Old Niu had squeezed him injured again.

The old fellow said whose foot did he want—he’d go chop it off right now and attach it to his son. The kind-faced Madam Niu also looked eager to try, hurriedly fetching a horizontal blade for Old Niu and repeatedly asking if he needed full armor.

With great difficulty they stopped the crazed couple. Didn’t they see Little Niu’s eyes had turned red? Even if they now told him to chop off people’s feet right in the middle of Zhuque Avenue, he would do it without hesitation, without any pity for the person being chopped.

“Uncle Niu, a chopped-off foot won’t work. Only this nephew can make one himself to attach for Brother Jianhu.”

The problem lay precisely in this sentence. Whenever Yun Ye recalled this moment, he had the impulse to bang his head against a wall. When Old Niu heard these words, he grabbed Yun Ye’s arm again and shook vigorously. On the ground, Niu Jianhu was still clutching his leg to prevent him from running. If Madam Niu hadn’t seen Yun Ye’s pained expression, having his arms broken wouldn’t have been surprising.

When he went, he was fresh-clothed on a spirited horse; when he came back, he was loaded in a cart and carried home. This nearly killed Old Grandmother. Seeing her grandson’s two arms bruised purple and black, she fainted twice. The little girls wailed endlessly, and Xiao Bei even kicked Old Niu twice.

Old Niu looked embarrassed, rubbing his hands and standing in the courtyard without speaking. Madam Niu kept apologizing to Old Grandmother. Yun Ye also said it was nothing, just a minor injury that didn’t damage tendons or bones—it would be fine in a few days. Only after much persuasion did they convince Old Grandmother not to faint.

“Uncle Niu, this nephew’s hands won’t be able to move for a while. Making the foot for Brother Jianhu will have to wait. Others can’t do this work—only this nephew can do it himself. Once this nephew’s arms are healed, we’ll start immediately. Rest assured, in just a few days I’ll return you a lively and vigorous Niu Jianhu.”

Old Niu’s lips trembled. Red-eyed, he tried to come pat Yun Ye’s shoulder but was slapped away by Madam Niu: “If it weren’t for your heavy-handedness, how would Brother Yun end up lying in bed? He could have already been making Tiger’s foot. If anything happens to Brother Yun, this old woman isn’t finished with you. My poor son, how did he end up with such a father!”

These words were ambiguous. I call Old Niu “uncle,” not “father.” Yun Ye thought extremely dejectedly.

Old Niu stomped his foot and said: “This old man will enter the palace right now to petition His Majesty to have the old consecrated masters in the palace come out and use the fastest method to cure Little Ye.” Having said this, he ran off in a flash.

Yun Ye comforted Madam Niu: “Auntie, don’t worry. Making a foot for Brother Tiger isn’t something that can be done in just a day or two. First we must prepare materials, and carefully measure Brother Tiger’s leg. This is all meticulous work. Brother Tiger’s left foot is gone, so normally he exerts force with his right foot. This creates a difference in strength between the two legs. During these days while this nephew recuperates from his injury, you must supervise him to use his left leg more. I’ll draw a diagram right now. When you return, follow the diagram to make a pair of crutches. Have him walk more, with a two-pound sandbag tied to his left leg to avoid uneven force application.”

Madam Niu memorized it twice, watched Yun Ye hold a brush in his mouth and crookedly draw the diagram, took the sketch with profuse thanks, and returned home to make crutches for her son.

As soon as Madam Niu left, the household became like a chicken coop invaded by a weasel—complete chaos. This aunt would glance at Yun Ye’s arm and shed a few tears, cursing that murderous Old Niu. That aunt would carefully touch the purple-bruised arm and wail a couple times. If Yun Ye weren’t already fifteen years old, they would have already pulled him into their embrace to nurse him.

Yun Ye very, very much enjoyed his current treatment. The shrill voices of the household women had never sounded so pleasant before. His mouth chewed the malt candy Daya stuffed in, while Xiao Xi and Xiao Bei puffed out their cheeks carefully blowing on their older brother’s arms, as if doing so would reduce the pain. Old Grandmother would shed tears every time she looked at Yun Ye—who knew where all those tears came from? In short, he was in pain but happy.

When Li’er heard from Old Niu that Yun Ye was going to make a foot for Old Niu’s son, he sprayed out a mouthful of tea. An attendant groomed Li’er’s back in a flurry while he coughed for a long time before recovering.

Just after performing blood-drawing life-extension for Old Qin, now he was going to recreate limbs for Niu Jianhu—what kind of ability was this? In mythology, Taiyi Zhenren could use lotus root to reshape Nezha’s body and bring him back to life. Could it be that this Yun Ye kid also had such abilities? This aroused Li’er’s strong gossipy curiosity. Although he inwardly admonished himself that using human lives last time to verify the truth of Yun Ye’s words was already excessive—this kind of thing, apart from King Zhou of Yin, no other emperor had done it, and the news must be sealed so ministers wouldn’t know—still, he couldn’t suppress his strong curiosity.

Hearing Old Niu say he wanted to request that several unworldly old consecrated masters in the palace come out to examine someone, he asked: “In this one’s observation, the Marquis of Lantian’s medical skills are not inferior to any famous physician of our time. Why does my beloved minister seek far when near is available?”

Old Niu looked embarrassed and hurriedly told Li’er about how he accidentally squeezed Yun Ye injured, causing Li’er to laugh heartily. He instructed attendants to go to the consecrated office to request the old consecrated masters to make a house call. He himself pulled Old Niu to the rear hall and invited out the Empress. The couple together chatted with Old Niu about Yun Ye.

Tang Dynasty harem consorts did not meet with external ministers. Only the Empress was an exception. She commanded the rear palace and governed the inner palace. All noble ladies honored her as supreme. If Li’er was a golden dragon coiled in Chang’an, then Empress Zhangsun was that wealthy and magnificent golden phoenix.

“This Empress heard that the son of the Marquis of Langya’s foot injury has hope of recovery—is this true?” Right away Zhangsun asked Old Niu, wanting to confirm the event’s authenticity.

At the mention of this matter, Old Niu’s face filled with joy: “Replying to Your Majesty, this is indeed true. Today the Marquis of Lantian came to this old minister’s residence to pay a visit. Seeing my unworthy son’s foot injury made walking difficult, he examined him. Discovering the knee was intact, he said that since the knee was fine, he was confident he could make a foot for my unworthy son. After attaching it, walking and sitting would be no different from ordinary people. This old minister was momentarily excited and squeezed the Marquis of Lantian’s arms injured. I truly feel sorry for this child. This is already the second time this old minister has squeezed him injured. This child is kind-hearted and bears no grudge. Even with immobile arms, he still worried about my unworthy son’s injured foot and comforted this old minister. He truly makes this old minister both grateful and ashamed.”

“So this matter is true?” Empress Zhangsun confirmed again.

“Absolutely true without doubt! This old minister is certain beyond question!” Old Niu’s confirmation was decisive and resolute.

“How do you view the Marquis of Lantian? How do you view Bai Yujing?” Li’er interjected.

“Bai Yujing is ethereal and elusive. The Marquis of Lantian is also difficult to explain fully. One can only judge from his master’s fragmentary words that place must be somewhere ordinary people cannot know. Perhaps someone exceptional can touch its edges—for example, the Red-Bearded Guest. This old minister and Li Jing have been close friends, yet I’ve never heard him speak of this past. How then did the Marquis of Lantian learn of it? This shows he truly has met this person. Reasoning from this, this old minister believes Bai Yujing perhaps truly exists, only we mortals cannot contact it. As for the Marquis of Lantian, this old minister’s assessment is: he is a good child, a truly genuine disciple of an exceptional master.”

“How can you tell?”

“This old minister has seen many people of great treachery and evil. Yun Ye absolutely is not one. I dare guarantee it with my life and family. In this old minister’s view, being able to tell the court that next year will have a great disaster is sufficient to prove this child’s pure heart. Even if he has some small schemes, it’s natural disposition—youthful temperament, having been spoiled by his master, unable to bear grievances, somewhat proud. This is nothing. It’s precisely because of these faults that this old minister likes this child even more.”

Watching Niu Jinda depart, Li’er was lost in thought. Zhangsun smiled sweetly and said to Li’er: “Second Brother, we may have asked the wrong person. The Marquis of Langya, being greatly indebted to the Marquis of Lantian, naturally won’t speak ill of him.”

“Empress! From your tone I discover you actually don’t doubt that Yun Ye can make a human foot. Why?”

“Second Brother, you have that personality of not giving up until reaching the Yellow River. Since he stepped into the mortal world, which thing he’s done hasn’t exceeded expectations? The Marquis of Lantian repeatedly exceeds your predictions, causing you to develop the misconception that this is a person even you cannot control, so naturally he seems suspicious everywhere. Just now, this consort figured out one problem—the Marquis of Lantian simply isn’t a person our Great Tang could have educated. His actions differ vastly from our Great Tang’s ordinary youths. His thoughts and considerations are simply bizarre beyond measure, yet secretly accord with heavenly principles. This consort deeply reveres his master—what kind of great virtuous exceptional person could educate such a child? However, it doesn’t matter. After the New Year, won’t he enter the palace? Leave him to this consort to discipline. I don’t believe he can escape from our grasp.” As Zhangsun spoke, she became somewhat gritted her teeth. Seeing the Empress’s appearance, Li’er couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

Only Yun Ye, covered in thick blankets, felt cold all over and sneezed violently. Old Grandmother, thinking her grandson had caught a chill, added another thick fur blanket.