144 Da Chu’s ‘Empress’ could only be ‘a Bai woman’ Part II
This was the first miss of the Bai family, Bai Yu, the current Meihua Lady whose name was known by all in Da Yang!
“Don’t worry, third sister. I haven’t seen biaojie in a while, so I headed straight to meet her first as soon as I arrived...” Bai Yu acted along with the script Bai Hua had laid out. “...But I didn’t expect our sparring match to take this long.”
“Why don’t you take a rest first? I heard you fell ill several days ago before heading out. You should take care of your health more.” Yue Huiling seemed to understand what they were trying to do.
And so the plan to switch their identities ended successfully.
“But I want to watch third sister’s selection process more.”
“Then, is there something first sister would like to advise?” Since they suddenly met, Bai Hua did not fully understand the situation yet.
“I heard that you’re going to select assistants to help treat wounded soldiers in the camp, so I came to help, rather than advise...” Bai Yu and Bai Hua’s eyes met. “...I already have you and biaojie as close relatives in the army, so I’m not too nervous, even though I’m a woman. I know a thing or two about taking care of the sick, and I’m also quite resilient and not easily afraid. Can I be of help to you?”
“I understand.” Bai Hua nodded. “But if sister would like to assist me, then please do not forget to tell brother who is heading here too.”
Bai Yu’s eyes widened. “You mean brother has...”
.....
Brother has woken up?
Bai Hua nodded.
Bai Yu immediately smiled.
Yue Huiling, too, let out a sigh of relief. The usual seriousness on her face gave way to a small smile. “Let’s start the process so that both you and the villagers can go take a rest.”
That’s right! And she would finally be able to see brother!
Bai Hua’s arrival was sudden but also welcome. This was the first time Bai Yu felt glad to see her, especially when she implied that Bai He had woken up. She wanted nothing more than to be able to transport next to him right now.
It was a good thing Bai Hua was clever enough to wear something similar to hers. Luckily, Bai Yu did not wear an elegant or luxurious robe; she only had a common dress like other villagers, which enabled Bai Hua to easily imitate her. Their figures were not too different. Although Bai Yu was slightly taller, her voice was a pitch higher, and she used a calmer tone, so they were not caught.
Even Han Xinai, who had helped her get dressed in the morning, thought the real Bai Hua was the person she had seen in the morning. She looked at Bai Hua and Han Xinai’s friendliness and could only guess what kind of method Bai Hua had used to befriend her. Today was the first time Bai Yu saw usefulness in Bai Hua’s intelligence.
Bai Yu and Yue Huiling stood back to observe Bai Hua’s preparation. That woman could surprisingly understand everything Bai Yu tried to say in only a few sentences.
Bai Hua explained to the villagers the army’s need for assistants in the medical camp. The main population in this village was women. The selection would be based on the participant’s willingness. The majority gladly accepted Bai Hua’s proposal since the army had been taking care of the villagers near the border for a long time. The bond that had formed between them was enough to guarantee a large number of volunteers.
Bai Hua spent almost the whole day selecting those she felt had potential. People who had relatives or family members in the army were preferred. Bai Hua did not understand the reason, but she still followed Bai Yu’s wish. Other than those, she had chosen around thirty villagers who had experience taking care of the sick and had strong nerves.
Fatigue was apparent on her half-sister’s face. The reason was none other than the fact that she started working, assuming the role Bai Yu had created as soon as she arrived here. After recruiting thirty villagers, Bai Hua seemed to have an idea that was better than just selecting people.
“You should rest. The 101s—I mean, basic knowledge can begin tomorrow.” Bai Yu approached the woman who was preoccupied with teaching basic nursing skills to the villagers, who were now her assistants. When she saw the face that resembled Song Lianhua, she unconsciously slipped and used words from the wrong era.
“But...”
“You need rest. Your assistants do, too.” Bai Yu smiled, though the seriousness was clear in her tone.
“Nothing serious has happened to the army yet, otherwise they would have already sent words. You shouldn’t rush, especially at the expense of your own health.” Yue Huiling stepped in to help Bai Yu convince her.
“Alright.” Bai Hua finally conceded.
Thirty villagers were let go, with an appointment to meet again tomorrow where Bai Hua would teach them first aid. Bai Yu agreed with her decision since it would greatly help ease the doctors’ workload.
Bai He did not join them during dinner, as Bai Yu had expected. At the same table were only her, Bai Hua, and Yue Huiling, the three who had the highest ranks. After dinner, Bai Yu stayed with Bai Hua in the same room she had slept in, under the guise of Bai Hua. Since she suddenly ‘arrived’ here, the village head could not prepare another room in time. Bai Yu used this opportunity to talk to her half-sister, while Yue Huiling protected the room with her magic to prevent being eavesdropped on.
Bai Hua explained the details of her treatment of Bai He in simple terms that Yue Huiling could also understand. The reason Bai He fell asleep was partial because of the poison. It was mostly dissipated by the antidote Bai Yu had brought from Da Chu, but that poison had already caused blood loss, which had caused Bai He to go into shock.
Bai Hua had tried various methods to treat him, obstructed by the technology that was ancient when compared to what she was used to. Eventually, Bai He regained consciousness. But he still could not move much since he had slept for too long. Both his strength and magic had yet to fully return.
Bai Hua gave him acupuncture for several days until she was sure that she had finished her treatment before rushing to the border with the help of Ouyang Mingxian’s shadow guards. It was from the information from them that Bai Hua chose to meet Bai Yu at the village, and then the story ended with the event in the morning.
As for Bai He, he needed more time to train his body and regain his magic. Yue Mei did not allow him to travel with Bai Hua, so she could only guess that Bai He would come to join them soon.
“Brother hasn’t sent a magic messenger yet. That means his magic still hasn’t come back.”
“Before I left, brother asked me to tell sister to return as soon as we exchanged our identities back.”
“I agree.” Yue Huiling nodded.
“No.” Bai Yu shook her head.
“But brother insisted...” Bai Hua showed a troubled expression.
“I’m not going back.” Bai Yu stood her ground.
“Brother said that it’s dangero—Ahhh!”
“Get down!”
Clang! Thud!
A golden dagger of pure magic almost grazed Bai Hua’s face, but was swiftly deflected by Bai Yu’s dagger, imbued with her magic, and sent to the wall. It was unsure if the opponent could land a surprise attack because they were absorbed in their argument or because the enemy’s magic was higher than theirs.
Bai Hua instantly got down as she heard Bai Yu’s voice. Yue Huiling used her sword to calmly deflect other magic daggers that were sent through her spy-proof barrier in swift movements.
Bai Yu pushed down the small table that they had put their teacups on and used it to shield Bai Hua before moving to help Yue Huiling defend against the daggers that seemed as if they would never stop, even though none carried killing intent.
“This kind of teasing is too much, Your Highness.” Bai Yu shouted, unafraid that she had lost her calm and elegant manner.
“Benwang only wishes to test the skill of a beauty who knows martial arts.” His low voice sounded amused. Golden daggers dissolved into the air. The window that was tightly closed was opened by the man accompanied by gold, the color of his magic, and the jade in his hand.
The moniker ‘Golden Man’ truly befitted Chu Zhaoran.
“Then I hope Wangye will not be offended if I follow the martial manner and do not curtsy.”
“Benwang will make an exception for benwang’s future Wang Fei.” Chu Zhaoran walked into the room and closed the window behind him… It’s a little too late to be polite now, Your Highness.
“Ahem.”