Raising Wolves CHAPTER 27

 

 Raising wolves  

 Chapter 27

Translated by : DANMEI HEAVEN

   Chapter 27

The closer they got to the Ji’an Prefecture area, the more signs of flood devastation they saw. The floodwaters had submerged crops and farmhouses, and sometimes, when passing a drowned village where the water hadn’t yet receded, they would spot the floating corpses of livestock.

Or human corpses.

Whenever this happened, Ning Juan would lower the carriage curtain to prevent Lu Qingze from seeing any more.

However, with so many puddles on the road, traveling by carriage was no longer feasible.

The rain continued to drizzle. Lu Qingze donned a raincoat and mounted a horse.

Ning Juan, uneasy about letting Lu Qingze ride alone, chose to ride with him instead. Once Lu Qingze was settled, Ning Juan swung up behind him and took the reins.

The horse whinnied and broke into a gallop. The sudden motion sent Lu Qingze crashing back into Ning Juan’s chest. Just as he tried to straighten up, a gentle arm wrapped around his waist.

The rain was cold, but the air was thick and humid. The pervasive stench of water and mud mixed together, creating a stifling atmosphere. Yet the refreshing scent of the young man behind him enveloped him like a soothing balm in the oppressive environment.

Lu Qingze blinked and patted Ning Juan’s arm, signaling him to relax. "Don’t worry, I won’t fall off."

In response, Ning Juan only tightened his hold on the slender figure in his arms. "Tell me if you feel unwell, Teacher."

Lu Qingze: "..."

Just wait until I’ve recovered a bit more. I’ll show you a stunt like smashing a boulder on my chest.

That’ll teach this kid to stop acting like I’m on the verge of death every day.

When they arrived at Ji’an Prefecture, it was just as they had expected—deserted.

Jiangyou had always been prosperous, and Ji’an Prefecture was a place of outstanding natural beauty and talent. Yet now, it lay in desolate ruin.

The hidden guards who had arrived earlier emerged to reunite with Lu Qingze and the others.

Riding for so long was exhausting. Not only were the insides of his thighs rubbed raw, but his entire body ached from the jolting. Though Lu Qingze hadn’t uttered a single complaint, he no longer bothered maintaining the dignified image of an elder. Leaning comfortably against Ning Juan, he tilted his head and asked, "We haven’t seen a single refugee along the way. Where have they all gone?"

The hidden guard replied, "Reporting to My Lord, the survivors initially sought refuge on higher ground, waiting for the floodwaters to recede so they could return to salvage their homes, tools, and food. But as the epidemic spread, Governor Pan Jingmin ordered all refugees to be relocated to Lingshan Temple outside Ji’an Prefecture. Anyone attempting to flee is to be executed on sight."

Lu Qingze frowned.

All those refugees, crammed into a single temple? Even those who hadn’t been infected before surely were now.

"Should we go to Lingshan Temple first?" Lu Qingze turned to ask.

As he turned, his hair inadvertently brushed against Ning Juan’s throat—soft, fine strands tickling against his skin.

Ning Juan paused, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. Instead of answering directly, he asked, "Where is Chen Ke?"

Chen Ke was the imperial physician who had been sent ahead. Highly respected in the Imperial Medical Bureau, he had once served as an army medic in his youth and had experience treating epidemics.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, not long ago, we discovered a group of refugees hiding nearby. Some among them seemed infected. The refugees were extremely wary, and we couldn’t force our way in. Imperial Physician Chen revealed his identity as a doctor before they allowed him inside."

Ning Juan nodded. "Lead the way."

The hidden guard mounted his horse and guided them forward.

After a short rest, the horse started moving again, and the pain in Lu Qingze’s thighs flared up once more. He couldn’t help but let out a quiet hiss.

The sound was faint, but Ning Juan’s ears were sharp. He leaned in closer, his voice—now carrying a mature steadiness—brushing past Lu Qingze’s ear. "Riding for too long can chafe the skin. Are you hurt anywhere, Teacher?"

Perhaps because he couldn’t see Ning Juan’s face, the young man’s tone carried an inexplicable edge of dominance. Lu Qingze felt slightly uneasy. "No. A grown man like me doesn’t chafe that easily."

Ning Juan: "..."

He silently lowered his gaze to the exposed sliver of Lu Qingze’s neck—snow-white skin as smooth as fine jade, so delicate it was almost mesmerizing to imagine the feel of it under his fingers.

"A grown man like me doesn’t chafe that easily."

Lu Huaixue, do you think I’m blind?

After mentally grumbling a few treasonous complaints, Ning Juan subtly adjusted the horse’s pace.

With their homes destroyed by the flood, many displaced refugees had gone into hiding. The hidden guards had only found them because the refugees had run out of food and were forced to venture out.

Most low-lying areas near Ji’an Prefecture had been submerged, leaving the mountains as the only refuge. At the foot of the hill, they dismounted and proceeded on foot.

As Lu Qingze stepped down, his legs nearly gave way beneath him.

A nearby hidden guard instinctively moved to steady him, but the emperor was faster. The guard blinked in surprise.

Ning Juan frowned. "Did you really chafe your skin? Let me check when we get back."

Every bone in his body ached as if trembling, making it hard for Lu Qingze to tell whether his inner thighs had been rubbed raw. Even if they had, he couldn’t exactly strip down to check right now. He gave Ning Juan a weary look.

Last time, you blushed like a shy maiden just from seeing me take off my outer robe. Would you even dare to look at my thighs?

Tsk, teenage boys.

Dismissing Ning Juan’s concern, Lu Qingze steadied himself and gently pushed the emperor’s hand away. "Let’s go."

Seeing that Lu Qingze wasn’t taking him seriously, Ning Juan pressed his lips together in displeasure, suppressing his worry and frustration as he subtly shielded Lu Qingze on their way forward.

The refugees were hiding in a cave.

As they approached, they spotted a few crudely made traps. The hidden guards, all seasoned veterans, recognized them at a glance and carefully guided Lu Qingze and Ning Juan toward the cave entrance.

A scrawny child sat at the mouth of the cave, clutching a rough ceramic bowl of wild vegetable soup. When he spotted the approaching figures, his eyes widened. "Heavens, the soldiers are here!"

At his cry, rustling sounds came from inside the cave as a group of men in coarse clothing rushed out, brandishing sticks and rakes, their faces tense as they stared at Ning Juan’s group.

Seeing their weapons, the hidden guards instinctively moved to disarm them, but before they could act, another figure hurried out from the cave. "Fellow countrymen, don’t act rashly! They’re not soldiers!"

It was Imperial Physician Chen Ke.

Chen Ke had a cloth mask over his face. He had been inside treating patients and assumed the hidden guards had returned, but when he looked up and saw Ning Juan, he quickly bowed. "Greetings to—"

He hesitated, unsure whether to reveal Ning Juan’s identity. Fortunately, Ning Juan spoke up just then. "No need for formalities."

The frightened refugees glanced between Chen Ke and Ning Juan, then hesitantly lowered their makeshift weapons.

This Physician Chen had just helped treat their sick. Surely the people with him weren’t here to arrest them, right?

Ning Juan studied the emaciated refugees and stepped forward, past the hidden guards. "What’s the situation?"

Realizing Ning Juan didn’t want his identity exposed, Chen Ke bowed again and sighed. "The situation… isn’t optimistic."

They had rushed here, and the medicines they had brought based on preliminary assumptions about the epidemic were limited. With most counties in Jiangyou refusing to take in refugees, medical supplies were scarce and hard to procure. Even if he wanted to develop a treatment, he had no way to do so.

Ning Juan glanced into the dark cave. "Take me inside to see."

The hidden guards and Chen Ke were aghast. "Your Majesty!"

The emperor’s body was precious beyond measure. His presence here was already extraordinary—entering the cave was far too risky!

But they couldn’t dissuade him, so they could only look pleadingly at Lu Qingze.

Lu Qingze pressed his lips together. "I’ll go in with him."

The hidden guards and Chen Ke: "..."

This time, it was Ning Juan who objected. "Teacher, wait here. I’ll be back soon."

As he spoke, he directly ordered the hidden guards to keep a close eye on Lu Qingze, making it clear there was no room for negotiation.

Although Ning Juan was brought in by Physician Chen, the disaster victims still harbored some wariness. No one spoke, but their attitude suggested they tacitly allowed them to enter.

Lu Qingze opened his mouth but couldn’t openly contradict him in front of the hidden guards and the physician. He could only take out a clean handkerchief from his sleeve and hand it to Ning Juan: “Take out your own too, cover your nose and mouth properly.”

He wasn’t sure if the disease was transmitted through droplets. Since there were no masks in ancient times, this would have to do.

Ning Juan hummed in agreement, covering his nose and mouth. The faint scent of plum blossoms replaced the damp, muddy stench of rain. The corners of his lips curled up slightly before he led a few hidden guards and followed Physician Chen into the cave.

The cave was low and cramped. Due to the constant rain, it was cold and damp. After walking a short distance, it opened up slightly. The cave wasn’t entirely enclosed—light streamed in from holes above, though the ceiling looked like it could collapse at any moment.

The surroundings were dim, filled with a mix of foul odors and a sour, rotting stench that overpowered the plum fragrance.

About twenty or thirty disaster victims were hiding here—men, women, and children. Three patients lay moaning on mats, placed as far from the crowd as possible.

Aside from these patients, there were also two or three men who had lost consciousness, groaning in pain. Ning Juan’s sharp eyes immediately noticed their lower limbs, swollen like radishes and already festering. The strange smell in the air likely came from them.

The others huddled together, their faces numb and pale in the dim cave, exuding an air of desolation.

Physician Chen sighed. “This is no place for you. It’s hard to bear.”

“I’m not the one suffering,” Ning Juan said coolly, relieved that Lu Qingze hadn’t followed him in. “The people here are.”

After surveying the scene, Ning Juan turned to the huddled group of disaster victims and said succinctly, “This place isn’t safe. I can provide shelter, food, and medicine for all of you.”

The disaster victims exchanged glances, not daring to believe him. Still, no one spoke.

After a moment, a clear, youthful voice came from the crowd: “Who are you? Why should we trust you?”

Ning Juan glanced over.

The girl who spoke was shielded by several people but didn’t hide behind them. Instead, she stood up and met his gaze directly. “Can you really give us food and medicine?”

After her barrage of questions, Ning Juan only replied, “Sun Er, distribute the rations.”

The hidden guard beside him obeyed, opening a bundle filled to the brim with dry provisions.

The previously numb expressions of the disaster victims shifted instantly. They stared at the food, swallowing hard.

Their homes had been flooded, and the relentless rain made the mountains dangerous. They had scavenged all the edible wild vegetables nearby and hadn’t tasted real grain in so long they’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be full.

The girl fell silent for a moment. Unlike the others, she remained unmoved and sneered, “Are you the imperial envoy sent by the court? Ha, I thought the court had already forgotten about commoners like us.”

Her tone was laced with sarcasm, making Physician Chen sweat nervously.

Ning Juan wasn’t angered. He gave her a cool glance before turning to leave.

Physician Chen hesitated, then hurried after him, whispering worriedly, “That young lady led these disaster victims here. She’s their leader. Please don’t take offense at her blunt words.”

Ning Juan glanced at him. “I’m not that petty.”

“But Your Majesty, we rushed to Jiangyou in haste. Our food and medicine supplies are insufficient…” Physician Chen hesitated again, afraid Ning Juan had only made empty promises to coax the disaster victims out of the cave.

Ning Juan raised an eyebrow. “Do you think I’d lie to you?”

Physician Chen wiped his sweat again. “This humble official wouldn’t dare.”

As they stepped out of the cave, the light brightened, and the air cleared.

Ning Juan looked up and saw Lu Qingze talking to the child who had been sitting at the cave entrance drinking wild vegetable soup earlier. Even though his face was hidden behind a mask, Ning Juan could imagine the gentle expression beneath.

He wondered what they were talking about.

The child scratched his head shyly, then his stomach growled loudly.

A bit of wild vegetable soup wasn’t enough to fill even a child’s belly, let alone an adult’s.

Lu Qingze instinctively reached into his sleeve and pulled out half a pancake wrapped in oiled paper. The child’s eyes lit up at the sight of food.

Lu Qingze explained, “I’ve already taken a bite out of this. Let me have someone get you a fresh one—”

To disaster victims, food was food. They wouldn’t care if it had been bitten or even dropped in the mud—they’d still eat it.

The child shook his head vigorously. He was starving and reached out to grab the pancake. But before he could touch it, the pancake vanished before his eyes.

The child burst into tears, his face crumpling with indignation. When he turned to see Ning Juan’s icy glare, his sobs died in his throat, swallowed back in fear.

Lu Qingze was stunned. “What are you doing?”

You’re the emperor of a nation! You can have anything you want. Why are you snatching half a pancake from a child?!

“…” Ning Juan replied expressionlessly, “I’m hungry.”

Afraid Lu Qingze would scold him, he quickly turned and ordered, “Give the child some proper rations.”

The hidden guards, equally baffled, reflexively obeyed, handing the tearful child several intact pancakes.

The child, who had lost half a pancake but suddenly gained several whole ones, stared at Ning Juan like a squirrel overwhelmed by a pile of nuts.

For a moment, the scene was utterly surreal.

The hidden guards were confused. The physician was confused. The child was confused. Even Lu Qingze was confused.

Only Ning Juan remained perfectly composed as he unwrapped the oiled paper and took a bite of the dry pancake, as if to prove he really was hungry.

Author’s Note:

Ning Guoguo: Expressionlessly munching on pancake.gif

Guoguo not only dares to look at legs—Guoguo dares to look anywhere.

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