Chapter 180: Poisonous Gu

Jiu Yu’s gaze darkened. “Your Highness, Mrs. Gu is treating you. Why are you still coughing up blood?”

The Regent’s pale lips were devoid of color as he let out a few light coughs. “It’s nothing.”

Jiu Yu lowered his eyes, pondering. He sensed that the Regent’s condition wasn’t just due to poison. If it were simply an old illness combined with poison, Su Wan would have surely been able to manage it.

The Regent had taken his medicine for two days; while no one expected an immediate recovery, it should have at least controlled the illness. Yet, his condition was clearly worsening.

“What are your instructions this time?” Jiu Yu’s gaze fell on the wooden figurine on the desk.

Noticing his glance, the Regent quickly tucked the figurine into a drawer.

“How is Ji Ling’s condition?” The Regent pressed a hand against his aching chest, his face growing even paler. He picked up a cup of tea and took two sips. “Half a year.”

“The Emperor’s condition is worsening by the day. According to your original instructions, he could have been kept alive for a year.”

Jiu Yu noticed the Regent rubbing his chest. The poison he had wouldn’t cause chest pain. “I’ll increase the dosage a bit.”

The Regent said in a low voice, “No need. From now on, you don’t need to enter the palace. As for Ji Ling’s matter, I have other plans.”

Jiu Yu was momentarily stunned. “Very well.” Before he took his leave, he stepped forward and asked, “Regent, would you allow me to take your pulse?”

The Regent waved his hand, signaling Jiu Yu to withdraw.

Jiu Yu didn’t press the matter further and left the room.

The Regent looked at the red line on his right wrist, which had grown even redder and slightly longer than the day before.

“Master?” Luo Cheng had just entered and saw the line, his pupils dilating in shock. “Wasn’t it suppressed? How did it reemerge? Is it your poisoning that’s making it come back?”

The Regent’s brow twitched as he issued a warning, “Do not speak carelessly in front of Zhao’er.”

Luo Cheng clenched his fists tightly and, summoning his courage, said, “Things have already come to this, and you still plan to go to Xiliang? Are you intent on dying at her hands? You are no longer alone—you now have Young lady Zhao’er. You should take better care of your health!”

Years ago, when Qi Min was captured by enemy forces, the Regent went to rescue her alone. The enemy forces had a powerful shaman, and during the rescue, the shaman unintentionally placed a poisonous Gu^[1]Gu (Chinese: 蛊) or jincan (Chinese: 金蠶) was a venom-based poison associated with cultures of south China, particularly Nanyue. The traditional preparation of gu poison involved sealing several … Continue reading in the Regent. Fortunately, fate spared him, and he encountered a wandering monk who managed to suppress the Gu.

For all these years, it had never acted up, but now, after being poisoned, it had been triggered again.

Luo Cheng’s expression darkened. For the first time, he defied his superior, storming out in anger, “I’m going to tell Young lady Zhao’er right now.”

“Stop!” the Regent shouted furiously.

Luo Cheng, overwhelmed with shock and anger, shouted, “Even if you want to execute me, I won’t hide this any longer!” With a few swift leaps, he disappeared from the courtyard.

The Regent’s temples throbbed intensely, and as his emotions surged violently, a wave of sharp pain twisted in his chest once more.

The words to issue a command reached his lips, but he swallowed them back down.

Luo Cheng, not even bothering to mount a horse, was consumed by a flood of negative emotions. He felt suffocated, as if his very breath was being seized, desperately needing an outlet for his frustration.

He sprinted towards the Gu residence, panting heavily by the time he reached the entrance with bloodshot eyes.

Instead of calling for the gatekeeper, Luo Cheng vaulted over the back wall and headed straight for Su Wan’s courtyard.

Recognizing Luo Cheng as an ally, the Qi Family Army did not stop him.

Luo Cheng landed at the back courtyard’s entrance and raised his hand to knock, but then he overheard a conversation from inside.

“Huaizhi, I’ve just acknowledged my father. What gift should I give him?”

Su Wan’s clear voice came through the door, “I’m not very good with needlework, otherwise I could make him a piece of clothing. He already has everything else. How about I cook three meals a day for him while I’m at the palace?”

“That sounds good. Father-in-law would be very happy,” Gu Huaizhi replied.

“Today, I saw he had white hair. He walked over all alone, looking so lonely. His subordinates seem warmer to him than his own family. I fear his heart feels empty and burdened,” Su Wan added, her tone filled with concern.

Su Wan’s voice grew somewhat despondent. “I should make money quickly, and you should earn your rank soon. Then we can buy a house next to the Regent’s Mansion, tear down the wall in between, and our two families can live together. We could have meals together every day, and he wouldn’t feel so lonely anymore.”

Luo Cheng’s raised hand suddenly clenched into a fist. He bit down hard on his arm, his eyes welling up with hot tears.

How wonderful it would be if his master could hear these words!

Why couldn’t his master have known earlier that he had a daughter?

For the first time, Luo Cheng felt resentment toward Qi Min.

“Who’s there?” Gu Huaizhi’s sharp voice rang out, and the door instantly swung open.

Luo Cheng stood at the entrance, his eyes red.

Gu Huaizhi frowned. “What happened?”

Luo Cheng looked at Su Wan, who had followed closely behind, his lips trembling as he struggled to speak, his throat tight with emotion.

“I have something to discuss with you.”

Su Wan, sensing the situation, tactfully retreated back into the room to continue packing.

Gu Huaizhi stepped outside, following Luo Cheng to the corner of the courtyard.

“Young Master, the master’s condition is terrible,” Luo Cheng said with a heavy heart, explaining the situation regarding the poisonous Gu. “If the red line from the Gu reaches his arm, there will be no saving him. Earlier, in a moment of confusion, I thought about telling Young lady Zhao’er.”

“I momentarily forgot that she’s a healer, but probably not skilled with poison Gu. We need to find the wandering monk who helped before. Only then can the master’s Gu be cured.”

Gu Huaizhi’s expression turned serious. “A wandering monk?”

Luo Cheng’s face darkened. “The monk is a high-ranking one from Baima Temple in Xiliang.”

He wiped his face harshly and continued, “I forgot—you can’t go to Xiliang. I’ll go with the master, and when the time comes, I’ll find the monk.”

“Could he still be traveling elsewhere?”

“No, he won’t be. Xiliang is about to crown the Crown Princess, and the monks will be performing rituals.”

“It’s best to inform Wanwan of this,” Gu Huaizhi said, realizing a critical issue. “How much does the line grow in a day? And how long is it now?”

Luo Cheng hesitated, his face turning more somber. “The line grows about a few millimeters each day. Right now, it’s already halfway up his wrist.”