince to accompany him? Is our First Young Master so powerful that he dares to punish the prince with copying books?

This…..such a breach of etiquette! 

Gao Lin didn’t think about this aspect. The main thing was that the prince was really not good at copying books, so he only sent servants to the courtyard to serve him. 

Without Liu Xian’an, Liang Shu’s dreams became a little more uneasy. He sat up dizzily and looked around with a frown, the first question of the day rising in his mind—

Why the hell am I sleeping in this place?

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Chapter Ninety-One << Table of Contents >> Chapter Ninety-Three