BXBX NOVEL Chapter 242 - 242: 242. Rescue
Chapter 242 - 242: 242. Rescue
Duanmu Chen stood solemnly by the window, allowing the rain to blow in and sweep across his face.
The incident happened suddenly, and although he had some conjectures, they were not yet confirmed. One thing was certain: he could not afford to lose Su Liang, an irreplaceable partner.
The sound of footsteps echoed as Chang’an hurried to the corridor, stomping his feet to shake off the rainwater. He stood at the door and spoke to Duanmu Chen without entering, “Master, the Heavenly Prison is heavily guarded, we cannot enter!”
Duanmu Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Heavily guarded? Could Father Emperor truly intend to use this opportunity to get rid of Su Liang… No, if that were the case, he could have executed her immediately, rather than sending her to the Heavenly Prison and allowing for unexpected complications.” Chang’an furrowed his brows and dared not speak.
“Have someone keep an eye on the area near the Heavenly Prison and pay attention to anyone entering or leaving,” Duanmu Chen said, “You, go to Su Liang’s house.”
Chang’an hesitated for a moment, “Miss Su’s house? Isn’t it empty at this time?”
“What if it isn’t?” Duanmu Chen seemed lost in thought, “Go quickly!” Chang’an obeyed and quickly left.
It wasn’t long before he returned, informing Duanmu Chen that Su Mansion was empty.
“She surrendered willingly, but surely she must have left herself a way out…”
Duanmu Chen furrowed his brows, “Could it be that she expects me to save
Chang’an immediately nodded, “This subordinate thinks so. With such a big matter at hand, no one else can do anything.”
“But I cannot break into the Heavenly Prison either; that would only backfire,” Duanmu Chen said, slightly troubled, “Most importantly, we have no way of knowing what Father Emperor’s intentions toward Su Liang truly are.”
Chang’an sighed, “This subordinate merely feels that Miss Su is in great danger while in the Heavenly Prison.” If someone wanted to harm her in secret, now would be the perfect opportunity.
Duanmu Chen thought of the Empress Dowager’s threat to give Su Liang a cup of poisoned wine that night, and his headache worsened.
After a moment, Duanmu Chen took a deep breath, as if making a decision,
“Prepare the carriage, I must enter the palace to request an audience with Father Emperor!”
Chang’an hurriedly went to prepare the carriage.
Soon, Duanmu Chen’s carriage drove out of the prince’s residence in the pouring rain, heading for the Imperial Palace.
What Duanmu Chen didn’t know was that at this moment, Su Liang was not in the Heavenly Prison. Instead, she was hiding not far from the Wan Family residence, watching the wall where Cheng Yun entered.
Her clothes were soaked through, and a cold wind blew past, causing her to shiver. On one hand, she was worried about Bai Xiaohu and Cheng Yun, and on the other hand, she recalled a time in Bei’an County when she and Gu Ling had braved a heavy rainstorm to save someone.
Unfortunately, Gu Ling was not here, otherwise Bai Xiaohu would have been rescued already… Su Liang shook her head and dismissed the thought. By her calculations, Gu Ling should be on her way back at most, and wouldn’t be able to make it today. If Gu Ling had to wait for Yang Yu and Nian Jincheng to settle their marriage before returning to the capital with Nian Jincheng, then there was no telling when she would arrive.
Su Liang always felt that aside from her medical skills, she was not particularly impressive when with Gu Ling. Even though she was the Martial Arts Champion, her martial arts couldn’t compare to Gu Ling’s.
The current situation was a consequence of her earlier decision to avenge the original master and her family. To this point, Su Liang had no regrets about what she had done before. Both Duanmu Cheng and Duanmu Ao deserved their pumsnments ana more.
However, the last thing Su Liang wanted was for her own affairs to involve innocent people. That was the case right now.
Cheng Yun still hadn’t emerged after a long time, and Su Liang was restless.
Silently, she prayed, invoking a phrase often uttered by Cheng Yun, “Amitabha,” hoping that Heaven would bless them and that Cheng Yun and Bai Xiaohu would be safe.
It was unclear how much time had passed when the sky grew darker.
Finally, Su Liang saw someone leaping over the wall of the Wan residence. She immediately rushed out, but her legs, having become somewhat numb from hiding for so long, almost buckled beneath her.
The heavy rain blurred her vision, but Su Liang knew it had to be Cheng Yun; no one else would leave from this location.
Soon, Cheng Yun also saw Su Liang and rushed towards her.
As they got closer, Su Liang saw that Cheng Yun was carrying something on his back and her heart slightly relaxed, “Is it Little Tiger?”
Seeing Cheng Yun nod affirmatively, Su Liang’s eyes brightened and she immediately went to check, “Is he… alright?”
“He’s unconscious, but he should be fine,” Cheng Yun said.
“Great, let’s go quickly! To my house!” Su Liang looked in the direction of the Wan Family Mansion and saw no one chasing them out. She hurriedly led Cheng Yun away in the rain.
Upon entering the Su Mansion, Su Liang took Cheng Yun straight to Yuanming Pavilion.
Qi Jun heard the commotion and came out from inside. Seeing Su Liang, his expression changed, “Who are you?”
“It’s me,” Su Liang replied. It was normal for Qi Jun not to recognize her since she had disguised herself.
Qi Jun’s eyes widened, “Miss Su? You escaped from prison?”
Su Liang shook her head, “It’s a long story. Hurry up and boil some water!”
“Oh!” Qi Jun’s expression brightened, and he was delighted to see Su Liang safely return. Although he didn’t know what had happened, everyone thought that Su Liang was in the heavily guarded Heavenly Prison at the moment. Old Master Qin and Qin Kang had decided to watch the situation quietly and instructed them not to act rashly. They didn’t expect Su Liang to actually escape.
Xing Yusheng and Lin Xueqing were still at Duke Qin’s Mansion discussing countermeasures and hadn’t returned yet. Qi Jun didn’t immediately inform them and, following Su Liang’s instructions, went to the kitchen to boil water.
Su Liang took Cheng Yun into Yuanming Pavilion. On the first floor, there was a soft couch. She asked him to put Bai Xiaohu on it.
Initially, Bai Xiaohu’s head was hanging down, and Su Liang didn’t get a clear look. Now that he was lying down face up, she saw his emaciated and bruised face and dry, cracked lips, which angered her.
“Amitabha, if the little monk came one step later, Little Tiger would have been in danger,” Cheng Yun sighed. He had not yet told Su Liang about the rescue of Bai Xiaohu, which was really very dangerous.
Su Liang first took Bai Xiaohu’s pulse, his hand cold. According to the pulse, he was just weak, as if he hadn’t eaten for a long time. Other than that, he was fine. The reason he didn’t wake up was that he had been drugged with sedatives.
“Is Little Tiger okay?” Cheng Yun asked.
Su Liang shook her head, “No serious harm.”
Cheng Yun breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s good. You look after him, the little monk should go back to the temple. This happened suddenly, and I didn’t even tell my master when I came down the mountain. I’ll come to see Little Tiger another day.”
“Wait,” Su Liang stopped Cheng Yun, “How did you find Little Tiger?”
Cheng Yun sighed deeply, “He was thrown into the dry well in that garden.”
Su Liang looked angry when she saw Bai Xiaohu’s bare foot hanging unnaturally, the mud not hiding the large bruises and clear signs of being soaked in water for a long time.
In the heavy rain, the dry well filled with water, and if they hadn’t rescued him in time, he would have drowned.
“The little monk searched everywhere according to Miss Su’s instructions, but couldn’t find him, so I went to catch Wan Shan. There was someone protecting Wan Shan, but fortunately, they were no match for me. After catching Wan Shan, in order to avoid trouble, the little monk didn’t want to hurt anyone, so I took him around the mansion, and when seeing someone, I made them tie each other up and gag each other. Finally, I forced Wan Shan to confess where Little Tiger was. At first, he refused to admit it, so the little monk could only threaten to kill him…” Cheng Yun recounted the events with some difficulty. It wasn’t easy for him to say something like killing someone, even if it was a bluff.
Su Liang nodded, “Very smart. Thank you.” She patted Cheng Yun on the shoulder.
Cheng Yun looked a little stiff, “No… No problem, it’s all for saving people, saving Little Tiger. Miss Su, you don’t have to do this.”
Su Liang:… Her mistake, she scared the little monk. She just wanted to thank him.
“Drink some hot water before you go,” Su Liang said, “You sit down first, there’s no need to worry about the Huguo Temple thinking you’re lost. You’re not usually prevented from leaving the mountain.”
Cheng Yun hesitated for a moment before sitting down. He looked at the unconscious Bai Xiaohu, then removed the cloth from his head and took off Gu Ling’s clothes, folded them neatly, and placed them on a stool next to him, returning to his little monk appearance.
His bald head made Qi Jun, who brought the water, stop in surprise. He then realized that the person who had returned with Su Liang was, in fact, the beautiful little monk from Huguo Temple.
Seeing Bai Xiaohu on the bed amazed Qi Jun even more. Of course, he recognized the boy because he and Su Liang had first met in Bei’an County. Bai Xiaohu was the child of Su Liang’s neighbor who often went to Su Liang’s place and had a very close relationship.
Qi Jun, who was quite clever, could already guess what had happened by observing everything. He first put down the hot water he had prepared and poured three cups. Then, he brought over a basin of hot water.
Su Liang wiped Bai Xiaohu’s face and hands first, then cleaned his feet, found some ointment and applied it to his wounds.
Cheng Yun drank a cup of hot water and poured himself another. As he was about to take a sip, he suddenly heard Su Liang ask, “What happened to Wan Shan? Did you let him go in the end?”
Choked by the water, Cheng Yun coughed a few times, put down the cup, and shook his head, “Not exactly.”
“Then what did you do to him?” Su Liang asked.
Cheng Yun looked somewhat uneasy, “When this humble monk rescued Little
Tiger from the dried-up well, I couldn’t bear the injustice, so I pushed Wan
Shan down. But since Little Tiger survived, he shouldn’t die, should he?”
Su Liang looked at Cheng Yun’s uneasy expression and sneered coldly, “It’s better if he’s dead.”
Cheng Yun sighed repeatedly, “What a sin, what a sin. This humble monk shouldn’t have acted impulsively. If I have committed a killing, it would be an unforgivable sin.”
“That man wanted to kill Little Tiger. You killed him in the name of justice,” Su Liang snorted.
Cheng Yun kept shaking his head and started reciting Buddhist scriptures.
Su Liang knew that the little monk was merely too kind-hearted, with a pure Buddhist heart, unwilling to hurt or harm others, so she didn’t say anything more.
Su Liang fed Bai Xiaohu a cup of warm water and gave him some medicine. She looked outside and saw that it was completely dark.
“Miss Su, this humble monk should return to the temple,” Cheng Yun once again brought up leaving.
Su Liang nodded, “Alright, you go ahead, but don’t mention today’s events to anyone.”
Cheng Yun frowned, “Monks do not lie…”
Su Liang shook her head, ‘You should think of it like this, this matter has nothing to do with other people. If you tell them, it will only bring unnecessary trouble.”
Cheng Yun was stunned for a moment, “Miss Su’s words make sense.”
“Moreover, there are people who want to harm me and Little Tiger. As for me, I should be in the Heavenly Prison awaiting execution. If you tell outsiders, are you wanting them to capture me?” Su Liang asked.
Cheng Yun quickly waved his hands, “This humble monk had no such thoughts.”
“Then it’s settled. If anyone asks where you went, just say you went for a walk at the foot of the mountain. That’s not a lie,” Su Liang said.
“Alright then.” Cheng Yun hesitantly asked, “Miss Su, should I go and check how Wan Shan is doing?
Su Liang glared at Cheng Yun, “You are not even willing to stay and take care of Little Tiger, but you’re still thinking about that evildoer? How does that make sense?”
Cheng Yun wanted to say that he was just afraid of killing someone, but seeing
Su Liang staring at him, he said subconsciously, “The humble monk won’t go. I’ll return to the temple. Farewell.”
Just after Cheng Yun stepped out, he came back, “This humble monk will come to see Little Tiger tomorrow. Please take good care of him, Miss Su. And take care of yourself too.”
“Go on, no need to recite any more scriptures,” Su Liang waved her hand. Cheng Yun furrowed his brows, “This humble monk wasn’t reciting.”
Su Liang: .
After Cheng Yun left, Qi Jun said he would go buy some food and come back. Su Liang told him to avoid people.
Su Liang brought down a blanket from the upper floor and covered Bai Xiaohu with it. Considering Bai Xiaohu had been captured for at least seven or eight days, the Bai family must be going crazy with worry. Su Liang felt guilty.
Seeing that Bai Xiaohu’s cheeks were flushed, Su Liang touched his forehead and found that he had a slight fever.
She fetched a basin of cold water, soaked a towel, and stuck it on his forehead. She also found some strong alcohol to wipe his hands and feet.
Bai Xiaohu’s tiny hand trembled, and he slowly woke up.
Su Liang’s face lit up with joy. When Bai Xiaohu saw the unfamiliar face of Su Liang in disguise, he screamed and backed into the corner.
Su Liang remembered that she had forgotten to remove her disguise and quickly said, “Little Tiger, it’s me, Sister Su Liang!”
“No, you’re not Sister Su Liang! You’re a bad person!” Bai Xiaohu shook his head.
Just then, Qi Jun returned with food containers. Su Liang quickly called him over to look after Bai Xiaohu and went upstairs herself.
Qi Jun sat down next to him and said warmly, “Do you still remember me, Little
Tiger? I once went to Su Village, my surname is Qi. Back then, you called me
Brother Xiao Qi.”
Bai Xiaohu kept his eyes closed, unwilling to open them, and curled up into a ball. He trembled slightly, showing that this experience had caused him significant psychological trauma.
Qi Jun tried several times to touch Bai Xiaohu, but all attempts failed. He had to give up. At that moment, Su Liang returned with her original appearance, her clothes changed, and she came downstairs.
Qi Jun sighed and began to serve some porridge.
Su Liang sat down by the couch and said softly, “Little Tiger, it’s really me. Do you remember the time we went to the mountain together to hunt wild boars?”
Bai Xiaohu slowly raised his head, saw Su Liang’s face again, and suddenly burst into tears with a loud wail.
Su Liang embraced Bai Xiaohu and lightly patted his back, “It’s alright now, it’s alright. Sister Su Liang will take you home very soon.”
“Sister Su Liang… sob sob… I want to go home…” Bai Xiaohu cried breathlessly.
“Yes, we will go back very soon,” Su Liang said.
Qi Jun filled two bowls with porridge and was about to go out when Su Liang stopped him and asked him to sit down and eat together.
After reassuring Bai Xiaohu, who had been frightened, Su Liang brought him some steaming hot white porridge. The starving child immediately began eating, and Su Liang told him to slow down.
She first let Bai Xiaohu eat until he was full, then she ate a little before ordering Qi Jun to boil water for Bai Xiaohu to wash and apply medicine.
Su Liang made a decoction for Bai Xiaohu. It was bitter, but he pinched his nose and drank it all.
“Well done,” Su Liang gently patted Bai Xiaohu’s head, “Later, Uncle Xiao Qi will take care of you, so don’t be afraid.”
Bai Xiaohu nodded and asked in a low voice, “Sister Su Liang, is Brother Ning Jing really gone?”
Su Liang sighed softly and nodded.
Bai Xiaohu’s eyes immediately reddened, and he buried his head and cried again.
As Su Liang went upstairs, Qi Jun gave Bai Xiaohu a bath, and seeing his body full of bruises, he couldn’t help but curse at those beasts who didn’t even spare a child.
After giving Bai Xiaohu the medicine, Qi Jun carried him to the study upstairs where Su Liang had prepared a new bed.
Without extinguishing the lamp, Su Liang sat by the bed, “Go to sleep. I’m right here.
Bai Xiaohu fell asleep quickly. Qi Jun spoke in a low voice to persuade Su Liang to rest while he took care of Bai Xiaohu, but she insisted that he rest instead.
“Miss Su, you may have many things to deal with tomorrow, so you should sleep for a while,” Qi Jun urged again.
Once Bai Xiaohu fell asleep, Su Liang asked Qi Jun to keep an eye on him and call her if anything happened. Then she got up and went back to her room.
As she lay down, the tired Su Liang’s last thought before falling asleep was, “If only Gu Ling were here….”