CH 8

Chapter 8: Old court case of gold, Part 1 of 4

(Translation credits: Silhoutte)

The spacious room has no screen, no curtains, no bronze mirror, it did not seem like a woman’s room, but lying on the big mahogany bed was a slender, delicate woman. Her eyes were slightly closed, her face showed no signs of pain, nor was it pale. It was as if she was just calmly sleeping. However, the atmosphere inside the room was not calm, in front of the bed an old man felt the lady’s pulse whilst constantly wiping his sweat, not daring to look towards the centre of the room where a distinguished yet edgy young general stood.

After a long time, the old man slowly withdrew his hand, Su Yu strode up immediately and anxiously asked: “How is she?”

The young lad who had invited the old man to the Manor, to examine the unconscious lady, said that she is General Su’s wife, hence he cannot be the slightest bit negligent in his diagnosis as he absolutely couldn’t afford to bear the consequences in case of misdiagnosis. With Su Yu watching him closely, the old man broke out in cold sweat, but neither did he speak rashly nor gave the wrong prognosis, he fearfully  replied: “Madam’s pulse is steady and her breathing is normal, this old man … this ignorant old man really cannot diagnose what this illness is.”

Another quack! Su Yu furiously, shouted: “Leave.”

The old man hurriedly got up and fled, Su Yu in anger bellowed towards the officers at the front door: “Are these the few quacks you managed to find?”

The officers awkwardly replied: “Responding to deputy general, nearly all the famous doctors of the capital that could be found were invited to the manor.” From yesterday morning till now, a dozen doctors have been invited.

Su Yu obviously did not want to hear this and angrily said: “Find again.”

“Yes.”

The person lying quietly in the bed seemingly lifeless is a Qing Mo, Su Yu never wanted to see. She should not be looking like this! She should be arrogant, brassy, definitely not this!

Clenching his teeth, Su Yu asked Su Ren who has all this while been sitting silently:  “Brother, should I ask an imperial doctor to look at her?”

Su Ren shook his head and dismissively replied: “It is inconvenient to disturb the imperial physician. Do not worry too much, the doctor said her pulse is steady, it should not be anything serious, let her rest a few days and see.” They have already invited the famous doctors in the capital to examine her since no one could give a prognosis there could  only be two possibilities: one Qing Mo is suffering a strange illness, and if so, imperial physician is also powerless to diagnose; or another possibility is that she is not ill at all!

Noting an expressionless Su Ren, Su Yu did not agree with him and said: “She has been unconscious for nearly two days so how could there be no harm? Even a healthy person, cannot sustain a few days without food and drink! Those bunch of quacks examined her for such a long time yet  can’t even utter out a sensible word!”

Su Ren sighed gently, Why is he so obstinate? Just as Su Ren was about to speak, Su Yu’s tall body has quickly stepped out the room.

Su Ren urgently asked: “Where are you going?”

“To find a doctor.” With these words, he departed the courtyard.

Su Ren stared at Su Yu’s hurriedly departing back and then looking at the woman lying quietly in bed, he suddenly had a bad feeling about this!

After a while, Su Ren also left the room, thus deep in the night everything returned to its tranquil state.

The peaceful and serene woman lying on the bed suddenly opened her eyes. Those pair of eyes with a clear, keen and penetrative gaze did not belong to a man in coma for two days. Gu Yun gently moved her stiff fingers, and in her heart she cannot help but cursed.

Damn, she was not afraid of hunger, nor afraid even of harsh surroundings, but maintaining this inert state for over thirty hours, she is really stiff! Yet, she needed to keep breathing evenly that those doctors could not find anything wrong with her. This was even more difficult than surviving 72 hours in the wilderness!

Quietly, paying close attention, Gu Yun felt that there was no one outside the room. She slowly straightened her body and sat up, standing barefoot on the limestone floor, she immediately felt a surge of cool air seeped up the soles of her feet, which caused her to relax her tensed self. Whilst stretching her neck, Gu Yun looked around the large room that was simply decorated however it was adorned with elegant fixtures which she guessed should be a guest room.

As her keen gaze swept across the few paintings on   the wall, she was attracted by a painting in the middle, depicting the Ba Gua diagram. She walked in front of it and studied it closely noting the fine dark  lines in the pattern of the diagram matched the pattern in Ba Gua disk that she saw before she was transported to this century. Therefore, this is the Su clan so-called coat of arms (crest)!

The lines and patterns in the painting were much clearer  than the ink slab, Gu Yun wanted to draw the diagram, she looked around  the room and found ink and paper. To save time, Gu Yun took down the painting and putting the fine writing paper on top of the picture she moistened the tip of the brush and painstakingly draw the veins and lines in the diagram. To prevent the ink dripping to the picture she has to be extremely careful thus it was already sunrise when she finished drawing.

Worried that Su Yu could come back anytime, Gu Yun deftly hung back the painting, returned the writing paper and ink stone to its original place, ascertained that everything was in place, she folded the finished drawing and put it in her waist pocket. Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps were heard.

Chapter 8: Old court case of gold, Part 2 of 4

(Translation credits: Silhoutte)

Gu Yun scowled and thought to herself, what? It’s not over yet? Without any hesitation in her footsteps, she headed towards the bed and laid down on it. Not a moment too soon as the bedroom door crashed open with a bang!

“Quick, examine her and see what’s wrong with her?” Su Yu’s voice thundered in.

Soon, one hand rested on Gu Yun’s wrist, for a long time, the doctor did not speak, his wrinkled brow tightened more, Su Yu could not help but asked: “How is she?”

The puzzled doctor asked: “How long had Madam been sleeping?”

“She has been for out two days, with nary a drop of water in between.” That was precisely why he was anxious!

The doctor slowly removed his hand, bowed and said: “Madam’s pulse rates are strong and her condition did not seem to be of a person who had been without water for two days. This disease is somewhat strange, I can’t give you a diagnosis, let me look this up in detail.” Such an illness, he really has not encountered yet.

Gu Yun secretly smiled as she, too, did not want to have a strong pulse, but just now she has to run quickly to the bed, thus it was difficult to control.

After hearing his words, Su Yu got angry again, “Look up, my foot, by the time you found out the condition, she would have starved to death! Get out!”

The doctor was frightened and quickly backed out, he could not afford to offend anyone from the General Manor.

Indoor all lapsed into silence once again, Su Yu walked to the bed, watching the sunlight through the window which illuminated her face. She looked as if sleeping, with her long eyelashes fanning down, giving her a very cute and adorable appearance. However, Su Yu did not gain any comfort from this, he didn’t know if it was pain or anger he felt in his heart hence he struck a heavy blow on the bedstead which caused Gu Yun to feel the bed swaying violently for a moment.

What did this brat want?!

“When I am really sick, and the doctors you send for can’t heal me then you have to take me to the Prime Minister’s Estate and find my sister else I would not survive.”

Her words of that day, though sounded as if a joke, still echoed in his mind, Su Yu was startled. Right, her sister! If she can cure Qing Mo, then he’ll take her to her sister now!

Su Yu shouted to the soldiers at the front door: “Come, go get me a palanquin, hurry.”

Palanquin?! Gu Yun was delighted, Qing, wait for me!

Having been carried a long while, they finally reached a regal residence. Lying in the carriage, Gu Yun did not peer out, she only heard Su Yu and a cold male voice exchanged some words. The man then brought them to one side of the reception hall to rest.

After a while, a person came in.

“Prime Minister Lou.” Su Yu’s ever arrogant tone had a touch of reverence.

“General Su.” His gentle voice seemed like a light breeze, even just listening to the sound of it is fascinating.

Gu Yun was a bit curious, how strange to have a man with such a soft and gentle voice. Opening her eyes slightly, she only saw a tall figure passed by her side but didn’t manage to see his appearance, however from his easy and graceful movements, it reflected this man’s bearing and manners.

“General Su do not worry too much, Ling Er will come over immediately.”

Naturally one never tires of hearing such a soft and gentle voice, however the words “Ling Er” gave Gu Yun  goose bumps.

She was inwardly cringing when, the slightly surprised voice of Su Yu rang out again: “Are you Qing Feng?”

Gu Yun suddenly perked up as a slender woman entered into the reception hall at the moment, is it Qing? It is difficult to see the woman’s face, through the veil but that cool and aloof demeanor is similar in temperament to Qing.

The woman strode to the palanquin and looked but did not speak, then a gentle voice cautiously asked: “How? Do you need to send for the imperial physician to have a look?”

“Not yet, first carry her into my room, prepare the silver needles (fine needles used for acupuncture), if this can’t help then it is still not too late to send for the imperial physician. Gu Yun surmised that this person should be Qing because the real Qing Feng would know that her sister, Qing Mo, was rarely sick!

Once Su Yu has gently nodded, four orderlies lifted the stretcher and walked towards Star Plucked Pavilion. Gu Yun was placed on the ground, the woman who was standing with her back to the screen said: “General Su Yu, acupuncture is not something that can be completed in a short while. It is  better if you go back first to the Manor. When she wakes up, I’ll send someone to send her back.”

“It is no trouble, you start the treatment, I’ll wait outside.” Su Yu’s firm voice can be heard clearly.

The woman coldly replied: “As you wish.”

Soon, the door was slammed shut.

Although Gu Yun was certain that this woman is Qing, but she still remained as before, no words or movement, the woman held the silver needles in her hands for a long while whilst staring at Gu Yun without making a move.

After a while, the woman suddenly leaned over Gu Yun’s  body gently and whispered in her ear: “Yun, wake up otherwise I will certainly immediately insert the needles.”

She called her Yun! It’s really Qing!

Chapter 8: Old court case of gold, Part 3 of 4

(Translation credits: Silhoutte)

Gu Yun was happy and excited to see Zhuo Qing but she still wanted to tease her and see her reaction, she didn’t expect that she would actually take her arm to insert a needle.

At the exact moment the long needle was about to pierce her arm, Gu Yun quickly opened her eyes, grabbed the hand that wanted to hurt her and growled: “You really want to pierce ah!”

Zhuo Qing gently lifted her eyebrow and replied : “What do you think?!” She finally woke up!

Time inexorably ticked away, there were still no movement inside the room, Su Yu impatiently waited in the courtyard walking to and fro, Jing Sa led an imperial doctor into the courtyard and in a clear voice he announced: “Miss Qing, the imperial doctor has arrived.”

“I’m busy inserting needles; do not come in to disturb me.” An icy female voice answered from inside the house.

The imperial doctor stood stiffly at the edge of the door, glanced towards Jing Sa, Jing Sa waved his hand away to him, the imperial doctor stepped back a few paces, he dared not enter and disturb her, thus several people could only wait in the courtyard.

After a while, the door finally opened, Zhuo Qing walked out.

“Well?” Su Yu took a large stride over, his face anxious, Zhuo Qing’s eyes glinted, this behavior couldn’t be how a brother-in-law should treat his sister-in-law!

Zhuo Qing glanced down and replied: “She is awake, but her body is still relatively weak. She needs to be treated with the needles once every seven days and after ten times, her illness should not recur within one year.”

“I’ll send her over after seven days.” As long as it can be treated, then it is good. Once Su Yu finished speaking, he then went inside the room and soon after four soldiers lifted the palanquin with Gu Yun leaving the place.

Through the veil, the two made eye contact communicating to each other to take care and then glanced away.

After having seen Qing, Gu Yun’s heart settled down since their meeting, time is short, they only had time to apprise each other of their current situations. Qing asked  Gu Yun to help  investigate a murder case involving the General Manor, which one thought that was an ordinary murder case, but who would have thought that it actually led to a sensational case of missing gold.

It was reported that three years ago, there was a theft at the state treasury, 1,000,000 taels gold vanished without a trace overnight. Investigations revealed that the then Minister of Revenue colluded with outsiders to secretly transport the gold. The Ministry of Justice dispatched soldiers to hunt in all directions yet nothing was discovered hence this case was left unresolved. It turned out that the murder victim was an employee of the Ministry of Justice. He was instructed by the then Assistant Minister to aid the northwest bandits to stash the gold in the underground caves of a river until after the whole hoo-ha was over, the bandits then again transported the gold away.

Just like that the imperial court was robbed of 1,000,000 gold taels. Yan Hong Tian was not one to let this case unresolved hence an imperial edict was sent, the content of which caused Su Yu to explode in anger.

Gu Yun  reclined in a wooden chair, watching Su Yu staring at the imperial edict held in his hands and raged, “to recover all the gold before the celebration?! It’s only two months away and to travel to and fro from the northwest Pei city will take 20 days, the emperor wants us to solve this matter in a month? Which is unlikely, right?!”

Su Ren was much calmer compared to Su Yu  and said, “If time is not of essence, the emperor would not send the Su army to go.” The gold in the state treasury which was transported to the northwest, was used by the bandits to buy arms to enlarge their defence, this being the case, it would be strange if the emperor is not angry!

Throwing the edict back into the brocade box, Su Yu snorted: “Big brother went out drinking, if there are no problems, then he probably won’t be back for three to five months, what shall we do?”

To send an army to destroy these bandits was such trivial matters that need not involve Big Brother to personally go hence one does not know the emperor’s thoughts!

The decree stated Su Ling is appointed the commander, if Big Brother would not go then this was defying the imperial edict, Su Ren thought carefully then said: “It does not matter. Tomorrow I’ll take thirty thousand elite soldiers to rush ahead to the northwest and at the same time will order some soldiers to search for Big Brother. Then, he can travel directly to northwest, and all of us will the converge at the city of Pei, this will not be defying the edict.”

Gu Yun excitedly asked: “Will you be starting out tomorrow?”

Su Ren paused, and did not answer her immediately, Su Yu heard her question and anxiously asked: “Don’t tell me you want to go too?!”

“Yes.” Gu Yun nodded her head.

Su Yu immediately shouted: “No!” Marching to war is a very dangerous matter, it is not a game!” She is just a woman who knew a little bit of martial arts yet she wanted to join in the excitement.

“Did I say that I am going there to play?” Though that was one of her important reasons. Since the night raid battle ended, she was bored to tears in the General Manor.

“You!” Su Yu was mad!

“Sister-in-law if you must go, then, starting tomorrow you set out with the army since setting out alone is not good.” Her character is such that it is virtually impossible to forbid her and not let her go, he might as well put her in a position where she could be controlled to a certain extent. Then in Pei city, she would become Big Brother’s responsibility!

“Second brother!” Su Yu glared at him.

“Good.” Gu Yun gladly accepted.

This has become a foregone conclusion, yet Su Yu was not convinced and snorted: “Then I will go, too!”

Patting him lightly on the shoulder, Su Ren smiled and said: “The celebration is approaching, if you do not stay back, the General Manor would be without a master!”

Since Su Ren has said this, Su Yu had no choice but to stay back. He felt very dissatisfied and left in a sour mood.

Su Ren’s eyes flashed a different hint of color, it seemed that third brother couldn’t be allowed to have any more contact with Qing Mo!

Chapter 8: Old court case of gold, Part 4 of 4

(Translation credits: Silhoutte)

Outside the Imperial City, the garrison camp.

The huge open space was full of soldiers filing back in lines. The crimson red banners, bearing the name Su, were a dazzling sight to behold. Squinting slightly Gu Yun was able to see Leng Xiao standing near the front of the line. Feeling someone’s scrutiny, Leng Xiao looked over and sighting Gu Yun, the normally cold Leng Xiao quirked his lips.

Gu Yun lightly returned his smile, but did not approach the line. Su Ren and a fifty plus year old man stood in front of the troops talking but she did not know what they were talking about.  Gu Yun was not interested in listening, dressed in her habitual black outfit, she leaned at one side of the flagpole, narrowing her eyes in contemplation she waited for them to finish their discussion.

” *Mistress, you are really here!” A loud and booming laughter resounded in her ears. Gu Yun reluctantly opened her eyes to see Han Shu’s tall figure standing in front of her, blocking some of the bright sunshine.

Mistress?! Gu Yun was startled, when did she become a Mistress?!

*form of address accorded  to the wife of a family (I thought I should use Mistress rather than Madam as I did earlier)

What she did not know was that the day after the competition, her name immediately spread throughout the General Manor, the way she defeated the deputy general surprised everyone and it was a resounding victory to boot! Every detail of the night attack battle was recounted numerous times. Further, all the new soldiers she trained, each one turned out to be a force to be reckoned with! The army has always have high respect for martial arts thus overnight, she has become a legendary figure, why even the commanding officer addressed her as “sister-in-law”. Hence, if she is  not Mistress, who else can afford to be called “Mistress”!

Gu Yun felt very awkward each time she was called such! She really disliked this form of address.

“I heard Mistress is going with us to root out the bandits however I thought I’ve heard wrongly but you are actually here.” Han Shu was in high spirits and he did not realise that his loud booming voice has caused them to be the focus of attention.

Quite a large number of the soldiers have heard a lot about the General’s wife and Deputy General’s competition thus they were very curious of this famous woman. However, at first glance, all of them doubted if the rumors were true, this dry and thin looking woman is the evil trainer the recruits have spoken of?!

“Sister-in-law.” Su Ren and the fifty-year-old plus man strode over to Gu Yun, Su Ren smiled and introduced: “This is the West Garrison General, Lou Mu Hai, Prime Minister Lou’s father.”

This man was the father of Lou Xi Yan?!  Really different, the Lou Xi Yan that she has seen was such a lean and elegant man. The West Garrison General has a square face, fierce eyes like a tiger, a tall and burly figure reflecting a robust health and one glance at him one would know that he was those type that were obstinate and difficult to get along with. In fact, the father reminded her of the general workers at the General’s Manor with his demeanor, he could not be related to Lou Xi Yan.

“Senior General Lou, she is my eldest brother’s wife, Qing Mo. All in all, we could be considered as relatives.”

Gu Yun’s wrinkled brow tightened even more, she and Su Ling had nothing to do with each other, now standing on other people’s territory, she could not refute this statement, really maddening!

Lou Mu Hai secretly sized up the woman before him, she is the younger sister of Qing Ling, slim of figure, androgynous attire, if one must pinpoint a special feature, it is that her eyes were unexpectedly clear, cold and honest, how could this woman be able to gain General Su’s favor?

Su Ren’s statement about them being relatives elicited no response from Gu Yun and Lou Mu Hai.

Su Ren created an embarrassing topic, but he did not mind, Lou Xi Yan has already sent out invitations to his wedding which will take place a month later and the bride is Qing Ling. Whilst Qing Mo has been chosen by Bing Lian, which meant that the Su family has chosen Qing Mo, eldest brother couldn’t oppose thus they being relatives was a confirmed fact.

Pointing at a spacious and comfortable large carriage, Su Ren said: “sister-in-law, the army is preparing to set out, you get onto the carriage.” This was the first time the army has a woman following, he really did not know what needs to be prepared.

Gu Yun did not even spare a glance at the carriage that he pointed and directly replied him: “I, like you, will ride on horseback.”

He knew she was not a delicate nor pampered rich girl, however the journey would take ten days hence Su Ren advised: “It’s a long distance …”

Without waiting for him to finish, Gu Yun cut him off: “If I cannot perform the same as all of you, I have no right to be included in this expedition; the distance is nothing to me. There is no need for the carriage, let’s set off.”

Such audacity, what an arrogant woman!

This thought echoed in the minds of all, however the soldiers were more and more curious, what were the capabilities that the general’s wife has that she could utter such audacious words; Lou Mu Hai’s face was full of disdain. Just wait after two days of being jostled in the saddle, with thighs numbed from riding she would know how ridiculous her words were and it would be no use crying then!

Fine, if she wanted to ride let her ride, Su Ren no longer insisted instead nodded his head to a young lad at the side. The lad led in a big pure black horse, its four legs though slender but was well built, its skin was sleek and have a satiny sheen. The horse was almost the same height as Gu Yun.

Gu Yun lightly stroke its head, she was excited. She learned riding in a riding school which used ordinary horses, this type of thoroughbred horse has always been her favorite and today her wish was fulfilled.

“Mistress.” Just as she was about to go up the horse, one of the soldiers holding a wooden box with both hands, handed over the box to her but his hands trembled to the point that he nearly dropped the wooden box.

Gu Yun was a bit puzzled, was she such a frightening figure? Why did he tremble?!

To her, Bing Lian just felt cold to the touch but for a normal person, that biting cold penetrates to the marrow even though separated by wooden box the cold could freeze a person to death.

She opened the wooden box, lying inside really was Bing Lian, gently stroking the blade and feeling the faint chill made her feel comfortable. She really loved this sword but she has some misgivings, since it appeared to be a sword with an intelligent spirit, then she would ask its opinion.

Holding up Bing Lian in the palm of her hand, Gu Yun silently asked: “Bing Lian, are you really willing to keep me company?! If you are willing, then move.”

The sword violently shook, Gu Yun was shocked! This time she was absolutely certain that Bing Lian possessed an intelligent spirit that could understand what she was saying! This is amazing!

Her fingers slowly tightened, Gu Yun decided at that very moment to have Bing Lian since it was willing to work with her as partners, so they shall work hand in hand.

Gu Yun expertly mounted the horse holding Bing Lian in one hand and one hand on the saddle, turning to Su Ren said: “Let’s set off.”

She finally agreed to accept Bing Lian! That’s really good! Now the elders in his family should thank him!

“Depart.” Su Ren shouted the command and a mighty army of thirty thousand advanced towards the northwest direction.