CMWKSD -Chapter 136 A Night Visit

Shen Zongsheng reflexively stood in place.

Madam Shen, tears streaming down her face, hugged Shen Zongsheng tightly. Except for Jiu Yue and a few others present, everyone couldn’t help but have red eyes.

Jiu Yue squatted in front of Shen Zongsheng, showing little emotion. To her, Shen Zongsheng was nothing more than a living body.

At this moment, she was examining Shen Zongsheng’s legs, feeling the direction of the bones and muscles to assess how well they had recovered.

Since he could already stand, Shen Zongsheng wanted to truly experience how happy it was to stand on his own.

After standing still for a moment to check himself, he didn’t need anyone’s support.

Jiu Yue stood up and clapped her hands. “The recovery is quite good.”

She then called to the servants, “Come outside. I’ll show you how to use all these things properly.”

“Oh, and for now, try not to stand for more than half an incense stick at a time each day. Haste makes waste—don’t rush the process.”

Mother and son nodded repeatedly. “Understood, understood.”

After leaving the Shen household, Jiu Yue brought back some more items. Although not silver notes, the household now had many rare and strange items—any single piece could fetch a good price if sold.

The news that Shen Zongsheng could stand spread quickly, and unsurprisingly, it soon reached the palace.

Emperor Fengyuan could hardly believe it, staring fixedly at Ying Yi. “You saw it with your own eyes?”

“Your Majesty, I personally saw Shen Zongsheng stand for half an incense stick. Doctor Jiu Yue also had all those strange devices used on him. They said it helps with his recovery. His legs are fine now; the main thing is ongoing rehabilitation.”

Emperor Fengyuan looked at Li Feng. “Make preparations. I will go to the Shen household tonight.”

Li Feng was momentarily surprised but quickly responded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

That night, a low-profile yet luxurious carriage disappeared into the darkness from an alley outside the imperial city.

If one observed carefully, it became apparent that within a hundred meters of the carriage, people were strategically positioned, hiding in the shadows.

It was almost midnight, just before curfew.

General Shen was startled by the sudden imperial token and, upon looking up, saw the elusive leader of the Eagle Eyes, Ying Yi.

The visitor wore a golden eagle mask.

All officials of Daqi had seen the eagle mask before, but no one, except the emperors, knew who wore it.

“Ying Yi” was not a personal name but a code name. Legend had it there were fifty people with the Eagle Eyes codename, and the entire Eagle Eyes organization spread worldwide.

Of course, aside from the emperor, no one knew whether this was true.

General Shen hurriedly went to salute, but Ying Yi waved him off. “No need, General Shen. Prepare to receive His Majesty; he has arrived.”

General Shen was stunned. To have the Eagle Eyes leader appear in the dead of night, from the palace to here… could it be related to the Gu matter? Or trouble at the northern border? Or foreign spies infiltrating Daqi?

He was baffled and uneasy.

“Your Majesty wishes to see Xiao Wu’s legs?” General Shen asked again, still finding it hard to believe.

The emperor had left the palace in the middle of the night, just to see his son’s legs?! Anyone else would think it insane.

But he was the emperor; what else could General Shen do but nod?

“Yes.”

At that moment, the Shen family military doctors were massaging Shen Zongsheng’s legs.

Emperor Fengyuan and General Shen stood outside the window, watching.

General Shen explained the strange devices in the courtyard.

Emperor Fengyuan nodded, showing little interest in the other things. “Can Shen Zongsheng still stand?”

General Shen didn’t really know, but the emperor had come at midnight. Even if Jiu Yue had said he could only stand for half an incense stick per day, standing a bit longer shouldn’t be a problem.

So General Shen walked toward Shen Zongsheng’s room. Shen Zongsheng had noticed them entering the courtyard but the visitors seemed harmless. Seeing General Shen, he was initially surprised, then nodded, understanding that the emperor’s visit was meant to be secret.

Shen Zongsheng stood there on his own, with great effort, without relying on anyone.

Two breaths later, General Shen stepped out.

Emperor Fengyuan felt uneasy inside, his heart unsettled even after returning to the palace.

Ying Yi had served the emperor for many years and understood him better than anyone, but no one dared guess the emperor’s true intentions.

Li Feng and Ying Yi waited below until the emperor spoke slowly: “Bring her here secretly.”

Upon hearing this, they knew they were both assigned this task and could not afford mistakes.

“Yes.”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Dry season, watch for fire!”

The night watchman’s voice grew closer.

Jiu Yue’s eyes snapped open. Ji Yiqing held someone tightly, their bodies pressed together, with not a thread of clothing between them.

Jiu Yue rolled off the bed. Ji Yiqing felt emptiness in his arms and reached out, but Jiu Yue had already covered his mouth.

“Shh… someone’s coming.”

Jiu Yue’s alert stance made Ji Yiqing stay silent. He had never seen her so serious.

In a few moments, Jiu Yue dressed and tossed Ji Yiqing his clothes, then moved slowly into the courtyard.

Sure enough, the night watch guards and the gate servants had already fallen asleep.

Jiu Yue only glanced briefly to confirm that the intruder had not harmed anyone.

Moreover, her danger sense was extremely sharp.

The intruder wore a luxurious brocade robe, like a flying fish robe, signaling formidable skill.

Jiu Yue didn’t know the person’s exact abilities, but a quick look suggested they were on par with her.

As she entered the courtyard, seven or eight shadowy figures emerged from the darkness, all highly skilled.

The visitors were clearly hostile.

Jiu Yue could handle a revolving fight, but escaping might be difficult. If she chose to attack, injury would be minor, but losing her life was a serious risk. She valued her life, unsure if she could escape unscathed.

Ji Yiqing, coming out more slowly, widened his eyes in surprise.

Although they had only met briefly, Ji Yiqing knew exactly who this was.

On the day the emperor personally selected him as the third-place scholar, this person had stood beside the emperor, always present at court, a long-standing favorite.

It was said that Li Feng was called Li Feng only because he had saved the emperor’s life—anyone else wouldn’t dare use the “Feng” character.

Even if ordinary people wanted to save the emperor, they wouldn’t be qualified. Li Feng clearly enjoyed great favor with the emperor.

Ji Yiqing worried that Jiu Yue might act recklessly, but she stood still, giving no indication of advancing.

A wise person knows when to act. Ji Yiqing guessed Jiu Yue’s restraint was likely due to recognizing their identities.

In reality, Jiu Yue was simply thinking about how to escape the tight encirclement, unaware of what the white flying-fish robe represented.

She simply had too little knowledge of the ancient world, and understood nothing of official ranks or their significance.