Dandere General and his Lord

9. Tears

“I have heard that Duke Hua likes precious horses better than beauties.” Cheng Qianye smiled and said as she beckoned her attendants to lead along the brown horse speckled with white. “This horse is famed for its valiantness and ability to run a thousand miles a day. People say that a precious horse should be presented to a worthy hero and I think only a hero of Duke Hua’s caliber is worthy of a horse such as this one. If Duke Hua is willing to part with this slave, this one will gift this horse to you to express my gratitude.”

Xiao Xiu was greatly alarmed and looked at Mo Qiao Sheng before softly whispering to Cheng Qianye, “My Lord you mustn’t, this horse was left to you by the old Marquis. How can you casually gift it to others in exchange for a mere slave? Such an action will chill the hearts of the old veterans.” 

Cheng Qianye glanced at Mo Qiao Sheng. 

“It doesn’t matter. The importance of a horse cannot be compared with a person.” Cheng Qianye blurted out casually. She did not have the leisure to slowly explain things to these ancient people with contrasting three views.

Hua Yuzhi looked at the exceptionally handsome brown horse. He was in a state of shouting and screaming from excitement, feeling as if his soul might rise into the sky. 

He rubbed his hands together and said, “How could this one dare to exchange such a defective slave with such a divine horse?” 

With a clap of his hands, a procession of young beauties came up and lined up neatly on both sides. On the left, stood a row of beautiful men, and on the right, a row of beautiful women, all uniquely charming. 

They were all alluring with jade-like skin and soft and graceful figures. 

Hua Yuzhi pointed at Mo Qiao Sheng. “This slave had made me very angry and I do not want to excuse him. Judging by his appearance, he is already half disabled and he is of no use for my worthy younger brother. This old man has many first-class beauties who are excellent in both talent and appearance. My worthy younger brother can select any of them to his liking.”

Cheng Qianye was just about to respond when she caught sight of Mo Qiao Sheng struggling to get up from the bench. His arms quivered and his jaw clenched as he attempted to prop up his upper body, as though trying to prove that he wasn’t disabled. 

But in the end, he lacked the strength to persist and fell back into the pool of blood. 

He lay on the bloodstained wooden bench, his hair in disorder as he gasped for breath and closed his eyes, brimming with pessimism. 

“Okay, okay.” Cheng Qianye couldn’t bear it and gently stroked his head, consoling his fearful heart, “I only want this slave.” 

She cupped her hands at Han Quanlin and said, “This one is really fond of this person and requests that Duke Han doesn’t quibble over this issue and give up for my sake.”

Han Quanlin saw that Hua Yuzhi had given his consent, so he had to step down and nodded, his heart filled with resentment.

Cheng Qianye immediately composed a slave re-sale contract with Hua Yuzhi.

She waved her hand, letting her attendants lift a chair and carry him away. 

Under everyone’s flabbergasted gaze, Cheng Qianye anxiously hurried away with the bloodied slave. 

She knew that the matter would be spread all over the city, fueling her reputation of being ‘tyrannical and licentious’. 

They would embellish the story and talk about how the Duke of Jin Yue traded the good horse left by her father in exchange for a “beauty”.

Perhaps Zhang Fu and the others would look down on her even more. 

But so what? 

She was not in the mood to take care of those people and those things right now. 

The drops of blood dripping from that bench felt as though they were striking her heart. 

She walked next to the bench the whole way back, occasionally stroking his head as she comforted gently, “Endure it, there will be a doctor as soon as we get back.” 

They encountered Zhang Fu just as they reached the gates of the government office. 

Zhang Fu’s mask, which had remained unchanging for a great number of years, couldn’t help showing a crack when he saw their strange procession. 

Cheng Qianye didn’t pay attention to him. She cupped her hands in greeting and went straight past him, going into the bedroom. 

Finally inside, Cheng Qianye instructed the attendants to carefully lay Mo Qiao Sheng on the bed, and called for the military doctor to treat him. 

The old army doctor wrinkled his brows and sighed as he dealt with those malevolent wounds. 

Mo Qiao Sheng pursed his lips and the blue veins on his forehead bulged out as he endured and didn’t make a sound. 

However, the big drops of cold sweat betrayed him, showing everyone that the owner of the body was in immense pain. 

“It’s too painful.” Cheng Qianye looked at the numerous handkerchiefs soaked in blood, unable to bear it. “Isn’t there any medicine that can relieve the pain?” 

“Boiled hemp has a pain relieving effect.” the old military doctor replied. “But it is quite costly, not qualified for a slave to use.” 

“You!” Cheng Qianye almost gave an angry laugh. “Come on, senior. I’ll tell you again, use the best medicine. Whether it’s for a noble, or for a slave, only use the best and the most effective. Do you understand?” 

The old doctor agreed apprehensively. 

A while later, a servant came over with freshly boiled hemp.

Cheng Qianye felt greatly distressed for Mo Qiao Sheng who was seriously injured and sat at the head of the bed, feeding him the medicine personally. 

Mo Qiao Sheng exerted himself to lift up his head, inclined to one side and silently drank the medicine, without saying a word. 

Cheng Qianye looked at the beautiful sapphire blue colour on his body, its edges gradually suffused with a layer of gold until it became firm, gleaming brightly.

Gold represented unswerving loyalty. 

So you’re loyal to me? Cheng Qianye felt somewhat embarrassed.

I just gave him some food and medicine. This little guy, maybe he’s never received kindness from someone. 

But he hasn’t said a word. I wouldn’t have known anything if I couldn’t see his colours.

She piled up two pillows and gently placed Mo Qiao Sheng’s forehead on top. Finding a hollow jade tube, she put one end into the bowl of medicine and let Mo Qiao Sheng put the other end in his mouth. 

“Come on, it’s easier to drink it like this.” 

Mo Qiao Sheng hung his head, concealing his eyebrows and eyes in the shadow of his hair and only revealing his pale chin and thin lips holding a straw between them. 

Cheng Qianye held onto the bowl of medicine for him, watching quietly as that brown concoction of medicine slowly disappeared. 

Suddenly, a bright drop of water fell into the bowl. 

Followed immediately by another. 

Cheng Qianye was dazed and raised her head to see that Mo Qiao Sheng’s thin, bloodless lips were quivering gently. The glistening tears rolled down his cheeks and fell into the bowl. 

“Why are you crying?” Cheng Qianye asked as she stroked his head. “Does it hurt? Don’t cry, you’ll feel better after you drink the medicine.” 

Those thin lips separated as he released the straw and turned his head, burying his face in the pillow. He was silent, but his shoulder that was trembling slightly revealed his uncontrollable emotion.

Don’t cry. 

Cheng Qianye felt at a loss. How do I comfort a crying man? I have no experience.

She gently stroked his hair. 

He has really suffered. I must treat him better in the future. 

The old military doctor finished tending to the wounds and straightened up. 

He bowed to Cheng Qianye and saluted her, “Reporting back to My Lord. The patient’s legs are afflicted with an old illness and has an additional injury this time. Although this subject has tried this one’s best to treat him, this one is afraid that his legs will not recover as before.”

“What do you mean he won’t recover as before?” 

“He must not think of fighting or martial arts again.” The old military doctor glanced at the bed and coughed. “There’s no harm with the matters on the bed.” 

Although Cheng Qianye regarded herself as someone with a thick skin, after hearing this, her face couldn’t help flushing. 

“Old…. Old teacher, let’s have tea outside first.” 

You people really don’t treat slaves as humans. Is it really fine for you to talk about a patient’s condition so blatantly in front of them? 

She invited to the outer room and asked him sincerely. 

“Teacher, please do your very best. He’s still so young and has practiced martial arts very diligently. If he becomes disabled now, it would be a real pity.”

The old man stroked his beard and nodded his head. “My Lord is kind hearted. It is a real blessing for the people. Originally, I really would not be capable, but there is a feasible method since we are in Bianzhou now.” 

“Please give me your advice.”

“On the west mountain of Bianzhou, there is a hotspring with constant temperature throughout all seasons. This spring is shaped like a crescent moon and is called the Moon Spirit Spring. It was originally the private manor of the old Lord of Bianzhou. This spring has a special effect on injuries of the muscle and bone, blood stasis and inner build, having an odd effect. Soaking in it has a revitalizing effect and has many other curative properties. This sort of prescription greatly matches with the patient’s injuries. If he can soak in it often, the patient’s chances of recovery are very high.”

Cheng Qianye clapped her hands. “That’s easy. It just so happens that my forces have decided to remain in Bianzhou and defend the garrison here. There’s no issue in taking him to soak in the hotsprings every day.”