Chapter 29 Changes
Xiang Shu said nothing, took the bowl, tilted his head back, put the Ma Fei Tang in his mouth, and lowered his head to pass it to him.
Chen Xing bent the suture needle and asked Xiang Shu to wash his hands with liquor and assist him. He said in a deep voice, "Thanks to his companions, he used a bowl to hold the intestines on his stomach. Otherwise, if it was broken, even gods could not save it. Move all the lights and mirrors over here."
His men had driven away all irrelevant people in the tent. Chen Xing first used liquor to clean the wounds of the unconscious Che Luofeng to remove the pus, blood and filth. More and more blood came out, and Che Luofeng's body gradually became cold. Chen Xing then asked the two Rouran boys who were helping him to press the hemostatic acupoints and give him acupuncture to stop the bleeding.
"You have saved people with this kind of injuries before." Xiang Shu said when he saw that Chen Xing was familiar with the process and his technique was very quick.
"No," Chen Xing replied, "I only sewed up bears."
Xiang Shu: "…"
Chen Xing said: "I'm just kidding, don't be nervous."
Chen Xing and Xiang Shu's hands were shaking a little because Che Luofeng was bleeding too much. The cotton and gauze were soaked in a short while. Xiang Shu's voice was very unstable: "Where is the medicine you gave me before?"
"No more," Chen Xing replied calmly, "That was the last one in the Exorcist Department."
Xiang Shu took a deep breath, and Chen Xing said, "Don't be nervous."
Chen Xing could feel that this young man named Che Luofeng was very important to Xiang Shu. Chen Xing was confident that he could heal his wounds, but he was helpless against the bleeding. He was afraid that he would die of lack of blood before his abdomen was stitched up.
But he didn't dare tell Xiang Shu that he had no assurance whether he could save the patient. He could only say that 70% depended on his medical skills and 30% depended on the patient's desire to survive.
Che Luofeng's face was pale, his eyes were tightly closed, as if he was trapped in a long dream. He looked to be about the same age as Xiang Shu, but had the characteristics of the Rouran people, with thin lips, long eyelashes, high cheekbones and distinct facial features, with a hint of stubbornness, just like the Rouran cavalryman wearing a helmet that Chen Xing had seen in the portrait.
His arms, shoulders and back are very strong, his legs are long and his waist is strong, which shows that he is a martial artist. We can only hope that his physique can hold up.
Chen Xing first sewed up nearly half of his abdomen, then leaned over to listen to his heartbeat, which was already very slow...
Chen Xing took a deep breath, lit up the heart lamp in his hand, pressed it on Che Luofeng's chest, and whispered: "Che Luofeng, your Anda is waiting for you to wake up. No matter what, you must hold on."
Xiang Shu breathed rapidly and said in a trembling voice: "Che Luofeng! Survive! You promised me, you promised Shulu Kong!"
After Chen Xing injected the light of his heart lamp into Che Luofeng's heart veins, his heartbeat stabilized a little, but the bleeding became more severe, so Chen Xing had to suture it immediately.
"How long will it take?" Xiang Shu also felt that Che Luofeng could not hold on any longer. The bleeding was getting more and more, and had soaked their clothes.
"It's almost done." Chen Xing's hands were shaking as he was stitching. "Put the intestines back in. The internal organs will return to their original positions and grow back on their own. Be careful not to get any knots."
The two worked together to restore Che Luofeng's abdomen to its original shape. Chen Xing inserted all the silver needles into Che Luofeng's acupuncture points. The hemostatic and cardiotonic acupuncture techniques really used up all Chen Xing's life-long knowledge. This moment was truly the peak moment of Chen Xing's medical skills since he became a disciple.
After the last stitch was done, bandages were applied, and medicine was applied, both men's bodies and hands were covered in blood.
"Ginseng soup, quickly!" said Chen Xing.
Then, Xiang Shu followed the instructions and gave Che Luofeng the life-saving ginseng soup that he had prepared. Chen Xing then applied all the anti-inflammatory and detoxifying herbs, and hemostatic and tissue-regenerating ointments to Che Luofeng without thinking twice.
"call--"
Chen Xing was exhausted and said, "Okay."
Xiang Shu held Che Luofeng in his arms, his face still pale, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"I hope he can wake up safely." Chen Xing listened to Luo Feng's heartbeat when he got off the car, and then felt his breathing, which was weak but very stable. He went out to wash off the blood, and found that the sky was full of stars. It was already midnight.
Xiang Shu sent his men to rest. They had been busy for six hours, so Xiang Shu's next concern was whether Che Luofeng could wake up. That night, Chen Xing had a simple meal, washed off the blood, changed his clothes, and replaced Xiang Shu. Xiang Shu quickly finished his preparations and began to keep watch.
"You go and have a rest." Xiang Shu said, half hugging Che Luofeng.
Chen Xing said: "Just raise his upper body a little higher."
Xiang Shu insisted on sitting on the blanket, holding Che Luofeng half of his body, and covered him with a blanket. Chen Xing didn't say much, exhausted, and fell into a deep sleep. When he woke up, Che Luofeng was still asleep, and Xiang Shu held him like this for the whole night.
The next day, the great Khan closed the door and refused visitors. The sun rose and set, but Che Luofeng still did not wake up. He spent a whole day and night like this.
At midnight the next day, Chen Xing felt that something was wrong with Xiang Shu, so he walked up to him and knelt beside him, listening to Che Luofeng's heartbeat and trying his breathing.
Xiang Shu's eyes were a little distracted, and he glanced at Chen Xing. Chen Xing looked at the situation and was afraid that the worst result would eventually happen, and Che Luofeng would not wake up in the short term.
"It's okay," Xiang Shu whispered, "You don't have to comfort me."
Chen Xing said: "When I was a child, my father told me that in everyone's life, when they were born, when they started talking, when they fell in love with their first person, when they started a family, got married and had children, said goodbye to their parents, and even passed away, it was all predetermined. It's just that we don't know, so we don't believe in fate."
"Do you believe it yourself?" There seemed to be a lot more warmth in Xiang Shu's voice at this moment. He stretched out his hand and gently placed it on Che Luofeng's forehead.
Chen Xing remained silent and finally sighed.
Although he and Che Luofeng had never met before, he couldn't help but envy him a little. If he really died at this moment, he would still have Xiang Shu, his best brother, by his side. He just didn't know who would be by his side when Chen Xing died three years later.
Seriously speaking, Chen Xing couldn't say whether he believed it or not. Ever since his master told him that he would not live past the age of 20, he always had a sense of luck, always thinking, what if he was wrong?
Although his master had never lied to him and his predictions about anything were almost always correct, Chen Xing always felt that he was living a good life and would not die when he turned 20. Could it be that a rock would fall from the sky and crush me to death while I was walking on the road?
So Chen Xing's mood was always in the contradiction of "believe and don't believe". On the one hand, he felt that he didn't have much time left, and on the other hand, he secretly wanted to provoke God. At worst, when I turn 20, I will find a deserted place to hide, a vast plain, with a pot on my head, and take full precautions, waiting from sunrise to sunset. Once I can make it through, won't everything be fine?
Just when Chen Xing was thinking about getting up and leaving, Xiang Shu said:
"Don't go, stay with me for a while."
Chen Xing felt very heavy-hearted and had to sit down again, realizing that he might need someone to accompany him at this time.
"Thank you." Xiang Shu said.
Chen Xing smiled it off and thought to himself, I rescued you from the death row in Xiangyang City, but you didn't say thank you; instead you thanked me for Che Luofeng's life, that's really rare.
"A doctor's heart is full of compassion," Chen Xing replied, "It's my duty."
"Che Luofeng and I grew up together," Xiang Shu said, "I am an only child. My mother gave birth to me and died of illness. My father has not had any children for many years. When I was a child, I always envied the brothers of the Tiele family. When Che Luofeng was four years old, he was sent to Chi Lechuan to serve as a hostage of the Rouran people in order to lend troops to the Rouran and rescue their people after the destruction of the Dai Kingdom."
"Che Luofeng said, I have no brothers, he is my brother. When I was seven years old, I left Chi Le Chuan and headed north to chase a wounded stag, where I was besieged by a pack of wolves. I was trapped in the wilderness for three days and three nights, and my tribe members thought I was dead. Only Che Luofeng and his guards searched the entire wilderness to find my whereabouts."
"If he's alive, I want to see him. If he's dead, I want to see his body." Xiang Shu was immersed in his memories, muttering, "We have agreed since we were young that if one of us dies, the other will definitely avenge him. You Han people have the saying of sworn brothers, so I guess it's the same."
Xiang Shu glanced at Chen Xing, who looked a little depressed. He tried to smile and said, "Actually, I envy you."
Xiang Shu didn't know that Yuwen Xin had strangled Chen Xing's father himself. He nodded and continued, "When I was ten years old, the Rouran people finally returned to the outer frontier, but Che Luofeng came back to see me every year, until my father was seriously ill. After I took over the position of Great Chanyu, the various tribes were in chaos, and it was Che Luofeng who led the Rouran people and stood on my side to assist me."
"When I first took office as the Great Chanyu, I really didn't have the energy to take care of my father. It was Che Luofeng who treated my father like his own father and served him by his bedside that I was able to spare the time to take care of the complicated Hu people." Xiang Shu said, "This kid always asked me to take him south to the Han area to play. I heard that the Central Plains is very prosperous. I really didn't have the time to spare, so I kept putting it off. If I had known..."
"It will be fine." Chen Xing comforted.
Xiang Shu nodded.
"Much better than me," Chen Xing added, "My sworn brother... never mind, let's not talk about it."
Xiang Shu: "…"
Chen Xing is not very good at comforting people. He only knows how to use the simple and rough method of "I'm worse off than you, see? In comparison, you're not that miserable."
"You are a very good Han Chinese," Xiang Shu said seriously, "you have a good temper and a kind heart. At first I always regarded your tolerance as cowardice, but now it seems that you are not."
Chen Xing said a little tiredly: "It's just because of many things in front of me, I have to put them aside temporarily. I have more important things to do."
Xiang Shu sighed and added: "But I still don't understand why you are willing to be an exorcist."
"The heart lamp is with me, do I have any choice?" Chen Xing said helplessly with a wry smile.
Xiang Shu: "What if I could choose?"
Chen Xing was silent for a long time and said, "I will be the president. Maybe that's why God chose me instead of others. Get some sleep, Xiang Shu. You haven't closed your eyes for two days and two nights."
Chen Xing sighed, stood up and went out of the tent. Xiang Shu nodded, but did not move, still holding his brother tightly.
The sky was turning pale, and Chen Xing stopped to breathe in the cold autumn air of the northern frontier.
Xiang Shu said a lot today, which made Chen Xing seem to see a different him. In his heart, there are people he cares about and family affection. Just as Xiang Shu said, "Now it seems that you are not like that", their views on each other have also changed.
I should have spoken like this a long time ago, Chen Xing thought.
At first, he naively thought that after finding this destined guardian, they would give themselves to each other without reservation, live and die together, and trust each other. But what disappointed him along the way was that he found that it was far from easy for people to trust each other. What's more, Xiang Shu was a Hu people and he was a Han people, so it was even more difficult for them to identify with each other.
But no matter what, this is a good start. Chen Xing squatted down by the stream and washed his face with cold water. Now he just hoped that Che Luofeng would wake up as soon as possible, or at least his condition would not worsen, otherwise...
At this moment, he heard Xiang Shu's crazy shout from inside the tent!
Chen Xing nearly fell into the stream. He immediately turned around and rushed to the king's tent, shouting, "What happened?!"
Xiang Shu hugged Che Luofeng, shivering constantly. He buried his head in him, raised his head, and looked at Chen Xing with tears in his eyes.
Che Luofeng opened his eyes, moved his lips slightly, whispered something, his eyes full of confusion.
"Great!" Chen Xing's nose also felt sore, "Great! You finally woke up!"
Xiang Shu wanted to cry but was laughing. This was the first time Chen Xing saw him lose his composure like this. The three of them started laughing like fools.
Che Luofeng woke up, and the news spread out early that morning. The Rouran people flocked to thank Xiang Shu and Chen Xing for Che Luofeng's awakening, and even brought a tent full of gifts. Chen Xing ate the fried seeds and dried meat that were sent to him, and his body was covered with gold, silver and jewelry. He drank milk tea, just like a local rich man, and continued to treat people.
Xiang Shu was so tired that he slept in the tent for a day and a night.
Che Luofeng temporarily lived in Xiang Shu's tent so that Chen Xing could look after him at any time. This prince of the Rouran tribe could barely speak a strange Chinese accent. He was cheerful and active, and would laugh to himself from time to time. After Che Luofeng woke up, Xiang Shu regained his serious expression, and was indifferent even to his sworn brother, full of disgust.
It seems that this guy is like this to everyone. Chen Xing happily thought, it's not just me that he dislikes.
"The wolf rushed over," Che Luofeng began to describe the day he was in danger to Chen Xing, saying, "It kneaded me like dough, kneading me back and forth, and made me into dumplings..."
"Hahahaha——" Chen Xing almost choked on his milk tea. Che Luofeng's metaphor was quite strange. He corrected him, "You can't say that!"
Che Luofeng said: "If he hadn't been scratched by the wolf first and then ambushed by the Aklers, what would this injury mean?"
Chen Xing asked, "Why did the Aklers ambush you?"
Che Luofeng said nonchalantly: "The Rouran fought with them for the river water. They killed my most capable warrior. We killed the son of the clan leader. That fellow..."
"Are you sure it's them?" Xiang Shu said coldly.
"Who else could it be besides them?" Che Luofeng asked.
Xiang Shu reprimanded him in Rouran language, and Che Luofeng stopped talking. Chen Xing didn't understand, but he knew the general idea was that if you didn't see it with your own eyes, you shouldn't jump to conclusions. There were many cases of killing and robbing on the grassland, and even just because of a disagreement, and killing was even more unscrupulous in the north of Yinshan Mountain. Many hunters would rather kill first to avoid being careless and falling into danger when they saw that the situation was not right.
Che Luofeng couldn't tell who the people who ambushed him were. After all, he had been scratched by a wolf and staggered into the bushes, almost unconscious. As soon as the other party injured him, the Rouran subordinates came to support him, and the enemy had to retreat. They neither saw the people who did it nor could they identify the weapons.
After much speculation, Xiang Shu still couldn't figure out who hurt Che Luofeng, so he had to write it down and investigate it slowly in the future. He also reprimanded the fearless Anda and told him not to do anything dangerous again.
During these days, Che Luofeng came over before dawn every day, woke Xiang Shu up, and asked Chen Xing to change his dressing. Then he stayed in the tent without any hesitation, and occasionally when Xiang Shu was still asleep, he would crawl into his bed and sleep with him. Xiang Shu would be annoyed, pull him out, and kick him aside.
During the day, Che Luofeng was even more restless, and would go and tease Xiang Shu every once in a while, either teasing him or making him talk. Chen Xing thought to himself, you are much more arrogant than me, and you are not afraid of death because you are his brother-in-law. If I did this, I would definitely be strangled to death by Xiang Shu.
"Look at Shulükong. Is he pretty?" Che Luofeng took advantage of Xiang Shu's nap to look at him, as if he was showing off his possessions. He then said to Chen Xing, "I think he looks like Wang Zhaojun."
"She is beautiful, yes..." Chen Xing's mouth twitched, agreeing with Che Luofeng's praise of Xiang Shu's beauty, "But what about Wang Zhaojun? Have you seen Wang Zhaojun?"
Che Luofeng said: "It is said that Wang Zhaojun is the most beautiful girl in the world, isn't that right?"
The Hu people outside the Great Wall had no idea about the appearance of the people in the Central Plains. They only knew the legend of Zhaojun's journey to the Great Wall, and also spread the word that Zhaojun, who had married Huhanye the Great Chanyu, was the most beautiful girl in the world. Even the passing wild geese would land on the grassland to see her beauty.
Che Luofeng said, "Huhanye the Great Chanyu married the most beautiful girl in the world, but what about Shulükong the Great Chanyu? Do you think he should just marry someone himself?"
Chen Xing said: "He is not asleep and has heard it."
Xiang Shu: "…"
陈星打量项述两眼,心道本着苻坚的男婚令,若这家伙不是一只长得漂亮的疯狗,我倒是很愿意娶你,只是娶回家了多半得天天挨揍,性命堪忧.然而不知为何,陈星又隐约感觉到了,车罗风对项述的感情有时候总有点奇怪.
Xiang Shu woke up, and Chen Xing said to Che Luofeng: "You and the Akele people have fought, will they come to Chi Lechuan again?"
Che Luofeng immediately asked in a vigilant tone: "What do you want to do with them?"
Chen Xing was worried and looked at Xiang Shu, remembering that the Akele people were a tribe of the Northern Nomads in the Ancient Alliance. In a few days, they would return from the north and spend the winter at the foot of the Chi Le River. He just wondered if the feud with the Rouran would cause them to be dissatisfied with Xiang Shu again.
Xiang Shu knew what Chen Xing was thinking and said, "Don't worry. They are enemies of the Great Chanyu, which means they are enemies of the Chile Ancient Alliance."
Chen Xing gradually felt relieved. The weather was getting colder day by day. The first snow after the beginning of autumn was still late. Every morning, the grassland was covered with white frost. Until the third day of October as agreed, there was still no news from the legendary Akele tribe.
October 15th is the Late Autumn Festival on the grassland. Chen Xing asked around about this tribe active in the north and learned that Akele was a branch of the Shiwei tribe, with nearly 3,000 people. Their active area was further north, even to the North Sea.
"It will come," Xiang Shu said nonchalantly, "otherwise, when the snowstorm comes, they will just freeze to death in the north."
"Shulukong," Che Luofeng said with a smile, "When will you take us to the Han people's place to have a look?"
Chen Xing was changing the medicine for Che Luofeng, while Che Luofeng was making a feather crown of the Great Khan for Xiang Shu. Xiang Shu did not respond.
Che Luofeng hooked Chen Xing's chin with his finger again and said, "I heard that you have a lot of fun things in Zhongyuan."
Chen Xing slapped Luo Feng's hand and said, "Another one who wants to rule the Central Plains? It's a pity that the North doesn't belong to us now. You can fight with Fu Jian for it."
Che Luofeng laughed again and said, "If I lead my troops into the pass, fight Fu Jian, and become the emperor of Rouran, Chen Xing, will you help me?"
Xiang Shu lectured Che Luofeng harshly in Rouran language again, but Chen Xing said seriously: "Everyone thinks that there are large tracts of unowned land in the Central Plains, and whoever can fight for it will own it. Have you ever thought about what everyone would think if the Han people came to trample on your homes and rob your property?"
Che Luofeng smiled and said, "It's just a joke. Without the Great Chanyu's approval, the Chi-Le League will not move south."
Almost all the patients in Sichuan were treated one after another. Chen Xing treated thousands of patients in a month, nearly 200 patients a day. The reputation of "miracle doctor" had spread throughout the Chi Le Sichuan, and no one dared to treat him as a servant anymore. When he went in and out, the Hu people treated him respectfully, and since that night, Xiang Shu's attitude towards him had also improved.
Che Luofeng has almost fully recovered and can ride a horse. Xiang Shu occasionally takes him out to relax on weekdays. Chen Xing has gone with them a few times, but he didn't like to move because it was cold, and he wouldn't join them when there were occasional patients coming to see a doctor.
After all, Che Luofeng was full of interest in the Han world. Not only did he learn some Chinese, he also pestered Chen Xing with questions. If he was really eager to learn, it would be fine, but he often talked about it, and there was a hint of covetousness in his words, which made Chen Xing feel a little uncomfortable.
"Please teach me how to write Shulükong's name in Chinese characters." Che Luofeng said.
Chen Xing thought, why not learn to write your own name?
The Late Autumn Festival is here, which is the grand annual festival of the Hu people outside the Great Wall. After October 15th, the prairie declares the beginning of winter. On this day, the Hu generals sing and dance, slaughter sheep and drink, and begin to prepare for many winter storage tasks. Chen Xing has learned a lot of Rouran, Xiongnu and Tiele languages, and roughly knows that the first snow should have come in late September or early October in previous years, but this year the snow has not fallen yet, and the Akele tribe has never come.
If the Akele tribe didn't come, Chen Xing wouldn't be able to confirm the location on the map. Once the snow started to fall, the road to the north would be more difficult to travel, and he would have to wait until spring. As time passed, Chen Xing couldn't help but get anxious.
"After today," Xiang Shu said, still drinking tea in the tent, "if they don't come, I will send people to the north to look for them."
After Xiang Shu returned, he changed into the robe of the Great Chanyu, which was very gorgeous. He wore a feather crown with three bird feathers on his head, and a martial robe embroidered with the emblems of the sixteen Hu in the ancient alliance, which was quite impressive. Chen Xing observed him for a long time and found that Xiang Shu also had work to do. The position of the Great Chanyu was not like that of an emperor, and rarely involved in the internal affairs of the Hu. More often, he mediated disputes, divided responsibilities, and served as a symbol of the ancient alliance. When he was busy, he was very busy, often listening to the elders of various tribes complaining and accusing each other. When things were done, he was very idle, often doing nothing all day, and staring at Chen Xing in the tent.
"There's no snow," Xiang Shu said. "We can't go skiing in late autumn this year. Can you stop frowning?"
Chen Xing thought to himself, after the Chinese New Year, I only have three years left to live! Do you think I will frown? !