CHAPTER 347: CHAPTER 347: MANEUVERING

That day, Tao Mingxuan took the prescription to the military doctor. When the military doctor saw it, his eyes immediately lit up.

"May I ask, Think Tank, which doctor came up with this prescription?"

Tao Mingxuan frowned, "Is there something wrong with the prescription?"

The military doctor shook his head, "There’s nothing wrong with it; it’s just that this prescription is extraordinarily clever. We usually wouldn’t combine the medicines this way, but this combination is definitely going to have a miraculous effect."

Tao Mingxuan said, "After you’ve prepared the medicine, find someone with similar symptoms to try it out first, and then bring it to me."

By the time the military doctor handed the medicine to Tao Mingxuan, three hours had already passed.

"Tao Junshi, the person who drank the medicine has already woken up. He fell asleep in less than a stick of incense after drinking it, and after waking up, he experienced no abnormalities. His complexion is much better than before."

Tao Mingxuan looked at the dark medicinal broth and drank it in one gulp.

That night, his persistent insomnia finally eased. He slept dreamlessly, and upon waking, he felt all his exhaustion had vanished.

A day later, Tao Mingxuan brought the Dazi in again.

He looked a bit better than yesterday, and the dark circles under his eyes were less pronounced.

His gaze towards Pei Shu’er was noticeably less harsh than before.

"Have you made up your mind? Draw it down."

Pei Shu’er shook her head, "It’s been so long, I’ve already forgotten. Instead of asking me, you’d be better off asking someone from the Gulan Military Camp."

Tao Mingxuan’s lips curled into a sneer.

"But they’ve said that you’re the creator of the catapult. Others can forget, but how can you forget?"

As soon as he spoke, Pei Shu’er’s expression turned somewhat grim.

She thought Tao Mingxuan knew nothing, but he appeared to have a thorough understanding of the Gulan Military Camp.

There is a traitor in the military camp.

Pei Shu’er fell silent, and Tao Mingxuan said, "Pei Shu’er, considering you might still be of some use, I haven’t resorted to torture on you. Otherwise, do you think you’d still be alright now?"

When Pei Shu’er raised her head, her eyes were filled with reckless defiance.

"If you resort to torture against us, even if I have to cut my tongue off, I won’t tell you anything."

Tao Mingxuan saw the authenticity in Pei Shu’er’s eyes and shifted the topic: "Then tell me, where is the weakness in the city walls?"

Pei Shu’er remained silent. She realized how cunning Tao Mingxuan was, asking her to reveal the weak spots on the city walls was essentially asking for her life.

Seeing Pei Shu’er staying quiet, Tao Mingxuan’s expression turned even colder.

Tao Mingxuan knew it would be difficult to make Pei Shu’er submit, so he left.

Yet the next day, when he came, he brought tools for execution, sitting by the hearth.

"Do you really think I’m not daring enough to deal with you?"

Pei Shu’er raised an eyebrow, "Of course not. In fact, I believe the Think Tank won’t hesitate at all, but don’t forget, I’m more useful than you think."

Tao Mingxuan didn’t respond, so Pei Shu’er walked closer to him.

"I understand the resentment the Think Tank has pent up over the years, but I think besides collaborating with the Dazi, there are better paths."

The moment she said that, Tao Mingxuan raised his eyebrows and looked at Pei Shu’er.

Pei Shu’er smiled at the other Dazi. After a glance from Tao Mingxuan, they left.

"What path?"

Pei Shu’er said, "Perhaps you can consider collaborating with us. You hate Dayan. What you hate are merely a few individuals, not the innocent people of Dayan."

Tao Mingxuan sneered, "Working with you is like asking a tiger for its skin."

Pei Shu’er smiled gently, "I know, because the Emperor once snatched away your beloved and confiscated your family, leading you to resent him."

"However, don’t forget, our Tang Family was also exiled a thousand miles away because we became a thorn in the side of that muddled ruler."

"We share the same hatred."

Pei Shu’er intentionally slowed her speech, with an undertone of manipulation.

Since she wanted to negotiate with Tao Mingxuan, she needed him to let down his guard first, then guide his emotions.

Tao Mingxuan looked deeply at Pei Shu’er, then a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"Are you trying to say you don’t know Tang Zan has been appointed a General?"

Pei Shu’er curled her lips.

"Yes, but have you considered, he originally was a descendant of the War King, with hereditary rights, and could even be enfeoffed as a king in the future? One could say that Dayan’s territory was secured by the War King."

Tao Mingxuan sneered again but didn’t argue further. He left without using the execution tools.

Another day, when Tao Mingxuan entered, he heard the laughter of Pei Shu’er and Shen Wanqing.

Looking up, he noticed Pei Shu’er laughing gleefully. Her joyous demeanor annoyed him.

Did she really think she was here in the military camp for a vacation? Even at this moment, she could still laugh.

Tao Mingxuan coldly snorted, and Pei Shu’er kept on laughing. She turned her head with a smile.

"Think Tank, I see your complexion has improved a lot, but your medicine needs a change."

Tao Mingxuan had indeed come to Pei Shu’er with this in mind.

He pursed his lips, then sat across from Pei Shu’er.

Pei Shu’er took his pulse, prescribed medicine, and spoke with Shen Wanqing about the difficulties they faced during their exile.

Her voice was gentle, soothing.

Though she seemed to speak to Shen Wanqing, her words were truly meant for Tao Mingxuan.

Tao Mingxuan listened for a while and didn’t leave, maintaining a know-your-enemy strategy.

But Pei Shu’er’s speech was truly captivating, filled with wit and humor, and before long, he found himself absorbed, though he remained silent, quietly listening to her speak.

And hearing her speak seemed to ease the irritation within him.

Slowly, as Pei Shu’er talked on and on, he began to feel drowsy and fell asleep on the Imperial Concubine Chair.

When he awoke, he saw Pei Shu’er requesting some food from the soldiers.

The Dazi looked at Tao Mingxuan, and Tao Mingxuan nodded.

He still harbored animosity towards Pei Shu’er, but he thought, if nothing else, Pei Shu’er’s ability to talk him into falling asleep was enough to merit keeping her around for now.

If she truly became useless, they could tie her to a banner, forcing Tang Zan to hesitate.

As Tao Mingxuan was about to leave, he suddenly saw Pei Shu’er take out a wrapped package from her bosom.

Tao Mingxuan frowned as he took it, and upon opening, he found candied fruits that looked higher quality than any he’d seen before.

Tao Mingxuan frowned, "What’s this for?"

Pei Shu’er smiled sweetly, without a hint of hostility.

"When the medicine is bitter, you can have one of these candied fruits to make it less bitter."