Chapter 195: Medicine Unleashed

Chapter 195: Awakening

Thinking of Yu Min, Qiu Huanian was struck by a wave of sentimentality.

Yu Min, once indulged and enabled by his family, was overly naive, arrogant, and condescending. But compared to the entire Yu clan, he was not beyond redemption.

After failing the provincial exams and immersing himself for two years, and then facing the great changes in his family, what does he look like now?

Has he grown through setbacks and trials, or has he sunk into deeper despair?

Qiu Huanian briefly pondered it before dismissing it. The plight of the Yu clan was their own doing, and they would not intervene. The new emperor had already left a way out for the Yu clan, but for a family accustomed to living in comfort, this path might be more unbearable than death.

Yu Min hesitated outside the door, probably still holding onto some dignity, unwilling to follow the family's orders to shamelessly seek help, so he would pretend not to know.

"Did Yu Min say anything to you?"

"No, coincidentally, Wu Shen passed by and helped me out, so I came directly."

"Wu Shen, he's really busy lately, like Yun Se, appearing and disappearing mysteriously."

Min Leyi suddenly blinked at Qiu Huanian a few times.

"What?" Qiu Huanian also blinked a few times instinctively.

The two locked eyes, and the room fell silent. Seeing that Qiu Huanian didn't catch his hint, Min Leyi sighed.

"Brother Hua, can't you just figure out what I'm trying to say?"

Qiu Huanian chuckled in frustration, "You can't make bricks without straw. You're not giving me any clues, how am I supposed to guess?"

Min Leyi stammered. If he said it, Qiu Huanian would definitely tease him, but compared to figuring out how to communicate with his family alone, he would rather accept his friend's jokes.

Min Leyi looked around and leaned in and whispered to Qiu Huanian.

"What if, just what if, I found a good husband, and he is about to come to propose, how should I gently and naturally tell my family?"

Qiu Huanian furrowed his brow briefly before relaxing, looking up at Min Leyi.

Min Leyi averted his eyes guiltily.

Qiu Huanian suddenly pinched Min Leyi's cheek, which he had brought close, and Min Leyi cried out, clutching his cheek and leaping back.

"Brother Hua, what are you doing!"

Qiu Huanian smiled, "You kept it from me before, now you come to me for help, I'm just taking a little interest first."

...

The 24th year of Emperor Yuanhua, June 8th.

Two days before the new emperor's enthronement ceremony, the capital was once more under tight security, with all nine city gates heavily guarded by troops. Except for those with special passes, no one was allowed to enter or leave.

Sixteen pulled back on the reins a hundred meters outside the Zhengyang Gate, and the galloping horse came to a sudden stop, its large hooves leaving four marks on the solid road due to inertia.

He raised his arm, signaling the entire team behind him to halt. Guards from the gate direction came to investigate the disturbance.

Sixteen looked up at the looming city gate. Not just this wall, this capital, but the whole world had a new ruler.

It was Sixteen's master.

"Are you Sixteen, the one who's come from Jiangnan?"

Sixteen's face, hidden beneath the mask, remained expressionless as he untied a token from his waist.

After inspecting the token, the guard became even more respectful. He stepped back half a step and raised his hand, saying, "The Emperor himself ordered that upon your return to the capital, Sixteen is to immediately enter the palace for an audience. The others will be taken to the Dali Temple for handling and lodging."

Sixteen dismounted, thanked the guard for the decree, and pointed to the only carriage behind him.

"In the carriage is a meritorious lady. Treat her with respect. Please escort her to the residence of Qishu County Princess first."

The guard didn't question the order and quickly complied.

The Emperor's orders had come down days earlier, and the palace had even sent someone specifically to wait at the city gate, ready to rush back to the palace to report as soon as they saw Sixteen.

The Zhengyang Gate guards knew just how much the Emperor valued this prince, who was said to be the most capable guard by the Emperor's side.

The Emperor's commands couldn't wait. After giving this instruction, Sixteen mounted his horse and rode solo through the open gate toward the palace.

Along the way, people lining the streets were baffled by the sight of the galloping horse, wondering who dared to ride so fast through the capital right before the coronation?

...

Jia Hongyuan slouched on the Dragon Throne, far from comfortable, lost in thought in the enormous hall.

Before the coronation ceremony, all court business was put on hold. The Fengtian Hall, usually filled with civil and military officials, was unnaturally silent, with the gleaming floor and pillars casting blinding reflections.

Just moments ago, Jia Hongyuan had received someone here.

Jia Honghan's lawful wife, now stripped of her title, the eldest daughter of the Xie family from Jinzhou, the former Consort Jin Wang.

Handling royal family members was far trickier than dealing with other families. Jia Hongyuan could execute members of powerful families, but he couldn't just condemn Jia Honghan's family to death.

Legally, they were members of the Great Yu royal family, descendants of the retired emperor. Emotionally, they were the new emperor's sister-in-law and nephews and nieces.

Jia Honghan's rebellion deserved death, but the death penalty couldn't extend to his wife and children. After all, if "punishing the family" were truly considered, the entire royal family would be implicated.

To quiet the public's whispers, Jia Hongyuan could only send these people to guard the imperial mausoleum. They'd be well-fed but confined to the mausoleum for life.

Before being "sent" to the imperial mausoleum, the woman from the Xie family, who had given birth to Jia Honghan's only son, sent a message saying she had urgent business with the Emperor.

The new emperor, swamped with work, wasn't someone a criminal's wife could easily meet. However, Jia Hongyuan broke protocol and called her to the Fengtian Hall.

Because the message she fought, made a scene, and even tried to kill herself just to tell him was only two words—"Sixteen."

She was sure this was the Emperor's weak spot.

Jia Hongyuan, now firmly in the position of the victor, didn't mind hearing what a desperate enemy had to say during the boring time before Sixteen's return.

It was laughable, really. Jia Hongyuan chuckled softly, his eyes icy cold.

He stared at his pale hand, reluctant to make a fist.

Sixteen, utterly loyal to him, knew everything about him, and could easily grasp his lifeline. If even such a person could deceive and betray him, what should he do...

Jia Hongyuan's fingers twitched, about to clench, when suddenly a report came from outside the hall.

"Speak."

"Your Majesty, breaking news from the gate: Sixteen has returned to the capital and is about to enter the imperial city."

Jia Hongyuan closed his eyes and leaned back against the uneven dragon throne.

"Have him ride into the palace and come straight to the Hall of Heavenly Favor."

A sudden clap of thunder rumbled across the sky, and dark clouds quickly obscured the sunlight. A fierce wind swept across the broad, flat square in front of the Hall of Heavenly Favor.

...

Qiu Huanian, hearing the thunder, quickly ordered the doors and windows to be closed and the clothes drying outside to be brought in.

Summer storms are always unpredictable. One moment the sky is clear, and the next, torrential rain pours down from the heavens.

The officials from the Ministry of Justice escorted Chi Qinghe's carriage to the residence of Qishu County Princess. The coachman, braving the downpour, knocked on the door. Jin San opened it and welcomed them inside. Qiu Huanian, upon hearing the news, hurried through the covered walkway to the front courtyard.

Two years had passed, and Chi Qinghe had fully matured, but traces of the troubled, melancholic girl could still be seen in her eyes.

Chi Qinghe curtsied to greet the County Princess. Qiu Huanian steadied her, noticing her weary expression. Knowing she hadn't been resting well these past few days, he quickly arranged for her to have a room prepared and sent Hong Fei to accompany her.

"The side room in Jiu Jiu's Lilac Courtyard is available, and the lilacs in the courtyard are blooming beautifully. You can stay there comfortably and catch up with Jiu Jiu. If there's anything you need, let Hong Fei handle it."

Jiu Jiu, umbrella in hand, had already arrived from the side path. She called out "Sister Qinghe" with a look of pleasant surprise and ran over.

"Cun Lan is staying with Aunt Taohong, and I was just feeling lonely living by myself. Now Sister Qinghe is here!"

"I've made a hair ointment that's really effective. I'll let you try it today!"

Qiu Huanian chuckled softly, interrupting the excited sisters. "Qinghe, where did the people who brought you here go?"

"Sixteen has entered the palace on the emperor's orders. The others, including the criminal, are at the Ministry of Justice."

Hearing the name "Sixteen," Jiu Jiu glanced at Qiu Huanian. She still remembered the mysterious "Brother" who had stayed with them in Du Village for a while and had caught glimpses of him a few times in their residence in the capital.

Though she didn't know the whole story, Jiu Jiu always felt that Brother Sixteen had a close connection with their family, and Brother Hua was also very concerned about him.

For now, Qiu Huanian couldn't explain the relationship between Sixteen and himself, so he let Jiu Jiu take Chi Qinghe to her courtyard to rest.

After traveling for over ten days and getting caught in a heavy rainstorm, she needed a hot bath, a bowl of ginger soup, and a good night's sleep.

Thinking of Sixteen, who had already entered the palace, Qiu Huanian sighed quietly.

He wondered if Sixteen had been hurt during his mission. He must be exhausted. Hopefully, after reporting his mission, he could get some proper rest.

Perhaps they would have a chance to meet during the coronation...

...

In the Forbidden City, in a side chamber of the Hall of Diligence, just a wall away from the emperor's living quarters, there was a small study. On the first day the new emperor took up residence in the palace, he had it cleaned and furnished with a bed and daily utensils.

After meeting the emperor in the Hall of Heavenly Favor, Sixteen was instructed to come here to freshen up before returning.

Covered in dust and grime, he was hardly in a presentable state to meet the emperor. Though Sixteen didn't care much about his appearance, he understood the importance of propriety.

The palace servants swiftly brought hot water and all necessary items, not daring to linger, and swiftly retreated. The new emperor's preferences were still unclear, and no one wanted to risk making a mistake.

Especially after the emperor's mood had visibly soured following his meeting with the woman from the Xie family.

Remembering the order to return quickly, Sixteen swiftly removed his dirty clothes and immersed himself in the hot water.

The warm water should have eased his weary body, but instead, Sixteen shuddered, feeling sharp pains all over his skin. He couldn't suppress a few dry heaves.

Sixteen swiftly pressed several acupressure points, using a special breathing technique to adjust his breath, his brows furrowed deeply.

When he was with the Chi Clan in Jiangnan, in order to play his role convincingly and gain their trust, he took the secret medicine they provided.

It wasn’t some complex, miraculous drug. Sixteen's identity wasn't exposed; he was just a servant from a branch family who knew some secrets, used solely to threaten and control Chi Qinghe. The Chi Clan didn't invest much in him.

Under societal pressures, chastity is more important than life itself for ordinary women and boys, and the drug provided by the Chi Clan exploited this. After taking the drug, one must consume an antidote every seven days, or else lustful urges would erupt, leading to confusion and various foolish behaviors.

After the fall of the Chi Clan, the person responsible for controlling Sixteen realized at the last moment that he had been deceived, destroying the antidote and the prescription, leaving Sixteen temporarily without a solution.

At that time, the most important thing was to stabilize the situation and clear potential threats for the new emperor. To prevent opportunists from causing trouble, Sixteen did not publicize this matter. Instead, relying on his knowledge of pharmacology, he quietly concocted a makeshift antidote to delay the onset.

Once he returned to the capital, he could visit the Imperial Hospital and have the master physicians consult the texts to prepare the real antidote.

Sixteen shook his head, calculating that his heart rate was several beats per minute faster than normal and still accelerating.

Having hardly rested on this journey, his body's resistance was weakened. The hot water triggered the secret drug's resurgence, and the makeshift antidote was no longer very effective.

The stinging on his skin had lessened, but inside his body, a strange, unsettling feeling was building up.

With a splash, Sixteen stepped out of the bathtub, his skin exposed to the cold air, sending a sharp pain to his brain as a reaction.

Without pausing, Sixteen grabbed a robe and put it on, pushed open the window, and jumped into the pouring rain.

He pursed his thin lips, countless raindrops instantly drenched his hair and eyelashes, soaking every inch of his body, leaving him cold from the inside out.

Sixteen could see that the Emperor, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, was in a bad mood, but he didn't know why or what he could do. His sole duty was to follow orders.

The Emperor commanded him to go quickly and return promptly. He needed to delay the drug's effect a bit longer, report his mission at the Hall of Heavenly Purity, and then head to the Imperial Hospital.