The Wu Family creed was to bleed without shedding tears. Wu Yong’s generation, being the sole male descendant, had been truly indulged by the women of the household — spoiled without reservation — and when it came to training, truly put through the wringer without mercy.

When he discovered he had been plotted against, the anger that consumed him was complete — anger on his own behalf and on behalf of the Wu Family, feeling the injustice of it all. So he had made himself look away from things he knew were happening, had savored a perverse satisfaction in knowing what was coming, even as he was fully aware of how serious the consequences would be.

But in this moment, he felt he could not quite lift his head. Not because he believed he had been wrong — but because of one man’s magnanimity. He had been put to shame, cast into the dust.

Gu Yanxi rose and walked toward the door. Wu Yong called out instinctively: “Shizi!”

Gu Yanxi paid him no mind. He opened the door, raised his hand, and made a gesture. Shortly after, Shao Yao appeared at the doorway.

“Go take a look at him.”

Shao Yao was not wearing her veiled hat. In the dead of night, a face like hers would likely startle almost anyone. Wu Yong was an ordinary person in this regard — he took a step back in fright. Then he steadied himself, walked forward a few paces, and sat down at the table, extending his hand. “I am in your hands, physician.”

Shao Yao was not particularly invested in what attitude Wu Yong might take toward her, but his subsequent behavior did please her a little. She sat down across from him and took hold of his wrist.

After a moment, Shao Yao had him switch hands. When she had examined both carefully, she frowned without saying a word.

Her expression, paradoxically, gave Wu Yong a flicker of hope. “Speak plainly, physician. I can take it.”

And Shao Yao truly did speak plainly. “General Wu, how has things been going for you recently in the bedroom?”

For a man, this was a matter of considerable personal pride, and all the more so for having it asked by a woman. Wu Yong was caught between answering and not answering, and cast a desperate look at the Shizi for rescue.

Gu Yanxi stood with his arms folded. “She is a physician.”

Wu Yong swallowed, and steeled himself. “Previously there was no difficulty. About two months ago, quite suddenly, I… found myself somewhat lacking in vigor.”

Shao Yao nodded. “Does the General have two very thin black lines running along the inner thigh?”

Wu Yong was taken aback. He shook his head. “I have never paid attention to that.”

“Then I ask the General to go and check now. If they are there, the diagnosis is essentially confirmed.”

The moment he heard that a diagnosis could be confirmed, Wu Yong set aside all other considerations. Losing some face was far better than losing one’s life.

From behind the folding screen came a rustling sound. Gu Yanxi looked over at Shao Yao, who was propping her cheek on her hand with supreme indifference, watching the lamp flame. He shook his head helplessly. Any other woman would have long since been too embarrassed to show her face. She, on the other hand, was so matter-of-fact about it that she ended up being the one making everyone else feel awkward.

Before long, Wu Yong came out at a quick pace, his breathing somewhat agitated. “There are — one on each side, very thin, and very long.”

By the looks of them, they were on the verge of extending to where he would not be able to see them himself. Had the physician not prompted him, who in the dead of winter would think to check whether two unfamiliar black lines had appeared on their body?

“Then there is no doubt.” Shao Yao looked up at the Shizi. “He has been poisoned.”

“Can it be treated?”

“It can — it’s just a bit of a problem.” Shao Yao scratched her head in distress. “This poison is called Black Spider Thread. To counteract it requires a specific substance used in its creation as a catalyst — without it, the poison cannot be undone. Can you get word to Master? I believe this poison was something Master himself formulated.”

Gu Yanxi naturally did not interpret Shao Yao’s words to mean that this poison had been administered by her master. He nodded. “I will send him a letter.”

“Ask him who he gave this poison to. Every time I asked him for it in the past he refused, saying it was too sinister — yet he gave it to someone else. Hmph.”

“You can ask him that yourself when you see him.”

“Even better. But you need to get him here quickly. General Wu can hold on for one month at most.”

Gu Yanxi glanced at Wu Yong. The man did not look like someone with only a month to live.

“When I say one month, I don’t mean a threat to his life. He can easily live another half a year. What I mean is that if the poison is not cleared within one month, his ability to father children will be lost.”

“…”

Gu Yanxi pressed his fingers to his temple. He did not quite know how to tell Shao Yao that a woman ought not to be so blunt — and even if the point had to be made, it could at least be said more quietly. Could she not see that Wu Yong’s face had gone completely to ruin?

“Master said the cruelest thing about this poison is exactly that. It makes a man gradually lose that capacity. If the poison is not treated within four months, then even if he is cured afterward and his life spared, that part of him will still…”

“That is enough.” Gu Yanxi cut her off. He now knew where to direct his inquiry. “Is there any way to slow its progression? Your master has gone deep into the western mountain ranges in search of a particular herb — he may not be able to arrive within a month.”

Shao Yao, disgruntled at having been interrupted, said slowly: “My gold needle circulation technique can slow the toxin’s spread.”

“Use it on him.”

“But Hua Zhi will only be here a few days before heading back, and I want to go back with her.”

Gu Yanxi was silent for a moment. Just as Shao Yao was on the verge of giving in and nodding her agreement, she heard him say: “In the year this pass was defended, the Wu Family fought with more than half their men dead to hold it. For as many years as Da Qing has stood, the Wu Family has been rooted here. Now, in this generation, there is only Wu Yong left of the Wu men. Shao Yao — what they are guarding is our Gu Family’s realm. We have a responsibility not to let the Wu bloodline die out.”

“So I really am surnamed Gu, then?”

“Since you have chosen to forget, do not linger over the past. Those are not things that would bring anyone peace.”

Shao Yao grinned. “All I need to know is that Yanxi is my brother, and that the beautiful woman in my dreams is my mother. Nothing else matters. It’s just a daily acupuncture session, isn’t it? I’ll do it.”

Gu Yanxi was standing while Shao Yao sat — the posture made it easy enough to reach out and pat her on the head. He actually did so, the most intimate gesture in all these years. Shao Yao blinked in surprise, then narrowed her eyes into a smile. Yanxi really was her brother.

A face covered in scars is not beautiful when it smiles. And yet somehow Wu Yong felt the face had become, in this moment, not ugly at all — the eyes especially, clear and clean, extraordinarily lovely.

Shao Yao suddenly turned to look at him. “You had better not think of bedroom matters this month. The poison will advance far more quickly.”

Wu Yong erupted into a fit of coughing and felt compelled to defend himself: “Physician, I have not been thinking of such things.”

“Good that you haven’t. Also keep your wives and concubines at a distance. When one is poisoned, one ought to conduct oneself properly. To see what one cannot have will only make you more restless, which is bad for your health.”

Wu Yong did not know whether to laugh or cry. How was he supposed to respond to that? If he had heard correctly just now, this was a princess — and one who had the Shizi’s approval to remain by his side at that. He would have to be tired of living to follow up on any of what she had just said.

Gu Yanxi thought that he really ought to have a proper talk with Hua Zhi and ask her to teach Shao Yao which things a young woman may say and which things she absolutely may not. How had he never noticed before how utterly unfiltered she was?

Wu Yong’s condition could not be allowed to reach the ears of outsiders or those with ill intent. Having agreed to come again the following night, the two returned to the inn. Shao Yao slipped quietly back into the room. Seeing that Hua Zhi had not so much as shifted in her sleep, she let out a relieved pat of her chest — yet the moment she thought of being apart from Hua Zhi for at least a month, she had a feeling she would not be sleeping tonight.

Shortly after, the sound of steady snoring rose from the quiet guest room.

PS: The female lead barely made an appearance across these two chapters — we’ve been following the main storyline, and these events have major bearing on what comes later. A small survey: do you prefer reading the romance thread or the story thread? I’ll clarify upfront that I am, at heart, a plot-driven author.