The Beauties of the Cold Palace A Subtle and Alluring Woman

Chapter 28

Be his Xuanwu King. Control the world's medical clinics and pharmaceutical businesses, save the world, be a reincarnation of Hua Tuo, and a philanthropist.

I awoke in a daze, thinking I was long dead, yet I was awake. Was this a final burst of energy before death? Once awake, I realized that being unconscious was a good thing; I'd rather be unconscious than awake—it was too unbearable. My throat was dry, and I tried to speak but couldn't. My eyes were bloodshot, and my whole body felt burning hot, as if a thousand ants were devouring me. I suddenly remembered the movie *The Mummy*, where the priest who killed the pharaoh was subjected to the worm-eating torture—one of the cruelest punishments in ancient Egypt, used to punish those who committed treason. Now I have this illusion that I'm the one wrapped up in that ball, receiving the worms' bite.

In my hazy state, I kept feeling people moving around me, and there were many other figures. I lazily drifted off to sleep, not wanting to stay awake and suffer this inhuman torment. If this continued, I might peel off a layer of my skin.

But someone just wouldn't let me have peace of mind. "Master, Master, wake up, Master— Waaah, Master—" Xiao Quanzi's devilish voice echoed in my ears. I'm so tired. Don't bother me!

"Master, don't sleep, don't sleep—" the demonic voice persisted. I angrily opened my eyes, intending to yell at them, but the voice that came out was incredibly weak: "Little brat, don't bother me, it's so annoying." My voice was so weak that even I was startled. I smiled bitterly; there was no need to pretend now. I was so weak, a real sickly beauty had reappeared.

I lay there lazily, weakly asking again, "Am I still alive?"

“Yes, of course Master is still alive,” Xiao Quanzi said happily.

I stared in disbelief at the people dressed as imperial physicians swaying around me.

Xiao Quanzi said with tears in his eyes, "Master's breath is getting weaker and weaker, and he has been unconscious. So I went to fetch the imperial physician. It was a secret, and no one knows. Master, you don't need to worry. This imperial physician can be trusted."

"Can you believe it? How do you know about Xiao Quanzi?" I asked curiously.

He forced a smile, then lowered his head and said, "Xiao Quanzi lied to Master. Xiao Quanzi is from Jianxian Manor, the chief disciple of Jianxian. I was ordered to protect Master here for life. Master said that if Master is in trouble, he can go to that imperial physician. He is a man of Jianxian."

"Jianxian?!" I murmured. A sliver of clarity appeared in my previously muddled mind. For some reason, the old man's face, with its angelic smile and slightly irritating grin, suddenly flashed into my mind. It was that old man again. Tears welled up in my eyes. I closed them, took a deep breath, and when I opened them again, they were calm and still.

“Master, please don’t remain silent. I know I was wrong. I didn’t mean to deceive you. I just wanted to stay by your side for the rest of my life.”

"So that day was just a play you directed." I knew he knew I was referring to the day I rescued him from the Crown Prince's feet.

He nodded awkwardly and said, "Yes."

I closed my eyes and took a short rest. I was so tired, but a lingering warmth welled up inside me. Thank goodness, there was still the old man.

"Xiao Quanzi deserves to die, but this concerns your life and death, so please pull yourself together, Master. Your master is on his way. You must hold on!"

I waved my hand wearily: "It's no use." I remembered the old man saying there was a kind of poison in the world, colorless and odorless, harmless to ordinary people, but if ingested by someone with internal injuries, the poison would penetrate deep into their internal organs, leaving them incurable. No wonder Consort De dared to drink the medicine in front of me that day without any harm; it was because I had suffered internal injuries in my youth, and because I was disturbed during the last time I tried to expel the poison, my internal injuries relapsed. A series of interconnected events, truly ruthless! To kill me, they've even plotted against the Emperor.

I don't want to admit it, and I dare not even think about it, that the emperor is also using me? I don't want to think about it, and I don't wish to think about it.

I wanted some water, so I asked Xiao Quanzi to help me up. Only then did I take a good look at the imperial physician who had come to treat me. He had white hair and a gray beard, and looked very kind. But now his face was full of worry. He must be worried about my poison. I drank some water and finally felt better. But then I vomited a mouthful of foul blood, specks of which stained Xiao Quanzi's blue robe.

I gave Xiao Quanzi an apologetic smile, but Xiao Quanzi was already in tears. I looked at the kind old man and thanked him, saying, "Wei Ying, you've troubled me. Let's leave everything to fate."

He knelt down and said, "This old minister is useless. Please punish me, Your Majesty." His face was full of remorse.

Just then, I suddenly saw a familiar figure following behind the old doctor. The man was kneeling there, his face covered in tears, staring blankly at me, his eyes empty and lifeless.

"Chen Ningyuan, what are you doing here?" I hurriedly got up to see him, but then I coughed up another mouthful of blood. Xiao Quanzi took a handkerchief to wipe it for me, but blood kept gushing out.

Seeing that I was about to faint again, Chen Ningyuan, who had been in a daze, suddenly crawled over and said with tears in his eyes, "If Your Majesty is willing to believe me, I am willing to cure Your Majesty's poison."

I laughed, and blood bloomed on my lips like a bewitching flower, looking exceptionally beautiful. Everyone present was captivated.

I nodded and said firmly, "I believe you, I believe you." Then I finally collapsed and passed out.

I walked through a white pear orchard, everything was a blanket of white. I ran and ran, trying to find a way out, but I couldn't find any exit. Everything around me was the same—vast stretches of pear blossoms. Suddenly, I saw two familiar figures—my parents! I rushed after them, calling out, "Dad, Mom, save me! Help me go home! I want to go home!" But no matter how fast I ran, I couldn't catch up with them. They turned around, smiling gently at me. They were so close, yet I couldn't grasp them. I couldn't help but cry, but—they still didn't stop. Then, the patriarch, the First Madam, Huan Wen, my third brother, Sister Danyi, Brother Sima, Xiao Qi, Chen Anyuan—the faces of the old folks appeared before me one by one. I shouted for them to wait for me, to take me away, but they all ignored me and left. I was left alone in the vast, empty pear orchard, feeling sad and so lonely. I finally collapsed to the ground in despair, staring blankly into space.

They've all abandoned me. Nobody wants me anymore. I thought sadly.

Just die, just die. Anyway, nobody wants me, nobody cares about me.

But a voice in my subconscious was calling out: "Xiao Jin, Xiao Jin, where are you? Xiao Jin, don't give up—"

That voice sounds so familiar.

"Girl, girl, wake up. Wake up."

"Who is it?" I turned over and went back to sleep. "Don't bother me."

"Get up, you lazybones." A soft laugh came from behind.

Wait, I suddenly opened my eyes. Where am I? Heaven or hell?

I tried to get up, but found myself too weak and fell back onto the bed. It hurts!

It hurts, it still hurts. I'm fully awake; I'm not dead yet. Realizing this, a flicker of joy shot through me, and a smile involuntarily crept onto my face. I'm not dead! So, the King of Hell really wants me to wreak havoc on the world. Heh. I laughed.

"Slap!" I turned around and looked at the culprit who hit my forehead, only to see the old man looking at me with a worried expression.

"Girl, are you alright?" Seeing me smiling at him without answering, he muttered to himself, "Could I have been possessed by some kind of demon, or have I gone mad from the treatment? No way."

I slapped him back and yelled, "What are you saying, old man? Are you cursing me to become stupid?"

Seeing that I was alright, he finally smiled, a smile of breathtaking beauty, and I was unfortunately momentarily stunned. So beautiful.

But—I stroked his long beard tenderly, “You look haggard.” I knew he must have rushed over as soon as he received Xiao Quanzi’s message, and hadn’t slept for several nights, so naturally he looked haggard.

He took my hand. "It's alright. You get some rest. I'll go tell Xiao Quanzi you're awake. He's been crying all night worrying. And—" He looked at the group of Chen Ningyuan sitting there in a daze. He continued, "After confirming you're alright, he sat there like this all night. Try to comfort him."

I nodded: "Don't worry, I'll talk to him."

"Mmm." He hugged me again before leaving.

I sat up and found a comfortable position to lean back. After a long silence, I broke it: "You saved me again. I owe you again."

As if startled by my words, he abruptly turned to look at me, but his eyes were still blank.

"I believe in you, I've always believed in your medical skills. You can bring the dead back to life. Look, you've proven it again." I sincerely praised him.

Unexpectedly, he gave a bitter smile and said with shame, "It's me, it's my fault that you've ended up like this. I'm so sorry."

I asked in surprise, "What are you talking about?"

He looked up at me, his eyes bloodshot and filled with pain. "Why?" Before I could react, he continued, "Why did you go to the palace for me?"

I smiled faintly and said softly, "I've said it before, that's something I owe you. I should repay it. Now that you've saved my life, I owe you again."

“You don’t owe me anything, I’m the one who’s sorry.” He suddenly knelt down, sobbing uncontrollably, “I lied to you, I’m the one who’s sorry, I’ve hurt you like this. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

"Don't do this." I tried to get out of bed to help him, but unfortunately, I was in so much pain that I couldn't move.

"By the way, if you're not with your second sister, why are you working in the palace?"

"I—" He seemed to have made a great decision before saying, "I lied to you. I was in love with your second sister, but she never loved me. I never even dared to hope for it. But one day, she suddenly came to me, kneeling on the ground and begging me to help her. She had fallen in love with Su Xunnan, the Fifth Prince of Jiankang, and they had even been intimate. However, your father insisted that she enter the palace as a concubine. She refused. Firstly, she didn't want to be separated from her lover, and secondly, she feared that not being a virgin would bring unnecessary trouble. She heard from somewhere that you owed me, and that as long as I..." "Help me act out a scene with her, and you'll definitely go to the palace in her place." I didn't think much of it at the time. Seeing the woman I loved kneeling on the ground, sobbing and begging me, I lost my mind and agreed. I never expected you would actually go to the palace in her place. After you went to the palace, I felt guilty and couldn't eat or sleep. The Xie family wouldn't allow me to enter their residence either. I wanted to see how you were doing, so I went to the palace as an ordinary medical apprentice. I never expected, I never expected you to be doing so badly here. It's all my fault, it's all my fault. Fourth Miss, An Yuan is at your mercy here. Kill him or torture him, I will have no objection."

I stood there for a while, then calmly said, "Second Sister is right. I do owe you. Do you remember saving a boy on the verge of death three years ago? That boy was me. It's not your fault, nor is it Second Sister's. You were just pawns." Xie Yushi, for your own benefit, you actually schemed against your daughters, using them without leaving them with anything. You are so ruthless.

How could my second sister know that Chen Anyuan had saved me? He must have already known that my second sister had lost her virginity, and after scheming to let her know, he went to Chen Anyuan, leaving me with no way out and making me willingly go to the palace in my second sister's place.

It turns out that the letter that made Second Sister so happy was written by Su Xunnan. That playboy had actually toyed with Second Sister's feelings. He clearly loved Sister Danyi, and had knelt at the gate of Yichun Garden several times, just to see her once. But unexpectedly, Second Sister had been bewitched by him.

Looking at him kneeling on the ground, feeling guilty and wanting to die, I suddenly sighed, struggled to get up, went to a dark room, took out something I had kept for a long time, and said to Chen Ningyuan kneeling on the ground, "Are you willing to follow me for the rest of your life?"

He trembled, and finally said firmly, "I do."

"Then, take this to thank you for saving my life. In this life, neither of us owes the other anything. If you're willing to come with me, I'll give you the life you want, even a thousand times better. There won't be the slightest bit of coercion. However, from now on, you will no longer be yourself." I tossed the jade seal to him and said coldly.

He took it and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

I said calmly, "Take it. From now on, this is your status. Chen Anyuan has disappeared from this world. Your name is Qingci, and you are the Xuanwu King of 'Jin Shao'."

Volume 2, Chapter 50: Mirage

"Your Majesty, a palace maid from Consort Xie's palace has come to report that she has been feeling unwell these past few days and is unable to serve you in bed."

Upon hearing this, Sima Rui sneered, "It's been a month, and her body really is 'uncomfortable'." He finished speaking through gritted teeth. Gao Lu, standing to the side, was already sweating bullets for that arrogant woman.

It seemed that the utterly useless fourth young lady was unlikely to fulfill his master's expectations. He couldn't understand his master's meaning at all. From the very beginning, that good-for-nothing young master had completely disregarded his master's orders. Gao Lu subconsciously clenched his fists. Should he tell her the truth? His master had said he would remain silent, but judging from the current situation, if things continued like this, his master's position in the court would certainly be in jeopardy…

"You may leave," came the emperor's icy voice.

Gao Lu shivered and respectfully took his leave.

"Chen Wen".

A shadow flashed in the dark corner and instantly knelt before him: "Master."

"Has the matter been clarified?"

“Consort De does indeed have something going on with him. There’s nothing suspicious about Consort Jieyu. She’s been keeping to herself lately and rarely interacts with others, not even her aunt. But—” Chen Wen took out a scroll and handed it to Sima Rui: “This is something I intercepted by chance.”

Sima Rui stared at the scroll in his hand, his gaze slowly turning cold. He had thought that Consort De's poisoning attempt would uncover something, but she was unharmed! They were indeed in cahoots, but why didn't she use this opportunity to put on a show, instead—

Sima Rui frowned; this was the only point he hadn't understood for the past month.

That old fox, I wonder what kind of scheme he's setting up.

"You may leave. Everything can be done discreetly. There's no need to alert them."

Chen Wen was about to leave when Sima Rui suddenly asked in a low voice, "Is there still no news from him?"

"Your subordinate is incompetent. Junjin Manor seems to have already detected the existence of the secret door and has kept it well sealed. Moreover, in this world, apart from the Vermilion Bird King, no one knows what Young Master Jin looks like. Your subordinate cannot be sure if Young Master Jin is him. Please forgive me, Master."

Sima Rui waved his hand wearily, "You may leave. I am going to 'Yijin Pavilion'." A cold glint suddenly flashed in his eyes, "Trespassers will be killed without mercy."

Chen Wen, without suspicion, respectfully withdrew. Ever since Young Master Jin disappeared, every time the sect leader heard any news about him, he would go to the Yi Jin Pavilion to drown his sorrows. He would stay there for an entire day. No one knew what was inside the Yi Jin Pavilion, because everyone who had gone in and seen it was dead, all killed by the sect leader's sword. Every time the sect leader, covered in blood and dragging a corpse, walked back and forth expressionlessly, Chen Wen felt a chill run through him, almost paralyzing him. That cold, ashen expression was enough to keep Chen Wen awake for days; every time he closed his eyes, he would see those lifeless eyes.

Chen Wen gazed at the sky he hadn't seen in a long time. Those within the Dark Gate were forbidden from seeing the light of day, hiding in the shadows. Anyone, regardless of their identity, could be a member of the Dark Gate. The Dark Gate had always maintained a low profile, lurking within the fabric of the world. However, unexpectedly, this time, in order to find that Young Master Jin, the Gate Master had defied the Dark Gate's principles and mobilized its forces on a large scale, gradually making the world aware of the Dark Gate's existence. He wondered, just what kind of person was this Young Master Jin, that the Gate Master couldn't forget him?

Sima Rui stared dejectedly at the wall covered in his own image, muttering, "Xiao Jin, where are you?"

As long as it doesn't involve An Jin, Sima Rui uses everyone. Just like back then, if it weren't for Xiao Jin, he would have already taken over the power in Dan Yi's hands. How could it have developed so rapidly and ended up being controlled by someone else?

Just like Xie Weiying, the thought of her sent a shiver down Sima Rui's spine, but it was quickly masked by cruelty. That woman—he had thought he could use her to uncover the power of the Xie family and Consort De in the palace, and then eliminate them after she was poisoned. But she hadn't died, and remained silent. Everyone in the palace only knew she was always frail. At first, even he was almost fooled. Gradually, he realized she was a pawn sent by the old fox. For some reason, Sima Rui initially had a glimmer of hope that she was uninvolved. He thought that if she was truly poisoned, she would cure her, proving she wasn't on their side. But her poison was cured! All that trust he had shown her was for naught!

This letter says it all! She lied to him from beginning to end!

During this month of recuperation, I've focused entirely on my comic creation, working tirelessly day and night, drawing and organizing, and time always seems to drag on. Actually, I'm not in such a rush; it's just that being busy helps me stop thinking so much!

I had Gao Lu arrange a position for Chen Anyuan as a royal physician, making him my personal physician. During his time in the palace, he focused on treating the remaining toxins in my body and completely curing my old ailment to prevent any unnecessary harm. He also concealed his medical skills to avoid arousing suspicion.

I told him, "In Junjin, you can do whatever you love and save the world; this is compensation for you." Those clinics had been preparing for years, and now they serve as his gift, a gift to join the Junjin family. Anyway, he'd left the Xie family and had nowhere to go. I've taken in these homeless people; like me, from now on, Junjin will be their home.

This month, I stayed indoors and repeatedly declined the Emperor's invitations to sleep with me. I knew he would be angry and suspicious, but I was unwilling to face the person who had used me so thoroughly, even at the cost of my life.

It was night. Just as I was about to take a bath and get a good night's sleep, a figure suddenly flashed out from behind the screen and appeared in front of me.

I was startled, but quickly calmed down. This Gao Lu always did this kind of thing. I patted my chest lightly and said, "What are you doing? Don't you know that scaring someone can be deadly?"

Gao Lu's expression remained unchanged as he respectfully said, "Young Master." He then handed me a secret letter.

I took it, glanced at it indifferently, and said to him, "You can leave now. I'm going to take a bath."

“Young Master,” I turned to look at him in response. It was rare for him to hesitate for a moment, but he quickly made up his mind and said, “Young Master can’t go on like this.”

I looked at him, signaling him to continue.

"Young Master has failed to appreciate Master's good intentions," he said coldly.

I snorted coldly. If it weren't for the old saying that he should listen to me, he probably wouldn't be so respectful to me.