The frivolous wastrel that ng Zhi and the rest ran into on the street was definitely the Lin Chen gege whom Fei Liu refused to ntion. After he left to chase the beautiful young lady, there was no sight of him even after the sky turned dark, but when i Changsu saw Fei Liu sitting in the corner of the room with a frightened expression on his face, he understood and said to Li Gang, Lin Chen has probably arrived.
So the manager of the Su Residence quickly went to prepare a room, while Zhen Ping grumbled beside him, He knows fully well that Chief is waiting for him. Why doesnt he co here directly?
Because Chief is always here, but if I dont chase after the beautiful young lady, she will get away A voice seed to fly in from the sky outside. The shadows cast by the candle flickered, and a tall and slender backlit silhouette appeared at the window, casually waving a folding fan.
Chief is with the patient in the southern house. Hurry and make your way over, said Zhen Ping through the window.
Help ask Aunt Ji to prepare a bowl of glutinous rice eggs and bring it over. I havent had my dinner.. The last few words were faint, drifting from the southern direction.
i Changsu was sitting in front of Nie Fengs bed, with Wei Zheng by his side. As soon as Lin Chen entered, he smiled and said, without looking back, Nie dage, the Mongolian doctor* is here. Let him feel your pulse and listen to his nonsense.
*Literal translation basically, MCS jokingly refers to LC as a quack doctor
Youre too much. One letter from you and I broke my leg rushing here from Nanchu, and this is what I get? Lin Chens shoulders slumped and he shook his head as he sighed, When I was passing through Yunnan, Nie Duo cried and begged to co with . Do you think it was easy for to manage him for you? And today, all my hardwork till now has made so hungry.
Are you still hungry? said i Changsu with a smile. Thats great. Quickly feel his pulse. If you dont, you wont be allowed to eat.
Ruthless, you are ruthless. Lin Chen stepped forward exasperatedly, grabbed a wrist, and was imdiately pushed away before he could feel the pulse.
I asked you to feel his pulse, not mine.
I think its about ti for to check yours too. Lin Chen leaned down and looked at him. I can tell Physician Yan has been having a difficult ti this year.
i Changsu extended his hand and pulled Lin Chen to the front of the bed. Forcing him to sit down, he said, Master Lin, stop cracking jokes and quickly attend to the patient.
Lin Chen smiled broadly. He extended his hand and smoothened Nie Fengs sleeves, then pressed down on his left wrist. After a short examination, he carefully inspected his fingernails, the back of his ears, the white of his eyes and the coating on his tongue. When he had done this, he softly exhaled and signaled i Changsu to go outside with him.
How is it?
Although his appearance is frightening, the poison has only penetrated to the third layer, which is not very serious.
i Changsu looked at him from the corner of his eyes. Youve never really dealt with this kind of poison. Can you do it?
Ha. Lin Chen raised his eyebrows. If you dont have faith in , why did you call to co?
If I could find the old pavilion master, who would be willing to call you to co? retorted i Changsu. Fei Liu, would you be willing?
The youth who was sitting in the corner of the room shook his head vigorously.
Lin Chen laughed. Alright, I concede that if the level of toxicity was as bad as yours back then, I would really not be able to dispel it, but that isnt an issue with this person. Butyou should already know.the choice of treatnt, you need to explain clearly and let him make the decision.
i Changsu closed his eyes tiredly, his eyelids heavy. Speaking quietly, he said, If thats the case, then lets talk about it tomorrow. His wife will be coming here tomorrow, so it will be good for them to discuss this with each other.
Lin Chen looked at him intensely, as if he had sothing to say, but he finally shrugged his shoulders and laughed, changing the subject. Ive brought you a present this ti, did Fei Liu tell you?
i Changsu slowly opened his eyes, his feathered eyebrows raised in question. It would seem that he didnt ntion it..Fei Liu, youve been a naughty boy. Chen gege is going to wrap you up in castor-oil leaves from head to toe, put you into a barrel and roll you down from the top of the hillside..
Alright, i Changsu hit him impatiently on the elbow. Stop teasing him already. What treasure did you bring?
Hehe, Lin Chen made a gesture of offering with both hands, A beauty!
i Changsu turned around and walked towards the courtyard. Lin Chen chased after him saying, This is no ordinary beauty. You know her! As soon as he said this, he noticed Gong Yu from the corner of his eye. She was walking quietly out of the house, as if carefully combing the ground for sothing. Lin Chen couldnt help laughing boisterously as he said, Gong Yu, you dont have to worry. No matter how beautiful she is, she cannot compare to you. Even if Changsu cares about this beauty, its for other reasons.
Hearing what he said, sothing stirred in i Changsu. He stopped and turned around. Did you capture Qin Banruo?
How can you use the word capture on a beauty? replied Lin Chen disapprovingly. I had just left Yunnan, and she only happened to walk into my net coincidentally. Then, I conveniently and gently swept the net to invite and bring her here.
Does she know Xia Jiangs whereabouts?
She had originally fled with Xia Jiang, but midway, Xia Jiang found her a burden and abandoned her, leaving her on her own. Wherever she ended up, she had only a rough idea which direction to head next. But now that all the borders are sealed, even Xia Jiang with all his abilities, wouldnt be able to escape. Ive already found so clues so Im keeping my head down and following them closely.
i Changsu was lost in thought, muttering to himself, and after a long while, he softly responded with an Ng.
Changsu, Lin Chen leaned forward, half laughing half asking, I would like to ask, after Prince Jing cos to power, how do you intend to handle the Hua nation? After all, Qin Banruo is just an interdiary. Its undeniable that the Hua nation still has people who long to restore their country. From their perspective, thats their right, isnt it?
i Changsu sneered, his tone so cold as if it would penetrate deep into the bone, I admire their aspirations to restore their country, but I wont be lenient just because of this. When Father Commander eliminated Hua back then, it was based on the circumstances at that ti. I wont dispute with the people of the Hua nation on who was in the right or wrong. Its just that..now that Im in Da Liang, just like the Hua nation, wiped out and swallowed up. Just like Yeqin, a vassal state, or like several large nations in neighbouring Zhou which are facing similar issues. Just this year, Nanchu suppressed the people of the Mian nation. Wasnt it also to reclaim it and suppress their rebellion? After Prince Jing takes power, this is also an obstacle he would need to suppress and overco in order to beco the ruler and Emperor. Im afraid it wont be an easy path.
Your heart, it keeps trying to see so far ahead, Lin Chen shook his head as he said, It seems you didnt take to heart what my father had advised you repeatedly back then. I wont bother about you anymore. Im going to eat. Im starving to death. Where are Aunt Jis glutinous rice eggs? Why havent they brought them?
His last sentence was shouted out especially loudly, so a clear voice imdiately sounded in reply, Ive put it in the main room. Go over yourself and eat! Hearing this, Lin Chens face lit up and he happily made his way over. Just at this mont, Gong Yu was slowly approaching, saying in a low voice, Commander General has already made the arrangents. Tomorrow, Gong Yu will leave temporarily. Once in the prison, Gong Yu will always be cautious and not make any mistakes, so Chief should not worry.
i Changsu nodded and replied impassively, Ive never had to worry about you. Have an early rest. With these brief words, he imdiately turned around and returned to Nie Fengs room.
Gong Yu stood alone in the courtyard for a long ti, in a daze, the wind and dew that gradually rose in the evening almost soaking through the hair piled on her head. She remained motionless. The satiated Lin Chen walked over from the veranda and looked at her silently for a while before saying, Gong Yu, why dont you play a tune.
The beautiful womans soft eyes that were like stars turned towards him, as if glimring with moistness. In the shadow of the moon, she lowered her head and slowly walked back to her room. Not long after, the sound of a stringed instrunt could be heard.
In the quiet night, the tune was natural and lancholic. Although it was clear, simple and unhurried, it made one feel lost in life, like fallen flowers being carried away by flowing water, evoking an infinite yearning for love.
But the tightly closed doors and windows of Nie Fengs room remained unopened. Early the next morning, following ng Zhis plan, Gong Yu pretended to head out. Whether those in the Su Residence waited anxiously or leisurely, it was approximately the 5th segnt of the day* when a chariot entered the side gate. As soon as it ca to a stop, ng Zhi alighted first, extending his hand into the carriage but Xia Dong didnt need his assistance and jumped out without even the support of the wooden side of the carriage, her visage still as upright and proud as before, with no sign of being subdued.
*approx. 11am to 1pm
Li Gang led them into the main courtyard and first asked Xia Dong to wash off her camouflage. Then i Changsu ca out personally to accompany her into the southern room.
Nie Feng was sitting on a chair beside the window, basking in the sunlight. When Xia Dong entered, he quickly covered his head with his arms, not daring to look at her. Wei Zheng leaned forward and supported him by the shoulders, quietly urging him but failed to persuade him to move, and finally had no choice but to smile wryly at Xia Dong.
But Xia Dong did not see his wry smile. From the mont she entered, her vision never left that person seated on that chair, even though he could hardly be called a person.
The white fur that covered his face and body, the swollen deford body, the trembling and curled up posture. There was nothing that reminded her of that heroic and soldierly husband who was able to take on the wind and clouds.
But he was still alive.
Compared to the remains that were laid at her feet those thirteen years ago, the one standing before her was at least still alive.
Tears fell from Xia Dongs eyes, but a smile erged on her lips. She walked to Nie Fengs side, crouched down and without a word, embraced him, holding him tightly to her.
In that mont, there was no doubt, nor did she inspect the silver bracelet on his wrist. Perhaps in the mont that ng Zhi explained to her, she was anxious to believe the good news.
The silent hug, the hot tears, the pounding heart, the fear (and hope) of finding again that which was lost. All this made Xia Dong dizzy, so dizzy that she closed her eyes, not daring to open them again.
After a long while, soone could be heard coughing softly. General Nie, Nie furen, its not that I want to be a wet blanket.the both of you will have plenty of ti to slowly enjoy your reunion later, but for now, can you listen to this Mongolian doctor explain matters pertaining to the poison of the bitter fla?
Xia Dong pulled herself together and slowly released her husband. Wei Zheng brought a stool over so both of them could sit together. ng Zhi also found a seat nearby but i Changsu sat in a corner of the room.
The poison of the bitter fla is the most unusual poison on earth. What is strange about it is that it can save a life, and at the sa ti take it away. It can also put soone through hell-like torture. Lin Chen spoke animatedly in a normal tone of voice. During that ti, when General Nie suffered burns all over his body, the fire poison penetrated his heart, paralysing him. But fortunately, he fell into a snow nest and was bitten all over by snow beetles*, thus preserving his life. These beetles can only be found around iling. So of them can also be found around the wall separating Juehun Valley from the northern valley of iling. They eat only burnt at, and at the sa ti spitting out poison, which together with the cold air, suppresses the fire poison, thereby forming a new and unusual poison, the poison of the bitter fla.
*toxicity due to excessive heat
**actually, more accurately translated as cold scale insects
Although he said it matter of factly, everyone could already tell what a terrible and unusual poison it was. It wasnt just Xia Dong who trembled, but ng Zhis face also lost all colour.
The people who have been struck by the poison of the bitter fla have deford bones and swollen bodies, and their entire body would be covered in white fur. The root of their tongues would also stiffen, removing their ability to speak. The poisons toxicity would also flare up a few tis everyday, and when that happens, only blood can suppress it, human blood being the most effective. Although this poison can linger throughout ones life, as long as it doesnt flare up, ones physical strength would remain the sa, but in the face of such torture, perhaps death may be cleaner. Lin Chen looked sympathetically at Nie Feng. For General Nie to have persevered all these years, your resolve is unrivalled, and you have my greatest admiration.
Can this poison be eliminated? asked Xia Dong anxiously, as she gripped her husbands hand.
Sowhat, said Lin Chen bluntly. There are two thods. One is sowhat thorough, and the other not so thorough. You must choose one.
Of course we want the thorough one, replied Xia Dong without the slightest hesitation.
Lin Chen looked intensely at her for a long ti, then said with a soft sigh, After I have explained the differences between these two thods, only then shall Nie furen choose, alright?
Footnote:
The poison of the bitter fla is literally translated to Fire () Cold () Poison. But as we know, Chinese characters hold more than one aning. So in this case, Fire is also Fla. But the Cold isnt quite Bitter so technically, it should be Poison of the Cold Fla but I guess maybe Bitter sounds better hence the translation. (Cos Bitter cold is a 2-character phrase). Just a non-native translator speculation, but thought you might find it interesting! Maybe soone better versed in the language might be able to shed so light.
Afterthoughts:
I thought Lin Chen was funnier in the drama. His facial expressions and manner of speaking were priceless! But there was a deeper conversation here, between LC and MCS that attests to the depth of their friendship, for who other than a really intimate friend would call him out on the Hua nation? And for all his posturing, LC is a very sensitive and attentive man, and in that sense, I guess very much like the Lin Shu of the past.
The final scene of this chapter also feels a little like a reenactnt of the WZ and XJY scene where MCS sits in the corner. How many tis does he have to do that?
AND, on a completely different topic, do you rember the scene where XJY brings Shen Zhui and Cai Quan to et MCS, and then Shen Zhui tries to persuade MCS to officially join XJYs team? I just stumbled upon the cut scene. Unfortunately there are no English subtitles and unfortunately I cant copy and paste to translate, but I guess you can re-read the chapter and just watch their facial expressions. Quite funny (even the blog comnts are /post/149163931149/this-cut-scene-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-even
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