Chapter 29
Hongli, despite the interruption, hadn’t forgotten his purpose for leaving the palace. After resolving the conflict between the Prime Minister and Minister Chen, he left the Prime Minister’s Mansion and headed towards the Grand General’s Mansion.
Upon arriving, he learned that Li Xinjun was in the dungeon. He went down to find her and was horrified to see her cutting a deep gash on her wrist with a small knife. Blood flowed freely. He rushed over and grabbed her hand.
“What are you doing?! Why are you trying to hurt yourself?!” Panicked, he grabbed her hand, pressing his sleeve against the wound to stop the bleeding.
“Hey, get out of the way! Let go!” Li Xinjun struggled to free herself.
“I won’t let go unless you promise not to do anything foolish!” Hongli, seeing her struggle, pulled her into a tight embrace, preventing her from escaping.
“What are you doing?!”
“I won’t let you hurt yourself! You’re precious to me! I won’t allow it!” Hongli’s voice was laced with anger and concern.
“You think I’m trying to commit suicide?” Li Xinjun stopped struggling and looked at him.
“What else could it be? I saw you with my own eyes!”
“Hahaha, you’re wrong! You jumped to conclusions! Hahaha!” Li Xinjun burst out laughing.
Hongli was baffled. He slowly released her, his face filled with confusion as he watched her laugh.
“If you weren’t trying to kill yourself, then what were you doing?”
“I was conducting an experiment, you idiot.”
“What kind of experiment requires you to cut your wrist?!”
“I need blood. I asked Minister Chen to provide me with some condemned prisoners, but he doesn’t have the authority. So I had to use my own blood.”
“Are you stupid?! Cutting yourself like this! Doesn’t it hurt? Why didn’t you ask me for help?”
Instead of feeling relieved, Hongli felt even more distressed. He gently took her hand, tore a strip of cloth from his sleeve, and bandaged her wound, blowing on it softly.
“Minister Chen and Grandfather couldn’t help me. What could you do? And I didn’t know where to find you. You never told me where you lived.”
Hongli was speechless. He had deliberately concealed his identity to maintain a normal relationship with Li Xinjun, but now, she wouldn’t think of asking him for help. He sighed and looked at her.
“What if I told you that I’m a very powerful person? That I could help you with anything? Would you be happy?”
“Really? Can you help me find Sister Ling?”
“Sigh… Is that all you want?”
Seeing her indifferent reaction, he realized that she hadn’t guessed his true identity. He hesitated, unsure whether to reveal it.
“Yes, I’m really worried about Sister Ling. It’s been so long. I’m afraid something has happened to her. That’s why I’m so desperate to study jiangshi. I want to resolve this problem quickly so I can go find her myself.”
“I forbid you from going after her!”
“Why? I have to find Sister Ling. I can’t rest until I do.”
“I don’t want you to put yourself in danger. And besides, I’ve already found her.”
“Really? You found Sister Ling? Where is she? Is she alright? Can you take me to her?”
Li Xinjun grabbed his arm excitedly. This was the first time she had heard any news about Song Ling in months.
“Calm down! You’re shaking me! How can I answer you if you keep doing that?”
Seeing her excitement, he realized that his earlier concerns about her being distant due to the incident at the lake were unfounded. He was relieved.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’ll stop shaking you. Tell me.”
Li Xinjun released his arm and straightened his clothes, waiting patiently for him to speak.
“My men reported seeing a woman resembling Song Ling in Yunnan province. Although they haven’t confirmed her identity yet, I’m certain it’s her. I’ve ordered them to verify and escort her back here. So please don’t go looking for her. You might miss each other if you’re both traveling.”
“Okay, okay, I understand. I’ll wait for her here. Brother Hongli, you must protect Sister Ling! Don’t let anything happen to her, okay?”
“Yes, I promise I’ll do my best to find her and bring her back safely. Will I get a reward then?” Hongli teased her.
“Don’t tell me you want to kiss me again.” Li Xinjun frowned.
“I promised that I wouldn’t kiss you again unless you wanted it. Don’t you trust me?” Now it was Hongli’s turn to frown.
“I believe that Brother Hongli is a man of his word! So you must bring Sister Ling back safely, okay? I’ll be very grateful.”
“So, will I get a reward?”
“What kind of reward do you want, Brother Hongli?”
“Kiss me on the cheek when she’s back.”
“Deal!”
Li Xinjun thought a kiss on the cheek was no big deal. She sometimes kissed her grandfather on the cheek. She agreed readily. Hongli, pleased, looked at her, feeling that they had grown closer. He was confident that he could win her heart.
Li Xinjun, unaware of his thoughts, was overjoyed at the prospect of reuniting with Song Ling. She eagerly crouched down beside the jiangshi, ripped off the sleeve Hongli had used to bandage her wound, and pressed down hard, reopening the cut. Blood flowed freely, dripping into the jiangshi’s mouth. The creature eagerly lapped up the blood.
Seeing Li Xinjun hurting herself again, Hongli was furious. He pulled her into his arms and scolded her.
“Didn’t I tell you not to hurt yourself?!”
“I’m just trying to feed the jiangshi! What else am I supposed to do?”
Enraged, Hongli drew his sword and plunged it into the jiangshi’s heart. The jiangshi’s eyes widened, and it twitched before becoming still.
“Hmph, I killed it. You don’t have to feed it anymore.”
“Hey, why did you do that? That was my research subject!”
“I don’t care. I won’t let you hurt yourself.”
“Even if you killed this one, I’ll just get another one. How many can you kill? I’m doing this to solve the jiangshi problem!”
“I’ll have them send you a batch of condemned prisoners tomorrow. You can use their blood. Don’t hurt yourself again. It pains me to see it.”
“Can you really do that? Even Minister Chen and Grandfather couldn’t. Are you sure?”
“Of course! I’ll have them sent tomorrow. Just wait.”
“Wow, Brother Hongli, you’re so capable! I should have asked you for help from the start. Then I wouldn’t have this extra scar on my hand. It hurts so much.”
“From now on, come to me if you need anything. I will always help you.”
“But where can I find you?”
“Hmm… Go to the First Teahouse in the city. Leave a note there, and I’ll have someone check it every day. If I receive your message, I’ll come as soon as possible.”
“Okay! Then I can have a meal there too. Hee hee hee.”
“You glutton!”
“Why does everyone call me that? Sister Ling used to call me that too.” Li Xinjun pouted.
Hongli chuckled, charmed by her childishness. He led her out of the dungeon and summoned a physician to treat her wound. At that moment, Xiaofuzi, dressed in formal attire, arrived at the mansion with a group of eunuchs.
“By order of the Emperor, Grand General Duoluo, Miss Li Xinjun, and all others present are to receive the imperial edict.”
Grand General Duoluo led everyone in the mansion to the front gate, where they knelt, awaiting Xiaofuzi’s announcement. Hongli, pretending to be an ordinary citizen, also knelt, causing Xiaofuzi some confusion. Hongli gave him a discreet signal, and Xiaofuzi, regaining his composure, began to read the edict.
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Li Xinjun is hereby bestowed the title of ‘Most Talented Woman in Both Literary and Martial Arts of the Great Qing.’ She is granted this token, granting her access to the imperial court and the right to an audience with the Emperor. She is also granted access to the books in the Hanlin Academy. This token holds the highest authority, granting her unimpeded passage and the right to seek assistance from local officials whenever necessary. It is hoped that Miss Li Xinjun will assist the Great Qing in overcoming this crisis. The Emperor shall reward her generously. This concludes the imperial edict.”
“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!”
Li Xinjun stood up and received the edict and the golden tablet from Xiaofuzi. The tablet was exquisitely crafted, with a dragon engraved on its surface. She carefully tucked the tablet away and bowed to Xiaofuzi in gratitude.
“Thank you, Eunuch. I didn’t realize you were not only Brother Hongli’s subordinate but also a eunuch in the imperial palace. I apologize for any disrespect I may have shown.”
“Miss Li, there’s no need for such formalities. I am merely a servant. Please, just call me Xiaofuzi.”
“Brother Hongli, what is your official position? Why do you have Xiaofuzi serving you?”
“I told you I was a very powerful person. Are you afraid to be friends with me now?”
“Hmph, I already knew you were powerful, Brother Hongli. There’s nothing to be afraid of. We’re friends, aren’t we? Friends shouldn’t let social status affect their relationship.”
“You are right, Miss Xinjun. From now on, let’s ignore our backgrounds and continue our friendship.”
“Yes!”
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