Chapter 123: Codename 10009

Su Jingluo examined the dark guard's leg. Because the discovery had been timely, it was not yet severely swollen, though it was congested and slightly distended. The guard sent to fetch bamboo splints returned quickly, and Su Jingluo immediately used strong spirits to sterilize everything. Drawing upon the memories of the original owner, she prepared a mixture of topical medicines for bruises and injuries. Using the technique of palpation, she located the correct alignment of the leg bones and secured them with the splints.

While it sounded simple, the process demanded great skill, patience, and precision from the physician, as well as significant endurance from the patient. To alleviate the young guard's pain, Su Jingluo began to chat with him to divert his attention.

"Little one, what is your name?" Su Jingluo asked, her hands working nimbly as she treated the injury.

"In our line of work, we have no names, only code numbers. So, I am not a 'little one'; I am 10,009." The young guard was clearly dissatisfied with the nickname and retorted. Several of the veteran dark guards nearby began to wink and gesture frantically at him, thinking, *How can he be so tactless? Just state your code and be done with it—why provoke her? The Princess Consort is the one saving you right now!*

Seeing their reactions, the young guard lowered his head in shame.

"Why 10,009? And why only codes instead of names?" Su Jingluo was genuinely curious about such a high-numbered code and the reason for the lack of names.

"If we had names, and were captured one day, our backgrounds could be traced. That is why we only have codes. I am the 10,009th dark guard recruited, hence the number," 10,009 answered honestly.

The older guards were becoming anxious. *This lad! If he talks this freely before even facing an enemy, he’ll spill everything once he is captured!* They glared at him again, and 10,009, realizing he had spoken out of turn again, lowered his head, not daring to utter another word.

"What is the matter with you all? I am chatting with 10,009; what does it have to do with you? If you want to stay, stay; if not, get out." She had just managed to settle the patient's mood, only for these fools to interfere with their frantic signaling.

The guards quickly turned away. It was not that they insisted on staying to monitor Su Jingluo; they were genuinely worried about 10,009.

"Let’s continue our chat. How did you manage to fall and get injured?" Seeing that the others had quieted down, Su Jingluo resumed distracting 10,009.

10,009’s face flushed slightly. He hesitated, not out of fear of saying the wrong thing this time, but because the truth was too embarrassing to voice.

"What is it? Did you fall because you were on my roof peeping at me? You’re quite the rascal, aren't you?" Su Jingluo tossed an accusation his way.

10,009 waved his hands frantically, so nervous he began to stutter.

"No, no! I... I only finished my dark guard assessment recently. I am still in my probationary period, but I was so sleepy at night that I fell off the roof," 10,009 whispered, his voice barely audible. He did not want to admit such a humiliating reason, but being labeled a peeping tom was even worse.

"Why were you on the roof, and why did you choose to become a dark guard?" Su Jingluo’s curiosity was piqued.

"Because the Prince ordered dark guards to protect you and be at your disposal. The uncles all felt this assignment was beneath them, thinking the tasks for the Princess Consort would just be trivial, womanly matters. They didn't want to do it, so they had to recruit a new batch for you. I was chosen out of thousands!" 10,009 lifted his chin proudly, failing to notice the expressions of the veteran guards, who looked as if they were about to cry. *You little brat, why must you tell the truth?*