Chapter 159: Arrangement
Editor: Atlas Studios
This was the first time someone had said such solemn words to Mu Yangling. She waved her hand in a panic. “No need, no need. Haoran is my friend. It’s only right for me to help out a friend. Moreover, this matter is also related to my father. Being his subordinate, it’s my father’s responsibility to protect Qi Haoran.”
A smile and admiration flashed across Qi Xiuyuan’s eyes. It was obvious that he was very satisfied with Mu Yangling. Seeing this, Bai Li boldly stepped forward and said, “General, it’s all thanks to Section Commander Mu that I was able to escape with Little General from Hanzhong Prefecture this time.”
Qi Xiuyuan lowered his head to look at him. Only then did he see Mu Shi kneeling on the ground. He quickly reached out to help him up and patted his hand. “You and your daughter are both excellent. Thank you for your trouble this time. Go and rest since you’re also injured. It’s fine with Ah Ling here.”
With Qi Xiuyuan changing the way of address from ‘Miss Mu’ to ‘Ah Ling’, it was as if they were much closer now.
Mu Shi glanced at his daughter, bowed, and slowly left.
Qi Xiuyuan turned to look at his brother. If it were any other matter, he could still bear it alone and take the risk to bring his brother to the Xingyuan Prefecture to seek medical treatment. But now, if he was not careful, he and his brother might be consigned to eternal damnation. His brother might even have to bear all the infamy. Therefore, he could only follow the second plan of the military doctor.
Qi Xiuyuan asked Mu Yangling, “What excuse did you use to invite Pang Kongqing over?”
Mu Yangling scratched her head and explained in embarrassment how she had threatened Pang Kongqing.
Qi Xiuyuan was stunned for a moment before looking at her in admiration. “That’s a good idea. There are six stockades and eight gangs in Mount Daluo. The leader of the third-ranked Tiger Heaven Stockade happens to have a Hu bloodline. Pang Kongqing definitely hasn’t seen that person before and doesn’t know his situation. Let him think that Haoran is from the Tiger Heaven Stockade. I’ll make some arrangements and try my best to clean up the tail. I’ll leave Haoran with you for the next few days and bring him away when he’s out of danger.”
Mu Yangling patted her chest and promised, “General, don’t worry. I will definitely take good care of Qi Haoran.”
Qi Xiuyuan nodded with a smile.
He lowered his head to look at Qi Haoran and sighed slightly. Seeing this, Mu Yangling wanted to quietly retreat. Bai Li knelt on the ground and did not dare to move. Seeing this, Mu Yangling quickly went forward to help him up and walked out with him.
Only the three brothers were left in the room now.
Bai Li broke free from Mu Yangling’s grip. His face was a little dark, but he still cupped his hands and thanked her. “Thank you, Miss Mu.”
“You’re welcome.” Mu Yangling looked around and said worriedly, “Are so many of you going to stay here for the night?”
There were only a few rooms in their residence, so it was not a problem to keep Qi Haoran and Bai Li for the night. They could just tidy up a room and let them stay there. However, Pang Kongqing could not stay in Great-aunt’s room all the time. It would be best if he could chase him to Mu Yangling’s room too. Then, the military doctor would stay in the storeroom, and the Mu family could stay in the main room. However, if Qi Xiuyuan and Fan Zijin stayed too, they had to avoid meeting Pang Kongqing, so there would be no place for them to settle down.
Just as Mu Yangling was fretting, Fei Bai came over and bowed respectfully. “Miss Mu, my eldest young master said that he’ll just stay in the storeroom for the night. He told you not to be restrained. After we hide, you can get Physician Pang to take a look at Young Master.”
“How will that do? I should let the general stay in the main room,” Mu Yangling said apologetically.
Fei Bai chuckled softly and said, “Miss Mu, there’s no need to be polite with my Eldest Young Master. It’s just to avoid that person now. In a while, Eldest Young Master and Young Master Zijin will pretend to leave and come back quietly when it’s dark. Tonight is the most crucial. Eldest Young Master and Young Master Zijin must watch over Fourth Young Master.”
After Qi Haoran got injured, he had been dragged into the forest by Mu Shi. He had originally brought nine people out, but only four of them survived. The other six had sacrificed themselves to protect him while he left. The past three days had not been peaceful, and Qi Haoran’s injuries had worsened. According to Pang Kongqing, he had already reached his limit today. If he could survive it, everything would be fine. If he could not, even the gods and Buddhas would be helpless.
Hence, Qi Xiuyuan and Fan Zijin would definitely watch over Qi Haoran.
Of course, Mu Yangling was also keeping watch. With such a time bomb living at home, no one was in the mood to eat. However, Great-aunt still cooked a simple meal. After feeding the children, she entered her room and carried a blanket out.
When Pang Kongqing heard someone enter the room, he whimpered twice. Great-aunt couldn’t help but glance at him. Her conscience was a little uneasy, but she still turned her head ruthlessly, picked up the blanket with trembling hands, and left.
“General, do you really plan to let him stay in the storeroom? How can anyone live there when it’s so damp there? It’s better to stay in my room. Our family can sleep in your mother’s room for the night.”
The sun had just set when, under the gazes of the villagers, Qi Xiuyuan left with Fan Zijin, whose eyes were slightly red. After returning to the military camp, he did not immediately turn around to return to the Mu residence. Instead, he found his trusted aide and made a series of arrangements. When the sky outside had turned completely dark, he picked up a box on the table and left with Fan Zijin again.
This was the 100-year-old ginseng that Jiang Ze had sent over. It was originally an excuse, but he didn’t expect it to really be used. However, it wasn’t used on Mother Mu, but on his younger brother.
Thinking about how his usually lively and active younger brother had suddenly become like this, Qi Xiuyuan was really angry and hateful. He hated the Hus and himself even more. He clearly knew that his younger brother was unreliable, but he still transferred him here alone. He did not take good care of him. This was the opposite of what he had said when he wrote a letter and quarreled with his father. “My younger brother will be ten times better off here than in Lin’an Prefecture.” If he was in Lin’an Prefecture, he would not have been so seriously injured no matter what.
When Fan Zijin turned around and saw that his cousin’s expression was not good, he knew that he had a knot in his heart. He pulled his sleeve and begged, “Big Cousin, don’t be angry and blame yourself. Otherwise, Haoran definitely won’t be able to recuperate properly when he wakes up. Actually, this matter isn’t his fault. If not for Wo Ben disregarding human lives and treating us Han Chinese as subhumans, Haoran wouldn’t have killed him so impulsively.”
Qi Xiuyuan sighed. “I’ve already contacted General Yuan. Considering he has more connections in the Jin Kingdom than us, we still need his help to sow discord.”
Shocked, Fan Zijin hurriedly said, “Eldest Cousin, how can we tell outsiders about this?” In Fan Zijin’s opinion, Bai Li was assigned to his cousin by his uncle, and his indenture was also in his cousin’s hands. That made him his cousin’s death warrior. Mu Yangling was naturally one of them. The military doctor was also completely under their control, so it was fine if he knew. However, General Yuan had a high position and authority. Although he was noble and upright, Fan Zijin still could not trust him. He was afraid that one day, should a conflict arise between them, they would become the ones who would be sacrificed.
Qi Xiuyuan naturally knew what Fan Zijin was thinking. Smiling, he touched his head. “I’m not stupid. Of course, I won’t tell him what Haoran did. I’ll just say that my people found out that the Crown Prince of the Jin Kingdom was killed in Hanzhong. It’s up to him what he thinks.”
Since Hanzhong Prefecture was on guard and the entire Jin troop was mobilized, it was impossible for General Yuan to not know anything. Whether they could find out about the death of the Crown Prince of the Jin Kingdom depended on their own abilities.