Qin Fuhua trailed Suyin stealthily, careful not to alert her to his presence. He observed her from a distance, noting the shift in her behavior as she seemed to regain her spirits after their encounter. With each turn she took, he concealed himself behind obstacles, ensuring she wouldn't catch sight of him.
As they approached the gates of Junli's manor, Qin Fuhua watched closely as Suyin passed by the entrance, then abruptly veered to the left.
He followed her gaze, witnessing her raise a bamboo ladder from a stack of hay, deftly climbing onto the roof before disappearing from view. Intrigued, Qin Fuhua decided to investigate further, discreetly flying over to hide behind a large tree where he could observe her actions.
From his vantage point, he watched as she interacted with a maid named Jiayi, exchanging words before retrieving a small black bag—the medicine for Junli, he presumed—and knocking on a sliding door.
His curiosity piqued, he observed their interaction closely, wondering about the identity of the person who had helped Suyin escape from the "pigheaded prince."
"That stupid idiot. Does she not know how to take care of herself?"
Qin Fuhua frowned as he observed her actions.
It seemed reckless for her to barge into a stranger's room, especially considering the dangers that lurked in the city. Concern gnawed at him, his protective instincts urging him to intervene. But he hesitated, torn between his desire to unravel the mystery surrounding Suyin and his duty to attend to the affairs of the brothel.
Despite his desire to learn more about Suyin's situation, Qin Fuhua knew he couldn't linger any longer. Duty called, and he reluctantly tore himself away from the scene, making his way back to the brothel where Jianhong awaited.
With a final glance back at the manor, Qin Fuhua hopped over the perimeter wall and disappeared into the night.
-----------------
Suyin entered Junli's room with purpose, her demeanor confident as she presented the medicine she had brought.
"I'm here with the medicine," she announced, lifting the small black bag in her hand. "Oh, and Shao Feng will be spending the night at his mother's place. There was a little problem that needs to be fixed."
Suyin needed to remind herself to drop by to their place to drop off the medicine she got for Shao Feng's mother.
Junli, propped up in bed, nodded in acknowledgment. His gaze lingered on Suyin, his expression betraying a hint of admiration despite his attempts to maintain composure.
She looked resplendent even in her guise as a medicine man, her grace and elegance were undeniable.
"That's fine by me," he replied, his voice soft but tinged with gratitude.
Junli gestured towards a table a few feet away, indicating where he wanted the medicine placed.
"Do you mind putting the medicine on the table and laying it out? I will be there shortly," he requested, his eyes fixed on the designated spot.
Suyin nodded in response, her movements fluid as she made her way to the table. With practiced precision, she carefully laid out the contents of the bag, arranging the dried scorpion, herbal plants, pill bugs, and green herbs in an orderly fashion.
Each component held significance, a testament to the intricate knowledge of traditional medicine she had acquired during her training under Wansun, a respected scholar in the field.
As she worked, Suyin couldn't help but reflect on the importance of the medicine Junli was taking. The combination of ingredients hinted at a complex treatment regimen aimed at restoring balance to his body's Yin and Yang energies—an approach she was familiar with from her studies with Wansun.
-------------------
[Mini flashback when Suyin stayed over at Wansun's place]
"In our body, we have a Yin and a Yang," Wansun had explained, his voice gentle yet authoritative as he guided Suyin through the principles of holistic healing.
"Without either one of them, our body will not properly function well. They are the essence of our physiological balance, with Yin representing the structural aspect—such as the organs—and Yang representing their functional counterpart."
Suyin vividly remembered the scroll that Wansun had shown her, its ancient illustrations depicting the interconnectedness of Yin and Yang within the human body.
It had been a foundational lesson in her journey towards becoming a skilled healer.
"Some poison will be given as a treatment to balance the body out," Wansun had continued, his wisdom imparting invaluable knowledge to his eager pupil. "The only circumstance that this would happen is when the person is seriously ill and needs to have a negative effect to hinder the illness."
[End of flashback]
-----------------
The flashback served as a poignant reminder of the wisdom and guidance Suyin had received from Wansun, shaping her understanding of medicine and her approach to medicine.
As she returned to the present moment, she carried with her the lessons of the past, drawing strength from the teachings that had paved the way for her expertise in traditional healing practices.
As someone knocked on the door, Suyin's attention shifted, her gaze instinctively drawn towards the sound.
"Come in," Junli's voice called out, granting entry to the visitor.
A maid entered, carrying a wooden tray adorned with a small, white porcelain pot at its center.
"Place it on the table and leave," Junli instructed, his tone carrying a hint of weariness.
With a hurried nod, the maid complied, setting the tray down before hastily exiting the room.
Junli, visibly fatigued, settled into a chair beside Suyin, his efforts to conceal his discomfort palpable.
"I know there's a lot to process, but this is what I have to deal with every day," he remarked, a strained attempt at levity evident in his tone.
Suyin, however, remained silent, her expression inscrutable as she sat beside him.
"Hey... hello?" Junli leaned forward, concern etched into his features as he regarded her. "Are you okay?" he inquired, noting the absence of emotion on her face.
But before he could receive a response, Suyin's voice cut through the silence, her words laden with a raw intensity that took Junli by surprise.
"With an illness so serious as this, why are you taking this so lightly?" she blurted out, her gaze piercing as she locked eyes with him.
Junli's expression faltered, caught off guard by the sudden outburst.
He blinked, momentarily speechless as he processed her words. The weight of her question hung heavily in the air, prompting Junli to reassess his demeanor and the gravity of his condition.
In that moment, he realized that perhaps he had been too quick to dismiss the severity of his illness, choosing instead to mask his pain with humor.
Her words had struck a chord within him, resonating with a truth that he had long tried to evade.
"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
Suyin, biting her lip, nodded solemnly. "Looking at all of these medicines, having to take them every single day... it has to mean one thing only: your illness is incurable."
Junli sat back, his initial shock giving way to a sense of incredulity.
How had Suyin come to such a conclusion? Did she possess some hidden knowledge of his condition?
"Wait... did you just figure that out by looking at all of the medicine in the bag?" Junli's inquiry was laced with disbelief.
Suyin nodded affirmatively.
"Mn. There's poison that's working against other herbals that are good for you," she explained, her expression grave yet determined.
Junli's eyes sparkled with newfound admiration.
"I knew you were a great person! It was a good idea to have you pick up the medicine!" His excitement was palpable as he rose from his seat, only to be swiftly reminded of the pain that gnawed at his body as he attempted to stand.
"What do you mean by that?" Suyin's question cut through the air, her curiosity piqued by Junli's cryptic remark.
Junli's smile faltered slightly, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his expression.
"According to the way how you dealt with the wound and your gentle, caring nature, I had a feeling that you have some knowledge in medicine," he admitted, his pride evident despite his discomfort.
"So, what do you have?" As Suyin diligently prepared the medicinal concoction, Junli's demeanor shifted, his jovial facade giving way to a more somber reflection on his condition.
"Nothing that I know of," he began, his voice tinged with resignation. "Ever since I was born, the doctors couldn't find out what was wrong with me. They couldn't diagnose my illness, but all they knew was that I was not allowed to go out during the day because of the sun."
Junli poured the bitter liquid into a teacup, his movements tinged with a sense of routine borne out of years of familiarity with his affliction.
"I've always hated drinking these," he confessed, his expression contorting into a grimace as he took a reluctant gulp. "I've tried to go out in the sun before, but red dots appear all over my body," he recounted, a bitter laugh escaping his lips.
"I nearly died because I couldn't even breathe too!" The memory seemed to weigh heavily on him, his gaze distant as he relived the harrowing ordeal.
Suyin listened intently as Junli shared more about his condition and the complexities of his family history. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him, recognizing the heavy burden he carried both physically and emotionally.
"That explains all of the layers of clothing you wear to go out. Not to mention how white your skin is," Suyin remarked, her words slipping out before she could filter them.
Junli chuckled softly, a wistful smile playing on his lips.
"That's only if I take this medicine. Without this nasty stuff, though, I wouldn't bear to go out without breathing or having these red bumps on my body," he explained, his tone tinged with resignation.
He fell silent for a moment, his gaze turning inward as memories of past conflicts and betrayals resurfaced in his mind.
"Because of this disease, though, I grew further apart from my father," Junli confessed, his voice tinged with a mixture of bitterness and sorrow.
Suyin regarded him with empathy, her heart going out to him despite the gravity of his revelations.
"When I was a bit younger, a couple of years back, I heard that my Uncle Jianhong and his wife tried to poison my father," Junli continued, his words heavy with the weight of unresolved family tensions.
As he poured more medicine into his cup and took another gulp, Suyin listened attentively, her expression thoughtful.
"Funny to say that my father is a high-ranking general of Qin," Junli remarked with a bitter smirk.
"Maybe that's why my uncle was so jealous of him. My uncle was nothing but a mere wealthy merchant with no name except a shadow behind my father's name."
He paused, his gaze drifting downward as he grappled with the memories of betrayal and deception that had plagued his family.
"I heard that his wife, Mei, had planned it all along. It dragged the Prince of Qin, my father, my uncle, and my aunt all into one web of problems," he concluded, his voice heavy with the weight of the past.
Suyin listened attentively to Junli's account, feeling a mix of shock and sadness at the tragic events that had unfolded within his family.
"Didn't the Prince... kill Jianhong's wife?" she ventured, her voice trembling slightly with the weight of her question.
She couldn't fathom Qin Fuhua being capable of such a heinous act.
Junli nodded solemnly in response to her inquiry, confirming her suspicions.
"During that time, there was a lady people called 'Meimei,' who was a graceful woman that everyone believed would have ended up with the Prince of Qin," he explained, his tone heavy with sorrow. "Whenever the Prince came to town, the townspeople believed that he would take her to the palace to get married to her since the two grew up together as kids."
Suyin's heart sank as she absorbed this information, her mind racing with questions and doubts about the true nature of the Prince.
"The Prince never came back for a while, and Meimei got married to Uncle Jianhong. She devoted her life and heart to him..." Junli continued, his expression clouded with pain and regret.
"All that, and she gave up her life to save his! And the one who killed her would be the person who grew up with her. The Prince had no room for any compassion for anyone but himself. It is rumored that he killed her due to his jealousy."
Suyin felt a wave of disbelief wash over her as she grappled with the implications of Junli's words. Could Qin Fuhua truly be capable of committing such a horrendous act out of jealousy? Or was there more to the story than met the eye?
Suyin's heart went out to Junli as he expressed his frustration and anger over the injustice that had befallen his family.
She could sense the turmoil brewing within him, and she couldn't help but empathize with his plight.
"I still don't believe that my Aunt Mei did it," Junli declared vehemently, his voice filled with conviction.
"Although she was executed and killed, she wasn't the one who tried to poison my father. There was no way that she was able to do something gruesome like that. It had to be my Uncle! He was the one who wanted my father's gift given by the King so he could use it to sell for more money! That greedy old bastard. He's still trying to get on our good side to steal the antiques!"
His outburst startled Suyin, causing her to jump slightly in her seat. But she quickly composed herself, understanding the depth of Junli's emotions.
"I'm sorry. Did I startle you?" Junli asked, his tone softer now as he looked at Suyin.
Suyin shook her head, offering him a reassuring smile.
"No, it's okay. I understand," she said gently, reaching out to pour the last of the medicine into the teacup.
"I think it's important for you to keep up with your health, though, if you want to keep fighting with that spirit," she continued, sliding the teacup towards him. "If you keep ignoring your daily medicine, you won't get well, and you will get worse. We wouldn't want that, right?"
Junli sighed heavily, his anger slowly dissipating as he took the teacup from Suyin's outstretched hand. He nodded in agreement, acknowledging the truth in her words.
"You're right," he conceded, his voice tinged with resignation. "Thank you, Suyin. I appreciate your concern."
Suyin smiled warmly at him, relieved to see him calmer now. "You're welcome, Junli. Just remember to take care of yourself," she said gently, her eyes reflecting genuine care and compassion.
----------
The bustling streets of the red-light district were awash with a variety of colors and sounds, where the scent of perfume mingled with the heady aroma of alcohol.
Women adorned in provocative attire strutted along the cobblestone paths, their laughter echoing through the night air.
Meanwhile, wealthy patrons swaggered down the thoroughfares, their voices booming as they cavorted with the ladies of the night.
"Hey, handsome man. Come inside and we will show you some fun," crooned an older woman, her voice carrying over the din.
Yet, her beckoning fell on deaf ears as Qin Fuhua hurried past, his gaze fixed on the entrance of the brothel.
Within the dimly lit confines of the establishment, the atmosphere crackled with energy. Qin Fuhua's eyes scanned the room, immediately spotting Jianhong, drunken.
Flush-faced from imbibing copious amounts of alcohol, Jianhong was flanked by two women, who clung to him like ivy, while he nonchalantly dispensed paper currency as if it were mere confetti.
"It seems like my brother is having a good time," remarked Qin Fuhua, taking a seat across from the trio.
"Haha! Of course, I am!" Jianhong chortled, casting a glance at Qin Fuhua before turning his attention back to his companions. "Where are your gals? I nearly fell asleep waiting for you for so long!" he quipped.
Qin Fuhua chuckled softly. "I apologize. I had forgotten to bring my bag of money. I wanted my dear brother to enjoy this, so I decided that I should pay for this evening's entertainment," he explained smoothly.
"Come! Grab some more beautiful ladies for both of us!" commanded Jianhong, gesturing for Qin Fuhua to partake in the revelry.
Maintaining his composure, Qin Fuhua offered a serene smile.
"My dear brother, I am too fatigued. Another drink would only render me unconscious until the nocturnal hours. I shall indulge in the company of a lady once my weariness has gone," he replied.
Jianhong scrutinized him for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Dear brother! Are you truly considering stopping at this hour?" he exclaimed, shooing away the two women.
"Leave us, dear Huas," he instructed the women.
As the two women departed with disgruntled expressions, Jianhong's lips curled into a sardonic grin, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
"It is said that women are delicate like flowers. Plucking the flowers makes them less valuable," he remarked, his voice dripping with cynicism.
"That's all they want. Money. With a big name and money, they are willing to do anything for it," he declared, his gaze shifting from the door to settle on Qin Fuhua, who remained composed, listening intently to his musings.
"Don't you think so, dear brother Tienzheng?" he inquired, seeking validation for his jaundiced view of women.
Qin Fuhua's lips curved into a wry grin as he acknowledged Jianhong's words. "Don't you think that a little flower that was in my hands had been plucked off too?" he countered, his tone tinged with a hint of bitterness.
He was acutely aware of Jianhong's intent—to prod at the fresh raw wound of Suyin's betrayal.
"Your lady... that woman. What was her name again? Yinsu?" Jianhong continued, his words laced with accusation. "She was trying to pry on my money and gave you away like it was no game for her," he added, his tone mocking and accusatory.
With each word, Qin Fuhua could feel a searing heat building within him, a simmering rage threatening to spill over. Who did this man think he was, casting aspersions on Suyin's character?
Beneath the table, his hands clenched into fists, a silent testament to the turmoil raging within him as he sat across from the man he held responsible for orchestrating the betrayal.
Qin Fuhua's smile widened, though it held a hint of calculated charm as he regarded Jianhong.
"My dear sworn brother, I would never break apart for a mere little woman like her," he asserted firmly, his voice carrying an air of conviction.
"Do you think that I married her for no reason? She was a lady of a wealthy family. I took her in so I could take care of the possessions the family would give me," he elaborated, his words dripping with a shrewd logic.
"Haha! My, what a great brother you are. Your ideas are swell, just like mine!" Jianhong guffawed, his laughter filling the room.
Yet, in an instant, his demeanor shifted, his expression morphing into one of grave seriousness. His eyes bore into Qin Fuhua's with unwavering intensity, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur that was meant for Qin Fuhua's ears alone.
"Say, since we are this. Why don't we use your wife as an escape?" Jianhong suggested, his words barely audible above the ambient noise of the brothel, his gaze locking onto Qin Fuhua's with a steely resolve.
"Escape?" Qin Fuhua echoed, a wicked glint dancing in his eyes as he played along with Jianhong's sinister game.
"There has been something I've been wanting to get, but someone is in the way. This gift is so valuable, given by the King, that the person is practically protected from it. If we were to get this gift and sell or even steal it, this city would be in the palm of our hands!"
Jianhong leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper as he divulged his clandestine plan.
"As a sworn brother of mine, I can tell you that I tried to take it a couple of years back, but unfortunately, my bait had been taken off the hook and killed by the nasty Prince of ours," he confided, his words laced with a mix of bitterness and determination.
As Jianhong laid out his nefarious plan with chilling precision, Qin Fuhua's mind raced with a torrent of conflicting emotions.
The mention of "bait" triggered a surge of memories, stirring doubts about the events that led to Meimei's demise.
Was there more to her supposed guilt than met the eye? Was she merely a pawn in a larger game of deceit and betrayal?
Summoning his resolve, Qin Fuhua pressed forward, his voice edged with a steely determination.
"What do we do with Suyin?" he demanded, his gaze boring into Jianhong's with an intensity that mirrored the storm brewing within him.
Jianhong's response was calculated and devoid of remorse, his words dripping with a chilling plan.
"Once you find her, you will bring her to my home without her knowledge, under the cover of night. I will ensure that you are accompanied by guards for your protection. But remember, any betrayal will be met with swift and merciless retribution," he warned, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
"We will administer a sedative to render her unconscious, while we proceed to General Feng's manor to seize the coveted Qin heavenly sword bestowed by the King. The profits from its sale will be substantial, enough to fulfill our wildest ambitions," he declared, his eyes glittering with avarice and excitement.
As Jianhong painted a vivid picture of their illicit scheme, Qin Fuhua's features darkened, his once-composed demeanor giving way to a storm of fury simmering just beneath the surface.
Every word uttered by Jianhong fueled the inferno raging within him, a tempest of rage and betrayal threatening to consume him whole.
"So what is Suyin going to be used for then?" Qin Fuhua demanded, his voice a low growl, his body trembling with restrained fury.
Unable to contain the tumult of emotions roiling within him any longer,
Qin Fuhua felt the heat coursing through his veins, his teeth clenched so tightly that they threatened to shatter under the strain.
In that moment, he struggled to maintain his composure, the urge to lash out against the man who had orchestrated Meimei's downfall nearly overwhelming him.
As Jianhong callously outlined his scheme, a cold realization settled over Qin Fuhua like a suffocating shroud. The true extent of Jianhong's depravity and cunning became painfully clear, sending shockwaves of betrayal and disgust coursing through him.
"We frame her, use her, and then when she gets executed or killed, we will be free!" Jianhong's laughter cut through the air like a blade, each mocking chuckle twisting the knife of betrayal deeper into Qin Fuhua's wounded soul.
It was a grotesque game of manipulation and deceit, with Suyin serving as nothing more than a sacrificial pawn in their pursuit of power and wealth.
"This idea had worked back then. But the only problem I had was that I didn't have the chance to steal the precious heavenly sword bestowed by the King," Jianhong continued, his voice laced with triumph as he reveled in his own depravity. He leaned in closer, ensuring that Qin Fuhua understood the gravity of their predicament.
"Remember that I have guards outside of this brothel of mine, my dear sworn brother. You dare to do something to me, and the guards will come flying in any direction to you right now. When you left, I had already made this command. Now you are stuck with me," Jianhong declared, his laughter reverberating off the walls of the room, a chilling reminder of the power he wielded over Qin Fuhua's fate.
With each word, Qin Fuhua's fists clenched tighter, his knuckles turning white with the force of his pent-up rage.
Why had Meimei chosen to bear the burden of their crimes alone? Was she coerced into silence by the same man who now sat before him, reveling in his own depravity? The realization was like a dagger to his heart, a searing pain that threatened to consume him whole.
In that moment, as Jianhong basked in his own twisted glory, Qin Fuhua's resolve hardened like steel.
His fists trembled with barely contained fury, the desire to lash out at the man who had orchestrated Meimei's downfall burning like a raging inferno within him.
Yet, he knew that any act of defiance would be met with swift and brutal reprisal.