Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield

Chapter 357: Chapter 161: Xia Wuqie: This Bracelet Belongs to Dong’er!! Zhao Feng is..._3

"How could it be... Could it be?"

At that moment, Xia Wuqie’s heart was pounding fiercely. He could never forget this bracelet; it had belonged to his wife, who had then given it to their daughter. He would never mistake it.

"Doctor Xia, what’s wrong?" Zhao Feng asked, confused to see Xia Wuqie’s hand frozen in mid-air.

"This... Mrs. Zhao, where did you get this bracelet?" Xia Wuqie asked, his voice trembling as he stared at the jade bracelet. "It... It looks so familiar. I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before."

"Yan’er, what is this?" Zhao Feng didn’t know either.

"Your mother gave it to me," Wang Yan replied with a smile. "She said it was a family heirloom, only given to the daughters-in-law. She gave it to me when I first visited Sha Village."

"No wonder. This must be a treasure my mother hid away. It looks so valuable; I’ve never seen it before," Zhao Feng said with a laugh. He then added, "Doctor Xia, you are a man of vast experience. You must have seen a similar bracelet before, right?"

"Perhaps I have seen one like it," Xia Wuqie said with a laugh, his heart filled with wild joy, though he forcefully suppressed it.

Zhao Feng’s eyes are so similar to Dong’er’s; I couldn’t possibly be mistaken. It’s true... it’s all true. Zhao Feng might be Dong’er’s son. He is my grandson. He really is my grandson! Dong’er isn’t dead! Thank goodness. This bracelet belonged to her mother; there can be no mistake.

For him, this was more exciting than obtaining any quest treasure. He had lost his daughter for twenty-one years, and after hearing Concubine Zhao’s mad ramblings, despair had settled in his heart. He truly believed his daughter was no longer in this world. After all, even though Concubine Zhao was mad, her memory of Dong’er was very deep. Perhaps after she went mad, she could no longer hide her guilt, which is why she kept repeating, "It wasn’t me who killed you, I didn’t want to kill you."

Though the deranged Concubine Zhao never spoke a name, Xia Wuqie knew who she meant. After that day, he had despaired, losing all hope.

His reason for following Ying Zheng to the Zhao state was to preserve a sliver of hope in the king’s heart. He knew that if Ying Zheng learned Dong’er was dead, his rage might lead him to unleash a massacre upon the Zhao state. Xia Wuqie was originally from Zhao, and he didn’t want Ying Zheng to unleash a slaughter on his account.

Ying Zheng was incredibly respectful toward him, treating him as the last person he could trust—as family. But Xia Wuqie also knew that losing Dong’er would be devastating for the king, so keeping hope alive in him was the best course of action.

And now! Suddenly, there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Xia Wuqie’s hope was rekindled. His daughter’s bracelet was in the hands of Zhao Feng’s wife, a gift from her mother-in-law. Xia Wuqie refused to believe it was a mere coincidence. First, Zhao Feng’s eyes were so similar, and now this bracelet... No, he couldn’t believe it was all just a coincidence.

Thank heavens. If I had forgotten my promise to Zhao Feng and neglected to check his wife’s pulse, I might have lost this opportunity forever. I would have gone to my grave never knowing that Dong’er was still alive.

At this moment, after the surge of joy, an unimaginable wave of fear washed over him—the fear of what could have been.

If he hadn’t come... If he had missed today, Zhao Feng would have returned to his hometown with his wife. By the time they met again, the chance might have been gone forever.

"Doctor Xia," Zhao Feng called out again, looking at the distracted Xia Wuqie.

"Let me check her pulse," Xia Wuqie said, coming back to his senses. He began to take Wang Yan’s pulse.

After a while, he murmured, "The Blood Ginseng that can bring back the dead is truly remarkable. Even half a root has greatly replenished her reserves. Mrs. Zhao, your physical deficiency has been corrected, but you’ve been over-nourished. You’ll need some herbal prescriptions to regulate your body and help it fully absorb the ginseng’s properties."

"And... if my diagnosis is correct," Xia Wuqie added with a knowing smile, "congratulations are once again in order for General Zhao."

"Congratulations to me?" Zhao Feng was stunned for a moment before a thought struck him. "Yan’er isn’t pregnant again, is she?"

"HAHA. That’s right," Xia Wuqie said with a smile. "Mrs. Zhao has a pregnancy pulse again. Although it’s still very faint, with my years of medical experience, I can still detect it."

"Yan’er," Zhao Feng said, turning to his wife with a gentle smile. "I’ll have to trouble you again."

"It is my duty, not a burden at all," Wang Yan said, gazing lovingly at Zhao Feng.

In this era, effective contraception was rare. Furthermore, for a man of Zhao Feng’s high status, the number of children was of no concern.

"General Zhao," Xia Wuqie said, standing up. "I have a request."

"Please speak, Doctor Xia," Zhao Feng immediately replied.

"Your wife’s jade bracelet is just so familiar. It truly resembles one owned by an old acquaintance. I was wondering if I might accompany you to your hometown to ask your mother about it, General Zhao. It’s possible I might learn news of my old friend," Xia Wuqie said tentatively, though the hope in his aged eyes was undeniable.

Zhao Feng smiled. "Doctor Xia, you are a man of great kindness. You still remembered a promise from years ago and came all this way to check on my wife. How could I possibly not repay such a debt of gratitude? Besides, my mother is herself skilled in medicine. She would likely be delighted to have a discussion with a medical authority such as yourself."

"In that case, I shall impose," Xia Wuqie said with a smile.

"My Lord," Zhang Ming reported respectfully, "the luggage and carriages are prepared. We can depart at any time."

"Then let us set off," Zhao Feng nodded decisively. "As for matters at the mansion, I’ll leave them to Lin Fu." He then turned to Xia Wuqie. "Does Doctor Xia need to prepare anything? I can have someone escort you to your residence first."

Xia Wuqie shook his head. "I only need to grab a few changes of clothes from my residence. I live a simple life alone, so there isn’t much to prepare."

"Very well, let’s go," Zhao Feng nodded.

Immediately afterward, he took Wang Yan’s hand and walked outside.

Dong’er... I hope it’s you. No, it must be you. Your father doesn’t have many years left. If I can see you one last time before I die, I can finally close my eyes in peace. Father has been waiting for you for so long.

An unprecedented hope burned within Xia Wuqie’s heart.

Soon, escorted and guarded by five hundred trusted aides, several carriages departed from Xianyang City. They made only one stop at Xia Wuqie’s residence along the way.

After Xia Wuqie left, the housekeeper in his residence immediately went to the palace to report.

"Great King," Zhao Gao said respectfully to Ying Zheng, "Doctor Xia’s housekeeper has come to report."

Ying Zheng’s brow twitched. He immediately set down the petition in his hands. "Send him in."

Before long, Xia Wuqie’s housekeeper hurried into the main hall and knelt. "Reporting to the Great King! My master has left Xianyang with General Zhao Feng. He sent me to inform the Great King that there is no need for concern."

An inexplicable expression crossed Ying Zheng’s face. "What is he doing with Zhao Feng?"

"My master said he was too bored in Xianyang. Since he had an old connection with General Zhao Feng from their time in Zhao Territory, he wanted to visit the general’s hometown to relax. He also said that with General Zhao there, you need not worry about him. He will return when the general comes back to Xianyang."

After hearing the explanation, Ying Zheng nodded in relief. "Very well. Doctor Xia is indeed too bored by himself in Xianyang. Now that his disciples are capable, the Great Medical Institute no longer requires his constant supervision. It’s good for him to go and relax. As for his safety, Zhao Feng is surrounded by battle-hardened soldiers, and they are within Qin’s own territory. There is no need for concern."

The housekeeper nodded respectfully. "The Great King is wise."

"While your master is away, you must take good care of the residence. Do not be negligent," Ying Zheng said gravely.

"Your servant obeys," the housekeeper replied respectfully.

Ying Zheng nodded and waved a hand. The housekeeper slowly rose and retreated.

Across the entire imperial court, perhaps Xia Wuqie was the only person who could leave Xianyang without first seeking Ying Zheng’s permission. As far as Ying Zheng was concerned, as long as Xia Wuqie did not travel to an enemy state or a dangerous land, he would not interfere. All that mattered was that his father-in-law was happy.

"Tell me," Ying Zheng asked suddenly after the housekeeper had left, "do you think Doctor Xia has grown too bored? Is Xianyang like a cage to him?"

Only Zhao Gao remained in the hall; the question was clearly for him. Although Zhao Gao had only been placed at Ying Zheng’s side after the incident all those years ago, he could clearly see the exceptional favor Ying Zheng showed Xia Wuqie. In fact, most of the civil and military officials at court could see it.

"This servant would not dare to speculate," Zhao Gao replied, his voice trembling with fear.