A Sword of Frost - Chapter 3

A Theft In The Palace (1.3)

Ji Yanran asked, “With what poison?”

Yun Yifeng did not reply, but instead asked, “What does the Blood Ganoderma Lucidum look like?”

Ji Yanran’s face was calm, “Hasn’t Master Yun seen it before?”

“If I had seen it, how could I not find it?” Yun Yifeng said, “There is almost no record in the medical books. Only in stories from the coastal areas, will the Goddess of the Ocean and Blood Ganoderma Lucidum occasionally be mentioned. It was said that a group of fishermen had presented the King with this precious treasure. Your Highness is unwilling to give it to me, and that’s understandable. But at least tell me about it, what is so special about this item?”

Ji Yanran said casually, “The whole thing is reddish, and it is bigger and harder than ordinary Ganoderma lucidum.”

“That’s it.” Yun Yifeng thought for a while and nodded, “Your Highness can rest assured. For this life-saving medicine, I will definitely do my best.”

Upon hearing the conversation between the two men, Ji’s attendants became anxious again; Almost as if they could foresee the earth-shaking, turbulent waves that would appear once the truth was revealed.

Perhaps as an attempt to atone, Ji Yanran personally walked Yun Yifeng back to the room after dinner. But as he opened the door, the young servant was still making the bed —the beddings from the inn had long been tossed aside somewhere. In their place, a brocade quilt and an exquisite jade pillow had been prepared, along with a thick bearskin rug placed on the footstool and a good soothing incense that was already lit in an incense burner by the bedside. Even the utensils used for tea-drinking were exquisite and unique. The copper basin used for washing was filled with flower petals and, standing in a row, four servants with smiles all over their faces, seemed to be already in position to assist Yun Yifeng in changing his clothes and taking a bath. 

The Master of Feng Yu Sect was puzzled, “Is there a ceremony that Your Highness performs before going to bed?”

Ji Yanran replied, “You can’t be born into the Royal Family and want nothing. Everyone likes luxury and pleasure, and I am no exception. If Master Yun wants to hear the zither….”

“No need.” Yun Yifeng interrupted him, “I want to rest. Thank you, Your Highness, for tonight.”

Ji Yanran nodded but before leaving the room, he did not forget to mention that the teapot was filled with Xueding Hancui, a rare tea that was extremely hard to come by. 

However, Yun Yifeng was not interested in this rare tea, he just wanted to bathe and go to bed quickly. He needed to activate his Qi in order to tamper the sharp pain within his body. The journey towards the Northeast was arduous, and had taken a toll on his body —he had really suffered. Having spent a whole day on a carriage, travelling a bumpy road, his internal organs seemed to have shrunk into a ball. It was only after laying on the bed, that he managed to feel slightly more comfortable. However, while his body was tired, his mind was strangely alert —he often laid awake until late into the night.  

This time was no different. After wrapping himself in the soft bedding, Yun Yifeng did not extinguish the candle, but amplified the light quite a bit as he took out a piece of red jade and a small knife from the box. He leaned against the head of the bed and started carving finely.

Outside the window, light snow fluttered through the night.

Early in the morning the next day, Ji Yanran looked at the red jade carving hanging around Yun Yifeng’s neck and said hesitantly, “This is…”

Yun Yifeng replied, “According to the description given by Your Highness, I carved a Blood Ganoderma Lucidum as a safety amulet.”

Ji Yanran, “…”

Yun Yifeng continued, “Even if it is not the real thing, to wear and look at it every day, while thinking that it is, will make me happy.”

He said those words with a gentle and sincere tone, as he smiled like a warm spring sun with eyes that gleamed like dew on a cherry blossoms. 　

Ji’s attendant, who still had a conscience, couldn’t bear to deceive a seriously ill person, so he lowered his head and ran away faster than a thief. 

Ji Yanran smiled and said, “Good.”

Yun Yifeng hung the red jade ganoderma on his chest all day, like a treasure for the remainder of the journey. He treated everyone kindly and whenever he smiled, his handsomeness shone. Oftentimes, when he experienced his coughing fits, his fragility was highlighted more than usual, which caused Ji’s attendants to be even more stressed and filled with anxiety. They felt like they just needed to head to a roadside field to dig out a Blood Ganoderma Lucidum, wrapped it with gold and silver threads and respectfully present it to this innocent businessman, who was being deceived. 

The carriage drove on briskly and Yun Yifeng dozed off  while leaning against a soft cushion, like a lazy animal in winter. Ji Yanran sat on the opposite side, aware that the bench under him was made of icy cold jade. In this ghastly weather, where drops of water would freeze almost immediately, ordinary people would shiver as soon as they were near the bench, let alone sitting on it. It seems like the poison affecting his body was truly severe.  

“Master.” Ji’s attendant called from outside, “We are here.”

Yun Yifeng opened his eyes, “Han Wu City?”

“Yes.” Ji Yanran said, “Ah Fu has already gone to the inn first to prepare the medicated bath and equipment for Master Yun.” Along the way, he had gained a general understanding of Yun Yifeng’s habits —in short, he needed to take medicine every few days and a medicated bath every other few days. 　　

Yun Yifeng raised his eyebrows, “Is it to prepare medicine for me first or to spread the news in the city so as to attract people from Yue’s Escort Bureau?”

Ji Yanran replied, “Both.”

Yun Yifeng didn’t care, so he just followed Ji Yanran into Han Wu City. This was an important town in the Northeast, where many merchants did business, so it had always been prosperous and lively. This day happened to coincide with the market fair, hence there was a bit of a human traffic jam.

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