When Ling Zhaowu had regained his memories, Ling Zhang was still on his journey to the capital city. He looked over his shoulder in the direction of Tanyang.

"Childe Ling, people in Tanyang will write a letter to us as soon as your father wakes up. I'm sure he'll make a full recovery without any trouble," observed Miao Shisan.

Ling Zhang slightly inclined his head, withdrew his eyes gazing towards Tanyang and resumed galloping with Miao Shisan, headed for the capital city.

...

"There might have been unimaginably serious consequences had Zhang'er not promptly used his medicinal jade pendant to detoxify the poison."

Sitting beside Ling Zhaowu, Ling Zhaowen was telling him about how the Ling family had fallen out with the Jia family. "Their intentions were so evil. It was actually because of me that Zhang'er was incriminated – Jia Zhong was bent on knocking me out to get the appointment as Tongzhi. I failed to protect him. I failed you, Brother."

The look on Ling Zhaowu's face changed several times at these words. Eventually, he reached out his hand and held Ling Zhaowen's shoulder firmly. "No, I failed you. You did such a good job raising Zhang'er up, while I have never done my duty as a father. Who am I to blame you?"

Ling Zhaowen still wanted to say something but Ling Zhaowu lifted his hand to stop him and asked, "What happened afterwards?"

Ling Zhaowen continued telling the story, filling him in on the subsequent events down to every detail. "... This is the surprising part – right at that time, Zhang'er happened to recall the martial formations that his mother taught him and used them to deal a heavy blow to Jia Yuanling and the others, and then things took a turn for the better and have been going fairly smoothly ever since."

When mentioning the formations, Ling Zhaowen was somewhat cautious for fear that Ling Zhaowu might get angry. To his surprise, instead of being angry, Ling Zhaowu pondered over his words with an earnest face for a while and then, a faint gleam in his eyes, sighed, "Zhang'er is very smart. Back then he was just a little boy, and now he's become a man capable of handling things on his own."

Seeing that he wasn't mad, Ling Zhaowen felt a sense of relief. "Yeah. Any common person in his shoes would definitely have hurled abuse at Jia Yuanling in those circumstances and wouldn't have thought of going to the court of law to score a hard hit on the Jia family."

As if something occurred to him, a look of grief mixed with sorrow flashed across Ling Zhaowu's eyes, and it was a few moments before he pulled himself out of his trance.

"I want to hear more about that dream Zhang'er told you about at that time."

Ling Zhaowen's relaxed face slightly stiffened. "Those were all unpleasant things. What's the point of hearing them again, Brother?"

Ling Zhaowu gazed into the distance, keeping silent.

Resigned, Ling Zhaowen told him about the content of that dream of Ling Zhang's once again.

One of Ling Zhaowu's hand was on the table, and there was nothing out of the ordinary about it, but his other hand, hanging beside him, tightly balled into a fist.

"... I think that dream had something to do with what Zhang'er inherited from his mother. Maybe my sister-in-law's spirit in the heaven has been protecting Zhang'er and the Ling family," remarked Ling Zhaowen in transports of sentiment.

Ling Zhaowu raised his head to look into the sky, his eyes brooding and reminiscent. "You're right. The providence is protecting us, and she is protecting Zhang'er and our family."

Although Ling Zhaowu had been simple-minded most of the time during the past half a year, he did know key facts about the Blood of the Phoenix Clan. For instance, in order to acquire the ability to foretell the future, one needed to reach the twelfth layer of the cultivation method of the Ji family – at least to reach the level that Ji Yanlai was at currently. However, Ling Zhang hadn't even got that handbook on internal energy yet at that time...

Had he really just had a prophetic dream or had he experienced the same thing that he had...

Ling Zhaowu privately hoped that the former was the truth, for if that was the case, at least he'd know that Ling Zhang had never undergone that kind of agony.

"Tell me what happened next," said Ling Zhaowu after a long silence.

Ling Zhaowen nodded and gave Ling Zhaowu a blow-by-blow account of what had happened afterwards in Tanyang.

After hearing it, Ling Zhaowu rose to his feet. "I'm going to the capital."

Ling Zhaowen was totally unsurprised at these words of Ling Zhaowu's. He felt that his elder brother was indeed different from the man he used to be now. The big brother he remembered was full of dash, stubborn and even bigoted, but now he had become poised and firm, as though having been through a lot of things. Was it really possible for someone to change so much after being asleep for over a decade and then suffering from amnesia for half a year? Also, Ling Zhaowen kept feeling that something was not quite right, but he couldn't figure out what it was specifically, so eventually he gave up trying, for no matter how much his brother had changed, he was still his brother, and a poised and steadfast brother struck him as better than an intransigent one.

"Brother, you're still quite weak. Mr. Mu said that you've just recovered and shouldn't do any traveling, that you must have a rest cure. I know you're anxious to see Zhang'er, but you need to nurse yourself back to health first. Before leaving, Zhang'er exhorted us to take good care of you. I wouldn't be able to face Zhang'er if anything happens to you, and Zhang'er would be very worried, too."

Ling Zhaowu kept silent for a brief moment. "I'll go and ask Mr. Mu how soon I'd be in a fit state to leave."

Unable to stop him, Ling Zhaowen had no choice but to immediately follow him.

The two of them found Mr. Mu, who didn't seem to be surprised at Ling Zhaowu's question, as though he had some time ago anticipated this.

"You need to rest for at least another half a month. Apart from the fact that you still need plenty of repose to relax your mind on a daily basis, given your physical condition, you'd end up being a burden to Ling Zhang if you go to the capital city without having a rest cure to recuperate first."

Ling Zhaowu's eyebrows were furrowed. "Half a month? Is it possible to–"

"No. It's beyond your physical endurance," said Mr. Mu.

Ling Zhaowu lapsed into silence. After quite a while, he said, "I see. Thank you, Mr. Mu. Please help restore me to health during the next half a month. I'm okay with any medication, no matter how bitter it tastes, and if there's anything you need me to do, don't hesitate to tell me. You'll have my full cooperation."

Mr. Mu said, "I promise you'll be ready to set off as long as you do as I tell you."

After taking his leave of Mr. Mu, Ling Zhaowu asked Ling Zhaowen, "Is there a quick way to make contact with people in the capital city? I did some calculations and found that Zhang'er should reach the destination in two days. Have you sent him a message telling him I woke up?"

Ling Zhaowen replied, "Yes, I have. Zhang'er should have received the first batch of messages already."

Seeing his whole mind was concentrated on his son who was on a long journey, Ling Zhaowen feared that worrying too much might hinder him from making a full recovery and said, "The Yuwen family's dowries were delivered here a few days ago. I emptied a whole storeroom to keep them. There are two wild geese, too. We've been keeping them in good shape. You want to see them?"

Ling Zhaowu's eyes gleamed briefly at these words. As though thinking about something that had happened in the distant past, he had an absent-minded look on his face for a while. Then he replied, "Okay. Let's go."

As this matter concerned Ling Zhang, of course he wanted to go and take a look, especially because this was about an important occasion – Ling Zhang's wedding.

Ling Zhaowu's attention distracted by this matter, Ling Zhaowen relaxed somewhat. After Ji Yin and Ling Xingzhong joined them, in particular, Ling Zhaowu had no time whatsoever to think about going to the capital city, because he was now faced with a pressing issue – preparing trousseaus.

"I made a list of the things that I want to add to the trousseau. Take a look and see if there are any problems." Ji Yin fished out a thick pamphlet and handed it to people of the Ling family.

They unfolded the pamphlet which turned out to be even longer than the table, and one end of it almost dropped to the ground, each and every single item on it telling people how wealthy the one who planned to buy it was. All three members of the Ling family present were flabbergasted at this list and was unable to speak for quite a while.

"In-law, you–you want to add all these to the trousseau?" asked Ling Xingzhong in spite of himself, as if to confirm what he'd just heard.

Ji Yin nodded. "I'm not trying to impress anybody. It's just that I wasn't able to give my daughter a decent wedding, so I couldn't help wanting to make amends by doing something for my grandson. These things are a token of my affection for him. If this strikes any of you as inappropriate, I could make some adjustments to it."

There was nothing inappropriate about the list. It was just too dramatic – so dramatic that Ling Zhaowen's face instantly crumpled up. The Ling family wouldn't be able to afford these things even if they sold everything they owned! As these were trousseaus that Ling Zhang's maternal grandfather offered to buy for him, and there was this reason behind it, they naturally couldn't bring themselves to decline, but the problem was, what kind of trousseaus could they offer to match these things?

Ling Zhaowu, however, after carefully reading Ji Yin's list, said, "I still have some stores under my name as well as some other valuables. I'll add all of them to our trousseau list. There's no need for us to make a list that matches my father-in-law's. Just do what we can. I'll figure out a way and get some more."

"The herb farm in the south suburb has to be on the list. Apart from your stores, we also plan to include half of the stores we own. And–"

"Half of them would be too many. Soon Maomao will grow up and reach marriageable age. You have to save some for him. Besides, you and my sister-in-law are both still young. It's very easy for you to get another child, who you'll have to prepare dowries for someday as well."

"Brother, Maomao is still young. Besides... there isn't the slightest sign of us getting a second child, and we have plenty of time to get more stores. A decision is a decision, and it's a final one. Father and I have agreed on this."

"There isn't the slightest sign? I've felt your and your wife's pulse. Both of you are in good physical condition. In all likelihood, good news will come in just a few days," Mr. Mu chipped in.

This remark immediately steered the conversation away from the original topic, and everybody's attention shifted to Ling Zhaowen and Fu Caiwei.

Eyes alight with joy, Ling Zhaowu said delightedly, "Mr. Mu, are you serious?"

As he himself had only one son and no intention of marrying another woman to get more offspring, it would be best if his little brother could get a second child to make the Ling family larger, and this time around he would be there to bear witness to it as he should have done when Ling Maomao had been born.

Mr. Mu was not annoyed at Ling Zhaowu's question and answered with the air of a psychic, "I was never wrong about this kind of thing."

Members of the Ling family present went into raptures over this news. Cheeks flushing scarlet, Fu Caiwei left the room.

Ling Zhaowen knew that this was because recently good things had happened in succession in the Ling family, and he and Fu Caiwei had both been much more relaxed than before. However, Ling Zhaowen was keeping a secret to himself – the matter that Ling Zhang told him about a couple of days ago... but Ling Zhaowen wouldn't disclose it to worry Fu Caiwei in these circumstances, feeling that it'd be better if he waited until his wife's pregnancy was confirmed. Given that there was little he could do to help with what was going on in the capital city, he believed he might as well send his nephew a piece of good news to cheer him up. At the same time, he prayed that everything would go smoothly in the capital city.

"It's done. The poison has been thoroughly detoxified."

Xie Shi raised his head and told everybody the good news after finishing a minute examination of Yuwen Tong's body.

Ling Zhang heaved a long sigh of relief. Having traveled a very long distance to get to the capital city, he still looked quite weary. It was not until he fully relaxed that he began to feel somewhat tired. "I'm so glad you're okay now."

Yuwen Tong held his hand and looked at his fatigued face, his heart aching. "You should go and wash yourself and then have some sleep."

Ling Zhang raised no objection. He had barely had any rest during his journey from Tanyang to this city. Even a man of steel would be exhausted after so many sleepless nights. He had a quick shower, simply took a couple of sips of congee, closed his eyes the moment he lay down onto the bed, and soon drifted off.

Yuwen Tong walked to the bedside, pulled the thin quilt over to cover Ling Zhang's belly and stroked his palm which was full of bruises from gripping the reins for days, waves of heartache sweeping over him. He held Ling Zhang's palm to his lips to kiss it, and then put it back onto his abdomen.

"Marshal, although the poison has been detoxicated, it'll still take two days to nurse you back to health. You should rest as much as possible during the next two days," observed Xie Shi.

Yuwen Tong gave a nod, left the room to find Miao Shisan outside and asked him what had happened in Tanyang.

Miao Shisan gave him a detailed account of the whole process. "... At that time Master Ling was still unconscious. Before we arrived here, we'd received a letter from Tanyang saying that he'd already woken up and regained his memories."

"Good. Did they say anything else in that letter?" asked Yuwen Tong.

"The letter only said that Master Ling was still having a rest cure. There's nothing else," answered Miao Shisan.

Yuwen Tong inclined his head.

Then Miao Shisan added, "Childe Ling's grandfather mentioned something about that pill. It seemed to have something to do with Childe Ling's cultivation method and the Force of Blood. I didn't quite understand it, so I could only repeat their exact words to you."

And then Miao Shisan gave him a blow-by-blow account of what Ji Yin and Mr. Mu had said on that day.

The look on Yuwen Tong's face slightly changed. "I see. Don't tell him this matter has come to my knowledge."

Miao Shisan bobbed his head. "Yes, Marshal."

...

In the depths of a palace.

"Your Highness, it's been so many days, but Yuwen Tong has neither sent for a physician nor left his house. I wonder if he's really poisoned or not."

"What about those people? They haven't found out about it?"

"No. Their hands are tied now. Gathering that team of assassins was the best they could do."

"Humph, those good-for-nothings couldn't even kill one man. If it weren't for my contingency plan, all our previous efforts would've gone to waste."

"Your Highness, our next step is..."

"He rejected my invitation twice. It seems that I'll have to have my father intervene."

"A very wise decision, Your Highness. On no account would Yuwen Tong decline His Majesty's invitation. Also, it'll be an opportunity to sound him out."

...

Ling Zhang was fast asleep and didn't wake up until the next day. The whole Ling Mansion was cloaked in a shroud of tension, with guards on duty everywhere. The security was so tight that even a fly might not be able to get in.

"How do you feel?" Ling Zhang spotted Yuwen Tong as soon as he opened his eyes, his lingering drowsiness instantly vanishing, gazing at him nervously.

"I'm okay now. I just need to rest more than usual during the next two days." Yuwen Tong was lying beside him, and the two of them were in each other's embrace. After a good night's sleep, he also appeared refreshed and much more energetic.

Ling Zhang sat up and felt Yuwen Tong's pulse. He had little medical knowledge, but he had become more discerning in this regard after starting to cultivate internal energy, and was able to tell from a person's general pulse condition whether he or she was healthy or not. After a while, he confirmed that Yuwen Tong's pulse was robust and vigorous, and with that he felt greatly relieved.

"Sorry. What with my carelessness during the fight, you were unable to stay in Tanyang keeping Uncle Ling company when he regained his memories."

Yuwen Tong's heart was aching when he was making this remark. When he'd been holding Ling Zhang in his arms the night before, he had distinctly perceived that Ling Zhang was thinner. They had first traveled to the Millennium Pavilion, then to Tanyang, and then returned to the capital city; Ling Zhang first had been deeply worried about his father, and then about him when he'd been on his return journey to the capital city. These days he'd been on the run all along and hadn't been sleeping well, and definitely hadn't been eating well, which was why he'd lost weight. Feeling heartache, Yuwen Tong cuddled him, unwilling to let him go.

Ling Zhang wanted to get up. "Stop hugging me. I'm hungry and need to go get something to eat. You've just rid yourself of the poison and could use some nourishing food as well."

Yuwen Tong wanted to spend some more time staying with him in this room. He stroked Ling Zhang's sagging belly, gave a sigh and then let go of him.

Ling Zhang summoned Xia Feng. "What did you have them prepare for dinner? Yuwen Tong needs something nutritious."

Xia Feng replied, "Rest assured, Young Master, the nourishing stew for the Marshal is ready. I've instructed them to deliver it to the dining room the moment I heard the sounds from your house."

Ling Zhang nodded, finding that the whole place was very quiet and there weren't even any footsteps. "How's everything going in the compound? The situation is a little complicated. Make sure all the servants keep their mouth shut about what's going on here. And, tell them to stay calm."

Xia Feng said, "I understand. I've already given every one of them a kick up the backside. The Marshal's bodyguards are in charge of the procurement for the moment. All servants are forbidden to go outside."

"Yue Qi is helping deal with the matters in this compound, and all servants are under constant watch, so there's no need for you to worry. As regards my being poisoned, people inside this compound are the only ones aware of it. No outsiders would find out." Yuwen Tong walked out, fully dressed.

"Marshal." Xia Feng paid his respects. As Yuwen Tong had walked out, he took his leave and went to the dining room to supervise the servants serving breakfast.

Ling Zhang returned to his room to get dressed, washed and then went to the dining room with Yuwen Tong. When they had taken seats, Ling Zhang dismissed the servants.

"Do you know who sent the assassins?" asked Ling Zhang.