Chapter 412
Shen Wei shook her head: "He must have taken the device to the South Sea. It's a shame I can't track it down."
As time passed, Shen Wei's body grew weaker, and she spent more hours sleeping each day. She could no longer continue her physical exercises—any increase in activity only left her more exhausted.
Moxun clicked his tongue. "What now?"
Shen Wei's expression darkened. "Before I die, I'll make sure he goes down with me."
The Southern Chu cavalry stood guard along the shore. After finishing their grilled fish, Shen Wei and Moxun walked back along the beach toward the villa. Midway, Shen Wei suddenly felt an itch in her nose.
She reached up to touch it.
Bright red blood stained her palm.
Seeing this, Moxun quickly took her pulse. After a moment, he exhaled slightly in relief. "Just internal heat, and too many tonics lately—straight-up nosebleed from over-nourishment. I'll brew you some cooling tea when we get back."
Shen Wei wiped away the blood with a handkerchief.
This scene happened to be witnessed by Li Yuanli as he stepped out of the villa. Under the bright moonlight, the blood on her handkerchief was unmistakable.
A sharp pain pierced Li Yuanli's heart.
He rushed forward. "Where are you hurt?"
Shen Wei was about to say "It's nothing," but seeing the worry in his eyes, an idea struck her. She pressed the handkerchief to her nose, letting the blood trickle down, seeping between her fingers.
Then, with a dramatic "weakness," she swayed—Li Yuanli immediately caught her.
Moxun, who spent every day with Shen Wei, instantly guessed her act. He sighed theatrically, shaking his head at Li Yuanli. "Her body is failing. Nosebleeds at this stage mean severe organ deterioration... Forget six months—she might not even last the night!"
Li Yuanli froze.
Shen Wei continued to bleed, her face deathly pale, the picture of frailty. His heart ached as if slashed by a blade.
She had been fine just hours ago—how could she deteriorate so quickly?
Scooping her into his arms, he turned and strode back toward the villa.
Moxun trailed behind, chattering pointedly, "If you truly love her, let her live freely in this world instead of trapping her in a gilded cage! Shen Wei wants to live a long life, you know!"
As he spoke, he stole glances at Li Yuanli's face—tight with tension, eyes shadowed by pain and frustration.
In his arms, Shen Wei's breaths grew faint. Li Yuanli held her closer, his lips pressed into a hard line.
He couldn’t just watch her die. He had to save her.
"Fetch the key!" Li Yuanli commanded.
Shen Wei, still feigning unconsciousness, rejoiced inwardly—the ruse had worked! Li Yuanli, believing her on death's door, was about to retrieve the device to send her soul home.
But her triumph lasted mere seconds before a whistling sound cut through the air.
Whoosh—
An arrow thudded into the sand at Li Yuanli’s feet. The Southern Chu cavalry drew their swords in unison as hoofbeats pounded closer—a group of riders charging across the moonlit shore.
Black robes flapping in the night wind, Li Yuanjing arrived, bow in hand. He nocked another arrow and fired, this time landing it just before Li Yuanli’s boots.
"Return her to me!" Li Yuanjing roared.
Li Yuanli narrowed his eyes. "You’re earlier than expected."
On the beach, the Southern Chu cavalry clashed with Qing State’s Tiger Guards, sand flying amid the crash of waves.
Li Yuanjing spurred his horse forward. Spotting Shen Wei cradled in Li Yuanli’s arms, his eyes reddened with fury and jealousy. He unsheathed his sword and swung at Li Yuanli’s head.
"Give her back!"
Li Yuanli dodged smoothly, passing the "unconscious" Shen Wei to Moxun. "Watch over her."
Moxun’s eye twitched as he steadied Shen Wei, shooting a glare at Li Yuanjing.
Of all times to show up! He called after Li Yuanli, "Hurry up and settle this—Shen Wei might not last the night! And you lot—watch where you swing those blades! Innocent bystanders here!"
A stray sword spun through the air, hurtling toward Moxun’s face.
He sidestepped, but the movement jostled Shen Wei’s arm. The "fainting" woman toppled over, her ankle smacking against a jagged rock.
"Ow!" Shen Wei yelped, eyes snapping open.
So much for acting.
Li Yuanli, who had just stepped away, glanced back and sighed. The woman who’d been at death’s door moments ago now looked perfectly lively.
Clearly, the whole "not lasting the night" bit was a staged performance—just a ploy to soften him into handing over the device.
Amused, he shook his head at Moxun. "Truly a master physician."
Moxun rubbed his nose awkwardly.
Shen Wei kicked the offending rock aside and dragged Moxun back into the villa, slamming the door on the chaos outside.
Beyond the walls, Li Yuanjing and Li Yuanli’s forces were locked in battle.
Moxun groaned. "Shen Wei, we’re in Southern Chu territory! Li Yuanjing brought a handful of men—no match for Li Yuanli’s forces. And he had to show up now, right when we were about to succeed!"
Wiping her brow, Shen Wei headed for Li Yuanli’s chambers. "Let them fight. We’ll use the time to find that key he mentioned—maybe the device is hidden in a chest somewhere. Quick, search thoroughly."
Moxun chuckled. "I admire your focus. Not a second wasted."
Outside, steel clashed. Inside, Shen Wei and Moxun ransacked the sprawling chamber—filled with weapons, antiques, and books.
Shen Wei noticed stacks of scrolls piled neatly on the desk.
Hoping for clues, she unrolled a few—
Every painting depicted her. Her past self.
There she was—fishing by the river, buying flowers on the street, butchering pigs, napping at a table, dressed in imperial consort robes...
Each portrait was lifelike, exquisitely detailed.
Moxun whistled at the mountain of artwork. "Now that’s devotion. Pity, really."
Shen Wei set the paintings aside and resumed searching. The chamber was vast, and exhaustion soon overtook her. She slumped into a chair to rest—
BANG!
The door burst open.
Li Chengyou stood there, clad in black, a red-tasseled spear in hand.
His gaze flicked between Moxun and Shen Wei, pausing in thought—before he rushed to the older man, eyes brimming with tears.
"Mother! I’ve come to save you!"