Chapter 64: Old Thing, Little Thing

Just as the atmosphere was on the verge of freezing solid, a man dressed like a Daoist priest emerged from behind the screen in Yangxin Hall. His gaze locked intently onto Cui Wangshu, as if he wanted to see right through her.

“Youngster, such big talk,” Fang Qiutan snorted disdainfully. His shrewd eyes swept over Cui Wangshu.

Cui Wangshu’s calm gaze fell on Fang Qiutan. Though she curved her lips, her voice carried a chill: “This must be Daoist Fang. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Fang Qiutan glanced at her before turning to Li Cong. “Your Majesty.”

Li Cong’s eyes darted between the two. Seeing the tension crackling between them like drawn swords, the last shred of doubt in his heart eased. He grinned darkly at Cui Wangshu. “Wangshu, didn’t you say you were willing to offer up your Heart’s Blood to me?”

Cui Wangshu frowned slightly, struggle and defiance flickering in her eyes. Her figure swayed a little, but in the end, she seemed to concede. “This subject…”

Li Cong narrowed his eyes and cut her off. “Rest assured, I’m not the type to kill the donkey after it’s pulled the millstone. Once it’s done, the position of Cabinet Prime Minister will be yours.”

Others might not see it, but Li Cong had learned from Fang Qiutan’s divination chips that Cui Wangshu was far from as obedient to Cui Daoyuan as she appeared. Given what Cui Daoyuan had done to her, both emotionally and rationally, it was impossible for her not to harbor some resentment.

A child suppressed and controlled from a young age would eventually tire of following the family-paved path after growing up. One day, they would break free from it all, just to prove themselves.

Cui Wangshu raised her gaze to meet Li Cong’s. The dejection in her eyes gradually shifted into the sense of “finally, the day has come,” and she said firmly, “This subject is willing.”

Li Cong watched the change in her eyes with satisfaction. Fang Qiutan was right after all—someone like Cui Wangshu couldn’t endure what Cui Daoyuan had done to her forever.

Li Cong waved his hand and looked at Fang Qiutan. “Daoist Fang, take her there.”

“Yes.”

Cui Wangshu pressed her lips together and hesitated for a moment, but then she steeled herself and followed Fang Qiutan’s footsteps.

In the bedchamber palace next to Yangxin Hall, Fang Qiutan curled his lips in a meaningful smile. “Lady Cui… please.”

Cui Wangshu met his gaze and shot him a subtle glare before turning and entering the room. A palace maid followed her inside, carrying a jade bowl and a dagger.

Fang Qiutan stroked his long beard, and the corners of his mouth lifted high beneath it.

After the time it took for one incense stick to burn, the palace maid emerged from the room with half a bowl of fresh blood in the jade bowl.

A moment later, Cui Wangshu emerged, her lips pale and her forehead beaded with cold sweat. She leaned against the doorframe for support.

As she passed Fang Qiutan, Cui Wangshu gave him a faint glance, her voice weak. “Old thing…”

Fang Qiutan eyed her with amusement, replying flippantly, “Little thing.”

Cui Wangshu: “…”

She said nothing more and headed toward Yangxin Hall. Fang Qiutan touched the tip of his nose, sauntered forward two steps in a roguish manner, then paused and adopted an air of immortal poise.

After exchanging words, Cui Wangshu left the Imperial Palace. Li Cong rarely saw her looking so pale and frail, and he wanted to stare a bit longer, but Fang Qiutan gave a light cough, signaling that time was short, so he relented.

Seated in the carriage, Cui Wangshu couldn’t help coughing. The motion tugged at her wound, making her draw in a sharp breath from the pain. Half a bowl of Heart’s Blood—who knew how long it would take to recover from that.

Back when Liu Xuandu had taken just a few drops at the Imperial Mausoleum, now, to bring down Li Cong, she had really gone all in.

Cui Wangshu’s gaze darkened slightly. She said, “Go to… Xiaoyun Pavilion.”

Wang Xian had told her back then that he would be at Xiaoyun Pavilion during this time and for her to visit him after returning to the capital to check if her meridians had improved.

Now, not only was the matter of her meridians unresolved, but she had also given half a bowl of Heart’s Blood. Wang Xian would surely nag her endlessly once he found out.

Cui Wangshu leaned back wearily and rubbed her temples. Her head ached…

At Xiaoyun Pavilion.

Wang Xian saw her enter with a face as white as a sheet and unsteady steps. He opened his mouth to scold her, but Cui Wangshu quickly said, “Don’t nag. My head hurts.”

Wang Xian blew out his beard, his lips twitching as he held back. With a cold face, he asked, “What happened this time?”

Cui Wangshu sat on the stool and forced a smile. “I just gave half a bowl of Heart’s Blood. Feeling a bit weak.”

Before she finished speaking, Wang Xian smacked her on the head with his fan and fumed, “Are you tired of living? Half a bowl of Heart’s Blood—you think you can just take it whenever?”

As he scolded, he grabbed her wrist to take her pulse.

Cui Wangshu lacked even the strength to dodge and took the full hit. She pressed her lips together, knowing she was in the wrong, and said nothing.

Wang Xian fell silent, glaring at her with flared nostrils. He snorted coldly, stood, and retrieved a small box from the cabinet behind him. He roughly shoved a pill into her mouth.

The taste was somewhat familiar, carrying that faint, familiar fishy stench. Cui Wangshu swallowed it with difficulty and asked, “Where did you get the Soul Preserving Pill?”

As Wang Xian fetched the Golden Blood Powder, he sneered, “From your little lover.”

Cui Wangshu’s face stiffened. Lacking confidence, she said, “What little lover? You’re talking nonsense.”

Wang Xian saw her embarrassment and let out an “oh,” as if finding it novel. He said, “What’s that Love Gu for? Do I need to remind you? The way you two exchanged glances with your eyes— isn’t that your little lover?”

Cui Wangshu’s ear tips turned red. She turned her head away and didn’t respond.

Not a little lover…

Wang Xian placed the Golden Blood Powder and clean gauze beside her hand. “Apply it yourself. Call me when you’re done.” With that, he shut the door and left.

Cui Wangshu pressed her lips together, pulled her clothes down to her shoulders. The bandages were soaked through with blood, and beneath them, bloodstains marred the skin around her pale flesh.

There was an old scar on her chest, and now a fresh wound. The new cut was still oozing blood.

After applying the Golden Blood Powder, the burning pain in her chest gradually eased with a cooling sensation. Once the bleeding stopped, she rewrapped it with fresh gauze.

She opened the door and looked at Wang Xian waiting outside. “Done.”

Wang Xian shot her a glare and strode into the room.

Cui Wangshu pressed her lips together again and turned to sit back on the stool.

Wang Xian had pondered outside for a long while, telling himself to soothe the patient’s emotions. But the moment he saw Cui Wangshu’s face, he couldn’t hold back. “If you’d come half an hour later, you wouldn’t have been able to save your life—do you know that?”

Cui Wangshu’s eyes darted guiltily. “But there was still half an hour left…”

Wang Xian glared. “Still stubborn?”

Cui Wangshu quickly lowered her head. “My mistake, my mistake.”

Wang Xian looked at that face the world called “exiled immortal” and saw only a mule’s stubborn mug, written all over with defiance!

Suddenly amused despite his anger, Wang Xian sneered coldly. “I can’t control you anymore. Soon enough, someone else will. Don’t you like that Palace Lord of Huangdao? Keep acting recklessly, and I’ll tell her to come manage you.”

Cough cough—

Cui Wangshu had just brought tea to her lips when his words made her choke. The coughing tugged at her wound, leaving her flustered between the itch in her throat and the pain, unsure which to tend first.

After messily suppressing the discomfort in her throat, Cui Wangshu frowned at Wang Xian, her voice hoarse. “Did Jiang Ci tell you?”

Wang Xian gave her a strange look, as if disbelieving her words. He frowned. “Does Jiang Ci need to tell me? Anyone with eyes can see it. Besides, if you didn’t like her, why would I have made a trip to Luozhou?”

Cui Wangshu’s mouth twitched slightly. Was it really that obvious?

If Jiang Ci, Ji Yunwei, or Ying Lan had been there, they would have mercilessly said: Minister Cui, it couldn’t be more obvious…

Wang Xian seemed displeased with her expression. He hadn’t expected her to truly fall for someone one day, nor that Jiang Chenbi had actually taught her how to handle matters of desire…

Cui Wangshu composed her expression and asked, “How are my meridians? When will this injury heal?”

Wang Xian frowned, his voice rising agitatedly and cracking. “What do you mean? What are you planning now? Spit it all out at once—don’t come scare me again next time. At my age, I can’t take your nonsense!”

Cui Wangshu: “…”

Fine, he was so mad he was calling her “this scoundrel.” He was really furious.

Cui Wangshu licked her dry lips and said, “I don’t plan on doing anything. I’m just worried if it’ll affect my martial arts. You know, it won’t be long now.”

Wang Xian let out a breath. “At least half a year—no less, not even a day. If you want to live a few more years, listen to me, rest properly for half a year.”

Cui Wangshu fell silent. Half a year… After half a year, the flood season on the Luo River would begin around then. Thinking of the divination chips, she opened her mouth, but Wang Xian cut her off.

“And don’t even think about those divination chips. With this Heart’s Blood release, your meridians are messed up again. Be good and stay put for half a year, or you won’t even beat Xun An.”

Cui Wangshu: “…”

Cui Wangshu rubbed her face and sighed helplessly. “Fine.”

Wang Xian snorted coldly and eyed her sideways. “I’ll grab some medicine for you later. Come back in three days for a pulse check, and I’ll change your dressing.”

Narrowing his eyes, Wang Xian warned, “Take it on time, three times a day, not a single dose less. Skip one, and I’ll tell her you bled out Heart’s Blood today.”

Cui Wangshu closed her eyes. Why did everyone bring up Jiang Chenbi? Did she really seem like someone Jiang Chenbi could control?

“Alright, alright, I won’t make trouble. Don’t tell her, okay?” Cui Wangshu rubbed her brow and conceded.

Wang Xian wanted to nag more but saw her weakened state and held back for once. He cleared the room for her, only instructing, “Don’t overwork yourself lately. Rest here a bit, sleep it off, then go back.”

Cui Wangshu knew there was soothing incense in the room. She nodded in agreement.

The urgent work of returning to the capital these past few days, plus no rest the night before—inhaling the calming incense, she finally fell into a deep sleep.

In the Imperial Palace.

Fang Qiutan stood before the pill furnace, watching the flame. Li Cong coughed lightly as he approached and asked, “How is it?”

Fang Qiutan curled his lips in a sinister smile. “Rest assured, Your Majesty. This pill was made with Cui Wangshu’s Heart’s Blood—all the spiritual energy is inside. Once she takes over Cui Daoyuan’s position, without the nourishment of mortal life force, Cui Daoyuan will be nothing but an ordinary man.”

Li Cong grunted in acknowledgment. On his gaunt face, those narrow, elongated eyes always gleamed with an eerie vigor. But upon closer inspection, one could see the madness lurking at the bottom.

“You say that if Cui Wangshu becomes Cabinet Prime Minister, she can really take on those worldly karmic ties for me?”

Fang Qiutan smiled and explained, “Does Your Majesty know why Cui Daoyuan gains nourishment from mortal life force in that Cabinet Prime Minister position?”