Chapter 10

Two months later, in the middle of the night, in the Jing Wangfu.


"Ow, ow, ow... hurt hurt hurt.. ow..."


The screams coming out of the Yaoyue Building of Jing Wangfu, broke the tranquility of the night.


Howling, howling, howling...


Dongfang Hao Ye howled until his throat had gone hoarse, but the shrewd woman didn't even seem to show any mercy.


At the moment, Xiao Wangye was seriously doubting, was he not loud enough?


"Hurt? Do you still know what is hurt? Is your face hurt? Are you hurt enough?"


"Huhuhu... Hurt... Mother, it's really hurt... Huhuhu..."


Teary-eyed Xiao Wangye's lower half body lay on the bed; the upper half was hanging over the edge of the bed; twisting his neck, he looked pitifully at the vicious woman who was trying to tear off his ear.


"Useless little bastard! Is mother hurting you? Your mother is distressed!" The Empress Dowager's delicate hand reached to beat the hell out of Xiao Wangye's white forehead.


As he was trying to dodge and act innocent, Dongfang Hao Ye looked at the dignified, graceful and fair woman in front of him; and lamented.


Huhu... why was it that all the women he knew were all of beautiful people, but their temperament were similarly... unbearable?


His sister-in-law and that Shui Lian'er, he didn't mind. But why was his mother also like this? He thought that his mother had been fasting and praying for Buddha for so many years, her disposition would be a few times calmer; but she'd actually had no change?


Oh, even rivers and mountains changed easily, but human nature didn't change as easy.


Women really were too difficult to deal with, Donfang Hao Ye thought, that was why he loved his dear, beloved wife the best.


Although his wife was a man, had cold temperament, was a bit heartless; and was determined to break up with him... but still Dongfang Hao Ye liked him.


Dongfang Hao Ye inwardly sighed, while the Empress Dowager continued to nag, nag, nag.


"What do you think your mother is praying for all these years? It is for you two brothers to grow up, be in good health, be safe without worries, then to marry and had children, to spread the branches of Wen Country with many children and grandchildren, and lead the country to ages of prosperity.


"But look at you two! You! You both are disappointing!


"Not long after Your Emperor Brother married, he already has two princesses from his imperial concubine; Bengong is assured he and Empress later can have children and grandchildren.


"But you, this little brat! That year you insisted on taking a man as a wife, this old mother had to run here from Li Palace in anger. Later, after hearing that Beitang Yao Yue was a Moye; a man that could bear children, and after you plead day and night; mother finally agreed to your marriage.


"But look at you now!" [No, you're not mistaken. All of the above were all Dowager's ranting.]


As Dongfang Hao Ye rolled all over the bed trying to dodge the Empress Dowager's jabs; tears started piling up on her eyes. In the end, she exhausted her patience, and she weakly fell down.


"Mother!" Dongfang Hao Ye shouted, he caught the Empress Dowager and complained, "Right now my wife is carrying a baby, this son is not lying."


"You can still talk? Where is this baby? Where is my granchild?" The Empress Dowager's shrewd almond-shaped eyes glared at him.


Dongfang Hao Ye hurriedly explained, "Mother, you misunderstood. I have many unexpected troubles in the capital city these days, was afraid of implicating Yao Yue so I sent him back to Ming Country. I really did not dismiss him."


"Nonsense!" The Dowager yelled, "Do you think I don't know Beitang Yao Yue? I clearly heard you offended him, so he ran away in anger and took your child back to Ming, would never accept you anymore."


Xiao Wangye's eyes widened in horror. Angered, he jumped up and shouted, "Who? Who is it? Who said that Yao Yue is breaking up with me?"


Suddenly he turned his head and pointed to the Emperor who had been saying nothing all the time, shouted, "Is it you?"


"Swear to heavens!" The Emperor swiftly raised his both hands, "Why would I do such thing? It is not me!"


Dongfang Hao Ye jumped off the bed and paced all around the room, cursing, "Bastard! Who said that Yao Yue is breaking up with me? Who's spreading empty rumors? Provoking our husband and wife relationship!


"Abominable! Hateful! Dare to say that Yao Yue is breaking up with me? Bullshit! Yao You will not leave me! He is carrying my baby so he loves me!


"Break up, what break up? He is my wife, if he wants to break up then I should be the one breaking up with him, how could he break up with me?"


Hearing this, the Emperor carefully asked, "Do you want to break up with him?"


Xiao Wangye turned around and glared at him, "Who said I want to break up with him? Mother, you see, Elder Brother is wishing me bad luck!"


The Empress Dowager swiftly threw her glare to the Emperor, "What are you saying? Beitang Yao Yue in now carrying a child of our Dongfang family, how can you casually say about breaking up?"


Feeling wronged, the Emperor pouted, "Hao Hao himself said it."


The Empress Dowager drew Dongfang Hao Ye's hand before fondly said, "It was only rumors, it was a misunderstanding. Beitang Yao Yue will never break up with you."


"Of course! Of course!" Xiao Wangye eagerly nodded his head.


"I say." The Dowager smilefully pinched Xiao Wangye's cheeks and lifted her chin, "The son I raise is outstanding, everyone who sees him falls in love with him, no one will be willing to break up with him!"


"Exactly! Exactly!" Xiao Wangye puffed up his chest, copying his mother he lifted his chin proudly.


At the side, the Emperor looked at them with sour face, as if he wanted to say: these two people were not his mother and brother!


The Empress Dowager said, "Then, when will you pick Yao Yue up?"


Dongfang Hao Ye was about to answer when the Emperor butted in, "After a while, he can go."


The Empress Dowager blinked, "Why wait for a while?"


The Emperor coughed once, "Now the situation in Ming is still unstable, it's unknown whether they are friend or foe. It's better to wait and see for a little while."


"Stupid!" Xiao Wangye rolled his eyes and bluntly said, "Do I have to go wearing the Wen Country Jing Wangye's banner? Can't I go quietly? Elder Brother, have you never heard the saying 'blending with common people', huh?"


The Emperor could not help but shouted, "Nonsense! Of course I know it, but what about your current martial art?"


"He's just picking up his wife, what to do with martial art?" The Empress Dowager couldn't follow, "Hao Hao, what's the matter with your martial art?"


Inwardly, Dongfang Hao Ye answered, because he was not careful when he fought with Fu Wang, he suffered an internal injury and had to temporarily sealed up his martial art; it was nothing big. Anyway, in this wolrd not many people practice martial art, and not many people were good at it.


Outwardly, he laughed, "What's the matter with my martial art? Nothing is the matter. Who says that if my martial art is bad I can't pick up my wife? Beside, I am clever, my light-body technique is excellent, also there is Xiao Dong, what's to be afraid of? Humph!"


The Emperor's face twitched, "But now the inside the Ming Counrty territory is not very peaceful. Ming Country's Great General, Li Can from Lingzhou is fighting for the Qin* Wang title, he leads a hundred thousand strong army and is ready to march toward Yaojing. Civil war is just around the corner. If you do to Youjing at this time, I'm afraid..."


[*Prince Qin; Qin (= dilligent) is the name title, not the rank as in Jing Qinwang. See ch1.]


Dongfang Hao Ye immediately interrupted, sternly and proudly, "Then I should go even more sooner! At times like this, how could I stand still and let Yao Yue in Yaojing face such dangerous situation? Husband and wife are birds of the same forest, if I run away at this time, am I still a man?"


Originally, the Empress Dowager hesitated when she listened to her eldest son, but then she saw her favorite younger son's manly manners, her heart warmed. She excitedly grabbed his hand and said, "Good! As expected of Bengong's son, very responsible!"


Dongfang Hao Ye seized the oportunity, "Mother, I decide to set off tomorrow. I will bring back Yao Yue as soon as possible, if I go later, the baby will be born without me."


"Yes, hurry go! When a woman gives birth while the husband is not there, she'll be sad." The Empress Dowager nodded.


"Mother, my beloved wife is a man!" Dongfang Hao Ye could not help to remind her.


The Empress Dowager waved he hand; her mannerism was exactly similar with that of Dongfang Hao Ye's; said, "Whether it's a man or woman, someone who can give me a grandchild is my child-in-law. Hao Hao, you can go tomorrow, and come back with your wife and child." The Dowager had already made up her mind.


"Hahaha, mother, you really is my dear mother!" Xiao Wangye cackled with glee, suddenly he rushed over to the Empress Dowager and kissed her fair cheek.


"Little Brat, I am really your mother!" The Dowager gave him a slap, but her face was all smile.


As soon as the Empress Dowager left, Dongfang Hao Ye immediately prepared for his departure. Seeing the Emperor's face was still dark, he patted him on the shoulder good-naturedly, "Elder Brother, don't worry, I won't disregard you. With good luck, after I arrived at Yaojing, I'll help you bring Sister-in-law back."


He thought for a moment, then added, "But, Sister-in-law is too powerful, if she refuses then I can't do anything, you should not blame me."


"Can't do anything? You really can do anything, anyway." The Emperor grimly said, "Must you tell those things to mother, to make her eager for you to bring your wife back?


"You know already that she is eager to hold her grandchild, so you made someone tell her that Beitang Yao Yue ran away with your child. If she had something to say, who would dare to stop her? Even I had to move aside."


"Hehehe..." Dongfang Hao Ye laughed, "Elder Brother, you underestimated Mother. Mother only had us two sons, even if she lives in Li Palace, how would she not know what happened in the capital city? You are mistaken about The Empress Dowager."


The Emperor sniffed, then said, "Hao Hao, won't you re-consider? Setting off two months later is no big difference."


"No!" Dongfang Hao Ye looked at the Emperor firmly, "I am going! Elder Brother, don't stop me!"


The Emperor watched him for a moment, then finally agreed, knowing that when Dongfang Hao Ye decided on something, even ten horses could not hold him back, sighing he said, "As you wish, then. But you must take careful, Ming Country is now in troubled times, you must be very careful."


"I know, I know. Elder Brother, you don't have to worry, you're like a old man."


When the Emperor's expression switched to scolding, Dongfang Hao Ye laughed, leaning on the Emperor's shoulder, he said, "Elder Brother, rest assured. This younger brother does not forget Wen Country's major issue, who knows maybe this time will bring an unexpected benefit."


The Emperor squinted his eyes, "You're willing?"


"Willing or not willing, this matter is very important. What's more..." Dongfang Hao Ye raised his chin, nose high, he said, "Your younger brother's skill, do you not know?"


The Emperor knew he was very clever, sly and scheming; but he was not about to feed this rascal's arrogance, he only patted Dongfang Hao Ye's head, "You are smart."




Early the next morning, Xiao Wangye dressed in plain clothing, took Xiao Dong and two guards and set off to Ming Country. Unfortunately, heaven's will didn't always agree with people's plan. On the third day after successfully entering Ming Country, Xiao Wangye's carriage encountered robbers.


There was a major glitch in Xiao Wangye's plan; that he insisted on using Yunchu to pull the carriage. Even if the carriage couldn't appear more common, people could not mistake a good horse.


"Huh? Not good! Xiao Dong, I'm going to die."


Dongfang Hao Ye's physic was still weak, he cried out before leaning backwards, then lay sprawled on the snow didn't want to move.


"Wangye, quick get up. If you lie there you'll catch a cold." Xiao Dong said while pulling him up.


Dongfang Hao Ye was seriously wounded, and in order for his internal injuries to heal he had to seal up his internal power; he was now weaker than ordinary poeple; added that he was used to being pampered, how could he endure a hard work like hiking?


Originally, he had two Wangfu's guards, he did not panic when they encountered a group of mountain bandits; Shi Yan and Wang Lin the two of them could deal with them completely. So he himself, and Xiao Dong stayed inside the carriage to watch the show.


But an unknown idiot kicked Yunchu's noble butt, making Yunchu raised his front hoofs and made a mad dash. Xiao Wangye's sky and earth turned upside down, making him motion-sick; suddenly he lost consciousness.


Eventually, after running for a long time, Dongfang Hao Ye and Xiao Dong were unceremoniously thrown out and off the carriage, tumbled several times. When the come back to, the vast mountain and the blowing cold wind, robbed the remaining two people, master and servant, of their speech.


Huhuhu... How could he be so unlucky? Xiao Wangye cried inside his heart.


In order to avoid a hundred thousand army of Li Can's, he deliberately chose the safe and narrow path under the Mount Wuyan. Who knew instead of a large troop, he encountered bandits instead.


"Wangye, hold on for a while, there must be village near here." Xiao Dong pulled Dongfang Hao Ye again, and said the killer sentence, "Don't you want to see Wangfei?"


Hearing this, Dongfang Hao Ye's eyes immediately brightened, he stood up and made fists, "Right! I'm going to find Yao Yue, I'm going to find my baby! Who dares to stop me?"


'Yao Yue, my baby, wait for me! I will definitely arrive at Yaojing!' He promised.


According to Dongfang Hao Ye's calculation, the baby inside Yao Yue's belly must be around four moths old. After Yao Yue left, he was busy helping his Elder Brother to deal with Fu Wang, but unexpectedly had another accident and became unconscious for another half a month. After he woke up, Elder Brother forbade him to leave the capital city. So until now, he still didn't know how was Yao Yue.


Aiya, why couldn't he grow wings and just fly directly to Yaojing?


As he walked, Dongfang Hao Ye imagined how big was Yao Yue's pregnant belly, imagined how their baby grew up inside the it; and a big, happy smile started to grow on his lips.


While he was immersed inside his own head, he suddenly saw a couple in some distance in front of him; a man who looked stout and strong, was holding a woman. The woman would stopped after each step; she had a really big belly, like watermelon-big belly.


Dongfang Hao Ye stared at the woman in surprise; he felt the woman's walking posture was really ugly, and her body figure was so overwhelmingly huge.


Heavens! His You Yue probably wouldn't look like that, right?


Dongfang Hao Ye imagined Yao Yue's slender, slim waist became so big like a bucket, uh no, a watermelon. Impossible!


Xiao Dong was smart enough to ask the road to the brawny man, also asked if there were villages nearby where they could take a shelter. The man was about to answer when the woman suddelny screamed and fell to the ground.


"What's wrong? What's wrong?" The man asked in panic.


The woman only held her belly and twisted her face in pain.


Xiao Dong froze, before hesitantly said, "Is she about to give birth?"


The question dumbfounded everyone.


The man scrambled in panic, "This, how can this be? There is still a long way from the village, and it's too late too go back..."


Xiao Dong said, "Then you must make haste, and take your wife to the village."


"Oh, right! Yes..." The man hastily tried to carry his wife, but the woman was too big and too in pain to be carried.


The woman yelled, "Tian.. it's hurt, hurt.. ah..."


Cold sweat appeared on the man's forehead.


Dongfang Hao Ye who had been watching at the side, hesitated for some time, then inched closer, "Big Brother, I have some medical skill. Maybe.. maybe I can check her pulse..."


He was yet finished talking when the man suddenly grabbed his hand and cried out, "Doctor, please help! Hurry up!"


"I'm.. I'm not a doctor..." Xiao Wangye was about to explain when the woman screamed, scaring him and making him swallowed his next words.


He went over, pried her hand to check her pulse, then glanced at her skirt before slowly said, "She is about to give birth, her water had broken."


"Then what should I do? What to do?" The man anxiously was so ready to climb the walls in helplessness, stomping the ground he said, "I said giving birth at home was fine, but she insisted to give birth at her mother's house. Now mother-in-law's village is still one Li away from here. What to do? What should I do?"


Xiao Wangye was about to suggest the man hurry go to the village and find someone to help. But then the woman suddenly grunted...


"Aaah, hurt..."


Xiao Wangye jumped away with scare, but the woman actually grabbed his hand and squeezed it tigthly, causing him to scream with her.


"Ah... Tian. I can't hold it, I'm going to die.. ah..."


"Jin Hua, don't panic, it's okay, it'll be okay..."


The man suddenly grabbed Xiao Wangye and shook him, yelled, "Doctor! Doctor, you help! Please help my wife, please help my child! Help her delivery..."


"Wha.. what?" Xiao Wangye was shaken until he was dizzy.


He wanted to explain again that he was not a doctor, he only know simple medical knowledge; not knowing anything about helping delivery. However, he was still weak because his injuries; he was shaken by the brawny fellow so hard he could not form words. Before he even reacted, he was pushed to the brawny man's wife's side.


"Doctor, please save my Jin Hua!"


Jin Hua, Yin Hua*! He really knew nothing about this kind of thing, how could he help her?


[*Jin (means golden) Hua (flower), while Yin means silver.]


Dongfang Hao Ye really wanted to refuse, but then he saw the seven-feet-tall big man was so anxious and miserable. Dongfang Hao Ye's heart pained, and he remembered his own beloved wife.


When later Yao Yue was about to give brith, maybe he would be so anxious and flustered too?


With such a thought, Xiao Wangye instantly felt sympathy for the man, he said, "No need to push me, I'll try my best."


Xiao Dong's voice shook, "Wangye, do you know how?"


Xiao Wangye's voice shook even worse, "No, I don't."


Dongfang Hao Ye forced himself to take over the task, but he had never been in such 'desperate' sutiation since he was born.


A woman giving birth was so... so frightening to the extreme!


Poor Xiao Wangye was obviously overestimating himself.


When he opened the woman's under skirt to take a glance; he was so scared he fainted...


Terrible! Terrible! Terrible...


When Dongfang Hao Ye woke up, the world was still spinning around him. Before his concsiousness was complete, he suddenly found that someone was clutching his wrist.


"Hey, what are you doing? Who are you?" Dongfang Hao Ye hastily tried to take his hand back, and saw a young stranger sitting in front of him.


When he looked around, he found himself was lying on a rickety cow cart, and Xiao Dong and a man driving the cart were in the front.


"Young Master, you woke up? In front of us there is Liujia Village."


"What Liujia Village?"


"The family whose baby was born with your help, they live in Liujia Village."


"Huh!" Xiao Wangye remembered the horrible thing he saw and his face paled.


The man driving turned back at him and grinned, "Thank you for you two gentlemen for helping my sister deliver her baby. My sister, her husband and the newborn baby are on the first carriage, they went back first to the village. I'm taking you to my house to have some meal."


Two gentlemen?


Xiao Wangye realized there was another person in the cart. In the twilight, he could not see his appearance clearly. He only vaguely saw the man was very young and very polite.


The man smiled slightly at Dongfang Hao Ye, showing off rows of white teeth, and said, "I am Yang Qing Yi, nice to meet you."


"Uh... My name is Fang Hao, nice to meet you, too." Xiao Wangye cupped his fist with his other hand.


"It was fortunate that Young Master Fang reacted quickly, using silver needles to stimulate the new mother's acupuncture points, otherwise I'm afraid both the mother and the child would be in danger."


Xiao Wangye laughed stiffly, he really did not want to recall the incident, weakly said, "Are you a doctor?"


"I am not, only studying medicine." Originally, Yang Qing Yi was in a hurry, when he passed by, Xiao Wangye had just fainted so he took over helping the couple.


"Huh? Oh." Dongfang Hao Ye could only uttered sounds for a response; he was still in trauma, had not yet recovered from the horrible sight.


That night, Dongfang Hao Ye and Xiao Dong, and also Yang Qing Yi, stayed at the house of the farmer family and received warm hospitality.


The next day, Xiao Wangye searched his pocket and gave the family a piece of jade for the newborn baby. The family was so happy, they praised Xiao Wangye as if he was a diety who help people and saved lives; the praised Xiao Wangye's cheeks turned red.


To repay him, the family gratefully gave them their old cow cart. Therefore, the Wen Country's Honorable Jing Qinwang, Dongfang Hao Ye and his close attendant, Xiao Dong, drove the old cow cart and started off to the capital city.


A stranger they mer by chance, Yang Qing Yi also travel together with them.


Right now, Dongfang Hao Ye was boredly lying on the cart, chewing a twig in his mouth. He sized up Yang Qing Yi, and asked, "Why are you going to the capital? To be a doctor?"


Looking at Yang Qing Yi's shabby clothes, somehow Xiao Wangye was eager to introduce him to several doctors.


But Yang Qing Yi had a proud look, "I want to be Golden Medal Imperial Doctor."


Xiao Wangye picked at his ear, "What is that?"


"You..." Yang Qing Yi disdained, "Have you never heard? It is the best doctor of all countries!"


Dongfang Hao Ye sympathetically looked at him, and felt a rare sincerity, "If it was Ming or Wen country's silver medal doctor, you are capable. But, Gold Medal, I don't think so."


The current ruler, the Emperor of Ming Country, Beitang.. uh, Si Yao Hui himself was the world's number one pharmacist; learned from Ling Yin Gu, his skill could not be doubted.


On the Wen side, the Empress of the country, Xiao Wangye's sister-in-law Qiu Zi Ling, her medical skill was not inferior to that of her foster father, the famous doctor Qiu Ye Yuan; even other imperial doctors had to learn from her.


Compared to these two people's medical knowledge and position, where would this small Master Yang stand?


Yang Qing Yi coldly sniffed, "Hey, little young fellow, don't look down on other people!"


Huh? Little young fellow?


Dongfang Hao Ye was furious. Dare stabbing his weak spot!


"Hei! I think we're pretty much the same age!"


Yang Qing Yi said, "I already reached twenty." He glanced at Dongfang Hao Ye's baby face, "You will be sixteen at most."


Xiao wangye was even more furious, "Sixteen? Which one of your eyes saw me as sixteen?" Still dare stabbing his weak spot!


"Both of my eyes see it." While saying this, Yang Qing Yi patted Xiao Wangye's head, "Are you running away from home? Bad boy. Ming is not quite at peace right now, traveling with only one servant, you are too bold."


Another stab at his weak spot!


Dongfang Hao Ye speechlessly glared dagger at Yang Qing Yi, there must be some problem with Yang Qing Yi's eyes.


Though Dongfang Hao Ye looked young, he was going to be twenty, and not sixteen!




Though the rickety old cow cart was slow, it didn't stop. After ten days traveling, they arrived at the capital city.


Standing in front of the tall city gate, Xiao Wangye looked at the word 'Yaojin' and couldn't help but to burst into tears.


Yang Qing Yi said, "Hey, no need to cry."


"Huhuhu... I'm crying tears of joy, not your concern! Huhu..."


"Alright, don't cry, let's go enter the city. I'll treat you to lunch." Yang Qing Yi waved his cloth bag in a good mood.


Dongfang Hao Ye looked at him, "Forget it, Master Yang, when we enter the city, we will go separate ways. You keep your money and spend it wisely."


"Where are you going?"


"Going to my wife." Everytime he talked about Beitang Yao Yue, Xiao Wangye's eyes brightened, and his spirit rose.


"You're married?" Disbelieving, Yang Qing Yi stared at him.


"Humph!" Xiao Wangye gave him a second look, then puffed up his chest before swaggered into the city.


"Wait. Hey, wait!" Yang Qing Yi grabbed him and put a note into Xiao Wangye's hand, "Fang Hao, we met by chance and got along together, it's also fate. This is the address of my relatives in Yaojing, you take it. If you had some problem, you can come see me."


"Oh, okay. Time for me to go." Dongfang Hao Ye put the note into his sleeve-pocket. Then he waved and smiled widely, "Young Master Yang, take care."


Yang Qing Yi saw him hurriedly saying farewell and shook his head helplessly. Shouldering his cloth-bag, he walked away.