Chapter 118: Saving the Beloved
If the Imperial Medical Bureau was located at the most inconspicuous end of the palace, remote as the Tianlu Pavilion, then this Pulse Case Room was an otherworldly paradise full of exotic atmosphere carved out within the palace.
Wei Wanlan walked to the end of the corridor. In front of the Pulse Case Room was a path paved with stones. Several large trees blotted out the sky, their trunks painted with incomprehensible totems. Strange medicinal herbs and plants were placed here, emitting a faint herbal fragrance. Bamboo cages hung all around the house.
Naturally, there were no guards at the Pulse Case Room, and the Emperor did not need to announce his entry to anyone.
Although Wei Wanlan was anxious, he still slowed his steps. He was asking for help and didn’t want to force Bai Linyue. It seemed the closer he got to the Twin Gu, the more cautious he had to be.
He must treat Bai Linyue with courtesy.
“Mr. Bai?” Wei Wanlan knocked gently on the door.
But it startled a lizard climbing on the wall. The half-foot-long reptile froze first, then crawled into a crack in the wall.
Wei Wanlan got goosebumps all over, his soul nearly flying out of his body.
He liked furry things, but he was terrified of cold-blooded animals!
However, he dared not show a shred of fear for this place, nor could he reveal disgust. summoning his courage, he hurriedly observed the numerous bamboo cages wrapped around the trees and under the windows. He listened carefully.
…He heard faint insect chirping.
…And the rustling sound of bugs crawling.
There were red centipedes.
And scorpions with hard shells.
There were also several small, unknown Gu worms.
Wei Wanlan’s goosebumps rose even more severely.
His muscles tensed. He could feel a drop of cold sweat slowly rolling down his back, leaving a watery trail behind.
He gently pushed open the door to Miao doctor Bai Linyue’s room. An Ruyi followed closely behind Wei Wanlan, scanning the surroundings with extreme vigilance, fearing that if he wasn’t careful, a poisonous insect might pop out from somewhere and stick right onto his face.
An Ruyi’s voice carried timidity: “Your Majesty. Why don’t this slave go in to announce and ask Medical Official Bai to come out for a talk?”
Wei Wanlan shook his head slightly.
His movement jostled a silver bell. The bell sounded clear as crushing ice: Ding-ling, ding-ling…
Fearing this bell might summon some strange cold-blooded animal, Wei Wanlan fought the urge to run away. Amidst a patch of sunlight mixed with the white gleam of Miao silver ornaments, he found the old Miao doctor sitting by the window of the Pulse Case Room, sunbathing with his eyes closed and a blanket over his knees.
Bai Linyue was incredibly old. His face was full of wrinkles, his joints large and dark, withered as if he could die at any moment.
Wei Wanlan was terrified he would die, his voice hoarse:
“Medical Official Bai. Zhen is the Emperor of Great Wei.”
The old Miao doctor opened his eyes. Fortunately, his eyes were still clear. People close to nature always had a bit of innocent vitality about them. Years of serving as a medical official had long integrated him into the Central Plains culture, and he was about to bow to Wei Wanlan.
The old man was already in his twilight years. How could Wei Wanlan bear it? Fearing the other would think he was using his status to pressure him, he hurriedly explained:
“Zhen knows that in all of Chang’an, only you, my beloved subject, raise Gu here. Zhen has come to fetch the Twin Gu. Zhen wants to save someone!”
Who knew that upon mentioning the Regent, Wei Wanlan, who had just been strong for a short while, instantly felt as if his soft spot had been poked? His eyes turned red immediately, and he had to take a deep breath to force back the tears.
But it seemed he couldn’t escape the overly clear gaze of the old Miao man.
Bai Linyue’s voice was hoarse like autumn leaves, speaking standard Great Wei official dialect:
“This person is a very important existence to Your Majesty.”
Wei Wanlan nodded heavily. In the past, he had treated saving the Regent as an obsession to complete his mission. Now it was different. The closer it got to Su Jingzhi’s death, the more he felt he couldn’t lose this person.
Wei Wanlan said: “He is the most, most important person!”
An Ruyi gasped softly behind Wei Wanlan.
The old Miao doctor slowly rolled off the rocking chair, also earnestly sizing up the current Emperor.
Bai Linyue said mellowly:
“When this humble official was young and lived in the Miao village, the daughters of the Miao family were passionate and bold. A woman once asked for the Twin Gu. Moved by passion, she placed the Gu to bind her lover, seeking never to be separated life after life. If betrayed, they would perish together. Your Majesty is the first person who wants to use the Twin Gu to save someone.”
The little peace pigeon Wei Wanlan was naturally liked by the elderly and children.
Wei Wanlan could feel the old man’s friendliness towards him, so he spoke with frankness, his fear of this place lessening a bit:
“Zhen once had a friend who speculated on the effect of the Twin Gu. Not only can it make people live and die together, but it can also link the fate of a dying person with a healthy one. This might perhaps retrieve the dying person’s life.”
Old Miao doctor Bai Linyue said: “Yes. This humble official has also had such a speculation.”
Wei Wanlan’s heart skipped a beat!
The Imperial Physician guessed it too!!!
Then what surfaced was an extremely ominous premonition. Amidst the chirping of insects in the Pulse Case Room, he shivered again unbeknownst to others, asking with somewhat lacking confidence: “My beloved subject, have you ever told anyone about this idea?”
Bai Linyue: “This old official once submitted a memorial.”
Wei Wanlan swallowed hard, bit his lip, and said: “Zhen has never received your memorial.”
Hopefully, it was a memorial received during the three years the original Little Emperor ignored politics!
He held his breath waiting for the answer, but the answer was the one he dared not hear the most.
Bai Linyue said gently: “At… a long time ago, this old official submitted it to the Late Emperor. Along with the Twin Gu worms, presented to the Late Emperor. At that time, the Late Emperor had just ascended the throne.”
A heart full of despair exploded at this moment.
Wei Wanlan only felt he couldn’t catch his breath, his head buzzing.
Fearing the loss of this last hope, he asked again: “And then?”
“This old official’s intention was to present a good prescription for prolonging life to the Late Emperor. If a person in good health could be found to share fate, perhaps it could extend longevity by several years. Pity that at that time, this old official was elderly, but the Late Emperor was in his prime. He didn’t realize the effect of this Twin Gu; instead, he summoned this official to ask…”
“What did he ask you?” Wei Wanlan stepped forward.
Bai Linyue said: “The Late Emperor asked this official: If someone was poisoned with an incurable poison, relying on this exotic Gu to share fate with another, would it be possible to reverse the situation?”
—The Late Emperor already had the intention to poison the Regent back then!!!
Wei Wanlan was filled with horror.
Bai Linyue continued: “This old official answered yes. Then, the Twin Gu worms were crushed to death in front of this old official.”
The Late Emperor left the Su family a dead end.
Squeezing him dry of value, ordering him to guard the rivers and mountains, yet giving Su Jingzhi no chance to survive, ensuring he could not hold power alone forever.
He remembered what 404 often said to him:
” beside the sleeping couch, how can one allow others to snore?” (How can a ruler tolerate rivals close by?)
Imperial power allows no infringement.
Wei Wanlan was terrified.
The lingering aftertaste of pain was finding it ridiculous. The descendant of the Su family calculated by generations of late emperors, the Regent Su Jingzhi, knew the truth yet still protected him, this Little Emperor of the Wei family.
That Late Emperor deserved to die early and not get the Twin Gu to extend his life. What right did he have to treat Su Jingzhi like this?
What right did he have to take the Regent away from Zhen…
Silver light crisscrossed the room.
The silver ornament hanging on Bai Linyue’s neck flashed. The old man sighed: “This old official is in this corner of the Imperial Palace, but I have heard of Your Majesty’s many achievements. This old official can only pray, wishing Your Majesty can save the beloved one in your heart.”
Beloved?
That word flashed in Wei Wanlan’s heart for a moment, fleeting.
At this moment, Xiao Ji actually chased to the Pulse Case Room: “Your Majesty, this humble official has important matters to report!”
The efficacy of the “Spirit Soul-Stabilizing Needle” had four or five double-hours left.
The consultation continued.
Led by Imperial Physician Fang, the medical officials concocted dozens of detoxification prescriptions and were trying to adjust the dosage for the Regent.
Wei Wanlan listened as he walked, arriving at the clinic room to guard the Regent without leaving a step.
Xiao Ji reported all the way from the Pulse Case Room to the clinic: “The country cannot be without a monarch for a day. Your Majesty has had no news since the Grand Feast in Luoyang. Even with news blocked in many ways, there are speculations in the court and among the people. Your Majesty should proclaim to the world after returning to Chang’an.”
This was Secretary Xiao wanting to discuss state affairs with him.
Wei Wanlan discovered more truly that if the Regent was gone, the person making decisions would completely become himself.
But at this moment, he felt no joy. He discussed and arranged several matters with Xiao Ji, all urgent tasks for the court recently that Xiao Ji couldn’t decide alone conveniently.
By the time Wei Wanlan had arranged everything with little confidence in his heart, Xiao Ji accepted the orders, finally cupping his hands and reporting:
“Your Majesty needs to be ready to participate in the Grand Ceremony of Personal Rule.”
Personal rule?
Xiao Mengshi seemed to have a well-thought-out plan, explaining to Wei Wanlan: “Your Majesty has reached the full age of eighteen. Although not yet capped (twenty), at this age you can no longer be considered a young master. The Regent has assisted in governance for many years. If he… passes away (Hong), Your Majesty should immediately take personal rule and hold the reins of government alone.”
The word “passed away” boomed in Wei Wanlan’s mind again.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Xiao Ji cupped his hands again and said hurriedly: “This humble official understands Your Majesty’s concern for the Regent. Your Majesty may continue to seek a cure. There is no need for Your Majesty to supervise any matters for the Grand Ceremony of Personal Rule; this humble official has basically arranged everything properly!”
Ready?
Wei Wanlan felt heart palpitations.
If he didn’t already know Xiao Mengshi’s character and felt that Minister Xiao’s family likely had nothing to do with the poisoning of “Hundred Sorrows Resolved” back then, Wei Wanlan would have thought Xiao Ji was the poisoner.
If it were one or two things, it would be fine—how could he anticipate everything in advance!?
The suspicion of how Xiao Ji could mobilize the generals to guard the city and welcome him surfaced again.
Wei Wanlan looked at Xiao Ji to inquire, his gaze carrying a majestic chill he himself didn’t realize. He wanted the answer too much right now: “How could Minister Xiao make the army obediently wait for Zhen at the city wall?”
Xiao Ji feared the Emperor would think he was being unruly, wanting to become the second Su Jingzhi. He hurriedly knelt on the ground and pulled a cold, hard object from his sleeve, presenting it to Wei Wanlan with both hands: It was the Tiger Tally.
Xiao Ji said: “This subject relied on the military tally to follow normal procedures to mobilize the army. I absolutely have no heart for usurpation. Now that Your Majesty has returned to the palace to govern, this subject returns the Tiger Tally to Your Majesty…”
“—How do you have the Regent’s military tally!”
Strained to this point, he couldn’t hold it back anymore.
Wei Wanlan had seen this bronze Tiger Tally before.
There was a tassel hanging on the Tiger Tally. With it, one could mobilize the Great Wei army. The Tiger Tally should have been in Su Jingzhi’s custody. Since when was the Tiger Tally transferred to Xiao Mengshi?
Wei Wanlan didn’t suspect the fierce warrior wanted to seize the throne…
He just felt shock and astonishment again in a certain instant, recalling those endless official duties of the Regent in the Luoyang relay station. He and the Regent weren’t always together at that time; the Regent was always busy, always arranging things.
Sure enough, Xiao Ji lowered his eyes gloomily at this time.
After a long while, Xiao Ji spoke, his voice also thick with hoarseness: “Your Majesty, the Regent transferred the Tiger Tally to this subject during the days Your Majesty went missing to find Fu Jun, and also…”
“And also what?” Wei Wanlan’s eyes widened, his pupils full of bloodshot veins, “Tell Zhen!”
Xiao Ji said:
“Actually, he knew this day would come long ago, so he explained many funeral arrangements. Such as how to respond to emergencies if he suddenly left the court.”
“Also, he wanted to return the government to you. Ordering this humble official to prepare for the Grand Ceremony of Personal Rule early.”
Proclaim to the world—
Wei Wanlan has grown up; he is the true Monarch of Great Wei.
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