Six years ago, when Xiliang attacked Jin’s frontier, Bai family army General Zhou Buhui, acting on orders from Bai Qingyan’s grandfather, led the Bai family army to provide reinforcement. Bai Qingyan’s father, Bai Qishan, intended to give Xiao Ruohai experience and sent him along. Xiao Ruohai’s master, Shen Baizhong, worried about his disciple’s first time on the battlefield, requested that he follow.
Later, during several small battles, Xiao Ruohai acted rashly, seeking to gain merit, which caused General Zhou Buhui to be struck by Xiliang’s poisoned arrow. The night before the great battle, Shen Baizhong left camp without permission to find an antidote for General Zhou Buhui and never returned. Everyone thought Shen Baizhong had gone to the Xiliang army camp to find the antidote and was killed.
In that battle, if not for Bai Qingyan’s father, Bai Qishan, arriving with the Bai family army reinforcements the next day during the great battle to take control of the situation, victory or defeat would have been uncertain.
Xiao Ruohai also nearly died under enemy blades. To save Xiao Ruohai, Bai Qishan took a blade from an enemy general and directly on his shoulder.
Xiao Ruohai has felt guilty about this matter ever since, always believing that without his rash advance back then, General Zhou Buhui wouldn’t have been struck by the poisoned arrow, his master wouldn’t have gone searching for an antidote, wouldn’t have caused military morale to collapse when the commander fell and the camp to be breached by enemy forces, and wouldn’t have caused Bai Qishan to take a blade to save him.
Bai Qingyan came back to her senses and stared at Li Mingrui. Knowing Shen Qingzhu was eager to see her master, she said: “Bring that old man over. I won’t take his life. I’m merely very interested in his martial arts style.”
“That might disappoint Princess Zhenguo.” Li Mingrui tightly covered his wound. “The old man was injured in the head while saving my mother and me, and has already forgotten his past. I’m afraid he can’t answer Princess Zhenguo’s questions.”
He had indeed forgotten…
When Bai Qingyan heard Shen Qingzhu say that Shen Baizhong seemed not to recognize her, she had suspected whether Shen Baizhong had forgotten his past. She hadn’t expected it was because of saving Li Mingrui.
“I must see this person. Master Li keeps making excuses, which makes me even more eager to meet him. I will depart for Shuoyang tomorrow, and I must see this person before then.” After Bai Qingyan finished speaking, she called out, “Someone, come, escort Master Li back to the Left Chancellor’s mansion.”
Li Mingrui urgently crawled forward on his knees two steps and kowtowed: “Princess Zhenguo! To be frank… I don’t know where the old man is right now. If he truly cannot be found, wouldn’t Princess Zhenguo’s words be forcing the impossible?”
Li Mingrui’s voice trembled from pain as he pressed tightly on his wound: “Since Li Mingrui knows Princess Zhenguo won’t take the old man’s life, I naturally wouldn’t dare joke with my entire family’s lives. I will certainly do my utmost in this matter, but as for the result…”
“If the dignified Left Chancellor’s mansion cannot handle even this matter, it would be rather incompetent. Master Li should be ashamed to say such things.” Bai Qingyan raised her eyes, signaling the guards to escort Li Mingrui out.
Li Mingrui wanted to argue further with Bai Qingyan, but his wound was truly painful. Unable to break free from the guards who lifted him, he could only be escorted out by Princess Zhenguo’s mansion guards.
Once Li Mingrui left, Shen Qingzhu impatiently said: “Eldest Miss, is my master truly as Li Mingrui said—he forgot his past because he was injured while saving him?”
Bai Qingyan nodded: “Li Mingrui’s manner doesn’t seem fake, and I see that Li Mingrui is very protective of your master, yet unwilling to bring your master here. It seems… it should be as he said! Li Mingrui is Du Zhiwei’s disciple. The two are cut from the same cloth—both lacking in great righteousness but possessing small virtues.”
Shen Qingzhu was anxious and confused, her heart in turmoil: “I don’t know if Li Mingrui will send Master here.”
“Don’t worry. No matter how much Li Mingrui values your master, he won’t risk his entire clan’s lives. Moreover, I’ve already assured him I won’t take the man’s life. At the latest, before I depart tomorrow, he will send the person.” After Bai Qingyan finished speaking, she turned to look at Shen Qingzhu. “But the person probably can’t be taken away. If you’re worried about your master, stay in the capital… to look after him from time to time.”
Shen Qingzhu looked at Bai Qingyan with quite surprised eyes. After calming down and remaining silent for a moment, she shook her head and said, “Qingzhu must stay by Eldest Miss’s side. Li Mingrui was able to injure himself for Master’s sake. If… he’s not acting, temporarily leaving Master in Li Mingrui’s care is also acceptable. We can find an opportunity to bring Master back in the future!”
“Li Mingrui has a close relationship with your master. Even if we forcibly keep your master by our side, your master might not be willing.” Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes in thought. “However, my meaning is… You should still stay in the capital. Back then, your master said he was going to find an antidote for General Zhou Buhui, but why did he appear in Jinjian City? The inside story of this matter is probably only known to your master alone.”
Shen Qingzhu frowned deeply. After a long while, she nodded: “I’ll listen to Eldest Miss’s instructions.”
Bai Qingyan had never doubted Shen Baizhong’s loyalty, nor did she believe… that Shen Baizhong would claim to be seeking an antidote for Zhou Buhui but run away.
After all, when Father Bai Qishan rushed to the battlefield, General Zhou Buhui was already dead, and Father Bai Qishan hadn’t been able to see him one last time.
Bai Qingyan was to return to Shuoyang the next day, leaving Li Mingrui little time, and Li Mingrui’s injury was not light.
When he was escorted back to the Li mansion by Princess Zhenguo’s guards, his face was already bloodless, the pain making even breathing feel laborious, and he nearly fainted several times.
When Li Mao received word, he was shocked into a cold sweat. Taking the mansion physician with him, he went out to greet them. Seeing his son with a dagger stuck in his abdomen and clothes stained with blood, Li Mao’s scalp tingled with numbness. Though he hated Bai Qingyan to death in his heart, he still had to bow deeply to thank the guards from Princess Zhenguo’s mansion who had brought Li Mingrui back: “Thank you all for bringing my son home. Please enter the Li mansion for tea.”
The lead guard cupped his hands toward Li Mao: “Left Chancellor is too kind. We are acting under orders and dare not stay long. We take our leave here.”
Li Mao quickly turned to instruct the steward to bring out silver, but the guards from Princess Zhenguo’s mansion declined and left.
“Quick! Quickly carry the young master into the mansion!” Li Mao’s throat rolled.
Being helped onto a shoulder sedan, Li Mingrui grabbed the steward’s collar and said: “Go to the Du residence in Jiuchuan Alley to find the old man. Take a physician… if the old man is injured, first bandage his wounds, then… then send someone to escort the old man to Princess Zhenguo’s mansion! Princess Zhenguo has already promised not to harm the old man’s life. You must… ensure the old man’s safety.”
Rather than saying Li Mingrui was speaking to the steward, it was more like… he was speaking for Li Mao to hear, fearing that Li Mao would directly send the old man’s head over to appease Princess Zhenguo.
The steward nodded repeatedly, his eyes red: “Young Master, rest assured, this old servant will handle it well. Right now, Young Master’s injury is what matters most!”
Li Mingrui, sweating profusely and breathing rapidly, still gripped the steward’s collar tightly without letting go, looking up at Li Mao, wanting an answer from him.
Li Mao clenched his fists: “Rest assured. I will send a physician to see the old man. Right now, treating your injury is what matters most!”