Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Mu Zhong's face gradually paled, as if a sudden thought had made his lips tremble. He stammered, "Your Highness, I fear a major incident is brewing in the palace."

"Take your time," the Ninth Prince said, sitting before him to offer reassurance. "There's no need to rush."

But Mu Zhong suddenly burst into tears. "I've been infected with a Gu parasite. Someone wants to kill me."

"Who?"

"It might be related to Ling Yuehe. Your Highness may not know this, but after Ling Yuehe was implicated by Ling Bing and transferred to our Imperial Stables Directorate, he began acting very strangely. His eyes bulge like a goldfish's, as if they might pop out at any moment. Sometimes, he suddenly rolls his eyes when looking at people, and he's already frightened several young eunuchs into fainting. Zheng Qing suspected he might have been implanted with a Gu parasite and sent me to invite the Daoist masters into the palace. But before I could even leave the palace gates, I was knocked unconscious. In my dazed state, I heard those people say they were going to implant a Gu insect in me. Your Highness, I never thought I would survive."

"Do you remember anything about falling from the Golden Wheel?" the Ninth Prince asked.

Mu Zhong shook his head. "I only heard them say they were going to reactivate the Gu formation, and then I lost consciousness. However, I suspect the person who implanted the Gu insect in me is the same one who did it to Ling Yuehe."

"That’s not impossible," the Ninth Prince mused for a moment before saying, "I will find a way to investigate this matter. For now, focus on recovering. Don’t worry about anything else."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Mu Zhong wept bitterly, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looked at the Ninth Prince. As if remembering something, he quickly called out to the Ninth Prince, who was about to leave. "Your Highness, is there a way to send a message outside?"

"What do you wish to convey?" the Ninth Prince turned back to look at Mu Zhong.

"Zheng Qing asked me to go to Chiyun Temple to invite Daoist Master Jinming. Besides having Ling Yuehe checked for the Gu insect, he’s also worried that someone might be targeting the sealed Gu formation." Mu Zhong recalled, "Those who experienced the Gu master case back then all know that the array’s core is beneath the Golden Wheel, sealed with great effort by the Daoist masters. Zheng Qing said if someone really infiltrated the palace to stir up trouble with Gu, it wouldn’t be just for a mere Ling Yuehe. The most likely goal is the sealed Gu formation. This array is crucial to the safety of the entire capital and cannot be taken lightly. So, I thought…"

"Did you not hear about the recent affair with the deposed empress?" the Ninth Prince asked.

"I did," Mu Zhong said. "It was precisely because the deposed empress’s case involved Gu insects that Zheng Qing began to suspect Ling Yuehe might also be involved. Do you think these two matters are related, Your Highness?"

"When the deposed empress entered the cold palace last year, she was already carrying Gu miasma. If the person who implanted the Gu insect in her is an accomplice of Ling Yuehe’s, then they have been hiding in the palace for at least a year. Why did they remain silent and inactive before, only causing trouble now in the chilly early spring?"

Mu Zhong had no answer. He shook his head and said, "The timing isn’t right either. If they really wanted to use Gu, they should have chosen midsummer, when Gu insects are most abundant."

"Exactly. So, I suspect that using Gu might not be the real goal—perhaps someone is trying to conceal something."

Mu Zhong was stunned, suddenly realizing that the Ninth Prince saw things more clearly than he did. Hesitantly, he asked, "Then what do you think is really happening, Your Highness?"

"It’s still unclear," the Ninth Prince shook his head, then added, "By the way, on the day I saved you, I checked the sealed Gu formation. There was no issue. Rest assured and focus on recovering. Once you’re better, I have duties for you."

"Return to the Imperial Stables Directorate?"

"No. From now on, remember—in this palace, you are dead." After the Ninth Prince said this, Mu Zhong fell silent.

Gao Zhen also looked surprised, not understanding what the Ninth Prince intended to do.

However, the Ninth Prince said nothing more and left with Gao Zhen, one after the other.

After stepping out, Gao Zhen urged the Ninth Prince to go back to rest. The Ninth Prince complied and returned alone to the north room.

Gao Zhen entered the east room and closed the door. He immediately opened his system panel and, as expected, after Mu Zhong woke up, the "Saving a Life Is Better Than Building a Seven-Story Pagoda" task progress had inched forward. This indicated that Mu Zhong’s condition was improving. Gao Zhen marveled at the efficacy of the Great Yang-Restoring Pill while eagerly anticipating the 10,000 Karma Points reward upon task completion, feeling quite pleased.

He wanted to quickly accumulate 500,000 Karma Points to buy the "White Silkworm Vanishing Ointment" for the Ninth Prince to repair his scars, which greatly boosted his motivation to complete tasks.

The "uncomfortable seat incident" earlier had caused the system’s red light to flash wildly for a long time, and his data had now changed:

Name: Gao Zhen

Life Battery: 100%

Karma Points: 6090

Favorability: 5008

Note 1: "Complete Plot [First Encounter Night] Progress 99.9%"; "Expand Plot [Warm His Heart] Progress 28%"

Note 2: "[Hidden... Task] Progress 5%"; Hint: Please quickly collect clue character cards. "Character Directory" character card hint: 34567

Note 3: "(Saving a Life Is Better Than Building a Seven-Story Pagoda) Progress 10%"

Gao Zhen noticed that besides the 5,000 increase in Favorability, the [Warm His Heart] progress had also risen by 3%, the life-saving task had advanced to 10%, and the [Hidden... Task] progress had even increased by 1%. How did that happen?

Curious, he clicked open and found that one character card had lit up on its own: Mu Zhong.

Could it be that unlocking character cards only requires interacting with the corresponding character and providing help, without needing any "Cloud-Piercing Clarity Pill" for clues?

Gao Zhen wanted to scream.

The 500 Karma Points spent on the [Cloud-Piercing Clarity Pill] had gone to waste. This once again filled him with resentment toward the system. Now, the system had gone from "stingy" to "black-hearted."

......

With the support of the Great Yang-Restoring Pill, Mu Zhong’s recovery speed was astonishingly fast. Even the Ninth Prince was surprised and asked Gao Zhen what method he had used to make Mu Zhong recover so quickly. Gao Zhen smiled and credited all the success to the Great Yang-Restoring Pill, saying, "...After all, it’s a legendary divine-level formula. It’s only natural it has such effects."

The Ninth Prince smiled and shook his head, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Yesterday, Gao Zhen went to see Imperial Concubine Hong and gave her the second acupuncture session. This time, Imperial Concubine Hong was in much better condition than before—she didn’t sweat as much, and the acupuncture wasn’t as painful as the first time. However, her obsession with becoming beautiful remained as strong as ever. During the treatment, she kept asking Gao Zhen, "I feel like my skin has become more radiant these past two days. Don’t you think so?"

Gao Zhen glanced at her still dry, bark-like hands and hemmed and hawed for a while before finally saying, "It will get better in the future. You need to be more patient."

Gao Zhen had been thinking about the elusive seventh character card and wondered if Imperial Concubine Hong might know something. So he asked, "Is there a Tanhua in the cold palace?"

"What kind of flower is that? Is it pretty?" Imperial Concubine Hong asked curiously.

Gao Zhen: ...

"Never mind, forget I asked."

Returning from Imperial Concubine Hong’s place, Gao Zhen looked dejected. When the Ninth Prince saw him, he asked, "What’s wrong? Why do you look so unhappy?"

Gao Zhen carefully chose his words and said, "Imperial Concubine Hong said there’s a Tanhua living in the cold palace. I told her a Tanhua is someone destined to become a high official and couldn’t possibly be in the cold palace, but she refused to believe me. I couldn’t make her understand, so I’m a bit frustrated."

The Ninth Prince laughed and said, "There is one. But Zhou Yundu was at his wit's end with him, so he locked him in the cold palace."

"Ah?" Gao Zhen immediately perked up. "But a Tanhua shouldn’t be imprisoned in the rear palace! For a scholar, serving the emperor with their looks is a great humiliation. Wouldn’t this dishearten scholars across the land?"

"That’s why Zhou Yundu announced to the outside that the person is dead. In reality, he couldn’t bear to kill him."

"What do you mean, 'couldn’t bear to kill him'?" Gao Zhen’s gossip antenna immediately perked up. "Does he actually like that person?"

The Ninth Prince nodded. "Probably." He recalled hearing Consort Ning complain a few years ago, saying Zhou Yundu couldn’t bring himself to kill that person nor to force himself on him, so he could only lock him in the cold palace, making him suffer a living hell.

"How many years has he been locked up?" Gao Zhen asked.

"He came in five years ago. Every month, he’s taken away for one night, and when he returns, someone has to watch him, or he’ll try to kill himself." The Ninth Prince sighed, feeling that Zhou Yundu had committed too many sins and was now facing retribution.

"Oh~" Gao Zhen drew out the vowel, clearly thinking the same thing as the Ninth Prince. The emperor was inhuman! Imprisoning someone for five years—it served him right to become impotent and face retribution!

"What’s the name of that Tanhua, where does he live, and can I go see him?" Gao Zhen asked, his peach-blossom eyes blinking with curiosity.

The Ninth Prince, unable to resist, reached out and ruffled his hair. "His name is Zhang Jingsong. He lives next door to Qin Lelang. I’ll take you to see him tomorrow."

The next day, the Ninth Prince slept until afternoon. Gao Zhen waited for him to rise before they set out together to visit the Tanhua Scholar.

It was another narrow alley, and as they turned the corner, they ran into Qin Lelang, who was just closing his door. Qin Lelang thought they had come to see him and greeted them with a smile, “What brings you around?”

The Ninth Prince said, “A Zhen wanted to see Zhang Jingsong.”

“Oh?” Qin Lelang was a bit surprised but didn’t think much of it. Instead, he warmly offered, “Then let me call him for you. These last couple of days, with the spring examinations approaching, he’s been a bit out of sorts again.”

“Out of sorts?” Gao Zhen’s heart sank, and he discreetly fingered the acupuncture needles in his sleeve.

Qin Lelang knocked twice on the door, and a low, hoarse voice came from inside the courtyard, “The door’s not latched. Come in.”

The courtyard gate creaked open, and Gao Zhen saw a tall, slender young man lounging in a rattan chair. His skin was pale and delicate, his features strikingly handsome—the classic handsome man with feminine features. His narrow, phoenix-like eyes opened slightly, glancing sideways at the newcomers. He seemed startled to see others behind Qin Lelang and bolted upright.

“Why are there others here?!” Zhang Jingsong asked, displeased.

Qin Lelang laughed and said, “This is Ninth Prince and his companion, Gao Zhen. Hardly outsiders!”

“Oh, so it’s Ninth Prince. My apologies.” Zhang Jingsong hurriedly bowed, his manners impeccable, revealing a refined upbringing and an air of scholarly elegance.

“No need for formalities,” the Ninth Prince said. “A Zhen is the one who wanted to see you.”

“Oh?” Zhang Jingsong’s eyes flickered with surprise as his gaze finally settled on Gao Zhen. One eyebrow lifted slightly as he asked, “What can I do for you, young master?”

Gao Zhen took out the silver needles from his sleeve and gave the excuse he had prepared earlier: “To be honest, I wish to pray for my parents and would like to offer a free clinic here in the Cold Palace. Would you allow me to take your pulse, Lord Zhang?”

“And who is your father?”

“The former Chief Imperial Physician, Gao Zhengqi.” Gao Zhen’s expression clouded as he spoke, reminded of the misfortunes that had befallen his family, a surge of indignation rising within him.

Zhang Jingsong nodded, perhaps stirred by thoughts of his own home, and said sadly, “It’s rare to find such filial devotion. How could I refuse?” He then extended his wrist to Gao Zhen.

Qin Lelang, worried that Gao Zhen might find it awkward to take the pulse standing, quickly interjected, “Let’s talk inside. Who takes a pulse standing in the yard?”

“You’re right,” Zhang Jingsong said, tapping his forehead. “Your Highness, Young Master Gao, please come inside.”

Gao Zhen glanced around the courtyard and was quietly impressed. As expected of someone the Emperor never forgot, the courtyard was neat, square, and well-equipped, located close to the outside—probably the best spot in the entire Cold Palace. The only drawback was its size; it was about half the size of their own courtyard.

The furnishings in Zhang Jingsong’s room were also far more complete than in any other room Gao Zhen had visited in the Cold Palace, and everything looked brand new. Although Zhang Jingsong was also confined to the Cold Palace, he was, after all, someone Zhou Yundu never forgot. The eunuchs, shrewd as they were, knew better than to mistreat him.

Before taking Zhang Jingsong’s pulse, Gao Zhen turned to Qin Lelang and said, “I’ll check you too in a bit. If you’re free, could you wait here for me?”

“How could I refuse when A Zhen is thinking of me?” Qin Lelang replied with a smile.

Gao Zhen murmured “Mm” and, feeling pleased, reached out to feel Zhang Jingsong’s pulse at the wrist.