Chapter 47

Chu Zhaoyou’s expression suddenly changed, and he instinctively covered his stomach, looking shocked.

What… what’s happening?

He’s moving!

Is this when they start moving?

He held his breath and waited for a few seconds. His belly remained still, as if what he had just felt was only his imagination.

Noticing Chu Zhaoyou’s discomfort, Xie Chaoyun carefully considered what he might have said wrong. If he upset Chu Zhaoyou, the Regent would do more than just give him a black eye.

“Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?”

“N-no, I’m fine.” Chu Zhaoyou composed himself. It must be the Regent’s child, feeling sorry for his foolish father being deceived, urging him to uphold justice.

“I understand. I’ll leave immediately!”

Chu Zhaoyou redirected his anger and anxiety to the fetus of four and a half months. “General Xie, I want to go see that divine physician.”

The guards promptly intervened, “The Regent has decreed that Your Majesty’s departure from the palace requires the Regent himself to accompany you.”

Xie Chaoyun shrugged, unable to believe the Regent had become so vigilant, as if shadowing Chu Zhaoyou closely.

Thinking about the demands of the woman in the residence, Xie Chaoyun sighed. How much Xiao Heng desired to cure himself and co-rule the nation with the young emperor. Now, he was in a difficult position.

“I am powerless to assist.”

Chu Zhaoyou replied, “The Regent is only concerned about my safety outside the palace and has decided to accompany me personally. However, this trip is to the Regent’s residence, and General Xie will be accompanying me. What’s the issue? Do you not trust General Xie, this guard?”

He then directly addressed the guard, “What about you? Do you not trust General Xie?”

This exchange portrays the Emperor’s attempt to navigate the situation and assert his will, while also

Xie Chaoyun thought for a moment. The Regent was still contemplating, and bringing the young Emperor along would only create more chaos. He responded, “I dare not defy the Regent’s orders. Please refrain from making things difficult for me, Your Majesty.”

Chu Zhaoyou smirked, “I insist on being difficult. If I can’t leave the palace today, I’ll invite Miss Xie to the palace for a flower viewing tomorrow.”

Xie Chaoyun’s mouth twitched. He knew the young Emperor was merely making threats, but he didn’t want his younger sister to have the slightest connection to the position of the “Regent’s romantic rival.”

“Regent’s romantic rival,” only those involved truly knew.

“I will take Your Majesty to the Regent’s residence.”

As soon as Xie Chaoyun agreed, Chu Zhaoyou hurriedly walked towards the palace gates. Having been to the Regent’s residence several times, it was just a few steps away. He didn’t need anyone to guide him, nor did he need a sedan chair. He could walk there on his own.

Observing Chu Zhaoyou’s departing figure, Xie Chaoyun was perplexed. Why did he feel like the Emperor was purposefully seeking something out, as if he had a clear objective in mind?

Was it possible that the solution to the He Xin Gu was written all over his face, and the young Emperor had noticed it?

Xie Chaoyun quickly rubbed his face. It must have been the Regent’s punch that had thrown him off. Even he was unable to manage his expression.

As Chu Zhaoyou entered the Regent’s residence, instead of seeking out the Regent, he inquired about the whereabouts of the divine physician.

Xie Chaoyun considered misdirecting Chu Zhaoyou, but the young Emperor had already made his own determination and swiftly chose the correct path.

The young Emperor was exceptionally clever today! Xie Chaoyun silently repeated “this is trouble” in his mind, while keeping up and sending someone to inform the Regent.

The guest quarters of the Regent’s residence were located near the southwest side, separated from the main building by a small river and a garden.

Chu Zhaoyou crossed the bridge in a few strides and was met by an exquisite hexagonal pavilion.

Seated inside the pavilion was a young woman dressed in red attire, her accessories predominantly silver, differing from the attire of women from the Central Plains.

At that moment, Miao Ruoqiu was visibly discontent with the roughness of the servants in the Regent’s residence. Her expression was filled with impatience. “Can’t they serve properly? Can’t they find a couple of maidservants? They can’t do anything right. Sooner or later, I’ll replace all of you and buy a batch of younger maidservants, thirteen or fourteen years old.”

Her demeanor and speech exuded the characteristics of a mistress of the Regent’s residence.

As the Regent’s residence only had one master, Xiao Heng, who rarely required personal attendants, aside from the kitchen staff, the rest consisted of covert guards and personal guards.

Miao Ruoqiu, feeling unfamiliar with the surroundings and desiring two personal attendants, had the steward send two covert guards to serve her.

The covert guard felt a sense of bitterness. Shoulder massages were not part of their usual training. Furthermore, the guest was associated with the Regent and seemed confident in her ability to become the future queen. He dared not exert too much force yet also feared showing inadequate effort. Even the distance at which he stood was a delicate matter. He had already been scolded three times by Miao Ruoqiu for this.

“In our region, black attire is considered inauspicious. Change into a different color. The brazier is intolerable; without a fire, it’s suffocating. This pavilion has drafts from all sides. Tomorrow, cover it with mats, ensuring not even a hint of a breeze can seep through…”

The covert guard respectfully took note of her demands, reporting them to the steward first before deciding whether or not to implement them.

This wasn’t just a guest; it felt more like the arrival of a noble consort.

At first sight, Chu Zhaoyou saw the imperious divine physician within the pavilion and walked in, taking a seat opposite her.

The covert guard, upon spotting Chu Zhaoyou, felt a sense of relief.

“I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”

This Emperor was not to be trifled with, having the audacity to hold court and even enlist the help of the financial steward in the master’s study.

For some reason, the covert guard felt that His Majesty had become much more approachable.

Even if the Emperor engaged in theatrical performances and collected money, it was still better than the incessant fault-finding that began the moment the divine physician entered. After all, the other brothers had said that the Regent would reimburse.

Upon seeing a figure dressed in bright yellow enter, Miao Ruoqiu straightened up and offered a slight nod in acknowledgment.

“I offer my respects to Your Majesty.”

She had heard that the Regent never kowtowed to the Emperor; if she were to become the Princess, her etiquette should match that of the Regent. Paying too much attention to a mere puppet Emperor would only embarrass the Regent.

Following soon after, Xie Chaoyun stepped in, casting a stern glance at Miao Ruoqiu. “When meeting His Majesty, why didn’t you kneel and pay your respects?”

Chu Zhaoyou waved his hand, “Don’t worry about those formalities. The divine physician is seated, and I have a few questions to ask.”

Miao Ruoqiu replied, “Your Majesty, please forgive me. I cannot disclose the Regent’s condition.”

“I’ll only ask a few unimportant questions. Firstly, with so many court physicians in the palace, why hasn’t the Regent’s illness been cured yet?”

“What use are the court physicians? Only I can cure this illness.”

“But the Regent doesn’t appear to be unwell. Are you fabricating an illness to deceive the Regent?”

Miao Ruoqiu became flustered, “He’s still under the gu, and it’s a serious one!”

Faced with Chu Zhaoyou’s piercing gaze, Miao Ruoqiu felt a bit panicked, sensing that the Emperor had already seen through her plan.

Indeed, the Regent’s He Xin Gu had been cured at some point, unbeknownst to her. As the gu only showed symptoms during its active phase and was otherwise indistinguishable from a normal person’s state, the Regent didn’t even realize he had recovered.

She had come merely to try her luck, a shot in the dark. She had no absolute certainty, but to her surprise, it had worked effortlessly.

Given her unique constitution, she harbored an echo gu within her body. To check if someone was under the gu, she didn’t need to take their pulse; she only needed to sense any movement of the echo gu within their body.

When she checked the Regent’s pulse, the echo gu remained still. This indicated to Miao Ruoqiu that Xiao Heng’s gu had already been dispelled.

Now that the Regent’s gu had been dispelled, he held immense power, possessed exceptional looks, and was the most outstanding man under the heavens.

With only a fifty percent certainty upon entering the residence, Miao Ruoqiu had swiftly devised a seamless plan in the blink of an eye.

She would still use the original method to cure the Regent’s He Xin Gu. If she wasn’t discovered, she would enjoy boundless prosperity and splendor. If discovered, she could claim her skills were inadequate and she hadn’t detected that the Regent’s He Xin Gu had been removed. After all, her method was correct, and the Regent couldn’t blame her.

Observing Miao Ruoqiu’s guilty reaction, Chu Zhaoyou speculated that she was trying to take advantage of the situation.

Could she be like the old man?

Chu Zhaoyou felt extremely uncomfortable. He regretted that the Regent was so gullible, fooled by everyone wherever he went.

If Miao Ruoqiu didn’t have ulterior motives and intended to deceive Xiao Heng by using some powdered medicine, claiming it was the antidote, he would turn a blind eye. After all, it was rather pitiful how the Regent constantly worried about his own life.

“So, what method do you intend to use to dispel the gu?” he inquired.

Xie Chaoyun let out a sudden “ahem,” fearing that this clueless divine physician might be swindled by Chu Zhaoyou. She had already been asked if he had been afflicted by the gu.

The method of dispelling the gu must not be revealed. If the Regent agreed, he would still have to keep it from Chu Zhaoyou. After all, this method was quite out of the ordinary.

Miao Ruoqiu claimed that she harbored a special gu inside her body, one that could attract all other gu creatures. However, the timing to lure the gu was very specific—it required the two individuals to engage in intimate relations. After dispelling the gu, she demanded that the Regent treat her as the Regent’s consort or grant her a province to govern as its governor.

Xie Chaoyun couldn’t help but sigh. The position of the Regent’s consort was impossible, but a whole province… Xiao Heng was so protective. Whether he would be willing to give away such a large part of the Empire was a question.

Realizing she had said too much, Miao Ruoqiu concluded in a dismissive tone, “I shouldn’t talk too much. Your Majesty can ask the Regent. I’m a bit tired and can’t chat with Your Majesty any longer.”

The personal guard who had been accompanying Chu Zhaoyou felt irritated. Miao Ruoqiu was utterly oblivious to people’s expressions. She struggled to enter the palace. While the Emperor could simply enter, unhindered, without questioning. He didn’t even need to make a comparison to discern or reconsider Chu Zhaoyou’s position. And she has the audacity of dismissing Chu Zhaoyou, the puppet Emperor?!

Chu Zhaoyou sneered, “Let me offer you a piece of advice. If you want to keep something secret, don’t do it in the first place. If you leave the Regent’s residence now, I can still offer you a way out.”

Miao Ruoqiu’s gaze faltered, “What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

Chu Zhaoyou remained composed, “I mean there are no free lunches in this world.”

Miao Ruoqiu was momentarily stunned by his words, but then realized that she might only be lacking in medical expertise, unable to discern the truth. Instead, it was this Emperor who seemed particularly suspicious.

“Your Majesty, do you not want me to cure the Regent?” Miao Ruoqiu swiftly attributed a new offense to the Emperor.

“The Regent doesn’t need you to cure him!”

Those nearby were bewildered. What kind of cryptic exchange was happening between the Emperor and Miss Miao? They seemed to be arguing under the guise of questioning. Why hadn’t the Regent arrived yet? If the Emperor and the esteemed guest were at odds, whose side should they support?

In the Regent’s study,

Xiao Heng dismissed the covert guard and unfurled a three-foot-long sheet of paper.

Xiao Heng seldom practiced calligraphy, but when he did, it signified that he was contemplating a critically important decision. Unless the heavens were falling, no one dared to disturb him.

With each lift and fall of his wrist, he quickly penned a treatise. Once the ink had dried, Xiao Heng carefully placed it within a memorial.

The young one had been too idle lately, always wanting to leave the palace. It was time to find him something to do. The classics were gathering dust in the Funing Hall, and Chu Zhaoyou refused to read them, pondering over matters he couldn’t comprehend each day.

Drawing from his seven years of experience in governance, Xiao Heng personally wrote a treatise on the governance of Great Chu for Chu Zhaoyou to study by heart.

Thinking of the scenario where Chu Zhaoyou, while calling it “long and stinky,” was forced to memorize it, Xiao Heng unconsciously smiled.

A figure hesitated outside the window, and Xiao Heng, having neatly arranged the memorial, inquired, “What’s the matter?”

“Master, the Emperor went to see Miao Ruoqiu.”

The door was swiftly opened, and with a stern face, Xiao Heng hurried towards the garden.

What were these people up to?

…

In a subdued tone, Chu Zhaoyou warned Miao Ruoqiu, “Don’t think that I have no way to prove it.”

The evidence was right there with him.

Why wouldn’t this female physician heed his words? Did he really have to present the evidence to her?

Seeing the Emperor’s resolute demeanor, Miao Ruoqiu felt uneasy. However, she was not one to give up easily. She had traveled a long way, and with power and the Regent within reach, she wasn’t about to back down just because the Emperor had scared her a bit.

After the Emperor had been talking for so long, did he have any evidence? Even if he did, it was probably not convenient to present it.

Miao Ruoqiu gathered her courage and decided to stubbornly deny everything. Suddenly, the echo gu within her body stirred. She was startled and looked at the Emperor across from her.

Without physical contact, the echo gu was still reacting, indicating that the gu within the Emperor’s body was extremely potent.

Who was this person? What kind of gu was it?

Miao Ruoqiu had only ever heard of one incredibly potent gu in her lifetime—the He Xin Gu. It was sparsely documented within her clan and was a rare form of Yin-Yang gu. Due to their mutual dependency and resistance to external allure, she wasn’t certain she could draw out the Regent’s gu.

In reality, there weren’t so many peculiar gu poisons. Most gu functioned like conventional toxins. Among those that could control individuals, the Yin-Yang gu was exceedingly rare, with the He Xin Gu being the sole exception.

Could it be that the legendary He Xin Gu was in the hands of the royal family? If one part resided within the Regent and had been drawn out, the highest possibility was that the other part was within the Emperor, being used to control the Regent.

No wonder this puppet refused to let her dispel the gu! He feared the Regent would no longer be inhibited by anything!

Thinking she had glimpsed the truth, Miao Ruoqiu, casting aside her previous unease, sought to confirm her suspicions. Without warning, she reached out to grab Chu Zhaoyou.

Truth would be revealed in an instant.

Chu Zhaoyou abruptly stood up, pushing away Miao Ruoqiu’s hand.

What are you doing? Trying to read my pulse?

Since returning from the hunting grounds, Chu Zhaoyou had been wearing tight-sleeved garments, securely concealing his pulse. No one had dared to forcibly touch him.

The unexpected vigilance from Chu Zhaoyou made Miao Ruoqiu stubborn, and she reached out again to grab him.

Chu Zhaoyou used his elbow to block and pushed her away with a furrowed brow.

Miao Ruoqiu had no martial arts skills, and her poisons had been thoroughly confiscated. After all, Chu Zhaoyou was an adult man, and his strength was not inferior to that of a young woman.

Xie Chaoyun had briefly spaced out, and the situation in the pavilion had changed. He was startled and quickly positioned himself between the two. “Outrageous!”

Pushed back a few steps, Miao Ruoqiu looked indignantly at Xie Chaoyun, wondering whose side this indecisive general was on!

Seeing someone approaching, Miao Ruoqiu suddenly collapsed to the ground weakly, “Even if Your Majesty kills me, I will still cure the Regent.”

Chu Zhaoyou pursed his lips, finding her attempt at feigning weakness rather crude.

He pulled Xie Chaoyun aside and stared back without any guilt.

Believe it or not, I could just sit here and claim a stomach ache. I’ll let you see what real feigned weakness looks like.

Just as he was about to say a few words and present some evidence, the Regent suddenly appeared in the hexagonal pavilion, blocking his path.

Chu Zhaoyou immediately fell silent.

Miao Ruoqiu knelt on the ground, appearing frail yet stubborn. “Regent, His Majesty has not only prevented me from rendering aid but also pushed me to the ground.”

Miao Ruoqiu, absorbed in her act of grievance, was unaware that very few people spoke in such a manner to the Regent. However, the Regent, with his cold and unyielding demeanor, was completely unaffected by her pretense.

Chu Zhaoyou was highly impressed by Miao Ruoqiu’s swift change in demeanor.

“I learned the art of theatrical face-changing on a whim, but I’m nowhere near as proficient as you.”

Xiao Heng cast a complex glance at Chu Zhaoyou. His hand clenched behind his back, he stood in a protective stance in front of Chu Zhaoyou, blatantly ignoring Miao Ruoqiu, waiting for Chu Zhaoyou to speak.

The young one remained tight-lipped.

He could speak to Miao Ruoqiu but not to him? Weren’t you quite formidable just now? Why the change upon meeting me?

Miao Ruoqiu looked around, feeling somewhat triumphant.

Her lips curled ever so slightly, a hidden smile that never reached her face. Suddenly, cutting words as cold as ice struck like a blow.

“Get lost.”

Miao Ruoqiu looked up in disbelief, confirming that the Regent’s words were directed at her.

“So this is your decision? Ha! Except for me, there’s no one under the heavens who can cure the Heartbond Gu! If the Regent isn’t afraid of death, then let’s just bide our time.”

Shocked, she shouted without restraint.

Xiao Heng furrowed his brows, his gaze sharp as a blade, his voice chillingly devoid of compassion. “To cure one gu, you want to introduce another? Do you take me for a fool? Leave on your own accord before I decide to bleed you dry to draw out the gu. Show some sense.”

Miao Ruoqiu might not be a gu herself, but she was an insatiable parasite.

If it went against his will, he would rather not be cured. Xiao Heng was resolute, and unless he was willing, no one could threaten him.

Hearing this, Miao Ruoqiu turned pale and began to tremble. She had forgotten she was facing a figure akin to the King of Hell!

She didn’t know if drawing blood from herself until it ran dry would draw out the Regent’s gu. She only knew that by attempting to threaten the Regent into making a deal, she had lost her senses!

Xiao Heng, finding Miao Ruoqiu too slow, ordered his covert guards to throw her outside the city.

He had indeed witnessed her attempt to lay hands on the young one. If he had been just a little more temperamental, he would have cut off her hand as recompense to Chu Zhaoyou.

Xiao Heng suppressed his surging anger, while Chu Zhaoyou, despite feeling scared, managed to restrain himself.

At this moment, Chu Zhaoyou felt a bit troubled. The Regent’s decision not to be cured was unexpected yet not entirely surprising. He was somewhat annoyed with himself. He had previously concluded that the Regent disliked being manipulated and controlled, which was why he had concealed his own feelings. So, why had he thrown caution to the wind upon hearing of Miao Ruoqiu’s arrival?

He had said too much, things that shouldn’t have been said, and Xie Chaoyun and the covert guards had heard it all. How would he salvage the situation?

Author’s note: Chu Zhaoyou: I think it must be due to pregnancy. The kid is too impulsive. It’s not me.

Little Star: Today I grew up just a little bit.