Chapter 24

On that day, Yang Yanzong took Su Ci out of the mountains and arrived at Huangshan Town on the other side, where they met up with A Kang, three others, and Yang Yanzhen.

A Kang and the others had minor injuries, but nothing serious would hinder their movement. As for Yang Yanzhen and the others, they had come from the main group. Apart from those who were seriously injured and those responsible for escorting, only four people remained, all of whom were here. The group of nine didn’t waste any time after reuniting. They immediately found the horses that had been arranged earlier and prepared to set off. They rode fast horses to Shangliang.

Father Yang, Yang Chongying, and Mother Yang, Mrs. Yan, were currently in Shangliang. The distance was quite far, and it would take about three days on fast horses. Before Su Ci could mount her horse, Yang Yanzong was already on his and asked, “Can you handle it?”

Su Ci wanted to complain. The treatment of a fiancée was indeed different. On the way here, she had ridden her horse to the point of exhaustion, and this guy hadn’t even glanced at her, let alone spoken to her. What if she couldn’t handle it? Would they ride together? She’d rather not.

Su Ci thought for a moment and said, “I can manage. If not, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay,” Yang Yanzong replied, not saying much more.

Yang Yanzhen looked around and seemed to sense something had happened that he wasn’t aware of. He tentatively called out, “Sister-in-law, this horse is quite tall. Can you get on? Should I find you another one? And what about this bundle? Should I throw it away?”

Yang Yanzong didn’t comment on this form of address.

Yang Yanzhen smiled happily. Unlike his second brother, he liked the idea of Su Ci being his sister-in-law. He got along well with Su Ci, and they had always had a good relationship. He was very excited and was most disappointed when the marriage plans fell through.

Su Ci knocked on his head and said, “Throw it away? Throw your head away! It would be better to throw you away.”

Wasn’t this a rhetorical question? This small bundle contained her waist pouch and the remaining medicines from the mountains. How could she throw it away?

Feeling slightly discriminated against because of her height, she gave him a sideways glance and grabbed Yang Yanzhen’s ear, snarling, “Change what? Are you very tall? Do you have another horse? Aren’t all the horses the same height? Where would you find another one?”

Su Ci let go of his ear, grabbed the saddle, and performed a perfect mount. She snorted loudly in satisfaction.

Yang Yanzhen yelped in mock pain. Under Su Ci’s disdainful gaze from above, he unconsciously let go of his ear and straightened his chest. He was almost as tall as his older brother, just a bit shorter, but he was still growing. He was about a head taller than Su Ci and felt quite proud of it.

Su Ci: “White-cut chicken.”

Yang Yanzhen: “???”

“What do you mean?”

“Alright,” Yang Yanzong glanced at the two still bickering, “Yanzhen, mount up. Let’s go.”

“Yes!” Yang Yanzhen instinctively stood at attention, not daring to argue, and quickly mounted his horse.

The group set off that day, riding fast horses straight to Shangliang.

…

The rapid sound of hooves echoed, kicking up a trail of yellow dust. Yang Yanzong rode at the front, his black sleeves fluttering in the fierce northern wind. His back was always so straight and upright, like a blade ready to be unsheathed at any moment. Su Ci followed behind him, and she observed him for a long while, having nothing better to do. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything negative about him. Of course, she didn’t intend to belittle him. After all, she had accepted this fiancé, and belittling him would be like belittling herself.

Su Ci scratched her chin. Since last night, her mood has calmed down. Her modern parents couldn’t accept the idea of their daughter being single for life, and she wasn’t entirely opposed to marriage. After some discussion, they had agreed on an age by which she would go on blind dates and get married.

In those years, Su Ci hadn’t found anyone suitable herself, so she was mentally prepared to go on a blind date with a man her parents approved of and get married quickly. This understanding had been in place for a long time. Her parents wouldn’t set her up for failure. Her only requirement was that her partner wouldn’t interfere with her interests and career. As for lifestyle, she could accept some adjustments. So, her acceptance level was relatively high.

Su Ci’s only concern was that life with Yang Yanzong might not be peaceful. Alright, no more thinking about it. They were almost at Shangliang!

The group of riders sped around a sharp turn. Not far ahead, by the roadside, was a large stone with two vertical characters carved in seal script: “Shangliang.”

The characters were dusty, with traces of moss in the pits and hollows. The stone had a chipped corner, but no one had replaced it. The further they went, the fewer people they saw. Although the place was lush with vegetation, it had an inescapable feeling of desolation. The name “Shangliang” sounds nice, but it was actually not a good place. Wuchuan was known for its abundant mineral resources and as a place of exile.

It was remote, on the border, and had harsh conditions. The many mines required heavy labor, making it ideal for exile.

When Yang Yanzong’s faction fell from power, his deputy and close relatives were the first to be affected. Su Di was relatively fortunate, but Father Yang had it worse, being Yang Yanzong’s biological father. He was dismissed from his position, imprisoned, and eventually sentenced to thirty years of exile and hard labor. He was quickly sent away. Mrs. Yan, Yang Chongying’s wife, was also exiled to Wuchuan with him. Previously, Yang Yanzong was too preoccupied to help. He could have sent someone, but it wasn’t the right time. The heir’s attitude was ambiguous, and his situation was unclear, so he couldn’t take actions that might be used against him.

But now, having successfully captured the Liu brothers and obtained information and records about the private mines, his mission was a complete success. Undoubtedly, he would be reinstated immediately, and the time to bring his parents back had come.

Yang Yanzong had already sent people to Wuchuan to investigate. He knew the exact location of Yang Chongying and Mrs. Yan; they were at a forest mine in Shangliang. The situation wasn’t great, especially for Father Yang’. Yang Chongying had been injured on the way, reportedly quite seriously, and had been bedridden since arriving at the mine.

As for Mother Yang, Mrs. Yan, female prisoners generally didn’t have heavy labor, but she wasn’t with Father Yang. For better management, male and female prisoners were separated, one in the south and one in the north, quite a distance apart.

Upon reaching the mine, Yang Yanzong split the group into two. He went to his father while Su Ci and Yang Yanzhen were tasked with fetching his mother.

“After picking up Mother, head to the inn at Baichao Town. Be quick.”

“Understood!”

After giving instructions, Yang Yanzong hurried south, while Su Ci and Yang Yanzhen followed the female overseer assigned by the military officer to the northern women’s camp.

“This guest, walk here…”

Yang Yanzong had already made all the necessary arrangements, so they could just pick up the person and leave.

Su Ci tried to recall her impression of Mother Yang. It wasn’t that the original Su Ci had seen her mother-in-law infrequently, but rather that she didn’t like her. This strong emotion made Su Ci’s memories a bit fuzzy. She could only picture a plump woman with a head full of jewelry and a blurred face. But it didn’t matter since Yang Yanzhen was there.

Su Ci wasn’t too concerned, but a slight mix-up occurred.

“Yanzhen, quickly, look for your mother!”

The overseer led them to the camp where Mrs. Yan was registered, but there were too many people, and he didn’t know which one was Mrs. Yan. He asked eagerly, “Which one is she?”

There were indeed many people in front of them. It was daytime, and the women were working. This group of female prisoners was responsible for shoveling manure and composting for the livestock. The work wasn’t heavy, but more people were sitting or lying on the ground than standing and working. These women, who were once pampered, couldn’t do much work due to their lack of ability. The overseers at the forest camp were also cautious; if any of these women managed to regain their status, it would be disastrous if they were mistreated to death. So, the new female prisoners who had been there for a year or two were lazy and didn’t work, and the guards turned a blind eye.

As Su Ci looked around, she saw a mix of cattle, sheep, and piglets standing or lying on the ground, and women of all ages sitting or lying down. The women were covered in dust, with messy hair and dirty faces. At a glance, it was hard to distinguish between people and animals.

Feeling dizzy, Su Ci quickly nudged Yang Yanzhen, “Quick, look for your mother!”

Yang Yanzhen also felt overwhelmed, but since it was his mother, their presence caused a stir, and people started to get up or look over. Yang Yanzhen soon spotted his mother.

“There she is!” He pointed excitedly, and Su Ci looked over to see a woman in blue briefly turn her head before facing away again. The commotion hadn’t reached that area. Mrs. Yan had found a suitable spot and lay back down.

“Quick, let’s go over!”

Su Ci and Yang Yanzhen urged their horses into a trot. After a while, Su Ci said, “It’s that one, right? The one in indigo clothes.”

Among the dusty gray and green clothes, the blue one stood out. The woman was sitting against a railing with her back to them, her figure matching Su Ci’s memory.

Su Ci exclaimed, “Isn’t it? Quickly, let’s have her brought out!”

Yang Yanzhen hesitated for a moment, but after a quick glance, he saw that there was indeed only one woman in blue, with a slightly plump figure that matched the description. Under Su Ci’s repeated urging, he said, “Yes, that’s her.”

“Alright!”

The overseer responded, marked the register, and negotiated with the guards. Su Ci slipped a small piece of silver to each of them, and they ran over with smiles on their faces. They helped the woman, congratulated her, and handed her a set of new clothes and grooming items so she could tidy herself up before reuniting with her family. It was pretty considerate. The woman was overjoyed.

However, at that moment, an awkward situation arose. About seven or eight steps away, another woman who had just lain down in the shade scrambled out from behind a cow, waving her hands frantically and running over, shouting, “Yanzhen, Yanzhen! Is that you? I’m your mother!”

Su Ci: “…”

Yang Yanzhen: “…”

…

Su Ci covered her face with her hand and stepped back, leaving Yang Yanzhen to handle the awkward situation. After sorting everything out and exchanging a few pleasantries with the overseer, they quickly led the slightly tidied-up Mrs. Yan away from the forest camp and headed back to the agreed meeting point in Baichao Town. Yang Yanzong had already returned with their father.

Yang Yanzong frowned and scolded, “You can’t even recognize your own parents? What are you good for?”

Yang Yanzhen stuck out his tongue. But he didn’t dare to argue, knowing it would only lead to more scolding.

Yang Yanzong didn’t waste any more words on him. He turned his gaze to Su Ci, who was following behind with her hands behind her back. “Ci’er, do you still have that medicine?”

Su Ci was still processing being called “Ci’er” but quickly snapped back to attention. “What medicine? Penicillin? Yes, there’s one dose left.”

Yang Yanzong also remembered there was one dose left. With a serious expression, he grabbed Su Ci’s hand and led her upstairs. “Take a look at my father’s wound.”

“See if it can still be treated.”

He paused before saying the last sentence, his voice heavy with concern.

Yang Yanzong walked quickly, and Su Ci had to jog to keep up. At the end of the hallway, the door to a room was wide open. A Kang was coming out with a basin of dirty water, followed by a trembling doctor.

This doctor had been hired by the forest camp. As mentioned earlier, the military officer in charge of the camp was relatively kind to the new prisoners and their families. Seeing Yang Chongying’s condition was not good, he called for a doctor. If something went wrong, it wouldn’t be his fault, so the doctor was quite reputable locally. The doctor had just said that the wound was beyond treatment and advised them to prepare for the worst.

Yang Chongying’s injury was indeed severe. He had been stabbed deeply in the abdomen. This was the second time the camp had called for a doctor. The first treatment went well, and the wound started to heal, but it suddenly took a turn for the worse last month. The doctor said, “The gold is damaged, the intestines are festering, and medicine is powerless.”

Su Ci followed Yang Yanzong into the room. Despite the open windows, the bedroom still had a faint smell of medicinal herbs mixed with another, more putrid odor. Su Ci’s sensitive nose twitched as soon as she entered.

Father Yang had been cleaned up and was lying in bed, unconscious. His face was pale, his lips were red, and he was sweating, clearly running a fever. His upper body was bare, and the abdominal wound was visible, though it had been re-bandaged.

Su Ci quickly washed her hands, removed the bandages and dressings, and rinsed off the wound powder. She examined Father Yang’s wound. The location was relatively good, in the lower right abdomen, away from any major organs, but unfortunately, it had been left untreated for too long. The wound looked fine on the surface, scabbed over and clean, but the not-so-firm scab oozed blood and pus when Su Ci pressed on it.

Seeing Su Ci withdraw her hand and wash it in the basin, Yang Yanzong immediately asked, “How is it? Can it be treated?”

The previous doctor bluntly said that Father Yang couldn’t be saved and that they should prepare a good coffin, which almost made Yang Yanzong draw his sword in anger. But Yang Yanzong had seen countless injuries and knew which ones were beyond treatment. The moment he saw his father’s wound, his heart sank. But then he remembered Su Ci. Liu Sheng’s injury was no less severe than Yang Chongying’s, yet Liu Sheng survived.

It was rare to see him so serious, with a hint of anxiety beneath his stern demeanor.

Su Ci understood and thought for a moment. “I’m not sure.”

“Uncle needs surgery,” she paused, “like the one for your hand, where we cut it open…”

Yang Yanzong immediately said, “I understand.”

“Good that you understand,” Su Ci used the most straightforward and most explicit language, “Uncle not only has external wounds, but the injured section of his intestines inside must also be festering. We need to cut off a section, clean it thoroughly, and reattach it.”

“The external wound also needs to have the rotten flesh removed and be re-bandaged.”

“This is the first step. The second step is to prevent further infection and festering. My medicine is for anti-infection.”

However, there is only one dose of the medicine left now. Liu Sheng used several doses back then, so Su Ci couldn’t guarantee it. She glanced at Yang Yanzong and whispered, “The medicine is crucial. Right now, there’s at most a fifty percent chance.” No more than that.

Yang Yanzong rubbed his forehead, “Then you start by removing the rotten flesh,” Yang Chongying’s condition couldn’t be delayed any longer. He immediately instructed A Kang to prepare a new basin, soap, and boiled salt. A Kang and Yang Yanzhen immediately ran out, “Do you have more of that medicine at home?”

“No.”

The purified medicine was gone, but with Su Yan looking after it, there were definitely some grown bacterial cultures. She said, “It’s semi-finished, but it needs refining. Refining has a chance of failure and takes quite some time.”

Everyone raced against time and quickly got ready. Many candles were lit in the inner room, and although the doors and windows were closed, it was as bright as day. Su Ci changed into a freshly boiled and dried gown. The gown was a bit large, so she tied it with several belts. Besides that, she needed an assistant.

“I need someone to assist me, to help pull open the wound.”

Su Ci had her custom-made surgical tools, such as scalpels, tweezers, and scissors, with her. Since these tools were small and only took up a little space, she didn’t need to search for them at the last minute. She just needed a retractor to open the surgical field so the doctor could see the internal cavity to perform the surgery.

Su Ci had done this kind of work many times before and knew how much it tested arm strength. The retractor they were using was improvised from a silver hairpin, very short, and required a lot of strength to use effectively. Ideally, one person should hold it steady, and the fewer people in the operating room, the better to avoid introducing more bacteria.

Su Ci could handle wiping sweat and passing instruments herself, but she needed someone to hold the retractor.

“I’ll do it,” Yang Yanzong said.

Alright, his endurance was definitely the best. Su Ci didn’t waste any more words. “Then change your clothes, and let’s go in.”

The surgery wasn’t complicated, although Yang Chongying’s intestinal condition was quite bad. The new surgical knife was convenient. After cleaning and disinfecting, Su Ci made a precise incision. With a slight press and cut, the skin opened, and blood mixed with pus oozed out.

—Not having rubber gloves was really inconvenient.

It wasn’t a pleasant tactile experience. Su Ci felt a bit disgusted and glanced at Yang Yanzong. He was holding the wound open precisely as she had instructed, his hand steady and unmoving, watching her intently.

Su Ci wrinkled her nose at him, focused her mind, and began to work on the abdominal cavity. The surgery process was actually quite simple: identify the festering section of the intestine, clean it, cut it out, sew it up, and clean it again. As long as she followed the steps carefully and stayed calm, there would be no problem. It was just a bit tedious.

Yang Chongying probably hadn’t eaten properly for a long time, so his intestines were quite clean. Su Ci repeatedly washed the area with freshly cooled saline solution. The work wasn’t complicated, but it required a lot of patience. Despite the cold winter, a thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Yang Yanzong’s gaze fell on her face, which only revealed a pair of large eyes. Her mask covered her tightly, but he could see that she was very serious and focused. This was a side of Su Ci he had never seen before.

Serious people always have a unique charm. The sunlight filtered gently through the window, and her serious little face seemed to shine with a radiant glow. She seemed completely different from the mischievous and lively girl he remembered. After watching for a long time, she moved, and the surgical knife clattered back into the copper tray. His eyes flickered slightly. Could one really learn medical skills to this extent just by studying? Connecting tendons and using new medicines could be attributed to talent, but this?

Su Ci was aware that Yang Yanzong was watching her, but she would eventually perform new surgeries. She wasn’t afraid of him knowing, as she had memories of the original Su Ci’s life. No one could expose her. As for her medical skills, she could just say she had learned from a reclusive master. It wasn’t uncommon in ancient times. As long as it was believable, it was fine. She looked up and smiled at him confidently. “Have you seen enough? Do I look good?”

Her big eyes curved, and the sweat at the base of her eyelashes glistened. She winked at him, her voice playful and teasing. What a shameless girl! Yang Yanzong snorted lightly.

“Alright, it’s finally done inside.” Su Ci exhaled, carefully raised her arm to wipe her sweat, and then prepared to stitch the peritoneum and muscles.

The retractor could be removed now. Yang Yanzong let go. His hand and arm strength were really impressive, and he had not moved at all for such a long time.

Su Ci couldn’t help but give him a thumbs up, “You’re pretty amazing.”

“You just realized?”

Su Ci snorted and ignored him, focusing on stitching the wound.

Yang Yanzong washed his hands with soap, stood for a moment, then picked up a clean cloth from a stack on the copper tray and slowly wiped the sweat from Su Ci’s forehead and eyes.

…

The surgery was done, and Su Ci proceeded to inject the medicine into Yang Chongying. There was no immediate reaction after the injection.

Yang Yanzong checked his father’s forehead temperature and then instructed, “Pack up, we’re heading back to Suiping!”

Suiping was still far away, and they needed time for Su Ci to refine the medicine. If things didn’t improve over such a long period, even if they got a second dose, Father Yang’s condition might be very bad by then. But if one dose wasn’t enough, there was still some hope, wasn’t there?

Yang Chongying’s injury was severe, and ideally, he shouldn’t be moved. However, given the situation, Yang Yanzong quickly made a decision and ordered a carriage to be prepared for a swift return to Suiping.

Fortunately, the situation wasn’t that dire. Su Ci estimated that since ancient people had never been exposed to antibiotics, even a low-dose injection could have a significant effect. Back then, Liu Sheng was truly on the brink of death. Due to the urgency and her desire to test the medicine, she had administered three doses in a short period to see the quickest results. So, she judged that Father Yang had a 40-50% chance of pulling through. The final result was indeed as everyone had hoped.

After the medicine was administered, Father Yang’s high fever subsided that same day. It didn’t go away completely, but the temperature dropped significantly. Over the next three days, there were several relapses, but the fever never spiked too high and subsided quickly each time. On the fifth day, Yang Chongying finally woke up. Although weak, he was conscious. Su Ci pressed and examined the wound, finding no signs of further infection. She cheerfully said, “It’s not a big problem anymore. Even if Uncle’s wound flares up again, it will be enough for us to return to Suiping.” Enough time to get the second dose of medicine.

The small inn erupted in cheers. Father Yang was helped to sit up, leaning against the bed. Mrs. Yan, with red-rimmed eyes, rushed to sit by the bed. After everyone’s emotions had calmed down a bit, Yang Yanzong stepped back, lifted his robe, and knelt before the bed!

“Father, Mother, I am useless and have caused you to suffer!”

Mrs. Yan burst into tears, pounding and hugging him.

Yang Yanzong remained still, accepting it all, and then helped his mother to sit on the footstool.

Mrs. Yan continued to cry and hit him for a while until Father Yang shouted, “Enough, stop crying! What is your family do? What is your son doing?!”

Although Yang Chongying’s voice was weak, Mrs. Yan dared not cry anymore. Yang Chongying extended a trembling hand, “Zong’er, come here. How is your hand? What is the situation outside now…”

—-

Su Ci quietly slipped out when Yang Yanzong knelt, and Mrs. Yan started crying. She didn’t want to intrude on their family reunion. Swinging her legs, she sat on the second-floor railing, looking back at the twilight sky. The sunset had faded, leaving a crimson glow, and the night had quietly taken over. The deep blue sky was dotted with twinkling stars, and the moon had climbed above the treetops. She smiled slightly, feeling very pleased with herself for saving Uncle Yang.

Yang Yanzong’s mother might be a bit difficult to deal with, but that would be his problem to handle. In the original story, Yang Chongying eventually died despite everything. Su Rong had suffered under Mrs. Yan for decades. Su Ci had no interest in that and thought it best to put a harness on her early.

Su Ci hadn’t been sitting on the railing for long when Yang Yanzong came out.

“Where did you go?” he asked, implying, “Why did you leave?”

In Yang Yanzong’s eyes, Su Ci was soon to be his wife, and she should have been present in such a situation. He glanced at her swinging feet and scolded, “No manners.”

Su Ci quickly put her feet down and winked at him with a cheeky smile, “Not yet, right?”

She was answering his first question. “I’m not part of your family yet. It would be so awkward for me with your mother.”

“Don’t you agree?” Yang Yanzong snorted, “Clever words and sophistry.”

The girl in front of him always seemed to find the most comfortable state for herself. Except for the initial pretense, she had never been genuinely nervous in front of him. She sat on the railing, holding onto it with her hands, swinging her legs, her head turning to look at the moonlit night. Her posture was relaxed, and even though a fall from the second floor would be dangerous, she showed no fear.

Well, she did have a lot of courage, not flinching even during surgery.

Yang Yanzong stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her waist, and their foreheads touched. He looked at her and snorted, “As a future daughter-in-law, you should take care of your mother-in-law, not run off to play. What kind of behavior is that?”

Su Ci always believed in doing just enough. Besides, she wasn’t married yet. She glanced at him sideways, “And you? Can you respect and honor my father as your own?”

Their eyes met, sparks flying.

Yang Yanzong grabbed her chin, “If you obediently marry me, I can.” With that, he kissed her hard, silencing her troublesome little mouth.

…

T/N: From now on, I’ll refer to Yang Yanzong’s mother as Mrs. Yan and Ji Yan’s mother as Concubine Yan to avoid confusion, as they had the same surname.