But later, everything spiraled out of control.
His Martial Uncle approached him with the proposal of refining medicinal boys from the Empress's flesh and blood. He accepted, and they began refining the medicinal boys behind their master's back.
"So Feng Quan and Gouzi were both successful vessels, is that right?"
As Poison Elder recounted, Ji Jinmo understood the significance of Feng Quan and Gouzi to Medicine Venerable and Poison Elder. The story unfolded chronologically. Initially, the old master of Medicine King Valley believed it was his junior brother who was refining the medicinal boys. They had a fierce argument, and the old master accidentally sent their junior sister, Sui Qing, who had followed them, tumbling down a cliff.
Medicine Venerable and the old master fell out, and Medicine Venerable rebelled against Medicine King Valley.
Later...
"Going against the heavens will always bring retribution. Qing'er, stop refining medicinal people. Stop chasing unrealistic fantasies. No one in this world can achieve immortality. Even with Nirvana, the Empress has merely become an object, no different from a laboratory rat. What outcome can we expect?"
Poison Elder suppressed his surging memories. His voice was low and trembled slightly, "Later, I went down the mountain. Yin Sila found me through some means and made a deal with me."
"I gave her the larvae, and she gave me a new method for refining medicinal people."
"The蛊 (gu) worms in your body are mine."
"Meaning, if I die, you live!"
"As for your imperial brother... I don't know. I don't know if Yin Sila implanted any蛊 (gu) worms in him, or if she fed him someone else's larvae. Of course, he might not have died from the蛊 (gu) poison either."
Ji Jinmo's expression was indifferent. He didn't show any killing intent upon hearing Poison Elder's words. In fact, he felt a sense of relief when he heard that his imperial brother's death was likely not related to Poison Elder. However, as he recalled what he had just said, he realized there might be some discrepancies. Gouzi was not a successful vessel; he was a semi-finished product.
Poison Elder gave up refining.
"Then why did you give up?"
Hearing Ji Jinmo's question, Poison Elder looked at him again. He had confessed so much, openly admitting that the inhumane torment he had suffered all these years was his fault, yet Ji Jinmo seemed indifferent and even had the energy to ask about other matters.
"Because of my master!"
His master, who was not related by blood but had always loved him like his own son. His master always said it was retribution, and he had initially scoffed at it. But if it was truly retribution, why hadn't it befallen him?
Ji Jinmo asked no further questions. The answer to the question he most wanted to know was already revealed. He stood up, tidied his robes, and before turning to leave, he said to Poison Elder, "I will not mention today's events to Ying'er. I hope that until the last moment of your life, she will see you as the master who never deceived her and always wished her well."
Poison Elder smiled, his voice a soft sob. That child, she must have guessed it long ago.
He had initially only intended to take on a successor before his death. Who knew she would be Ji Jinmo's consort? If there was any deception, it was only one thing—he was actually the culprit behind Ji Jinmo's years of suffering.
After speaking, Ji Jinmo turned and left without hesitation. Opening the door, he saw Gouzi waiting outside. He nodded at him and then strode away.
Gouzi entered the room and helped Poison Elder lie back down.
Before he left, Poison Elder gripped his hand, "When Ying'er returns, change your surname to Nan. Let her give you a name. You're about to come of age, you can't just have a lowly name. After I'm gone, whether you want to stay at the Prince's Estate or wander the jianghu, it's all up to you. In short, live for yourself from now on, understand?"
"I want to be surnamed Qin... or Yin is fine too."
"No, you are surnamed Nan."
"But..."
"Surnamed Nan!"
As he spoke, he coughed violently. Gouzi, fearing he might cough himself to death, quickly agreed, "Alright, alright, I'll be surnamed Nan."
Hearing this, Poison Elder finally released his wrist.
Gouzi hurried to the table, poured him a cup of water, and helped him sit up to drink.
...
June 23rd, auspicious.
"Quick, quickly go and make ginseng soup. Place the reishi mushroom slices the imperial physician brought under the empress's tongue. Someone, quickly go to the Imperial Study and inform His Majesty that the empress is about to give birth."
Zou Yun'er tightly gripped Shen Yue's hand. The pain that was quickly seeping into her bones made her vision blur, and she broke into a cold sweat. Despite the agony, she gritted her teeth and suppressed her cries.
Shen Yue comforted Zou Yun'er while issuing a series of commands. Although the Lilan Palace seemed chaotic with maids and servants rushing about, each person knew exactly what they needed to do.
Some went to make the ginseng soup, some went to get the reishi mushroom slices, and some headed to the Imperial Study.
"Go, take the empress's token and invite Imperial Physician Wei Yuan. If the imperial physician is not at the Imperial Hospital, have Wang Dequan quickly go out and invite him. Remember, it must be Imperial Physician Wei!"
"Yes!"
The palace maid received the order and, pulling the eunuch Wang Dequan, rushed towards the Imperial Hospital.
"Fetch more hot water and ensure the temperature of the water in this basin is maintained at all times."
Shen Yue took the towel wrung out by a palace maid and wiped the cold sweat from Zou Yun'er's forehead. The reishi mushroom slices were continuously providing energy to Zou Yun'er's body, ensuring she could endure this ordeal of childbirth.
She reached out to feel the fetal position, a hint of worry appearing on her face.
The empress's fetal position was somewhat unfavorable. If the baby's head did not descend into the pelvis before labor, it would lead to a difficult birth.
Hearing that Zou Yun'er was about to give birth, Ji Hong rushed over. Upon arriving at Lilan Palace, he was stopped outside.
"Your Majesty, the delivery room is bloody and filled with heavy yin energy, which might harm your royal body... Even if you are here, the empress can feel the protection of the Son of Heaven and will surely give birth to a prince safely, with mother and child both well."
"I am the Son of Heaven, and there is no place in this realm that I cannot go or stay..." Ji Hong frowned, his voice tinged with a hint of anger due to worry. However, the old嬷嬷 (momo) in front of him had served Yun'er diligently for years, and he couldn't be too harsh. He then lowered his voice and said to her, "嬷嬷 Qin, I truly cannot wait outside."
Ji Hong said, gently pushing aside the嬷嬷 blocking his path, and lifting the curtain that the palace maids had just hung to cover the entire sleeping quarters, he strode in.
Wei Yuan was on his day off. He had intended to take advantage of the good weather and go for a spring outing in the countryside. Just as he was having his servants harness the carriage, he saw Wang Dequan galloping towards him from a distance. Wang Dequan dismounted, his breath still uneven, and knelt on the ground, "Master Wei, the empress, the empress..."
Wei Yuan's heart skipped a beat. Before Wang Dequan could finish speaking, he had already hitched his horse and galloped towards the palace.
He first went to the Imperial Hospital to collect his medicine box, then rushed to Lilan Palace without delay.
"Master, the empress's fetal position is not right!"
Shen Yue leaned into Wei Yuan's ear and whispered.