Chapter 323: Injury

“What kind of trouble?” Mother Gu asked. She was very familiar with the medical hall, having cooked there for more than half a year. She recognized the boy as one of the apprentice medicine runners. “Tell me as we go.”

She grabbed Gu Baozhu and hurried toward Xinglin Medical Hall.

The apprentice kept pace beside them, speaking urgently. “A patient came in yesterday, got a few doses of medicine, and took them home. Today he came back saying the medicine made him vomit and have diarrhea, said he’s about to die, and is demanding an explanation from the hall. The physician doesn’t know what to do. Since the Commandery Princess is busy with matters at the palace, the owner asked for you to come and handle it.”

“What did the doctor say? Was there a problem with the medicine, or was it something wrong with the patient’s own body?”

Mother Gu didn’t understand these things—she wasn’t trained in medicine. All she could do once she got there was try to calm the situation and buy time until Su Wan arrived.

“There’s nothing wrong with the medicine we gave them,” the apprentice said, sweating anxiously. “The medicine the patient brought back is the problem—it’s all moldy. But they swear up and down that they never swapped it out, and now they’re accusing us of being heartless and giving them spoiled medicine. If we don’t give them an explanation, they say they’ll report us to the authorities.”

Mother Gu decided to first settle the patient in the medical hall and have the doctor continue treatment. Everything else would wait until Su Wan returned.

The group rushed out of the residence. Outside, a carriage was already waiting.

The apprentice said, “Please get in the carriage first.”

At that moment, Mo Yuan, Mo Chen, and ten Qi Family Army appeared simultaneously.

“Wait,” Mo Yuan stepped forward to inspect the carriage. Only after confirming it was safe did he signal for Mother Gu and Gu Baozhu to board.

But the apprentice’s face suddenly turned deathly pale, and his legs began to tremble.

Mo Yuan’s gaze sharpened like a blade. Just as he drew his sword and held it to the apprentice’s neck— The boy let out a muffled sound, “Mm!” An arrow struck him squarely in the chest. He collapsed to the ground without a word.

Gu Baozhu was so frightened her soul nearly flew out of her body. Mother Gu quickly covered her eyes. The two were immediately shielded in the center by the Qi Family Army.

Mo Yuan and Mo Chen looked up to see a row of archers lying in ambush atop the wall across from them, each holding a fire bomb in hand. Mo Yuan’s expression grew even colder. These attackers had clearly come with the resolve to die fighting—only with that kind of desperation would they dare use fire bombs at the foot of the Son of Heaven.

“If you hand them over, we’ll spare your lives.” The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing two hidden guards inside. They eyed the Qi Family Army, Mo Yuan, and Mo Chen warily. After all, over a hundred of the Empress Dowager’s death warriors had been wiped out during the earlier assault on the Gu residence. Now, they were on edge, staring at this new estate, fearful that it might be hiding another elite force. “Don’t think about stalling. We’ll count to three. If you don’t hand them over, then leave your fate to the heavens.”

Mo Yuan had hoped to stall for time. Given the situation at the gate, those hidden within the residence would surely try to circle around and strike the ambushers from behind.

But the enemy was clearly not planning to give them that chance.

“Three—”

Mo Yuan turned his head slightly and glanced at Mother Gu.

Mother Gu clutched Gu Baozhu tightly in her arms, waiting for Mo Yuan’s signal.

“Two—”

Mo Yuan saw that they had already heated branding irons with torches, clearly intending to ignite the fire bombs the moment the countdown ended.

Sweat slid down his temple. His gaze dropped to the longsword glinting with cold light—he had already seen that their people were in position, ready to flank the enemy.

“One…”

“We’ll hand them over!” Mo Yuan cut off the shadow guard’s countdown.

The shadow guard grinned with a twisted smile and reached out a hand. “Don’t drag your feet.”

Mo Yuan personally escorted Mother Gu and Gu Baozhu toward the carriage.

“Stop right there!” the shadow guard shouted, seeing right through Mo Yuan’s intentions. He knew Mo Yuan planned to wait until the two women were on the carriage before striking them down. “Let the two of them come over on their own.”

Mother Gu had never witnessed such a terrifying scene before. Her tightly clenched teeth were trembling, and her heart pounded uncontrollably. “I… I can’t walk… my legs have gone weak.”

Gu Baozhu bit down on her lip, too afraid to make a sound. Her skirt trembled ever so slightly, betraying the fear in her heart.

“Enough nonsense!” The shadow guard lost his patience. Just as he was about to wave his hand to give the order, Mo Yuan suddenly shoved Mother Gu.

Mother Gu clutched Gu Baozhu and fell to the side.

“Ah—!”

Gu family’s hidden guards launched a flanking attack, killing one of the enemy. The moment a scream rang out, chaos erupted—the battle began in an instant.

But the surprise attack had lost its most opportune moment.

A rain of arrows shot toward the Qi Family Army, Mo Yuan, Mo Chen, Mother Gu, and Gu Baozhu.

The Qi Army, along with Mo Yuan and Mo Chen, had tense expressions and fierce eyes. With swift, decisive movements, they raised their swords to block the incoming arrows.

“Run back to the residence!”

Mo Yuan shouted.

Mother Gu shielded Gu Baozhu as they ran toward the gate, her heart pounding wildly, as if it would leap out of her throat.

Two of the shadow guards nocked their arrows, aiming at Mother Gu and Gu Baozhu.

The other two pressed their red-hot branding irons to ignite the fire bombs—and hurled them straight at Mother Gu.

A figure darted in like a fierce panther, swift and powerful, leaping forward to knock the fire bomb aside.

Boom—it exploded with a deafening roar. Shards of pottery shot in all directions, and thick smoke and flames scorched the air.

With a heavy thud, that tall figure crashed from the top of the wall to the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Mo Yuan, Mo Chen, and the Qi Family Army reacted instantly, leaping onto the wall and engaging the enemy in fierce combat.

Mother Gu and Gu Baozhu scrambled into the residence, and just as the gate slammed shut behind them, she caught a glimpse of the figure lying on the ground. Her pupils trembled.

Gu Qingsong…

Her face went pale.

How could it be him?

Mother Gu’s mind went completely blank.

Her thoughts tangled into a chaotic mess, and cold sweat broke out on Mother Gu’s palms. She rushed forward, trying to open the gate.

Qi Fifth pressed firmly against the door. “Madam, you can’t open it. It’s dangerous out there. We promised the young lady we would ensure your safety.”

“Gu—Gu Qingsong, he—he’s outside.” Mother Gu’s eyes were red, her voice flustered and incoherent. “I—I saw him. He’s covered in wounds… will he die?”

Qi Fifth had heard of this man before—he was the biological father of their young master.

“Please don’t panic, Madam. I’ll go take a look.”

Before he could step out, the door was struck with heavy bangs—bang bang bang.

“Open the door.” Mo Yuan’s cold and sharp voice came through from outside.

Qi Fifth didn’t dare be careless. He climbed up the wall and glanced outside. As expected, the threat had already been neutralized. He jumped down and opened the gate.

Mo Yuan and Qi Sixteenth carried someone inside—it was none other than Gu Qingsong.

Qi Fifth saw that several of the Qi Family Army were either wounded or had been struck by arrows. His expression darkened. “Get those injuries treated right away. I’ll go to the medical hall to fetch a doctor.”

Mo Yuan glanced at the blood continuously welling from Gu Qingsong’s chest and said coldly, “It’s best to go get the Young Lady. Two shards have pierced through his chest. His breathing is faint. The situation is critical.”

Qi Fifth reached out and checked Gu Qingsong’s breath. His face changed at once. Not daring to waste a moment, he mounted a horse and rode off toward the imperial tomb.