Heroic Wife Reborn

Chapter 132: I’m Ill and Forgot to Take My Medicine

Xianzong saw Gu Xinglang’s suffering and suddenly felt great. He contentedly told his daughter and son-in-law, “Zhen told the State Preceptor that Linglong’s lost her wits since childhood. The only reason Linglong would have wanted to choke Wen Fenglin to death was because Linglong’s illness acted up.”

“W-whaa?” Yu Xiaoxiao felt that there must be a breeze or something because she couldn’t hear him clearly at all. “Can you repeat that? How am I losing my wits?”

Xianzong said, “So what if Zhen says you’ve lost your mind? You’re already married, so it doesn’t matter if you’re witty or witless.”

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at Gu Xinglang, thinking that made sense. Xianzong went on, “Since Zhen’s daughter is sick, then it’s just Wen Fenglin’s bad luck to get hit!”

Yu Xiaoxiao considered the thought of her being insane and said, “Imperial Father, you’re talking about mental illness when you say ‘lose your wits.’ A mentally ill person wouldn’t break the laws if they killed someone, right?”

Xianzong was astounded. “You actually want to kill Wen Fenglin? Why? Has he done anything bad against you?”

Gu Xinglang had just dropped his hands when he raised them to massage his temples again.

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “What could he do against me? He wants to kill the State Preceptor.”

“Why does Junior Master Fenglin want to kill the State Preceptor?” Gu Xinglang asked.

“Don’t know, ah,” father and daughter chorused. Gu Xinglang sucked in a breath. It was already hard enough to talk with Yu Xiaoxiao, but his old father-in-law too? This drove him to the brink of despair.

“Do it this way,” Xianzong ignored his son-in-law’s mood to continue. “Come with Imperial Father to Safeguard Temple. If you accidentally left any evidence behind last night, this is the chance to destroy it. Your Imperial Father doesn’t care how you do it, but you can’t let Wen Fenglin find any proof.”

“I think we should just kill him,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied. “Otherwise, he’ll go back and tattle to his master, ah.”

Xianzong said, “If you’ll going to murder Wen Fenglin, you’ll need to get rid of his subordinates and any monks in Safeguard Temple who’re on his side. Linglong, Imperial Father knows you have high martial arts skills, but could you kill them all by yourself?”

“I can,” Yu Xiaoxiao responded instantly.

“You,” Xianzong choked, but finally relented. “Fine, consider yourself capable.”

“I really can,” Yu Xiaoxiao insisted. At worst, it’d just take her an extra bit of energy to summon down some lightning bolts.

“Fine, Imperial Father believes you have no equal in this world and can kill whoever you want,” Xianzong breezed thought. “But Linglong, ah, Imperial Father wants to say: it’s easy enough to pick out Wen Fenglin’s men, but will you know which members of Safeguard Temple are more loyal to Eternal Life Temple?”

Urk, now Yu Xiaoxiao was stuck. That’s right, ah. Human hearts are hard to read. How am I supposed to know how many monks are Eternal Life Temple fanboys? I can’t just kill everyone there except for the State Preceptor and that little monk Wang Yue.

“That’s why,” Xianzong explained, “We need to take things slowly. In any case, Wen Fenglin can’t go anywhere while he’s poisoned. What’s the rush?”

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “Then what if we make sure Wen Fenglin and the rest die in ‘accidents?’”

Xianzong lowered his voice. “Linglong, remember this: if you don’t want anyone else to find out what you’ve done, don’t do it in the first place.” How could they take action without being 100 percent sure?

“Wh, what do you mean?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked, shooting Gu Xinglang a look for explanations.

“That’s right,” Xianzong was quite pleased with Yu Xiaoxiao’s performance. “When we see Wen Fenglin later, all you have to do is treat him like that. No matter what he says, acting clueless is the right choice.”

“Heheh,” Yu Xiaoxiao chuckled. Just what is this fatuous ruler talking about?

“You’re allowed to ‘heheh’ too,” Xianzong added. If my daughter can drive Wen Fenglin crazy, then we’ll all be fine.

“What if they attack us?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked.

“Zhen will let them,” Xianzong said dauntlessly. “After hitting Zhen, how will Wen Fenglin have any face to accuse you of hitting him?”

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “Imperial Father, you mean to say we’ll be even with Wen Fenglin after that?”

“That’s right,” Xianzong said. “Hurry and change your clothes. Dress up a bit too, then we’ll go to Safeguard Temple together.”

“Done,” Yu Xiaoxiao rose to her feet. “Then I’ll standby while you get beat up.”

Xianzong fell silent, then added, “You’re not allowed to watch them beat Imperial Father to death.” Although it was very painful being an emperor, Xianzong didn’t want to die just yet.

Gu Xinglang looked conflicted at his sovereign/father-in-law. Everything felt unreal. Did the ruler of their nation really planned to take them to Safeguard Temple for a beating while shamelessly screwing with their opponents?

—

When Junior Master Fenglin caught sight of Xianzong and his daughter from his sickbed, he felt exactly the same as Gu Xinglang: this emperor was absolutely shameless!

Although Xianzong didn’t have much morals, his face and figure were excellent. Standing there on one side, he resembled a jade tree facing the wind with an elegant and smart carriage.1 After Beiyuan carried over a chair, he sat down and gave Junior Master Fenglin a look of concern.

“The State Preceptor’s said that Junior Master’s suffered an illness. Zhen was burning with impatience to see you, ah. How do you feel now? Zhen has already brought the palace’s best imperial physicians to treat you. If Junior Master doesn’t scorn them, they can have a look.”

Junior Master Fenglin smiled and said, “Many thanks to Your Majesty for your concerns. My injuries are minor matters–wouldn’t you say, Your Royal Highness?”

“Ah?” Yu Xiaoxiao feigned ignorance.

Junior Master Fenglin went on, “What’s the matter, Your Royal Highness? It’s only been a few hours since we’ve met.”

“Did the State Preceptor not tell Junior Master?” Xianzong said next.

Junior Master Fenglin replied, “About the princess losing her wits, you mean?”

“Yes,” Xianzong nodded and pointed at Gu Xinglang, who was sitting in his sling chair. “He slept first last night, so he didn’t get to give the princess her medicine. That’s why she…” Xianzong broke into an embarrassed grin, “If the princess has done anything untoward to Junior Master, please forgive her.”

Junior Master Fenglin looked at Yu Xiaoxiao. “Princess, you’re really ill?”

Yu Xiaoxiao nodded. “Right, I’m ill and forgot to take my medicine yesterday.”

State Preceptor Cheng Guan was someone with an intact sense of shame. Right now he wanted nothing more than to find anywhere else but here to hide around for a while. Gu Xinglang felt a little ashamed as well, but he was more worried about his wife’s life. He looked at Junior Master Fenglin and added, “It was this one’s fault. I didn’t take good care of the princess. Junior Master, are your wounds serious?”

Xianzong scolded him. “Why aren’t you apologizing to Junior Master yet?”

Gu Xinglang cupped his fists at Junior Master Fenglin before sitting up to manage a bow. “Qinghui was thoughtless in looking after the princess and caused Junior Master to suffer injuries. Qinghui deserves ten thousands deaths.”

Xianzong looked at Yu Xiaoxiao next and coughed. If you’re not going to act now, then when?

Yu Xiaoxiao took Gu Xinglang’s sleeve expressionlessly and said, “What did I do yesterday? Did my illness really flare up again?”

Gu Xinglang looked at his wife and replied in an equally expressionless tone,2 “Yes, princess. You forgot to take your pills last night.”