Chapter 5: Guests of the Palace
“My brother hasn’t been feeling well lately. He went to bed right after shenshi (3-5 pm), so I could only mention this to him this morning.”
Shangguan Lingyue, still in her formal armor dress, said, “If you’re ready, please come with me to the palace.”
“He agreed?”
“This is a serious matter. My brother wants to meet you in person before making a decision.” Shangguan Lingyue continued, “Let me confirm once more, you’re not just boasting, are you?”
“And how would you confirm that?”
Gong Yiling chuckled. “Should I find the Hall Master of the Hundred Ghosts Hall and experience the Myriad Souls Heart Erosion Finger myself, then come to you for treatment?”
Shangguan Lingyue laughed.
This senior had a point.
Whether she was boasting or not could only be determined after she treated the Grand Elder.
How could she, a complete layman in these matters, judge such things?
“At least…” Shangguan Lingyue smiled sheepishly, “since Miss Gong knows it’s the Myriad Souls Heart Erosion Finger, shouldn’t you ask me to prepare some rare medicinal herbs?”
“When did I say I needed rare herbs?”
Gong Yiling waved her hand dismissively.
She had no idea what was needed.
More than herbs, she needed a capable assistant.
“I only need an assistant. You don’t need to tell her why. Just bring her to me.”
“An assistant? Who?”
“You should have met her. The eldest daughter of the Yan family, Yan Chuyue.”
Hearing this name, Shangguan Lingyue was even more surprised than Shangguan Ziyuan. “Chuyue?”
This was understandable.
As one of the Twin Pillars of the empire, Shangguan Lingyue had a good relationship with Yan Chuyue’s father, Yan Yingyao.
Naturally, when he was still alive, she often visited their home, discussing military tactics and occasionally checking on Yan Chuyue.
After Yan Yingyao and his wife passed away, Shangguan Lingyue was worried about Yan Chuyue being mistreated and wanted to take her in, but with the frequent wars among the Four Heavenly Kingdoms, the Crimson Flame War God couldn’t spare the time to care for a child.
Moreover, at the time, the Yan family’s second branch seemed to be taking good care of Chuyue, so she didn’t worry too much.
In fact, until now, the Yan family maintained a facade of caring for Yan Chuyue, and she, being deceived, didn’t notice anything amiss and never complained to her adoptive mother.
Hearing Yan Chuyue’s name now made her, as the adoptive mother, very confused.
“Why… Chuyue?”
“You won’t understand even if I explain. You’ll understand after you bring her here.” Gong Yiling said, “Now, take me to the palace.”
“…Okay.”
…
…
Meanwhile, in the imperial palace’s back garden.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
A pale, middle-aged man in a luxurious robe coughed repeatedly, prompting the Head Eunuch to offer him honey water.
“Your Majesty, please have some.”
Emperor Shangguan Long waved it away impatiently.
“It’s just a cough. I don’t need this.”
He focused on the Go board before him, but just as he was about to place a stone, the white-haired elder opposite him said,
“I resign.”
The Emperor paused, then said dejectedly, “The game is far from over. Why would you resign, Elder? You’re ruining my fun.”
“Your Majesty desires victory, but I don’t.” The Grand Elder’s words had a deeper meaning. “Since I don’t, why struggle?”
“What are you saying, Elder?” The Emperor retorted. “Both Ziyuan and Lingyue have brought news of someone who can cure your injuries.”
“And Ziyuan’s life token, although almost shattered, has been restored. If they didn’t kill her, she must have been saved by an expert.”
“Is this what you call an unclear outcome?”
The Grand Elder smiled wryly. “I’ve tried countless methods before, and every time, I was just as hopeful as now.”
“This injury is perhaps retribution for my past mistakes. Your Majesty shouldn’t have allowed Ziyuan to seek a cure. This wouldn’t have happened otherwise.”
For this centenarian elder, the injury wasn’t just physical. The constant pain of the Myriad Souls Heart Erosion Finger had also taken a toll on his spirit.
But this wasn’t a positive change; it was a pessimistic resignation to his fate.
“Elder, you haven’t avenged yourself. How can you give up so easily… cough, cough, cough…”
The Emperor’s anxiety triggered another coughing fit.
This time, it was more severe. He even coughed up blood, staining the Go board.
“Your Majesty…”
“Your Majesty!”
“It’s nothing.”
The Emperor patted his chest, suppressing his cough. “Just a minor ailment. There’s no need to panic.”
“You’ve been coughing up blood for over a week,” the Grand Elder said. “What did the imperial physicians say?”
The Emperor waved his hand dismissively. “It’s not poison. Seems like I deviated during cultivation, causing qi stagnation in my lungs. It requires long-term treatment.”
“Even if it’s not poison, you should still be careful, Your Majesty.” The Grand Elder said, “Your situation is different from mine. Perhaps you should let that descendant of the old sect try.”
“You still don’t believe she’s from the old sect?”
The Grand Elder sighed. “The old sect suffered a greater calamity than the Cloud Rainbow Sect. No one knows what exactly happened. Only a few escaped and founded the Cloud Rainbow Sect.”
“To claim to be a descendant, she must have the corresponding abilities. If she can’t even cure your ailment, how can she be from the old sect?”
The Emperor didn’t reply.
He wasn’t doubting or confirming her identity. He simply found her recent actions intriguing.
In just a few days, she had caused quite a stir in the Eastern Capital. And everyone who met her felt she was mysterious, likely the descendant of the old sect, as she claimed.
Having her on their side would be a great asset against the other three kingdoms and the Five Demonic Abysses.
Especially… against the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace.
Before their next game could begin, a guard brought in a veiled woman.
“Your Majesty, the woman General Lingyue mentioned, I’ve brought her here.”
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