The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0830 Retaliation (2)

Shortly afterwards, Imperial Physician Hong arrived. After examining Qiu Dashan, he stated that there was a fifty per cent chance of healing his leg if they followed his method.

Yan Wushuang said, "I will give you whatever you need. But you must save his leg." He could count the people he trusted wholeheartedly on both hands only, and Qiu Dashan was one of them.

However, Imperial Physician Hong remained entirely unmoved. "However, this subject is only fifty per cent confident. If Wangye considers the chances of success too low, you may seek someone else." Imperial Physician Hong had long grown weary of the tune in which those in positions of power spoke. If it were not for the considerable knowledge he could acquire at the Imperial Medical Institute, he would have left long ago.

This was the first time Yan Wushuang had encountered an Imperial Physician with such a foul temper. Nevertheless, he understood that a fifty per cent chance was already remarkably good. "I hope you will do everything within your power to save him."

Imperial Physician Hong took the things he needed from his medicine chest. As he took them out, he stated, "I treat all my patients with the same impartial benevolence."

Imperial Physician Hong first applied a medicine he had prepared to Qiu Dashan's leg, then secured it with splints. After completing these procedures, Imperial Physician Hong said, "Whether his leg can be saved now depends on him."

Meng Nian had been waiting outside. When he saw Yan Wushuang emerge, he stepped forward and reported what they had learnt about the assassins who had attacked Qiu Dashan. "One of the assassins has already confessed. He said they were acting on Pingxi Wang's orders to assassinate General Qiu." There had been five assassins altogether. Three had been captured, while two had escaped.

Yan Wushuang hadn't expected Yun Qing to have sent the assassins. He had thought they were remnants of the Imperial Family in the capital! As an exceptionally astute man, Yan Wushuang frowned immediately. "It seems Han Yuxi believes I was behind that old bald donkey Ci'en's affair." Given Yun Qing's temperament, if he wanted someone dead, he would have targeted Yan Wushuang himself rather than laid a hand on Dashan. Han Yuxi, however, was different. That woman must have realised that an attempt to assassinate him would fail, so she had changed her target. Qiu Dashan was one of his arms. His death would be a huge loss for Yan Wushuang.

In truth, Yuxi's concerns were well-founded. If Yan Wushuang had been the target of today's assassination attempt, not only would he have escaped injury, but not a single assassin would have managed to escape either. Like Yun Qing, Yan Wushuang was frequently targeted by assassins. As a result, he was extremely cautious and always kept a large number of guards by his side. K!lling him would be extraordinarily difficult.

Meng Nian frowned and commented, "In that case, Han Yuxi and Yun Qing are far too incompetent." Even they did not know who had tried to assassinate her. If that was not incompetence, what was?

Yan Wushuang smiled faintly and remarked, "It is not that Han Yuxi is incompetent. Rather, the hidden mastermind can only be me." He did not explain why.

Han Yuxi had probably already suspected that he was behind the previous incident involving the female assassin. The only reason she hadn't retaliated yet was that the right opportunity hadn't arisen. This time, it was both retaliation and a warning.

At this point, Yan Wushuang remarked, somewhat emotionally, "It's only been two years, yet Han Yuxi has become much more experienced and sophisticated in how she handles matters." He had to admit that this woman was truly formidable. Her rapid development had surprised even him.

Meng Nian did not look nearly as relaxed as Yan Wushuang. He noted, "Unfortunately, we have no way of eliminating this woman now." She had already become a grave affliction lodged in their very hearts and bellies.

Yan Wushuang shook his head. "This is not something we can rush." On both occasions when he made his move, an ordinary person would have died long ago. Yet Han Yuxi had survived both attempts. Against someone blessed with such extraordinary luck, even the most ingenious schemes might fail to claim her life.

After a pause, Yan Wushuang asked, "Apart from confessing that they were acting on Yun Qing's orders, did they reveal anything else?"

Meng Nian replied, "The person who gave them their orders was that Migua fellow we already know about." When Meng Nian had first heard that codename, the corners of his mouth had twitched.

Just how much must someone love eating honeydew melons to choose such a codename?

Yan Wushuang had an extensive intelligence network. Nevertheless, his knowledge of the Northwestern secret agents concealed within the capital was far from comprehensive. Take Migua, for instance. Yan Wushuang knew such a person existed and that he was a refined-looking man in his thirties who was responsible for intelligence operations in the capital. Beyond that, however, he knew nothing more specific. As for Lieying, because Lieying held the highest rank and operated under the greatest secrecy, Yan Wushuang still didn't even know such a person existed.

Yan Wushuang instructed coldly, "Pursue the two escaped assassins with all our resources. We must track down this Migua."

Upon hearing that Qiu Dashan was injured, Tie Kui went straight to Yan Wangfu. However, Qiu Dashan was still unconscious. After spending a short time there, Tie Kui returned home.

Once home, Tie Kui summoned Zhong Shantong and asked, "Have you managed to find out anything?" There had been numerous assassination attempts against Yan Wushuang over the past year or so, but this was the first time anyone had attempted to assassinate Qiu Dashan. Nevertheless, this incident had given Tie Kui a sense of impending danger. The assassins had targeted Qiu Dashan this time, but who knew whether Tie Kui himself might be their next target?

Zhong Shantong shook his head. "No information has been released from the Yan Wangfu. However, the entire city is now under martial law, and portraits of the two fugitives have been posted." After pausing, Zhong Shantong continued, "Kuizi, do you think the people who tried to assassinate General Qiu could be remnants of the imperial family?"

Tie Kui did not dismiss the suggestion. "We cannot rule out that possibility."

Zhong Shantong said to Tie Kui, "Kuizi, you needn't worry too much. The main reason General Qiu was injured this time was that he had too few guards with him. In future, you simply need to take more guards whenever you go out." Qiu Dashan disliked having too many attendants and guards around him, since he considered them nothing but a burden. When travelling outside the capital, he would at least bring additional men. Within the capital, however, he wouldn't allow anyone to follow him besides his personal attendants. At the time of the assassination attempt, he only had two guards with him. Otherwise, the assassins could never have got their hands on him.

Tie Kui nodded. "I'll have to double the number of guards accompanying me from now on." It would be terribly unjust to survive the battlefield only to die at the hands of an assassin.

The following morning, upon hearing that Qiu Dashan had regained consciousness, Tie Kui went straight to the Yan Wangfu to visit him. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Qiu Dashan eating porridge. Approaching him, Tie Kui asked with a worried expression, "Big Bro, how are your injuries? Are they serious?"

Qiu Dashan felt that he was in a terribly miserable state. Not only was his leg immobilised by splints, leaving him unable to move it, but his back was injured as well. Even the slightest movement caused his wounds to split open, so he could barely move at all. Consequently, he had to be fed porridge by someone else. "Don't worry. I won't die."

Hearing this, Tie Kui knew that Qiu Dashan was not in any immediate danger. "Big Bro, who has eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall to dare lay a hand on you? I'll lead my troops over and wipe that d@mned b@stard out."

Qiu Dashan already knew who had made a move against him. "It was Han Yuxi. D@mn it, I nearly died at the hands of some woman." If he had died at that woman's hands, it would have been an utterly pathetic humiliation.

Tie Kui's heart gave a sudden leap. He had considered many possible suspects, but it had never occurred to him that the hidden mastermind would be Yuxi. "Big Bro, are you saying that Pingxi Wangfei, Han Shi, sent people to assassinate you? Why would she send anyone to kill you?" 

Qiu Dashan replied calmly, "Pingxi Wangfei probably knew she couldn't k!ll Wangye, so she decided to lay a hand on me instead." When immortals fight, ordinary bystanders suffer. He was merely a fish in the pond struck by a spreading disaster. Qiu Dashan did not particularly resent this. After all, he was Yan Wushuang's trusted confidant, so whom could he blame?

Tie Kui felt that something was not quite right. Yuxi was not someone who would indiscriminately slaughter the innocent. He hurriedly asked, "Has something serious happened?"

Qiu Dashan told Tie Kui everything and explained Yan Wushuang's suspicions. When he had finished, he said coldly, "That Han Shi is clearly a malicious woman. I have no idea how she acquired her reputation for generosity and kindness." It was certainly true that rumours lead people astray.

Tie Kui echoed Qiu Dashan's sentiments. "That so-called generosity and kindness is nothing but a little trick to deceive the common people beneath her. That woman has already killed a thousand or eight hundred people in the Northwest. How could she possibly be a benevolent and magnanimous person?" Tie Kui genuinely meant what he said. He had never considered Yuxi to have a compassionate heart and soft hands.

Of course, if Yuxi really had been kind-hearted, with a compassionate heart and soft hands, Tie Kui would never have revealed his identity to her. Doing so would have placed him in danger.

These words went straight into the hollow of Qiu Dashan's heart.

Seeing this, Tie Kui exclaimed, "Big Bro, we absolutely must avenge this." He said this entirely from the standpoint of a good brother and loyal subordinate.

Qiu Dashan shook his head. "The Pingxi Wangfu is guarded by extremely tight and formidable security. Normally, not even a single fly could get inside. How could we possibly kill Han Shi? For the time being, this grudge will have to remain unavenged." If Han Shi were so easy to kill, she would not have given his Wangye so many headaches.

Upon hearing this reply, Tie Kui hurriedly responded, "A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. Let's keep this account on the books for now. One day, we'll make her repay it twice over."

Qiu Dashan said, "Wangye and Han Yuxi have long been enemies who will never rest until one side is dead." What he meant was that either Yuxi would die or they would perish. Therefore, there was no need to utter any ruthless words.

After talking for quite some time, Qiu Dashan began to feel tired. "Ah Kui, now that I'm injured, you'll have to devote more of your attention to military affairs." Even if his leg could be saved, it would take six months to a year for him to recover.

As Tie Kui was leaving, he happened to encounter Zhou Yan, dressed in apricot-yellow robes adorned with a five-clawed golden dragon. He was secretly startled, wondering why the Huang Taidi had come to the Wangfu. Nevertheless, he immediately bowed to Zhou Yan. "This humble general pays his respects to Your Highness."

Zhou Yan replied with a warm and gentle expression, "General Tie, there is no need for such formalities. I have also come to visit Mu Fei." Nothing about his visit was concealed. Anyone who asked would learn the reason.

Tie Kui appeared startled by such unexpected favour. Only he himself knew what he was actually thinking.

Yuchen's pregnancy was not particularly stable, so she had to remain in bed and rest. However, Yuchen missed Zhou Yan, so Yan Wushuang let him come to the Wangfu to see her. Because of actions like these, people who did not know the true circumstances believed Yan Wushuang doted on Yuchen enormously. Zhou Yan was among them.

Tie Kui's attendant, Yan Kai, remarked, "To think that he would actually come to the Wangfu to visit Han Ce Fei. The Huang Taidi really is still a child." Never mind that Zhou Yan was the Huang Taidi; even a child from an ordinary family would not visit the household into which his birth mother had remarried.

Tie Kui, however, did not see it that way. He replied indifferently, "If that's what you think, then you're underestimating him." Zhou Yan looked so calm that he couldn't possibly have been forced to come. He must have come of his own free will. A six-year-old child who could already conceal his emotions so well was not someone to be taken lightly.