Rebirth: My Healer Wife Owns Superpowers - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: National Treasure?

“Fertile fields lost to evil paths, gold shines amidst gossip. The people of this world, for the most part, are like duckweed at the water’s edge, swaying with the wind, a pity for that man who with a Buddha’s heart faced the filth of this world, wrongly accused, both hateful and lamentable.”

It was like a clap of thunder striking Qi Yue’s heart.

What a lamentable and hateful phrase!

All along, wasn’t she yearning for just such a lamentable, hateful utterance?

Unexpectedly, she heard it in another time and space.

Her eyes were instantly clouded with tears.

But she dared not stop or look, she just mechanically continued walking, supporting herself against the edge of the carriage.

Zhao Xiyan had not heard her response for a long time, so he turned his head to look and just caught sight of a round tear sliding down her cheek and disappearing into the collar of her clothes in a flash.

He dared not look any longer.

Pretending not to see, but firmly etched the moment in his memory.

He had a premonition that the man in Qi Yue’s story had a deep relationship with her and that the Qi Family had no such person, further fueling his suspicion that she was not the real Qi Yue.

From that day forward, life became much easier for the Zhao Family.

After Qian Faliang was dealt with, Guan Yidao regained control over the convoy of exiles.

Though still enforcing a strict policy, the atmosphere among the exiled troop noticeably relaxed.

At least the maiden girls, young wives, and youngsters didn’t have to live in constant fear anymore.

As they passed through a town that day, Commander Guan announced they had traversed one-third of the journey. Given that Qian Faliang dared not snitch anymore, the Zhao Family could relax a bit and decided to buy a carriage for travel.

Qi Yue immediately purchased two carriages.

One was driven by Zhao Yonglian, for the two sickly, Zhao Yongzhe and Zhao Xiyan, who could then either lie or sit comfortably.

Mainly because Zhao Yongzhe’s legs needed rest to recover swiftly.

The other carriage was driven by a coachman hired by Qi Yue, allowing the women to take turns resting their feet, which significantly eased their burdens.

Unbeknownst to them, from some time onwards, Cong Zhonglan, the pregnant woman Qi Yue had seen before, silently followed behind the Zhao Family’s carriage.

She neither approached nor fell behind, just casually followed a few meters away at a steady pace.

At night when the convoy reached the post station, she would return to her shackled husband’s side, tending to his needs for food and drink.

Shen Yu heard from somewhere that the woman was also from a respectable family, childhood sweethearts with the man, innocent and unassuming.

They had been married for only two years when her husband was falsely accused.

Her parents wanted to take her back, but she adamantly refused, choosing to be exiled alongside her husband no matter what.

Qi Yue saw her several times, supporting her increasingly prominent belly, smiling at her convicted husband, and it was clear he adored her, putting on a brave smile though his heart couldn’t bear it.

One day, after Qi Yue had walked around the forest outside the post station and picked up a few chickens, she saw the couple nestled under a tree, whispering softly to each other.

The man struggled, touching the top of the woman’s head with his shackled hands, saying something unknown that made her bow her head in laughter.

At that moment, Qi Yue suddenly felt that the woman, with a face the size of an oleander leaf, was incomparably stunning.

“Lamentable, pitiable, can there really be such devoted lovers in the world?”

She sighed deeply, about to enter the post station, when Guan Yidao suddenly stepped out from behind a tree.

“If Miss Qi has a kind heart, why not lend a helping hand?”

Qi Yue snorted, “Alright then!”

Saying so, she tossed one of the chickens into Guan Yidao’s arms, “Please trouble yourself, good Samaritan, to pass this on.”

Guan Yidao held the chicken in his hand, frowning.

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

“I don’t know!” Qi Yue dropped the line coldly and turned away.

Guan Yidao stood there, watching her retreating figure, and after a long while said, “Yunchang, your daughter Qi Yue, she doesn’t resemble you in the slightest.”

Meanwhile, Qi Yue had just brought the chickens to the small kitchen, when Qian Faliang tumbled in as well.

His hair was a mess, and a trail of snot hung from his right nostril, while his beady eyes were already bloodshot.

“Master, master, the antidote.”

Qi Yue frowned slightly and tossed him a pill.

“Really disgusting. Now that you’ve taken the pill, you’re ready to talk, right?”

“Yes, yes, I’ve just received some news!”

Qian Faliang nodded repeatedly, flinging snot and tears everywhere, while Qi Yue quickly stepped back two paces.

Once the antidote took effect, Qian Faliang shuddered and immediately perked up.

“Master, I couldn’t clearly explain before because I genuinely didn’t know, but this time I really have some news!”

“Good, then accompany me on a trip.”

Qi Yue handed the chicken over to Zhao Shuanghua, instructing her to take care of it carefully and wait for her return to stew it.

She took Qian Faliang to the outside of Zhao Xiyan’s room, not letting him enter, and asked directly through the window.

“Speak, what’s this matter you’re supposed to handle? Is it related to Zhao Xiyan?”

Qian Faliang was quite obedient, not daring to look inside the room, and dutifully recounted the whole affair head to toe.

It turned out that, initially, Qian Faliang’s purpose indeed had something to do with the Zhao Family’s Treasure Pavilion that had suddenly vanished without a trace.

The reason was that on the same day, the Emperor’s private vault—the Treasure Pavilion, filled with mountains of gold and silver—had also been burgled.

The Grand Tutor Lin suspected the Zhao Family had planned it in advance.

After all, the Zhao Family had wide connections, and the father and son of Zhao had once held military power—it would have been easy for them to move mountains of gold and silver.

And that was why Qian Faliang had joined the quest mid-journey, while the lie Qi Yue had concocted accidentally hit the mark.

In Beiyuan, there really was an organization known as the Guyang Bandits whose operating methods were exactly as Qi Yue had described.

As a result, the Grand Tutor’s attention was indeed diverted to the Guyang Bandits, allowing Zhao Xiyan to slip away.

But just as Qian Faliang was about to return to the Capital City, he suddenly received a secret letter from Grand Tutor Lin, ordering him to follow Zhao Xiyan to Longnan Ridge, and that someone would contact him later with the specifics of his mission.

At this point, Qian Faliang bowed and presented the secret letter that, he claimed, had just arrived today.

“Master, this was left by the contact person, please have a look!”

Qi Yue took the unfolded note from him and saw a sentence written on it.

[Control Zhao Xiyan, discover the whereabouts of the National Treasure map]

The National Treasure?

It sounded like there were many valuable things to acquire!

But what connection did Zhao Xiyan have with this National Treasure?

Waving Qian Faliang off, Qi Yue took the note into the room.

To her surprise, Zhao Xiyan’s expression became baffled upon seeing the note.

Zhao Yongzhe and Zhao Yonglian examined the note over and over, both equally perplexed.

Now it was Qi Yue’s turn to be baffled.

“Have none of you ever heard of this National Treasure?”

“Never!” Zhao Xiyan silently shook his head, with Zhao Yongzhe following suit.

Zhao Yonglian was quick-tempered and immediately cursed.

“Damn it, who is the bastard spreading rumors about our Zhao Family? I’ll chop him to pieces!”

Qi Yue began to wonder if it might pertain to the Ducal Mansion’s Treasure Pavilion, but then she thought it unlikely.

The National Treasure, the name alone sounded grand, certainly not something that could be compared to the likes of a Treasure Pavilion.

She couldn’t help rubbing her hands together, why did they feel a bit itchy?