Chapter 110 Voiceless

Chapter 110: Speechless

Just then, the Deputy General urged, "General, time is pressing. Should we dispatch the troops immediately?"

Cui Ji glanced at Cheng Ge, reluctant to turn away, and reached out to touch the gauze on his forehead.

"I'm leaving Ling Feng and Jiyue behind. If you ever need anything in the future, have them handle it. Don't put yourself in harm's way for everything."

Cheng Ge nodded eagerly, patted the back of his hand, and said, "Don't worry. When I'm free someday, I'll come find you at the border."

With that, he glanced left and right, stealthily pulled a small cloth pouch from his sleeve, and quickly stuffed it into Cui Ji's hand.

"This is a pouch of goji berries I had someone bring. I heard supplies are scarce at the border, so good ones might be hard to come by."

Cui Ji clutched the small pouch, didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Cui Ji." Cheng Ge looked up at him, his gaze falling on his brow, a trace of bitterness in his heart.

Despite his words, this parting might as well be like the stars Shen and Shang, forever apart—never to see each other in this life.

Cui Ji looked down at him, his pupils like obsidian, responding to every word.

"The mountains are high and the roads are long—take good care of yourself now, you hear?" Cheng Ge grinned, his eyes rimmed with red. "May your tent always fly the banner of victory, and may your life be as long as the moon over the Qilian Mountains."

Cui Ji's gaze traced every inch of his features, etching them into his memory.

Cheng Ge looked puzzled, staring back at him, unsure what was happening.

Suddenly, a shadow fell, and a soft touch brushed his forehead, so fleeting it was almost imperceptible.

Cui Ji said in a low voice, "May your life flow like the winding streams at the Orchid Pavilion, year after year."

With that, he stepped back several paces and bowed with his hands clasped in salute to Lin Nanshu on the city wall.

Lin Nanshu, knowing what weighed on his heart, returned the salute from afar.

Cui Ji turned and mounted his horse again, shouting to the soldiers, "Advance!"

Cheng Ge's expression was still dazed as he raised his fingertips to his forehead, his gaze fixed on the retreating figure.

The curtain of rain blurred his vision. It was a long time before Cheng Ge finally snapped out of it.

He quickly swung his leg over the saddle and spurred his horse toward the city gate, retracing the path Cui Ji had taken.

Autumn rain fell, and everything began to wither. Outside the city by the riverbank, a small awning boat drifted on the water.

The clear, crisp sound of a zither floated out from the boat, lingering and mournful, casting a desolate air over the river.

Cheng Ge stood on the city wall, straining on tiptoe, his gaze fixed on the figure about to vanish into the rain.

Cui Ji, as if sensing something, turned his head instinctively and saw the small figure waving at him.

Cui Ji's heart clenched with a bitter ache as he looked at that figure.

Steeling himself, he turned away, cracked his whip, and galloped off with the army.

Cheng Ge stood on the city wall until the figure completely disappeared into the rain, only then did he slowly lower his hand.

At that moment, Lin Nanshu came to stand beside him, holding an umbrella. The two stood silently in the rain, droplets rolling off the umbrella's surface.

The sound of horse hooves fell softly on the street as Cheng Ge sat on the horse's back, humming a tune.

"When you were young, we'd gather ferns. The wind warmed, and buds first bloomed. I asked the traveler, how many years have gone by in the mountains?

When you first married, I gathered ferns alone. The dew was still sparse, and the leaves turned green anew. I asked the soldier, where can one look homeward, through decay and bloom?

When you aged, I recall gathering ferns. The grass had not yet withered, and new shoots sprouted. I asked that man, when will you return, after the wildfire's done?"

Behind him, Lin Nanshu held the reins and shifted the umbrella slightly toward Cheng Ge, asking softly, "Are you still sick?"

Cheng Ge shook his head, coughed lightly several times to the side, his cheeks flushed, his voice stuffy, "I'm fine, really."

An autumn rain brought a chill, and Cheng Ge, like the withered grass on the ground, was instantly laid low by the first frost.

That night, after returning to the Imperial Prison, he came down with a high fever without warning.

He grew dazed and confused, losing track of time. In his delirium, he felt someone bustling around him.

Sometimes feeding him medicine, sometimes wiping his face with a damp cloth to cool him down, but he couldn't open his eyes to see who it was.

In a daze, he seemed to see Cui Ji again. He wanted to reach out and grab him, but his hand grasped at nothing.

Zhou Mingqi watched the delirious man, who kept murmuring Cui Ji's name under his breath.

Holding an empty medicine bowl, his thoughts drifted, and the oil lamp cast several shadows on the high wall.

The imperial physician withdrew his acupuncture needles and slowly rose, saying, "Your Majesty, Master Cheng's high fever seems due to the sudden temperature drop as summer turns to autumn. It's nothing serious, but..."

Zhou Mingqi looked up at the physician, signaling him to continue.

The physician paused, then continued, "If the poison in Master Cheng's body is not controlled soon, not only will his lifespan be shortened, but once it flares up, it will be extremely dangerous."

Zhou Mingqi listened, raised a hand to rub his brow, and waved dismissively, "I understand. You may go."

A moment later, Fu Quan cautiously stepped forward, "Your Majesty, Commander Lu requests an audience."

At this moment, the corruption case was at a critical stage, and Zhou Mingqi had been working day and night without rest.

Hearing that Cheng Ge had suddenly fallen ill, he felt worried and had made time to rush over.

Now hearing that Commander Lu requested an audience, he said, "I understand. Tell him to wait."

"Yes." Fu Quan was about to withdraw when he heard Zhou Mingqi speak again: "The search for Bai Yuxing I ordered earlier—any progress?"

Fu Quan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately knelt to beg for forgiveness, "Your Majesty, forgive me. Bai Yuxing's whereabouts are too secretive. We... have not yet found any trace of him."

Zhou Mingqi frowned deeply but knew this matter couldn't be rushed. He waved his hand for Fu Quan to rise. "Send more men."

He looked again at Cheng Ge, still asleep, tucked the blanket around him, then stood up and left.

As Zhou Mingqi stepped into the outer chamber, he came face to face with Lin Nanshu, who was approaching.

Lin Nanshu stepped aside, placed the food box he was carrying on a table, and calmly bowed to Zhou Mingqi.

"Rise." Zhou Mingqi was about to turn and leave but suddenly halted.

"He has already taken his medicine. Give it to him again tomorrow at the Hour of Shen (3-5 PM)."

"Yes." Lin Nanshu's face showed little expression.

"No spicy or sweet food for now. Don't indulge him in everything."

The next day, Cheng Ge's fever finally broke. When he woke up, he felt a bit dizzy.

He opened his eyes and looked around, finding Lin Nanshu asleep at the table next to the bed, eyes tightly shut.

Cheng Ge swallowed and carefully tugged at his sleeve.

Lin Nanshu lifted his head groggily and sat up with sleepy eyes. He reached out to check Cheng Ge's forehead. "Still feeling sick?"

Cheng Ge shook his head, his voice still weak. He opened his mouth: "¥&."

Lin Nanshu: "???"

"Muyu, what do you want?" Lin Nanshu asked softly again.

Cheng Ge stared at Lin Nanshu with wide eyes and repeated his request: "&*%^#¥!"

Lin Nanshu: "..."

Cheng Ge fell silent too. It seemed he had lost his voice, and his throat was sore.

Helplessly, he had to rely on body language to communicate.

He struggled to sit up from the bed and gestured to Lin Nanshu.

"Chicken?" Lin Nanshu hesitated, then spoke.

Cheng Ge nodded frantically, indicating that Lin Nanshu was smart: "&*^#"

"You want to eat chicken?"

Cheng Ge shook his head frantically again, making vague sounds from his throat.

His face was a little red now, and he gestured twice more toward Lin Nanshu.

Lin Nanshu: "Water? You want chicken soup?"

Cheng Ge grabbed his waistband, looking at Lin Nanshu with a desperate expression, his eyes red.