Volume Seven: The Years I Was a General
A Life Worse Than Death
Was it too late?
Wen Nuan did not think it was late. As long as this life of hers was still living, she felt it was not late.
The two of them walked back, one in front of the other. Yuan Qi led the palace attendants, following behind. The stiff and ice-cold atmosphere made everyone afraid to even breathe loudly.
Wen Nuan looked at Xiao Chuyu’s exquisite and well-proportioned back. Her slender figure was wrapped in a bright yellow dragon robe1, exuding a noble and elegant immortal air2.
Xiao Chuyu could feel Wen Nuan’s gaze on her. The line of sight was too scorching; she found it hard to ignore.
Stopping in her tracks, Xiao Chuyu turned to look at Wen Nuan. “Why are you always staring at Zhen? Are you looking for an opportunity to escape?”
Their group had walked to the Imperial Garden3. From here, it was only the distance of two red walls from outside the palace. If Gu Wen Nuan wanted to take the opportunity to escape, it would be as easy as turning over one’s hand4. After all, this person’s qinggong5 was unmatched by anyone.
Wen Nuan felt her throat was a bit hoarse. She coughed lightly a few times, which aggravated an internal injury, and a rusty taste welled up in her mouth.
She licked her lips: “This Guilty Minister would not dare.”
Seeing her lips turn red, Xiao Chuyu’s brow furrowed.
She walked closer to Wen Nuan, pinched her chin, and used her sleeve to wipe the blood from her lips, cursing with a look of disgust: “So dirty.”
Yuan Qi saw Xiao Chuyu’s dragon robe get stained with Gu Wen Nuan’s blood and was so frightened his eyes widened, but the next second, the moment he saw Xiao Chuyu look at him, he immediately concealed all his expressions.
“Yuan Qi, call Taiyi Li back.”
Yuan Qi replied: “Nuo.”
“No need.” Wen Nuan stopped Yuan Qi and looked at Xiao Chuyu. “This Guilty Minister’s is an old injury. It will be fine after a few days of good rest.”
Yuan Qi froze in place, not knowing whether he should go or not.
Xiao Chuyu gave Gu Wen Nuan a deep look and snorted with a laugh: “Forget it, don’t go. She’s going to die anyway. There’s no difference between dying early and dying late.”
Yuan Qi responded: “Nuo.”
Hearing these words, Wen Nuan smiled: “The Emperor is brilliant.”
“….” Xiao Chuyu’s fingertips trembled slightly. “Zhen sentenced you for colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, and for offending your superior. Is that also a brilliant move?”
“Naturally.”
“Does Little General Gu not have a defiant heart?”
“No,” Wen Nuan looked at Xiao Chuyu. “If the ruler wants his subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die6.”
Xiao Chuyu’s brow furrowed slightly: “Then what if Xiao Chuyu wants you to die?”
If, at this moment, she were not the incomparably noble Son of Heaven of Ming’an Country who holds the power of life and death, but an ordinary person, Xiao Chuyu, would you still be willing to die?
Wen Nuan smiled faintly: “Then I… would be willing in heart and soul.”
At this moment, she is also not the ever-victorious Gu Wen Nuan who campaigned on the battlefield, but an ordinary person, Gu Wen Nuan. Naturally, she would be willing to be killed by Xiao Chuyu’s own hands.
A trace of panic flashed in Xiao Chuyu’s eyes: “…Spouting nonsense.”
Wen Nuan naturally knew that Xiao Chuyu would not easily believe her words, so she did not explain too much.
She looked at the already blooming hydrangea flowers7. Their blossoms were full, large, and beautiful, with a variety of colors, pleasing to the eye and refreshing to the spirit.
Wen Nuan changed the subject and asked, “Your Majesty’s birthday is coming soon, isn’t it?”
The sixth day of the sixth month, a good day.
Xiao Chuyu paused. “What about it?”
“What birthday gift does Your Majesty want?”
“Birthday gift?” Thinking of the birthday gifts Gu Wen Nuan had sent her over the past three years, Xiao Chuyu’s expression changed. She said, almost through gritted teeth, “Zhen does not want those colorful, broken rocks anymore.”
During the three-year period, whenever it was her birthday banquet, Gu Wen Nuan would send coral8 of different colors from Mobei. Both their appearance and color were ugly to death. One look and you could tell it was perfunctory.
Wen Nuan naturally knew about the gifts the original owner had sent to Xiao Chuyu in the past three years. The original owner was not good at socializing. Every time she learned of Xiao Chuyu’s birthday and that the officials of Ming’an Country had all sent gifts, she felt it would be bad not to send one, so she always sent the local product of Mobei, coral.
She sent the same thing every year, just changing the color and shape. There was no amusement or sincerity to speak of; it was purely to get it over with.
“….” Wen Nuan couldn’t very well explain that the one who sent the coral before was not her but the original owner. She said, a bit awkwardly, “Then what does Your Majesty like? This Guilty Minister can arrange it for you?”
Xiao Chuyu looked Wen Nuan up and down. She was dressed in a white brocade common robe for men. Although her face was pale, it did not lack handsomeness.
Especially when that pair of eyes, as gorgeous as peach blossoms, were slightly raised, they were like amber soaked in a clear spring, as clear and bright as the myriad stars in the sky.
Her figure was tall and straight, standing tall like jade9. Two sleeves of clear wind10. The sunlight sprinkled on her body, as if her whole person was emitting light, attracting everyone’s gaze.
Truly worthy of being the youth that people frequently admired back then, as dazzling and outstanding as the morning sun.
Xiao Chuyu’s gaze landed on the thin lips that had been reddened when she vomited blood just now. She raised her hand and caressed Wen Nuan’s red lips, her tone husky: “What do you have that is worth Zhen’s anticipation?”
As she was now, the General’s residence had been confiscated, the title of Zhenguo Jiangjun had been revoked, and she was saddled with a pile of monstrous crimes that could lead to the extermination of the nine relations and beheading. What qualifications did she have to celebrate her birthday and give her a birthday gift?
However, Xiao Chuyu looked at the lips that were becoming redder under her fingertips, her eyes deep.
Gu Wen Nuan still had a little bit of qualification.
Wen Nuan looked at Xiao Chuyu’s eyes, which were brimming with lust. Her thin lips opened and closed, taking her fingertip into her mouth, her eyes rippling: “This Guilty Minister can still serve a person with my beauty11. What does Your Majesty think?”
Xiao Chuyu’s fingertip trembled slightly, feeling the tip of a tongue slide across its pad. She said coldly, “You really will use every means possible, won’t you?”
Wen Nuan released her fingertip and used her sleeve to wipe off the saliva on it. “If Your Majesty does not like it, This Guilty Minister will think of something else, and strive to give Your Majesty a satisfactory birthday gift, okay?”
“What? You plan to coax Zhen into being satisfied and letting you go?” Xiao Chuyu pulled her hand back. “Gu Wen Nuan, don’t be delusional. Even if you pluck the bright moon from the sky, it is impossible for Zhen to let you go.”
Wen Nuan said in surprise, “So Your Majesty wants the bright moon from the sky?”
“….” Xiao Chuyu took a deep breath and said fiercely, “Gu Wen Nuan, don’t you feign madness and act foolish with Zhen!”
“This Guilty Minister is not feign madness and act foolish. If Your Majesty wants the moon from the sky, This Guilty Minister will pluck it down for you.”
Hearing Wen Nuan’s exaggeration, Xiao Chuyu helplessly rolled her eyes: “Gu Wen Nuan, you are truly deluding yourself12!”
Wen Nuan shrugged. “If Your Majesty does not believe it, then wait for your birthday banquet and see if This Guilty Minister can pluck the moon down for you.”
“Fine. Zhen will watch how you pluck the moon.”
Xiao Chuyu turned to leave. Wen Nuan immediately followed. “Then it’s settled. Where is Your Majesty going?”
Xiao Chuyu originally wanted to answer her, but her mouth was a little faster. The moment she asked, she opened her mouth and answered: “The Imperial Study13.”
A wave of annoyance and embarrassment instantly surged in her heart.
Wen Nuan looked at Yuan Qi and asked, “Her Majesty has not had the noon meal yet, right?”
Xiao Chuyu bit her lip, not wanting to answer her.
Yuan Qi responded from the side, “That is correct, Her Majesty has not yet eaten.”
Xiao Chuyu paused, only then realizing that Wen Nuan’s question just now was directed at Yuan Qi.
The annoyance and embarrassment in her heart deepened.
Wen Nuan saw Xiao Chuyu suddenly start walking faster. She hurried to catch up and held her wrist. “Your Majesty, let’s have the noon meal first before going to the Imperial Study, shall we?”
Because of her own presumptuousness, Xiao Chuyu felt very angry and humiliated. Her whole person was like someone whose sore spot had been suddenly stepped on. She violently shook off Wen Nuan and roared in a low voice, “It’s none of your business!”
The old injury relapsed. Wen Nuan’s body had not yet recovered. Without any reaction, she was forcefully thrown out by Xiao Chuyu, falling directly to the ground.
The stagnant blood she had managed to hold back came spitting out directly. “Ough——”
“Little General Gu….” Yuan Qi saw the blood Gu Wen Nuan sprayed out and exclaimed in shock.
Xiao Chuyu froze in place. Looking at the blood Wen Nuan had spat out, her mind instantly went blank. She looked in disbelief at Wen Nuan, who had fallen to the ground.
Her chest heaved violently, and the sound coming from her throat was a “heh-heh” sound like that of a bellows being pulled. Her face was as pale as paper, as if she would stop breathing at any moment.
Yuan Qi looked at Xiao Chuyu, at a loss. Without Xiao Chuyu’s command, he did not dare to act on his own and could only be anxious here.
Yuan Qi’s shout from just now seemed to reach Xiao Chuyu’s ears only after a long time. Her body shuddered. She squatted down and gathered Gu Wen Nuan into her arms, her tone anxious as she shouted at Yuan Qi: “What are you standing there dumbly for? Go call the Taiyi!”
“Yes, yes, yes, This Slave will go at once.”
Wen Nuan had originally thought there was no need to have Xiao Chuyu call the Taiyi; this was an old ailment of the original owner. But as soon as she opened her mouth, another mouthful of blood sprayed out, soaking the white common robe on her chest.
Xiao Chuyu was stunned, her voice trembling, “Gu Wen Nuan, don’t you scare Zhen! Zhen still has to behead you after autumn! You cannot die now! Without Zhen’s edict, you cannot die now!”
“If you dare to die now, it is the crime of deceiving the sovereign, it is defying an edict and showing disrespect! Zhen will exterminate your nine relations! Zhen will have you torn apart by five horses and your bones ground to dust!”
Wen Nuan actually wanted to smile. After all, she was the only one left in the Gu family. Exterminating the nine relations would still just be her. Xiao Chuyu’s threat had no force at all.
But she couldn’t smile or speak. Her vision went black and she fainted. The second before she fainted, Xiao Chuyu’s threats were still roaring in her ear.
Xiao Chuyu picked up the fainted Gu Wen Nuan and returned to Zhongming Hall. Yuan Qi also rushed over, pulling Taiyi Li along.
Under Xiao Chuyu’s fierce gaze, Taiyi Li came to the bedside, scrambling and crawling. Looking at Gu Wen Nuan’s blood-reddened clothes, he was scared out of his wits.
He knelt and bowed: “This Humble Minister Li Mingde pays respects…”
“Treat her at once,” Xiao Chuyu had no time to listen to Taiyi Li’s salutations and said sternly, “If you can’t save Gu Wen Nuan, Zhen will slaughter you!”
Taiyi Li’s body instantly tensed. He said hurriedly, “Yes, yes, yes, This Humble Minister will save Little General Gu at once.”
He steadied his trembling hands and took Gu Wen Nuan’s pulse. His brow grew tighter and tighter, and his expression more and more conflicted.
Xiao Chuyu was made unsettled by Taiyi Li’s expression. She said anxiously, “How is it?”
Taiyi Li withdrew his hand and said hurriedly, “Her qi and blood14 are out of harmony, and her zang-fu organs15 are damaged. Little General Gu already had a severe internal injury. Then, because she suffered cruel torture in the zhaoyu these past few days, it has triggered her long-dormant internal injury, aggravating the wound and causing her to be deficient in both qi and blood. Her body is gradually weakening, and her essence-qi16 is depleted and severed…”
Xiao Chuyu’s face stiffened, and she choked slightly: “….Can she be cured?”
With such an injury, it would be a great fortune to live for a year, but Taiyi Li did not dare to say this. If he said it, he was afraid he would not live past today.
“This Humble Minister can… can give it a try,” Taiyi Li wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said with difficulty.
Xiao Chuyu narrowed her eyes, rubbing her jade thumb ring. “Li Mingde, if Gu Wen Nuan cannot get well, Zhen will exterminate your nine relations. You see to it.”
Taiyi Li was so scared he prostrated on the ground, trembling as he responded, “…Yes.. This Humble Minister will definitely do everything in my power to treat Little General Gu.”
Yuan Qi took Taiyi Li to get the medicine. Xiao Chuyu stayed by Gu Wen Nuan’s side, with no heart to go to the Imperial Study to review memorials.
She looked at the bloodstain on Gu Wen Nuan’s chest; it was truly an eyesore.
She raised her hand and undid Gu Wen Nuan’s clothes, seeing her blood-stained clothes changed, wearing her inner shirt, her face was yet several shades whiter than the inner shirt.
Internal injury.
Xiao Chuyu looked at the unconscious Gu Wen Nuan and sighed softly, “Gu Wen Nuan, you really can torture a person until… their life is worse than death.”
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