Turning around, he saw Tuoba Heyan standing at the threshold. "Have the imperial physician take a look," he said, his deep, pleasant voice twitching slightly.
"Yes!" Long Yu immediately turned around. "You palace maid, come with me at once!"
"Yes." Hongfei bowed to Tuoba Heyan, then hurriedly followed Long Yu to find the imperial physician.
Tuoba Heyan stood with his hands behind his back, his mind replaying the conversation and actions he had witnessed between the mother and son the previous night. His eyes darkened, and he disappeared into the night.
It seems I once longed for such a lovely and sensible child. But that feeling doesn't quite feel real.
Ji Wushang was covered in sweat. He changed Huangfu Junan's clothes and had the palace maids standing to the side change the sheets and clean the bed.
She had just changed her clothes when she immediately hugged Huangfu Jun'an and comforted him, "Nianlang, are you feeling better?"
"Hmm, much better, phew." Huangfu Jun'an looked at Ji Wushang with a smile in his eyes. Ji Wushang patted his head. "If the imperial physicians come later, you must cooperate well and let them examine you. My medical skills are not good enough... I'm very sorry, Nianlang."
"Mommy, don't apologize, don't apologize!" The crisp voice was so sweet. Huangfu Jun'an nuzzled Ji Wushang's neck, then snuggled into Ji Wushang's arms. "Mommy, be good, be good..."
Ji Wushang smiled and said, "It's been so long since you came, I guess you won't come... Hehe, Nianlang, go to sleep! When you wake up, all the pain will be gone, and your mother will put you to sleep."
"Um."
Ji Wushang sighed, then gently held Huangfu Jun'an, humming softly to lull him to sleep.
Her brows furrowed tightly. Huangfu Jun'an's illness was flaring up too frequently; she needed to get the Miluoxiang (a type of incense) to treat him first. However, the old books she had read last night mentioned that the Miluoxiang was located in Tuoba Heyan's palace, Xiuxun Palace, but she didn't know its exact location.
Was it destined that he would have to approach him himself? Ji Wushang wondered whether he should sneak into his palace to search for him, or ask some daring palace maids to pick him up.
The only inscription on that pearl across the sea reads "Treasure of the State of Qing Dynasty," with nothing else.
The fact that there is no record of anything about Tuoba Heyan in the books that record the rulers and famous ministers of past dynasties is quite strange.
We must ask those palace maids first. Also, why is she wearing a golden mask? It's really puzzling!
Ji Wushang watched Huangfu Jun'an fall asleep before placing him in the brocade quilt, lowering the gauze curtain, and then leaving.
At this moment, Ji Wushang saw a palace maid cleaning in the outer room. This was supposedly a palace maid bestowed upon him by Tuoba Heyan. Ji Wushang coughed lightly.
"Your Highness." Although Ji Wushang had been married off for political reasons, Tuoba Heyan had not officially made her a concubine. Therefore, the palace maids still addressed Ji Wushang as Princess.
"I want to ask you some questions." Ji Wushang beckoned her closer.
The young palace maid nodded timidly, "Please ask your question, Your Highness." Upon stepping forward and seeing that Ji Wushang wasn't wearing a veil, she was overjoyed, "Princess, you are so beautiful!"
“Um…” Ji Wushang had a slight headache. “I want to ask you, why is the king wearing a golden mask?” Ji Wushang asked at this moment, but he didn’t notice at all that the pair of black dragon boots outside the palace had suddenly stopped.
"Your Highness, you may not know this, but please don't tell anyone else!"
"must."
"Your Majesty is more beautiful than a god, yet extremely gentle. Feeling that he lacks majesty, Your Majesty commissioned a mask made of gold to wear on your face in order to awe the world," a young palace maid whispered as she approached.
Ji Wushang was taken aback. "In that case, if someone were to impersonate the King, wouldn't wearing a golden mask solve the problem?"
The figure outside the door paused slightly.
“Your worries are unnecessary. Everyone has seen the King before, except… the Princess and others who came later have not seen him.”
Why?
"Your Majesty did not wear the mask before you were twenty and you took power. You only started wearing the mask in the last six years, so you cannot know this."
"Hmm." Ji Wushang nodded, meaning he wouldn't have the chance to witness Tuoba Heyan's true colors.
"But Your Highness, don't be discouraged!"
Ji Wushang rolled her eyes at her. Why was she so disheartened? If she couldn't see him, she couldn't see him! Did she really have to go and see Tuoba Heyan's true face? What a joke! But the little palace maid didn't see Ji Wushang's look and continued, "Every year on the night of the fifteenth of June, when the moon is full and the Fanna River begins to rise, the King will personally remove his golden mask and perform a sacrifice on the open-air execution platform to pray that our Qingzhao will have fertile soil and a bountiful harvest!"
The Fanna River is a major river that runs through the entire Qingzhao Plateau. Whenever the river floods, it brings abundant water and fertile soil. Therefore, the people of Qingzhao also call the Fanna River their mother river.
Ji Wushang's expression changed. June 15th, his own birthday! Ji Wushang was momentarily lost in thought. Cong was gone, and no one would remember this birthday.
"Then why can't I find the king's portrait and written records in some paintings and calligraphy?" Ji Wushang quickly regained his composure.
"That's because the king didn't like people talking about his beauty, so he ordered that no one could paint his portrait, and that any portraits that had been painted should be destroyed. As for writing, he disliked it even more, so he erased it all."
This person's way of doing things is really quite unique!
Ji Wushang nodded and smiled, "Okay, thank you!"
The little palace maid was startled. This princess was so approachable; she actually thanked her!
"Let me tell you again, the King wasn't like this before," the little palace maid said, pulling Ji Wushang back as he was about to leave.
Ji Wushang sat down again. "How was it?"
The person outside the door had narrowed their dark eyes. They were curious to know how these people were talking about them! How could they be discussing them like this! And Ji Wushang was actually inquiring about them? Well, her goal was becoming clearer!
So you're going to do something to yourself now?
"More than two years ago, Your Majesty led your troops to attack the Western Regions. However, around the end of October, one day, Your Majesty suffered a heart attack and fell from your horse into a deep pool, nearly losing your life! Fortunately, Heaven protected me, Your Majesty, and Your Majesty is safe and sound. However, after waking up, Your Majesty is a little different from before."
"How is it different?" Ji Wushang looked at her and immediately asked.
"I heard from the people in the palace that the King hasn't summoned his concubines to his bedchamber for the past two or three months," the young palace maid said, resting her chin on her hand. "The princess is so beautiful..."
"Stop." Ji Wushang glared at her, annoyed. What business was it of his that Tuoba Heyan's private affairs?
The doorman outside was blowing air from his nostrils!
The young palace maid looked at her in confusion, but Ji Wushang immediately said, "I'd like to ask, when the King fell while wearing a mask and landed in the deep pool, was the mask removed?"
"Of course it was taken off!" The little palace maid was quite playful and cute. Seeing that Ji Wushang didn't seem to blame her, she said, "It fell into the deep pool. Lord Long dived down to the bottom and pulled it out."
"Oh, so that means everyone saw his face back then?"
"Your Highness is very concerned about the King's appearance, isn't she?" The little palace maid thought that Ji Wushang had fallen in love with Tuoba Heyan, so she spoke with a slightly ambiguous tone.
Ji Wushang suppressed her disgust; she wanted nothing more than to have any excessive contact with any other man besides Nan Xuzong! "Just curious, nothing more!" Ji Wushang said, making an excuse. Her mind, however, was elsewhere; a man wearing a mask was usually up to no good!
At this point, Ji Wushang's eyes turned slightly cold. "Why is his heart palpitating?"
"This servant doesn't know either," the maid said, bowing her head.
"Then I'd like to ask you, have you ever heard of Yuehai Pearl?"
"That is our Qingzhao's national treasure!" the young palace maid said with great pride.
So she was after the Pearl of the Sea? Tuoba Heyan's eyes turned cold, and his aura of dominance began to emanate.
"Do you know where the Pearl of the Sea is?"
"I don't know," the palace maid shook her head.
"Then what else do you know?" Ji Wushang was truly deflated; she said she didn't know the crucial point!
"I don't know. That's all I know."
"Think again, is there anything else?"
The palace maid shook her head, then looked at Ji Wushang and immediately added, "Oh, right, Princess, you must keep this a secret!"
"Okay." Ji Wushang nodded. "Then you can go down now. I need to rest."
Ji Wushang turned around to go into the room, but then he heard the sound of the little palace maid kneeling on the ground!
"This servant greets Your Majesty! Long live the King!" The little palace maid knelt there, trembling, her voice shaking.
Ji Wushang was startled and immediately turned his head!
---
...
☆, Chapter 303: Tuoba Heyan and Huangfu Jun'an! (Excellent!)
Damn it, did he overhear my conversation with that little palace maid? And why did he suddenly come to my Mi Luo Palace!
Ji Wushang immediately put on the veil beside him, turned around and bowed, "Wushang greets Your Majesty!"
"Please rise, Princess." Tuoba Heyan's eyes turned slightly cold. He waved his hand, immediately dismissing the palace maid. He glanced at Ji Wushang, who was bowing her head. "I heard that the Princess brought a son with her. What, don't you plan to bring him out for me to see?"
"This..." Damn it, what is he thinking! Making me bring Huangfu Jun'an out for him to see? And why did he suddenly come here!
"My son has just fallen asleep. Please forgive Wu Shang, Your Majesty, for the sake of my son's young age." Ji Wu Shang meant that he had arrived late today and that Huangfu Jun'an was already asleep, so could he please not disturb him?
Tuoba Heyan glanced coldly at Ji Wushang, "Then, I will go in and take a look!"
"You, you can't!" Ji Wushang was determined not to let anyone harm Huangfu Jun'an! His purpose was unclear, so he wouldn't let him see it!
"Princess Wushang, are you blocking my way?" Tuoba Heyan stepped forward, glaring angrily at Ji Wushang, his whole body exuding murderous intent!
Ji Wushang suddenly froze, her gaze coldly fixed on Tuoba Heyan, and she said, word by word, "If Nianlang suffers even the slightest mishap, whoever it may be, I swear to take his life for the evil spirit!" Yes, she wanted to make her stance clear, otherwise, he wouldn't know her bottom line!
Upon hearing this, Tuoba Heyan's lips curled up. "Good! So this is what Princess Wushang was worried about!"
Ji Wushang glared at him angrily, "Wushang humbly requests Your Majesty to move elsewhere!" He simply didn't welcome him! Get as far away as possible!
"I came to see Nianlang about his illness, is that not allowed?" Tuoba Heyan stepped forward, his gaze deep and cold. Ji Wushang was somewhat intimidated by his aura, and since no other strange man had approached her for so long, she couldn't help but take a step back. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but Nianlang has already fallen asleep peacefully!"
"Sleep down? I can go and take a look too!" Tuoba Heyan stared intently at her, noticing every expression on her face—panic, worry, and fear!
Those were eyes brimming with a myriad of emotions, eyes of unparalleled beauty, so clear and pure.
Ji Wushang looked at the man in front of her with resentment. She knew her situation and that she couldn't stop him, but she was worried that he would hurt Huangfu Jun'an!
"Your Highness is a princess sent for a political marriage, and you, Princess Wushang, are also my woman. And shouldn't the son you brought be my son? As a father, go and see your son, Princess Wushang. Do you have any objections?" Tuoba Heyan said slowly. He stared at Ji Wushang's face, which was red and white in turns. He felt a little strange, as if he had seen such a face and such an expression before.
He was a little puzzled, but he quickly suppressed it with other emotions.
It's quite interesting how she put on a brave face. She's a woman who looks delicate on the outside and is actually very delicate on the inside, yet she's forcing herself to be strong and pretending to be tough!
Ji Wushang was glaring at him angrily. Her only man was Nan Xuzong!
"Since Princess Wushang cannot refute this, then I shall go in and see my son!" Tuoba Heyan pronounced the words "my son" with perfect fluency!
Ji Wushang tried to put her arm around him, but Tuoba Heyan was incredibly fast and had already entered the inner room! Ji Wushang glared at Tuoba Heyan with resentment, having already pulled out several poisons from his hand. If he dared to do anything to harm Huangfu Jun'an, she would definitely not let him off!
I'd rather die with him!
Tuoba Heyan looked at Huangfu Jun'an, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, and stepped forward. Ji Wushang immediately followed, afraid that he would hurt Huangfu Jun'an at any moment.
Tuoba Heyan sat down, intending to lift Huangfu Jun'an's brocade quilt, but Ji Wushang stepped forward and covered the quilt, "What do you want to do?!"
"Check on his condition. Is his name Nianlang?" He looked at Ji Wushang with amusement. "Nianlang, is he thinking of your deceased husband?"