150. Never Forget.
Yuan Li remained unconscious for a day and night. During this time, his consciousness was hazy, occasionally becoming clear before fading again.
When Chu Hechao arrived at the border, he found Yuan Li burning with fever.
The fierce expression on the Grand General's face at that moment left a lasting impression on all who witnessed it.
It wasn't until a day later that Yuan Li finally opened his eyes.
Weak limbs, a sore throat, aching head, feeling hot and cold, overall discomfort. Yuan Li groggily realized that his symptoms had not improved.
The room was dark, making it hard to discern if it was day or night, with a lingering unpleasant medicinal odor.
Yuan Li coughed a few times and was handed a cup of water, which he sipped slowly. The warm water eased the discomfort in his throat, and he hoarsely thanked the person.
Looking to the side, he saw a dark figure sitting by his bed. Despite only seeing the silhouette, Yuan Li instantly recognized who it was.
Surprised, he shrank back under the covers, feeling nervous, "How...how did you come back so soon?"
The figure remained silent, staring at Yuan Li with a heavy silence that pierced through the darkness.
Without much to say, Yuan Li hesitantly asked, "When did you arrive?"
"Two days ago," Chu Hechao finally spoke, "while you were still unconscious."
Yuan Li fell silent, pulling the covers over his face.
Chu Hechao reached out to stroke Yuan Li's hair, unexpectedly gentle in tone, "I know what you've done."
A shiver ran down Yuan Li's spine as Chu Hechao's hand moved from his temple to his forehead, indifferently remarking, "Venturing deep into the grasslands with only two thousand riders, attempting to locate the Xiongnu court. Truly worthy of your position as the regional governor, and a hero of the new generation. Your courage and audacity serve as an example to the youth of this realm."
Feeling goosebumps, Yuan Li lowered the covers, meeting Chu Hechao's gaze, "Are you angry?"
Chu Hechao sneered, "No, I dare not be angry."
Surely, he was upset.
Knowing how to placate him, Yuan Li took Chu Hechao's hand, "Please don't be angry."
There was a cold, disdainful snort from the man, still holding onto his anger.
Chu Hechao had a hard time letting go of his anger once it flared up, but he was easily placated once the right method was employed. Yuan Li was initially timid before seeing him, but once they were face to face, he quickly switched tactics.
Trying a different approach, in a raspy voice, he said, "Brother, I feel terrible."
Chu Hechao stiffened, wanting to mock him but couldn't bring himself to do so. How could he know how agonizing it was to watch him lie in bed for the past few days?
The words stuck in his throat, unable to speak. Overwhelmed with anger, Chu Hechao suddenly stood up, the chair making a loud noise as he walked over to light a candle.
Yuan Li hadn't seen light in a while, instinctively closing his eyes, taking a moment to adjust before looking at Chu Hechao's appearance and being startled.
Chu Hechao's beard was unkempt, his eyes bloodshot, appearing sleep-deprived and exhausted. His gaze was intense and daunting. His clothes were wrinkled, stained with mud, rainwater, and blood, as if he had just come from the battlefield.
Chu Hechao went out to fetch a physician, then sat expressionless by the bedside.
Yuan Li was speechless, only finding his voice after a long pause, "Have...have you not rested these past few days?"
Chu Hechao lifted his eyelids to glance at Yuan Li, his eyes filled with self-mockery and amusement, sharp enough to burn beneath the lingering anger, "Rest? How can I rest when you lie here, unconscious?"
"You've been lying here, unaware," he calmly said, "with a relentless fever, on the brink of danger several times, struggling to breathe many times, appearing to be at death's door. I thought you were..."
Chu Hechao's breath caught, swallowing the word, his face alternating between dark and light, saying no more.
Yuan Li's heart clenched, his brow furrowed, lips pale with a strange flush on his face, eyes weary and sickly, pitifully saying, "Don't worry, I'm fine now..."
Seeing him in such agony, even Chu Hechao's cold demeanor couldn't hold for long. Massaging his temples, he asked, "Do you realize your mistake now? Would you dare to do something like this again?"
Yuan Li hesitated, unsure how to respond. Presented with the same opportunity, he might very well make the same choice.
Seeing Yuan Li's indecision, the anger Chu Hechao had just managed to suppress surged back. He bent down, gripping Yuan Li's jaw with a force that could crush bones.
"Yuan Lejun," Chu Hechao growled softly, his breath scorching, "Do you want me to die?"
In an era where a simple cold could claim lives, Yuan Li's recurring high fevers had pushed Chu Hechao to the brink multiple times. Several times, Chu Hechao feared for Yuan Li's life.
Watching Yuan Li's breath weaken, his body burning hotter, Chu Hechao felt once again the agony of helplessness.
His spirit torn, his soul in turmoil.
Chu Hechao held Yuan Li as he trembled, his eyes dry, unable to shed tears. Internally, he was wailing, teetering on the edge, Yuan Li's weakening breath eroding his final shreds of reason.
Chu Hechao thought he had grown accustomed to death, but when it threatened to claim Yuan Li, he realized it was all a delusion.
But Yuan Li was oblivious to all of this.
Chu Hechao had no intention of revealing it to him.
For a moment, Yuan Li's expression blank, he instinctively wanted to say "No," but before the words left his lips, the physician arrived.
Chu Hechao released Yuan Li, making way for the physician to examine him.
After taking Yuan Li's pulse and examining his eyes and tongue, the physician confirmed the severity of Yuan Li's condition. Not only was Yuan Li affected, but three in ten of those who had accompanied him to the grasslands had fallen ill.
The situation had been dire, with everyone holding on by sheer willpower. During this month-long expedition into the grasslands, no one had dared to sleep or eat properly. It was only through sheer determination that they had managed to avoid falling ill, despite being drenched in rain for two days and nights.
Once the physician finished his examination, Chu Hechao got up and left the room with the physician.
A short while later, Lin Tian brought medicine and fed it to Yuan Li spoon by spoon. After coughing a few times, Yuan Li's brow furrowed, "He is angry."
Lin Tian sighed, "My Lord, you really frightened us this time. Not just the General, even I could barely stand when I saw you faint."
Yuan Li was oblivious to all of this. As he lay unconscious, he felt refreshed, as if he had just had a good night's sleep, only feeling a bit weak. But the people around him were in chaos due to his illness.
Yuan Li sighed, once again realizing how crucial his safety was, "Tell me, what happened after I fainted? How are the Wuhuan people?"
Lin Tian hesitated for a moment, "The General instructed that if you woke up, we shouldn't burden you with these troubles."
Yuan Li sighed in resignation, "Just tell me. Not knowing will only torment me with needless worries."
Not daring to refuse, Lin Tian continued, "On the night you fainted, the General rushed to the Northern Frontier. During your illness, the General pursued the provocative Xiongnu cavalry deep into the camp of the Xiongnu leader Qie Qu, where they inflicted numerous casualties and killed Qie Qu. Only a few of Qie Qu's men managed to escape."
Yuan Li was stunned, "He attacked Qie Qu's camp within two days and killed him?"
Lin Tian nodded, still shaken, "The General that day... was fierce. He even sent the heads of the slain Xiongnu soldiers to the five Wuhuan tribes, and Qie Qu's head was presented to Guli Chi."
Witnessing Chu Hechao's ferocity that day, those who saw him in battle almost thought he had gone mad. They had never seen Chu Hechao like that before; he was usually calm and collected on the battlefield, but during the attack on Qie Qu, he fought desperately, ruthlessly tearing into the enemy without regard for his own life.
Lin Tian even had a chilling moment of realization that Chu Hechao might have truly wanted to die alongside their lord.
Rubbing his forehead, Yuan Li asked, "Did I really only faint for two days?"
It felt like the entire world had changed.
Lin Tian sighed, "Indeed, my lord, you were unconscious for two days."
Yuanli didn't dwell on it, "How is Jizhou? Is Wu Shanshi dead or alive?"
"Wu Shanshi is still alive, the General brought him back and imprisoned him in the Jixian dungeon," Lin Tian explained, "As for Jizhou, it has naturally been captured by the General. None of the incompetent officials under Wu Shanshi's command could withstand our elite troops from Youzhou. After seeing that our soldiers did not engage in plundering or mistreating the people, most of the counties in Jizhou surrendered by opening their gates, seeking peace. Actual resistance was minimal, allowing the General to advance rapidly and quickly capture Ye County. While Wu Shanshi intended to resist to the death, his subordinates and the civilians under him didn't want to follow him to their deaths. They secretly opened the city gates at night, allowing the General to enter the city and capture Wu Shanshi along with his wives and concubines."
Lin Tian had gathered all this information in anticipation of Yuan Li's awakening. Yuan Li listened with intrigue, able to vividly imagine Wu Shanshi's capture in his sleep.
The thought of effortlessly conquering the entire Jizhou made Yuan Li feel a mix of emotions. It seemed that even the county officials and magistrates were not supportive of Wu Shanshi declaring himself emperor.
This was not the fault of the county officials or magistrates but rather a problem with Wu Shanshi himself.
If Wu Shanshi truly had the capability, he wouldn't have allowed these Jizhou officials to surrender without resistance. If there were people loyal to the Northern Zhou Dynasty who were discontent with Wu Shanshi, he could have simply dismissed them and replaced them with his own people.
But Wu Shanshi failed to do either; he was both blindly arrogant and oblivious to the true thoughts of his officials, setting himself up for a crushing defeat.
After asking these questions, Yuan Li glanced towards the door.
Recognizing Yuan Li's indication, Lin Tian carefully set down the bowl of medicine, "I will go and fetch the Grand General."
Outside the room, the physician had left, and Chu Hechao was sitting alone on the stone steps.
Upon hearing the opening of the door, Chu Hechao turned around, "Has he finished questioning you?"
Lin Tian nodded, "General, please go inside."
Without hesitation, Chu Hechao stood up and proceeded towards the room. However, upon catching a whiff of his own scent, he furrowed his brow and decided to bathe and change clothes.
Upon his return to the bedside, Chu Hechao discovered that Yuan Li had already fallen asleep.
Standing by the bedside, Chu Hechao watched him for a while, letting out a soft sigh. Eventually, he removed his shoes and socks and carefully lay down beside Yuan Li. As soon as he settled in, Yuan Li instinctively moved closer to him.
Chu Hechao's heart seemed like a puddle of water, tumultuously conflicting with emotions. Speaking softly to himself, he said, "Yuan Lejun, what should I do with you?"
Yuan Li, as if speaking in a dream, murmured, "Forgive me, brother..."
Chu Hechao coldly chuckled and pinched his nose, "Playing possum, are you?"
Yuan Li slowly opened his eyes and embraced Chu Hechao, "Brother, I know you worry about me. I promise you, I won't engage in such dangerous ventures again."
Chu Hechao remained silent, uncertain whether to believe him.
Anxiously, Yuan Li insisted, "I'm telling the truth."
Finally, Chu Hechao flatly asked, "Really?"
Yuan Li nodded earnestly.
Chu Hechao fell silent once again until he softened his tone, then he spoke, "Yuan Li, your achievements this time are commendable, and I am genuinely pleased for you. However, risking your safety for pinpoint a position of the Xiongnu royal court is not worth it. During the time of Huyan Wuzhu, the combined cavalry of the three Xiongnu tribes likely numbered over two hundred thousand. Now, with Huyan Hutu conquering various barbarian tribes, he may gather even more troops. You only brought two thousand men, and even if they fight to the death, they cannot rescue you from the heart of the Xiongnu. If the Xiongnu capture you as a prisoner, it may be tolerable, but if they kill you directly..."
His hands trembled, taking a deep breath before continuing, "What do you want me to do?"
Chu Hechao didn't dare dwell on the dangers Yuan Li had faced on his journey, but he forced himself to do so almost like a form of self-punishment. He made Yuan Li's personal guards and Jia Qing tell him everything.
This process almost drove Chu Hechao to the brink of madness several times. Yuan Li's journey was truly perilous, with several close brushes with death. If Yuan Li hadn't fainted, Chu Hechao would have surely given him a stern scolding.
But how could Chu Hechao scold Yuan Li?
Perhaps Yuan Li would never understand what he truly represented to Chu Hechao.
A mix of bitterness and a strange sweetness filled Yuan Li's heart as he asked, "How can you stop being angry?"
Chu Hechao met his gaze, suddenly pulling Yuan Li's hand to his chest, letting him feel the beating of his heart, "When you remember that you have passed away, and my heart stops, that's when I can stop being angry."
Furrowing his brow, Yuan Li felt the rhythmic vibrations of Chu Hechao's heartbeat resonate from his hand to his mind.
He suddenly couldn't bear to imagine a world where the heartbeat had truly stopped.
For the first time, Yuan Li felt a sense of fear.
If anything truly happened, he might never hear Chu Hechao's heartbeat again, nor see Chu Hechao.
The silent, heavy pulse conveyed all the unsaid words and emotions of Chu Hechao to Yuan Li, each sentence piercing and discomforting.
Yuan Li leaned in, listening with his ear. He etched this experience into his memory, never to forget it.