Chaos erupted within the Wei King's palace. Maids and eunuchs, carrying basins of water and damp cloths, scurried about in disarray. Xun Yu, Xi Zhicai, Xun You, and others had already arrived, their faces etched with anxiety as they peered intently.
Several physicians were hastily ushered inside, pulled along by eunuchs.
At this moment, Xiahou Yuan arrived. "Big Brother, Big Brother, how is he?"
Xiahou Yuan was also at his wit's end.
Just moments ago, his wife had narrowly escaped death. Now, his elder brother's headwind ailment had struck.
Cao Pi noticed Xiahou Yuan. "Uncle Xiahou, Father… has been mentioning you for a long time!"
With that, he led Xiahou Yuan inside.
Several imperial physicians were busy around Cao Cao's bedside. Cao Cao lay with his head tilted back, a damp cloth covering his forehead. He looked exceedingly frail.
Xiahou Yuan knew that his elder brother's headwind ailment had worsened significantly over the years of campaigning north and south.
"Miao Cai is here?"
"Big Brother…"
Cao Cao's faint eyes opened, and he saw Xiahou Yuan.
Xiahou Yuan quickly went to Cao Cao's side. "Big Brother, how do you feel?"
"I am well, it is merely my old headwind ailment!" Cao Cao sighed, then changed the subject. "How is your wife?"
This seemingly random question sent a shiver through all the imperial physicians present.
It was as if two men met, and one of them immediately asked, "How is your wife?"
It seemed… impolite to ask in such a manner.
However, Cao Cao and Xiahou Yuan were not only clan brothers but also brothers-in-law. Furthermore, over the years… Cao Cao would always ask, "How is Lady Ding?" Xiahou Yuan had grown accustomed to it.
"Ding Xiang went through the gates of hell and returned. Fortunately, we had the divine physician Hua Tuo…"
Wait a moment…
Mentioning this, Xiahou Yuan paused, then retorted, "Big Brother, why didn't you send for the divine physician Hua? Divine Physician Hua is benevolent and skilled. He just extracted the fetus from Ding Xiang's womb and then stitched her abdomen, saving her life after a difficult childbirth!"
What…
A cesarean section to deliver a baby? And the mother survived?
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao froze. Countless beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. As these beads rolled down… his spirit seemed to improve, and his headache eased considerably.
"Cesarean? To deliver a child?"
At these words, Cao Cao sat up abruptly, as if his headache had vanished!
As Lu Yu had said, Cao Cao's headwind ailment was caused by the imbalance of Qi, where "clear Qi rises and turbid Qi sinks" in ordinary people. However, in Cao Cao's case, it was "turbid Qi rising and clear Qi sinking." In essence, he never farted, and therefore… the turbid Qi could not be expelled!
As long as he could make his forehead sweat, then… the pain from the headwind ailment would be relieved and gradually disappear.
Undoubtedly…
The four words "cesarean to deliver a child" made Cao Cao sweat.
"Big Brother… your headwind?" Before Xiahou Yuan could finish speaking, Cao Cao grabbed his arm and pulled him onto the bed. "Tell me, every detail about this cesarean delivery, I must hear!"
Indeed…
Cao Cao had to hear!
In the past, Hua Tuo had been the first to propose opening the skull with an axe to remove the "wind-gall" within the head. At that time, Cao Cao, in his fury, had risen and shouted, "There are many who wish to take my head; are you one of them?"
He had then imprisoned Hua Tuo…
It was only due to Lu Yu's intercession that Hua Tuo was released and appointed to the Imperial Medical Office, where he had made considerable contributions over the years.
Of course, Cao Cao was not concerned with these contributions. What Cao Cao cared about was…
Over the years, Hua Tuo and Lu Yu had collaborated on many incredible "medical miracles," transforming the impossible into reality!
Guo Fengxiao, Pang Shiyuan… and now Ding Xiang!
If Cao Cao had only felt a stir in his heart without taking any action after Guo Fengxiao's abdominal surgery and Pang Shiyuan's arm reattachment, then this time…
"Issue my command… select some individuals from among the condemned criminals, and have the divine physician Hua Tuo open their skulls with an axe. I will personally observe!"
This…
Cao Cao's words shocked Xiahou Yuan.
Originally, the phrase "open the skull with an axe" was extremely taboo for Cao Cao.
But this time, because of Ding Xiang's cesarean delivery, his elder brother had actually… unexpectedly…
"Yes."
It was Xu Chu, standing outside the door, who responded and immediately went to make arrangements.
Xiahou Yuan, however, seemed to have thought of something and quickly reminded him, "Big Brother, it is likely that the divine physician Hua Tuo will not easily open the skulls of healthy individuals. He is a divine physician, skilled in saving lives, not in killing!"
"Hahaha…"
As these words left his mouth, Cao Cao burst into laughter. "This is simple, I have a way!"
…
…
Lu Yu had already arrived at the estate of Cai Zhaoji at the foot of Mount Rang.
The chamber was decorated with great elegance. Cai Zhaoji's voice, though soft, still carried a hint of guilt and shyness.
"Brother Yu, you're here!"
"When did this happen?" Lu Yu retorted directly…
"Is it about Ju'er's disappearance?" Cai Zhaoji replied.
Lu Yu shook his head. "I have already dispatched the Dragon Cavalier Camp to search for Ju'er. We will scour Mount Rang top to bottom. I was asking…"
As he spoke, Lu Yu's gaze shifted to Cai Zhaoji's belly.
That noticeably swollen abdomen contained his child!
Cai Zhaoji's face was tear-streaked as she gazed at a single lamp. Before her lay a zither. Whenever she felt lonely and restless, she would pluck its strings a few times.
And once upon a time, those zither melodies had also reflected Cai Zhaoji's state of mind.
"How can you ask like that? Your younger brother is the most disobedient. When did… don't you know?"
This…
Lu Yu recalled a certain moment.
It was before the Battle of Red Cliffs. Even though more than half a year had passed, Lu Yu had a hazy memory… beautiful scenes always flickered in a gentle blur.
*Huff…*
He let out a soft breath.
Lu Yu had thought of many ways to face Elder Sister Zhao Ji and had prepared many speeches. But when their eyes finally met, he realized all his preparations were in vain.
They were already the most intimate of people, and now… there was an additional, unique emotion added to this intimacy.
From now on, Elder Sister Zhao Ji…
Would be a different kind of Elder Sister.
At this moment, Lu Yu thought of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" and Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv…
In the Song Dynasty, a disciple marrying his master was perhaps even more unacceptable to the world than their sibling relationship, yet they had gone ahead without hesitation. As for himself and Elder Sister Zhao Ji.
In the final analysis, Lu Yu had been taken in by Cai Yong. His feelings for Elder Sister Zhao Ji seemed even deeper than those for a biological sibling, but in reality… they were not biological siblings.
This was not inexplicable…
Moreover, due to the newspaper, the interpretation of all laws and customs rested with Lu Yu.
"Brother Yu is not speaking?"
Seeing Lu Yu's silence, Cai Zhaoji asked softly, "Can you not accept it?"
"No…" Lu Yu shook his head gently. Then, he turned and embraced Elder Sister Zhao Ji… but with this embrace, Lu Yu said nothing.
He and Cai Zhaoji gazed at each other with deep affection…
For a long, long time…
Until the voice of Dian Wei was heard from outside the door.
"Lord Marquis, we have found some clues regarding the disappearance of Lady Xiahou Juan!"
"I know!"
Through the door, Lu Yu murmured softly.
Then, he gave Cai Zhaoji one last deep look, turned, and said as he walked away, "Commander Dian, immediately send someone to inform the Wei King that the Southern Hunting Marquis wishes to take Cai Yan, the Head of the Imperial College, as his wife!"
Ah…
Ah…
Upon hearing this, Dian Wei was momentarily stunned.
Cai Yan… isn't that Miss Zhaoji? Isn't that the Marquis's sister?
Has the Marquis truly… truly decided to marry his sister?
Countless question marks arose…
When he came to his senses, Lu Yu had already left the estate.
…
…
On Mount Rang, at the majestic peak of Yunfeng, the cliffs shone brilliantly…
A pine tree stood tall at the edge of the precipice, its vigor unwavering, as if it perpetually possessed the spirit of bravely defying frost and enduring snow.
At this moment, Lu Yu arrived here, escorted by a contingent of the Dragon Cavalier Camp.
He squinted at the empty rattan basket before him.
"Dezu went down from here?"
Lu Yu's voice emerged…
Several scribes quickly replied, "Precisely here. Officer Yang Cao told us that he would surely return by evening… but… but it has been many days. Every day we lower the rattan basket, but… but no one has returned."
"Have you sent anyone down to investigate again?" Lu Yu continued to ask.
"Officer Yang Cao ordered us not to go down, and we dare not disobey!" the scribes continued to report.
Lu Yu picked up the basket with one hand, cradled his chin, and fell into thought.
Yang Xiu's action, his order… it was clearly full of meaning!
What was his purpose?
Or rather… while investigating the assassination of Ma Teng, did he discover something?
As he spoke…
Lu Yu's peripheral vision caught sight of wisps of cooking smoke rising from the mountainside below.
However, the smoke was thin… and quickly merged with the clouds.
This…
Immediately, Lu Yu pointed at the place where the smoke rose and inquired, "Can one reach there?"
"If one were to reach it, one would have to take this rattan basket. However… Officer Yang Cao has not returned, and perhaps the mountainside harbors danger!" the scribe analyzed carefully.
As for Lu Yu, his gaze was profound. After a brief moment of contemplation, he seemed to have figured something out.
Or, to be precise, he was certain that Yang Xiu, at least, was unharmed!
And Yang Xiu, although historically "arrogant," was by no means lacking in courage, nor was he foolish. If he knew there was danger, he would not have rushed forward rashly, and he had a hundred ways to escape.
These… could be seen from past events.
Just then…
The scribe spoke again, reminding him, "Lord Marquis, should we go down to investigate?"
"No need!" Lu Yu waved his hand. "You all stay here and lower the rattan basket as usual every day. If no one returns, you do not need to report. If there are any unusual movements, report them to me immediately. Aside from this, continue searching Mount Rang, and strictly seal off the entire route of Mount Rang, allowing no one other than us to set foot there!"
People say that no one knows a son better than his father!
For Lu Yu, he knew his disciple better than his teacher, and even more so, he had long regarded Yang Xiu in the same light!
Since you, Yang Dezu, are going to act, how can I, your teacher, pretend not to see?
Most likely, this good show… is about to begin!
With this thought…
Lu Yu continued to instruct, "Where is the Wei King? Lead the way and take me to see the Wei King!"
This…
Upon hearing this, Dian Wei scratched his head. "Lord Marquis, I fear we cannot see the Wei King for the moment!"
"Why?"
"He is performing a cranial trepanation!"
Ah… Ah…
Dian Wei's words truly shocked Lu Yu!
This… what is going on?
…
…