From the book: Yu Wu Xiang

How could it not work?

Lin Hao was stunned for a moment, her almond eyes widening.

Seeing her aggrieved appearance, Sage Mingxin instead felt the dream wasn’t made up—otherwise she wouldn’t be aggrieved so righteously.

Lin Hao’s thoughts raced as she pondered persuasive words.

“You needn’t say more. Go back.”

“Master—”

Sage Mingxin waved his hand and picked up his teacup.

Seeing him like this, Lin Hao moved her lips but ultimately said nothing more.

She had said everything she should say. If she couldn’t persuade Teacher, further insistence would only annoy him.

“I take my leave. Master, take care.” Lin Hao curtsied slightly and withdrew with head half-lowered.

The two’s meeting this time wasn’t long, yet after Sage Mingxin returned to the palace he fell into prolonged silence, even tossing and turning all night.

According to what that little girl said, if he taught her the method to break the formation, he could still remain by Emperor Tai’an’s side as Mister Wang, his safety guaranteed.

But for him, his safety had never been the point. If he taught that little girl the method to break the formation, it would be equivalent to abandoning his old master—this was the key issue.

If he was determined to betray his old master, why involve a little girl? He could appear before Emperor Tai’an as Sage Mingxin himself.

The root of the problem was precisely what had tormented his heart for many days.

Sage Mingxin had broad knowledge and resolute character, yet because of this one meeting his thoughts became even more chaotic.

A series of hurried footsteps approached.

“Mister Wang, His Majesty summons you to the Imperial Study.” An inner attendant jogged over, breathing slightly heavily.

At this hour in the Imperial Study, important ministers must have been summoned for urgent discussion.

Sage Mingxin understood—Emperor Tai’an’s headache condition had acted up.

He followed the inner attendant quickly toward the Imperial Study. Reaching the entrance, ministers’ persuasive voices drifted to his ears.

“Your Majesty must take care of your health!”

“Yes, Your Majesty, the more times like these, the more you must cherish your body…”

Following the inner attendant’s announcement, a weary voice came: “Enter.”

Sage Mingxin walked in to see Emperor Tai’an leaning against his chair back, his complexion extremely poor.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Tai’an indicated for Sage Mingxin to come to his side.

Sage Mingxin silently walked over, circling behind Emperor Tai’an to massage and press his head.

As those hands pressed several acupoints, Emperor Tai’an’s tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly.

The several ministers in the Imperial Study tactfully maintained silence to let His Majesty recover somewhat.

Northern Qi, Yuliu, the old Emperor—facing three opponents at once, distressing news came back almost daily. If His Majesty couldn’t withstand it and collapsed, Great Zhou would be finished.

Yet just as the ministers thought this, distressing matters arrived.

“Your Majesty, urgent report—”

Emperor Tai’an’s eyes flew open: “Present it!”

The urgent report sealed with fire wax was immediately presented before Emperor Tai’an.

After Emperor Tai’an opened and quickly scanned it, he slammed the report heavily on the desk: “Utterly insane!”

Seeing Emperor Tai’an quite enraged, the ministers’ expressions also looked poor. The Minister of War carefully inquired about the urgent report’s contents.

Sage Mingxin stood right behind Emperor Tai’an. The urgent report slammed on the desk entered his vision clearly. With one glance, his expression changed. Fortunately, everyone’s attention was on the urgent report at this moment, and no one noticed.

Emperor Pingle’s faction had recruited quite a few troops in a short time. When attacking the second city, they encountered desperate resistance from the garrison. Perhaps heavy casualties provoked their fury—after finally breaking into the city, they actually massacred defenseless common people in large numbers, turning a fairly prosperous county town into a living hell.

Massacre—

These two characters together were like a thousand-pound boulder that suddenly crashed onto Sage Mingxin’s heart, smashing him completely unprepared, blood and flesh flying.

Inside the Imperial Study were Emperor Tai’an’s and several important ministers’ urgent, angry conversation.

Sage Mingxin’s eyes were filled with those characters in the urgent report. He heard nothing until exclamations rang out.

“Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”

Emperor Tai’an’s hands pressed against the desk surface, his face pale. Eyes closed, he showed no reaction for quite a while.

Seeing this, Head Eunuch Liu Chuan hurried to support him: “Your Majesty, this servant will help you lie down on the bed.”

“No need.” Emperor Tai’an waved his hand with eyes closed, but the next moment his body swayed and he collapsed to the side.

Several exclamations immediately rang out in the Imperial Study: “Your Majesty!”

After some chaos, Emperor Tai’an was sent to lie on the bed in the eastern chamber. Before long, two imperial physicians hurried over.

Sage Mingxin, like the several ministers, was kept outside to wait.

“What can be done about this!”

“Those people truly have no humanity. No wonder His Majesty is so grief-stricken.”

…

Sage Mingxin seemed isolated from the world—not a single word of these conversations drifted into his ears.

Inside the room was the Emperor whose condition was unknown.

Sage Mingxin stared straight at the doorway, his expression constantly changing.

After an unknown amount of time, an imperial physician walked out. The ministers waiting outside immediately surrounded him, inquiring about Emperor Tai’an’s condition.

“His Majesty suffers from melancholy and depression, anger harming the liver, coupled with insufficient sleep…”

Ultimately, these were ailments brought on by exhaustion from the warfare.

It didn’t sound too terrible. The ministers breathed sighs of relief and were about to enter to visit.

Liu Chuan walked out from inside and stopped them: “My lords, please return for now.”

Knowing this was His Majesty’s intent, they expressed concern before reluctantly taking their leave with bitter faces.

Sage Mingxin struggled inwardly and silently withdrew with them, but was called back by Liu Chuan: “Mister Wang, His Majesty’s head aches terribly. Please go in.”

Sage Mingxin followed Liu Chuan inside to see Emperor Tai’an half-propped against the headboard, face pale. A palace attendant holding the drunk medicine bowl was just withdrawing.

In such circumstances, Sage Mingxin should have expressed concern with a question, yet he made no sound—so much so that even Liu Chuan couldn’t help glancing at him.

Perhaps because his mood was too poor, or his body uncomfortable, Emperor Tai’an didn’t detect anything amiss. His voice carried heavy weariness: “I trouble Mister Wang to massage it again for me.”

Sage Mingxin wordlessly stepped forward and began massaging Emperor Tai’an’s head.

Emperor Tai’an closed his eyes, his deathly pale complexion improving slightly.

Sage Mingxin’s technique was practiced and skilled, yet his line of sight barely changed, showing some absent-mindedness.

Liu Chuan couldn’t help glancing again, secretly puzzled.

This Mister Wang who was increasingly relied upon by His Majesty usually presented an unfathomable expert’s appearance—what was wrong with him today?

Being so preoccupied before His Majesty—his courage was truly great enough.

Sage Mingxin withdrew his hands. Emperor Tai’an said mildly: “Thank you for your trouble.”

At this moment, Sage Mingxin should have taken his leave, yet he didn’t move.

Emperor Tai’an finally sensed something wrong and cast a puzzled gaze at Sage Mingxin.

“Does Mister Wang have other matters?”

After a brief silence, Sage Mingxin spoke: “There is one matter this commoner must report to Your Majesty.”

“Please speak.”

Someone like Sage Mingxin, once he made up his mind, no longer dragged things out. He said calmly: “This commoner needs a basin of hot water.”

Emperor Tai’an glanced at Liu Chuan.

Liu Chuan immediately arranged for an inner attendant to bring a basin, with another inner attendant holding towels, scented soap, and other items.

Emperor Tai’an didn’t understand, but instead gained some spirit.