King Aqi died four weeks later. The tetanus bacteria began to infect his entire body from the small wound in his abdomen, finally reaching his brain.
No one could have imagined that King Aqi's death was caused by that tiny wound. What they saw was only King Aqi's skin turning grayish-blue and the epilepsy that resulted from the infection reaching his brain.
Shaman Granny said it was because the gods were angry with the grasslands, so they performed a seven-day ritual to beg for divine forgiveness. King Aqi died during the last day's shamanistic dance. Amidst a headache-inducing cacophony of drumming and chanted prayers, he had another epileptic seizure. Yang Ruoning saw him collapse beneath the white tiger skin throne, his body convulsing and his mouth foaming. But no one dared to approach; they watched the convulsing king in terror, their only action to plead louder for divine forgiveness. Only Yang Ruoning knew that no one could help him anymore, not even the gods.
Handan Chun naturally became the next king. His coronation ceremony was ten days later.
Before going to mourn King Aqi, Shaman Granny fulfilled her promise.
As she saw them off, she asked Yang Ruoning, "Miss Yang, although this old woman doesn't know what method you used, I still want to thank you on behalf of everyone here."
"Granny, it was all the will of the gods," Yang Ruoning replied, clasping her hands together and giving a slight bow as a return courtesy.
"So, Miss Yang, you now know that the will of the gods is irresistible?" Shaman Granny asked.
"Granny, I don't believe in the existence of gods," Yang Ruoning said.
King Aqi's death was hardly the will of the gods; she herself was the mastermind behind it.
The rusty knife wound was the beginning of this assassination. The tetanus spores in the rust entered the body through the mucous membrane wound and grew and reproduced in an anaerobic environment. Shaman Granny's plant ash was intended to stop the bleeding. It was said to be highly effective, but Yang Ruoning remained skeptical about its scientific basis. Therefore, to ensure continuous infection, she would secretly mix in pre-prepared gray powder while delivering medicine. The gray powder was likely a mixture of soil and animal feces. Everyone believed King Aqi's death was due to divine wrath, but only Yang Ruoning knew that she had used nature to kill him.
"This old woman believes you should know better than anyone about the existence of gods," Shaman Granny said to her as she left.
Yang Ruoning watched Shaman Granny's retreating back, shrugged, and dismissed her words.
She didn't want to dwell on the old woman's perplexing "adage" because she could finally leave.
She swung herself onto Black, then turned to the person beside her and flashed a bright smile, "Ready?"
Handan Chun tightened his reins, squeezed his horse's belly with his legs, "Of course! Here we go!" Then, he let out an excited roar and rode his horse towards the rising sun in the distance.
************
Yang Ruoning and Handan Chun arrived at Youzhou City five days later.
Youzhou City was just as she remembered it, bustling with people, perhaps even livelier than before. Most accommodations in the city were full. Yang Ruoning and Handan Chun, leading their horses, squeezed through the crowds and finally found two empty rooms on the outskirts of the city.
The inn was simple, but the innkeeper demanded an exorbitant price of one tael of silver per day. Handan Chun had no concept of money, and after walking for a long time under the midday sun, he had lost his patience. As soon as he heard there were empty rooms, he slammed his money bag on the table, "Fine, it's settled."
Yang Ruoning thought it was expensive, but then she remembered that Handan Chun was paying, so she didn't say anything more.
As she followed the waiter to the room, she asked, "Why is the city so lively recently? We can't even find rooms."
The waiter said, "You can tell you're new. Youzhou City has great news lately."
"What good news?" Handan Chun's interest was immediately piqued.
"Have you two heard of General Luo Yuan?"
"Of course." Hearing Luo Yuan's name, Handan Chun became excited.
"General Luo's engagement ceremony is in a few days. Old General Luo has invited distinguished guests, and summer is when merchants from all over gather the most. That's why the city is so bustling."
"Engagement? Who is Luo Yuan getting engaged to?" Handan Chun asked anxiously.
"Of course, it's to Miss Luo. Miss Luo is Old General Luo's only daughter. She's a peerless beauty within a hundred-mile radius. A talented man and a beautiful woman, truly the entire Youzhou City is happy for this golden couple."
"Hmph, it's all about looks. From a eugenics perspective, he shouldn't marry his cousin!" Yang Ruoning muttered with a pout.
"Hmm? What did you say, miss? What do you mean 'it's all about looks'?" the waiter asked, confused.
"Nothing, nothing. Here, this is for you. You can go now." Yang Ruoning gave the waiter a few copper coins as a tip. The waiter took them, beaming, and thanked Yang Ruoning profusely before leaving.
"Should we stay here a few more days, have a good look around, and even attend Luo Yuan's engagement ceremony?" Handan Chun collapsed onto the bed.
"No, we have to rush to Bianliang." Yang Ruoning flatly refused.
"It was you who insisted on rushing to Bianliang."
"Yes," Yang Ruoning sighed. "My matters are very urgent. Handan Chun, I need to go back as soon as possible."
"I know, but your relative, what happened to him? Why won't you tell me?"
"I want to tell you very much, but I can't."
"Why? Who is your family? What great secret is there that even I, an outsider with no connection, cannot be told? Could it be that he's the emperor himself? Tell me, perhaps I can help you." Handan Chun glanced at Yang Ruoning and suddenly exclaimed, "Could it really be the emperor?"
"No!" Yang Ruoning denied quickly.
"Do you know that all your thoughts are written on your face? I guessed it at a glance," Handan Chun said. "Then who are you? A princess?" Handan Chun's gossip started anew. "Oh, oh, it's so much like a storybook I read, 'The Lost Pearl Princess' or something?"
"Clearly, you've read too many storybooks. Life is far more messed up than those novels, Handan Chun."
*********
After a brief rest at the inn, Yang Ruoning and Handan Chun changed their clothes and headed for the pier. Handan Chun was unaccustomed to wearing layers of silk robes and complained incessantly along the way. However, Yang Ruoning understood his discomfort. She also disliked the long skirts and robes; they were not only cumbersome but also extremely stuffy in the hot summer weather. Thus, they both agreed that they would change their personas the next day, abandoning their roles as siblings from the Western Regions visiting Youzhou for the first time and instead adopting the guise of impoverished farmers seeking a living in Youzhou.
"I think being a married couple would be more convenient," Handan Chun suggested again.
"I don't want to share a room with you anymore. You snore too loudly at night, and I want to sleep alone," Yang Ruoning protested.
"Is that why you always slept in A Jing's tent?"
Yang Ruoning's face suddenly flushed, "No!"
They bickered all the way to the pier, arriving around two or three in the afternoon. The large and small boats moored at the pier filled the wide river from edge to edge. After inquiring for a long time, they discovered that all passenger ships going to Bianliang were booked for a month later.
Yang Ruoning sat on a wooden stump by the pier with some anxiety, watching Handan Chun inquire from one boat owner to another. She wondered what they would do if they couldn't book a ship. They could travel by land, but it would involve crossing mountains and valleys, taking at least a month and a half to reach Bianliang.
She felt that she would have to wait in Youzhou for a month no matter what.
A month. Luo Yuan shouldn't make a move that quickly, should he? Yang Ruoning looked at Handan Chun not far away.
Luo Yuan had sought out King Aqi to form an alliance and seek his military assistance. Now, King Aqi was dead, and Handan Chun had become king... Luo Yuan should not yet know about King Aqi's death, and Handan Chun seemed unaware of the secret agreement between Luo Yuan and King Aqi. Therefore, as long as Handan Chun remained in Dasong, she actually had time...
That's right. Yang Ruoning's heart suddenly felt half a stone lighter. She stood up, waved to Handan Chun, and called out, "Hey, A Chun, let's go."
She said to Handan Chun, "It seems this is fate."
"What fate?"
"For you to stay in Youzhou City and have a good time."
"Mm, I think so too. But I just booked a boat to Bianliang for a month later with the captain."
Yang Ruoning patted Handan Chun's shoulder. "Good. Very efficient. Since things have come to this, we'll just have to stay in Youzhou City for a while longer."