CH 41

Chapter 41: Has He Been Poisoned With A Gu Worm, Or Is He Just Sick?

Qi Ci stepped out of the palanquin and raised his head.

In front of him, a double sedan chair landed on the ground. The four corners of the sedan chair emerged from the top of the sedan chair, decorated with golden bells. The maid next to the sedan chair came forward to raise the curtain.

At that moment, a woman with a delicate face, dressed in colorful clothes, stepped out of the sedan chair. After saluting Qi Ci, she looked up and smiled: “Prince Chongfeng.”

Qi Ci hastily returned the salute, but he didn’t know who she was or why she knew his title.

Qi Ci wasn’t knowledgeable with the rules in the Palace and was having a hard time figuring out how to properly respond. All of a sudden, the palace maid beside him stepped forward to salute the woman, exclaiming: “County Princess!”

Seeing the astonished expression on Qi Ci’s face, Yu Muyao smiled and said: “It’s said that this Imperial Palace has the highest Palace gates, a building with five floors, and the longest Pavilion in the world. Why is His Majesty coming and going in such a hurry, instead of looking around?”

Qi Ci had never met such a noble and eloquent girl in his life. For a long time, he didn’t know how to reply.

Yu Muyao smiled and walked a few steps closer to Qi Ci: “If the Prince doesn’t like the Palace’s scenery, the Bei’an County King’s Residence has just repaired a lotus pond a few days ago, decorating it with gold and jade. Singers and dancers were invited to celebrate today. I wonder, would His Majesty like to visit our Residence? Of course, I would also like….” Yu Muyao approached Qi Ci as she spoke. Her last words were said so low that only Qi Ci was able to hear them: “To talk with His Majesty alone. Now that you’ve been caught up in this deep Palace, I think it’s important for you to know how to protect yourself.”

Qi Ci: “….”

Qi Ci bowed his hand and said: “Bye.”

After saying that, Qi Ci turned around and walked to his palanquin.

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Yu Muyao, on the other hand, stood frozen in place.

‘Were my well-thought-out words dismissed so lightly?’

Seeing that Qi Ci was about to leave, Yu Muyao couldn’t care less about manners and saving face as she stepped forward to stop Qi Ci. She looked at him with hatred as she said: “How can you be so careless? Don’t you know that—”

‘Don’t you know that this Palace is filled with dangerous people?’

With so many people around, Yu Muyao couldn’t finish what she wanted to say.

Qi Ci looked at her, suddenly replying something seemingly incoherent: “I know. But, does the County Princess know?”

Yu Muyao was stunned.

She had thought that this Prince who was born into the lower class must be foolish and schemless. But now, when she heard him say something so skillfully, she had to treat him differently: “I also know.”

“Then, since the County Princess knows, what should I know? How much does the Princess know?” Qi Ci smiled.

Yu Muyao restrained her pride and sharpness. She no longer acted aggressive, but she still lowered her voice to make sure no one but Qi Ci could hear her: “If you want to know how much I know, His Majesty can come to our Residence. I’ll tell you then.” 

Qi Ci hesitated.

When Yu Muyao saw that he didn’t speak, she added: “You’re now the Empress Dowager’s relative who was given the title of Prince Chongfeng, which means that no one would dare to harbor any evil intentions against you. You can rest assured. As for what my purpose is, you can only begin to speculate after you hear what I have to say.”

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Qi Ci raised his head. His eyes fell into the distance, to the vermillion walls and red tiles, to the government and the peace of the country.

At that moment, Qi Ci suddenly remembered that Bian Zhonghua and him were almost separated from each other. Bian Zhonghua had also said that someone in the Palace wanted his life.

Although he was a Prince, that was nothing more than a title. He held no real power. Now that he was already stuck in this mess, should he merely sit and wait for death to arrive?

Qi Ci dropped his gaze back at Yu Muyao and said solemnly: “Then I’ll trouble the County Princess to tell me.”

Yu Muyao smiled as she raised her arms and saluted: “Alright. Your Majesty, please follow me to the Residence of the King of Bei’an County.”

Qi Ci nodded. But as soon as he took a step, he suddenly remembered something.

‘A short while ago, there was a misunderstanding with Empress Dowager regarding my marriage; now, I’m going to the Residence of the King of Bei’an County. How could I forget? I was in such a hurry to go see Bian Zhonghua that I forgot that he doesn’t have feelings for me. It’s something I’m only selfishly hoping for. I can just explain it to him jokingly when I see him later. Everything will be alright.’

But, all this time, Bian Zhonghua had been wondering whether he had been poisoned with a Gu worm, or if he was just sick.