The Enchanting Empress Dowager Is Really Poisonous Volume 2 Chapter 35 - Leng Yirou, Thousand Shadow Guards

Chapter 35: Leng Yirou, Thousand Shadow Guards

Xia Ke felt a sense of unease as soon as she left the Changle Palace. She had finally mustered the courage to speak her mind, but the sudden interruption by Consort Hua left her unsure of what would happen next. She would rather the Emperor not summon her to attend him, but that seemed unlikely.

Lost in thought as she rode her soft sedan chair back to her chambers, her mind went blank, unsure of what to think or plan.

“Let me guess,” a soft voice, almost like a devil’s whisper, suddenly rang out. “Your disheartened look is either because Hua Yuxuan appeared unexpectedly, depriving you of the Emperor’s summons, or because you failed to report your secret and are now dejected?”

Startled, Xia Ke quickly looked up, her face betraying panic. “Empress Dowager!”

Leng Jiu set down her teacup and looked at her. “What’s wrong? Surprised to see me?”

Suppressing the fear in her heart, Xia Ke stepped forward. “I dare not!”

“Dare not?” Leng Jiu fixed her with a deep gaze, then suddenly smiled meaningfully but dropped the subject. “I came here today to ask you one thing.”

Xia Ke bowed her head slightly. “Please, ask, Empress Dowager.”

Staring at her face and observing every expression, Leng Jiu asked, “Is your mother still alive?”

Xia Ke trembled violently at the question. Though her face was hidden, her reaction was telling. Clenching her handkerchief, she replied, “My mother pa.s.sed away six years ago from illness. She is no longer alive.”

Sliding the lid of her teacup lightly, Leng Jiu raised an eyebrow. “Don’t waste words with me. I wouldn’t ask unless I had evidence. I advise you to confess honestly. I’ve already sent someone to investigate the Xia family. If your words don’t match my findings, don’t blame me for being merciless.”

Xia Ke’s body shook. “If the Empress Dowager has already sent someone to investigate, why ask me?”

“Because I like to. Is that a problem?”

Xia Ke bit her lip. “I know nothing.”

“Nothing?” Leng Jiu chuckled, casually tossing a jade pendant at Xia Ke’s feet. “Do you recognize this?”

Seeing the double-hearted mandarin duck jade pendant, Xia Ke was shocked. “How does the Empress Dowager have this?”

Leaning lazily on her hand, Leng Jiu replied, “You claim to know nothing, but I know plenty. If you don’t want the owner of this jade pendant to lose an arm or leg, you’d better tell me the truth.”

Realizing she had no escape, Xia Ke bent down to pick up the pendant and knelt. “Is he in your hands?”

“No,” Leng Jiu said lightly. “But he’s under my watch. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

Clutching the jade tightly, Xia Ke asked, “If I tell you everything, will you let him go?”

“That depends on whether your information interests me.”

Closing her eyes and bowing her head, Xia Ke hesitated before speaking. Her first sentence shocked Leng Jiu.

“I am the daughter of the current Lady Xia, not the daughter of the previous Lady Xia.”

Leng Jiu’s brows twitched. “Go on.”

“I don’t know much about the details. I only know that my father and mother were in love, but my grandfather forced my father to marry a lady from the Leng family. My mother had no choice but to become a concubine. My father never loved the first wife, not even touching her, let alone having children with her. I was born to my mother. To grant me the status of a legitimate daughter, my father pa.s.sed me off as the first wife’s child, publicly declaring her as my birth mother. As for why she agreed, I don’t know. I only know that she was always kind and gentle to me, treating me well.”

“Then why announce her death if she’s still alive?”

“I don’t know!” Xia Ke shook her head. “I always thought she was dead, but two years ago, I saw her in the back courtyard. I thought I had seen a ghost. When I told my mother, she admitted that the first wife was still alive but refused to explain why, only warning me not to tell anyone and to pretend I hadn’t seen her. Curiosity got the better of me, and I secretly visited her twice. I found out that she had lost her voice and could only smile at me. To this day, I don’t know why.”

Tapping her finger on the table, Leng Jiu asked, “What do you know about the matter of the Emperor’s ident.i.ty switch?”

Xia Ke nearly burst into tears. “My mother knew I was in love with Li Lang and tried to stop me. One day, she suddenly promised that if I gave up my ident.i.ty and took a new name, I could marry him. Overjoyed, I agreed, only to learn later that this was part of a scheme to send someone else into the palace in my place. Initially, I didn’t question it, but something went wrong, and the switch failed. When I confronted my mother, she vaguely admitted the truth. Soon after, I was abducted and brought to the palace as a concubine.”

“So, you’re claiming to be innocent?” Leng Jiu raised her gaze.

“Empress Dowager, I swear every word I’ve spoken is true. I know that once inside the palace, there is no escape. I’ve already accepted my fate and given up hope of being with Li Lang. I seek no favor or ambition, only mercy for him!” Xia Ke prostrated herself, pleading desperately.

Leng Jiu lowered her gaze and watched her for a moment before silently leaving.

Outside Xia Ke’s chambers, Qingling approached. “Empress Dowager, shall we bring the old lady back?”

Leng Jiu paused, recalling the care and tenderness of the woman from those days. A strange softness filled her heart—an inexplicable feeling that lingered within her.

“Bring her back? Of course! I’ll personally go and bring her back!”

Qingling was surprised but didn’t question the decision.

At dawn the next day, a swift horse galloped out of the city gate as it opened, disappearing beyond the horizon. Meanwhile, war with Xue Nation finally erupted.

Covering a hundred miles in two hours, Leng Jiu arrived at her destination, casting a glance at the city walls before riding in.

Yishui City was the final line of defense between the royal capital and the outside world. If breached, the capital would be directly exposed. It was a critical stronghold heavily garrisoned. The local governor, surnamed Xia, had once served under General Leng and now commanded an army of 100,000, rivaling the general’s influence.

Dressed in plain men’s attire and with a disguised face, Leng Jiu looked like an ordinary man, her extraordinary bearing obscured by the disguise.

After a brief meal at an inn, she inquired about the governor’s residence and stealthily made her way there using light-footed martial arts. Though not as skilled as the Hua clan, her movements were silent and swift.

From the rooftop, she observed the governor’s grand residence, more imposing than the Leng family’s general’s estate. Squinting slightly, she s.h.i.+fted to a quieter side entrance and slipped in unnoticed.

Landing in a servants’ quarter, she found it deserted, likely because the servants were busy elsewhere. Pulling out a map drawn by one of Mo Zhai’s trainees, she quickly located her target and moved forward cautiously.

After searching several courtyards, Leng Jiu reached the room where she had once been confined. Peering inside, she saw the familiar furnis.h.i.+ngs, untouched and dusted with age. After checking the adjacent courtyards and finding no sign of Leng Yirou, she recalled Mo Zhai’s report that Leng Yirou had been taken by Lady Xia. Referring to the map, she headed for Lady Xia’s quarters.

“Madam, this is the latest design from Zhang’s shop. Do you like any of them?”

Hearing voices, Leng Jiu hid on the roof, silently drilling a hole to observe. Inside sat a well-dressed woman in her thirties, her refined features shadowed with worry. This was Lady Xia, whose resemblance to Xia Ke was striking. Leng Jiu now believed Xia Ke’s account.

Lady Xia glanced at the patterns handed to her by a maid and shook her head. “These were what Ke’er liked. There’s no need for them now that she’s gone.”

The maid tried to console her. “Don’t worry, Madam. The young lady is now the Emperor’s concubine, destined for wealth and honor. Marrying that merchant’s son from the Li family wouldn’t have compared. Besides, the capital is only a hundred miles away. You can visit her easily.”

Lady Xia sighed. “It’s not so simple to visit someone in the palace. Ke’er is too gentle by nature. I fear she’ll be bullied, especially now that the Empress Dowager has returned. Life won’t be easy for her.”

“If you’re so worried, why not write her a letter? Even if you can’t visit, a letter would bring peace of mind.”

Lady Xia nodded. “You’re right. I’ll write to her tomorrow.”

“And where is the master? It’s already noon, and he hasn’t returned?”

The maid hesitated before replying softly, “The master went to Liufang Pavilion to see Lady Fang.”

Lady Xia’s face darkened. “That wretched woman again!”

“Please don’t be upset, Madam. She’s just a flirtatious woman with no real standing. You are and always will be the rightful lady of the house.”

Lady Xia closed her eyes with a heavy sigh. “After all these years, I’ve long since exhausted my anger. A man who won’t stay can’t be kept.” Pausing, she asked, “What about the mute woman? How is she doing?”

“They say she still refuses to eat, barely sustained by ginseng soup when unconscious. She’s almost at her end.”

Lady Xia stood abruptly. “I need to see her. She must not die now.”

Accompanied by her maid, Lady Xia hurried out, and Leng Jiu followed silently.

After navigating through several twists and turns, they arrived at a remote yet heavily guarded courtyard. Observing the guard placements, Leng Jiu identified a blind spot and slipped inside unnoticed.

“Madam!” Two older women guarding the door greeted Lady Xia respectfully.

“Open the door,” Lady Xia commanded.

The two old maids opened the door, and Lady Xia entered with her maidservants. Leng Jiu didn’t go to the beam but instead circled around to the window. Before Lady Xia entered, she leaped inside and quickly concealed herself on the beam.

Cough, cough! Behind a simple **, the bed curtains obscured the scene inside, revealing only faint, weak coughing. The sound didn’t seem to come from the throat but rather resonated from deep within the chest.

One of the old maids drew back the curtain, immediately exposing the figure inside. Leng Jiu’s eyes widened in shock. How had the gentle and kind-looking person become like this? Although she had looked thin the last time they met, she wasn’t as emaciated as this—reduced to skin and bones. Her complexion was as pale as paper, her lips were cracked, and her bloodshot eyes held a faint light. A skeletal hand clutched at her chest as she coughed violently. Though the sound was soft, her expression was one of such pain that it seemed as if she might cough out her heart and lungs.

Lady Xia looked at her condition with a flash of disgust in her eyes. “Why reduce yourself to this wretched state of neither human nor ghost? Just hand over what the master wants, and you can live out the rest of your days in peace. Besides, what use is it for you to keep that thing? Why persist so stubbornly?”

Leng Yirou didn’t look at her and continued coughing with her head lowered, faint traces of blood appearing at the corners of her lips.

Lady Xia frowned. “Fetch a doctor for her. Make sure she doesn’t die!”

“Yes!” One of the old maids immediately left.

Lady Xia gave Leng Yirou another glance. “Think it over carefully. Spare yourself the trouble and others too!” With that, she turned to leave, giving the old maids some additional instructions before walking away.

After confirming the room was empty, Leng Jiu descended, drew back the curtain, and sat by the bedside, reaching out to hold her hand. Leng Yirou, startled by the contact, began coughing even harder. Leng Jiu quickly patted her back soothingly and whispered, “Don’t be afraid. It’s me!”

Hearing the familiar voice, Leng Yirou’s eyes widened as she carefully examined Leng Jiu, still looking somewhat doubtful. Leng Jiu gave a faint smile. “I disguised myself—it’s more convenient this way.”

Leng Yirou calmed down slightly, a hint of tears glistening in her eyes.

Leng Jiu channeled some of her internal energy into Leng Yirou’s body to make her more comfortable, then asked, “I am Leng Jinghua. I didn’t recognize you last time, but now that I know you’re alive, I’m here to take you away. If you’re willing, just nod.”

Upon hearing this, tears rolled down Leng Yirou’s cheeks as her withered hand tightly gripped Leng Jiu’s. She nodded faintly.

Hearing footsteps approaching from outside, Leng Jiu patted her hand rea.s.suringly and quickly hid behind a pillar. It was the old maid who entered. When she walked closer, Leng Jiu swiftly struck her unconscious with a knife-hand blow. Catching her falling body, she carefully carried her aside, shut the door, and returned to the bedside. Wrapping Leng Yirou’s frail body in a blanket, she easily lifted her and leapt out of the window.

Carefully making their way out of the governor’s residence, Leng Jiu mounted her horse and immediately galloped out of the city, not daring to pause for even a moment.

Binding Leng Yirou and the blanket securely to herself, Leng Jiu rode at full speed, traveling even faster than when she came.

Leng Yirou, who appeared calm at this moment, turned her head to look at Leng Jiu’s profile. A faint, warm smile appeared on her pale face, as if it were her last burst of vitality. Leng Jiu noticed this out of the corner of her eye and was instantly terrified, holding her tightly. “Don’t worry. It won’t be long now. I’ll take you to a doctor soon—you’ll be fine!”

At this moment, Leng Jiu was fl.u.s.tered like never before. She didn’t understand why she felt this way, but she knew she didn’t want the person in her arms to die—not even a little.

After a full hour of galloping, when they were still twenty miles away, Leng Yirou weakly raised her hand to touch Leng Jiu’s face. Smiling faintly, she moved her lips as if to speak, but in the end, she could only mouth a few silent words before pa.s.sing out again.

Leng Jiu’s heart sank as if falling into an abyss. She whipped her horse fiercely, pouring her internal energy into Leng Yirou’s body as if it cost nothing, murmuring, “Don’t faint! Hold on, please!”

Twenty miles wasn’t far; a galloping horse could cover it in about fifteen minutes. But to Leng Jiu, those twenty miles felt interminable, and those fifteen minutes unbearably long. She didn’t cry, but her heart was heavy with sorrow.

Killing countless people didn’t make one fear death; what was truly terrifying was being powerless to save someone you wanted to keep alive. That helplessness and grief were far more dreadful. For the first time in her lives—past and present—Leng Jiu understood that feeling, even though she had no idea what this woman meant to her.

The horse galloped into the capital city. Without hesitation, Leng Jiu headed straight for Prince Xuan’s mansion. Stopping at the gate, she tore off her disguise and leapt inside without knocking. Ignoring the guards who moved to intercept her, she used her light-footed martial arts to reach Long Yueli’s courtyard. When she landed, her knees nearly buckled. “Long Yueli! Come out!”

Long Yueli, who had been playing chess with Jin Yu on a rockery in the back courtyard, had been aware of the guards’ movements. He a.s.sumed it was just another a.s.sa.s.sination attempt, as in the past, but was startled to hear Leng Jiu’s shout. Dropping his chess piece, he rushed over.

The guards were about to detain Leng Jiu when Long Yueli waved them off, sending them flying. He hurried to Leng Jiu’s side, supporting her as his gaze swept over the person in her arms. Shock flickered in his eyes as he looked at her face. Never had he seen such an expression on her—grief, despair. Was this really Leng Jiu?

“Jiu’er, what happened?” Long Yueli’s heart ached at the sight.

Leng Jiu stared at him for a long moment before forcing out two words: “Save her.”

Jin Yu arrived shortly after, equally startled by Leng Jiu’s appearance. Hearing her words, he, who normally avoided involving himself in others’ matters, stepped forward to examine the woman in her arms. “She’s fine. Just exhausted and temporarily weak. Her body is frail, and her breathing is faint, but her life isn’t in immediate danger.”

Hearing this, Long Yueli let out a sigh of relief, gently rubbing Leng Jiu’s face. “Jiu’er, don’t worry. She’s alive. With Jin Yu here, she won’t die.”

Leng Jiu seemed to come to her senses, looking at Jin Yu before carefully placing the woman on a soft couch in Long Yueli’s room. She handled her as though holding the most precious treasure, her expression moving even the two men. They couldn’t understand who this woman was to make her look like this.

Jin Yu fed Leng Yirou a pill, placed a cloth on her wrist to check her pulse, and then went to Long Yueli’s desk to write a prescription. Without a word, he threw it out the window. “Get the medicine.”

An unseen guard immediately caught it and disappeared.

Long Yueli carried Leng Jiu to a nearby chair, pouring her a cup of water. “Don’t worry.”

Leng Jiu drank it absentmindedly, almost choking. After coughing twice, she looked at Long Yueli, her expression distant yet filled with a faint, pained smile.

“Yueli, do you know? I’m actually afraid of someone dying. I’ve killed countless people and always thought that the weak are like ants—survival of the fittest. Weak people deserve to be eliminated. But when I held her frail body and saw her close her eyes in my arms, I panicked. I don’t want her to die. I’m afraid she’ll die. She’s so weak that she doesn’t even need me to lift a hand to die. And yet, I’m terrified of losing her.”

Long Yueli embraced her, his rare seriousness devoid of his usual playful demeanor. “Jiu’er, I understand. We’re alike, always thinking we don’t care about anything. But when someone we cherish is about to leave, we realize we’re not as cold and unfeeling as we thought. It’s good to feel this way. It means you’re still human—a whole person.”

Leng Jiu chuckled softly, looking at the person on the bed. She had been too fl.u.s.tered earlier, but now she could feel her faint breathing. Though weak, she was still alive.

Jin Yu stood nearby, his expression inscrutable. The last time they parted was under such circ.u.mstances. He never imagined meeting again like this, and now he witnessed them holding each other. Some inexplicable emotion flickered through his heart—not jealousy, not envy, but a faint chill he had never felt before.

Before long, the medicine was prepared and brought in. Leng Jiu carefully fed Leng Yirou the decoction, ensuring she finished the entire bowl before stopping.

Jin Yu approached, observing her. “Her body has weakened due to prolonged malnutrition. Although she’s been surviving on ginseng soup, it has harmed her const.i.tution. She was poisoned long ago. The toxin affected her heart and lungs, and though she survived, her throat was damaged. With proper care, her life isn’t in danger.”

“She was poisoned before?” Leng Jiu was stunned. Was that why her voice was gone? She looked up at Jin Yu. “Can you cure her?”

Jin Yu’s expression faltered, his gaze lowering. “Give me a reason to save her.”

Leng Jiu opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words. She couldn’t give him a reason.

Leng Jiu stayed in the room to watch over Leng Yirou. Long Yueli had initially intended to remain as well but was eventually driven out by Leng Jiu. Left with no choice, he returned to the courtyard and resumed his unfinished chess game with Jin Yu.

After a long silence, it was Long Yueli who spoke first. “If you were willing to treat her with medicine, why not agree to cure her entirely?”

Jin Yu placed a chess piece on the board. “If she gives me a reason—any reason—I will save her.”

Long Yueli was momentarily stunned but then lowered his gaze without saying another word. Meanwhile, Jin Yu toyed with a white chess piece, his expression inscrutable.

Leng Jiu sat by the soft couch, her gaze on Leng Yirou’s face. She wanted to ask who she was, what had happened, and what Lady Xia was trying to obtain from her. Suddenly, she recalled the lip movements Leng Yirou made before fainting. Although her knowledge of lip reading was limited, she recognized the first three words she had said: Qian-Ying-Wei.

—

Author’s Note:

This is the four thousand words I owed you all yesterday. Kisses! By the way, why haven’t you left any comments recently?