Chapter 64: Seeking Medicine

Chapter 64: Seeking Medicine

Shang Junian was a man of extremes—utterly ruthless and yet utterly loyal. He could repay a slight from Zhao Yutuo tenfold, or he could return a favor to Zhao Yuzhang with boundless gratitude. His nature was indeed extreme.

Lu Yan had no kindness towards Shang Junian, only enmity. Shang Junian's words were both a desperate act of a man at the end of his rope and a heartbroken admission of defeat.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yan glanced at him, seemingly surprised. A faint smile then spread across his face like ripples on water. "Your Excellency, this Prince has no desire to be the Crown Prince."

If he wanted to be the Crown Prince, given the Immortal Emperor's favor, it would not have been a difficult task.

Shang Junian frowned. "Then what does Your Highness want?"

Apart from helping Lu Yan ascend to the throne, he couldn't think of anything else he could offer.

Lu Yan, however, said, "This Prince has already experienced the utmost wealth and glory in the world. I lack for nothing and worry about nothing. All I seek now is 'stability.'"

"You are in poor health; you need not exhaust yourself for this Prince. I do not require anything from you. Focus on recovering; that is your top priority."

Lu Yan's situation appeared splendid on the surface, but in reality, it was like a flower bed covered in silk, simmering in oil over a fierce fire. Countless eyes watched him from the shadows, yet he mentioned none of this to Shang Junian. Instead, he took the bowl of fish congee freshly served by a maid, stirred it with a spoon until it cooled slightly, and then fed it to Shang Junian.

"Freshly cooked fish congee, drink it while it's hot. This Prince must go to the palace later and might not return for some time."

Shang Junian didn't expect Lu Yan to ask nothing of him. He pursed his lips and asked, "Why are you going to the palace?"

Lu Yan didn't elaborate much, simply saying, "The residence was attacked without reason last night. I must report it to the Emperor."

Shang Junian was a capable strategist, which was why he had helped elevate Zhao Yuzhang from an ignored illegitimate son to the position of heir apparent. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly said, "Last night's assassins were from the Heavenly Pivot Palace."

Lu Yan paused. "Heavenly Pivot Palace? What's their background?"

Shang Junian coughed a few times before speaking in a hoarse voice. "A sect of the martial world. Although they practice sword techniques, they are more skilled in mechanical arts. The two assassins who entered the room last night used a mechanism hawk claw and a snake scale sword, both characteristic of the Heavenly Pivot Palace's martial arts style."

Lu Yan found this intriguing. "That's interesting. This Prince has no grudge against them from the past nor any enmity recently. Why would they come to kill me personally?"

Shang Junian revealed a secret. "Under the command of the King of Wuyun, there once existed a spy network dedicated to gathering intelligence on the four nations. I oversaw it for a few years, and it's possible that the Heavenly Pivot Palace secretly pledged allegiance to King Lusheng of Guxu."

King Lusheng of Guxu, currently the strongest contender for the position of heir apparent in the imperial court. If not for the Emperor's favor towards Lu Yan, he might have already been named the Crown Prince.

With the capability and motive to commit the crime, using the hands of the martial world to eliminate Lu Yan wouldn't raise suspicion. If this was indeed the work of King Lusheng, Lu Yan had encountered a formidable opponent.

Lu Yan sounded surprised. "It was actually him?"

Seeing Lu Yan's concern, Shang Junian took a deep breath to alleviate the pain in his wounds before saying, "However, based on the Heavenly Pivot Palace's usual conduct, they never involve themselves in court affairs. There must be some hidden circumstances."

"When you enter the palace later, Your Highness need not expose King Lusheng. Simply lament the danger to the Emperor and keep one of the captured assassins in the dungeon for your own interrogation. Hand the rest over to the Emperor for disposal. With the palace's methods, they will naturally uncover the truth."

Curious, Lu Yan asked, "Will Father deal with King Lusheng?"

Shang Junian gave Lu Yan a cold glance, finding him naive. "You are a prince, and so is he. Both of you carry the bloodline of the imperial family. How could the Emperor possibly punish King Lusheng? At most, he would give him a mild reprimand."

Lu Yan smiled. "Since Father won't punish him, what use is it for this Prince to go crying to him? It would be a waste of effort."

Shang Junian spoke deliberately. "What Your Highness needs to do is not to have the Emperor punish King Lusheng, but to force him to cut off his arm to save himself, making him hand over all the people from the Heavenly Pivot Palace."

"At that point, the people of the Heavenly Pivot Palace will undoubtedly feel betrayed. If Your Highness steps in to rescue them and recruits them under your banner, it would not be a small boost to your strength."

Lu Yan subconsciously asked, "What if the recruitment fails?"

Shang Junian's tone was calm. "Then execute them with extreme punishment, letting them die in prison for the crime of assassination. This would eliminate future threats, weaken King Lusheng's power, and serve as a deterrent to the people of the martial world."

"Regardless of whether the recruitment succeeds or not, Your Highness will not suffer a loss."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan's eyes lit up, feeling as if the clouds had cleared. He held Shang Junian's hand to his lips and kissed it forcefully. His smiling appearance was like a dazzling sun, captivating anyone who saw it.

"Indeed worthy of being a former Chancellor, your mind is truly sharp, far surpassing this Prince."

Shang Junian felt the place where Lu Yan had kissed him was unusually hot. Instinctively, he pulled back his hand. Lowering his gaze, he said indifferently, "I've said it before. If Your Highness treats me sincerely, I will do my utmost to assist you."

Lu Yan picked up the bowl of congee and coaxed him. "Great beauty, how have I not treated you sincerely? This Prince has never fed anyone before; you are the first."

Hearing this, Shang Junian looked at him. His cold and proud fox-like eyes tilted upwards slightly, revealing a hint of defiance. "Since I am the first, there can never be a second. Otherwise, this favor would be useless."

If Lu Yan was equally kind to others, what was the point of having this affection? Things that weren't unique were terrifyingly cheap when they became commonplace.

Lu Yan agreed with a smile. "Alright, alright. Even if the Emperor falls ill, he has his harem to feed him medicine; it doesn't concern this Prince."

Afterward, he added, "Drink quickly, the congee is getting cold."

Only then did Shang Junian purse his lips slightly and, with Lu Yan's help, drank the warm congee in the bowl mouthful by mouthful. It was winter, and fresh fish was rare. The chef had sliced the fish into thin pieces and boiled them in a clay pot, making the rice congee fragrant, glutinous, and smooth. Clearly, great care had been taken.

After feeding Shang Junian two bowls, Lu Yan stopped. "Rest well. Later, someone will bring the medicine for your injuries. Remember to take it. This Prince will head to the palace now."

Shang Junian covered his mouth and coughed a couple of times, frowning as he suppressed the sweet metallic taste in his throat. "Your Highness may go. There's no need to worry about me."

Seeing his pale complexion, Lu Yan paused. "Rest assured and recover. This Prince will find a way to heal your injuries."

Without further delay, he ordered his men to prepare the carriage and horses and immediately set off with a group of guards, galloping towards the palace.

Lu Yan had timed his arrival perfectly. Usually, at this hour, the Emperor should have just finished the morning court session. However, upon entering the Eternal Hall, he unexpectedly saw a familiar figure sitting below, sipping tea—it was none other than King Lusheng of Guxu.

Upon seeing this, Lu Yan hesitated for a moment before retracting his gaze and kneeling before the Emperor on the high seat. "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

The Emperor hummed in acknowledgment. "Rare to see you in the palace early in the morning. Rise, and take a seat."

But Lu Yan remained kneeling on the ground, his head lowered as he said pitifully, "Your subject dare not."

The Emperor closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "Enough. I know something happened at your residence last night. Speak after you rise. You're of age now; why are you still acting like a child?"

Unhappy, Lu Yan muttered, "Your subject won't rise. Your Majesty clearly knows that there were assassins last night, yet you don't stand up for Your subject or seek justice."

If anyone else had said these words, they would have been considered utterly disrespectful, but when they came from Lu Yan's mouth, the emperor didn't seem enraged. Although his face was stern, those with discerning eyes could tell he wasn't truly angry: "I see you're becoming more and more audacious, daring to say anything. The palace rules have gone to the dogs in your mind!"

Recalling Shang Junnian's advice, Lu Yan had rubbed an onion on his sleeve beforehand. He raised his hand to wipe his eyes, and tears flowed profusely. "Your subject nearly lost his life last night; how could I care about rules? Dozens of assassins surrounded the mansion so tightly that even Eunuch He almost couldn't handle it. It was like walking through the gates of hell."

"I'm not afraid of death, but I fear not seeing Your Majesty's face before dying... Wuuu..."

He cried heartbreakingly, yet he still turned his head to look at Gu Xu Wang, who sat beside him. He held onto Lu Sheng's hand and sobbed incessantly, smearing his tears and snot all over the other's sleeve. "Second Brother, you were here too. If I had died at the hands of the assassins yesterday, you wouldn't have seen me again! Wuuu!"

The corner of Gu Xu Wang's mouth twitched, then quickly returned to normal. He subtly pulled his sleeve away and bent down to help Lu Yan up from the ground, smiling as he comforted him. "Third Brother, don't speak nonsense. Father always dotes on you; how could he not seek justice for you? This morning, Father summoned me to the palace before dawn and ordered me to apprehend last night's assassins, showing that he has you in his heart."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan's crying suddenly stopped. He subconsciously looked towards the emperor seated high above, his voice unable to hide his astonishment. "Father?"

In the emperor's hand was a cup of tea, which he slowly skimmed with the lid, removing floating foam. Wisps of steam rose, making his imperial thoughts increasingly indecipherable. "Your Second Brother is always reliable; entrusting the capture of those assassins to him is most suitable. Rest assured, none will escape."

Gu Xu Wang forced a smile. "Your subject shall comply with the order."

The emperor placed the teacup on the table and lazily leaned back into the chair, resembling a dozing beast. His voice was deep and imposing. "You are brothers, and brothers should support each other. Since something happened at Third's residence last night, you, as his older brother, should take responsibility. Go now, take the Longquan Department's men to apprehend the assassins, not allowing a single one to escape. Don't disappoint Me."

These words, upon closer listening, concealed deeper meaning. Upon hearing them, Gu Xu Wang didn't know what he was thinking. He bowed his head in salute. "Your subject takes his leave."

After he slowly exited the hall, when the attendant closed the door, he finally couldn't resist looking back. He saw the emperor adding another seat beside him, inviting Lu Yan to sit next to him. The hand hidden in his sleeve tightened uncontrollably.

Father... does he really dote on Lu Yan that much?

Wan Bikang had been waiting outside the hall the entire time. Seeing Gu Xu Wang emerge, he hurriedly stepped forward to ask, "Your Highness, this subordinate received an urgent summons from the emperor early this morning. Is there any important matter?"

Gu Xu Wang's expression was emotionless. "Father ordered this prince to capture the assassins from Third's residence last night. The Longquan Department is responsible for assisting. You don't need to go inside; follow this prince to search for the assassins."

Wan Bikang clearly knew something. Hearing this, he looked at him with uncertainty and suspicion. "Why would His Majesty suddenly order us to capture the assassins?"

Gu Xu Wang slightly shook his head. "There are ears on the wall; let's discuss it back at the mansion."

Lu Sheng always maintained a clean and upright image in public. The mansion wasn't overly luxurious, contrasting starkly with the Fengling Mansion, which gathered treasures from around the world. The courtyard was adorned with strange rocks and green bamboo, displaying a refined elegance befitting his status.

Gu Xu Wang and Wan Bikang arrived at the study where meetings were held. He instructed others not to disturb them, and then, as if drained of energy, he suddenly collapsed into a chair, his face pale as he uttered a sentence. "Father... he might have found out..."

Wan Bikang was startled. "Your Highness, you mustn't speak rashly about such matters!"

Gu Xu Wang closed his eyes and leaned back into the chair, holding his temples as he spoke tiredly about today's events. "Last night, just after something happened at Third's residence, Father summoned this prince to the palace before dawn. Every word he said revolved around 'Tianji Palace.' He said that this martial arts sect happens to be located in Gu Xu Prefecture, which is this prince's fiefdom, and he ordered this prince to ensure the capture of those assassins."

Wan Bikang hesitated before speaking. "Could it be that Your Highness is overthinking things? Perhaps the emperor just coincidentally..."

Gu Xu Wang opened his eyes, his gaze heavy. "Whether Father knows about this matter or not is no longer important. What's crucial is how this prince should report back to him. Should we really hand over the people of Tianji Palace?!"

Wan Bikang gritted his teeth. "Your Highness, although Tianji Palace is powerful, it's still just a martial arts sect. Since His Majesty has already noticed something, we can't afford to make any mistakes. Survival by sacrificing a part is essential!"

Gu Xu Wang unconsciously gripped the armrest of the chair. He held his forehead, his brows and eyes shrouded in shadows, as he slowly uttered a sentence. "Third, what virtue or ability do you possess..."

On the other side, Lu Yan had already begun to act spoiled and pitiful, begging the emperor for medicine. "Father, your son was frightened last night, my vital energy is depleted. The imperial physician said I should consume some nourishing items to strengthen my body. Don't you have a Blood Toad Pill in your treasury? Why not bestow it upon your son."

"Presumptuous!"

The emperor's expression was unreadable between anger and joy. "This item is a treasure of the world. If you want to replenish your vital energy, there are plenty of deer antlers and ginseng slices in the treasury. Why are you suddenly asking for a Blood Toad Pill for no reason?"

Lu Yan lowered his head, appearing aggrieved. "Those are common items; they won't work for your son."

How could the emperor not see that he was deliberately causing trouble? "I didn't know when you became so precious. Are you saying that your body is different from ordinary people's, that what works for others doesn't work for you?"

Lu Yan slid to his knees on the ground with a slick movement, grabbing the hem of the emperor's dragon robe. "It just doesn't work. If Father doesn't give your son the item, I'll stay here and not leave today."

The emperor waved his sleeve and stood up. "If you don't want to leave, kneel here then. Kneel for as long as you want!"

After saying this, he ordered his personal eunuch to tidy up the documents and turned to head to the sleeping quarters to review them. However, Lu Yan clung to his leg and refused to let go. The emperor, in a fit of anger, directly kicked him off the dais with a heart-piercing kick. Although the force was feigned, Lu Yan still rolled down with a thud.

Lu Yan covered his chest and exclaimed, "Father, how cruel your heart is!"

"Worthless thing!"

The emperor scolded him softly and left with his attendants.

Lu Yan lay on the ground, rubbing his chest with a pained expression. He thought to himself that despite his father's old age, he still had considerable strength. It was just staying here, with food, drink, and a charcoal stove. Who was afraid of whom?

Lu Yan's gaze fell on the palace maid in the corner, and he beckoned her over. "Little beauty, you go and bring this king a quilt!"

The palace maid was taken aback. "Ah?"

Lu Yan urged her. "What are you waiting for? Hurry up!"

Back in the sleeping quarters, the emperor still felt unsettled. Leaning against the couch, he reviewed documents for a while until the vermilion ink ran out. Then, he put down his brush and glanced at the sky outside, pinching the bridge of his nose. "What hour is it?"

"Your Majesty, it's almost the seventh hour," Eunuch She reported, stepping forward appropriately to massage the emperor's neck. His expression suggested he wanted to say something.

With his eyes closed, the emperor asked, "Has that rascal left?"

Eunuch She was even more embarrassed, stuttering, "Fengling Wang hasn't left yet. He... he had a palace attendant bring a cotton quilt and is sleeping right on the floor."

Upon hearing this, the emperor suddenly opened his eyes, changing his posture from leaning to sitting straight. "He's sleeping on the floor?!"

Eunuch She awkwardly nodded. "Yes."

And apparently, he was sleeping quite soundly.

The emperor's expression darkened. "I've been wise all my life, how did I end up with such a rascal? Indulging in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling, he excels in everything except doing proper work."

Eunuch She tentatively said, "Nanxun Wang is heroic and extraordinary, Gu Xu Wang is steady and courteous, and Fengling Wang is young; it's only natural for him to play around."

Staring at his right hand, the emperor seemed to sigh. "Both sides of the palm are flesh. Second has acted foolishly this time..."

Eunuch She didn't dare to respond and could only lower his head, pretending to be deaf.

Lu Yan had not slept all night. He asked a young palace maid for a cotton quilt and was sleeping soundly on the tufted cashmere blanket. Just as the palace gates were about to be locked, Eunuch She shook him awake:

"Your Highness, Your Highness, wake up."

When Lu Yan opened his eyes, he saw Eunuch She's old face grinning at him like a chrysanthemum. He couldn't help but yawn. "Eunuch She, why are you here?"

"Oh, Your Highness, what you say! This servant is worried. It's so cold, and you're lying on the ground sleeping. What if you catch a chill?"

As Eunuch She spoke, he tried to help him up, but Lu Yan dodged away, silently holding out his hand and opening his palm.

Eunuch She was taken aback. "Your Highness?"

Lu Yan clicked his tongue. "Stop pretending. Where's the Blood Toad Pill?"

Eunuch She straightened up and said solemnly, "Has Your Highness ever heard the saying that a rare treasure without merit is hard to bear?"

Lu Yan was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Eunuch She took out a brocade box from his sleeve. Opening it, they saw half of a pill as clear as a ruby inside—it was the Blood Toad Pill. "His Majesty said that if this item is given to Your Highness, it's not impossible. But Your Highness must agree to one thing. After the matter is accomplished, the other half of the pill will naturally be presented."

Lu Yan had an inexplicable feeling of foreboding. "What is it?"

Eunuch She leaned close to Lu Yan's ear and whispered something. Lu Yan's complexion changed from green to white, then from white to red—a veritable spectacle.