It was impossible for Master Xiao Wu to take the initiative to tell the Gu Master that Xiao Zhenting’s son was not his biological son. It was obvious that this Gu Master had come prepared since he could easily reveal Yan Jiuchao’s identity. Yan Jiuchao was the hardest stone in the Capital, but he was also the fattest lamb. The benefits he could squeeze out of him were comparable to heaven’s wealth.
A hundred thousand taels of gold. Yu Wan’s heart ached. This money clearly didn’t belong to her, so why did her heart ache so much when they spent it?
The Gu Master had a determined expression, as if he was certain that Xiao Zhenting would buy it.
This was not difficult to guess. No matter how cold the relationship between the father and son was on the surface, Xiao Zhenting did not hesitate to let his subordinates infiltrate Southern Xinjiang for Yan Jiuchao and bring the Gu Master back to the Capital at all costs. Just this thought alone was definitely not fake.
“I’m not in a hurry. Grand Marshal Xiao, take your time to consider.” The Gu Master did not mention anything about Yan Jiuchao’s illness.
Yu Wan sighed inwardly. This Gu Master’s medical skills were still unknown, but he was definitely an expert in negotiation. He knew how to guess the other party’s mentality and use his advantage fully. When necessary, he would stop when he had to. He understood that Xiao Zhenting was far more anxious than him about Yan Jiuchao’s illness. The more he didn’t speak, the more uncertain Xiao Zhenting was. If he spoke, it might backfire.
Yu Wan looked at Xiao Zhenting. A hundred thousand taels of gold was not a small sum. The Xiao Manor was not the descendant of a traitor, so how could they have so much money to squander? They were going bankrupt.
“Why should I believe that you can treat my son?” Xiao Zhenting said.
The Gu Master seemed to have expected him to have such doubts. He sneered and said, “It’s late tonight. I won’t cause trouble anymore. I’ll prove it to you tomorrow morning!”
That night, Yu Wan rested in the Xiao Manor. She was placed in the Wutong Hall. This was a courtyard built for Yan Jiuchao, but Yan Jiuchao had never stayed here.
Yu Wan woke up before dawn the next day. She had no problem sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, but she missed the three little fellows.
The Gu Master slept until late in the morning. Considering that he was tired from the journey, this was normal. Breakfast was still spent under the curses of the Gu Master. After that, the group sat in the carriage of the Xiao Manor and swayed to Lotus Flower Village.
When the three little fellows saw Yu Wan, they all threw themselves into Yu Wan’s arms. After not seeing her for a night, they also missed Yu Wan very much.
“Triplets?” The Gu Master raised his eyebrows and revealed a look of curiosity.
The two disciples of the Gu Master also stared at the three little fellows with indescribable curiosity and surprise.
Triplets were too rare, let alone such a beautiful child. The young man could not help but look at the children again and again. It was only when the female disciple beside him nudged him with her elbow and glared at him that he looked away resentfully.
Yu Wan brought the children out.
The Gu Master began to treat Yan Jiuchao. He did not allow anyone to watch the process of his treatment. Other than his two disciples, even his biological mother, Shangguan Yan, was invited out. About fifteen minutes later, the door opened.
“Doctor, how’s my son?” Shangguan Yan asked anxiously.
“Mrs. Xiao, go take a look yourself,” the Gu Master said confidently.
Shangguan Yan walked into the room.
“Ah—” Her scream came from inside.
Xiao Zhenting flashed to the window. “What’s wrong?”
Shangguan Yan said in disbelief, “He-he’s awake!”
Although he could not speak yet, his eyes were indeed open, and his eyes were not dull. His eyes were weak and forbearing, and it was obvious that he was enduring unbearable pain. Shangguan Yan’s heart ached as tears fell.
Yan Jiuchao did not wake up for long before he closed his eyes and fell asleep again.
This might not be a true awakening, but Shangguan Yan saw a trace of hope of recovery. However, a hundred thousand taels of gold was not so easy to take out. Even if she was from a noble family and had a generous dowry, she was far from being able to gather this hundred thousand taels.
Just as Shangguan Yan was wondering if she should sell the businesses under her name, Xiao Zhenting patted her shoulder. “Take care of Cong’er. Leave the remuneration to me.”
“But…”
“Cong’er is also my son.” He has been since the first day I married you.
Shangguan Yan nodded with tears in her eyes. She did not say anything pretentious, nor did she care about right or wrong. She only had one thought in her mind, which was to save her son!
“I’ll pay you half of the remuneration first. If my son recovers, I’ll give you the other half,” Xiao Zhenting said to the Gu Master.
The Gu Master had no objections.
Xiao Zhenting said seriously, “You better really be able to treat it. Otherwise, my remuneration won’t be so easy to cheat!”
The Gu Master raised his chin and said, “I know Grand Marshal Xiao’s ability. If I lie to you, you will definitely kill me no matter where I go. I won’t ask for trouble. I indeed have a way to remove his poison curse. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have boasted to you. I also know that a hundred thousand taels of gold is too much. How about this? I’ll give you three days to gather the remuneration. I guarantee that the poison curse in his body won’t worsen in these three days.”
Xiao Zhenting looked at him steadily and got into the carriage to return to the manor. Three days… As parents, they could not wait that long.
Xiao Zhenting returned to the manor and called the butler to his room. He asked the butler, “How much money do we have in total?”
The butler went to the accountant’s room to get the account book and abacus. After calculating for a while, he said, “Sixty thousand taels. This is from the manor. Including the one in the shop, there should be two hundred thousand taels.”
Two hundred thousand taels of silver, which was twenty thousand taels of gold, was too little.
“Withdraw it first,” Xiao Zhenting said.
The butler was stunned. “All, all of them?”
Xiao Zhenting said seriously, “I want all of them immediately.”
The butler opened his mouth, wanting to ask something, but in the end, he did not say a word. He carried the abacus and went to the accountant’s room.
“Second Brother!”
Xiao Zhenting was counting his storeroom when a luxuriously dressed woman walked in angrily. A maidservant chased after her fearfully and came to the door. She bowed to Xiao Zhenting. “First Madam insisted on coming in. We didn’t stop her…”
“Got it. You guys can leave first,” Xiao Zhenting said to the maidservant.
The maidservant lowered her head and left. Eldest Mrs. Xiao crossed the threshold and entered the room coldly.
Xiao Zhenting asked, “I heard that Sister-in-law has a fit. Are you feeling better?”
Eldest Mrs. Xiao mocked, “You still have me in your heart. I thought you were already arrogant and didn’t care about me at all!”
“Sister-in-law, what are you talking about?” Xiao Zhenting asked.
Eldest Mrs. Xiao said angrily, “Don’t beat around the bush with me! Just now, I heard that you wanted all the money in the manor. What are you planning to do?”
“There won’t be any missing monthly salary,” Xiao Zhenting said.
Eldest Mrs. Xiao choked and said after a while, “Am I worried about my monthly salary? I want to ask you, why do you want to take all the money in the manor?”
“I have an urgent need,” Xiao Zhenting said.
Eldest Mrs. Xiao mocked, “What urgent need? Tell me honestly, are you planning to treat that sickly person again? How much money do you plan to spend this time? You don’t care about your biological children, but you insist on doting on an outsider! Why? So he’s your family? We’re not?!”
Xiao Zhenting sighed. “Sister-in-law, I never said that.”
Eldest Mrs. Xiao said angrily, “But that’s what you did! You said that you would personally raise Yan’er so that he could inherit the Xiao family in the future, but in the end? Yan’er is dead! My son is dead! He was killed by you! If you hadn’t sent him to the border, he would still be fine now! I can’t hear him call me Mom again! It’s all your fault! Xiao Zhenting, it’s your fault!”
Xiao Yan’s death was a blow to the entire Xiao family. Eldest Mrs. Xiao did not dare to complain because Xiao Yan had sacrificed his life for the country. In Xiao Yan’s own words, he had died a worthy death. However, to Eldest Mrs. Xiao, not only had she lost a son, but she had also lost the huge assets of the Xiao family. Today’s words were more or less an excuse.
Xiao Zhenting was also very pained by Xiao Yan’s death, but if he had to do it again, he would still do it. Xiao Yan belonged to the battlefield, and he was a natural general. He had obtained the list of spies, and he had chosen the most suitable person. He had ended the battle of the Xiongnu. He was the pride of the Northwest Army Camp, and also the pride of Xiao Zhenting.
No one could escape death. If he had to choose, he also hoped that he could die on the battlefield.
Xiao Zhenting looked coldly in Eldest Mrs. Xiao’s direction. “Guards, Madam is tired. Help her back to her room to rest.”
Two maidservants immediately walked forward and said to Eldest Mrs. Xiao, “First Madam, please.”
Eldest Mrs. Xiao was furious. Strictly speaking, her husband, Eldest Young Master Xiao, was the eldest son of Old Master Xiao. However, Eldest Young Master Xiao was useless. He was not good in both studies and martial arts. He couldn’t support the Xiao family and always caused trouble for the Xiao family. There were several times when he was almost chased out of the house by Old Master Xiao. It was only when Xiao Zhenting pleaded for him that Old Master Xiao was appeased.
Initially, Eldest Mrs. Xiao and Xiao Zhenting got along well. After all, Xiao Zhenting had no children. In the future, everything he had would be hers. However, ever since Xiao Yan passed away, this balance has been broken.
Eldest Mrs. Xiao wanted to say something, but the maidservant dragged her out.
Xiao Zhenting returned to the room with a solemn expression.
The butler brought the accountant to the manor and spent an entire day counting all the shops under the Xiao family’s name in the Capital. In the evening, he reported to Xiao Zhenting, “Master, including those that can be pawned, there’s a total of twenty thousand taels of gold.”
Not enough, far from enough.
Xiao Zhenting fell silent.
The butler said, “That Gu Master asked for too much money. Who would ask for a hundred thousand gold? Why don’t Master… talk to him again?”
The butler emphasized the word “talk”. Xiao Zhenting understood what he meant and shook his head in denial.
The butler let out a long sigh. Master was good at everything, but he was stubborn. It would be much simpler if it was a villain who did this. You don’t want to treat him? Heh heh, do you want to know about the ten great tortures?
Of course, the butler was only angry. Thinking about it this way, if it really came to that, he still wouldn’t dare to use Yan Jiuchao’s life as a bet. A Gu Master could treat people, but he could also kill people. He wasn’t someone who could be easily offended.
“You can leave first. I’ll think of something.”
“Then… I’ll go see if there’s anything else I can pawn in the manor?”
Xiao Zhenting paused and nodded. “Okay.”
The butler sighed and left.
Xiao Zhenting came to his armory. He was a boor and did not know how to recite poems. In order to cater to Shangguan Yan’s taste, he pretended to build a study, but what he really used was this cold armory. When he pushed open the door, a cold iron aura assaulted his face, making Xiao Zhenting feel very at ease.
Xiao Zhenting came to the front of a set of silver armor. This armor was made of black iron and was twice as heavy as ordinary armor. He would wear it every time he went to war. Xiao Yan liked it very much and would come to touch it when he had nothing to do.
This was the silver armor of the God of War.
Xiao Yan didn’t say it, but he had always wanted it. He originally planned to pass this silver armor to Xiao Yan when he returned.
Xiao Zhenting raised his hand and touched the silver armor that had accompanied him for half his life. He slowly closed his eyes.
… .
The next afternoon, Xiao Zhenting took fifty thousand taels of gold and set off for Lotus Flower Village.
Originally, the Gu Master wanted to bring Yan Jiuchao back to the Xiao Manor to treat him. However, the food in the Xiao Manor was too disgusting and was far inferior to Uncle’s culinary skills. After the Gu Master ate a meal of braised meat and stinky tofu, he did not want to leave.
His two disciples also stayed in the Ding Family’s new residence. To the outside world, they only said that they were famous doctors hired for Young Master Wan.
A Gu Master’s daily life was to eat. After eating stinky tofu, they would eat braised meat. After eating braised meat, they would eat snail noodles. They would eat whatever was spicy. Uncle had nothing to do for the entire day and actually cooked for him.
He did not go out, but his two disciples could not be locked up, especially the female disciple. It was said that she was a powerful Gu Lady. She loved to go to the back of the mountain. Yu Wan had met her a few times when she was digging wild vegetables. She was digging some insects and wild herbs.
This afternoon, she did not go to the back of the mountain to dig for insects. Instead, she carried the bucket to the ancient well at the village entrance.
The Gu Lady was very beautiful, but her expression was cold and she looked like she was keeping people a thousand miles away. The villagers rarely went forward to talk to her. When she arrived at the ancient well, Aunt Zhang was fetching water. Seeing her carrying a bucket, she said kindly, “Let me do it, let me do it!”
As Aunt Zhang spoke, she reached out to grab her wooden bucket, but she coldly slapped her hand away.
Aunt Zhang was stunned.
Aunt Bai, who was washing clothes at the side, was unhappy. “Hey, Miss, she kindly helped you get water. Even if you don’t appreciate it, don’t hit her!”
Wasn’t that so? The back of Aunt Zhang’s hand turned red.
Aunt Zhang smiled and tried to smooth things over. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Perhaps I frightened her.”
“Does she look frightened?” Aunt Bai muttered.
Aunt Zhang gave her a look and whispered, “This is a doctor who’s treating Young Master Wan. Don’t offend her.”
Aunt Bai snorted and helped Aunt Zhang carry a bucket of water back to Aunt Zhang’s room.
After the two of them brushed past Gu Lady, a cold glint flashed across her eyes. She moved her palm and a Gu worm appeared on her fingertip.
“What are you doing?” A fair hand grabbed Gu Lady’s wrist through her sleeve.
Gu Lady turned around and her eyes turned cold when she saw that it was Yu Wan.
Yu Wan glanced at the little thing between her index and middle fingers and raised her eyebrows. “This is a Gu worm? You dig so many insects every day to refine this?”
Gu Lady looked coldly at Yu Wan, indicating for her to let go.
Yu Wan smiled faintly and said, “They’re all innocent villagers. Even if they accidentally offended you, you don’t have to poison them, right?”
Yu Wan guessed that the Gu Lady wanted her to let go. Yu Wan said, “I can let go, but you’re not allowed to poison anyone else.”
She was too petty to use Gu worms without a word. If she used Gu worms to deal with the enemy, Yu Wan would definitely not say anything. However, Aunt Zhang and Aunt Bai were both honest and good villagers. This method was too sinister.
Yu Wan said seriously, “I know you can understand the Central Plains language. I’ll say it one last time. You’re not allowed to poison the people in the village!”
Gu Lady glared fiercely at Yu Wan and tried to pull her hand out, but she realized that she could not move no matter what. This village girl’s hand was like an iron pincer!
Yu Wan looked at her fixedly. “Do you understand? If you do, nod!”
Gu Lady nodded indignantly.
Yu Wan let go, filled the bucket with water, and carried it back to her house with a pole.
In the evening, Xiao Zhenting arrived at the village.
The Gu Master was already eating countless plates of stinky tofu. He looked up with a greasy face. “You’re here so quickly? Have you gathered all the gold?”
Xiao Zhenting placed the brocade box on his table.
The Gu Master put down his chopsticks, opened the brocade box, and carefully counted. Fifty thousand taels of gold, not one more, not one less.
“Okay.” He raised his eyebrows and accepted the brocade box in satisfaction.
Xiao Zhenting asked, “Can you treat my son now?”
“No hurry, no hurry.” The Gu Master touched his chin and said slowly.
Xiao Zhenting and Shangguan Yan frowned and said in unison, “What’s wrong now?”
The Gu Master sighed. “My disciple’s Gu worm was originally used to treat your son, but it’s about to die.” In other words, your son is probably hopeless.
“How did this happen?” Shangguan Yan asked.
At this moment, Yu Wan walked in with a bowl of spicy cabbage dumplings. The moment she entered, she felt two malicious gazes on her. She looked up and saw Gu Lady looking at her smugly. This expression was like she wanted to cause trouble.
“Maybe they’re not used to the environment.” The Gu Master said.
“But it’s not that there’s no way to remedy it.” The Gu Master pointed at the Gu Lady. “My disciple’s Gu worm can be fed with extreme yin blood. It might be able to revive.”
Extreme Yin Blood? So it was a woman’s blood? Shangguan Yan rolled up her sleeves. “Is mine okay?”
The Gu Master shook his head and looked at Yu Wan behind the two of them. “Only hers.”
