Liu Liu felt an overwhelming pain in her heart. Why? She knew how agonizing the Gu poison was. If she had known that this was how it would be dispelled, she would never have agreed. The Emperor bore the responsibility of the entire empire; how could he abandon his life for her alone? At this moment, she suddenly believed his words.
He must have suffered immensely during those five years, which explained his cautiousness. But was it too late for her to understand? Liu Liu's eyes became sore, her throat dry, and a chilling anger surged through her as she turned to Hong Xiu and roared,
"Where is A Bao? Have him come in immediately."
A Bao had been waiting just outside the sleeping quarters and had already heard his mistress speaking. Trembling with apprehension, he now heard her sharp command and cautiously entered, kneeling in fear. "Mistress?"
"Is this your capability? Even if you couldn't save me, you couldn't think of such a scheme. Do you know who the Emperor is? The Emperor is of golden lineage; how can he be made to dispel the Gu? If the empire descends into chaos, you will be the culprit. Do you understand?"
A Bao's body trembled. He knew the consequences of his actions, but even if given another chance, he would still act with his own intentions. Let his mistress scold and punish him as she pleased. "Mistress, if I were to do it again, A Bao would still do the same. A Bao is willing to bear the infamy, and if Mistress is angry, she can punish A Bao."
"You?" Liu Liu pointed at A Bao indignantly, looking at his resolute face with helplessness. She knew this fellow cared for her, but he was the Emperor! How could she face this? How could she be worthy of the empire's subjects? A deathly silence fell within the sleeping quarters, only the palace lanterns flickering brightly. At this moment, Mu Xing's voice rang out.
"Mother Empress, you are awake?" He rushed in from outside, flung Cui Er's hand away, and threw himself into Liu Liu's arms, weeping uncontrollably. He had just seen his father; Father was in so much pain. It was all Mu Xing's fault. "Mother Empress, it's all Mu Xing's fault. Father is in so much pain, and it's all because Mu Xing caused trouble."
Seeing her son crying so heartbrokenly, Liu Liu's expression turned cold, looking grim and frigid. Her gaze drifted distantly towards A Bao. "I will go now and draw the Gu poison from the Emperor's body. No matter what, I cannot let the Emperor suffer the torment of the Gu poison."
"Your Highness, there is no other way. Because the Emperor's internal energy is more profound than yours, Your Highness cannot draw the Gu poison. However, this Gu poison can be dispelled. According to the Medicine King's Manual, there is a medicine called the 'Blood Drop Seed' that can counteract any Gu poison. Why doesn't Mistress immediately search for this Blood Drop Seed? Perhaps it can save the Emperor's life."
A Bao bowed respectfully, suggesting this. In truth, his intention was to hope his mistress would be more rational and not harm herself further. Liu Liu's spirit seemed to revive upon hearing A Bao's words, and she stared at him sternly. "You are not lying to me, are you? The Blood Drop Seed can indeed dispel the Gu poison."
"It can." A Bao affirmed this point. The Blood Drop Seed could indeed dispel Gu poison, but unfortunately, no one had ever seen it. The Medicine King's Manual recorded that the Blood Drop Seed bloomed vibrantly, bearing fruit once every ten years. The fruit remained on the branch, to be obtained by those with destiny, while those without would turn into sweet dew.
"That's good. Now, help me to Yong Yuan Hall," Liu Liu commanded Hong Xiu, who stood by her side. Hong Xiu dared not speak and immediately extended her hand to support the Empress. Mu Xing also followed his mother, and they proceeded towards Yong Yuan Hall.
In the deep night, a cold wind howled, and snowflakes began to fall from the sky. White snow, like white plum blossoms, swirled and danced in the air, spiraling down to the ground before being lifted by the wind. Along the corridor, palace maids, holding palace lanterns, walked silently. Liu Liu proceeded towards Yong Yuan Hall with unsteady steps.
Inside Yong Yuan Hall, a profound silence reigned. On the vermilion wooden bed, the Emperor had just undergone a ordeal. The Empress Dowager, as the Emperor's mother, was now tear-streaked, gazing at her now quiet son, her heart wrung with pain. Her face was paler than the Emperor's, her breathing rapid, and she appeared so fragile that she seemed on the verge of collapse at any moment. Prince Yan, seeing his mother in this state, glanced at Jie Lan beside him. "Send Mother Empress to Ci Ning Palace."
"Alright," Jie Lan nodded and quickly rose to help the Empress Dowager. The two of them left Yong Yuan Hall together, taking Xin Hun with them. In the Emperor's sleeping quarters within Yong Yuan Hall, besides the silently resting Emperor, there were Prince Yan Feng Lie, Prime Minister Liu Ting, Jin Shaoyuan, and Bai Han. These men had rushed to the palace upon receiving word from Prince Yan. All of them were filled with anxiety, wondering what to do about the Emperor's condition. Such a matter could not be revealed, nor could it alarm those in the court. If the court ministers learned of the Emperor's plight, they would undoubtedly leak the news.
"Your Highness, what shall we do?" Jin Shaoyuan glanced at the Emperor on the bed, his face as pale as a ghost. He had heard that the parasitic Gu specialized in draining a person's blood, which was why the Emperor appeared utterly devoid of color.
"For now, we must still conceal it from the court ministers. Say that the Emperor has contracted a slight cold and is recuperating for a period. During this time, state affairs will be managed jointly by myself and the Prime Minister," Prince Yan Feng Lie felt utterly weary. First Liu'er was afflicted with Gu, and now the Emperor. Both situations caused him inexplicable pain, and he felt utterly exhausted.
Jin Shaoyuan and Bai Han remained silent. What else could be said? They turned to look at Prime Minister Liu Ting. The Prime Minister had entered as if he hadn't uttered a single word. In fact, Liu Ting was profoundly astonished. He hadn't expected the Emperor to sacrifice his life to protect Liu'er. Perhaps they were all willing to give their lives for Liu'er, but only the Emperor and Liu'er shared the deepest fated connection, making them destined lovers. Some individuals were meant to love each other but were fated to be apart, but these two were truly destined, weren't they?
A silence fell upon the hall, and the sound of a eunuch's voice echoed, exceptionally clear in the dark night. "This servant greets the Empress."
To think the Empress had awoken. She had rushed here as the first priority. Recalling the Empress's schemes, everyone felt a sense of relief. Such a person as the Empress would absolutely not allow anything to happen to the Emperor. It seemed they only needed to assist the Empress in her actions. Just as they were contemplating this, the Empress turned around from the screen at the entrance. The four men rose simultaneously and called out, "Your subjects greet the Empress."
Liu Liu waved her hand. "You may dispense with the formalities." Her gaze directly swept over the Emperor on the bed, but she addressed them. "How is the Emperor?"
"The Emperor has just endured the suffering of the Gu worms feeding. He is much better now," Feng Lie said, his eyes clouding over with emotion. He only regretted that his internal energy was not as high as Liu'er's. If it were, he would not have allowed his elder brother to endure such suffering. Tian Feng had also been unaffected. The more Feng Lie thought about it, the more distressed he became, and he fell into silent contemplation.
Liu Liu nodded and slowly approached the bedside. She saw the man who was always arrogant and domineering now sleeping peacefully on the bed.
She had never truly looked at him before. Now, seeing him lying there as still as a light feather, he appeared like a pure child.
He was the Emperor, but his heart was profoundly lonely. She had heard her father mention it before: the late Emperor had placed great expectations on the Crown Prince and had been extremely strict. The Crown Prince had almost never had any time for rest.
Thinking of how all his noble status was built upon such solitude, he was, in fact, a lonely soul. The imperial power had cast a veil of indifference over him.
In reality, those who truly entered his heart would discover he was not ill-intentioned.
Of course, he had his eccentricities. For example, he favored all beautiful things, was fastidious, and even his eating habits were quite particular. Furthermore, he disliked being called beautiful, considering it a woman's term.
Perhaps her initial compliment of his beauty that day had transgressed his boundaries, causing him to resist her on many occasions.