Le Premier ministre stupéfiant

Chapitre 72

“There should be. When I was young, I went to the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons with our master. At that time, my cultivation was still shallow, and my master did not allow me to enter the valley. I remember that my master could not withstand the poisonous fog that had accumulated in the valley for many years. He was sick for a whole month when he came out.” The master recalled the past with a serious expression. “I remember that the first thing my master said when he woke up was that the successor of the Poison King had reappeared. I don’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.”

"Northwest, do you still remember what happened after you were poisoned by Blood Sea Fragrance?" Master looked at Mo Northwest with a serious expression.

"There was a legendary doctor in the capital named Liu Haiyang. Back then, he was the only one who had come into contact with the blood of the blood people." Mo Xibei was still immersed in the story his master had just told him, and couldn't help but ask, "Is the Murong family of Jiangnan related to the current Murong Songtao?"

"Probably not. I heard from my master that the Murong family of Jiangnan only had one son, Murong Changfeng. He died less than a year after his marriage because of his wife's death, leaving no offspring. Besides, I've also heard that when Murong Songtao fought you, he claimed to be from Japan. Now the whole martial arts world knows about it." The master shook his head, puzzled that Mo Xibei suddenly thought of something from so long ago. Then he thought of Liu Haiyang, "What kind of person is this Liu Haiyang?"

"He looks ordinary, with normal facial features and height, just like an ordinary doctor." Mo Xibei smiled and tugged at his master's sleeve, saying, "Master, I want to eat your roasted pheasant."

"You child, you really are..." The master was originally very troubled, but Mo Xibei's coquettish words made him feel much better.

"Your master just arrived, and this child, all he knows is food." Seeing that Mo Xibei was no longer as resistant to her as she had been a few days ago, and hadn't pressed her about where her people were being held, Empress Dowager Jiang relaxed. She quickly went out to instruct people to prepare a meal. Tickets…

Volume Two: The Wind Leaves a Trace, Chapter Twenty: Poison (Part Two)

"Master will ask his friends in the martial arts world to help find this Liu Haiyang. As long as he is still alive, we will definitely be able to find him." After seeing Empress Dowager Jiang walk away, Master said softly but firmly to Mo Xibei.

"Life and death are preordained, and wealth and honor are determined by fate. I don't think there's any need to force things. However, there are indeed some things I need to ask my master for help with." Mo Xibei smiled. "I would like to ask my master for a favor."

Several days passed before she saw Murong Lianyun again. Her master had been busy searching for an antidote. Mo Xibei had returned to her residence several times at night; the marks she had left in the shadows remained, but no one responded. She wandered around at night and spent her days catching up on sleep on her soft bed. So when Fu'er came in to report that Consort Chu had come to see her, Mo Xibei, still half-asleep, almost blurted out, "I don't know her, I won't see her." Fortunately, before she could even open her mouth, she yawned, and Fu'er said, "This Consort Chu is the very lady who was recently bestowed the title of Empress in the palace."

Compared to when they parted last time, Murong Lianyun had clearly changed. Her belly was now protruding, but her face was noticeably thinner, making her appear even smaller. Her large eyes were pitiful and charming.

"I heard that Your Highness was ill. I should have come to visit you sooner, but I was afraid of disturbing your rest." Murong Lianyun helped the palace maid to sit on a sturdy chair in front of the bed, waved away the servants, and then smiled as she spoke, "Have you been feeling any better these past few days?"

"Thank you, you're still alive. How does it feel to have your wish fulfilled?" Mo Xibei smiled lazily, shifted on the bed, and leaned against Luo Qi's two pillows in a comfortable position.

“The blessed don’t need to rush, while the unfortunate run themselves ragged. The Northwest, I’m truly speechless. You can’t deny fate, no matter how hard you try.” Murong Lianyun chuckled self-deprecatingly. “I thought you’d ask me how I became Consort Chu.”

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but it's someone else's business. I don't care." Mo Xibei blinked, looking completely innocent.

"Others," Murong Lianyun murmured, repeating the word as if trying to savor it. After a long pause, she finally laughed. "I love the word 'others.' In this world, everyone except yourself is 'others.' Northwest, you know what I used to hate most about you? It was how you always meddle in other people's business. You wanted to care about their lives, their joys and sorrows. Some people saw you as righteous and benevolent, but I knew it was because you were selfish. You didn't want to have any regrets in the future, so you wanted to interfere in everything. Now you talk about 'others.' Haha… Good, good. It's best if you don't care about other people's affairs." "Think what you want. If you think I was wrong about the past, then I was wrong. I just want to say, be more forgiving of yourself, and you'll find that this world is still vast and boundless." Mo Northwest sighed, his smile fading. He didn't want to talk anymore, so he called out loudly for Fu'er to bring tea. Bringing tea meant seeing the guest off.

"Don't rush to send me away. I've come to tell you something." Murong Lianyun stood up. "You've naturally heard about the treasure. I've come to tell you that the Emperor is very interested in the treasure and has secretly issued an edict to have the Eastern Depot and Chu... my elder brother search for it according to the map."

"Money is just an external thing, what does treasure have to do with me?" Mo Xibei frowned, looking at Murong Lianyun's cheeks, which were flushed with excitement, and her eyes, which were sparkling.

"I told the Emperor that besides gold, silver, and the Imperial Seal, the treasure also contains a martial arts manual. The martial arts recorded within are unparalleled in the world, capable of not only dominating the martial arts world but also cleansing the marrow and expelling all poisons." Murong Lianyun laughed and whispered in Mo Xibei's ear, "Oh, I forgot, I also told the Emperor that, according to legend, this treasure requires a unique method to open: to use the most precious blood in the world to smear the key."

“This… I still don’t think it has anything to do with me.” Mo Xibei stared intently at Murong Lianyun, trying to see something in her eyes, but all he saw was an almost maniacal laugh.

"Is that so? I don't think so," Murong Lianyun laughed, her voice clear and melodious. "The Emperor has already summoned Huang Jin, and naturally he told Huang Jin about your poisoning. I remember that Mu Feinan first appeared with Huang Jin. Do you think he now knows about your poison and wants to open the treasure to find the secret manual to cure it? Do you think he will follow along to find the treasure?"

"Lianyun, tell me, what do you want? What do you want to do?" Mo Xibei had a very bad feeling. Just as Murong Lianyun was about to reach the door, he turned around and blocked the doorway.

“I don’t want to do anything. I’m just telling you the facts. The Emperor will likely open the treasure himself because he has the most noble bloodline in the world. Oh, I forgot, you have it too.” Murong Lianyun said, then chuckled softly. “This treasure is full of traps and hidden weapons. Especially when the treasure is opened, no one knows what will happen.”

"You're insane, Murong Lianyun, you're insane!" Mo Xibei took a step back, looking at the woman in front of him with a chill in his heart.

"I'm more clear-headed than anyone else." Murong Lianyun stopped smiling, snorted coldly, and walked past Mo Xibei as Fu'er appeared at the door with tea in hand, head held high, and went out.

Because the treasure map was drawn so accurately, it didn't take long before the Eastern Depot sent word that they had found the entrance to the underground palace and requested the Emperor's judgment.

The Imperial Seal of the State had been lost for many years, and the Jiajing Emperor was naturally unwilling to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He immediately prepared to go there, smear the key with his own blood, and open the door to the treasure palace.

"Since ancient times, wise rulers have never taken advantage of dangers. I understand the Emperor's desire to retrieve the Imperial Seal, but legend has it that the entrance to the treasure is fraught with traps. If you go there and something happens, I will ask you where you intend to put the ancestral temples and the state." Empress Dowager Jiang naturally refused. The Emperor, who ruled with filial piety, hesitated when he saw the Empress Dowager's firm refusal.

“Her Highness the Princess is also of imperial blood, sharing the same mother as His Majesty. It is conceivable that she possesses the most noble bloodline in the world,” Murong Lianyun, now Consort Chu, added, kneeling outside the Empress Dowager’s palace.

"You vile woman, do you even have a place to speak here? What do you mean by saying Jia'er's bloodline is noble? You know it's dangerous there, yet you still incite the Emperor. What are you really up to?" Empress Dowager Jiang was furious and slammed her hand on the table.

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By the way, this article will likely continue to be updated during the Spring Festival. That's the good thing about holidays—you can sleep in late! So blissful...

Volume Two: Traces Left by the Wind, Chapter Twenty: Poison (Part Three)

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"Your Majesty, I dare not. I merely wish to share your burdens." Murong Lianyun kowtowed repeatedly. "Your Majesty and I have always been on very good terms. I was very worried when I heard that Your Majesty was poisoned. Suddenly, I remembered that I had heard that the treasure trove contained not only gold and silver jewels and the Imperial Seal, but also a martial arts manual that could cure all poisons. I thought that Your Majesty's poisoning should not be delayed any longer. If I went in place of Your Majesty this time, with Your Majesty's martial arts skills, we could not only successfully retrieve the Imperial Seal, but also obtain the manual as soon as possible to cure the poison in your body, killing two birds with one stone. I am unsophisticated, and this was the only method I could think of at the moment. If I have said anything wrong, please forgive me, Your Majesty and Empress Dowager."

"I'll say it again, this is no place for you to speak. Go back to where you came from." Empress Dowager Jiang's face was gloomy. She snorted and turned her head away, no longer looking at her. Murong Lianyun covered her cheeks with a handkerchief, as if wiping away tears, but stole a glance at the Emperor. Emperor Jiaqing's face was equally serious. After feeling her gaze, he frowned slightly and moved his fingers gently, signaling her to leave.

Murong Lianyun then respectfully kowtowed, rose, and withdrew from the hall. The sun outside was bright and shining; it was already midsummer. She couldn't help but shield her eyes from the direct sunlight. The palace maids who had been attending her had been standing outside the hall, their faces slightly flushed from the sun, with beads of sweat on their foreheads. Yet, on such a hot day, she only felt cold, a heavy chill surging from her internal organs in waves.

"Emperor, are you also planning to send your own sister on a dangerous mission?" Empress Dowager Jiang's voice was weak and weary inside the palace.

"I do not intend to let my sister take the risk. On the contrary, I intend to go myself." Emperor Jiaqing stood up. "The Imperial Seal is of paramount importance. I am ordained by Heaven to possess this seal. As for mechanisms and hidden weapons, they are hundreds of years old and have long since decayed. What do I have to fear?"

"Emperor, you—" Upon hearing her son's words, Empress Dowager Jiang felt a surge of anger rush to her head, and her vision blurred. If she hadn't been seated in a chair, she would likely have collapsed to the ground. "The story of this treasure has been passed down for hundreds of years. In those hundreds of years, countless people have rushed forward, only to fall into traps and never return alive. If you insist on going, fine, then just strangle your mother. That way, if something happens to you, your mother won't have the face to face your deceased father." With that, she staggered to her feet, tears streaming down her face.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager was truly angry, the Jiajing Emperor, who was acting as his "mother," quickly stepped forward to support her. However, Empress Dowager Jiang pushed him away.

“I say, let me go and see what’s going on. I’ve been through a lot for this treasure, so one more won’t hurt.” A clear voice came from the entrance of the palace. The mother and son turned around at the same time and saw Mo Xibei standing there. He was dressed in a sky-blue dress, his hair was casually tied up with only a jade hairpin, and his skirt and wide sleeves hung down gently. He looked as refreshing as a light rain and breeze in the middle of summer.

"Child, what did you say?" Empress Dowager Jiang asked hesitantly, not quite believing her ears.

“Oh, I see, you’re right. His Majesty is responsible for the well-being of all people; it would be inappropriate for him to risk his life. Perhaps I should go instead. My master also told me that, according to legend, the martial arts manual in the treasure trove can cure all poisons if mastered. I am indeed a bit impatient. There are many things in this mortal world worth cherishing.” Mo Xibei smiled heartily, his expression as relaxed as if he were discussing the weather or what to eat for dinner. “So, I’ll go. Consort Chu was right when she said that I’m quite skilled. Even if I can’t crack the traps, my escape skills are not bad.”

"This is no joke. Are you really sure?" The Jiajing Emperor frowned and paced back and forth in the hall. "It's still not right. You've just returned to the palace. You've suffered a lot outside over the years. How can your brother let you take such a big risk for us as soon as you get back?"

“I think you’ve misunderstood. I, Mo Xibei, have always acted only for myself. If it weren’t for the fact that the poison I’m afflicted with is truly incurable, and I happen to not want to die, I wouldn’t have bothered to search for any treasure. I think this way, and you all think the same way, that’s good.” Mo Xibei yawned. “It’s settled then. I’m going back to take a nap. I’ll set off tomorrow morning. Prepare two sets of light clothes for me, men’s clothing is fine too, a fast horse, and some silver. Oh, and I want to eat white jade pastries, so prepare some for the journey.” After giving these instructions, Mo Xibei turned around, took two steps, then turned back and said to the emperor, “Your Majesty, don’t forget to tell me which direction to go.”

The treasure was located in a place called Zilang Mountain. Following the map, Mo Xibei rode swiftly, arriving more than ten days later. Looking at the mountain from afar, its shape resembled a wolf, and its rocks were purple, making the name Zilang quite fitting. Zilang Mountain wasn't high, nor was its terrain particularly steep; only one side bordered the Yangtze River, where the river nearly flowed into the sea, its rapid currents adding a sense of ruggedness to the otherwise beautiful scenery.

Mo Xibei entered the mountains, not in a hurry to find Huang Jin and the others. Instead, he hired a local guide and explored the area. There were many scenic spots and historical sites to visit in the mountains, but there were few people around. After walking for a long time, the only sound he could hear was the guide's voice.

"Is it the busy farming season now? Why are there no tourists in the mountains, not even woodcutters?" Mo Xibei wondered after walking for a while.