"How can the gate be such crowded? What happens?" Guo Songmi turned his head towards the gate which was seemingly uproarious. It also appeared that the guards were busy holding those who were trying to enter the palace.
Five of them directly stepped towards the palace gate.
"... Please return the remains of our family to us! We have to make a funeral for them shortly!" A woman begged.
"Have you finished investigating my grandson? Please do it quickly! He is so grief-stricken since you put his body lingered in the open field like that!" An elderly granny also begged.
Zhu Su spoke out, "Will you please be patient and supportive? This is indeed for all of you, Yunnan people. It benefits especially for you who are still alive!"
They kept silent for a few moments. But shortly, an old man wearing the finest clothes (he was apparently the headman) said, "Your Highness, may we ask for your considerate about the misery of Yunnan people. We have sincerely accepted that our family members have passed away. So please, let the deceased rest peacefully, with the funeral that the families will hold. Give their bodies back to us."
"My goodness. Sir, it's a different matter..."
"Dear Sirs, I can bring them back to life."
Although it was in turmoil at that time, the words coming from a man could cut off the debate instantly. Everybody was staring curiously at him right now. Zhu Su himself now looked thoroughly at the man, whose ages seemed to be in mid-thirties. That mysterious man looked back at him, lips curved a smile.
"Yes, Sirs. I can bring them all to life. So please allow me to come inward."
Everyone was at a loss of words, however, they began to move, to give way - a silent sign that they supported the man to carry out his confident words. So did the members of the Team of Wellbeing. Yet, Zhu Su did not tend to give permission. He asked, "Who are you? How can you be so confident by stating that you can raise the dead?"
"My name is Rumilie, I am from Shunxi Village. I've heard this case and by chance, I have the antidote. Please, let me enter, Your Highness. For the sake of all people in Yunnan, especially those who have been died." Rumilie was apparently so eager to rush in. "I beg you, please let me in, Your Highness. Our time is running out. Please, if the time's out, the antidote will be useless. They will die forever!"
Rumilie's words made sense, Zhu Su had to admit it. He should not be too strict at this critical time. Besides, he pitied the people whose eyes were emitting such a hoping look.
"Alright." Zhu Su said. "Come in."
"Many thanks, Your Highness," The man bowed down, he thus soon stepped into the courtyard. The Team of Wellbeing members followed from behind.
The man withdrew a small bottle from his pocket. The sunlight reflection shone at the surface of that purplish-green crystal bottle as he opened the bottle's lid. He approached the body closest to him, opened its mouth until it slightly gaped, then dropped some liquid from the bottle into it.
He kept doing the same things to the others, until all dead bodies had gotten the liquid from the bottle.
"Now, what we should do is to wait, Your Highness," The man said, gazing at the sun which was directly overhead. "I guess, we'll wait for no longer until the drug effects appear."
Zhu Su nodded slightly. They were all sitting, waiting for the man's words became true.
"Your Highness. They... start to move!..."
Zhu Su felt his heart skipped a beat. There was indeed a little movement from all dead bodies. Either it was from the hand, or foot, or chest or stomach... All of them began to writhe.
Some people had even changed their positions, from sleeping to sitting.
"Eehh... why on earth can I be here?..."
"So strange... I'm sure I was walking on the street just now..."
The whole dead bodies were starting to talk. They were really alive!
Zhu Su had his eyes turn to bug-eyed. And so did his team members. Meanwhile, the man was smiling, very broadly.
"You are awesome, Sir! You really did it!" Zhu Su shouted in excitement. "You have saved them all. You are a savior to the country! You deserve to be granted for this!"
"Many thanks for your appraisal, Your Highness."
"It's such a big shame that we don't know about your amazing abilities, Mr. Rumilie. Why didn't you register when I created the Team of Wellbeing?"
"That..."
"Ah, never mind. After all, you have made a great contribution. I'll grant you a big reward. And," Zhu Su was very excited as he asked, "Would you like to join our Team of Wellbeing? We really need help from someone who is very talented like you!"
"That... I owe you an apology, but I can't, Your Highness..."
The excitement faded from Zhu Su's face. "Why?... By joining us, you will become a government official who can dedicate yourself to the country. You'll be meritorious!"
"Because... I have my own master, my Lord. I can't betray him. "
"Eh?..."
"Yes." The man answered. "My master is Prince Turgen, who is also known as Xie Wang!"
Now the excitement had completely disappeared from Zhu Su's face. The same happened with everyone in the courtyard, and even the people outside the gate. Zhu Su himself, felt as if he was just struck by lightning. He must convince himself that nothing was erroneous with his ears.
"You.... what?..." Zhu Su choked up as he asked, his voice was almost inaudible.
"Xie Wang is my master. The one who has created the curse." Rumilie now increased the volume of his voice. "Whoever does the job, he is the only one who can finish it perfectly. Prince Turgen is capable to kill them, of course, it is he who should bring them back to life. Doesn't it make sense, Your Highness Ming Prince?"
Zhu Su felt his entire body began to tremble so badly. As if realizing their master was needing help, the palace guards soon dashed forward, besieging Rumilie.
"Hahahahaha! Ming Prince, just admit that you've lost!"
All of a sudden, Xie Wang had been standing on the gate wall. He jumped down, and now, he had been face to face with Zhu Su.
"I've told you earlier, this is a battle between Yuan and Ming. To determine who deserves to be the next ruler of Yunnan. Well, now you can't save even one person, then do you deserve to be a leader? You're no more than a loser! And because you are the Ming Prince, then it means that the leaders of Ming are also the losers! Worthless to be followed!" Xie Wang pulled his gaze, staring at the people watching from outside. He jumped back to the top of the gate, letting him appear clearer to those who were watching beneath. "Then, I! I have proven, that I take control of human life! I can take ones' lives away, and I can bring them to life. This is indeed the quality a leader needs! So, Yunnan people! You know clearly for sure, whom do you deserve to follow? This prince who is capable of nothing, or me?!"
The soldiers had prepared dozens of bows, ready to fire arrows at Xie Wang.
"Make your choice right now! Remember, if you follow the wrong one, you will regret it. Your lives are at stake!"
And, as dozens of arrows were shot and flew towards the sky, Xie Wang had jumped to another direction, and then, he disappeared elsewhere.