Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Gao Zhen suspected the Golden Wheel had been struck by something, likely connected to the loud noise he'd just heard.

Curiosity piqued, he quietly moved the ladder, climbed the wall, and cautiously peeked over. A person appeared to be sprawled on the ground. Startled, Gao Zhen quickly ducked down. Had the person seen him?

After a moment's thought, he dismissed the idea; the person was lying face down, so they couldn't have.

But why were they lying there? His curiosity reignited, Gao Zhen cautiously peered over again. One glance was all it took for him to clap a hand over his mouth and crouch back down.

The person lay in a pool of blood, their condition unknown.

This was beyond his capabilities, so he rushed off to find help.

The Ninth Prince felt someone shaking him and slowly opened his eyes.

Seeing him awake, Gao Zhen immediately leaned in and whispered, "Your Highness, there's someone by the Golden Wheel!"

"Did they see you?"

The Ninth Prince pushed himself up on his arms.

"No. I heard a commotion near the Golden Wheel and saw it turning. I was curious, so I got the ladder to take a look…"

The Ninth Prince listened as he put on his shoes. When he heard the Golden Wheel had started turning, his expression shifted. "When I was young, the Taoist priests said the Golden Wheel is unmoved by the Eight Winds. If it moves, it portends an unusual phenomenon."

"What kind of phenomenon?" Gao Zhen suddenly had a bad feeling.

"I don't know the specifics. Perhaps it's related to the Gu Master Case from years ago."

The mention of the Gu Master Case changed Gao Zhen's expression too. His voice trembled slightly as he asked, "It won't involve a lot of bugs, will it?"

"Hard to say," the Ninth Prince replied, opening a cabinet. He retrieved several talismans, a fire starter, and a bamboo tube carved with strange patterns. "So, we need to make some preparations."

Seeing the Ninth Prince take the talismans, Gao Zhen also tucked two pairs of gloves into his robe. The thought of bugs made him nauseous, but since this matter had come to them, they couldn't ignore it. With a heavy heart, he followed the Ninth Prince back to the west courtyard.

The two moved the ladder to the wall on the Golden Wheel's side.

Gao Zhen raised his hand and said, "Your Highness, he's in that direction."

The Ninth Prince climbed the ladder and glanced in the direction Gao Zhen pointed. His body stiffened slightly. *'That person is…?'*

"Your Highness, do you know him?" Gao Zhen noticed the Ninth Prince's unusual reaction and quickly tugged his sleeve.

"Perhaps." The Ninth Prince took Gao Zhen's small hand and instructed him, "Wait here quietly. Don't make a sound."

"Okay, Your Highness, you—"

Before Gao Zhen could finish, the Ninth Prince had already scaled the wall.

Gao Zhen peered from the ladder, watching the Ninth Prince approach the person, confirm their identity, and then immediately leave. Gao Zhen expected him to return, but instead, he headed in another direction.

A moment later, Gao Zhen saw the Ninth Prince return with a stack of cloth. He knelt before the person, first taking out a talisman, lighting it, and sprinkling the ashes around them. White smoke rose, accompanied by sizzling sounds.

The Ninth Prince waited for the white smoke to dissipate. The blood on the ground had turned black. Only then did he drape layers of cloth over the person. Finally, he hoisted the person, wrapped in cloth, and began to head back.

Gao Zhen couldn't help but wave to him. "Your Highness, hurry!"

As soon as the Ninth Prince climbed back over the wall, Gao Zhen quickly pulled up the ladder.

"A Zhen, come and see if he can still be saved?" the Ninth Prince called to him, adding, "He's infected with Gu. Be careful not to touch his blood."

"Okay." Gao Zhen dropped the ladder, took out a pair of gloves from his robe, and put them on. The Ninth Prince, still uneasy, lit another talisman, sprinkled the ashes over Gao Zhen's gloves, and gestured for him to rub them evenly.

Gao Zhen followed beside the Ninth Prince, checking the injured man's pulse and eyelids as they walked. The person still had vital signs, but his pulse was weakening. The situation was not looking good.

The Ninth Prince carried the person into the west room. The room was empty except for two straw mats—perfect for housing a patient.

He laid the person on the straw mat.

Gao Zhen had also assessed the person’s condition. "He's still breathing. We can try to save him, but I can't guarantee he'll survive."

"Save him first," the Ninth Prince said.

The two quickly unwrapped the layers of cloth, and the stench of blood immediately assaulted them.

"This blood reeks," Gao Zhen said, turning his face away from the odor.

"Go outside for some fresh air first. Come back in after I finish extracting the Gu from him." The Ninth Prince took out talismans and the carved bamboo tube from his robe.

Gao Zhen numbly stepped outside, still in shock because he hadn't expected the Ninth Prince to know how to extract Gu. He stood at the door, watching the Ninth Prince light a talisman, shake the ashes into the person's palm, neck, and mouth. Then, he sealed the person's mouth and nose with another talisman. Moments later, the person vomited a mouthful of fluid, which splashed onto the talisman and turned into a black spot.

The Ninth Prince placed this talisman with the black spot into the carved bamboo tube, sealed it, and set it aside. Then, he stood up, lit another talisman, and shook the ashes onto the cloth covers.

Only then did he say to Gao Zhen, "You can come in now."

"Your Highness, does covering him with cloth prevent the Gu miasma from leaking?" Gao Zhen asked curiously.

"No," the Ninth Prince said. "I just didn't want his blood dripping on the ground and letting others know we saved him."

"I see," Gao Zhen understood. The Ninth Prince was indeed meticulous.

Gao Zhen crouched down beside the old eunuch.

The Ninth Prince took the cloth covers outside to wash.

Looking at the old eunuch before him, Gao Zhen could tell from his injuries that he had clearly fallen from a height: one arm was broken, the bone piercing through the flesh and sticking out. The skin on his abdomen was bruised bluish-purple, indicating internal bleeding.

In just this short time, the old eunuch's lips and nails had turned ashen white, a result of continuous blood loss. The situation was indeed very critical.

In modern times, this kind of condition would require immediate ICU admission. But in the cold palace, conditions were extremely limited. Gao Zhen only had a pack of silver needles—

"Your Highness, help me!" Gao Zhen was getting anxious.

"Tell me," the Ninth Prince said without any airs, very cooperative and calm. "What do you need?"

"I need hot water, charcoal fire, and herbal decoction. I'll use acupuncture to stop the bleeding first." As he spoke, Gao Zhen took out his needle pack and quickly began inserting needles, while telling the Ninth Prince what herbs to prepare and how much water to use for the decoction.

"The herbs are all in the large food box, labeled. I've checked the specifications—Your Highness, just take three pieces of each."

"Okay."

The Ninth Prince first started the fire, filled the pot with water, and then went to gather the herbs. By the time the herbs were collected, the initially lit firewood had already turned into charcoal, perfect for Gao Zhen to use.

Gao Zhen had two basins beside him: one for water and one for holding charcoal. He had the Ninth Prince pour the boiled hot water over the charcoal, using the charcoal's adsorptive properties to filter impurities from the water. After filtering three times, the hot water turned warm and could be used to clean the patient's body, reducing the risk of infection.

The Ninth Prince cleaned the blood from the old eunuch’s body.

Gao Zhen inserted the last needle firmly.

"Your Highness, do you know him well?" he inquired.

"He used to be the steward in my mother's palace. His name is Mu Zhong. Over the years, he has remained in contact with my mother." As he said this, the Ninth Prince tried to keep his tone calm, but Gao Zhen could still sense some tension from his solemn expression.

The Ninth Prince was probably worried that this old eunuch wouldn't pull through.

Gao Zhen also understood how important this person was to Consort Ning and the Ninth Prince. Moreover, if he came to harm, it would certainly mean more than just an accident for both the Ninth Prince and Consort Ning.

"Your Highness," Gao Zhen reached out and gently placed his hand on the back of the Ninth Prince's hand, while his other palm, warm, pressed against the Ninth Prince's brow. "Don't worry," he said. "We'll do our best to save him. Once he wakes up, we'll naturally find out what happened."

"Hmm," the Ninth Prince took Gao Zhen's hand from his brow and held it tightly, as if clutching a calming talisman. He could clearly feel his mood improving.

Two hours later, Mu Zhong's bleeding had finally stopped.

During this time, Gao Zhen treated Mu Zhong's broken bone, while Zhou Yunning stayed by his side, passing him items as needed.

The Ninth Prince had soaked all the cloths used to wrap Mu Zhong's blood in charm-ash water, and by now, they were washed and hung on a rope to dry. He then took the charm-ash water and went to the Golden Wheel, washing away the bloodstains on the ground. Fortunately, it was early spring, not the insect breeding season; otherwise, so much blood from a host of poisonous insects would surely have caused serious trouble. Especially since the imperial kitchen was just a wall away to the south—if it had been infested with poisonous insects, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Fortunately, they had dealt with it in time.

The Ninth Prince wiped the sweat from his forehead and took the bucket back to the west courtyard.

Gao Zhen was still busy.

The Ninth Prince went to the east room to prepare some food: mushroom soup and water-stir-fried cold vegetables, all vegetarian. After setting the table, he went to the west room to call Gao Zhen. As he reached the doorway, he saw Gao Zhen wiping his sweat with his sleeve. He turned on his heel and went straight back to the east courtyard. Without using a ladder, he cleared the wall in one fluid motion. He moved quickly, returning in just a moment with two brand-new cloth towels.

"Your Highness?"

His chin was gently held, and Gao Zhen looked up in surprise.

"Don't move."

The Ninth Prince held a cloth towel and deftly wiped the sweat from Gao Zhen's face.

"You've worked hard," he said.

Gao Zhen shook his head and said, "That's done now. Whether he can make it through the next three days is in fate's hands."

"Let's eat first," the Ninth Prince said insistently, helping him up and leading him to the east room.

As they sat facing each other at the table, Gao Zhen remembered something and asked, "Your Highness, is Gu extraction easy to learn?"

"Not too difficult," the Ninth Prince replied. "When I was little, the Taoist priest taught me twice."

Gao Zhen thought to himself, such a complex ritual, learned in just two tries, and at such a young age—that's called exceptional talent. Not everyone could do that. At the very least, Gao Zhen silently abandoned any thought of learning it himself.

"I saw you digging up the yard earlier—what were you planning to do?" the Ninth Prince asked.

Gao Zhen explained his plan to plant grass in the yard to feed the chickens and use the grass to repel insects. After listening, the Ninth Prince nodded and said, "Next time you want to do this kind of work, remember to tell me."

"Oh."

Gao Zhen blinked and smiled. He felt like the Ninth Prince actually meant to say, "This kind of work falls to me from now on."

After the meal, the Ninth Prince indeed picked up a shovel and began working the soil along the house. Gao Zhen wanted to help but was stopped by him. Gao Zhen had no choice but to follow along and keep him company.

As if worried that Gao Zhen might get bored, the Ninth Prince occasionally asked him if he was planting the lavender correctly or if burying the geraniums this way was acceptable. His attitude was humble, and he listened to Gao Zhen with great focus, not showing any sign that he was merely trying to keep Gao Zhen entertained and cared for.

With the Ninth Prince by his side, the time flew by. An hour seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye. Gao Zhen looked at the freshly turned soil and the seeds planted throughout the yard, nodding with satisfaction. It felt like life was finally beginning to look proper.

Suddenly, a golden light flashed in his mind—a new message had arrived.