The Sovereign – Chapter 99

Volume Five: Remembering a Lifetime in the Sound of a Breaking Heart

Ghost Valley Doctor

The famous Guiguzi (Ghost Valley Master)

Qin Junlan secretly captured a group of people from Suyuan Tower, including He Xi. The entire Suyuan Tower was a base of the Shura Sect. All her suspicions were confirmed, and she now understood everything about Liu Qianxun’s identity.

She sat in the pavilion at the Iris Garden, reminiscing about the past, which felt like a dream. On that night when countless fireflies flew around and ethereal figures floated in the air, she was as radiant and enchanting as a fairy untouched by the mortal world. The more beautiful the memory, the more her heart ached. Everything she had done seemed like a joke now, yet she surprisingly did not regret it.

He Xi was brought to the pavilion by Li Ruo. He was slightly startled upon seeing Qin Junlan, not knowing that the once-dominant Ji Empress was so graceful and elegant. Her upright posture highlighted her slender figure, combining softness with strength, showing a regal aura. He never knew that a woman could be an emperor and still possess such a commanding presence without anger.

“Seeing the emperor and still not saluting?” Li Ruo kicked the back of He Xi’s leg. He knelt but kept his body straight.

“I am from the Yu Kingdom, why should I kneel to the emperor of Ji Kingdom?” He Xi was fearless, trying to stand up but was pressed down by Li Ruo again.

“Enough, Li Ruo, you may leave.” Qin Junlan was not bothered by his offensive words, remaining calm as ever.

“Your Majesty…” Li Ruo was worried He Xi might harm Qin Junlan, but seeing her sharp glance, he dared not say more. “Your humble servant takes leave.”

He Xi, with his proud nature, had never submitted to anyone. Yet, as he stepped into this Iris Garden, he was momentarily distracted. The iris flower is the flower of the Yu Kingdom, commonly seen there, and he didn’t expect to see such a stunning bloom here. He thought he was sure to die and even believed Qin Junlan summoned him to torture him and pry open his mouth.

But he was wrong. No one could guess the thoughts of this empress.

“Are you Xun’er’s younger brother?” Qin Junlan looked him up and down, finding some resemblance to Liu Qianxun in his brows, which made her feel a sense of closeness.

“So what if I am? Don’t think you can learn anything about the Shura Sect from me,” He Xi said with a hint of a smile in his eyes. They each served their own masters. He never planned to leave this place alive; he was supposed to be dead, but the eldest princess showed mercy and spared his life.

Qin Junlan looked at him with interest, neither angry nor upset. “Your rebellious nature is somewhat like hers. I didn’t call you here to ask about the Shura Sect; I just wanted to hear about your sister and her mother.”

“Really?” He Xi was doubtful. He couldn’t believe the empress would be so kind and felt she must have some scheme.

“If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine too.” Qin Junlan calmly walked to the edge of the garden, gazing at the irises, making it hard to guess her intentions.

“What do you want to know?” He Xi saw she didn’t seem to be lying, and besides, he was already a prisoner with nothing left to lose.

“Anything you like.” Qin Junlan finally smiled a little.

“Alright.” He Xi thought for a moment, then began to recount everything about Liu Qianxun and her mother at Chongwang Mansion, including the hardships Liu Zhu endured during childbirth, which he had heard from others.

Qin Junlan walked among the flowers, listening to He Xi recounting the past. Her once calm heart was stirred again, and she couldn’t help but cough lightly. She finally understood why Liu Qianxun was such a cold person. Having seen the harshness of the world and endured tortures worse than death, how could she still be kind to this world?

At this moment, she felt nothing but sympathy, also feeling sorry for Yi Qingyu, who had waited in vain for twenty years, not knowing the one she loved was suffering inhuman torment.

“After that, my sister took Aunt Liu out of the mansion. I can’t tell you anything more about what happened next,” He Xi said, looking at Qin Junlan, noticing her face had turned slightly pale, as if she was unwell.

“Later, she was saved by Ling Yu and joined the Shura Sect…” Qin Junlan’s voice became lighter. She gave a bitter smile and waved her hand. Shortly, the guards came forward. “Take him away and lock him up alone.”

Just as He Xi was taken away, Li Ruo came to await orders. Qin Junlan sighed deeply, her weak eyes suddenly flashing with sharp light. She slowly gave the command, “Except for He Xi, kill the others!”

“As you command!”

Thinking back, the time she was chased by assassins and forced into Suyuan Tower was the work of these people. What a grand play it was, all set up to trap her. Everyone deserved to die; Qin Junlan would not show mercy. But she wanted to spare He Xi’s life, not only because he was Liu Qianxun’s brother but also because he had helped Liu Qianxun when they were young, giving him a chance to live.

He Xi never imagined that his kindness and protection towards his sister when he was young would not only save his life from Ling Yu but also earn him a pardon from Qin Junlan.

Two shoulders of irises, a lifetime of fate. Qin Junlan perhaps understood why Liu Qianxun loved Ling Yu. They had been together for so long; it was Ling Yu who gave Liu Qianxun a new life. All her past was known only to Ling Yu. How long had Qin Junlan known her? Looking at the irises in front of her, it was truly ironic and laughable! What was she doing? Planting a garden of flowers symbolizing someone else’s love?

“Come here~”

“Your Majesty!” The one who came was Li Yue. Qin Junlan saw that her expression had returned to normal, but her eyes carried an unshakable sadness. Qin Junlan had wanted Li Yue to rest for a while and not serve her, but she had come back anyway.

“Why aren’t you resting?”

“I’m fine, Your Majesty, please give your orders.” Li Yue appeared calm, yet she was like a pearl that had lost its luster, dim and spiritless.

Qin Junlan sighed softly, “You and I, we share the same sorrow. Bring the torch here.”

“Your Majesty?” Li Yue looked at her in surprise, the pain in her heart striking again. Perhaps she understood Qin Junlan’s feelings the best. She had lost Chen Qing in death, while Qin Junlan was separated from Liu Qianxun by life.

She didn’t try to persuade Qin Junlan. Instead, she had people spread grass and wood around the irises and quietly handed the torch to her.

Qin Junlan held the torch, staring at the irises, feeling reluctant. But she didn’t want to feel the pain these flowers caused her anymore, only bringing torment. She didn’t want to come here, yet she always found herself here.

She turned to Li Yue and asked, “Do you regret loving her?”

“No, no matter what her identity is, I have never regretted it!” Li Yue held the dagger given to her by Chen Qing, her eyes firm. No one’s smile could ever be as warm as Chen Qing’s, forever engraved in her heart.

“Neither do I~” Qin Junlan turned and threw the torch into the Iris Garden.

Even though she didn’t regret loving, she didn’t want to see her own ridiculous efforts. The sparks ignited the irises, burning the beautiful scene to ashes, leaving Qin Junlan with a heart as cold as ashes…

Shennong Valley (named after the legendary Chinese deity Shennong, known for agriculture and herbal medicine) is located in the mountains between the Yu Kingdom and the Ji Kingdom. Nearby is a strange mountain called Shennong Mountain. The mountain was originally unnamed, but because it produced many medicinal herbs often used in prescriptions, it got its name.

After leaving Changning Mansion, Liu Qianxun rushed to Shennong Valley. Though it’s called a valley, no one knows where the entrance truly is. Shennong Valley remains a legend, but Guiguzi is said to have miraculous healing abilities, able to bring the dead back to life. However, he has an eccentric personality, often wandering and not easily seen, and rarely helps those in need, earning him the name Ghost Doctor.

Liu Qianxun’s whip wounds hadn’t healed, and after fighting Ling Yu with real energy, her wounds reopened and started to bleed slightly. The mountain path was rugged, so she abandoned her horse and walked, searching for the entrance to Shennong Valley.

This place was like a hidden paradise. When the sunset lined up with the mountain top, it seemed like a fairyland, with flowers blooming everywhere, even thorny areas were poetic. Liu Qianxun felt that blindly searching would only waste time, so she leaped up to stand on the treetops to survey the nearby terrain. She noticed that the arrangement of plants seemed to follow a pattern, as if there was a method to it.

It resembled the Bagua formation (a traditional Chinese tactical formation based on the I Ching, representing eight trigrams) but seemed to take another shape. This arrangement was very innovative. Guiguzi was indeed extraordinary, and his reclusive lifestyle really kept many admirers seeking his medical help at bay. What shape was it? Liu Qianxun found it familiar but couldn’t figure it out.

Suddenly, she sensed something unusual nearby. Following the sound, she found an old man hanging upside down from a tree, his clothes caught on branches, unable to move up or down, which was quite funny. Liu Qianxun saw he was short, dressed in plain cloth, but his half-black, half-white hair was particularly striking, and his beard tied with a string was quite cute.

Liu Qianxun landed on the ground, a faint smile on her lips. She passed under the tree, waved her arm, and the branch broke, causing the old man to fall. She didn’t stop but continued walking forward.

Realizing Liu Qianxun had saved him, he quickly got up and chased after her. “Young lady, young lady, you saved the old man, and I haven’t thanked you yet.”

“I was just passing by, no thanks needed,” Liu Qianxun said without stopping. He jogged to cut her off, and when he looked at her, he was stunned. Her appearance was so much like that of Liu Zhu, and she was even more beautiful. Her demeanor was somewhat reminiscent of Qingyu in his youth.

This old man was Guiguzi himself. Although skilled in medicine, he didn’t know martial arts. When he saw a strange herb growing on the tree, he tried to pick it and got caught in the branches, quite embarrassing.

“Young lady, didn’t you come to Shennong Mountain to find Shennong Valley?” Guiguzi tugged at his beard, looking Liu Qianxun up and down. He had to admit, this girl was pleasing to the eye. She looked strong but had an inner gentleness that made people care for her, especially since she was injured. Guiguzi could tell her physical condition at a glance.

“I am indeed here to find Guiguzi. If you know the entrance to Shennong Valley, I hope you can tell me. If not, or if you don’t wish to, I will take my leave,” Liu Qianxun said with a calm and respectful demeanor, neither humble nor arrogant. This kind of personality was exactly what appealed to Guiguzi, much like Qingyu, with an unrestrained character.

“You want Guiguzi to treat you?” Guiguzi followed Liu Qianxun with great interest.

“These small wounds of mine are not worth troubling Guiguzi and his ghostly medical skills. I came for someone else.”

“Oh? Someone else, a lover?”

Liu Qianxun remained silent.

“Not speaking means you agree. What illness does she have that requires a beautiful person like you to come to Shennong Valley?” Guiguzi grew more curious, asking as he followed.

Liu Qianxun stopped and looked at Guiguzi, slowly saying, “The poison of the Mother-Child Gu.”

“What a coincidence??” Guiguzi almost jumped. A few days ago, he received a letter from Qingyu, who suspected that the Ji Empress was afflicted by Gu poison. Now Liu Qianxun was here looking for a cure for the Mother-Child Gu. Could it be that the person she wants to save is also the Ji Empress?

“Coincidence?”

“Oh, nothing, nothing. Young lady, you saved the old man, so the old man will take you to the entrance of the valley as a way to repay you.” Guiguzi said with a cheerful laugh, walking ahead.

Liu Qianxun felt secretly pleased. In reality, she had already guessed that this person was Guiguzi. Though she had never met him, she had heard about his appearance and legendary personality. Legends are often hard to verify, but someone who could move freely in Shennong Valley and had such an extraordinary presence was certainly him.

Wherever Guiguzi went, he only needed to slightly move the shrubs, and a rugged path would appear. It seemed like they were walking in circles, yet they had already arrived at the valley entrance.

“Alright, we’re here. Go in, and you’ll be in Shennong Valley. The old man owes you nothing now.”

Suddenly, Liu Qianxun knelt down, and Guiguzi hurried to help her up. “No, no, don’t kneel. The old man is most afraid of women, especially young and pretty ones kneeling. Stand up, stand up, and we’ll talk.”

“I have met Guiguzi, and I ask for your help,” Liu Qianxun said sincerely, seeking medical aid only to find a chance of survival for Qin Junlan.

“Stand up first, and then we’ll talk. I knew you were a clever young lady, guessing my identity, which is why I brought you here.”

Liu Qianxun stood up, looking at Guiguzi, feeling a bit guilty. Her little plan couldn’t be hidden from him after all.

“Who are you trying to save? Could it be the Ji Empress too?”

“Yes, it is indeed her. Did you receive a message from Aunt Qing?” Liu Qianxun guessed from Guiguzi’s words that it must have been Yi Qingyu who sought his help. Otherwise, who else could have brought the wandering Guiguzi back to Shennong Valley?

“You know Qingyu, oh? Wait, do you also know Liu Zhu?”

“Liu Zhu is my mother.”

Guiguzi gasped in surprise, then burst into hearty laughter, feeling there was another story to hear. He pulled Liu Qianxun along into the valley, saying, “Come, come, come, follow me inside.”

Guiguzi was nearly fifty years old, with no wife or children, living as a carefree wanderer with a childlike heart, often traveling far and wide. He was well aware of the events concerning Liu Zhu and Qingyu. Although he once harbored doubts about Liu Zhu’s death, he never heard any trace of her. Unexpectedly, over twenty years later, Liu Zhu had a daughter who appeared.

Inside Shennong Valley, it was like a heavenly realm, with birds flying around and occasional sightings of solitary white cranes. Just inside the valley was a stone forest, full of jagged rocks, as if carved by nature. The stone forest was not randomly piled; without a guide, it seemed like a maze, easy to get lost in.

The view shifted from narrow to deep, revealing a lake as clear as a sunny sky. A vine bridge crossed the lake, with koi swimming at the bottom. Guiguzi walked with a spring in his step, humming a little tune, swaying his body, and striding forward.

Beyond the lake was a herbal hut made of wood, beside which stood two exquisite rest houses. Guiguzi walked to the herbal hut, where the smell of medicine filled the air. He took a deep breath, enjoying the alluring fragrance of the valley’s herbs. The herbs in the hut were piled in a chaotic manner, and only Guiguzi could recognize these rare medicinal plants that looked like wild grass.

He selected two types, ground them into a paste, and handed it to Liu Qianxun. “Young lady, apply this medicine to your wounds, and I guarantee they’ll heal within three days.”

“Thank you, Master!” Liu Qianxun took the herbs and set them aside. “Master, is there a way to cure the Mother-Child Gu?”

“There is no antidote for the Mother-Child Gu, you know that?” Guiguzi stroked his beard, his expression turning unusually serious.

“I know, she told me… but you must have a way.” Liu Qianxun knew Ling Yu hadn’t lied to her, but she still held onto hope.

“Since there’s no suitable treatment, why don’t you tell the old man about your mother, Liu Zhu? Why didn’t she die? And what’s the story with her and Qingyu?” Guiguzi changed the subject, his eyes shining with interest as he eagerly looked at Liu Qianxun.

Liu Qianxun helplessly pulled a face, looking at Guiguzi, sweat in her eyes. Her appearance really made Guiguzi’s heart ache. Clearly an ice-cold beauty, yet filled with helplessness and sadness.

“What, what is it?”

“Nothing, Master, you surely have a way to treat the Mother-Child Gu. If you want to hear about my mother, I can tell you in detail, but…”

“Alright, alright, you young lady,” Guiguzi said, putting his hands on his hips, taking a few steps forward, pacing back and forth a few times, wanting to speak but hesitating. This treatment method, he really didn’t want to use it on Liu Qianxun.

“Master, please say it. As long as I can do it, I will.”

“The trouble with the Mother-Child Gu is that the child gu is controlled by the mother gu. Creating a complete antidote is impossible, but there is a way to develop a method to suppress the poison from acting. As long as the mother gu doesn’t die, the person with the child gu won’t be in grave danger, though their body will suffer.”

This was exactly what Liu Qianxun was worried about. Now the mother gu was in Ling Yu’s hands. If she wanted to kill Qin Junlan, she only needed to crush the mother gu. Thinking about Qi Ye’s death made her shiver and unable to think further.

“Master, what is the method?”

Guiguzi shook his body, looking at Liu Qianxun with a sigh. “To suppress the poison, you need to know what poisonous herb the mother gu grew up on. But there are hundreds of poisonous herbs. Someone has to test the poison on themselves, eat the poisonous herbs, release the poisonous blood, for me to study.”

“I’ll do it, please go ahead, Master.” Liu Qianxun was resolute. Guiguzi’s eyebrows knitted into a knot as he pointed at Liu Qianxun and started nagging, “Do you know you might lose all your martial arts, or die from the poison, or even live with illness all your life?”

“It doesn’t matter, as long as Master can save her.” Liu Qianxun bowed down to kneel, putting her life and death aside. As long as she could save Qin Junlan, she was willing to do anything.

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