Wang Youcai chuckled: "Manager Zhao... you've earned this!"
"Checking is also my duty as Manager Zhao raised a dark, sharply-arched brow, reaching his large hand further toward the medicinal herb box.
*Isn't this just bottomless greed...* Wang Youcai's heart gave a fierce jolt. Gritting his teeth, he fished another money pouch from his robes and shoved it directly into Zhao Wujiang's outstretched hand. His face bore a smile that was half-flattering, half-threatening:
"Manager Zhao is exceptionally bright, so you surely understand..."
A triumphant grin broke across Zhao Wujiang's face. Chuckling, he replied:
"Then I'll only check one! After all, right here at the gates of the Imperial City, who knows who might be watching..."
Wang Youcai narrowed his eyes. Zhao Wujiang was different from Chen Zhenghua; Chen Zhenghua was a confirmed man of their own, whereas Zhao Wujiang was merely a "partner" who had abruptly barged in. There were certain things he couldn't afford to show him. If Zhao Wujiang happened to spot any clues, it would spell trouble.
After a brief standoff, Wang Youcai reluctantly backed down, figuring Zhao Wujiang couldn't possibly make anything out of it. Taking a deep breath, he stepped aside.
Zhao Wujiang slowly lifted the lid of a wooden box. What met his eyes was a box packed full of fresh, dark-green mulberry leaves.
*Thud!* A faint sound echoed, like a heartbeat.
He felt something stirring inside his robes—a small wooden box sealed with silver needles, containing the Loulan Gu-worm extracted from Chen Zhenghua's body.
*Thud!* The tremor sounded once more. A flash crossed Zhao Wujiang's eyes. He scraped a mulberry leaf with his thumb until his fingernail was tinged with faint green, then raised his hand to the tip of his nose and sniffed lightly.
The unique scent of mulberry leaves blended with a deep, metallic smell of dried blood.
With a snap, he closed the herb box filled with mulberry leaves and waved a hand:
"Into the palace."
*Putting on a show and making a fuss over nothing—isn't he just trying to greedily grab more? What a hypocritical, sanctimonious eunuch...* Wang Youcai cursed inwardly as he followed the carriage caravan into the palace.
***
### Chapter 35: The Empress's Disappointment
Shen hour.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Emperor's bedchamber.
The Empress sat upright on a huanghuali wood chair, her delicate brows twitching continuously as frost gradually settled over her face.
Before her, Grade Fifteen—dressed in a deep blue robe and wearing a sky-cyan mask—was reporting on Zhao Wujiang's recent whereabouts.
Hearing Grade Fifteen recount how Zhao Wujiang greedily accepted bribes from the Imperial Hospital and aided in the illicit trafficking of medicinal herbs, the Empress trembled all over with rage. The image of Zhao Wujiang in her heart shattered piece by piece, turning into deep disappointment.
"You may withdraw."
Deep exhaustion permeated the Empress's tone as she slumped weakly against the chair.
Ever since the late Emperor's passing and her ascension to the throne at a tender age, imperial power had steadily waned, leaving Daxia facing turbulent internal and external crises. With neither older brothers or sisters above her nor younger descendants below her, she stood entirely alone, bitterly propping up the ancestral foundation.
Then she had met Zhao Wujiang. Although he was improper, he possessed integrity. Though she never spoke of it aloud, she had subconsciously come to regard Zhao Wujiang as a partner.
Yet this very partner had been consumed by greed and betrayed her.
"Hmph..." The Empress let out a tearful sniff, her eyes webbed with crimson bloodshot lines.
*Creeak...*
The chamber door was pushed open. Zhao Wujiang walked in, cradling a wooden box and a money pouch. Taking one look at the Empress's expression, he asked in puzzlement:
"Yo, Your Majesty, what's wrong with you? Did those stubborn old ministers drive you out of your mind?"
"Zhao Wujiang!" The Empress slowly straightened up, recovering her dignity as her bloodshot eyes trembled:
"Where did you go today?"
"Me?" Zhao Wujiang's dark brows knit slightly together; he could sense Xuanyuan Jing's simmering anger. "I went to traffic medicinal herbs!"
*Bang!*
The Empress slammed her hand hard against the table and roared:
"Trafficking medicinal herbs—how can you say those four words so lightly?!
Did I fail to reward you? Yet you are so insatiably greedy that you still go traffic medicinal herbs and embezzle from the state treasury! Ah?"
The more she scolded, the angrier the Empress grew. She stood up, strode two steps right up to Zhao Wujiang, and shoved him heavily:
"A strapping man like you, handsome and dashing, with such sweet words on your lips on ordinary days—to actually commit such filthy, despicable deeds!"
Zhao Wujiang staggered and tumbled to the floor. Instead of getting back up, he simply sat there on the ground, his clear eyes gazing up at the Empress with a serene, unshakeable smile as he softly said:
"I understand. Go ahead and scold me, Your Majesty. The harsher you scold, the more your heart aches for me."
Zhao Wujiang understood that this woman had been lonely for far too long. Guarding her secrets alone, with no friends and walking on thin ice day after day, he was Xuanyuan Jing's only exception.
The Empress's heart gave a jolt, a stinging sensation pricking the bridge of her nose as she slumped back into her chair.
"I... wanted to treat you as a friend, but you've let me down..."
"That's because you were far too hasty in your disappointment."
"What?"
A bright curve touched the corners of Zhao Wujiang's mouth as he slowly said:
"Do you still remember the matter of the Loulan Gu-worm? Whether it was Dugu Yihe's letter or my own discoveries, both led me to suspect that this inner court has already been heavily infiltrated by heretics.
Chen Zhenghua's death and my succession as Grand Eunuch—these two events happened by twist of fate to grant me a chance to make contact with this behind-the-scenes force. Today's herb trafficking was merely something floating on the surface.
Through this affair, certain hypotheses of mine have already been confirmed, but they still require verification..."
Listening to Zhao Wujiang recount the matter in a calm, unhurried tone, a churning ache washed over the Empress's heart. "You went to investigate this on my behalf..."
"No." Zhao Wujiang's gaze gradually sharpened, resembling a swift blade:
"There is also my Third Great-Uncle!
In the short term, I cannot become one of their trusted insiders, but I can become their 'partner,' stepping closer to the truth one step at a time!"
"You..."
The Empress opened her mouth to speak, hesitating. She wanted to ask why Zhao Wujiang hadn't given her a heads-up beforehand, but guilt quickly flooded her heart—she still had herself to blame for not fully trusting Zhao Wujiang...
"Alright!" Zhao Wujiang scrambled to his feet and brushed off the dust. "Stop moping around like some timid maiden."
In a flash, the Empress's fury flared up: "Zhao Wujiang!"
"Right, just like that—keep it dignified." Zhao Wujiang tossed the money pouch onto the table, sending gold and silver banknotes scattering. He waved a hand dismissively:
"An Emperor should look like an Emperor! Take this money. A horse needs to eat grass; if you don't give me grass, I'll go get my own grass!"
***
### Chapter 36: I'm a Eunuch, Don't Be Afraid
"You'll go get your own grass?"
Xuanyuan Jing was baffled.
The two sat facing one another.
Three wooden herb boxes lay open on the table, containing respectively a branch-like medicinal herb, two white jade vials holding medicinal liquid, and an aged, cream-white ginseng root laid out over warm, damp, fluffy soil.
"What are these?" the Empress asked, puzzled.
"Medicinal herbs."
"I know that. *What* medicinal herbs?"
Zhao Wujiang glanced at her and replied earnestly: "Herbs with great utility!"
The beautiful woman was left speechless.
Zhao Wujiang picked up a white jade vial, gently waving his palm across the mouth of the bottle to fan the scent of the medicinal liquid within into his nasal passages. A rich aroma forcefully surged into his mind, instantly making him feel nauseated.
The Empress also picked up the other white jade vial, bringing her delicate nose close to take a sniff, only for Zhao Wujiang to snatch the white jade bottle away with lightning speed:
"Didn't your chemistry teacher teach you how to smell the contents of a vessel?"
The Empress tilted her head: ???
Zhao Wujiang fished a small wooden box out from his robes and slowly opened it, revealing the dying Loulan Gu-worm pierced through with four silver needles.
"How do you have this?" the Empress asked in bewilderment.
"Hush."
Zhao Wujiang brought his right thumb—its nail tinged with a faint green—closer toward the Loulan Gu-worm.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak."
The Loulan Gu-worm immediately began wildly writhing its short, pale, soft body, radiating an intense, ultimate craving.
"Basically confirmed."
Zhao Wujiang flicked away the mulberry leaf powder, causing the Loulan Gu-worm to vibrate with excitement. His eyes turned deep and dark:
"Someone in the Imperial Hospital is processing special medicinal herbs to send out of the palace. These herbs must be used to raise Gu-creatures!
And the successfully raised Gu-worms are then channeled back into the palace.
Today, they also procured a type of mulberry leaf bearing the scent of dried blood; those should be used to feed the Gu-worms."
"Don't Loulan Gu-worms lodge themselves in the heart and devour heart-blood?" the Empress frowned.
Zhao Wujiang rubbed his fingers together: "The Loulan Gu planted inside living humans devour heart-blood, while the Loulan Gu being prepped and readied are fed with these mulberry leaves!"
The Empress's beautiful eyes trembled: "If your hypothesis turns out to be true, doesn't that mean..."
"That's right, there should still be Loulan Gu-worms in the palace that haven't been planted into living humans yet!"
Zhao Wujiang recalled the medicinal herbs sent into the palace today:
"It is highly probable they will infiltrate the palace via this batch of herbs."
"It's a pity we couldn't stop it." A pang of guilt toward Zhao Wujiang welled up in the Empress's heart, prompting her to add: "I don't mean to blame you."
"We couldn't have stopped it—or rather, it requires preparation before we can stop it.
They are being careful for fear of their misdeeds coming to light, but that doesn't mean they are terrified."
Zhao Wujiang shook off all the mulberry leaf powder from his thumbnail, then closed the small wooden box containing the Gu-worm.
Pondering for a moment, he said solemnly:
"Xuanyuan Jing, take off your clothes!"
"You... Zhao Wujiang... what do you mean?" The Empress's eyes flashed with panic for a split second before instantly freezing over into frost as she coldly spoke.
"Now that Gu-worms have made their way into the palace, you are in grave danger!"
Zhao Wujiang flipped his left palm, and four silver needles flashing with cold light suddenly appeared between his fingers:
"I need to place a seal over your heart to prevent them from using Gu to harm you!"
Knowing Zhao Wujiang meant well, a flush of pink instantly stained the Empress's cheeks. She gave a dry cough:
"I have the Longyin Guard to protect me."
"I've said it before: Gu is sorcery! Its path differs from medicine, yet they lead to the same destination; medicine can be used to suppress it.
But using martial arts to suppress it? Difficult!
Especially this Loulan Gu—it's as difficult as ascending to heaven!"
Zhao Wujiang continuously flipped his palm, the silver needles vanishing and reappearing between his fingers in a repeating cycle:
"Don't forget, you are the ruler of a nation; you cannot afford to fall!"
The Empress let out a cold "Mn," though the pink flush on her cheeks added an extra layer of shyness.
She walked over to the bed and lay down. Against her will, her mind conjured up the scenes of Dugu Mingyue and Liu Meier entwined in tempestuous intimacy with Zhao Wujiang. Her flushed cheeks quietly grew hot, and she stared up at the canopy ceiling, not daring to look at Zhao Wujiang.
"I'm a eunuch, what are you afraid of?"
Zhao Wujiang smoothly seated himself beside the bed, maintaining a deadpan expression.
Gazing straight ahead, the Empress spoke in a muffled voice: "Fake."
"Then I'm beginning."
Zhao Wujiang slowly unfastened the upper half of the Empress's imperial robe, revealing her skin—which put snow to shame—and the wrapped bandages pressing against her heaving chest.
Just as he reached out to pull apart the right-side bandage, the Empress suddenly let out a sharp cry:
"Wait."
Zhao Wujiang quietly looked at her. Her pretty face flushed crimson and she turned her head away, speaking coldly:
"I'll do it myself!"
Rustling sounds of undoing garments rang out. When the Empress turned back around, half the bandages had already been unwrapped. One of her slender, delicate hands grasped her own full, voluptuous mound, her fingers sinking deep into the flesh as she laboriously exposed her heart.
A single hand couldn't even fully cover it, leaving a portion still spilling out—*so large, and with those fingers sunk deep into it, tsk tsk, so soft...* Zhao Wujiang flipped his left hand, causing four silver needles to materialize:
"Hold it tight, I'm going to start the sealing."
The silver needles immediately pierced the major acupuncture points around her heart, eliciting a bewitching, muffled groan from her.
"Be gentle..."
***
### Chapter 37: Vie for Favor and Jealousy
...
Inside the bedchamber, upon the bed.
Holding silver needles, Zhao Wujiang executed an arcane technique, gently gathering, twisting, smoothing, belly-stroking, and plucking. The Empress let out soft moans at intervals, her sovereign aura turning even softer and more bewitching, pulling relentlessly at the heartstrings.
As Zhao Wujiang's sealing process entered its final stages, his mental energy began to drain. Fine beads of sweat had already seeped across his forehead, and his sharply chiseled cheeks gradually paled a fraction.
The Empress's pupils mirrored Zhao Wujiang's concentrated expression, sending ripples through her heart and deepening her guilt.
She felt guilty for having lashed out with a torrent of scoldings at Zhao Wujiang earlier today without even asking to understand the situation first.
Amidst her swirling thoughts, she raised her left hand, wanting to wipe the sweat from Zhao Wujiang's brow. Finding nothing in her grip, she suddenly snapped back to reality, gasped in alarm, and quickly grabbed herself again.
"Did I hurt you just now?"
Zhao Wujiang lowered his gaze, his expression deadpan while his face grew increasingly pale.
*Good thing he didn't see that I wanted to wipe his sweat for him...* The Empress breathed a long sigh of relief, her face flushing crimson as she shook her head.
Suddenly, she felt a trace of warmth strike her body. Glancing sideways, she saw a tiny drop of scarlet crimson.
"You're having a nosebleed," the Empress said with concern.
Zhao Wujiang maintained a pale smile:
"It's merely mental exhaustion, a natural bodily sign..."
The Empress lowered her gaze, a trace of apology surfacing.
...
The next day.
The sky was clear, the air crisp, and a gentle breeze blew pleasantly.
In the Wanchun Garden of the inner court, the imperial consorts and concubines had gathered together to attend a gathering.
Adorned in brightly colored silk and embroidered robes, the consorts vied with one another in beauty, a flock of orioles and swallows each possessing her own unique charm.
Within a small pavilion in the garden, ten consorts sat clustered together, chatting amidst sweet laughter while their personal maidservants respectfully waited outside the pavilion for instructions.
Empress Dugu Mingyue wore a fiery-red court dress, looking luxurious and dignified. Sipping tea and nibbling on pastries with her delicate brows raised slightly, she listened to Consort Liu and Imperial Consort Xiao discuss some amusing anecdotes, occasionally covering her mouth with a chuckle.
Liu Meier and Xiao Wanjun exchanged beaming smiles; the "sisterly" pair chatted gaily while casting glances from time to time toward the dignified and imposing Dugu Mingyue.
On the surface, the three of them were harmonious and cordial, but inwardly their thoughts churned, each viewing the others as competitors.
The remaining consorts quietly nibbled on pastries, either maintaining silence or accompanying them with flattering smiles. Being out of favor, they had no way of competing with the three elder sisters.
"I hear Her Majesty the Empress was summoned by the Emperor once again. Sister is truly favored; I wonder what lofty methods you might have—perhaps you could teach us younger sisters..." Liu Meier initiated.
Dugu Mingyue wiped the corner of her mouth with a silk handkerchief and smiled gently:
"There are no lofty methods to speak of; it's simply that the Emperor favors me."
The Emperor's favor was the greatest method of all. The group of concubines instantly fell silent. Dugu Mingyue slightly raised her pretty chin, wearing a trace of coy shyness as she said:
"However, His Majesty truly lives up to his name as the True Dragon of Heaven; he is formidable indeed."
*Hmph, with the techniques and secret formulas Zhao Wujiang taught me, who ends up favored in the future is still anyone's guess...* Liu Meier's eyes flashed:
"His Majesty certainly doesn't know how to show pity; on quite a few occasions, younger sister felt as though I wouldn't survive..."
Xiao Wanjun was clad in a moon-white long robe. Her figure possessed exquisite, undulating curves, which the robe outlined in even fuller relief. Hearing the smug tones of the two elder sisters, a playful arc curved the corners of her mouth. Supporting her own waist, she sighed woefully:
"Who is to say otherwise? My poor waist has been aching faintly even today. His Majesty simply loves to hold younger sister by the waist—for over three hours at a time, who could possibly endure that?"
Hearing Imperial Consort Xiao ruefully mention three whole hours, the unfavored consorts all widened their eyes, astonishment spilling across their faces.
Upon hearing this, Dugu Mingyue and Liu Meier felt a sense of being outdone rise within their hearts. Three hours—that was something they had yet to experience.
Liu Meier gave an inward, soft huff, covering her mouth with a smile:
"Younger sister was certainly generous, pulling strings to secure power for that Zhao Wujiang. It seems that Zhao Wujiang must have put in plenty of good words before the Emperor to earn younger sister such favor."
"Manager Zhao has indeed helped younger sister quite a bit."
Xiao Wanjun did not deny it, her coquettish allure blooming slightly:
"Did elder sister not ask him for help? Younger sister has heard, however, that on the very second day elder sister gained favor, you prepared some... meager gifts! And sent them over, seemingly even asking for advice on certain matters."
Under the stone table, Liu Meier's hand tightly gripped her court dress. Imperial Consort Xiao's mention of a "meager gift" felt like a direct insult to her; compared to the position of Grand Eunuch obtained through Imperial Consort Xiao's connections, the things she had prepared truly amounted to very little.
Dugu Mingyue's beautiful eyes flickered.
Zhao Wujiang stayed by the Emperor's side, enjoyed trust, and could get a word in edgewise. Furthermore, the man was exceptionally bright; the techniques he taught her had indeed worked, and she could clearly sense the Emperor becoming far more joyous and intense...
*What a pity—no matter how much the two of you contend, when it comes to the Emperor's favor and Zhao Wujiang's support, neither of you can compare to me......* Dugu Mingyue flashed a brilliant, radiant smile, chuckling:
"The Zhao Wujiang the younger sisters speak of indeed possesses a certain degree of skill. Not only did he instruct this Empress in a few bedroom arts, but he also calculated my days for me..."
Glancing haughtily at the concubines, Dugu Mingyue gently rubbed her own waist and abdomen.
In an instant, the entire clearing fell dead silent.
***
### Chapter 38: Sending Gifts
...
Watching Dugu Mingyue rub her waist and abdomen, the atmosphere grew tense and heavy.
Receiving favor was, after all, merely a process; the result they desired was to conceive a dragon seed and give birth to an imperial prince.
With the Emperor currently lacking heirs, whoever gave birth to the prince first could rise in status through her child and dominate the inner court.
*It seems not only must Qingqing seek Zhao Wujiang's help, but I too must go and cultivate closer ties with Zhao Wujiang. Since he possesses such potent secret formulas, he must surely have others as well...* Liu Meier smiled sweetly and alluringly:
"Then younger sister must congratulate elder sister."
*Hmph, nothing is certain yet, it's not that fast. Starting today, as long as I, Liu Meier, can bathe in more of the Emperor's grace, I won't necessarily end up behind you, Dugu Mingyue......* Liu Meier's thoughts churned:
"Just now, younger sister Wanjun inadvertently reminded me. Thinking carefully, I indeed have areas where I fell short of Manager Zhao. If I don't make compensation, a sense of guilt will inevitably linger in my heart."
"Yan'er." She gave a soft call, and from among the maidservants waiting outside the pavilion stepped a beauty in pale pink attire, who curtsied and said:
"Your Ladyship, Yan'er is here. Please issue your orders."
Liu Meier slid a wooden plaque from her inner sleeve. The character "Liu" was inscribed upon it.
Unlike the plaque she had previously gifted to Zhao Wujiang, this wooden plaque was edged with gold on the back.
If the identity conferred by the previous plaque was that of an honored guest, then the identity conferred by this gold-edged plaque was that of an insider of the inner household.
"Go fetch some gold, silver, and jade treasures, and send them to Manager Zhao."
She placed the gold-edged wooden plaque into the hands of her personal maid, Yan'er, tapping it lightly to indicate that this plaque should be handed over to Zhao Wujiang as well.
"Understood, Your Ladyship. Yan'er obeys."
Yan'er accepted the plaque and respectfully departed.
*What a cunning Liu Meier! She doesn't speak of cultivating ties, nor of bestowing rewards, but instead uses the words "indebtedness" and "compensation," leaving the rest of us unable to openly send gifts and seize the initiative...* Dugu Mingyue's eyes trembled as she offered a gentle, gentle smile:
"Speaking of which, Zhao Wujiang originally came out of my palace, tasked with regulating the Emperor's imperial physique. The Emperor has already rewarded him, but this Empress has yet to do so.
Qing'er, send Manager Zhao a thousand liang of gold, a hundred bolts of brocade, and ten dou of pearls."
"Qing'er acknowledges the command."
Qing'er hurried out of Wanchun Garden.
*Oh no, both Dugu Mingyue and Liu Meier have sent gifts; I must send them too. And not only must I send them, but I have to send more and better ones...* Watching from the side, Xiao Wanjun grew frantic with anxiety, momentarily at a loss for what would be best to give.