53: Chapter 53: The Strategy

The flame on the bronze candlestick flickered, waxing and waning.

It stretched the shadows of Yun Song, Ye Hua, and Ye Rong, making them grow long and short by turns.

Casting twisted, shifting silhouettes against the mottled mud wall.

Inside the guest room, the silence spread silently like a spiderweb.

The three of them furrowed their brows, each feeling suffocated by the predicament before them.

Ye Rong was the first to break the stalemate.

Her sigh was wrapped in endless helplessness: "Sigh, if only those guards could fall into a deep sleep as if they had been drugged, we could take the opportunity to save people."

This sentence was like a pebble falling into a deep pool, stirring up a thousand waves in Yun Song's heart.

His eyes brightened suddenly, and he thought to himself: "Even if the guards possess high martial arts skills, they are ultimately flesh and blood; they must eat and drink every day."

"If we could poison their water or food, wait for the medicine to take effect, and have those guards collapse to the ground, perhaps sneaking into the main hall to rescue everyone then would be the best method?"

But as soon as this thought arose, he furrowed his brows.

"How easy is it really to poison the water source, and who can guarantee that the guards will all drink at the same time?"

"What's more troublesome is, how can the person administering the poison successfully blend into their group?"

This series of difficulties was like a giant boulder, pressing down on him, causing his brows to furrow tighter and tighter.

"Sigh!"

Just in this suffocating silence, Ye Hua suddenly let out a sigh.

That sigh, laden with years of sorrow, gently brushed past the flickering candlelight.

The candlelight swayed violently, and the dim, yellow light and shadows danced wildly on the wall.

In an instant, a flash of light crossed Yun Song's eyes, as if he had caught a glimmer of dawn in the darkness.

A bold and risky plan quietly took shape in his mind.

Although it was still just a vague outline, it was enough to ignite the hope that was about to be extinguished in his heart.

"Brother Ye, do you know where there is a herbal shop in this city?" Yun Song's expression was grave, but his eyes revealed a firmness born of contemplation.

Ye Hua frowned slightly, his face full of confusion: "A herbal shop is not hard to find, but what does this have to do with saving my father?"

Yun Song curled his lips into a mysterious smile and said in a steady tone: "This matter is crucial to rescuing your father."

Ye Rong, who was on the side, keenly noticed the change in Yun Song's expression, and a spark of surprise and joy instantly lit up in her eyes: "Young Master Yun, have you thought of a way?"

Yun Song nodded gently and looked at Ye Hua with a firm gaze: "I must trouble Brother Ye to make a trip to purchase Datura flowers, Asarum, Gleditsia powder, Moxa wool, and also Dalbergia odorifera, all ground into powder; the more, the better."

"The specific purpose will remain confidential for now; I have arrangements for later."

Although Ye Hua was full of doubts, seeing Yun Song's confident appearance, he did not ask any more questions and nodded heavily: "Alright! I will go right now!"

After speaking, his hurried footsteps disappeared into the night.

Ye Rong turned to look at Yun Song, her eyes full of worry and anticipation, her voice trembling slightly: "Young Master Yun, are you truly certain? Can these herbs... really save my father?"

"Miss Ye, rest assured. Since I have agreed, I will definitely give it my all."

Yun Song comforted her softly, "It is just that I read this method in a book and have not yet tested it. Now, there is truly no other way..."

A trace of worry flashed in Ye Rong's eyes, but she still said firmly: "My brother and I are at our wits' end; we can only trust you! I believe in Young Master Yun!"

After saying this, she bowed solemnly.

Yun Song gently persuaded her: "After these few days of rushing about, Miss Ye must be very exhausted. Go and rest first. When Brother Ye returns, we will act after we have regained our energy."

Ye Rong shook her head slightly: "My father is not yet out of danger, and I truly cannot set my mind at ease..."

"Only by conserving one's energy can one accomplish things. If you collapse from exhaustion, it will hinder the rescue instead."

Yun Song smiled and comforted her, "Believe that Brother Ye will return soon."

Ye Rong finally nodded and sighed softly: "Everything depends on you, Young Master Yun."

After she left, the room fell into silence.

Yun Song's tensed nerves instantly relaxed, and the exhaustion from days of rushing about surged in like a tide.

He walked to the bedside with unsteady steps, unable to even take off his clothes and shoes before collapsing onto the bed.

The mattress sank slightly, gently supporting his weary body.

Yun Song closed his eyes, feeling the world spinning, and images of the days of rushing about flashed continuously in his mind.

Soon, his breathing became even and heavy, and he fell deeply into a dream, with only the steady sound of breathing echoing in the quiet room.

Ye Hua hurried through the streets and alleys of the city, the sound of his footsteps breaking the silence of the night.

At the herbal shop, he communicated carefully with the shopkeeper, meticulously selected the required herbs, and repeatedly confirmed the quality of the grinding.

By the time he returned to the room with the wrapped herbs in his arms, two hours had already passed.

The candle flame in the room was still flickering, and Yun Song was fast asleep, his face still bearing the lingering exhaustion.

A trace of reluctance to disturb him welled up in Ye Hua's heart, and he placed the herbs on the table on tiptoe.

He took a deep look at Yun Song, then quietly left, carefully closing the door.

Not knowing how long he had slept, Yun Song was awakened by the sound of the night watchman outside the window.

"Dong, dong, dong, the third watch has arrived; extinguish the lamps and fires, leave no stove fire to cause disaster!"