Chapter 6 – A Heart Yearns for the Jianghu; Escorting You a Thousand Miles to Our First Parting (III)

Prince Rui and Ling Bingzhong were speaking in the garden reception hall.

Only the two men were inside, while several guards stood watch in the courtyard. When they saw their young mistress approaching hand in hand with County Princess Yiguang, they hurried forward to stop them.

Ling Cheng waved them aside without concern. “I know Prince Rui and Father are both inside. I came because I have something to discuss with them, so don’t stop me.”

The guards found themselves in an extremely difficult position.

They were not afraid of anything else, but they had all heard about County Princess Yiguang’s health. If their attempt to stop her frightened the county princess, there was no question that their heads would immediately roll.

While they were still hesitating, Ling Cheng had already led Xie Miao to the reception hall. She was about to knock and enter when, as they passed a small window, an angry voice suddenly sounded from inside.

“What harm would it do you to admit your mistake and yield a little?”

It seemed to be Prince Rui, Xie Shen.

Ling Cheng and Xie Miao were both stunned. They exchanged a bewildered look.

Admit a mistake? Who was supposed to apologize to whom?

Since there were only two people inside the hall, could they have argued over something?

To their surprise, Ling Bingzhong’s voice remained calm, carrying only a faint trace of helplessness.

“Does Your Highness believe I am merely throwing a tantrum at His Majesty?”

The more the two girls heard, the more confused they became. They stopped moving forward and quietly hid beside the window.

Prince Rui heaved a long sigh. “Perhaps your words do contain some truth, but you also understand His Majesty’s temperament. Now that matters have reached this point, he is even less likely to accept your counsel. Otherwise, would that not amount to admitting he was wrong? As his subjects, how could we cause our sovereign and father to lose face?”

“The state is the sovereign’s foundation, while the people are the foundation of the state,” Ling Bingzhong replied. “I have been raised and instructed by His Majesty since childhood, so all the more must I remain loyal to my sovereign and serve my country. In all matters, the welfare of the people must come first. Everything else is merely a minor detail.”

Silence descended over the reception hall.

Ling Bingzhong suddenly laughed. “I appreciate Your Highness’s kind intentions. Even if His Majesty blames me, at worst I will lose my military seals and return to the capital to serve as an ordinary palace guard. What harm would that do? There is no need to discuss the matter further.”

He changed the subject. “The seasons have recently been shifting from spring to summer, and the weather has been unpredictable. Has County Princess Yiguang been in good health?”

Ling Cheng was extremely curious about what their earlier conversation meant. Yet that curiosity could not compare to her immense concern for Xie Miao.

The instant her father changed the subject, she leaned closer to the window and listened even more intently.

Prince Rui could only follow his lead. “You mentioned earlier that stolen contenta physician in Hongzhou might be able to cure She Jia’s chronic illness. If this person’s medical abilities are truly so extraordinary, why have I never heard of her?”

In the ten years since Xie Miao’s birth, Prince Rui’s household had sought out more physicians than they could count for the sake of her illness. Every doctor with even the slightest reputation had been invited to the capital.

In the end, every attempt had proven futile.

“That is because she belongs to the jianghu,” Ling Bingzhong explained. “Over the years, most of those she has treated have been martial artists, so her reputation has circulated only within the jianghu.”

“Not long ago, I happened to meet a wandering martial artist. He said that he once suffered extremely severe internal injuries and was on the brink of death when this physician saved his life. He praised her medical abilities so highly that they sounded almost miraculous. I believe she must possess genuine skill.”

“In that case, I will send someone to Hongzhou tomorrow to invite her here,” Prince Rui said.

“That…may not be possible.”

“Why?”

“I have also heard that she shaved her head and became a Buddhist nun many years ago. Her Dharma name is Jiuru, and she now lives in seclusion within Changsheng Valley in Hongzhou. She stopped involving herself in worldly affairs long ago.”

“Anyone who seeks treatment from her must personally enter the valley to meet her. She refuses to take even half a step outside.”

Prince Rui frowned. “She became a Buddhist nun? So the physician is a woman? These people from the jianghu are truly peculiar. Would she even dare refuse someone sent by this prince?”

“She is not merely a martial wanderer but someone who has withdrawn from the secular world. Buddhism teaches the ​stolen content​equality of all living beings, so in her eyes, I fear…”

Ling Bingzhong paused before continuing, “In my opinion, we should send more guards to escort She Jia there.”

“How could that possibly be acceptable?” Prince Rui blurted out. “We do not even know what sort of place Changsheng Valley is. She Jia is a county princess of the imperial dynasty. If she carelessly comes into contact with people of dubious origins from the lowest reaches of society, would that not damage her reputation?”

In truth, Buddhism and Daoism flourished throughout the dynasty. Many princesses and county princesses of the imperial family entered Buddhist temples or Daoist monasteries to cultivate and pray.

However, those temples and monasteries were either situated inside Chang’an or nestled among renowned mountains and rivers.

Hongzhou was ultimately quite distant, while Master Jiuru and her Changsheng Valley were far too mysterious.

Yet the many stories of the jianghu that Ling Cheng had read since childhood told her that the more mysterious someone was, the more likely they were to be a hidden master possessing earth-shattering abilities.

She was overjoyed by what she heard. She nearly shouted, “I’ll accompany She Jia! I’ll definitely protect her!”

She had even opened her mouth to speak when Ling Bingzhong sighed heavily inside.

“But if we do not send her there, she is destined not to live past the age of fifteen. Surely we cannot allow that merely because—”

His words stopped abruptly.

Beside the window, an uncontrollable cry of “What did you say?” rang out, reaching both him and Prince Rui with perfect clarity.

Prince Rui was badly startled.

Although much of his earlier conversation with Ling Bingzhong could not be considered treasonous, some of it had indeed been disrespectful toward His Majesty. If an outsider learned of it, they might face a terrible calamity.

He immediately turned his head. Upon seeing two childish faces outside the window, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Nevertheless, his lingering anger remained, and his expression was still severe.

“Why is it you two girls?”

Under normal circumstances, Ling Cheng would immediately have stepped forward to accept responsibility. She would have told both elders that she was the one who had dragged She Jia there to eavesdrop and that even if they had done something wrong, She Jia was entirely blameless.

At that moment, however, it felt as though a thunderbolt had exploded inside her mind, scattering sparks through her thoughts.

She stood dazed for a long while before hurrying through the door and staring at Ling Bingzhong.

“Father, why…why would you curse She Jia like that…?”

Ling Bingzhong had no answer.

Xie Miao followed Ling Cheng inside and reached out to tug gently at her fingers.

Ling Cheng looked back, her face filled with helpless confusion.

“Uncle wasn’t cursing me,” Xie Miao said softly. “It’s true… But now, hasn’t a chance appeared?”

A smile suddenly rose to her lips. Part of it came from genuine happiness, while the other part was intended to reassure Ling Cheng and keep her from worrying.

Xie Miao then turned toward Ling Bingzhong and bowed gracefully. “Thank you, Uncle, for giving me a chance to live.”

Prince Rui stared at her in astonishment. “You…already knew?”

Such a fate—being destined to die young—was far too cruel for a child to bear. That was why they had concealed the imperial physicians’ diagnosis from Xie Miao from beginning to end.

How could she possibly have learned of it?

Xie Miao remained silent briefly before nodding. “Three years ago, Mother thought I was still unconscious and cried beside my bed. But in truth…I had already awakened.”

She had heard the conversation between her mother and eldest brother.

Prince Rui and Ling Bingzhong were both overcome with emotion.

If an ordinary child learned that she had only a few years left to live, she might immediately burst into terrified tears and create a scene. Yet this child was far too obedient and sensible.

How could anyone not ache for her?

Both men felt a surge of tenderness toward her.

Ling Cheng, however, felt both agony and anger.

Three years?

Everyone had concealed this from her for three whole years—even She Jia herself!

Ling Cheng had always been strong-willed and had never shed a tear since the day she was born. At that moment, her heart contracted painfully several times, and tears seemed about to gather at the corners of her eyes.

She sniffed.

Before the tears could fall, Xie Miao took out a handkerchief and wiped the moisture from her eyes, smiling as she said, “Why are you still upset? Hasn’t Uncle already found a miracle doctor for me? Or do you think that physician won’t be able to cure my illness either?”

Ling Cheng was indeed worried about precisely that.

Whenever other physicians had examined Xie Miao in the past and found themselves helpless, Ling Cheng had been able to comfort Xie Miao—and herself as well.

It did not matter. There were countless physicians in the world. One day, they would surely find a true miracle doctor.

After all, Xie Miao still had a long life ahead of her.

Only today did Ling Cheng finally learn that She Jia’s life was not measured by the same span of time as her own, or as the lives of most other people in the world.

If this so-called miracle doctor proved equally helpless against She Jia’s illness, then how many opportunities did She Jia truly have left…?

But such words were inauspicious.

Ling Cheng absolutely could not say them aloud.

Prince Rui stroked the top of his daughter’s head. “Do not worry. Since this physician truly possesses such skill, I will make certain that she treats you.”

However, he was still hesitant about sending his daughter to Hongzhou.

He decided that tomorrow, he would first send people to investigate whether the physician’s background truly matched Ling Bingzhong’s description.

He then glanced outside almost unconsciously and discovered that the sky had dimmed and evening was gradually approaching.

Although he was an imperial prince, he could not violate the curfew. Otherwise, a political enemy might submit a memorial accusing him of misconduct, creating unnecessary trouble.

He immediately prepared to bid farewell to Ling Bingzhong and return home with Xie Miao.

“Uncle.” Ling Cheng had finally begun to regain control of her emotions. She clutched Xie Miao’s hand and refused to let her leave, stepping forward to address Prince read the original at bailiantales.comRui. “It’s almost dark, and the wind is strong in the streets. Please let She Jia stay here tonight.”

“That would be fine.”

After Prince Rui departed, Ling Bingzhong ordered the servants to bring a small sedan chair and escort the county princess to a guest room to rest.

Xie Miao left the reception hall and approached the sedan chair beside the corridor, but she did not climb inside.

After pondering for a moment, she called softly, “Fu Li.”

Ling Cheng was still upset that Xie Miao had concealed her illness from her. She wanted to argue with her, yet feared that Xie Miao’s health could not withstand it.

After struggling with herself for some time, she asked sullenly, “What is it?”

Xie Miao lowered her voice even further. “Aren’t you curious about what Father and Uncle were discussing earlier? Did Uncle perhaps…do something that angered Grandfather?”

Given her status, it was inconvenient for Xie Miao to question Ling Bingzhong directly. She had wanted Ling Cheng to ask him instead.

But Ling Cheng’s thoughts were now entirely occupied by her, leaving her uninterested in anything else.

“What’s so serious about that? Whenever Father is in the capital and at home, don’t I make him angry every day?”

Ling Bingzhong had never truly punished her.

Therefore, in Ling Cheng’s eyes, Grandfather would, at worst, reprimand her father a few times.

“Wait here for me, She Jia. I do want to ask Father about Changsheng Valley and where exactly it is in Hongzhou.”

“Didn’t Uncle say Master Jiuru belongs to the jianghu?” Xie Miao asked. “He probably doesn’t know very much about the martial world.”

Those words reminded Ling Cheng of something, and she abruptly froze.

“What are you thinking about?” Xie Miao asked.

“There’s also someone from the jianghu in our family.”

“You mean…Aunt Su?”

The “Aunt Su” they spoke of was named Su Ying.

She had originally been a saber-wielding wanderer of the jianghu who traveled everywhere performing chivalrous deeds and had no fixed home.

Five years earlier, Su Ying had passed through a rural mountain village and stayed overnight with one of its families. They had welcomed her with exceptional warmth.

Two years later, she happened to pass through the [stolen content]area again. She deliberately took a one-hour detour to revisit the village and call upon her old friends from that household.

Instead, the other villagers informed her that she had arrived one step too late.

All five members of the family had been murdered by a band of outlaws that very morning.

Su Ying mounted her horse and pursued the murderers.

There were only a dozen or so of them. Confident in her exceptional martial arts, she felt no fear and charged them alone, armed with nothing but her saber, determined to avenge the innocent people who had died so tragically.

To her surprise, the supposed bandits were actually spies sent into the Great Chong Dynasty by Xifan.

An elderly man from the family had noticed something suspicious about their identities, forcing them to disguise themselves as bandits and slaughter the entire household to silence them.

Every one of them was an elite warrior of Xifan.

Su Ying fought without regard for her own life but managed to kill only nine. Three still remained, and she no longer possessed the strength to raise her saber.

Fortunately, Ling Bingzhong had obtained intelligence elsewhere and learned that Xifan spies had infiltrated the dynasty’s territory. He arrived with his soldiers at precisely that moment, captured the remaining three, and saved Su Ying in the process.

After interrogating the three spies, Ling Bingzhong learned that they had infiltrated the Great Chong Dynasty for two primary reasons.

The first was naturally to gather secrets about the imperial court.

The second was to travel to Chang’an and secretly assassinate Ling Bingzhong’s wife and daughter, throwing his mind into turmoil.

Upon hearing this, Ling Bingzhong truly became alarmed.

Although the Ling residence employed numerous guards, their martial arts were merely average. What if Xifan—or another hostile kingdom or foreign tribe—sent experts to assassinate them in the future and acted with even greater secrecy?

When Su Ying learned of the situation, she voluntarily offered to protect Madam Ling and Lady Ling in repayment for Ling Bingzhong saving her life.

Ling Bingzhong saw that her martial arts were extraordinary and guessed that she must be a renowned wandering hero of the jianghu.

If she remained permanently at the Ling residence as a lowly guard, would that not bury her talents and leave a brilliant pearl covered in dust?

Su Ying merely answered that those who wandered the jianghu always repaid their debts of gratitude. He had saved her life, so it was only right that she work for him in return.

After considering the matter for a long time, Ling Bingzhong asked Su Ying to remain at the Ling residence for three years and instruct its guards in martial arts. If she could train all of them into experts, nothing could be better.

Two years of that three-year agreement had now passed.

Su Ying had long since become an elder whom Ling Cheng greatly admired and respected. Normally, Ling Cheng was always delighted whenever she saw her.

On this particular day, however, ​unauthorized copy​Ling Cheng approached Su Ying’s room with displeasure written all over her face and knocked on the door.

A moment later, the door opened.

A woman of about thirty stepped outside with a long saber hanging at her waist. Her features were striking, and her expression was ordinarily dignified and solemn.

However, when she saw the little girl standing outside with her brows tightly furrowed, she smiled instead.

“I heard General Ling has returned to the capital. Did you argue with him again?”

Ling Cheng answered with a question of her own. “Have you heard of a miracle doctor in the jianghu named Jiuru?”

Su Ying froze briefly before realization dawned upon her. She guessed that the unhappiness on Fu Li’s face probably had nothing to do with Ling Bingzhong.

She nodded. “She is celebrated throughout the jianghu as the greatest miracle doctor beneath the heavens. Naturally, I have heard of her.”

Ling Cheng became even more puzzled. “You also knew she was the greatest miracle doctor beneath the heavens? Then why have you never told She Jia and me about her?”