Chapter 18

Chapter 18

"Yes. That's a form of Qigong," said Ninth Prince. "When I was a child, I often visited the temple, and the masters there gifted me several manuals on such methods."

"Are they not martial arts manuals?" Gao Zhen asked curiously.

Ninth Prince shook his head. "There were originally two illustrated manuals of movements, but unfortunately, they were destroyed before I came here."

Gao Zhen frowned, a tightness in his chest. That damned emperor and empress dowager were truly excessive—so wary of a mere ten-year-old child that they even destroyed two simple movement manuals, as if terrified Ninth Prince might gain even the slightest skill.

Yet, despite all their precautions, they never anticipated Ninth Prince's extraordinary talent, managing to develop such lightness skill relying solely on oral formulas and mental techniques.

This must not be revealed to them. If they found out, wouldn’t it scare them to death? Who knows what trouble they might stir up then!

It must be kept secret.

Gao Zhen said worriedly, "Your Highness, perhaps you should avoid scaling walls from now on? If discovered, they will surely cause trouble for you again."

Ninth Prince hummed in agreement. "They don’t know. I am always very careful; they won’t notice."

Remembering the row of books atop Ninth Prince’s wardrobe, Gao Zhen asked, "Has Your Highness ever studied meridian charts?"

"Not yet," Ninth Prince replied, gazing at Gao Zhen before suddenly smiling. "Could it be that our little master wishes to impart some knowledge?"

"Whenever Your Highness has time, I am available. However, at the moment, there is something I’d like to ask for your help with," Gao Zhen said. "Earlier, while checking my own pulse, I identified several acupoints that should have been needled. But since I have no needles available, I had to resort to massage as a temporary substitute. There are two points on my back that I cannot reach—might I trouble Your Highness to help loosen them up?"

"How should it be done?"

Ninth Prince withdrew his hand from adding firewood and extended his arm toward Gao Zhen. "Demonstrate on me."

Gao Zhen pressed the fleshy part of his palm against Ninth Prince’s arm, rubbing clockwise seven times, then counterclockwise seven times. Next, he turned his palm upright and used the outer edge to rub up and down twenty-one times. Finally, he pressed firmly on the acupoint with his thumb, holding for seven breaths per set, repeating seven sets in total.

The technique wasn’t particularly difficult, and Ninth Prince grasped it after one demonstration. He asked Gao Zhen, "What is this method called?"

"Since it’s used as a substitute for needling, my father called it the 'acupuncture substitution technique.'"

"Your father invented this?" Ninth Prince asked, surprised.

Gao Zhen nodded. "My father said that although he always carried needles with him, there were times when he had none available. In such cases, he would use this finger technique as an emergency measure."

Ninth Prince nodded again and asked, "How are the acupoints located?"

"There are acupoint rhymes. The rhymes provide hints for locating each point. If Your Highness is interested, I can write them down for you."

"Good. But," Ninth Prince looked at Gao Zhen with a gentle expression, "there’s no rush for now. First, let me help you massage the points on your back."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Gao Zhen lowered his eyes and turned his back, pulling his collar down to expose his fair-skinned nape. With one hand reaching down from above and the other up from below, he pressed two spots on his back and said, "The first vertebra corresponds to Dazhu, the second to Fengmen; the lumbar region involves Sanjiao and Shen Qihai. May I trouble Your Highness to help release Dazhui and Sanjiaoshu for me?"

"Is the upper one Dazhui?" Ninth Prince asked, pressing down gently while moving Gao Zhen’s slender arm aside. "Let’s start with Dazhui first. Otherwise, keeping your arm raised will make it sore."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Gao Zhen pursed his lips, feeling inwardly touched—Ninth Prince was truly considerate!

The Dazhui point is located in the depression below the seventh cervical vertebra. Gao Zhen slightly lowered his head to facilitate Ninth Prince’s work. His gaze swept over the stove pit; although the fire had already gone out, Gao Zhen still felt waves of heat washing over his face, as warm as Ninth Prince’s palm—scorching yet not burning.

Though Gao Zhen’s face flushed, his eyes shone brightly.

"Is the pressure too strong?" Ninth Prince asked worriedly, frowning at the red marks appearing on the skin under his palm.

Gao Zhen replied, "Your Highness need not worry. I don’t feel any pain." He only sensed the heat, truly not any pain, though the skin of this body was too delicate.

Since Gao Zhen said he felt no pain, Ninth Prince did not reduce the pressure, instead applying the acupuncture substitution technique as taught, slowly kneading and pressing the Dazhui point. Gao Zhen’s skin was too tender; Ninth Prince exercised extreme caution. Yet, by the time he finished, the area around Dazhui was covered in bright red marks, resembling a blooming red flower. Beneath the skin, it seemed as if fluid had accumulated, semi-transparent and so thin it appeared ready to burst at a touch.

Ninth Prince’s hand unconsciously stroked the area twice as he sighed, "Wait a moment. I think we should apply some medicine."

"Huh?"

Gao Zhen pulled his collar up and watched Ninth Prince’s retreating back, puzzled. "Why apply medicine?"

Ninth Prince swiftly grabbed the bamboo container of medicine from the long table against the north wall, his long strides bringing him back to Gao Zhen in moments. He said succinctly, "It looks painful."

Gao Zhen: "..."

His collar was pulled down again, and warm fingertips pressed against his skin. Gao Zhen lowered his head slightly, instinctively closing his eyes. Unbeknownst to him, Ninth Prince felt a twinge of guilt—annoyed that his own rough fingers had caused such a state on this smooth skin after rubbing it.

Had he known it would cause such burden, he would have been more careful, far more careful, rather than leaving it looking like a bruised lychee, as if it might burst with juice at the slightest touch...

Ninth Prince was inwardly angry—at himself.

Learning from this experience, when massaging Sanjiaoshu next, Ninth Prince stopped Gao Zhen from loosening his robe. "It’s better to keep the clothing as a buffer. Otherwise, you’ll need medicine again."

"Then," Gao Zhen hadn’t expected this reason and found it somewhat amusing, but since Ninth Prince suggested it for his benefit, he acquiesced. "As you wish, Your Highness."

"Mm."

Practice makes perfect.

This time, Ninth Prince’s technique was more skilled. However, since he was working through clothing, to accurately locate the acupoint, he placed one hand on Gao Zhen’s waist, using his spread thumb to lightly trace the edge of the point for positioning, while kneading with the fleshy part of his other hand. It was only then that he realized how slender Gao Zhen’s waist was—not even enough to span with both hands—and he silently resolved to help A Zhen gain a bit more weight.

After the acupressure, Gao Zhen was drenched in sweat and finally detected a floral scent. Knowing it was toxins being expelled through sweat, he feared affecting Ninth Prince and quickly stood to go outside. "Your Highness, please open the window to let this scent dissipate. It’s toxic."

But Ninth Prince seemed thoughtful. As he opened the window, he said to Gao Zhen, who had begun pacing in the courtyard, "The scent I noticed earlier didn’t seem to be this one."

"Ah?"

Gao Zhen was surprised. "What’s the difference?"

"That scent was lighter."

And more pleasant, intoxicating. Unlike the current sweet fragrance, which, while nice, wasn’t captivating. Ninth Prince knew well that some thoughts were best kept to oneself; speaking them aloud in front of Gao Zhen would be too frivolous, like teasing, and disrespectful.

"Lighter?" Gao Zhen thought for a moment. "I’m not sure about that either."

"Come eat," Ninth Prince said, returning to the stove to rekindle the fire and continue roasting meat.

Soon the floral scent faded, replaced by the aroma of fruitwood. To avoid detection, Gao Zhen hurriedly closed the east room’s window from outside. He stood outside a while longer until his sweat had completely dried before returning indoors.

Nine plates, nine bowls, and nine dishes were neatly arranged on the table by Ninth Prince. The plates were exquisitely crafted—pure white bases with half-blown pink peonies along the edges, resembling art more than tableware.

A large plate of meat and two small dishes were neatly placed on the table. The water in the large iron pot had just come to a boil. Ninth Prince grabbed a handful of dried vegetable leaves from a large jar by the wall and tossed them in, followed by cracking an egg and swiftly stirring it with chopsticks. Though only seasoned with salt, the aroma was still rich. At least, Gao Zhen’s appetite was immediately whetted.

He quickly picked up two small peony-patterned bowls and approached.

"Your Highness, let me serve the soup," he said, handing one bowl to Ninth Prince before ladling soup into his own bowl and passing it over, taking the empty one in return. As he served, he glanced back at Ninth Prince with a smile. "I didn’t expect Your Highness to be such a good cook. When can you teach me?"

"Tomorrow," Ninth Prince said gently.

“Alright.”

Breakfast was sumptuous, leaving his stomach pleasantly warm.

While Gao Zhen washed the dishes, he heard the Ninth Prince say, “Starting today, we no longer need to fetch food at the hour of Xu. Mother also said the basket of provisions will last her ten days. I’ll continue working in the western courtyard later. Just leave the main gate bolted as it is; from now on, we won’t open it. If someone knocks, go to the rear of the northern hill behind the western chamber—there’s a long pole there. Use it to prod the eastern chamber of the western courtyard. Understood?”

Gao Zhen nodded, though he actually wanted to accompany the Ninth Prince to the western courtyard and help. So he asked, “When may I come assist you, Your Highness?”

“……”

The Ninth Prince gazed at Gao Zhen’s downcast expression, took a deep breath, and said, “This evening. Come over after sunset.”

Gao Zhen immediately brightened, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the Ninth Prince and asked, “Then may I go to the Golden Wheel again? I’d like to see if I can find a set of silver needles.”

“It may be rather difficult,” the Ninth Prince replied thoughtfully. “But we can try to search for them.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Gao Zhen smiled.

Seeing Gao Zhen’s smile, the Ninth Prince felt a sudden pang of sorrow. He, too, wished to give Ah Zhen the very best—but he had nothing to offer.

His hand, hanging limply at his side, quietly clenched into a fist.

“I’m off.”

Zhou Yunning turned sharply, strode several paces to the base of the western wall, leapt nimbly, and vanished over the top.

“……”

So much remained unsaid. Gao Zhen stared in the direction where the Ninth Prince had disappeared, overcome by an inexplicable sadness. He couldn’t help but think how cruel the original author had been—to subject such a magnificent Ninth Prince to so much suffering.

This day felt unbearably long.

Suddenly, he found himself alone in the courtyard, and emptiness flooded over him at once.

Gao Zhen stood in the yard, watching the sun slowly rise above the eastern horizon—and for the first time, he grasped just how interminable time could feel within the cold palace.

After breakfast, he began cleaning the rooms—the northern chamber, the eastern wing, and the western wing—scrubbing every corner inside and out. Then he swept the entire expansive courtyard, which covered more than eight hundred square meters. Yet even after completing all this, the sun still hadn’t reached its zenith.

Gao Zhen brought a small stool into the yard and sat in the sunlight.

He had no idea how long he’d been basking when drowsiness crept in. He went back inside to sleep. With no clock, he had no sense of how long he’d slept—until he was abruptly jolted awake by frantic knocking…