8. The heart is weary, yet the flowers bloom brightly
The attendant said, "A little medicine, why use so much silver? The shopkeeper is not here, and I have no small change to return to you." Gu Qiuhan smiled and replied, "The remainder will buy this bed board from you." The attendant then understood; it turned out he intended to use his own bed board to carry the lady away. Even with the bedding included, it was not worth much. Weighing the silver in his hand, there was still too much of a difference. He then prepared several doses of medicine, wrapping them in more than a dozen paper packages, and handed them to Gu Qiuhan, saying, "This medicine is enough for your esteemed lady to take for three days. If there is no improvement, just come back for more."
In the midst of her excitement, Gu Qiuhan noticed Liu Jing's indifference and asked, "What’s wrong? With this will, we can take revenge for your esteemed family, aren’t you happy?" Liu Jing smiled faintly and replied, "It’s nothing. How can this will be delivered to the Emperor?" Gu Qiuhan smiled and said, "This time it is genuine; just hand it over to Lord Zhang."
Gu Qiuhan exerted force from his palm, releasing his internal energy with a "puff" sound, as a sharp arrow pierced through Shen Bisha's body, nailing her to the wall behind. In that instant, Shen Bisha's face turned pale, and beads of fine sweat appeared on her forehead. Gu Qiuhan hurriedly grabbed the wound medicine and applied it to her front and back injuries as quickly as possible. ... Next came the second arrow, the third ... . ... Gu Qiuhan repeated the process, forcing each arrow out of her body one by one, then applying the wound medicine and meticulously bandaging her. Shen Bisha's face turned pale in that instant, and beads of fine sweat appeared on her forehead. Gu Qiuhan hurriedly grabbed the wound medicine and applied it to her front and back injuries as quickly as possible. ... Next came the second arrow, the third ... . ... Gu Qiuhan repeated the process, forcing each arrow out of her body one by one, then applying the wound medicine and meticulously bandaging her.
Walking down the street, one by one like wandering souls, they could not muster any spirit. Gu Qiuhan lowered his head, his slender shadow cast on the ground, appearing exceedingly desolate. As he walked, he suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed intently on the shadow beneath him, as if he had discovered something strange, his expression changing rapidly. Shen Bisha and Liu Jing, not understanding the situation, could only stop and ask, "What’s wrong?" Gu Qiuhan raised a hand, signaling for them to be silent. After a short while, he suddenly burst into laughter, saying, "Haha, I’ve figured it out! Let’s go to the Baofang Tower to retrieve the legacy!" Without waiting for the two to inquire further, he ran off as if mad, and the two hurriedly chased after him.
Hu Weiyong was overjoyed and, at that moment, had complete faith in Zhang Minzhong. He said, "Master Zhang is discerning right from wrong, truly admirable and respectable. I have no way to repay today's kindness; in the future, if Master Zhang has any requests, please feel free to speak up." Zhang Minzhong replied, "I still need to rely on the support of the Xiangye." Hu Weiyong responded, "That is only natural." However, he felt immensely pleased in his heart, secretly thinking, "On ordinary days, he pretends to be a paragon of virtue, yet in the end, is he not just a sycophant?"
The numerous captains, with their swords in hand, waited for the right moment to strike. No matter where Mu Tianxiong retreated, several blades would emerge from the sides to assist in battle. Gu Qiuhan, in a fit of rage, no longer regarded them as the favored inner palace captains of the Emperor; with every movement, he would slay those who came to assist him. In less than the time it takes to eat a meal, the courtyard was already littered with corpses. Eventually, wherever Mu Tianxiong passed, the captains all dodged, no longer daring to risk their lives to test Gu Qiuhan's courage.
The two of them pondered deeply, unable to contain their excitement, and exclaimed: "Heaven does not disappoint those who are diligent; you have finally figured it out!" In an instant, their confidence surged, and they could hardly contain their impatience. Liu Jing said: "There is no need to wait; based on the current position of the tower's shadow, we can deduce where it will shift at midnight." Gu Qiuhan was overjoyed, saying, "If the second young master possesses such skills, that would be simply wonderful."
Mu Tianxiong contemplated that Gu Qiuhan used a corpse to block the arrows, and for a moment, he found himself unable to do anything about it. If he could seize this critically important painting and present it to Hu Weiyong, it would be considered a significant achievement. Even if Gu Qiuhan managed to escape, he could rest easy. At that moment, he crept close to the wall corner, leaped swiftly, and snatched the painting into his hands
The narrow space within the courtyard often saw the five combatants intertwining with one another. While Gu Qiuhan and Shen Bisha fought their respective enemies, they were also able to support each other. At times, they would shift positions and simply exchange opponents. Gu Qiuhan's blade flashed continuously as he redirected his attacks towards Jiao Zheng and Yuan Feng. Outside Linggu Temple, he had previously engaged in battle with the two; at that time, in order to avoid the charge of killing a court official, he had shown restraint. However, the circumstances were different now, and under his full exertion, Jiao and Yuan could no longer withstand the pressure.
Gu Qiuhan's forehead was drenched in cold sweat. Surrounded and with crossbows assisting, could the three of them possibly escape? He never expected that he would be so unfortunate; the opportunity he had just welcomed seemed to lose its value at this very moment. He tried his best to remain calm, steeling his heart, "If I must die, then I will fight them to the end!" With his palms raised, he leaped towards Mu Tianxiong. Several lieutenants stepped forward, blocking Mu Tianxiong from behind, and several Xiuchun knives came slashing down together. He tried his best to remain calm, steeling his heart, "If I must die, then I will fight them to the end!" With his palms raised, he leaped towards Mu Tianxiong. Several lieutenants stepped forward, blocking Mu Tianxiong from behind, and several Xiuchun knives came slashing down together.
Gu Qiuhan struck with both palms, and a series of clashing sounds echoed as several knives collided with one another, deflecting in different directions. Without waiting for them to land, he kicked the jaw of the lieutenant in front of him, then swiftly retracted his left foot and launched his right foot, sending another lieutenant beside him tumbling to the ground. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he unleashed both fists in quick succession, producing two loud thuds as the two lieutenants were struck in the abdomen and flew backward like bullets. Mu Tianxiong supported them at the waist with both palms, halting their momentum, but Gu Qiuhan had developed a murderous intent; the force behind those two punches was immense, and the two lieutenants could not withstand it, collapsing weakly to the ground.
In the midst of his sleep, the assistant of the medicine shop was startled awake. Upon seeing the situation, he opened his mouth to call for help. Gu Qiuhan threw Mu Tianxiong to the ground and swiftly stepped in front of the assistant, pointing the tip of his knife and saying, "If you want to live, be honest with me. Where is the wound medicine?" The assistant pointed towards the medicine cabinet and said, "There... over there..." Gu Qiuhan replied, "Bring it over, the more the better." Seeing his fierce demeanor, the assistant dared not defy him and went to pack a pound of wound medicine for him. He said, "There... over there..." Gu Qiuhan reiterated, "Bring it over, the more the better." The assistant, seeing his fierce appearance, dared not resist and went to pack a pound of wound medicine for him.
"Hurry!" He suddenly turned around and pulled the two of them to escape. At the same time, the doors and windows of the house were kicked open, and shadows rushed out from inside. Including the roof and outside the main door, ambushes sprang up everywhere, and the three of them were firmly trapped in the center. There was no doubt that while they were running around, the imperial guards had come knocking, drawing their swords and knives one by one. A row of strong bows and crossbows were set up on the roof, and given the situation, it seemed they would be hard-pressed to escape.
Mu Tianxiong anticipated that his identity could no longer suppress Gu Qiuhan, and he asked tremulously, "What do you intend to do?" Gu Qiuhan glanced at Shen Bisha, noticing her covered in blood and on the verge of collapse, yet the arrows she had sustained were not life-threatening, and she could still be saved. He replied, "If you send us away, I will spare your life." Mu Tianxiong dared not refuse and said, "You are a man of your word; your words must hold true." Gu Qiuhan assured him, "Rest assured, if I wanted your life, I would not rush it at this moment." In a flash of blade light, he severed the shafts of the arrows embedded in Shen Bisha's body.
At this moment, he was naturally filled with gratitude towards Zhang Minzhong. He personally brewed a pot of tea and urged Zhang Minzhong to sit down in a chair, smiling apologetically: "Lord Zhang should know that Liu Ji and I have never been on good terms. I truly did not expect that he would still want to bite me even at the moment of his death. Alas, if the Emperor sees this, I would not be able to clear my name even if I jumped into the Yellow River." He tore the memorial to shreds, raised his right hand, and vowed earnestly: "Hu Weiyong is loyal to the Emperor, but if he has ulterior motives, he deserves to be punished by heaven and earth."
In a state of suspicion, Zhang Minzhong suddenly laughed and said, "I have taken the liberty to come here because I have a gift to present to the Prime Minister. Upon seeing it, the Prime Minister will surely be delighted." Hu Weiyong was unsure whether this was a sincere statement or a deliberate mockery of himself, and he calmly asked, "What gift?" Zhang Minzhong pulled out a roll of bamboo paper from his sleeve and presented it to him, saying, "It is Liu Bowen's slanderous memorial against the Prime Minister." As soon as these words were spoken, Hu Weiyong exclaimed, "Ah!" and hurriedly took it, unfolding it to reveal a drastic change in his expression. He thought to himself, "This Liu Bowen is no ordinary man; he actually knows everything about my affairs. If this were to be seen by the Emperor, would I still have my life?"
Looking at the sky, although Gu Qiuhan was anxious, he did not want to disturb Zhang Min's rest. He said, "Go back and get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, we will wake up early and wait outside the Vice Minister's residence before Minister Zhang arrives for duty." Ever since this case came up, Gu Qiuhan had not had a peaceful night's sleep, and he had waited too long for this day.
At that moment, two figures suddenly rushed out from the thicket and stopped beside Gu Qiuhan. It was Liu Jing, holding the corpse of a captain to shield him from arrows. This alerted Gu Qiuhan, who hurriedly grabbed the bodies of Jiao Zheng and Yuan Feng to use as a shield in front of him. Mu Tianxiong was unaware that the will had already been retrieved; he continued to order the archers to shoot while directing the captains to seize the painting. Under his coercion, the captains had no choice but to brave the rain of arrows and approach Shen Bisha. However, halfway there, they were all shot down.
Liu Jing's heart was filled with doubts, and he shook his head, saying: "It was my late father who asked him for the painting, and at that time, it was not explicitly stated that he should paint for your sister. How could he take it upon himself?" Gu Qiuhan also did not agree with Shen Bisha's statement. Ma Wenbi knew that Liu Bowen was in poor health, and if he were to go to Yingtian, how could he not pay a visit? What reason would there be to go directly to Shen Bitao? However, at that moment, he was not in the mood to ponder the underlying reasons. He removed the dirt from under his nails and gently peeled back a corner of the painting.
Liu Jing fell silent, walked to the top of the tower's shadow, and looked up at the moon in the sky. After a while, he took a few steps forward, and based on the height of the tower and the moonlight, drew a circle on the ground the size of a well opening, saying: "Right here." The three of them rushed forward, rolled up their sleeves, and began to dig enthusiastically.
Before long, Zhang Minzhong was brought into the study to pay his respects to Hu Weiyong. Seeing him with a beaming face, Hu Weiyong was puzzled and thought: "Could it be that he has already presented the will to the Emperor? It is impossible; how could it be done so quickly? Is it possible that the person entrusted by Gu Qiuhan is not him? But most of the officials and military leaders in the court are on good terms with me; aside from him, who else would dare to handle such a matter with the library?"
Gu Qiuhan trembled as she held the scroll, unfolding it to reveal a stunning beauty that immediately captured everyone's attention. "It's my sister!" Shen Bisha's voice changed due to overwhelming excitement. It is unknown how long this portrait has been buried underground, but it has been remarkably well-preserved; only the dampness has caused some slight fading of the colors, leaving behind patches of discoloration. The painting bears an inscription: "In the third month of the second year of Hongwu, on the day of Xin You, painted by Ma Wanwenbi." Unlike other works by Ma Wenbi that Gu Qiuhan has seen, this inscription does not have a seal stamped after it. It is unknown how long this portrait has been buried underground, but it has been remarkably well-preserved; only the dampness has caused some slight fading of the colors, leaving behind patches of discoloration. The painting bears an inscription: "In the third month of the second year of Hongwu, on the day of Xin You, painted by Ma Wanwenbi." Unlike other works by Ma Wenbi that Gu Qiuhan has seen, this inscription does not have a seal stamped after it.
"Young Master Gu, I have been waiting for you for quite some time. So, what will it be? Will you surrender willingly, or will you stubbornly resist? The choice is yours," Gu Qiuhan looked over and saw among the crowd an elderly man over fifty years old, who was none other than Mu Tianxiong, the Inspector General of the Imperial Guard. Flanking him on either side were "Iron Leg" Jiao Zheng and "Ghost Shadow" Yuan Feng. Yuan Feng, perhaps still remembering the humiliation of "Drunken Flower Shade," glared fiercely at Gu Qiuhan, as if he wanted to swallow him whole. Zhang Minzhong's concerns had quickly become a reality; Mu Tianxiong had personally taken action, indicating that Hu Weiyong could no longer sit idly by. This time, the capture must succeed, and failure is not an option.
Zhang Minzhong chuckled and said: "Your Excellency, you overstate the matter. It is precisely because I do not believe those ghostly tales that I present this report to you. I ask that you handle it appropriately. Shen Bisha is gravely injured and beyond recovery, while Gu Qiuhan and Liu Jing have been secured by me and are currently awaiting news at my residence. Your Excellency may send Inspector Mu to apprehend them."
Mu Tianxiong felt a secret joy upon seeing his opponent was an unarmed woman, but as soon as they engaged, he realized he had celebrated too soon. This was no ordinary woman; she was clearly a relentless harbinger of death! She moved left and right, her palm strikes were countless, and her agility was even more elusive than Gu Qiuhan's, making it truly impossible to defend against her.
Upon arriving outside Zhang Minzhong's residence, Gu Qiuhan knocked on the large door. In the past, Gu Qiuhan had visited here for official business, and the doorman recognized him, taken aback. Hearing him request to see the master, the doorman secretly exclaimed, "Is this young man here to confess?" He hurriedly reported it inside.
Mu Tianxiong felt increasingly strained as he fought, rapidly calculating in his mind: "If this continues, won't I end up being a shield for that brat Gu Qiuhan? The urgent matter is to break free from this entanglement, so I can shoot them down with a rain of arrows." As a malicious thought crossed his mind, he immediately devised a plan. Shen Bisha was unarmed; what could happen if she struck him once? With this in mind, he feigned a move, creating an opening, and was promptly hit on the chest. Mu Tianxiong's original intention was to take the blow, using Shen Bisha's force to propel himself backward, thus creating distance between them. However, he did not expect that although Shen Bisha was a woman, her internal strength was formidable; the blow sent him spitting blood and uncontrollably flying into the crowd. Regardless, he had achieved his goal, and despite the pain, he shouted towards the rooftop: "Fire the arrows!"
As Gu Qiuhan had anticipated, after Mu Tianxiong managed to escape, he immediately flew to report to Hu Weiyong, carefully selecting the crucial points to convey. Hu Weiyong was instantly filled with great fear. He was unaware of the contents of the memorial, but simply knowing that it was written by Liu Bowen made him dare not take it lightly. It was imperative that it not fall into the hands of the Emperor; otherwise, not only would his own life be in jeopardy, but his entire family would also face repercussions. He thought that since Gu Qiuhan could not meet the Emperor, he would surely request a qualified official to act on his behalf, and that person could only be Zhang Minzhong. He immediately ordered Mu Tianxiong to return to the Governor's Office to summon the Imperial Guards, laying an ambush near the four gates of the imperial city. Once Zhang Minzhong was spotted, he would be arrested and imprisoned. Mu Tianxiong was in the same boat as him, and recalling Gu Qiuhan's words, "Once it reaches the Emperor, it won't be so easy," he shuddered. He hurried back to his residence and, following Hu Weiyong's instructions, arranged for the personnel.
Liu Jing did not possess lightness skills and fell far behind. Shen Bisha walked intermittently, and as she saw that Gu Qiuhan had disappeared from sight, she anxiously stamped her feet. Liu Jing, panting heavily, caught up and waved his hand, saying, "No... it's not possible, I'm exhausted... to death..." He supported himself with his hands on his knees, bending over to catch his breath. Shen Bisha looked in the direction where Gu Qiuhan had vanished and wondered, "He always does this, leaving without explaining, I wonder what he has figured out?" Liu Jing replied, "He... probably thought about... where the portrait... is hidden." Shen Bisha said, "But didn't he search the Baofang Tower thoroughly? Why is he going there again?" Liu Jing merely shook his head and fell silent. After regaining some strength, he and Shen Bisha headed towards Shenlie Mountain.
Gu Qiuhan reached out and seized the pulse point of a certain lieutenant, channeling his strength through his fingertips. The lieutenant cried out in pain, "Ah!" Gu Qiuhan snatched away his Xiuchun knife, and with a swift motion, blood splattered as several lieutenants fell in response. This series of actions was completed in an instant, Gu Qiuhan's eyes tinged with red, the tip of his knife pointing directly at Mu Tianxiong. At this moment, Shen Bisha regained her senses, leaping to Gu Qiuhan's side, her palms extended to protect his vital points.
Gu Qiuhan nodded in agreement. He stayed by the bedside until the fifth watch, but Shen Bisha remained in a deep sleep, showing no signs of waking. As dawn approached, he felt it was inappropriate to trouble the attendant any longer. He reached into his pocket and found a large silver ingot remaining, which he decided to give entirely to the attendant, saying: "I apologize for the disturbance, I take my leave now"
Gu Qiuhan was overwhelmed with excitement; these little-known secrets were enough to bring Hu Weiyong to his demise. After enduring injustice for many days, she finally welcomed the opportunity for a turnaround! Shen Bisha held her sister's portrait in her hands, tears streaming down her face, murmuring, "Sister, your heartfelt efforts have not been in vain. The scoundrel Hu Weiyong will surely face severe punishment, and you can rest in peace." Only Liu Jing remained silent, his expression grave as he stared intently at the will, pondering every word written on it. Shen Bisha held her sister's portrait in her hands, tears streaming down her face, murmuring, "Sister, your heartfelt efforts have not been in vain. The scoundrel Hu Weiyong will surely face severe punishment, and you can rest in peace." Only Liu Jing remained silent, his expression grave as he stared intently at the will, pondering every word written on it.
After Mu Tianxiong left, Hu Weiyong felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles, unable to sleep and lacking the heart to attend court, only hoping for good news from Mu Tianxiong. It was not until the time for court was approaching and he could wait no longer that he dressed himself properly and was about to leave when a servant came to report that Deputy Minister of Justice Zhang Minzhong requested an audience. Hu Weiyong was greatly surprised and thought to himself, "Why would he come to find me instead of going to the palace?" Thus, he went to the study to wait.
Gu Qiuhan's eyes were filled with rage as he seized Shen Bisha and hurled her backward. Shen Bisha's outer garment was riddled with holes from the shots. With another throw, the portrait in his arms slipped to the ground, revealing a corner that perfectly showcased the beautiful face of Shen Bitao. Mu Tianxiong caught a glimpse and was taken aback, thinking to himself: "The portrait rumored to contain Liu Bowen's hidden testament has indeed been found by them!" He immediately shouted loudly, "Continue shooting, shoot them dead!"
Gu Qiuhan took the Xiu Chun knife from Shen Bisha and handed it to Liu Jing, saying: "You keep an eye on them." He severed the arrow shaft, but the arrowhead remained embedded in Shen Bisha's body. He knew that the arrowhead had barbs, and if it were forcibly pulled out, it would tear away a large piece of flesh, worsening Shen Bisha's injuries. Unlike last time, she had been struck by five arrows this time, and her life was in grave danger; it was feared that she could hardly endure it. The only solution was to let the arrowhead pass through her body. Gu Qiuhan held her delicate neck with one hand and pressed against the remaining segment of the arrow shaft with the other, yet he found it hard to be ruthless. Seeing Shen Bisha's eyes tightly closed, her delicate body trembling, and blood continuously oozing from the wound, he steeled his heart and leaned close to her ear, saying: "It will hurt a lot, bear with it, you must hold on and live no matter what." It was unclear whether Shen Bisha heard him, but she let out a soft "mm" from her nose.
The three of them chatted and laughed all the way, their spirits exceedingly high, and they had not stopped their banter even after entering the courtyard. However, the smile on Gu Qiuhan's face quickly froze; he halted his steps and perked up his ears, faintly hearing a heavy breathing sound.
The ground in winter is extremely hard, and digging by hand progresses slowly. It was not until after midnight that they managed to dig over one foot deep. After a brief rest, the three of them eagerly continued to dig, each sweating profusely, with a few nails broken, yet they bore no complaints or regrets. After digging another foot, a damp scroll gradually began to reveal itself. The three of them widened their eyes, their hearts racing. They had endured too many setbacks for this object, and now that success was within reach, how could they not be overjoyed? After digging another foot, a damp scroll gradually began to reveal itself. The three of them widened their eyes, their hearts racing. They had endured too many setbacks for this object, and now that success was within reach, how could they not be overjoyed?
However, as they passed by several inns, Gu Qiuhan did not stop. Liu Jingqi asked, "Where are we going now?" Gu Qiuhan replied, "Lord Zhang has already gotten up and is preparing for the morning court. We shall go to his residence now to present the memorial to him." Liu Jing smiled and said, "No matter the matter, you always manage to plan it flawlessly. It is truly a waste of talent for you to serve as a clerk in the Ministry of Justice." Gu Qiuhan sighed and said, "If I could truly plan flawlessly, would we have ended up in this situation today?" Liu Jing said, "That was because you were drunk; otherwise, the murderer would not have been able to frame you so easily." Gu Qiuhan let out a sigh.
Mu Tianxiong was greatly enraged and shouted, "Those who disobey orders shall be executed!" The captains had no choice; as the bowstrings twanged, a flurry of arrows rained down like raindrops. Shen Bisha, having experienced hardship before, knew that the rapid-fire arrows of the imperial guards were extremely formidable. Gu Qiuhan was locked in a fierce battle with Jiao and Yuan, and how could she evade them? At that moment, she leaped into the air, using her hands and feet to deflect the incoming arrows for Gu Qiuhan. Jiao Zheng and Yuan Feng saw their comrades shooting indiscriminately, completely disregarding the lives of the two of them. They were both alarmed and furious, abandoning Gu Qiuhan and brandishing their blades to fight back. However, arrows rained down from the rooftop like shooting stars; before one wave had ceased, another arrived. The two of them were caught in a dilemma, and soon both were struck in the legs by arrows, stumbling in their steps.
Gu Qiuhan never expected that he would come to his door, and with a loud shout, he exclaimed: "Well done!" He dropped two corpses and rolled on the ground, kicking twice at Mu Tianxiong's knee. Mu Tianxiong was focused on seizing the portrait while also being wary of the unseen arrows, and he was caught squarely by Gu Qiuhan's kick, falling to his knees. Gu Qiuhan seized his hair bun, pressed his sword against his neck, and laughed heartily: "Could it be that Inspector Mu has long admired Miss Shen, willing to risk his life for this portrait?" Mu Tianxiong turned pale with fear and hurriedly shouted: "Stop, everyone stop!" He did not speak further, and the officer on the roof dared not shoot arrows anymore; the rain of arrows finally ceased.
Is the price truly genuine? Liu Jing seemed to have a different opinion, but seeing the two of them in such high spirits, perhaps he could not bear to spoil their hard-won good mood, so he chose not to continue speaking.
Shen Bisha asked, "What are you doing?" At that moment, Gu Qiuhan was beaming with joy, a smile that could not be concealed radiating from her face, and said, "We didn't bring any shovels or picks, digging around with our hands is not a solution. It's better to wait until midnight at the Zi hour to get an accurate position before we take action." Liu Jing said, "Are you saying that the painting is buried underground?" Gu Qiuhan replied proudly, "I finally understand, 'At midnight during the Zi hour, the treasure is at the top of the tower.' It actually refers to the direction indicated by the tip of the tower's shadow at the Zi hour. Only then does the time truly hold significance."
Gu Qiuhan used Shen Bisha as a shield to seize Yuan Feng and threw him in front of Shen Bisha. Yuan Feng, suspended in the air, lost his balance, and his arms became unresponsive, instantly being shot full of arrows like a hedgehog. Gu Qiuhan then struck down the defenseless Jiao Zheng with another blow. Consequently, the officer on the roof showed no mercy, and the fierce three-edged conical arrows surged towards the two like a violent storm. Shen Bisha, unarmed, was unable to defend herself and soon was struck by several arrows, swaying unsteadily.
Liu Jing held Shen Bisha, while Gu Qiuhan dragged Mu Tianxiong, and the various lieutenants did not dare to obstruct them, clearing a path. After exiting, Gu Qiuhan walked along the street for more than three miles, and upon seeing a pharmacy by the roadside, he struck Mu Tianxiong's acupoint, swung his knife to cut the door latch, and broke in.
Gu Qiuhan recounted how he had been ambushed and had to take Mu Tianxiong hostage in order to escape. Upon hearing this, Zhang Minzhong shook his head repeatedly, expressing his deep concern: "If you let Mu Tianxiong go, he will certainly report to Hu Weiyong. Given Hu Weiyong's cunning and experience, he will surely deduce that you are currently in a position of guilt and cannot meet the Emperor. However, will he consider that you might use my name to present this memorial to the Emperor?"
The attendant said, "Young master, let Miss Fu take a rest on the bed for a while." It was a makeshift wooden bed he had set up for sleeping, quite simple, but much more comfortable than lying on the ground. Gu Qiuhan recalled his earlier rude attitude towards the attendant and felt quite guilty, clasping his hands and saying, "Thank you, young man, just now..." The attendant interrupted, "Ahem, let's not talk about that for now. The lady is in critical condition; who wouldn't be anxious?" Seeing Gu Qiuhan's deep concern for Shen Bisha, leaning close to her to speak, he mistakenly took them for a married couple. Gu Qiuhan did not correct him and, together with the attendant, lifted Shen Bisha onto the bed and covered her with a blanket. The attendant chuckled, "You can only stay until dawn; otherwise, when the shopkeeper comes, he will scold me again"
Gu Qiuhan's heartstrings trembled violently, and he stamped his foot, saying, "After all the calculations, I forgot this!" Of course, Hu Weiyong could anticipate this; the last scheme to lure the snake out of its hole had already made Hu Weiyong aware that they were in cahoots. Now, Hu Weiyong would undoubtedly stop Zhang Minzhong from entering the court at all costs. The uniqueness of the Imperial Guard's Commander's Office lies in its ability to arrest, interrogate, and execute independently, without going through the Three Departments. Zhang Minzhong, who held the position of Deputy Minister of Justice, could at most temporarily preserve his life, but Mu Tianxiong had the authority to detain him. Then, together with Hu Weiyong, they could slander him before the Emperor, and with the Emperor's consent, he could be executed. The more Gu Qiuhan thought about it, the more fearful he became, regretting that he had let Mu Tianxiong go for the sake of a promise. It was likely that Hu Weiyong had already mobilized troops and set ambushes around the imperial city, just waiting to capture Zhang Minzhong.
The officers above all drew their bows like a full moon, having waited for a long time. Upon hearing his command, they hesitated, considering that Jiao and Yuan were entangled with Gu Qiuhan; if they shot their arrows in a frenzy, it would inevitably harm the two of them.
Gu Qiuhan's martial arts were certainly not lacking, and he thought of himself wronged and turned into a murderer, being gradually pushed to the brink by Hu Weiyong and his followers. Now that he had found the will, he was about to turn the tables, yet he was suddenly ambushed by Mu Tianxiong's large forces. Seeing himself trapped in a heavy encirclement, escape seemed impossible, and he could not help but feel genuine anger. In the past, he would not have easily killed these court officials, but today, as soon as he struck, he injured several lives, and his feelings can be imagined. As the saying goes, when one fights desperately, no one can resist; it is not surprising that Mu Tianxiong was frightened by his martial prowess.
Liu Jingqi said, "On the day of Xin You in March, my late father was no longer able to move, and soon after, he returned to his hometown. When did Ma Wenbi arrive in Yingtian again to paint for Miss Shen?" Shen Bisha replied, "Perhaps Ma Wenbi went directly to find my sister and painted this portrait for her?" The person most excited upon seeing this portrait was none other than Shen Bisha, who had no time to think of anything else. She could only gaze with her misty eyes, repeatedly examining the family member in the painting, her expression a mix of comfort and sadness.
Mu Tianxiong could not shake off Gu Qiuhan, feeling increasingly anxious. "This kid is relentless; the archers on the roof dare not shoot. What should I do?" In his nervousness, his tactics became even more chaotic, and Gu Qiuhan's knife cut through the flesh on his shoulder, causing blood to flow freely
The three individuals cautiously divided the portrait into two pieces, and indeed, nestled between the silk was a thin sheet of bamboo paper, prompting a simultaneous exclamation of joy from all three. Gu Qiuhan reverently and carefully held the bamboo paper, even more so than when he had once held the imperial edict, as the three heads huddled together to read it word for word. Despite the passage of five years, the paper showed no signs of aging, densely filled with numerous charges against Hu Weiyong, such as sending Lin Xian to the sea to recruit pirates; sending Feng Ji to pay homage to the Yuan heir and requesting military support; instructing Li Cunyi and Yang Wenyu to accuse Li Shanchang of treason; directing the imperial physician to poison Liu Ji's medicine; and harboring fugitives, among others, including the Duke of Han, Li Shanchang, the Marquis of Jian, Lu Zhongheng, the Marquis of Pingliang, Fei Ju, and the Marquis of Yan'an, Tang Shengzong.
Zhang Minzhong said, "There is no time to delay; I shall set off while it is still dark." Gu Qiuhan, with a somber expression, shook his head and replied, "It is too late; the Hu residence is near the Xihua Gate." Upon hearing this, everyone felt a sense of despair.
Zhang Minzhong personally came out to greet them. Upon seeing Shen Bisha lying drowsily on the bed, he realized that the three had encountered trouble and hurriedly instructed the servants to help carry her inside. Zhang Minzhong led everyone to an empty room, first ensuring Shen Bisha was settled, then dismissing the servants before asking, "You were fine when we met last night, what happened?" Gu Qiuhan took out the will from his bosom and presented it to Zhang Minzhong with both hands, excitedly saying, "My lord, we have found the evidence of Hu Weiyong's crimes!" Zhang Minzhong was overjoyed, took it, and quickly read through it. He couldn't help but take a deep breath and nodded, saying, "Indeed, Lord Chengyi is formidable. Once these charges are verified, Hu Weiyong will not escape the law."
Liu Jing, filled with concern, said, "Are you really going to let the tiger return to the mountain?" Gu Qiuhan patted his chest and laughed, "With this, we can soon have these scoundrels' heads rolling, so why dirty our hands?" Liu Jing thought this made sense and stopped arguing. Gu Qiuhan then thanked the attendant again, and the two of them lifted the bed board one after the other and exited the pharmacy. Liu Jing assumed Gu Qiuhan was going to find an inn to settle Shen Bisha, so he did not ask further and followed Gu Qiuhan's lead as they walked on.
When the two arrived at the Baofang Public Tower, they saw Gu Qiuhan sitting on the ground, drenched in sweat, with a shallow pit in front of him. Upon closer inspection, his hands were covered in dirt, resembling ghostly claws.
Gu Qiuhan secretly laughed to himself: "This fellow is indeed meticulous in his work; without silver to give me, he brings medicine to make up for it." He then tossed the medicine onto the bed, went over to tap on Mu Tianxiong's acupoints, and scolded, "You dog thief, I will spare your life for now, but when you reach the Emperor, it won't be so easy. Get out of here quickly." Mu Tianxiong felt as if he had received a great pardon and fled like the wind.
Shen Bisha fought alone against Jiao Zheng and Yuan Feng, her movements light and agile like a swallow, striking east and hitting west with ease. Gu Qiuhan caught a glimpse and was immediately invigorated, thinking to himself: "This is perfect; if I can entangle with these officials, the archers on the roof will not dare to shoot. If I can kill Mu Tianxiong, even if I die, it would be worth it." With this thought, he tightened his grip on the knife and launched a series of slashes. Mu Tianxiong's martial arts were not much stronger than those of Jiao and Yuan; it was only because he was adept at scheming and had the support of Hu Weiyong that he managed to secure the position of Inspector General of the Governor's Office. Under Gu Qiuhan's fierce assault, he could not help but become flustered, retreating again and again.
The two walked hand in hand until they reached the West Hua Gate. Hu Weiyong found Mu Tianxiong and gave him some instructions, while he himself went to court together with Zhang Minzhong
The attendant, upon seeing a woman named Shen Bisha enduring such suffering, could not help but feel a pang of sympathy and said, "Her injuries are so severe that merely applying ointment will not suffice; I will find some internal medicine for her." Gu Qiuhan replied, "That would be best; I will cover the cost of the medicine as well." The attendant lit a candle, started a charcoal fire, prepared a dose of medicine, and placed it on the fire to brew before handing it to Gu Qiuhan. At this point, Shen Bisha had already fainted, and Gu Qiuhan had no choice but to pry open her mouth and pour the medicinal soup into her, spoonful by spoonful.
Mu Tianxiong swiftly turned his body and pointed his finger to jab at Gu Qiuhan's side. Jiao Zheng and Yuan Feng confronted Shen Bisha, and the five of them split into two pairs, engaging in a fierce fight. At this moment, Gu Qiuhan was filled with rage and showed no mercy towards Mu Tianxiong, the inspector of the governor's office, launching a relentless series of over ten strikes. Mu Tianxiong dodged left and right, snatching the Xiuchun knife from a lieutenant's hand, and with a swift motion, he slashed at the fingers of his right hand. Gu Qiuhan adjusted the grip of his knife, striking down to lower Mu Tianxiong's blade, and then swiftly thrusting two strikes towards his chest. Seeing the ferocity of Gu Qiuhan's attacks, Mu Tianxiong had no choice but to retreat, secretly astonished: "It is said that this young man has mingled in the martial world and honed his skills; today, it seems he is indeed formidable. No wonder Jiao Zheng and Yuan Feng have repeatedly allowed him to escape."