Chapter 437
**Chapter 435: [Extra] Mo Xun (2)**
Mo Xun found it nearly impossible to tear her gaze away from the national master.
One thought consumed her mind: so handsome, I want to sleep with him.
Hong Chuan stepped forward, his eyes warm with a gentle smile as he addressed the national master in red, “He An, thank you for coming to fetch me.”
The national master nodded slightly.
He took out an embroidered golden pouch, glanced at Mo Xun, and handed it over, saying, “Thank you for your trouble.”
Mo Xun’s nose twitched.
She caught a faint scent, reminiscent of the crisp fragrance of pine and cypress after snow. Mo Xun felt a thrill of delight; not only was this national master good-looking, but he also smelled wonderful.
And his voice was pleasant too!
He was simply her ideal type! It was as if the heavens had crafted him just for her!
Mo Xun had always been bold and carefree, never one to be bound by the mundane rules of the world. Today, she had fallen head over heels for the national master of Yue; she was determined to win him over.
Taking the embroidered pouch, she said, “Healing the sick and saving lives is the duty of a healer—may I ask, what is the national master’s name?”
As she took the pouch, Mo Xun deliberately brushed her fingertips against the national master’s palm.
A light graze.
It sent a slight shiver through her.
The national master seemed oblivious, his clear eyes revealing no emotion as he locked his gaze onto Mo Xun and replied coolly, “My surname is Zhang, and my name is He An.”
Mo Xun repeated “Zhang He An” in her mind.
So beautiful.
Like a celestial crane, noble and ethereal.
With a bright smile, Mo Xun leaned closer, “National master, are you married? How old are you?”
Zhang He An did not respond.
Instead, Hong Chuan cleared his throat deliberately, breaking the awkward silence, “It’s getting late; I must leave the Medicine King Valley. Thank you, Mo Shen Yi, for your care these days.”
Mo Xun’s eyes sparkled as she approached Hong Chuan, casually waving her sleeve to scatter the colorless, odorless powder, “The Medicine King Valley only cares about money, not people. Paying for treatment is the norm.”
Hong Chuan replied, “Very well—”
Before he could finish, his expression suddenly changed, and he collapsed to the ground.
The guards were startled and rushed to help the fainted Hong Chuan, “My lord! My lord—Mo Shen Yi, why did my master suddenly faint?”
Feigning panic, Mo Xun hurried over to check Hong Chuan’s pulse. After a moment, she frowned and said, “Oh dear, your master still has residual poison in his body. Quickly carry him back to the Medicine King Valley; I’ll ask my master to detoxify him.”
The guards had no doubts and carried the unconscious Hong Chuan back to the Medicine King Valley.
Mo Xun turned around and extended an olive branch to Zhang He An, “National master, it’s quite windy at the valley entrance. Why not come to my Medicine King Valley for a few days?”
Zhang He An nodded, “Alright.”
...
...
Medicine King Valley.
The weather was fine, and the sun shone brightly.
After a simple treatment, Hong Chuan regained consciousness. Mo Xun sat by the bed, her expression serious, “I see you have many new and old injuries, and the poison in your body is quite severe. It seems you’ve had a rough time out there—my Medicine King Valley is far from the world; it can serve as your sanctuary for now.”
Hong Chuan thought of the scheming royal family of Yue; as soon as he showed his face, he would surely be ruthlessly hunted by his brothers.
Staying in the Medicine King Valley was indeed a good idea.
However, he frowned and said, “Mo Shen Yi, there’s a rule in the Medicine King Valley: patients cannot stay here for more than a month—”
Mo Xun smiled, “Rules are dead, but people are alive. I’ll have my master come over to give you a few acupuncture treatments to help open your meridians and strengthen your body. Then, I’ll let you soak in medicinal herbs to enhance your resistance to poison. In the future, if someone tries to poison you, ordinary toxins won’t work.”
Hong Chuan was very grateful, “I will remember your kindness, Mo Shen Yi! If I ever have a chance to rise, I will repay you a hundredfold!”
Mo Xun smiled and quickly changed the subject, “Brother, I want to ask you something. How old is the national master? Is he married? Does he have someone he likes?”
Hong Chuan was taken aback.
He seemed to understand Mo Xun’s intentions.
With a sigh, he answered honestly, “I know He An, but I don’t know his age. He is not married, and as for whether he has someone he likes, I cannot say.”
Mo Xun pondered.
Not married, that’s good.
She exchanged a few pleasantries before turning to call her master to come and give Hong Chuan acupuncture.
Meanwhile, she leaned against the wooden window of the medicine hut, openly admiring the national master of Yue, Zhang He An, who was enjoying tea in the shade of the trees.
The ancient tree was lush and green, sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting bright golden rays on Zhang He An’s dark red collar, making him look like a deity.
Mo Xun rested her chin on her hand, her gaze lingering on Zhang He An as she observed him closely.
“His hair is so black.”
“His nose is so high.”
“His lips are beautifully shaped; I wonder what it feels like to kiss them.”
“His tea-drinking posture is so elegant; no wonder he’s the national master.”
The more she looked, the more she liked him.
Before long, the old Medicine King entered the medicine hut, casually tossing a silver needle aside and giving Mo Xun a light tap on the head.
“Ouch! Master, why did you hit me?” Mo Xun exclaimed, covering her head in pain.
The old Medicine King glared at her, “Now that Hong Chuan has recovered, why did you bring him back to the Medicine King Valley? I can only give him acupuncture to help open his meridians and strengthen his body as compensation.”
Mo Xun smiled brightly, pointing at Zhang He An in the courtyard, “Master, I want him. The moment I saw him, I liked him very much.”
The old Medicine King: ...
Peering through the wooden window, the old Medicine King scrutinized Zhang He An for a moment. After a while, he shook his head, “This person is not simple; I cannot see through him. Being so young and already the national master of Yue shows he is not an ordinary person.”
Mo Xun replied, “Who cares if he’s ordinary? I’ll get him first and then see.”
The old Medicine King huffed, “Where did you learn this attitude? Look at the girls outside; which one speaks so freely like you!”
Mo Xun shrugged, “Life is about enjoying the moment. I won’t hesitate; once I make a decision, I won’t leave myself a way out.”
She had set her sights on the national master of Yue.
She wanted him.
The old Medicine King had no choice but to relent, “A forced marriage is never sweet!”
Mo Xun replied, “I don’t care if it’s sweet or not; I at least want to taste it—oh, Master, don’t worry. I’ve inherited your medical skills and can take care of myself. In the future, when I have children, our Medicine King Valley will have a legacy, and you can have grandchildren. Isn’t that wonderful?”
The old Medicine King, now advanced in age, indeed wanted grandchildren.
Hearing Mo Xun say this, he scratched his head and ultimately decided not to interfere with her any longer.
With the old Medicine King’s tacit approval, Mo Xun began to execute her plan.
Hong Chuan “stayed due to illness” at the Medicine King Valley, and the national master, as his close friend, also resided there.
Mo Xun was not an ordinary girl; she wouldn’t be shy. That very afternoon, she boldly approached Zhang He An with a jug of medicinal wine.
“National master, shall we be friends?” she asked.
Zhang He An remained still.
Mo Xun rested her chin on her hand, “I heard you’re still unmarried; how fortunate! I’m not married either. Why don’t we get married tonight?”
Zhang He An’s dark eyes were calm.
He looked at Mo Xun, memories of the past flooding back, her face overlapping with someone from his past. He slowly said, “Miss, please respect yourself.”
Mo Xun replied, “What respect? I’m not heavy. If the national master hugs me, you’ll know my weight.”
Zhang He An’s fingers paused as he held his teacup.
Mo Xun had endless chatter, babbling on to Zhang He An. He remained unmoved, as cold as the moon in the mountains.
But Mo Xun didn’t give up.
Nothing is impossible as long as she doesn’t quit. For the next month, Mo Xun tirelessly pursued Zhang He An.
She picked the most beautiful flowers from the mountains and placed them in a vase in Zhang He An’s room, saying, “National master, you’re even more beautiful than these flowers.”
She even painted a portrait of Zhang He An, beaming as she presented it to him, “What do you think of my painting skills?”
She pretended to be drunk in the middle of the night, barging into Zhang He An’s room, “Oh, what a beautiful night! Why don’t we consummate our marriage tonight?”
A month passed, and she still hadn’t won over the national master.
Mo Xun gritted her teeth.
Zhang He An was simply hard to deal with; she almost considered using underhanded methods to drug him and drag him to the bedroom.
But before she could act on this bold idea, the old Medicine King suddenly passed away.
It was an ordinary afternoon; after lunch, the old Medicine King went to his usual spot in the garden to bask in the sun. He closed his eyes for a nap, and when Mo Xun went to call him, he had already lost his breath.
At ninety-eight years old, without illness or pain, he passed away peacefully.
Mo Xun was heartbroken and filled with regret.
She saw Hong Chuan and Zhang He An off as they left the Medicine King Valley, then buried the old Medicine King alone.
For a year, she kept vigil over the old Medicine King’s spirit in the Medicine King Valley. Having always been a solitary person, the old Medicine King was her only family. After his passing, Mo Xun felt lost, unsure of what to do.
She wanted to see the world.
In front of the old Medicine King’s grave, she burned paper offerings and said, “Master, I’ll go out for a while, but I’ll come back to visit you often. When I grow old, I’ll return to the Medicine King Valley to live in seclusion and raise a little one to carry on the legacy of the Medicine King Valley.”
After bowing three times at the grave, Mo Xun set off down the mountain.
She first went to the imperial capital of Yue.
At that time, the royal family of Yue was in chaos, with the old emperor’s many sons vying for the throne, and the empress and concubines were embroiled in fierce battles. To consolidate his power, the old emperor led troops to attack the Kingdom of Qing.
Internal strife and external wars were unending.
Mo Xun had no interest in the political turmoil; she disguised herself as a man and became an ordinary wandering doctor. At night, she drank on a boat by the lake, and in her drunken stupor, she fell into the water.
When she woke up again, she found herself in a luxurious bedroom, her male attire replaced with light nightclothes, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders.
Mo Xun pressed her temples, struggling to remember what had happened the night before. Just then, the door creaked open, and the deep red fabric of a robe spread like clouds as Zhang He An’s striking face appeared.
Zhang He An held a bowl of cold medicine and handed it to her, “Drink this; don’t fall ill.”
Mo Xun’s mind went blank.
One thought echoed in her head—
Zhang He An likes me!
He definitely likes me!
Mo Xun didn’t take the bowl of medicine; instead, she beamed at Zhang He An, leaning closer and lightly tracing his well-defined jawline with her finger, “National master, did you change my clothes?”
Zhang He An lowered his gaze and nodded slightly, “Mm.”
Mo Xun feigned sadness, “Oh dear, I’m still a pure young lady, and now a man has seen me like this. How will I face others? National master, you must take responsibility for me.”
Zhang He An replied, “Alright.”
Mo Xun opened her mouth, nearly thinking she had misheard, “You... you said ‘alright’?”
Zhang He An affirmed, “Mm.”
Mo Xun felt as if she were floating, joy bursting within her like blooming flowers.
So much so that her vision went black, and she fainted on the bed.
When she woke up again, she skillfully checked her pulse and brewed her own medicine, finally feeling a bit relieved.
A cold, flu-like illness was best treated by herself.
She stayed in Zhang He An’s national master residence, spending her days eating, sleeping, and flirting with him, living a sweet life. Having lost her only family, the old Medicine King, she felt as if she had found a new home.
Not long after, Zhang He An began preparing for their wedding.
On the night of their wedding, Zhang He An lifted the red veil, gazing at Mo Xun’s face, and softly said, “A Xun, remember, it was you who first stirred my interest.”
Mo Xun leaned in, wrapping her arms around his neck, “Yes, yes, yes, I was the one who stirred your interest! Hurry, let’s consummate our marriage. If you can’t perform, it’s fine; after all, I’m a doctor, and I can cure your impotence, umm...”
The night was fleeting.
The red candles burned until dawn.
The next afternoon, Mo Xun sat up, wincing as she rubbed her sore waist, contemplating secretly preparing some medicine for Zhang He An.
It had been too long; it needed to be treated!
Overall, Mo Xun’s married life was very fulfilling.
The position of national master did not involve political strife, and Zhang He An was not oppressed by the royal family. After their marriage, Mo Xun opened a clinic in the imperial capital of Yue, helping the sick and saving lives during the day, and at night, she pressed Zhang He An in various ways, leading a relatively peaceful life.
She thought that her future would continue to be this happy.
Until one evening, as she left the clinic and returned to the national master’s residence, she saw a girl in a white veil kneeling at the entrance, crying and pleading to see the national master.
Mo Xun approached and asked, “What do you want with the national master?”
The girl looked up at Mo Xun’s face, choking back tears, “You can’t forget the national master, can you... we are kindred spirits.”
Mo Xun was bewildered.
What did she mean by kindred spirits?
The girl removed her white veil, revealing a beautiful face. Mo Xun was shocked to discover that the girl bore a striking resemblance to her.
Mo Xun’s head buzzed, sensing something was off. She brought the girl back to the national master’s residence.
Once tea was prepared, the girl tearfully recounted her story.
Her name was Li Zhi, a merchant’s daughter from Yu County in Yue. Three years ago, while accompanying her father to buy cloth, she was spotted by Zhang He An, who took her back to the Si Tian Jian.
With his high status and handsome appearance, Li Zhi thought she had caught his eye. However, three days later, Zhang He An returned her home and even sent someone with a hundred taels of silver.
After returning home, Li Zhi could never forget Zhang He An and wanted to go back to the imperial capital to find him. She would even be willing to serve as a tea maid.
On her way to the capital, Li Zhi happened to see someone from the national master’s residence bringing back another beautiful girl. That girl looked just like Li Zhi, and she speculated that Zhang He An might have been searching for a girl all along.
That girl looked like Li Zhi and her companions.
Li Zhi was heartbroken and returned home. Three years later, after her father passed away, she was left with no one to rely on and wanted to seek Zhang He An’s help, hoping to work as a maid in the national master’s residence.
“Given my face, I hope the national master can show me some mercy and give me a way to live.” Li Zhi touched her face, tears streaming down her cheeks.
After finishing her story, Li Zhi looked at Mo Xun with sympathy, “Miss, you just arrived at the national master’s residence, right? Oh, within three days, you’ll be sent away too.”
Mo Xun felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
Her head buzzed, as if she had fallen into hell.
Mo Xun stumbled, running to Zhang He An’s study and secret chamber. She knew there was a secret room in Zhang He An’s study; once, she had accidentally opened the switch and was curious to enter, but Zhang He An had stopped her.
He had said that the secret room contained important secrets of Yue.
At that time, Mo Xun was so infatuated with Zhang He An that she didn’t want to cause him trouble, so she promised not to go in.
This time, Mo Xun opened the secret room in the study.
The secret room was underground, and the passage was filled with many luminous pearls from Nan Chu, illuminating the path like daylight. She walked to the end of the secret room, where there was a large room.
The decor of the room was in the style of Nan Chu, with luminous pearls embedded in the walls, rubies and silks on the table, all from Nan Chu. On the wall hung a portrait.
In the portrait was a spirited girl in military attire, riding a horse, radiant like the sun.
Mo Xun looked just like her.
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