The Black Armor Guard and Imperial City Defense Force cleared the way.
All who saw them in the Imperial City retreated without exception.
Lian Shenwei and Ying Jingjue led people galloping all the way. News of their safe return to the palace quickly spread everywhere. The Crown Prince’s faction breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Imperial Palace.
Zichen Hall.
Just outside the hall, an extremely strong medicinal smell could be detected. Eunuch Li guarded outside. Seeing Ying Jingjue’s figure, both shocked and delighted, he jogged over. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, you’ve returned!”
Ying Jingjue asked, “How is Father Emperor’s condition?”
Eunuch Li replied, “His Majesty hasn’t woken. Physicians are keeping watch inside. Please go see him.”
Ying Jingjue entered with tense expression. Lian Shenwei stood at the door. The medicinal smell escaping from within the hall irritated his throat.
He chose not to enter, stopping at the doorway.
Eunuch Li quickly glanced at the youth whose lip color was pale, hurriedly saluting. “Regent Prince has worked hard all the way. You look much thinner. Would you like to rest first in the Western Warm Pavilion?”
Lian Shenwei said, “Eunuch, please enter first. His Highness the Crown Prince surely has many things to ask. His hand was scratched by rebels—have a physician examine him. I still have matters at the manor. I’ll leave shortly.”
“Yes. Please mind your own health. Court matters still need your management.” Eunuch Li whispered a few words to a young eunuch beside him, then bowed with a smile and withdrew.
News that Lian Shenwei used the pill Feng Ke gave before leaving—Ming Zhu had already sent word some time ago. Tian Nan and Feng Ke both knew.
Tian Nan drew close and whispered, “Master, Young Master Feng is waiting for you at the manor.”
Lian Shenwei replied, “Mm.”
Tian Nan couldn’t help being anxious. “Master.”
“Has he come to see the Emperor?” This “he” referred to Feng Ke.
Tian Nan hesitated. “He only came once with the old marquis to take a look, but didn’t reach out to check the pulse.”
Lian Shenwei said, “Let’s go.”
He entered the imperial palace briefly before coming out again. When going, he rode a horse. When returning to the Regent Prince’s Manor, he took a carriage.
Until reaching the manor entrance, Lian Shenwei was still thinking about that batch of assassins.
Very obviously, someone in the capital couldn’t sit still. He remembered when the bandit chief saw the Black Armor Guard, his expression clearly became panicked—probably not expecting to encounter them here, or they simply didn’t want to face the Black Armor Guard.
This assassination targeted Ying Jingjue.
That level of assassins belonged to the mid-tier.
Poison between teeth—even if not death warriors, definitely nothing could be interrogated. Captured survivors weren’t very useful. Better to investigate himself.
Either the First Prince or the Third Prince.
The Regent Prince’s Manor hadn’t had its master residing for so long. Though someone cleaned regularly and it remained very clean, Lian Shenwei’s bedroom and study—in his absence—no one dared enter.
Including Tian Nan and Ming Zhu.
“Master, shall this subordinate clean first?”
Lian Shenwei came back to himself and nodded. “Mm.”
Tian Nan pushed open the door. Fine dust fell from the top of the doorframe. Lian Shenwei covered his nose and mouth—the movement came a bit late. He still inhaled some into his lungs. He immediately coughed.
Then it became uncontrollable. Lian Shenwei leaned against the doorway, one hand covering his lips. Even his breathing began to quicken. His vision started flickering bright and dark. He closed his eyes. Bloody taste that couldn’t be suppressed surged up his throat.
What he coughed up this time was no longer scattered blood foam. Dark red blood flowed down through his fingers. Lian Shenwei leaned on the doorframe, brow tightly furrowed. Most of his body weight pressed upon it. His body slowly slid downward.
The meridians in his body started aching again—as if returning to when he’d first exhausted his internal force.
“Master!”
Tian Nan’s pupils constricted sharply. Before he could touch Lian Shenwei, Feng Ke flew over with lightness skill, supporting him in one motion with a stern face, fingers pressing on Lian Shenwei’s neck side.
Tian Nan didn’t dare make a sound to disturb, breaking into a sweat.
After a moment: “The life-preserving pill’s effect has worn off.” Feng Ke inserted a silver needle behind Lian Shenwei’s ear, then brought him to his own courtyard in the Regent Prince’s Manor while calmly instructing, “Go to the medicine cabinet next to my bedroom, third row, second column. Count from left to right—the fourth box. Bring out everything inside. Also prepare hot water. Your master needs a medicinal bath.”
Tian Nan didn’t dare delay. He called Ming Zhu to boil water while he quickly retrieved the medicine cabinet box.
Steam rose from the medicinal bath tub. Feng Ke opened the box, taking out several porcelain bottles of various colors. He took powder from each bottle and poured them into the bath.
The clear water in the tub immediately turned pale green.
Tian Nan saw this scene for the first time. “This is…”
Feng Ke said, “Extremely poisonous. Stay back.”
Tian Nan silently retracted his hand.
“Your master didn’t randomly take medicine on the southern tour, did he?” Feng Ke added more non-corresponding antidote of extremely strong medicinal power while asking.
Ming Zhu nodded. “Besides the medicine you prepared, he didn’t touch anything else at all.”
“That’s good.”
Feng Ke breathed a sigh of relief.
The pill he gave Lian Shenwei was called Fengshen Pill—only one existed, precious beyond measure for preserving life. Within one month of taking the pill, the body wasn’t invaded by poison, medicine didn’t enter organs. Even if Lian Shenwei mistakenly consumed medicine during the pill’s effective period, there wouldn’t be any reaction.
But once the effect passed, it became useless.
The water color in the bath changed from pale green to deep black.
Feng Ke moved to remove his childhood friend’s upper garment. Lian Shenwei had no consciousness at all. The thickened fabric wrapped around his waist fell off. Feng Ke paused, then cursed lowly.
Same as ten years ago—he’d thrown Lian Shenwei into medicinal bath tubs countless times. This time was no different.
The moment water touched Lian Shenwei’s skin, it steamed into his body along with the heat. Poisons intertwined. Lian Shenwei’s breathing immediately became extremely disordered.
Feng Ke had him lean against the bath edge, telling Ming Zhu and Tian Nan to each press down one of his shoulders with a hand.
“Hold firm. No feeling sorry for him, and no moving.”
Ming Zhu and Tian Nan secretly applied force.
Feng Ke inserted needles of varying sizes at the shoulder blade position on Lian Shenwei’s back, using internal force to vibrate when twisting the needles. The twenty-seventh needle went in—no more than three breaths’ time.
Immediately after, he threw six peach blossom bud-like things into the bath.
Tian Nan watched as those pale pink “buds” seemed to go mad, attaching to Lian Shenwei’s spine. Six peach blossoms bloomed on his back in the blink of an eye.
At the same time, demonic red patterns began spreading beneath the pale skin—like roots drilling under the skin. The youth who’d been completely motionless suddenly struggled violently.
Feng Ke’s voice turned sharp. “Hold him down!”
Tian Nan was drenched in sweat. “Young Master Feng, what exactly is this?”
“Marrow-Devouring Gu, also called Blood Flower Princess. It has a habit that’s extremely painful for others but life-saving for your master. Before eating, it injects its own poison into the host’s body, then balances the toxins surging through the meridians.”
“Each time your master uses internal force, the toxins in his body invade his lungs and organs deeper. Two more times—when toxins enter the heart meridian—no one can save him.”
Ming Zhu said, “Marrow-Devouring Gu—doesn’t that mean it will drill into…?”
Feng Ke sneered coldly. “When he wakes, I’ll have to properly ask him why he used internal force this time.”
Ten years ago, he and his father had finally researched a method to balance the toxins in Lian Shenwei’s body with great difficulty. The poison and medicine ratio in the bath were also tested many times before being properly mixed.
During this period, Lian Shenwei suffered considerably.
When he said before that unless absolutely necessary, internal force couldn’t be used—he wasn’t joking. Based on Lian Shenwei’s current physical condition, using it once meant losing who knows how many years of lifespan.
Two more times, and they could directly prepare a coffin.
The youth leaning against the bath edge—his usually pale face, whether from pain or steamed by hot water, showed a trace of faint red.
“…”
A barely audible low murmur.
It hurts.
All three present had excellent hearing and heard clearly. Tian Nan was nearly in tears. “Young Master Feng, do you have any method? With Master’s strong-willed temperament, for him to say it while unconscious, the pain must be severe.”
Feng Ke glanced at him. “Even if it hurts, endure it. He can’t use painkillers.”
“…How long until Master recovers?”
“Evening, when it grows dark, when the flowers wither.” Feng Ke felt the water temperature. “One hour later, add ice to the water.”
…
Inside Zichen Hall, a torch crackled softly.
Ying Jingjue, who’d been leaning by the dragon bed, suddenly awakened with a start.
Emperor Jingcheng murmured, “Water…”
Ying Jingjue quickly poured a cup of warm water, supporting Emperor Jingcheng with one hand while slowly feeding him water. Emperor Jingcheng, unconscious for many days, slowly opened his eyes.
Ying Jingjue called, “Physician—”
The physicians waiting outside immediately surged in. After confirming the Emperor had awakened and checking his pulse again, they went out to brew medicine. In this interval, Emperor Jingcheng seemed somewhat more alert. Propping up his pillow, he half-sat up.
He looked at Ying Jingjue. His first words: “Has the Regent Prince returned safely?”
The light in Ying Jingjue’s eyes dimmed. “The Regent Prince is unharmed.”
“Cough, cough, cough…” Emperor Jingcheng closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”
That day, qi attacked his heart. On his late wife’s death anniversary, if Youwei’s beloved younger brother also had an accident, even if he died, he’d have even less face to meet the Lian family.
Eunuch Li glanced at the Crown Prince’s expression, stepped forward half a step, saying worriedly, “Your Majesty, you’ve finally awakened. His Highness the Crown Prince was beside himself with worry—since entering the palace, he’s kept watch by your side until now.”
Who knew Emperor Jingcheng’s tone would sink, rebuking, “You are the Crown Prince. During the days I was unconscious, court affairs were surely complicated. Upon returning to the palace, instead of handling them, you kept guard by me wasting time. Do you have the bearing of an heir apparent?”
After the arduous journey, encountering attacks outside the capital, injured then galloping urgently to the imperial palace, keeping watch a full day—only to receive unreasoning rebuke.
Ying Jingjue’s heart turned cold.
He knelt down, his tone also becoming detached. “Father Emperor, please calm your anger.”
Ying Jingjue kowtowed. “This son will take his leave now and return to the Eastern Palace to handle official business.”
“Your Highness…” Eunuch Li anxiously called out softly.
The young heir apparent’s jawline was extremely taut. He quickly left Zichen Hall.
Eunuch Li turned to advise, “Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince already reviewed many accumulated important memorials in Zichen Hall today. The rest are with the Regent Prince. His Highness was also injured today. This slave saw that scratch on his hand—it truly pained my heart…”
Hearing this, Emperor Jingcheng was stunned.
He was just accustomed to being strict with Ying Jingjue. Opening his mouth meant harshness and blame. Since Ying Jingjue was given the imperial secret medicine and lost his memory, he’d rarely shown this child tenderness and loving kindness.
Emperor Jingcheng was silent for a long while. “Why was the Crown Prince injured?”
Eunuch Li hurriedly recounted today’s events.
Emperor Jingcheng’s anger surged. He coughed several times. After finally calming down, the spirit and energy from before also scattered completely.
“I… fear my days are numbered…”
Eunuch Li was so shocked he quickly knelt. “Your Majesty must absolutely not say such words!”
Emperor Jingcheng shook his head. Supported by him, he got off the bed and walked to the writing desk. “Grind ink.”
“Yes.”
Emperor Jingcheng took up the brush. Each stroke was written with utmost care. He didn’t avoid Eunuch Li—every character was clearly visible to him.
The more he read, the more shocked his heart became.
Emperor Jingcheng sealed it with his stamp, folded it up, and handed it to Eunuch Li. His tone was weak yet solemn.
“Li Guiquan, keep this secret edict safe. If that day comes, bring it out. If not, before you die, burn it.”
This bright yellow secret edict entrusted by the Emperor’s own hand weighed as heavy as mountains. Eunuch Li knelt down trembling.
“This slave receives your command.”
#
Maria Lian On CFRFGC Chapter 89
Shaan On RUHIP Chapter 010