Kaifeng Monster

Chapter 101 The Imperial City Nightmare (5)
"This thing is rare, and it's reasonable for you not to understand it." Compared to before, Duanmucui was surprisingly calm, "Ask someone who understands history some other day, and let them tell you about the Han Palace witchcraft case, and you will I understand. If... Zhan Zhao asks..."

Speaking of this, she paused for a moment, and her eyes were instantly clouded with tears: "If... Zhan Zhao asks, you can tell him the same."

"say what?"

"Say..." Duanmucui was about to speak, when he suddenly let out another groan, and when he raised his head again, there was a dense layer of sweat on his forehead, "Yinzhu, help me find gold flakes, and fetch another cup of clear water."

"Gold, gold flakes... no, no..."

"Gold hairpins or bracelets are also fine."

Yinzhu was stunned for a moment, and suddenly remembered that the three-strand gold hairpin was inserted into her head, she quickly pulled it out and handed it over, and then hurried out to fetch water.Duanmucui burned the talisman paper to ashes and plunged it into the water, and reached out to hold the golden hairpin in her palm.The gold is soft, but the head of the hairpin is sharp after all, Yinzhu hastily reminded: "Be careful."

Duanmucui smiled faintly, and slowly let go, but saw countless streamer-like gold flakes slowly falling into the water.

This... what kind of kung fu is this?Yinzhu froze in shock, before she could ask, Duanmu Cui picked up the water cup and drank it down in one gulp.

Yinzhu's brain buzzed, and she didn't know how she jumped on it, she hurriedly knocked down the water cup in Duanmucui's hand, and cried: "Miss Duanmu, this is gold shavings, you will die if you swallow gold..."

You must know that in the ancient harem, the emperor bestowed dead concubines, in addition to poisonous wine, they often used gold flakes wine. Silver and vermilion have been in the harem for a long time, how can you not understand this verse?
Duanmucui looked down at her, tears slowly flowing, she said softly: "I know, I want them to be buried with me."

Yinzhu raised her head, she still didn't understand Duanmucui's words.Duanmucui didn't explain, but told Yinzhu: "Find me a darkroom where few people go, lock the door, and let me fend for myself."

Yinzhu's body trembled, through her teary eyes, she asked Duanmucui: "Miss Duanmu, are you going to die?"

Duanmucui didn't answer her directly, she raised her head, her eyes were a little erratic, she didn't know how far away she fell.

She whispered: "Anyway, I have lived a long, long time."

After settling Duanmucui, Yinzhu felt that all her strength had been exhausted.She walked slowly up the corridor with heavy steps, until this time, she didn't have the energy to recall what happened.

There was only one such weird bug, why did it suddenly increase in number?A fine gold hairpin, in the hands of Duanmucui, why did it suddenly turn into gold flakes?There are so many talisman papers, the spells drawn on the paper, and so many magical instruments she brought into the palace, who is this Duanmu girl?

Yinzhu's mind was in a daze, her legs suddenly went limp, she hurriedly supported the pillar on the side, and rested for a while, when she heard the sound of hurried footsteps coming from the other end of the corridor.

Yinzhu raised her head, perhaps because of being too tired, her vision was a little blurred, and she took a lot of effort to look at the person who was walking quickly - the flying crimson official robe, the slender figure, that is... Zhan Zhao?
Thinking this way, Zhan Zhao has already approached.

Yinzhu was stunned: "Master Zhan, didn't you go back to Kaifeng mansion?"

Zhan Zhao smiled: "I have something urgent to go back, but after all, I remember the side of the palace, and came back in a hurry after explaining to the adults. Miss Yinzhu, just now I heard from the brothers of the Imperial Guard that you went to see me... What happened?"

Yinzhu's expression was too strange, Zhan Zhao felt more and more uneasy as he spoke, he looked over Yinzhu's shoulder to the inner courtyard of the Empress Dowager's bedroom: "Miss Duanmu... fell asleep?"

Yinzhu was still in a daze, until Zhan Zhao mentioned the words "Miss Duanmu", she seemed to suddenly think of something, and took out a half-made sachet from the sleeve and handed it to Zhan Zhao.

"Miss Duanmu asked me to give it to you. She said that she had promised to give you something... But now, I can't finish it..."

Zhan Zhao's heart sank, and he subconsciously reached out to take it.The material of the sachet is really good, the vanilla has not been stuffed yet, with the dim light of the palace lantern, you can see the crooked needlework on the surface of the sachet, even in a hurry, you can't recognize what is embroidered.An ominous premonition arose in his heart, Zhan Zhao looked at Yin Zhu, and said in a deep voice, "Where is she?"

Yin Zhu lowered her head, avoiding Zhan Zhao's gaze, and said in a low voice: "Miss Duanmu said, this matter is related to the witchcraft of the Han Palace. If you don't understand, you can ask Mr. Gongsun..."

"What about her?"

"Miss Duanmu confessed, only her..."

Zhan Zhao couldn't listen anymore, grabbed Yinzhu's arm, and stared into her eyes: "Where is Miss Duanmu?"

Yinzhu was frightened, her arm hurt from Zhan Zhao's grip, she held back her tears, and whispered: "Miss Duanmu told me to..."

"I don't care what she confessed." Zhan Zhao yelled angrily, "It's not too late to say what she confessed, Yin Zhu, I only need someone now, take me to find him!"

Yinzhu took Zhan Zhao all the way around seven times and eight times, and finally arrived at the darkroom where few people go, and briefly told the story on the way.Zhan Zhao just listened and didn't speak.

The door was locked, Yin Zhu took the key and went to unlock it, she didn't know if she was flustered or what, she couldn't match the keyhole several times, she was suddenly dragged aside with great force, when she looked up, there was a flash of sword light, gold and stone collided, sparks burst out , Zhan Zhao raised his sword, kicked open the door, and strode in.

There is no light in the house, but it's not like you can't see your fingers. With the blurred night light, you can see a person lying on the simple bed with long hair hanging down the edge of the bed.Zhan Zhao's heart felt sour, he hurried over and called out, "Duanmu."

No one responded, Zhan Zhao stretched out his hand to caress her face, feeling wet, and said to Yinzhu in a deep voice, "Hold the lamp."

Ordinarily, he was walking in front of the imperial court, and Yinzhu was the favored palace servant in front of the Queen Mother, so he definitely couldn't order Yinzhu to do anything.Letting go of the past, Yinzhu must be dissatisfied, but today she is very panic, and she can't care about this festival, she is in a hurry, lest she is slow in doing things.

After the light came on, Zhan Zhao brushed Mu Cui's long hair, seeing that she was still unconscious, he couldn't help looking at Yin Zhu.Yin Zhu saved herself from forgetting to explain this point, and hurriedly said: "Miss Duanmu asked me for a drug, she said that she couldn't stand the pain..." At this point, she stopped abruptly.Drugs should never be hidden in the hands of court ladies, but many people have them. This is also a secret fact. When she said it carelessly, it was tantamount to admitting that she also had a secret, so she hurriedly shut up, with a hot face. , lest Zhan Zhao forget it.

"On the back?"

"what?"

Hearing a chirping sound, the shirt on Duanmucui's back has been torn by Zhan Zhao.Yinzhu held the lamp a little closer, seeing what was happening on Duanmucui's back, she was so frightened that she almost couldn't hold the lamp, and murmured: "There are more."

At first there was only one, and then there were three or five, but now at a rough look, there are as many as fifteen or six. The black and ferocious protrusions against the white and clean back skin look really shocking.Yinzhu felt uncomfortable in her heart, turned her head and couldn't bear to look at it.

Zhan Zhao's hand rested on Duanmucui's waist, and when he was about to reach out to touch the protrusion, he retracted like an electric shock, paused, and said to Yin Zhu, "She said she wanted to gouge it out?"

"That's what I said at the beginning, but once the imperial doctor started, Miss Duanmu couldn't stand it anymore. The worm would burrow in when it was in pain. Miss Duanmu said, if it burrows in, it won't be able to get out."

Without saying a word, Zhan Zhao pulled out a dagger from his soap boots and swallowed it.The dagger was extremely small and sharp, with sharp edges, Yin Zhu was startled: "Lord Zhan, the imperial physician has tried it."

"I know...Miss Yinzhu, borrow a hairpin, and I want gold hairpins or silver hairpins, thin strands."

There were not many hairpins on the silver and vermilion hair, so I fumbled for a while, and pulled out a pearl flower with silver claws for him.Zhan Zhao took it over and tore off the beaded flowers from the head of the hairpin, twisted the two silver strands into one strand, and bent it into a crochet shape with force.

Yinzhu didn't quite understand it, but she also vaguely knew Zhan Zhao's intentions, so she couldn't help reminding again: "Master Zhan, the imperial physician tried..."

Zhan Zhao didn't look at her, but brushed Duanmucui's clothes aside: "I'm faster than the imperial physician."

Yin Zhu bit her lip, nodded and said: "Then I'll fetch a basin of water and prepare some silk wound medicine."

"Prepare another brazier, as soon as possible."

Yinzhu left in response.

When he was ready, Zhan Zhao let out a deep breath, and his gaze rested on Duanmucui's waist.The imperial doctor there had already cut the knife, and the wound was suddenly opened, and the worm had penetrated so deep that only a small half was visible outside.

Zhan Zhao set the crochet needle on the flame of the lamp, suddenly his eyes dimmed, and his strike was like lightning.Yinzhu's eyes blurred, and he raised his hand, a Gu worm writhing around was hanging from the hook needle.

Yinzhu felt nauseous for a while, feeling extremely sick.With force on Zhan Zhao's arm, he shook the Gu worms onto the charcoal basin, and white smoke rose with a chirping sound, carrying a pungent stench.Yinzhu covered her mouth and nose and took two steps back, Zhan Zhao took the silk cloth she had prepared earlier, and covered Duanmucui's wound.

Yinzhu hurriedly handed over the jade bottle of wound medicine, and said in a low voice: "Master Zhan, how about I help Miss Duanmu wash the wound, and then apply the medicine?"

Zhan Zhao shook his head: "It's too late, let's wash the medicine once it's ready."

While speaking, she reached out to pick up the jade vase, and Yinzhu accidentally touched the back of his hand, and then realized that his hand was trembling a little. She was startled, and then suspected that it was her own illusion: if his hand is not steady, how can he use the knife?When he looked up, Zhan Zhao removed the silk cloth and applied medicine to Duanmucui's wound.Yinzhu looked carefully, and saw that he had sprinkled it in a disorderly manner, and some of the powder was sprinkled on the clothes, which should be caused by trembling hands.

Yin Zhu thought again and again, seeing that Zhan Zhao picked up the dagger again, he couldn't help but said, "Master Zhan, if you can't hold it, you should rest for a while before you strike the knife. If you are not careful, the bug will..."

Zhan Zhao paused on his hands, and said in a low voice, "I will be careful."

"No..." Yinzhu was a little incoherent, "I know you have to cut the skin and flesh first, and then pick out the Gu worms with a crochet needle. This time and again, if there is a slight delay, something will go wrong... Me, me too Caring for Miss Duanmu..."

She didn't know what to say.

"Yinzhu, you go out."

Yinzhu was stunned for a moment, Zhan Zhao actually drove her away despite her kind intentions, she felt aggrieved for a moment, tears welled up in her eyes, seeing that Zhan Zhao didn't look at her anymore, she had to go out step by step, closing the door behind her back.

This place is on the outskirts of the imperial city, few people come here, and a path paved with cobbles twists and turns.Yinzhu sat on the steps with her knees hugged, watching the shadows of the trees whirling in tears, feeling that Zhan Zhao was so unreasonable for a while, and worried about Duanmucui for a while, and suddenly thought: He must use a dagger to cut open the flesh first, When the Gu worm is frightened, it will burrow into it desperately, and then use a crochet to pick it out before it enters the flesh. How fast is he?What should I do if my hand is off?What should I do if I miss it?
After thinking and thinking, I felt that I couldn't do anything, so I couldn't help getting up and looking into the room.The door has been closed, only to see the dim yellow light becoming more and more dissipated, Zhan Zhao's figure seems to be frozen, and occasionally there is a slight movement...

After an unknown amount of time, the figure suddenly stood up, Yinzhu reacted, and subconsciously took two steps back.

The door was slowly opened, Zhan Zhao's face was pale, with indescribable exhaustion in his eyes, and he said in a low voice, "Miss Yinzhu, please wash and apply medicine to Duanmu."

That's... okay?
Yinzhu couldn't believe her ears, she froze for a moment, picked up her skirt and trotted in, saw burnt corpses of insects faintly visible on the charcoal basin, Duanmucui's back wounds were sprinkled with medicine, even after After wiping with a silk cloth, there are still small bloodstains continuously overflowing from the wound.

Yinzhu hurriedly wiped it for her with a silk cloth, glanced at the basin of water she brought just now was still on the table, and said casually: "Lord Zhan, water."

Zhan Zhao responded and walked over to the table.Yinzhu was busy wiping away the blood, when she heard a bang, when she looked up, the copper basin was overturned on the table, and the water from the basin was drenched all over Zhan Zhao's body, his hands were still on the top, as if he had missed it for a while.

Yinzhu frowned slightly, felt that he was clumsy and somewhat displeased, after all, she couldn't say anything, so she said: "Master Zhan, then please go ahead and fetch a pot."

Zhan Zhao was silent for a while, and spoke with difficulty: "Miss Yinzhu, this matter...will be too much work for you..."

Yinzhu was puzzled for a while, but after walking in the palace for a long time, her mind was more delicate than his, and she suddenly understood a little bit, and walked over quickly, ignoring any defense between men and women, and grabbed Zhan Zhao's arm.

Through the clothes, his arms trembled violently.

Yinzhu's nose was sour, and just about to say something, Zhan Zhao pulled away his hand calmly, and smiled faintly: "Just now I just wanted to be quick, but my true energy was so lucky that I stopped, and in a short while, it was actually a control It can't stay. Miss Yinzhu, I'm tired of you."

Yin Zhu forced a smile: "Master Zhan, what's the matter, I should have done these rough jobs."

As he spoke, he picked up the copper basin, walked around Zhangzhao quickly and went out.

Zhan Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, paused for a while, then walked back to the bed, touched the ground on one knee, slowly lowered his body, and stared intently at her face.

The effect of the drug seemed to be over, she couldn't sleep well, her brows furrowed from time to time, her long eyelashes were trembling, and the tears at the corners of her eyes were still wet.Zhan Zhao stretched out his hand to help her wipe away tears, and said with a smile, "I'll wake up in a while, but I can't blame my poor workmanship... [-] knives, if you want to settle the score with me, you can only pay it back..."

He stopped suddenly, unable to speak in the end.

Yinzhu came back from fetching water, and helped Duanmucui clean the wound and apply medicine, this busy work stopped, counting the time, it was still very early before dawn.Firstly, I was afraid that something might happen to the Queen Mother, secondly, I always felt that I was wandering around here like an outsider, which was an eyesore, so I told Zhan Zhao that I would go first.

Zhan Zhao didn't want to keep her, but he hesitated to speak, as if he had something to ask.Yinzhu had anticipated his intentions, and said with a smile: "Master Zhan, Yinzhu has been in the palace for many years, and her mouth is very strict. Don't worry, I will not talk nonsense about today's matter."

Seeing that she was so transparent, Zhan Zhao couldn't open his mouth.Yin Zhu smiled and went out.

Zhan Zhao sat by the bed and took care of Duanmucui for a long time. He was tired and sleepy, and his eyelids became heavier and heavier. In a trance, Duanmucui's hand in his hand suddenly moved.

Zhan Zhao woke up in shock, bent down to look at her, and saw her long eyelashes tremble twice, and slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing I saw was Zhan Zhao, Duanmucui was a little stunned, and didn't know where he was for a while, but Erqing gradually remembered the past, and his eye circles turned red without saying a word: "Zhan Zhao, where did you go?"

She was aggrieved by the question, and Zhan Zhao also made her feel sore, and for a moment she didn't know how to answer her.Seeing that he didn't answer, Duanmucui didn't ask any more questions, she braced her arms and remembered that this touched the wound, and she gasped in pain.Zhan Zhao hastily stretched out his hand to press her: "You have an injury on your back, you can't lie down, don't move around."

"Injured?" Duanmucui paused before realizing, "Where's the bug? Did you take it out?"

"It's all taken out."

There was nothing to say for a moment, Duanmucui spoke first: "I asked Yinzhu to find you, didn't you go back to Kaifeng mansion?"

"Go back and report something to the adults, and come back soon."

"Oh."

After this oh, there was nothing else to say.Pain is very debilitating, Duanmucui just felt that he couldn't even speak up, he just buried his head in the quilt pillow, his whole body was loose and weak, after thinking about it, he asked: "Are there a lot of bugs?"

"...a lot." Zhan Zhao was vague.

Duanmucui sighed, lost his mind for a while, and said in a low voice: "There must be many scars, which are ugly."

Zhan Zhao smiled: "There are many good wound medicines in the palace, which are very effective. If the medicine in the palace doesn't work, Mr. Gongsun still has many prescriptions, which won't leave you with scars."

"Talking nonsense again..." Duanmucui murmured in a low voice, "The bug drilled so deep, the incision would not be shallow, how could it not leave a scar."

Zhan Zhao was momentarily at a loss for words.

Duanmucui felt sad, at this moment, she only felt that the wound was hideous and ugly, she didn't care much about the pain, she couldn't help but lowered her face, let the tears in her eyes soak the quilt, and said after a while: "If you If I don’t leave, I might get a few fewer knives.”

Zhan Zhao is silent, this is the truth, if he was on the side at that time, Duanmucui would probably only have to be stabbed twice, not as much as seventeen knives.

"Or... don't come here... I'll sacrifice my life to get rid of the demon... Now the demon has not been eliminated, and people are still in such a mess..."

(End of this chapter)