Using the naihexiang drug on different people would yield different results.
Until now, Feng Xiao could still remember the bone-piercing pain Cui Buqu experienced when the naihexiang took effect in his body, yet he was still able to retain a lingering sense of his intellect and consciousness to play theory games with him.
Cui Buqu's biggest error was perhaps how he was overly conscious when he was under the naihexiang's effect, for this had instead alerted Feng Xiao's suspiciousness.
Afterwards, when Yu Xiu also fell victim to the naihexiang in Cui Buqu's schemes, he had at least suppressed all of it down to fight a vigorous battle with Feng Xiao and managed to even escape.
When compared with these two, Lin Wei was nothing.
"Lin Wei has already told us everything he did since he joined the Thirteen Pavillions of Yunhai. All the members and their responsibilities have already been listed. He was in charge of finance; Xiao Lu provided him clients, and he has also helped the Thirteen Pavilions earn a handsome amount. According to what he says, the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai's powers were divided. On leisurely days, they seldom gathered, so there is not much he knows. Even regarding the insiders within the Northern Regions that Xiao Lu has placed, he knew none of them except himself. The only clues that might prove useful were the different ways of passing messages between the Yangdang Estate and Xiao Lu."
Ming Yue was sitting within the house, offering the results of his interrogation to the other two.
"However, this time, Xiao Lu has never shown himself throughout the entire event. It proved that it was very possible he already knew Fan Yun's intentions and would never step into the trap himself. Presently, Lin Wei is in our hands, thus all these methods of contact will also be discarded. Once we manage to find our way there, we would most certainly be greeted by an empty pavilion."
"Presently, these people from the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai—Yu Xiu, Lin Wei, Duan Qigu, Fong Xiaolian, Yu Heng, and the others, have all been annihilated. As Xiao Lu's most valued strategist, Fan Yun has also betrayed him. It would be impossible for Xiao Lu to use him again. Without Fan Yun, the Thirteen Pavilions are like a dragon that has lost an eye, like a bird who lost its wings. Within a short period, no movements would come from them."
Although Ming Yue was number three in the Jiejian Bureau, his residence was deeply hidden and his appearance was simplistic, having made no name for himself in the Jianghu, and neither did he achieve anything before in the Imperial Court. On normal days, he did not stand out from the crowd. A great many people thought that Feng Xiao was the heart of the Jiejian Bureau and did not take this Third Commander seriously. However, Cui Buqu knew that Feng Xiao often ran errands on the outside and if there was no one to serve as the mainstay in the Jiejian Bureau and aiding investigations, it's feared that the Jiejian Bureau would have long been done for. Presently, as he listened to Ming Yue list out the causes and facts in an orderly and well-arranged manner, it wasn't surprising at all, it has instead given him a feeling of 'this is how it should be'.
This person's abilities did not lie in fighting for credit in public, but it was in remaining behind to devise the last line of defence.
If Feng Xiao was the wings and jaws of the Jiejian Bureau, then Ming Yue was the heart of the Jiejian Bureau.
In between Cui Buqu's pondering, he heard Feng Xiao ask, "What did the guards and maidservants in the caves have to say?"
Ming Yue shook his head, "Those people were gathered when their sects were destroyed by the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, so in reality, they're no suicide warriors of theirs. After a long time guarding the cave, they were oblivious to most things. However, there is someone called Liang Feng who provided a lead: he said that the Pavilion Lord appeared once during the last secret gathering in Tiannan Mountain. There was also a young woman who came often, who wore a cloth over her face; how she looks is unclear, but he's heard the Pavilion Lord call her 'Lady Huan', and both of them were rather close."
Feng Xiao turned to look at Cui Buqu on instinct, "Is there a woman in the Jianghu whose name has the word 'Huan' in it?"
Cui Buqu coughed twice, furrowing his eyebrows as he thought for a long time before saying with absolute certainty, "No. Perhaps an alias."
He embraced the blankets as he sat on the bed, tiredness plaguing his face. Even if both Ming Yue and Feng Xiao have given him quite a huge amount of real qi, it could not restore his body within a short amount of time. Not only does he have to pinch his nose when he drinks his medicine, for once he thought over how he would have to face everyone in the Zuoyue Bureau whose faces would no doubt look like bitter gourds, Cui Buqu simply could not be in a good mood.
Feng Xiao's foundation of the martial arts was strong, so it's a given he was better off. However, the thick bandages wrapping around his torso were still visible through his robes.
Ming Yue spoke after he realized the situation, "Leave the aftermath to me. It's not too late to discuss the others when we return to the capital. There is another thing: I was unable to find the Jade of Heaven's Lake, so someone else may have taken it."
When Fan Yun said that the Jade could prolong one's life, it was true that Cui Buqu's heart was moved.
Born a human being, one must seek to survive and not seek for death; Cui Buqu was not a god, he cannot escape mortality.
However, when he heard that, his expression had been very calm with no traces of being surprised.
Perhaps he was used to being tortured time and time again by the Heavens; when faced against those difficult situations and circumstances, he's learned to depend on himself and not on hollow, indiscernible hopes.
Normal people would be bedridden for at least ten days or half a month if they had been stabbed, yet he's still sitting here talking to Feng Xiao and Ming Yue. His will was rigid, it's feared that even the Heavens could do nothing with him.
Feng Xiao realized that once he had begun staring, he couldn't help staring a second time or even a third time.
Until even Ming Yue realized the change in him, turning into his direction to look.
Feng Xiao retreated his gaze, pretended nothing was out of the ordinary and asked, "When we came, there were still two Zuoyue guards with us. Have you found them?"
Ming Yue sighed, "Yes. Their corpses were found at the foot of Tiannan Mountain. A wound on their skulls claimed their lives. Most probably, the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai feared that allowing them to remain would change the thoughts of their disciples, so they were gotten rid of."
Feng Xiao absorbed the thought, "Weapons are usually used to kill, there are seldom any cases that used hands like that. This might be the doing of either Yuan Sansi or Yu Xiu."
Cui Buqu said coldly, "Regardless who was it who did it, this debt is on the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai."
Ming Yue said, "Counting all the people on Xiao Lu's side, presently, he's left with only a few like Yuan Sansi or Ning Shewo. Judging by his character, he would rather leave the positions of the Thirteen Pavilions void rather than let it be occupied by someone of undeserving reputation. We only need to set our targets on Xiao Lu, and we could take down the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai."
"I fear this isn't so easy." Tiredness weighed heavily between Cui Buqu's brows, even his speech has softened more than just a little. "Fan Yun said before that Xiao Lu's plans do not just involve these few people that we know. With his intelligence, he might have already known something was up with Fan Yun a long time ago."
Feng Xiao snorted, "This time, Xiao Lu did not even show himself throughout the entire event. Perhaps he was going with the flow, using Yuan Sansi and Yu Xiu's lives to swap for our deaths, so that both of us would fight and endure great losses from both parties. Fan Yun wants to sit back and reel in the benefits like a fisherman, not knowing that Xiao Lu is ultimately the oriole behind him."
Ming Yue furrowed his brows.
When Feng Xiao left the capital before this, he had said that he was only going to get a zither that belonged to him. Ming Yue had assumed that he could not stand the boredom, yet he didn't expect that it would drag out such a long train of complicated and messy events. If Cui Buqu had been as strong as Feng Xiao, they might have had good luck. Now, they were already struggling to stay alive.
The Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai was like a huge beast hidden in deep shadows. Once this beast was forced up the corner by them, everyone would realize that it has already spread its bloody-jaws wide, enough to pose a grave threat at any time.
Its network stretched into every corner—the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the loftiness of the Imperial Court, and the Jianghu that sat at the other end of the world; the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai was everywhere. If even the Prefecture Magistrate of Boling was one of their men, then, would there still be more hiding beneath the rank of a Prefecture Magistrate as County Magistrates and Officials? Other than that, above the rank of a Prefecture Magistrate and within the capital, how many more were there?
As he thought until this point, a sudden realization hit Ming Yue.
He suddenly understood why Xiao Lu was determined to remove Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu.
Because the Jiejian and Zuoyue Bureaus that were headed by them held in their grasp the Wulin of the Dynasty. Every incident and event that happened from the city to the Saiwai would all go through them. Removing them was like alleviating an old tiger of its claws and teeth: even though the tiger would still look ferocious, it no longer posed a threat.
When that time came, all the wiring that was established by the Thirteen Pavilions underground could continue to flourish in silence, no longer having any qualms.
"I am still curious."
After this thought was through, what followed were even more concerns.
Ming Yue said, "Ever since the two Jins, the change of dynasties took place frequently. Among them, there was no lack of Imperial Officials who reached the peak of power within a single night. There are more, coughs, royal side families who succeeded the throne. These people either had supporters in court or held the army's power in their grasp. Xiao Lu, as a resident of the Southern Dynasty who is not even valued by Chen Shubao, would not even have a name or network in the Imperial Court. He has not reached that level as to reforge a new dynasty. The Thirteen Pavilions would most likely just spread across different lands."
"For example, Yuan Sansi. Even if he succeeded as a Prefecture Magistrate, he is still far from entering the main centre. It would be impossible for him to change anything within the palace. As for Yu Xiu, even if he wasn't dead or exposed by you two and remained by Prince Jin's side at this moment and relish in his trust, no matter how much Prince Jin trusted him, surely he could not tolerate him to opt for treason?"
"Unless one builds an army and raises soldiers to opt for treason, even if the concave wiring of the Thirteen Pavilion is vast, how could they be able to subvert the world?"
Cui Buqu remained silent for a moment, before saying slowly, "Considering the Jiejian Bureau's abilities, it would not be difficult for them to investigate all the people Yuan Sansi had interacted with, promoted by or was close with, in all these years he had been an official of the palace."
"Many thanks for your input, Commander Cui. I shall immediately return to the capital and investigate it!" This certainly is a key lead. Ming Yue immediately took a brush and recorded it, before listing out everything evolving around this matter one by one, to avoid missing them.
The Zuoyue Bureau had no authority to interfere in the investigations of the Jiejian Bureau. Had it been Feng Xiao from the past, he would have most certainly struck with mocking words. Yet, now, Second Commander Feng was silent, not even giving any opinions of his own. Had the sun risen from the West today? Ming Yue's heart said.
Cui Buqu spoke again, "There's more. Yu Xiu was Prince Jin's follower for many years, he might have led him on to sow good relationships with certain people, or perhaps made him offer a few suggestions to the Emperor and Empress. This matter is unrelated to the Jianghu, so it would be inconvenient for the Zuoyue Bureau to show themselves. If the Jiejian Bureau wishes to investigate, they might as well start from this very point. The only concern being that Prince Jin's temper bounces between extremes; he is not a pleasant person to converse with, you people might have to invest more strength…"
His voice became softer and softer. Ming Yue could not hear him clearly and thus, lifted his head in curiosity, yet what he sees is that the other has earnestly fallen asleep while sitting just like that.
Ming Yue was astounded.
Feng Xiao was already on his feet, walking over to lay him down and covered him with a blanket.
"Working over his limit, his mind has been exhausted to the brink; if Lord Cui continues like this, I fear… it is not a good sign." Ming Yue wanted to say that it wasn't a sign of someone with a long lifespan, but he felt that it was quite rude, and so swallowed his words.
Feng Xiao calmly said, "Without these matters to busy himself with, he might have tumbled a long time ago."
Ming Yue did not understand.
Feng Xiao said nothing more, changing the topic, "Although Fan Yun is one of the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, his existence is extremely important. He knows many things within the Thirteen Pavilions; this person cannot be left out and must be sought out as quickly as possible. Reclaiming the jade and Xiao Lu's identity may depend entirely on him."
Ming Yue nodded his head that he understood.
...
It seemed like a few voices were speaking in the dream, seemingly trotting by with paper lanterns, yet they were indistinct. It resembled the people and incidents he had seen in the first half of his life, who were automatically washed back like retreating tides. Everything quietened down.
There were many times Cui Buqu believed that once he slept, he would never wake up again. That feeling of fatigue to the brink of death bubbled up from the bottom of his heart, gradually flooding all his limbs, as tightly as silk, made it hard to breathe. However, his living years did not stop here. Regardless of how stifling and suffering it was, in the end, he could still open his eyes.
Like now.
Sometimes, even he admired his own tough life.
Cui Buqu glared at the gauze above his head, slowly blinked his eyes, used half a quarter of an hour to reel back his recollection of memories and determine where he was, and why he was here.
At the foot of Tiannan Mountain was a small village. They descended from the peak, and Ming Yue needed some time to take care of the aftermath following the remnants of the Thirteen Pavilions. He still needed to send people to bring those guards and maidservants back to the capital for questioning, so Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao could remain in this place as their wounds healed.
Next to his bed was a letter, on top of it was the seal of the Zuoyue Bureau, perfectly whole. Cui Buqu opened it; it was a letter from Qiao Xian, and the insignia on top of the sealing wax indicated that it was extremely confidential, thus it was brought here by the post official. Perhaps he was seen by either Ming Yue or Feng Xiao, and so conveniently brought the letter to him.
On the letter, it said that they returned from Donghai county empty-handed. There was nothing about the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai there—naturally, they couldn't find it, because this letter was a clue Fan Yun used to serve as a distraction for him to begin with, to lure the tiger away from the mountain.
When Qiao Xian was injured in Saiwai, Cui Buqu wanted to let her remain in the capital. Who could have guessed that she was unrestrained and even ran off to Donghai county along with Zhangsun Bodhi. Now that they have found nothing, their disappointment and woes were felt through those lines of words, asking for the next steps needed to be taken.
There came a sound from the outside.
Cui Buqu lit the candles, burning the letter bit by bit till it turned to ash. He then got down to put on his shoes and comb his hair.
The sweet scent of Osmanthus floated in from the window. After experiencing that cave with neither day nor night, even a calm and gloomy sky looked refreshing.
Cui Buqu was in a good mood.
When he pushed open the door, Feng Xiao and Ming Yue were playing chess in the courtyard.
Even though he was wounded, this Second Commander Feng would never obediently lie on a bed to rest himself.
Cui Buqu just spared it a glance, before turning his gaze away in disinterest.
Ming Yue rose to his feet and bowed with his hands folded. His rank was inferior to Cui Buqu, so these customs were necessary.
Cui Buqu nodded his head, "No need to be so courteous, Third Commander. Make yourselves at home, I'm going to take a walk."
"Come play a game?" Feng Xiao called after him.
Cui Buqu, "I do not know how to play."
Feng Xiao was stunned, "You don't know how to play shupu1?"
These sort of games that descended from the late Han Dynasty were not only popular in the capital, but even the marketplace would also have brilliant players.
Cui Buqu returned him an innocent expression; on his face was written: It is so strange that I do not know how to play?
Naturally, it was strange. Feng Xiao looked like he was staring at a strange bird with two pairs of wings. He stared at him for a moment, and said, "I left some dishes for you on the stove. After you've eaten, I will teach you."
Cui Buqu shook his head, "Why should I learn these sorts of things?"
Feng Xiao said, "Other than working, what other entertainments can you say you have?"
Cui Buqu calmly said, "Work is precisely my entertainment."
Feng Xiao gave Ming Yue a 'Isn't this what I've told you?' look.
Ming Yue had no words, and in his heart, he said: If only this rebelling Second Commander Feng and law-abiding Commander Cui could divide their traits among themselves, how great that would be.
Faced before such an uninteresting person, even if Ming Yue cracked his head thinking, he feared he might not be able to even think of anything to converse with him. Only Feng Xiao alone was in the best of his spirits, appearing not to have enough as he offered Cui Buqu various suggestions non-stop.
"Let us have a gamble, what says you? I teach you the rules, and we will have a few rounds. Three points would declare the victory and the loser has to agree to one condition of the victor."
Cui Buqu finally showed a bit of interest, "Anything is possible?"
Feng Xiao wriggled his brows, "Naturally, as long as I have it."
Cui Buqu, "Since Second Commander Feng put it so vehemently, careful not to eat your words when the time comes!"
Feng Xiao vaguely smiled, "Unless the one you wanted, is me?"
Cui Buqu's cheeks twitched a bit, couldn't help but thought of that moment in the array. However, he forcibly discarded the thought, refusing to worry over anything else at this moment.
That had just been an accident, or perhaps impulsiveness from being left with no options, but it was not genuine.
If there was a genuine feeling between them, it never be from Feng Xiao.
How would Feng-er who loves himself more than anything be serious with anyone else?
Him, Cui Buqu, was destined to be alone for all his life. So, how would he seek out trouble only for himself to fret over it?
"I want the list containing all the names of every Sui official from every county and prefecture, of how many wives and concubines they wed, and whether they snore when they sleep."
For a very long time, Cui Buqu wanted this name list. Now that he has the chance today, how would he let it slide?
As Ming Yue listened to this, he quickly turned his head, having to use great strength to suppress himself from bursting out laughing.
Author's Notes:
What happens when a playful Feng-er meets workaholic Master Daoist Cui?
Feng-er: This is impossible. My charms are boundless. Have you forgotten that night in the cave?
Cui Buqu: *coughs twice*
[1] shupu樗蒲: Is an ancient game from the Tang Dynasty which the present Xiangqi is imitative of.