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Don't Talk Unless You Want to Die
Translated by atsam
Edited by atsam
“Walk quickly, don’t speak.” Gu Jiu lowered her voice and sternly warned her three maidservants.
Leaving the orchard hurriedly, they crossed a courtyard wall and returned to the rear court.
Gu Jiu’s complexion was pale and her forehead was covered with sweat. Only once they returned to Puxian courtyard, Gu Jiu exhaled, completely relaxing.
“Guniang
”
“Don’t say anything!” Gu Jiu decisively interrupted Qing Mei’s words.
“Today’s events didn’t happen. Remember my words, you are forbidden to say a word about today’s affairs unless you want to die.”
The phrase, ‘want to die’ made the three maids tremble together in fright.
Qing Mei lowered her voice and asked cautiously, “Is it really very dangerous?”
Gu Jiu’s expression was unprecedentedly solemn and grave. She stared at Qing Mei. “If you want your life, you must listen to my words. About today’s affairs, don’t ask, don’t speak, don’t even think about it. Do you understand?”
Qing Mei and the others nodded together. “Nubi understands. Today, we just went behind the orchard and walked around. Guniang was tired and wanted to rest, so we returned after taking a break.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Correct, just like this. No matter who asks, you have reply saying this.”
Night fell.
Gu Jiu sat by the window, holding a book in her hand.
Her expression was calm. When she read something she liked, a knowing smile appeared on her face.
Gu Jiu was calm and unrestrained, influencing the three maids.
Qing Mei and others came out of their earlier tense, disturbed and terrified state and relaxed.
Qing Zhu boiled a pot of water and poured it into a wooden barrel. She walked to the door and said, “Guniang, the water is ready.”
“I’m coming.” Gu Jiu put down her book.
Since she walked around the whole day and hurried back, her body felt sticky. Gu Jiu entered the room and washed up. After washing, her exhaustion was wiped out.
She wore comfortable cotton inner clothes and sat by the window, enjoying the night breeze, waiting for her hair to dry.
Qing Mei took a dry towel and wiped Gu Jiu’s hair. “Guniang is weak. Don’t be exposed to the wind, you’ll catch a cold.”
Gu Jiu smiled softly, “The weather is so warm. Rest assured; I won’t catch a cold.”
But she still closed the window, leaving a small gap. Then she picked up the cattail-leaf fan and unhurriedly fanned herself.
Qing Mei hesitated, but asked in a whisper, “Does guniang really have medical skills?”
Gu Jiu laughed. “I was just bluffing! I just read a few books on medical expertise and understand a few principles. How can that be called good medical skills?”
Hearing this, Qing Mei smiled and said, “Guniang bluffed so seriously that even nubi believed it.”
Gu Jiu laughed, pinching Qing Mei’s cheeks. “You are coaxed so easily!”
The neighbouring Jingzuo Courtyard
Liu Zhao sat on the couch and took off his clothes, revealing the wound on his leg. The large wound on his thigh looked extremely ghastly and terrifying.
Zhao San brought the trauma medicine and said, “This subordinate will apply the medicine for gongzi.”
“En.”
Liu Zhao’s expression was bland as he simply acquiesced.
Zhao San crouched down and, after cleaning the wound with a cotton cloth, applied the medicine on the injury.
The trauma medicine caused the wound to sting. The muscles in his legs spasmed.
But the entire time, Liu Zhao’s expression didn’t change. He seemed indifferent as always, as if the leg was not his. He still held a book in his hand and was reading it seriously.
Zhao San suddenly made up his mind and said boldly, “Gongzi’s injury is grave. Ordinary trauma medicine will have no effect at all. Please allow this subordinate to enter the city and invite a doctor to treat gongzi.”
Liu Zhao said calmly, “It doesn’t matter.”
Zhao San was unwilling to let the matter go. He spoke again, “If gongzi is worried about your whereabouts being leaked, this subordinate will tie up Gu guniang from the courtyard next door and bring her here. Since she understands medicine, she can find a way to treat gongzi’s injury.”
Liu Zhao put the book down. He looked at Zhao San and said calmly, “This matter isn’t urgent. My injury isn’t serious. My leg will recover soon.”
“If it isn’t treated properly, how will it recover? This subordinate is worried that if it is dragged on, gongzi’s leg might
”
“Do you fear that bengongzi might become lame?” Liu Zhao asked in a tranquil tone.
Zhao San nodded with a heavy expression.
Liu Zhao laughed suddenly. “Rest assured, bengongzi won’t become lame. Leave it at this, today. You withdraw and rest. Remember, don’t do unnecessary things.”
“But
”
Instantly, Liu Zhao’s eyes turned cold. Zhao San couldn’t complete the sentence anymore. Helpless, he bowed. “This subordinate retires.”
Liu Zhao picked up the book again and continued to flip through the pages in the candlelight.
In the army camp a hundred miles away.
Lu hou Pei Ren was at the centre of the army camp playing with a peerless sword in his hand.
Master Dou, his trusted advisor, accompanied him.
Master Dou said, “Houye, gongzi Zhao is still staying in Tianmen Temple.”
Lu hou Pei Ren’s hands paused. He snorted coldly. “Didn’t ”benhou“order you to have someone attack him and make him retreat? Why is he still in Tianmen Temple?”
Master Dou said, “Gongzi Zhao was indeed wounded. He is currently recuperating at Tianmen Temple. However, observing his attitude, he seems determined to return to the capital only after meeting houye.”
Lu hou Pei Ren frowned. “How can benhou meet him? If benhou meets this majestic Imperial Grandson who left the capital without permission, I won’t be able to get rid of the suspicion no matter what. There will be no meeting!”
Master Dou hesitated, then said, “I heard that after gongzi Zhao was injured, he hasn’t even been treated yet. If there’s an accident, even if houye won’t meet him, you will also be implicated. After all, he is .”
Lu hou Pei Ren sat down, looking furious.
Master Dou spoke again, “In addition, Zhao people have finally arrived in Jinzhou. They have delivered generous gifts. Would houye like to take a look?”
Lu hou Pei Ren laughed coldly. “One after another, everyone is blindly messing around. It seems that official, Xie Mao’s younger brother is also in Jinzhou?”
“Yes. Xie Mao’s younger sister married Jinzhou’s provincial governor Gu daren as a concubine. After his wife passed away, Xie shi was raised to the wife’s status.”
Lu hou Pei Ren sneered. “Turns out that everyone’s gaze is fixed on benhou.”
Master Dou said, “Indeed, because everyone assumes that houye values money above all else and can be bribed easily. Moreover, houye controls a significant military force. It is difficult for all the princes in the capital to not be tempted.”
“Hahaha!” Lu hou Pei Ren laughed loudly. “Since everyone is here, we might as well meet them together. Go, bring in Zhao wang’s gifts. Benhou wants to see how great Zhao wang’s style is.”
Master Dou clapped his hands twice. Immediately, the soldiers outside the door carried in a wooden chest. The chest was quite heavy, so the soldiers had to put in some effort to carry it in.
Putting the box down made a dull sound. Then, the soldiers withdrew from the tent.
Master Dou stepped forward and opened the box. Instantly, the radiance from the chest lit up the whole tent.
All kinds of jewellery and precious stones, along with half a chest of gold.
At a glance, there seemed to be around a hundred thousand taels.
Lu hou Pei Ren snorted coldly. “Zhao wang is worthy of being his majesty’s most beloved son. This is indeed a big move.”
Master Dou asked, “What does houye plan to do with this chest?”
Lu hou Pei Ren smiled. “As usual, calculate the value and enter it into the account book, saying that it’s Zhao wang’s contribution towards military expenses.”
“This subordinate obeys. What about gongzi Zhao?”
Lu hou Pei Ren snorted. “Send him a doctor so that he can recover quickly. Tell him that once he is healed, he should quickly roll back to the capital. The northwest is not a place where he can come.”
“Will houye not meet him?”
Lu hou Pei Ren replied casually, “When it’s time to meet him, benhou will do so.”
Master Dou bowed, accepting his order and walked to the entrance of the tent. Suddenly, he remembered something. “Reporting to houye, according to the guards, da xiaojie went to Tianmen Temple today.”
Lu hou Pei Ren immediately frowned. “Damned girl, she still hasn’t given up. Is she back?”
“She has returned.”
“Let her come and see me. Forget it, I’ll go meet her myself.”