Chapter 56
BY THE NEXT MORNING, the rain had tapered off. Duan Ling—though he slept fitfully, accompanied by chaotic, tangled thoughts—safely lived to see the dawn.
The events of the previous night already felt like a dream, but nevertheless, he immediately carried on mulling over how to guarantee his safety. Lang Junxia was one of the Four Great Assassins; Duan Ling needed someone at least as skilled as Wu Du or Changliu-jun by his side at all times. Even if he wasn’t right next to them, he had to, at a bare minimum, stay within their sight.
But what about during his daily studies? His nights with Wu Du were safe, but should he still go study with Mu Qing during the day? Lang Junxia most likely wouldn’t attack during the daytime, Duan Ling thought. Sneaking into the prime minister’s residence in broad daylight was far too ambitious. It wasn’t completely safe, but—life was full of risks.
After breakfast, Wu Du assembled a new wooden case of ingredients and made ready to leave. Duan Ling trotted along after him.
Turning to scrutinize him, Wu Du realized he was still nervous.
“Where are you going?” Duan Ling asked. “I’ll go with you.” He took Wu Du’s wooden case from him and looked at him expectantly.
Wu Du had little choice but to let Duan Ling accompany him, and entered the prime minister’s residence distracted. As they passed through the manor, he whispered, “Do you remember what Wuluohou Mu said last night?”
Duan Ling hadn’t been paying close attention to what Lang Junxia was saying at the time—but now that he thought back, he had indeed made an odd comment. “He said a carriage from the prime minister’s residence was outside the brothel,” Duan Ling said with a frown.
“Shh. If Prime Minister Mu asks what we were doing, don’t say anything. I’ll explain.”
Mu Kuangda was taking his breakfast when they arrived. He seemed to have guessed Wu Du would come early in the morning, and directed the servants to offer Wu Du and Duan Ling a cup of tea as soon as they arrived. Changliu-jun sat off to one side, polishing his sword.
Wu Du placed the case in front of Mu Kuangda and opened it to reveal a nine-square grid containing different dried herbs. He unfolded a piece of yellow paper and laid that in front of Mu Kuangda as well.
“The prescription you gave me before had conflicting ingredients for increasing and decreasing internal heat, and the dosage instructions were strange,” Wu Du said. “It would be far too easy for the average physician to detect its poisonous nature. In order to avoid this, I made three significant changes to the formula. I replaced four of the seven herbs and added two more nurturing ingredients to create this version. I’ve named it Nine Souls Soup.”
“Very good,” Mu Kuangda replied. “What are its effects?”
“At first glance, the prescription is designed to invigorate the internal organs, particularly the stomach and spleen, and help with relentless dreams. After taking it, the frequency of the patient’s dreams will decrease, but the heartbeat will become irregular during waking hours,” Wu Du explained. “After three doses, the true effects will begin to make themselves known: The patient will become restless, anxious, and confused. If the patient takes sedatives intended to strengthen the heart on top of this drug, their interaction will cause drowsiness—and if continued, the heart will begin to fail. If the patient takes any inflammatory or dryness-inducing medicines with it, like ginseng or desert broomrape, even one dose will do irreparable harm. A few more such doses and he will die, bleeding from all seven orifices.”
“Very good,” Mu Kuangda repeated, satisfied. “And is there an antidote?”
“Ice silkworm molt and snowsnake core,” Wu Du replied. “These two substances can reverse the effects. On the back of the paper are instructions for preparing the antidote.”
Mu Kuangda read over the prescription several times and slowly nodded, admiration in his eyes. “Your reputation is well deserved.”
Wu Du silently sipped his cup of tea.
“The storm was strong last night. Did you sleep well?” Mu Kuangda asked.
Duan Ling immediately caught the deeper meaning behind this question: Mu Kuangda knew about Wu Du’s meeting with the crown prince. Lang Junxia had guessed as much the previous night, and this Wu Du knew as well, though Mu Kuangda didn’t know they knew… All these twists and turns of logic were complicated, but luckily, Lang Junxia had given Wu Du a tip-off, giving them the chance to seize the initiative. Perhaps this was a stroke of luck.
Changliu-jun’s eyes held an amused glint that Duan Ling didn’t quite understand. He suspected the assassin was gloating again.
“We were at Qunfang Pavilion last night,” Wu Du said with a casual frankness. “I took this youngster out to experience a bit of the world.”
“Oh?” Mu Kuangda chuckled. “I imagine you two had a good time.”
Duan Ling’s heart beat quicker with nerves. He remembered what Lang Junxia said—to simply tell Mu Kuangda the truth if he asked—and several more thoughts raced through his mind in short order. The scenario became clear to him: Lang Junxia’s decision to hand the initiative to Wu Du was exceedingly clever. The false crown prince wanted to recruit him, but Wu Du was already in the enemy’s camp; Wu Du could present this information to Mu Kuangda in order to gain his trust and wait for another opportunity in the future. Wu Du would still be Mu Kuangda’s man in name. If he ultimately became a double agent on the crown prince and Lang Junxia’s side, all the better.
Of course, this arrangement would work only with a man as sentimental as Wu Du.
“Not as good as I’d like,” Wu Du replied. “I’m much burdened by the past; after thinking it over, I still owe you, Your Excellency.”
Mu Kuangda was silent a moment, then nodded. There was no need for an intelligent man such as himself to belabor the point with words.
“I’ll never forget how you pled mercy for me, Your Excellency,” Wu Du said finally. “If there is nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait.” Before Wu Du could get up, Mu Kuangda gestured toward Changliu-jun, who produced a letter. “I may need to trouble you again,” Mu Kuangda said. “Take a look at this letter first.”
Duan Ling was instantly curious, but he didn’t dare move closer to read it.
“Wang Shan,” Mu Kuangda said, turning to address him. “You follow the young master every day and are ever nearby. Though you are not one of my counselors, I still value your thoughts. You needn’t be so cautious; young people should speak more freely than the old.”