Chapter 3: Quickly Use the Jade Dew Spring
Save me.
The Regent’s gauntleted hand was icy cold, his expression even colder than the metal, the armored fingers slowly tracing along the butterfly-shaped birthmark by Wei Wanlan’s spine, causing the right shoulder blade to involuntarily shudder.
“Don’t move, stay still.”
The gauntlet pressed against the cinnabar-colored birthmark, the Regent using his thumb to firmly rub, Wei Wanlan’s tender skin due to being pampered since childhood immediately reddened at the edges, his fever-flushed body now radiating an ambiguous pain as the cold metal touched his heated skin. Wei Wanlan let out a few pained whimpers.
[He suspects you may not be the original host.]
404 spoke up in time. But Wei Wanlan was in no state to listen, he had never been treated this way before, his whimpering turning into aggrieved crying: “That birthmark has been with me since birth, I have one on my back and also on my butt, but you can’t look at it, don’t touch me anymore…”
The butterfly-shaped shoulder blade was moving more prominently, delicate and exquisite, the smooth muscle lines, his pale complexion almost luminous, the young emperor tightly gripping the dragon bed sheets. The sobs made his voice sticky, continuously burrowing deeper into the large bed to escape.
The birthmark was real.
Su Jingzhi recalled the record in the imperial diaries, that Crown Prince Wei Wanlan had two birthmarks on his body, both matching up. This young emperor was indeed the real one.
At this time, the Regent stopped his movements, watching the crying young emperor on the dragon bed, tears like fallen flowers, and an unexpected sense of guilt for having bullied him surfaced.
Su Jingzhi pulled open the soft quilt covering the dragon bed, the plush bedding completely obscuring Wei Wanlan’s bare back. He flipped the boy over.
“Lie down.”
The pillow cradled the back of his head, immediately relieving the congestion, Wei Wanlan panted hotly, finally left alone, his two little claws clutching the quilt to quickly cover himself up. Only his feverishly hazy eyes were visible: “Mmm, it hurts so much.”
The Regent again felt the emperor was like a pitiful little animal, especially those expressive eyes. Su Jingzhi’s brow slightly furrowed as he covered Wei Wanlan’s eyes with his gauntlet. “Summon the imperial physician.”
Wei Wanlan obediently closed his eyes.
The imperial physician, trembling, entered and kowtowed. He had actually been listening outside the hall, hearing the emperor crying and not wanting to, while the Regent ordered the emperor to stay still. The physician did not dare ask what was happening inside.
“Greet His Majesty, Your Highness.”
“See what’s wrong.”
“Yes.” The physician knelt and took Wei Wanlan’s pulse. Wei Wanlan lacked the strength to raise his arm, so it was Su Jingzhi sitting on the bedside who handed the physician the youth’s delicate wrist. On the inner side, the faint violet veins were visible. “His Majesty’s heart and spleen are not in harmony, the spleen and stomach are weak, this is a congenital deficiency. Added to the earlier fright from the assassin’s intrusion, the symptoms have compounded, the fever is an external manifestation of an internal disorder.”
In layman’s terms, his constitution is weak, and he can’t withstand the fright.
Su Jingzhi understood: “How to treat it?”
The physician kowtowed: “Your Highness, this humble one dares to request you to help support His Majesty.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Su Jingzhi pulled Wei Wanlan up from the covers, the young emperor leaning against him, weightless, his small body. But he had forgotten that the youth’s robe had just been torn by him, the entire dragon robe in tatters, a heart-wrenching sight.
The physician swallowed, his thoughts already drifting, but dared not speak or look around carelessly, forcing himself to pry open Wei Wanlan’s eyelids and check his tongue, finally concluding: “For this deficiency, long-term nourishment is required, no sudden agitation or anger, medication is optional but not a must. This humble one will first prescribe some fennel for lowering the fever, and the Palace Cuisine Department should prepare some mild and restorative foods, which may prove beneficial.”
In other words, take good care of him, and feed him well.
Su Jingzhi felt a headache coming on, this former mischievous brat of an emperor, whom he had not seen for months, had now become a fragile treasure. It reminded him of the glass ware the Liao kingdom presented this spring.
The standard medicines were already simmering. Wei Wanlan was dizzy, the water-medicine concoction, even when force-fed, he would just vomit it back up, taking hours to finally stop heaving, his cheeks inflamed. The wise ruler system, instead of helping him feign illness, was practically killing him.
Wei Wanlan mumbled scolding 404.
Later, when he could no longer vomit, he felt someone impatiently snort coldly, firmly pinching his cheeks and pouring the bitter medicine into his mouth, one spoonful at a time. But with each spoonful, this person would also gently stroke his back. Bare-handed, the fingers calloused.
“The Regent…”
Consciousness began to drift away again.
***
The next noon.
Wei Wanlan clung to the dragon bed like a medicinal plaster. His clothes had been restored to their complete imperial glory, regaining a bit of the emperor’s dignity.
404 whispered in his ear: [Stop pretending, get up and do the mission.]
The wise ruler system’s feigning illness tactic had a time limit, they couldn’t let the emperor remain sick indefinitely, waiting to naturally recover. Wei Wanlan’s fever had broken, but his body, just having recovered, still felt like it had been dismantled.
“I won’t get up, the pause time is too short, I haven’t rested enough.”
[You slept for five hours.]
Five hours, ten hours, no wonder he was so hungry, Wei Wanlan stalled strategically, because cooperating with this system was practically risking his life, he still vividly remembered the Cleaving Sky Sword being turned into a hedgehog, it was truly too tragic.
[Those who suffocate to death first experience difficulty breathing, gradually turning purple, the lungs seeming to burst, until the lips and nails are jet black.]
[Imprisoned in the palace, deposed emperors rarely meet a good end, have you heard of the Binding Strap Poison? It can make one hunchbacked and curled up, suffering a painful death…]
404 enumerated negative examples, finally summarizing in a lofty manner: [Host, to wait for death, is that an emperor’s way?]
Wei Wanlan’s small face paled, seeming to be frightened: “Then, I can’t wait for death.” His spirits finally lifted slightly.
404 said helplessly: [You seem to have completely failed to understand. But no matter, you’re now shamelessly coasting along, continue interacting with the Regent, look for an opportunity to strike, you’ll eventually eliminate him.]
He seems quite good to me. Wei Wanlan blinked, recalling how yesterday the Regent had even fed him medicine.
[That’s because he hasn’t completed his preparations for the enthronement. Don’t trust him, the power-seeking minister is extremely dangerous.]
Oh.
Thinking about how the Regent’s left-hand sword skills could match the Cleaving Sky Sword, the palace guards were completely obedient to him, arrogant and overbearing, and how he had so unceremoniously verified Wei Wanlan’s identity on the dragon bed, the youth’s heart was filled with trepidation, nodding like a pecking chicken. The previous gratitude was instantly replaced by fear.
Suddenly, a snow-white porcelain bottle materialized in front of Wei Wanlan, he poked it, then fished it out, a medicinal pill inside.
“What’s this?”
[Prop: Ruler’s Charm Pill.]
404 had learned from past lessons, combining the host’s own abilities, decided to lower the cultivation difficulty, being more generous with the props.
[After taking this pill, it can greatly increase the affinity of those you interact with. And the fewer the people, the higher the affinity increase.]
Oh, so it’s an AOE buff that increases affinity, if there’s no need for AoE damage, the effect can be focused on a single target: “What can I use it for?”
[Later, the Regent will hold a banquet in the Linde Palace to reward the army. You should attend as usual, if you don’t have the opportunity to kill him, at least with the increased affection from the court, there will be more loyalists to protect you in times of danger.]
“Great thing, great thing,” Wei Wanlan praised, “if you had brought this out earlier, why didn’t you? This is what a proper system should be like.”
404 sighed deeply, how could it do that when you’re not yet prominent? Reflect on yourself, won’t you!
The medicinal pill was dry and tasteless, only making his empty stomach even more ravenous. As the system and host remained silent, Wei Wanlan soon arrived at the Linde Palace, the civil and military officials already seated, seeing him they all rose: “Long live the Emperor!”
“At ease, at ease.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
But the officials clearly seemed distracted, the festive music and instruments resounding, only serving to highlight the oppressive atmosphere in the Linde Palace. Wei Wanlan had thought this Ruler’s Charm Pill would make him like a rising star about to hold a concert, treated like the center of attention. Looks like it’s useless, he knew the system was unreliable again. Hmph.
“Your Majesty, please dine.” The eunuch served Wei Wanlan, Liu Quan had already been replaced after the assassination incident. Perhaps the Regent had inserted more of his own eyes and ears.
But Wei Wanlan’s displeasure only lasted a moment, for seeing the imperial delicacies on the table, his eyes lit up: the crisp, golden-brown fried round cakes were coated in fragrant sesame, the flaky Biluo cakes had a shiny, crisp exterior, the silky-smooth cherry cheesecake, the roasted mutton sprinkled with cumin…
Wei Wanlan was truly hungry, saliva flooding his cheeks, the delicious food momentarily making him forget the ever-present threat of death, digging in eagerly, hehe hehe~~~
Of course, if he hadn’t seen the person sharing the same dining table. The Regent glanced over, brow and eyes sharp, a powerful aura, this senior minister actually got to dine on the same table as the emperor!
Was the imperial house so poor they couldn’t even afford an extra table!?
In front of Su Jingzhi was a simple pile of a few pale lamb bones, stark and grim, though food, it inexplicably filled one with dread.
Wei Wanlan inwardly cried “weirdo” towards the Regent.
Clack.
Their chopsticks collided.
Wei Wanlan and Su Jingzhi had simultaneously picked up a roasted lamb bone, the bone dangling between them. The Regent’s brow slightly furrowed, Wei Wanlan’s heart pounding, choosing to strategically yield, not knowing that Su Jingzhi, who had already lost interest in food, seeing Wei Wanlan’s chopsticks approaching, had actually withdrawn his hand first. The lamb bone clanged back onto the silver platter.
The sound drew the attention of the civil and military officials, Wei Wanlan’s hand lost its balance, accidentally knocking over the wine cup, the wine spilling, the cup rolling to the table’s edge. Then, it shattered!
Crash.
The elegant music abruptly stopped.
The Gold Guard’s blades flashed, they had already taken positions behind certain officials, the deadly ritual blades suddenly unsheathed, the razor-sharp edges slicing downwards, fresh blood spurting, splashing onto the plate in front of the victim, a bloody specter, the severed head rolling on the floor…
Wei Wanlan was almost in cardiac arrest. He quickly closed his eyes. The chopsticks had long since slipped from his grip with a crack, his gaze momentarily unfocused.
At this moment, the Regent stood up. As soon as he spoke, the hall fell silent, only his voice remaining: “Cui Minghai, you colluded with the Turks to leak expedition intelligence, bribed martial artists to infiltrate the palace with evil intentions, multiple crimes, executed with your co-conspirators without further trial.”
Tong Tuan had somehow already placed his blade against Cui Minghai’s shoulder: “Sir Cui, my apologies. The Minister of Finance, ah, the sands of the border regions are not easy to swallow, you’ve pocketed so much of the grain supplies, giving us no small headache.”
Cui Minghai’s eyes bulged with rage: “Su Yan! You say I’ve violated the law, but have you let me go through the three courts for public trial? You’re clearly abusing your power, daring to commit violence before the emperor! You are the true evil traitor!!!”
Having said that, he drew out a jade hairpin, aiming it at his own throat: “His Majesty, please forgive me, this humble official is powerless to uproot the traitors, I shall depart first.”
Before the word “depart” had even fallen, Su Jingzhi threw the jade cup: “Insects daring to eclipse the sun and moon, the posture of heroic self-sacrifice does not suit you.”
The jade cup, accurate and steady, slammed hard onto Cui Minghai’s hand, Cui Minghai howling as the jade hairpin fell to the floor. Tong Tuan then slit his throat. The blood sprayed.
At this time, Su Jingzhi stood with hands behind his back, surveying the officials, his voice rising, not issuing an order, but stating an irrefutable fact: “Ashina Sali has already been driven back to the steppe by me, those who dare defy my decree will meet the same fate as Cui Minghai.”
As he finished speaking, the Linde Palace resounded with cheers: “The Regent is wise and mighty, long live the Regent, long live the Regent, long live the Regent!”
This “long live” was shouted with far greater force than “ten thousand years”.
The treacherous officials, his prestige now at its peak.
Wei Wanlan slumped helplessly in the dragon chair, surrounded by swords on all sides, everyone treating him as a redundant item, Su Jingzhi could crush him at any time. He was a small puppet with his life in the Regent’s hands, Wei Wanlan bowed his head, his eyes stinging.
The system reminded him again: [Host, don’t be discouraged, this is another good opportunity.]
Who would believe your words. I won’t trust you anymore.
[Trust me. The Regent is standing, Tong Tuan is not here, the officials are bowing their heads, that plate of lamb bones is blocking everyone’s line of sight.]
[Drop this Jade Dew Spring into the new cup they just brought over.]
Sure enough, at this moment the eunuch again brought two identical wine cups, filling them for the emperor and the Regent, the two cups tightly obscured by the lamb bone.
Jade Dew Spring? This is… poison?
[Spring, drug.]
!!!
[Delayed assassination, potent effects. Tonight the Regent will die of a sudden illness, who would suspect it was because of you?]
A drop of the trembling liquid appeared on Wei Wanlan’s fingertips, the arrow already on the string, the system urging him urgently, he had no time to consider further, only guiltily glancing around, his fingertips swirling on the cup surface, the colorless, odorless Jade Dew Spring quickly and fully dissolving into the wine.
Wei Wanlan hurriedly hid his sleeve, the nails meticulously cleaning off any trace on the fabric.
The Regent finally sat down imposingly, the experienced palace servants numbly dragged away the bodies, the Gold Guard expertly scooping up the heads of the criminals, pouring water, the red carpet laid out.
The banquet resumed after purging the opposition. Su Jingzhi looked at Wei Wanlan: “The expeditionary troops have dealt the Turks a devastating blow, will His Majesty not honor the army commanders with a toast?”
[Excellent, he’s taken the bait. Have him drink it.]
“…”
But Wei Wanlan’s mind was far away: which cup did I put it in? System, did you see which one I put it in???
404 was completely speechless.
The Regent casually picked up the wine cup, all eyes in the hall on the lord and subject. Seeing him not move, Su Jingzhi’s gaze made Wei Wanlan’s heart freeze. What standing did he have to refuse the toast?
If only he could choose to transmigrate again… no, absolutely not, transmigrating is so difficult! He really isn’t cut out to be a wise ruler!!!
Wei Wanlan could only lightly wet his lips with the wine: just a pretend sip, it doesn’t necessarily mean I got drugged, I’ll be fine, I’ll be fine.
But why… is he suddenly so hot?
“So hot.”
He’s been affected by the aphrodisiac.
Save me. Who can save me? Finished, I’m just a young man but I’m going to perish in this power struggle novel “The Great Wei Regent”, who please save me.
Before the Jade Dew Spring took full effect, Wei Wanlan was already crying non-stop, repeatedly murmuring “the Regent” and “save me”: “Regent, mmm, save me, wuwu.”
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