Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 373: Chapter 246: Spare No Effort for Her Chapter 373: Chapter 246: Spare No Effort for Her Compared to Yuan Bao’s self-satisfaction, Zhou Mu’s meticulously crafted face was covered in a cold and condensed hue.

“If the old man finds out, I fear that from then on, my beloved Changsheng will become his tool for unifying the Four Kingdoms, never to have a peaceful day again…” Zhou Mu’s gaze still rested in the distance, vague and filled with worry, as if trying to penetrate the boundlessness of the void.

“Uh…” Yuan Bao was clearly startled by these words.

This was something he truly hadn’t considered.

Given Emperor Zhoulin’s ambition, it was indeed a possibility…

How could someone like Lady Changsheng, with such exceptional ability and a naturally impetuous nature, be willing to be used as a tool by others in their struggle for power and quest for supremacy over the Four Kingdoms?

“It’s Master who has thought this through. Without long-term concerns, one will have immediate worries. Yuan Bao doesn’t have such foresight…” As Yuan Bao spoke, he touched his nose, acknowledging his short-sightedness and lack of comprehensive planning…

Thinking about how Emperor Zhoulin would react if he learned the truth, Yuan Bao couldn’t help but show a worried expression.

“Master, after our grand performance, will the envoys from the Three Kingdoms believe us? Will His Majesty believe us?”

Zhou Mu harbored the same worries.

Among the Four Kingdoms, there had always been truly clever individuals. He had intended to use Huo Shuixian to bring auspicious confusion to the mix, unsure whether he could achieve his goal…

Even a wise man can’t be free from all oversight, and no one can guarantee perfection. It concerned his Changsheng–how could he not be worried?

“It will take ten days for the people from the Capital City to arrive, and at least half a month for the envoys from the other Three Kingdoms. Regardless of whether they believe us or not, as long as we delay them for a month and winter comes, I want the Japanese pirates in Southern Fujian to be completely annihilated. I want Jiang One and their millions of soldiers to return to the capital in triumph!” Zhou Mu looked at the bamboos outside the window, his gaze sharp and domineering like the bitter cold of deep winter.

“Master!” Yuan Bao shouted in surprise and hastily interjected in panic, “Master, according to the original military plan, after the victory in this battle, we should not pursue the defeated enemies too aggressively. We should trap the Japanese pirates at sea and wait until the winter passes and spring arrives, which would be the best time to wipe them out completely!”

“Master! Hastiness for quick success will surely lead to increased casualties among the soldiers. Please, Master, consider the lives of the million-strong army and think thrice before acting!” Yuan Bao’s face could not hide his urgency.

Zhou Mu remained silent with a cold expression.

“Master! You pushed Miss Huo out to take the bullets to conceal the birth of Changsheng as the Star of Life, and Yuan Bao can overlook that. After all, Miss Huo has repeatedly disrespected Lady Changsheng, and she has brought this upon herself. But, Master, how innocent is the million-strong army? How can you change the war plan for the safety of just one person, Lady Changsheng? Hastiness for quick success will surely result in unnecessary casualties. This is what you have taught Yuan Bao, Master–have you forgotten?”

“More words are of no use; the prince’s mind is made up!” Zhou Mu slowly shook his head, concealing the pain in the depths of his eyes.

“Master, think of Lady Changsheng. Although she seems cold-blooded and heartless, she is actually the most benevolent at heart, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she cares for the people of the world. Yet you are going to make her bear the unnecessary casualties of thousands, even tens of thousands of soldiers. If she learns the truth, how can she face herself?” Although Yuan Bao wasn’t very wise, he was quite adept at guessing the thoughts of those in power, and because of this understanding, he was even more anxious.

“Master, given Lady Changsheng’s character, she will certainly understand if you exhaust all means to protect and deceive her for her sake. But if you sacrifice others to protect her–Master, that is the irreversible damage. Knowing that she carries the lives of so many on her shoulders, she will surely be furious, Master!”

“Stop speaking!” Zhou Mu suddenly turned around, sharply reprimanding and cutting off Yuan Bao’s words of persuasion. His eyes were already a bloodthirsty red, “I have said before, I would rather betray the world than fail her. Did you think it was just talk?”

Zhou Mu, like a king facing the world, was enveloped by an aura of devastating power, his purple brocade sleeve waving in the wind, “Be it Huo Shuixian or the thousands, even tens of thousands of soldiers who will die unjustly in Southern Fujian, I will bear these sins alone! To protect her from harm, I am prepared to pay any price. Even if I must turn the world into purgatory, I am willing!”

“Master!” Yuan Bao called out in dismay, shaking his head in disbelief, “Are you really willing to ruin the era of peace you’ve achieved over ten years of hard work just for Lady Changsheng alone? Where does that leave your people who regard you as a divine residence?”

Upon hearing this, a flicker of pain crossed Zhou Mu’s eyes involuntarily, “The people of the world? If Changsheng is harmed, what do I need this era of peace for? To rule over the world alone and watch the song and dance of prosperity? Yuan Bao, I have exhausted myself for over a decade to protect the people. Allow me this one selfish act–for her, I am willing to do anything without regret!”

“You’ve gone mad! Master, you’ve gone mad!” Yuan Bao gazed at his lord, feeling a profound strangeness, as if he had never known him.

Seeing Yuan Bao, his constant companion through life, react this way, a trace of sorrow passed through Zhou Mu’s eyes. Then, he turned back to the window and softly murmured as if speaking to himself, “I promised her that we would be together in life and death, never to part. If she is harmed, then I must follow.”

“If I follow my beloved into death, then the iron hooves of the Three Kingdoms will surely trample every inch of Great Zhou’s soil. Yuan Bao, to me, the people of the world are my beloved Changsheng, and my beloved Changsheng is the people of this world…”

“The Female Star of the Occupation Room clashed with Hook Chen, and all Four Kingdoms knew that whoever won my love would win the world. Given the Imperial Family’s selfish and heartless nature, if they couldn’t have it, they would surely seek to eliminate any future threat by killing. Even with all the confidence I possess, I have no assurance that I could protect Changsheng from harm under the combined forces of the Four Kingdoms…”

“Master…” Yuan Bao trembled at these words, calling out absentmindedly.

With his heart deeply entangled, and his life on the line for his master, what else could he do?

At this moment, Yuan Bao realized that Lady Changsheng was not just the partner his master had chosen, but had also become his most fatal weakness…

“Yuan Bao, for the sake of my love for Changsheng, for the sake of all the people in the world, the battle of Southern Fujian must be swift and decisive. The soldiers who die in vain on the battlefield die honorably!” The dull ache in his heart was like a saw cutting through, yet Zhou Mu tried his best to mask it as he turned to pick up a letter he had just written, his eyes resolute and merciless as he spoke, “This is the military order to adjust the battle layout in Southern Fujian. Send it immediately, I want to see them return to the Capital before the Winter Solstice. Otherwise, tell Jiang One and the other four to present their heads!”

Seeing this, Yuan Bao knew there was no turning back, quickly reached out to take the letter, and withdrew in agreement.

With the heavy military order in hand, Yuan Bao felt as if he could see the Southern Fujian battlefield, drenched in bloodshed and desolation…

Countless soldiers, because of this urgent command, would be buried on the battlefield, in foreign lands, losing the chance at life…

“Ah! Such a picturesque country, full of charming beauties, indeed it’s hard for a hero to surpass the allure of a beauty, my master…” Yuan Bao wanted to complain, but thinking of his master, he couldn’t bear it and ended up sighing several times.

His master’s heart and life were entwined with Lady Changsheng, and so were the lives of millions of people from Great Zhou…

Lady Changsheng, if you fall ill, I, Yuan Bao, will follow you in death!

Thinking this way, Yuan Bao didn’t hesitate to cover his mouth with one hand and let out a loud whistle.

In just a moment, a large hawk spiraled down, its wings stirring up dust as it headed straight for Yuan Bao.

Yuan Bao looked at the hawk on the ground, crouching down to secure the letter to its leg, then stood on his tiptoes, patting its wings, “Little hawk, the order you’re carrying this time is a deadly one. We can only pray… the fewer the casualties, the better…”

The hawk, being called little, seemed to understand human words, rolling its eyes before, with a flutter of its sizable wings, sending Yuan Bao to the side.

“Pfft!” Yuan Bao hurriedly spat out the dust that had been fanned into his mouth and moved away from the reach of the hawk’s wings, speaking discontentedly, “Little hawk, it’s been over a decade, how come you’re still so irritable?”

Now soaring two stories high, the hawk stared down at Yuan Bao below with piercing eyes.

“Alright, alright, off you go…” Yuan Bao said helplessly, waving his hand.

The hawk, having been trained by Zhou Mu for over a decade, was extremely intelligent. Hearing this, it immediately spread its wings and flew south, as fast as the wind.

Yuan Bao watched the hawk turn into a small black dot and disappear into the sky, and thinking of his master’s words, he couldn’t help but shake his head with a worried expression, “A great turmoil is approaching, how many soldiers will die on the battlefield, how many commoners will be displaced? When will all this ever end…”

“Lord Yuan Bao, it’s rare to see such loyal concern for the country and the people from you, Si Xi has certainly learned something new. I thought, aside from food, you didn’t care about anything else!” Hiding to the side, Si Xi covered his mouth to prevent his laughter.

“Hey! Xiao Si Xi, you always appear out of nowhere! If the master finds out, he’ll surely lecture you again. You’re not scheming, yet you always hear things you shouldn’t. What if you let something slip?” The moment Yuan Bao saw Si Xi, he turned and landed a knock on his head.

Xiao Si Xi did not dodge or duck, allowing the knock on his forehead, and he continued to speak with a smile, “How could I? I was personally trained by the master, and I’m to serve closely the County Princess Consort in the future. Have you ever seen me cause trouble with my mouth? It’s just you and the master always worrying over nothing!”

Yuan Bao shook his head helplessly and couldn’t help but advise, “You’re just like His Highness Prince Bao, fond of beauties, but the Beauty of the Guest Garden is different. Xiao Si Xi, take my advice and stay away from her, she will never become the master that you’ll have to serve in the future!”

“Yes, yes! Si Xi understands. I’m just taking the chance to look at her more while she’s still alive, that’s all!” Si Xi nodded vigorously in response, “Lord Yuan Bao, you just had such a sorrowful, empathetic expression concerning the nation and people, that doesn’t seem like your usual style. Those matters, aren’t they for our master to worry about?”

Yuan Bao gave him a look, dismissing the thought, “I was just putting on an act. Do you really think I have the leisure to worry about such trifling issues? Didn’t you pick out three baskets of fragrant melons? Have someone bring them here for the master to see.”