I absolutely do not want this outcome!
Without further ado, let's head to the summit of the snow-capped mountain today!
Huangfu Xuan walked in from outside and saw Ji Wushang lying on top of Nan Xuzong. Hearing Huangfu Xuan's footsteps, Ji Wushang immediately stood up and looked at him, "Third Imperial Brother."
"Hmm, he's awake? Good, let's get him dressed right away and then go ask Father for permission!" Huangfu Xuan said, his eyes now fixed on Nan Xuzong. "He should be feeling better!"
"Yes." Ji Wushang glanced at Nan Xuzong, then walked into the secret passage, with Huangfu Xuan behind her.
Ji Wushang walked for a long time before suddenly asking, "How is Miss Ma San?" He had gone to visit her last night, but he didn't know how her mute poison was doing.
“Very good.” Huangfu Xuan said without any emotion.
"Did you instruct me to take my medication on time?" Ji Wushang asked as he walked without turning around.
"Yes," Huangfu Xuan replied simply.
"That's good." Ji Wushang didn't ask any more questions. This was a matter between them, and he still couldn't interfere.
After a quick dressing, the two immediately headed towards the Longgan Palace.
Ji Wushang and "Nan Xuzong" stood outside the Longgan Palace, waiting for the eunuch's announcement. At this moment, Ji Wushang looked around and found that the flowers outside the palace had a different feel to them. There were so many colors, red and green, that it was hard to look away.
However, the fragrances of those flowers were so mixed; some were refreshingly sweet, while others were unbearably strong. Ji Wushang frowned slightly as he smelled them. "Nan Xuzong" looked at him and said, "Is it unpleasant to smell these flowers?"
"Hmm." Ji Wushang nodded. "Something seems a bit strange."
"Indeed, there are too many varieties!"
"It can easily cause illness!" Ji Wushang warned.
Nan Xuzong nodded in agreement. That was indeed true. Fortunately, his Hongxuan Palace hadn't been decorated with any flowers! He had even personally selected the incense, so no one dared to harm him!
Ji Wushang had no idea what he was thinking. He focused his gaze on it, hoping to finish the report quickly and then leave!
At this moment, an eunuch came out and bowed to Ji Wushang and "Nan Xuzong". "Your Highness, Your Highness the Fourth Princess, His Majesty has issued an imperial edict saying that Your Highness and Your Highness the Fourth Princess wish to leave the palace. So be it. Just be careful how long you stay. Don't stay too long."
Ji Wushang's mind immediately cleared. She looked at "Nan Xuzong" with joy, and "Nan Xuzong" immediately understood that she was a woman and naturally put himself first. He said, "Then thank you for conveying the message, Eunuch. Thank you for the Emperor's grace!"
"Thank you for your grace, Father Emperor!" Ji Wushang and he knelt down and bowed together before walking out hand in hand.
But just as he turned around, Ji Wushang smelled a strong aroma! Was it the smell of ginseng? Mixed with a faint jasmine fragrance! Ji Wushang turned to look at "Nan Xuzong" in surprise, "This..."
“Let’s talk about it when we get back!” Nan Xuzong frowned. Judging from her expression, she must have discovered something. But to discuss it here would be tantamount to pushing herself to the brink of death!
Ji Wushang nodded and immediately followed him into Rongguang Hall.
"I smelled the scent of opium in the Dragon Palace. The scent came and went, but it was so strong at the time that I could smell it. Moreover, it was mixed with the fragrance of jasmine!" Ji Wushang said as soon as he entered the palace. "I'm afraid someone has soaked opium into Father Emperor's incense or somewhere else, causing Father Emperor to become listless!"
"That anesthetic was used to kill people?" Huangfu Xuan asked. Undoubtedly, it was Empress Yao's doing! In the inner palace, the Empress held most of the power, and the Dragon Palace was Emperor Zhou's residence; apart from Empress Yao, probably no one dared to touch it!
"Yes, it's a slow-acting poison, extremely harmful, and it can slowly make people addicted! If Father's incense contains this 'longevity drug,' then he will be dependent on it for life until he dies from the poison!"
"Is there a solution?" To harm people in this way is utterly despicable!
"Yes, but it's extremely painful. Quitting this drug requires incredible willpower. Many people can't endure the torment of withdrawal, and suicide or consuming even more drugs is highly likely! I just don't understand how this drug came about. Our Great Xia Zhou Dynasty absolutely doesn't have the conditions to produce it! These things must have been introduced from Japanese pirates or the Western Regions and Qingzhao area!"
This indicates that someone is colluding with outsiders to plot for the throne!
Ji Wushang looked at Huangfu Xuan and asked, "What do you think?"
"Father's affairs are for Father to handle himself." He curled his lips into a smile. "Indeed, those who poisoned him deserve to die, but this is what Father earned himself! It has nothing to do with me!" If it weren't for his poor judgment in choosing Yao Ningfeng as Empress, resulting in so many princes and princesses, it would have been his own doing, not my fault! However, he would hasten his own progress; after his death, a new crown prince would have to be chosen! Huangfu Xuan was more concerned about who would inherit the throne than about the Zhou Emperor's health!
Ji Wushang shook his head slightly, but quickly understood Huangfu Xuan's words. If there was a chance to investigate and find the mastermind, that would be lucky. But if he were discovered, the blame would immediately fall on him, and those people would definitely attack him. If he ended up pleasing neither side, he would be finished!
In the palace, the most important thing is to survive and establish oneself before anything else can be discussed. Although Emperor Zhou is getting old, as an emperor, he must have a wise mind and be vigilant. If he were to become so cowardly and decadent as to be poisoned, that would be his own fault!
Ji Wushang smiled. He wouldn't concern himself with the lives of these people; he just needed to focus on his own tasks. "Then we should go."
"Okay." Huangfu Xuan nodded. "Take care on your journey. I will escort you out of the city!"
"Thank you for taking care of me all the way, Third Brother!" Ji Wushang bowed and then walked into the inner room, but then stopped, turned around, and said, "Ma Ruyi is not a person of our Great Xia Zhou Dynasty."
“I know.” Huangfu Xuan smiled. “She is from Japan.”
Ji Wushang was taken aback. He knew that he still wanted to marry her as his principal wife? That Ma Ruyi must have some ulterior motive!
"Don't worry, I'll handle everything perfectly!" Huangfu Xuan smiled and walked into the secret room. "Aren't you going to hurry up?"
"Yes." Ji Wushang suppressed his worries. Since he didn't care, why should he worry?
Sunlight streamed onto the official road, where a large carriage slowly made its way, accompanied by several servants. Gong Shu, disguised as the coachman, was accompanied by two maids, Hong Fei and Cui Wu, on either side of the carriage.
Hongfei and Cuiwu planned to assassinate Yiyun Shangcheng as ordered by Ji Wushang, but failed because they couldn't find Yiyun Shangcheng's whereabouts. Ji Wushang had no choice but to put the matter aside for the time being.
Ji Wushang sat in the carriage, looking at Nan Xuzong lying beside him, feeling a pang of heartache. He took care of him while watching everything outside. Now, he could only rely on himself to walk this path.
Ji Wushang chose routes that were extremely wide and crowded. This wouldn't attract too much attention, as there were many carriages coming and going, including many wealthy merchants.
Ji Wushang ordered his men to travel almost entirely along the border. Just as the nun at Yuanyue Nunnery had said, the Qingzhao Kingdom was rising steadily. From what Ji Wushang observed along the way, Qingzhao was economically developed, and its people lived in peace and prosperity. The men mostly admired martial arts, the population was thriving, the horses were fat and the grass was lush, and there were thousands of acres of fertile land. The women, on the other hand, mostly stayed at home, serving as virtuous wives and loving mothers.
In the Western Regions, animal husbandry is the main industry. The men are bold and skilled in martial arts, while the women are also quite forthright. The people live in harmony. In the border cities, everyone from the Western Regions carries a dagger or a curved sword, even the children.
Ji Wushang had to compare it to the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty. The Great Xia Zhou Dynasty had a strong literary culture. Although there was romance and poetry, the men were mostly weak and fond of reading Confucian books, while the women were refined ladies from noble families and gentle girls from ordinary households. In comparison, if war broke out, Qing Zhaohe and the Western Regions would probably have the upper hand, while the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty would be somewhat at a disadvantage.
Although she felt a sense of comparison, Ji Wushang knew that she was, after all, just a woman, unable to enter the court or participate in behind-the-scenes planning; all she could do was fulfill her duty. She quickly urged her horse forward.
Two days passed quickly. Thanks to Huangfu Xuan's early arrangements and his connections, Ji Wushang was able to enter the Western Regions smoothly.
There is only one route to climb the snow-capped mountain, which is through the Western Regions. Although half of the snow-capped mountain is within Qingzhao territory, the mountain within Qingzhao is mostly composed of cliffs and precipices. Only the route through the Western Regions is relatively gentle and flat, making it possible to climb.
Ji Wushang ordered his men to park the carriage at an inn, which was not far from the foot of the snow mountain.
Although it was early summer, it was quite cold here due to the high altitude at the foot of the snow-capped mountains. Ji Wushang, wearing a thick robe, ordered a stove to be lit in the room.
Nan Xuzong was sleeping on the kang (a heated brick bed). He had a slight smile on his face, as if he was dreaming of something that made him happy.
Ji Wushang stepped forward, wrapped his robe tighter around him, and hugged him. "Cong, we've reached the foot of the snow mountain. Tomorrow, we'll climb the mountain... As long as we can get the Snow Mountain Elder to give us medicine after we climb the mountain, that will be fine."
Ji Wushang looked at his face. Because he hadn't groomed it for many days, some stubble had grown on his chin. Ji Wushang touched it and found it a little prickly, but the stubble added a touch of wildness to his face.
He was originally handsome, with a vermilion dot between his eyebrows that was probably a birthmark that he never faded. Now, however, it blended with the stubble on his face, giving him a somewhat strange look. But from a distance, he seemed to have a different kind of charm.
Ji Wushang thought to himself, "Forget it, why am I worrying about this? As long as he wakes up, we can deal with the rest later!"
At this moment, Gong Shu knocked on the door from the outside and called out, "Madam." Once outside, everything was addressed differently.
Ji Wushang walked out. "How was it?"
"I've inquired, and it's possible to go up the mountain, but I'm afraid it will be difficult." Gong Shu said with some difficulty, "I can only escort you and your wife to the halfway point. After that, all the people from the valley must come down the mountain. The rest of the way, you and your wife will have to walk together."
"Continue," Ji Wushang said calmly. "Does this old man from the snow mountain want some kind of rule? Does he want money or something else?"
"What's needed is sincerity," Gong Shu said. "I've heard that some people went up the mountain, but their sincerity wasn't enough. They searched the entire summit of the snow mountain but couldn't find the Snow Mountain Elder. On the other hand, some sincere people didn't spend a single coin, and the Snow Mountain Elder naturally came forward and immediately treated them!"
What a strange person! Ji Wushang frowned slightly. How could she be sincere? She couldn't make any big moves, otherwise, if someone discovered that she and Nan Xuzong were here, wouldn't that give them the opportunity to kill her and Nan Xuzong?
Are many people going up the mountain now?
"Not many, because only one or two people a year can beg the Snow Mountain Elder to save their lives. Nowadays, people's sincerity cannot move the Snow Mountain Elder, so the Snow Mountain Elder has not appeared for more than a year. But, what is certain is that he must be on the top of the Snow Mountain."
"Then why are there so many people in this town? If they're not here for medical treatment, why are they gathering here?"
"Because many patients come here seeking medical treatment, but because they cannot see the Snow Mountain Elder, they end up here, either waiting to die or just trying to survive. People with all sorts of purposes are here."
"In that case, prepare everything for me to climb the mountain. Cong and I will climb tomorrow when the wind is calmer." Ji Wushang looked at the wind outside. The wind was blowing quite hard, and the mountain path should be covered with snow... But no matter how difficult it is, he will definitely persevere!
How to be sincere? That's the most important question. But I believe I can definitely touch the heart of the old man in the snow-capped mountain!
Gong Shu agreed and withdrew.
Ji Wushang sat by Nan Xuzong's bedside, stroking his face as she looked at him. "I will take you to the summit of the snow-capped mountain. I will never leave you."
Ji Wushang smiled, cupped his face, and kissed his cold lips. If he hadn't been pressed against his chest and could hear his occasional heartbeat, Ji Wushang would have mistakenly thought that he had truly left him.
——
In an underground palace, a pale-faced man lay half-reclined on a kang (a heated brick bed), softly calling out, "Go, summon General Hao for me!"
"Your Majesty." Hao Yueyi rushed forward and knelt down. "Your Majesty, please give your orders!" He frowned as he spoke; was this the smell of rotting flesh? Was the King's illness that serious? How could the King possibly recover? The King had not appointed a Queen; the Western Regions needed an heir!
"How is the matter with the Snow Mountain Elder? Should I go up the mountain myself?" Yi Yun Shangcheng frowned slightly. He was in pain all over his body even if he moved. His heart was probably already starting to rot. Was he really about to die?
"Your Majesty, the five elders have already invited the Snow Mountain Elder down the mountain to fight him. You narrowly defeated him, so he agreed to treat you. However, Your Majesty still needs to go up the mountain. The Snow Mountain Elder's rules say that they cannot be broken."
"We'll go up the mountain tomorrow," Yi Yun said, waving him away. He had been in excruciating pain from drinking that day, but he never regretted it.
Hao Yueyi thought about going out, but hesitated for a moment. Yi Yun Shangcheng narrowed her eyes and said, "If you have something to say, just say it."
Hao Yueyi immediately said, "Your Majesty, I heard from the servants that a large merchant entered the town this morning, and it seems he is also going up the mountain to seek treatment. I wonder which country's nobleman he is. Should we investigate him thoroughly?" Out of loyalty to the Western Regions, Hao Yueyi was afraid that other nobles might infiltrate the Western Regions and do something that would harm the national interest.
Yiyun Shangcheng narrowed his eyes. These were wealthy merchants, and at this time... Could it be Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong? His men hadn't killed them; instead, they'd easily evaded him. It seemed highly likely they'd disguised themselves as merchants and infiltrated the border region! And what about Beigong Jueshi? He should be hunting them down. As a tool, his survival principle should be obeying his orders!
Something must have gone wrong!
"Keep a close eye on them. If it really is Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong, report to me immediately!" Yiyun Shangcheng sneered. "Kill Nan Xuzong, but don't harm Ji Wushang!"
"Uh..." Hao Yueyi frowned. He had only met Nan Xuzong once, but he had never met Ji Wushang! Moreover, what had happened between them?
"Wasn't I clear enough?" Yi Yun Shangcheng saw that he was a little dumbfounded and was displeased.
"This subordinate does not know what Ji Wushang looks like, Your Majesty..." Hao Yueyi knelt down to explain.
"Her beauty is unparalleled... her smile could topple cities and capture my heart... cough, cough!" Yi Yun Shangcheng coughed a few times suddenly from the pain, looking at Hao Yueyi before realizing her loss of composure, her eyes flashing with murderous intent. Hao Yueyi knew she had fallen in love with a married woman! Should this man be killed?
Hao Yueyi felt a chill run down his spine and immediately kowtowed, saying, "Your subject will go through fire and water to obey Your Majesty's will!"
Yiyun Shangcheng was supporting himself, trying to speak, but he felt a sharp pain surge up in his chest that he couldn't suppress, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood!
☆、239 Her sincerity is witnessed by heaven and earth! (Brilliant!)
Hao Yueyi was taken aback and immediately stepped forward to help Yiyun up the city wall. "Your Majesty!"
Yiyun Shangcheng was in excruciating pain, clutching his wound as blood gushed from his mouth. "It's nothing!" he cried, stubbornly insisting. Hao Yueyi immediately shouted to the people outside, "Someone! Quickly, get the witch doctor here!"
Yiyun Shangcheng lay on her back on the kang (a heated brick bed), her eyes closed. At that moment, she wondered if she should just die, since living was painful anyway. It wasn't easy to keep going like this.
The shaman entered and immediately began treating Yiyun Shangcheng. Then, the five elders entered and were horrified to see Yiyun Shangcheng's black robes stained with blood, making them appear strangely alluring! If he wasn't treated soon, he might follow the late king to his death!
Yiyun Shangcheng closed his eyes tightly, ignoring the pain in his chest, and said, "Go and keep an eye on the situation over there for me!"
"Yes!" Hao Yueyi immediately responded, turning his gaze to the five elders and the witch doctor. The witch doctor was giving Yiyun Shangcheng a simple diagnosis and then silently shook his head.
"Your Majesty, there is no time to lose. Why don't we go up the mountain now to seek medical help? Your illness really cannot be delayed any longer," Elder Jin said cautiously. Ever since his father was killed by his uncle and he was forced to wander in a foreign land, he has become a completely different person. Just now, he killed someone in a fit of rage... This made everyone tremble with fear.