HomeQi Xing CaiChapter 149: A Scheme Within a Scheme

Chapter 149: A Scheme Within a Scheme

Ma Yuantong, known as the Rival of King Yama, was a renowned physician in the martial arts world. It was said his medical skills could resurrect the dead and mend broken bones, hence his nickname. However, he was elusive, and while countless people sought his treatment, very few could ever catch a glimpse of him.

Upon hearing Shen Che’s words, Ma Yuantong approached him. “Senior Brother, how did you end up in such a miserable state?” Ma Yuantong carefully examined Shen Che’s wound. “The wound’s edges are turning black, it looks like poison from Tiele’s iron threadworms.”

Speaking in his Shu dialect, Ma Yuantong continued, “How did you get poisoned? Every time I try to poison you, you always figure it out. How did you slip up this time? Which bastard is so skilled that they managed to poison you? I must compare skills with them.”

Chu De’s head was spinning from Ma Yuantong’s string of dialect words. He chimed in, “Isn’t it obvious? Who else could poison him unless he did it on purpose?”

Ma Yuantong stroked his chin. “That makes more sense. I knew I couldn’t be that bad. But Senior Brother, you know how to cure iron threadworm poison yourself. Why did you let it fester till now? It’s so severe, it might leave a scar.”

“What’s a real man afraid of a few scars?” Chu De interjected. He had always resented Shen Che for his handsome looks. Every time they visited brothels, the courtesans Chu De fancied would throw themselves at Shen Che, while Chu De spent money and effort but still failed to win their affection.

As Chu De and Ma Yuantong bantered back and forth, Shen Che remained silent. After examining Shen Che’s wound, Ma Yuantong went outside to prepare his medicines.

Once Ma Yuantong left, Chu De broached the main topic, “How did it go? Did you hook that Zhe Li fish?”

“Mm,” Shen Che grunted in affirmation, leaning back against the pillow.

Seeing Shen Che’s weary expression, Chu De wondered if the injury was more severe than it appeared. “Did you cross swords with Zhe Li? Was he the one who poisoned you?”

“Zhe Li wouldn’t have shown himself if I hadn’t been poisoned. However, he’s fortunate. He escaped again this time,” Shen Che replied.

Chu De let out an “Oh,” understanding why Shen Che was in a foul mood. They had set such an elaborate trap to lure Zhe Li in, yet he still managed to escape. It would be nearly impossible to get another opportunity like this.

“It wasn’t a complete waste though. I disabled one of his hands and a leg. Have your men keep an eye out for his movements. See if we can intercept him before he returns to the Northern Hu,” Shen Che instructed.

Chu De nodded and then asked, “Is Fang Xuan alright?”

“She’s fine, but Zhe Li now knows about her relationship with me. It’s no longer safe for her to stay in the Western Regions. She’ll be returning to the Central Plains for a while,” Shen Che explained.

Chu De smirked, “Don’t tell me the great Fang has changed her mind and agreed to be your other half? Tsk tsk.”

Shen Che didn’t even bother to look at Chu De.

Feeling awkward, Chu De rubbed his nose. Shen Che was fine with any kind of joke or banter, except when it came to his old flame.

If old lovers were off-limits, surely new ones were fair game? Chu De continued, “I never imagined Ji Cheng would be so capable, actually managing to draw out Zhe Li. Tsk tsk, that girl has some skills, huh? But when women get jealous, they’re capable of anything. She even dared to provoke you and set her sights on Fang. How do you plan to deal with her?”

Shen Che remained silent for so long that if Chu De didn’t know him well, he might have thought he had fallen asleep.

“Hey, brother, can we make a deal? It’d be such a waste to dispose of such a pretty little thing. How about letting me have some fun with her for a couple of days first?” Chu De asked with a lecherous grin.

Before Chu De’s smile could fully form, Shen Che’s palm strike sent him flying six or seven steps away to the door.

Seeing that Shen Che still had the strength to hit him, Chu De figured he wasn’t in too bad a shape. He got up from the ground and sat down on a rose chair by the wall, catching his breath at a safe distance from Shen Che. “Why are you so angry? That girl had such vicious intentions, afraid you weren’t dying fast enough. She even involved Zhe Li. Don’t tell me you still have feelings for her?”

When it came to women, Chu De couldn’t stop talking. “But brother, I have to say, you’ve failed this time. You’ve slept with her, yet she still isn’t devoted to you and wants you dead instead. Have you reflected on that?”

Shen Che’s eyeballs moved slightly under his closed eyelids, but he still didn’t respond.

“Ah, what a pity. Such a beautiful woman, but she turned to crime. It’d be such a waste for her to die just like that. Although her thoughts were poisonous, she was incredibly beautiful. Her voice was like a dying cat’s, making one feel both immortal and about to perish. Understandably, you can’t bear to—” That’s right.

Unfortunately, before Chu De could finish his sentence, Shen Che used a finger strike to seal his mute acupoint, turning the rest of his words into unintelligible mumbles.

Chu De’s eyes reddened with frustration. How could Shen Che resort to violence so quickly? Was he showing off his martial arts? If Chu De hadn’t been born so chubby, he would have learned martial arts long ago!

Chu De stood up abruptly and walked to Shen Che’s side. Not daring to touch his wound, he could only smash things on the nearby table, making a racket to express his displeasure and urge Shen Che to unseal his acupoint.

When Ma Yuantong entered with the medicinal salve, Chu De still couldn’t speak and could only gesticulate wildly. Ma Yuantong laughed shamelessly, “Ah, it feels like the world has become peaceful.”

Chu De couldn’t do anything to Shen Che, nor did he dare to provoke Ma Yuantong. He certainly didn’t want to risk being dusted with itching powder or force-fed castor oil.

Ma Yuantong used a small knife heated over a fire to cut away the necrotic flesh from Shen Che’s poisoned wound, then applied the prepared medicinal salve. As he treated the wound, he said, “That was close. It was less than a finger’s width away from your heart. What kind of person is worth you taking such a risk?”

“I had it under control. I’ve crippled half his body. Even if he can recover, it will take him a year or two,” Shen Che replied.

“If that’s the case, why were you in such a hurry to return, not even taking time to purge the poison? No matter how skilled you are in martial arts, allowing the toxins to seep into your marrow will affect you in the future,” Ma Yuantong complained.

Chu De, standing nearby with eyes as wide as a goldfish’s, had his mute acupoint unsealed by Ma Yuantong. He rubbed his neck, coughed a couple of times to clear his throat, and quickly said, “He was rushing back for his Fifth Sister’s wedding, of course. Otherwise, how could he face the Old Matriarch?”

Ma Yuantong raised an eyebrow, seemingly unconvinced by this explanation.

Even Chu De felt this reason was a bit far-fetched. It wasn’t Shen Zhen’s wedding, and Shen Cui’s marriage hardly required Shen Che to take such risks, not pursuing the injured Zhe Li and instead rushing back to the capital with such a severe injury. There must be another purpose.

However, Chu De had just suffered a major setback and didn’t dare mention Ji Cheng’s name again. He left feeling immensely regretful, believing that while Ji Cheng’s death might be acceptable, the chance to have some fun with her was probably out of the question.

It truly felt like a waste of a good thing, and Chu De was still lamenting as he left.

Shen Che slept until dawn. He had just gotten up when he heard Nishang enter and say, “Young Master, the Eldest Young Master is here.”

“Mm.” While Shen Che’s condition might have fooled the Old Matriarch and others yesterday, it probably wouldn’t deceive Shen Yu.

When Shen Yu entered, Shen Che had already changed his clothes and was sitting by the window drinking tea.

Shen Yu sat across from Shen Che and said, “I thought you wouldn’t make it back in time.”

Shen Yu knew Shen Che had gone to the Western Regions, but he wasn’t clear about the specific purpose of the trip.

Shen Che replied, “How could I miss Fifth Sister’s wedding?”

Shen Yu said, “You don’t look well. Are you injured?”

“A little. This time I mainly went for Zhe Li. I disabled one of his hands and a leg. He’ll probably need a year or two to recover. Tell Second Uncle not to stop preparing for war. I know Zhe Li well. Unless he’s dead, he’ll rise again. But these one or two years of preparation should be enough for our Great Qin to have the strength to fight,” Shen Che explained.

Shen Yu nodded but remained silent, showing no intention of leaving.

Shen Yu had never been one for idle chat, so Shen Che looked at him and asked, “Does Elder Brother have something else?”

Shen Yu’s face showed a hint of embarrassment. “There is something I’d like to ask for Second Brother’s help with.”

Shen Che said, “Elder Brother, just say it.”

Shen Yu finally spoke, “A Yan and A Cui have both married and left home. Among the younger generation, only A Zhen and Eighth Sister remain. The house has become much quieter. The Old Matriarch doesn’t say anything, but she must be unhappy. Mother is also urging me, so I’m thinking of remarrying.”

Shen Che listened to Shen Yu’s words without showing any emotion.

Since Shen Yu had already started speaking, he no longer hesitated, “I plan to marry Cousin Cheng. Hong’er gets along well with her, and her family background won’t attract suspicion or jealousy from others. What do you think?”

Shen Che asked, “There are so many suitable women for Elder Brother, why choose her? Has she agreed?”

Although Ji Cheng hadn’t verbally agreed, Shen Yu felt it was just a young woman’s modesty, not a refusal. Moreover, Ji Qing had sent word that all they lacked was a matchmaker.

So Shen Yu nodded.

Shen Che laughed twice, but blood seeped from the corner of his lips.

Seeing this, Shen Yu frowned and asked, “How severe is your injury?”

Shen Che wiped the blood from his lips and pointed to his heart. “I was stabbed once.”

Shen Yu said, “Why did you take such a big risk? What if something happened to you? How would the Old Matriarch cope? What about the Princess? We’re not afraid of Zhe Li. In war between two countries, no one can predict the outcome.”

Shen Che replied, “If we can delay for a few years, that’s worth it. Don’t your troops still need training?”

Shen Yu sighed, “Weren’t you in the Western Regions? How did you encounter Zhe Li?”

Shen Che said, “I used a scheme to lure Zhe Li there.”

A scheme? Shen Yu asked, “Someone set a trap for you? Who was it?”

Shen Che didn’t answer Shen Yu’s question. Instead, he asked, “Why did Elder Brother come to me about marrying Ji Cheng?”

Shen Yu remembered the main topic, “You know my mother. She refuses to agree. I’ve already spoken to the Old Matriarch, and she has given her consent. Only my mother remains opposed. I can’t talk to her for more than two sentences without things becoming tense. You’ve always been good with words. Could you help me persuade Mother?”

Shen Che replied, “I’m afraid I can’t help Elder Brother with this.”

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