Chapter 11: Loosening Garments

Chapter 11: Loosening Garments

Under the tyrant's harsh threat of extermination of ten generations for failure to cure, the dozens of imperial physicians in Yi Xiao Palace were all terrified and trembling.

Soon, a few of the most senior were selected to approach Lu Changping with paper and pen to inquire about his condition and symptoms.

Due to the immense pressure from the tyrant's presence, the physicians even sought permission multiple times before taking the pulse, daring only to carefully touch Lu Changping's wrist with a silk handkerchief after receiving a nod from the tyrant.

Xie Xuan Yuan himself appeared relaxed and at ease.

He supervised the physicians' treatment while nibbling on candied fruit from a dish.

Whether it was a penchant for sweets or the candied fruit being irresistibly delicious, the dish quickly emptied.

Yet, Xie Xuan Yuan's movements while eating were so graceful that unless one watched him continuously, it would be hard to confirm that he alone had consumed all the candied fruit.

Lu Changping wondered if he was getting dizzy from watching too long when he suddenly found the enemy tyrant eating to look unexpectedly charming, with rosy lips and white teeth...

He shook his head, trying to dispel these bizarre thoughts from his mind.

……

After much activity and consulting with six different physicians, they still couldn't determine the poison affecting the newly appointed Noble Consort.

Watching those poor, sweating physicians, Lu Changping felt endless sympathy.

The blame lay with the tyrant's whimsical and excessively capricious desires.

Even if he were mute, it wouldn't affect the overall situation much. Why go to such lengths to cure his throat?

If this continues, he fears he might give himself away...

Caught between the dilemma of being exposed while cross-dressing and refusing the tyrant's "kindness," Lu Changping struggled to choose, ultimately unable to resist advising in writing:

"I understand that Your Majesty keeps me in the palace only to humiliate and threaten South Chu. But I truly cannot sing or say pleasing words. Why trouble these imperial physicians?"

Xie Xuan Yuan's expression darkened upon reading these words:

"If you can't sing, I can find someone to teach you. If you speak unpleasantly, I can use medicine to mute you again. But I have yet to hear you speak; how do you know I wouldn't enjoy it?"

With that said, Lu Changping realized. Xie Xuan Yuan's insistence on curing his throat wasn't about the humiliation or making him sing; the tyrant was simply curious about his voice...

Indeed, the tyrant was merely curious about what he sounded like...

However, the greater the anticipation, the greater the disappointment. Should the truth ever come out, his voice would surely shatter the budding hopes of the tyrant.

As Lu Changping communicated with the tyrant through writing, a new group of imperial physicians busied themselves around him.

A younger-looking physician stepped forward to advise Xie Xuan Yuan: "The poison symptoms in the Noble Consort are bizarre and rare; pulse diagnosis alone may not unravel the mystery."

Continuing, he took out a row of slender silver needles from his medicine box, adding, "I implore Your Majesty to allow us to probe with silver needles to locate the exact position of the poison."

Lu Changping, seeing the row of shiny, gleaming silver needles, felt a tingling sensation on his scalp.

Pretending to be mute was to deceive the tyrant, but if those silver needles were to actually pierce him, he feared he might truly become mute.

Imagining himself turned into a porcupine by the needles, his peach blossom eyes flickered uneasily, though he dared not show his anxiety too obviously in the tyrant's presence.

Given the tyrant's temperament, he would surely resort to any means necessary to restore his voice. Despite any refusal, it seemed inevitable to avoid this predicament today.

However, to Lu Changping's surprise, Xie Xuan Yuan did not immediately agree. He glanced at the physician and asked indifferently, "Will this method of using silver needles for poison detection be painful?"

The physician hastily replied, "Your Majesty, the needles might not always hit the acupoints, so pain is inevitable. However, it's highly efficient, able to determine the nature of the poison affecting the Noble Consort much faster than pulse diagnosis."

Unsatisfied with the response, Xie Xuan Yuan coldly pressed, "Will it leave scars on the skin?"

Lu Changping looked at the tyrant with some astonishment. When had this man become so fussy?

The physician, not daring to deceive, honestly answered, "That... depends on the Noble Consort's constitution. If she has a scar-prone type, there might indeed be small needle marks. But we will be extremely careful..."

Unable to bear it any longer, Xie Xuan Yuan dismissively waved his hand, "Such a clumsy method, it's embarrassing you even suggested it."

After scolding the physician, he turned to Lu Changping without any courtesy:

"Since the poison in you isn't fatal, it's only right for you to experience the hardship of being mute for a few more days. Why should I be anxious on your behalf? I'm tired today, let's discuss this medical consultation some other time."

For some reason, his face was paler than usual, but his gaze remained as proud and haughty as ever.

Ultimately, the physicians of the Imperial Medical Bureau unanimously determined that the Emperor's new favorite, Consort Lu, had been poisoned with a highly complex and rare toxin.

Although the vocal cords were not damaged, offering a possibility of speaking again, the accumulated poison in the body required gradual treatment with detoxifying herbs.

Lu Changping had not expected to be let off so easily by the tyrant.

Even after Xie Xuan Yuan returned to the palace, he was still unclear why the latter had suddenly disagreed with the method of using silver needles for detecting poison.

Could it be that the tyrant had a sudden change of heart, deciding to repay the favor of being given chicken legs? Or perhaps he felt merely pricking with needles and leaving scars was not harsh enough and was planning a more severe punishment?

But his questions were soon answered. Having trained in martial arts for years, his excellent hearing caught a whispered exchange between two senior physicians at the door.

"Master Chen, do you know why His Majesty disagreed with the method of using silver needles to detect poison?"

"We have both been in the Imperial Medical Bureau for years; how could we not understand? The Consort Lu from Southern Chu is, after all, to serve His Majesty. For consorts serving His Majesty, their skin must be smooth and flawless, without any scars."

"In this light, being unable to speak is trivial compared to blemishing His Majesty’s sight during intimate moments."

Lu Changping heard every word of their secret conversation, his expression gradually shifting from shock to calm.

The Southern Chu Emperor had remained unmarried all his life, and since Lu Changping had ascended the throne not long ago without holding a grand selection, it was his first time hearing that consorts in the harem must not have scars.

It seems that Xie Xuan Yuan, the tyrant, had let him go today with ulterior motives.

Yet, this time, their thoughts coincidentally aligned.

Lu Changping steadied his mind, his face breaking into a smile again. If he just patiently waited until the night he was to serve, he could take his revenge...

Despite this, Lu Changping had not anticipated the opportunity to serve would come so quickly.

On the night following their wedding, he saw Xie Xuan Yuan again in his own Yi Xiao Palace.

Hearing from the palace servants that the tyrant had come straight to his residence after finishing his state affairs that evening, Lu Changping couldn’t help feeling nervous and excited.

He knew the tyrant was looking forward to having him serve, coveting his body. Because of these unspeakable, vile thoughts, the tyrant would surely reveal his weaknesses soon!

After the excitement, Lu Changping didn’t sit idle.

While the tyrant was on his way, he quickly prepared a dagger, rope, sharp gold hairpin, and other items in a secret compartment near the bed, waiting for the moment to strike when the tyrant was most vulnerable.

In less than half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the tyrant had already arrived at his sleeping chamber.

Just a day after their wedding, Xie Xuan Yuan had returned to his usual attire of high-collared, long-sleeved, dark clothes. His tall figure, coupled with the dim candlelight of Yi Xiao Palace, cast an even longer shadow on the ground.

This time, the tyrant did not bring anyone else and even dismissed the servants who were originally in the sleeping chamber.

In the deep of the night, alone with a man, such an ambiguous atmosphere makes it hard not to overthink.

Lu Changping is not someone oblivious to social cues; seeing the tyrant's actions, he had a good guess about the other's intentions.

Xie Xuan Yuan is probably overwhelmed by the pressure of state affairs, coupled with the loneliness of the long nights in the palace, and finally couldn't resist making a move on him.

If at such a moment he still maintained a "princess'" demeanor, resorting to paper and pen for idle chat with the tyrant, it would seem too rigid and dull.

Should the tyrant lose interest, who knows how long he would have to wait for another assassination opportunity.

To appear more enthusiastic, Lu Changping swallowed any complaints and proactively poured the tyrant a cup of fruit wine.

Xie Xuan Yuan, surprised to see wine instead of tea in the cup, raised an eyebrow slightly: "Why are you drinking so late?"

Hearing this, Lu Changping scoffed inwardly in disdain: Was the tyrant truly inexperienced, or was he deliberately testing him?

Who doesn't know that wine is often needed to set the mood before such activities?

Ignoring the tyrant's remark, he took a small sip himself and then firmly offered the cup to the tyrant, his eyes full of expectation.

Xie Xuan Yuan hesitated for a moment but ultimately couldn't resist the appealing gaze of the beauty before him, finishing the cup in one gulp.

After a cup of fruit wine, Xie Xuan Yuan's gaze became blurry, his cheeks flushed. Who would have thought the notorious tyrant of Bei Wei was actually a "lightweight"?

Having gauged the tyrant's tolerance, Lu Changping pressed on, pouring another cup of fruit wine, taking a sip himself before offering it to the tyrant.

After sharing three cups together, Xie Xuan Yuan's chin and neck turned pink.

Seeing the tyrant nearly drunk by his hand, Lu Changping quickly moved to the next step of his plan.

The act of serving wine had gradually closed the distance between them. Yet, despite the proximity, it was still not easy to make a move.

The issue lay with Xie Xuan Yuan's clothing, which covered him too securely. If there were any protective soft armor hidden underneath, the assassination attempt would fail.

Fortunately, with boldness and meticulous planning, Lu Changping quickly thought of a solution.

Through the layers of clothing, he naturally couldn't be sure if the tyrant was wearing protective soft armor.

But now, as the favored Consort Lu of the tyrant, it was entirely proper and reasonable for a consort to assist His Majesty with changing clothes, not at all excessive.

Thus, Consort Lu boldly walked around the table to Xie Xuan Yuan, stooped slightly, and began to fumble with untying the other's belt with slender fingers...

Author's note:

The Tyrant: I find Consort Lu to be both proactive and enthusiastic, and quite understanding in certain aspects...

Very sorry for keeping all you dear angels waiting.

The procrastinating author was up all night doing homework and writing, and has now seen the morning sun hhhh

Today is another day of diligently catching up on homework and updates QAQ