Seeing Yu Jiuzhou again, Chi Wan felt a strange mix of emotions. There was anger, but even more so, there was vexation and embarrassment.
She should have hated Yu Jiuzhou, but she found she couldn’t hate her at all.
Chi Wan felt she was just a sucker for a pretty face. Was she not hating Yu Jiuzhou simply because she was beautiful?
Realizing this about herself, she began to stew in silent anger at her own weakness.
She failed to notice the way her own heart beat. Whenever she saw Yu Jiuzhou, it would pound in an unusual rhythm.
This heart loved Yu Jiuzhou, this soul loved Yu Jiuzhou. Even if her mind believed she should hate Yu Jiuzhou, her soul and her heart were incapable of doing so.
Chi Wan walked calmly before Yu Jiuzhou. She neither bowed nor spoke, merely standing there in silence.
Such an attitude was enough to show her current displeasure.
Yu Jiuzhou said nothing more and turned to board the carriage.
Chi Wan glanced left and right. Realizing the two of them were to share a carriage, she had no choice but to get on.
Once she was settled, the carriage began to move.
Chi Wan closed her eyes, not looking at Yu Jiuzhou, and simply stayed quietly in her corner.
If the carriage had been any larger, she would have likely put even more distance between them.
Seeing this, Yu Jiuzhou was both exasperated and amused. What a childish person.
After a brief, silent laugh, she took the initiative to speak. “Does Jinzhao have nothing to say to Us?”
Chi Wan knew that Jinzhao was her courtesy name. Besides, there were only two of them in the carriage; Yu Jiuzhou couldn’t possibly be talking to herself.
And of course, she had things to say to Yu Jiuzhou. She was just about to speak when the other woman spoke first, “The Empress Dowager blocked your path. What are Jinzhao’s thoughts on the matter?”
She didn’t mention a single word about last night, nor about the visit to Chi Qing today.
Last night’s events were awkward, so it was fine not to bring them up. But today’s matter concerned a person’s life and death. Was she not going to mention that at all?
Chi Wan sighed inwardly. “I have no thoughts.”
“Does Jinzhao not think that the Empress Dowager wants you dead?” Yu Jiuzhou took a sip of tea.
She had only learned of this recently herself. The Empress Dowager did not want her to be the emperor and believed that Chi Wan had instigated the whole affair.
Therefore, Empress Dowager Xu believed that if she eliminated Chi Wan, perhaps Yu Jiuzhou would obediently abdicate and let an adult from the imperial clan—or even Guiyi—become emperor.
Guiyi was the Imperial Heir established by the late Emperor, the rightful new emperor.
Yu Jiuzhou couldn’t understand it. Just because she was a Kun Ze, anyone else—even a child—could be emperor, but not her?
For this reason, Empress Dowager Xu even wanted to kill Chi Wan.
So Yu Jiuzhou had long ago instructed Chun Gui, Xia Qu, Qiu Lai, and Dong Ying that no matter which of them was by Chi Wan’s side, if the Empress Dowager summoned her, they were to refuse, even forcefully if necessary.
In the two months since Chi Wan’s return, the very first time she stepped out of the palace in broad daylight, the Empress Dowager’s summons arrived.
If Chi Wan were truly poisoned to death at the Empress Dowager’s residence, could the dead be brought back to life? Could she kill her own mother?
Empress Dowager Xu acted with impunity, but she was a fool.
A woman bound by dogma. Her own biological daughter, yet simply because she was a Kun Ze, she could not inherit the throne.
She would rather choose someone with no blood relation to inherit than let her own daughter do so. There were many things Yu Jiuzhou no longer wished to say to the Empress Dowager.
Because of this, their relationship had grown increasingly tense.
It seemed the Empress Dowager still hadn’t given up. She still believed Chi Wan had instigated her ascension and wanted to kill her.
After all, if Chi Wan died, even if she hadn’t been instigated, the court would fall into chaos. Countless people would jump out and say she was unfit to be emperor and should abdicate in favor of a Qian Yuan.
How laughable.
She had thought that, aside from Chi Wan, her mother would be the most supportive person in the world. It turned out she was the most opposed.
Thinking back, Empress Dowager Xu had been very supportive of Prince Bao’an in her past life. It was only after he refused to recognize Emperor Shengyuan as his father that she began to dislike him. But she never spoke out in her capacity as Empress Dowager; instead, she complained to Yu Jiuzhou in private.
When Yu Jiuzhou stood up to confront Prince Bao’an, the Empress Dowager had said she only wanted her to make Prince Bao’an acknowledge Emperor Shengyuan as his father and not posthumously name his own father as emperor. She had not wanted her to fight against Prince Bao’an, saying it was improper for a princess to act in such a way.
Hah! Not fight? If she had surrendered all her power, what right to speak would she have had?
This mother of hers ought to be treated the way Chi Qing treated the Grand Madam—placed under confinement.
Originally, this was just a thought for Yu Jiuzhou. But today, when the Empress Dowager had someone block Chi Wan’s path, it solidified her resolve. She would provide her with good food and drink and let the Empress Dowager become an old immortal—an old immortal who could never leave Cining Palace.
However, Chi Wan’s reaction was somewhat unexpected. Based on her understanding of Chi Wan, she should have been complaining to her.
But then again, she was no longer Chi Wan’s dear Highness. The other woman wouldn’t call her “Dearest Jiuzhou” as she did in her letters.
Yu Jiuzhou lowered her gaze, seemingly waiting for Chi Wan’s reply.
Chi Wan hesitated for a moment before saying, “The matter of the Empress Dowager is for Your Majesty to handle. What I want to ask is, why does Your Majesty want to kill Chi Qing?”
Truly clever. From Chun Gui’s message, she had already deduced that Chi Qing was feigning illness, and that a grave illness would naturally be followed by death.
Yu Jiuzhou poured two cups of tea and gestured for Chi Wan to come and drink. Seeing that she wouldn’t move, she could only say helplessly, “Rest assured, I will not kill her.”
Chi Wan raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“She was willing to face death for you. Naturally, I will not kill her.” Yu Jiuzhou spoke from the heart.
Originally, neither she nor Chi Wan had much trust in Chi Qing, let alone believed she would go to such lengths.
Now it seemed they had held a stereotype against the Chi family.
Seeing Chi Wan’s puzzled expression, Yu Jiuzhou did not hide the truth.
“You’re saying she chose to die for me?” Chi Wan was astonished. She had thought it was just an ordinary meeting, a desperate plea made as a last resort. She never imagined it would cost Chi Qing her life.
Fortunately, Yu Jiuzhou was not going to kill Chi Qing.
Yu Jiuzhou once again made a gesture of invitation, beckoning her to drink tea.
This time, Chi Wan did not refuse. She rose and sat down opposite her.
Yu Jiuzhou picked up her teacup and gently tapped it against Chi Wan’s. “In this world, there are many people willing to die for you.”
Chi Wan smiled. “But you are unwilling to tell me the truth.”
“These past two months, you’ve seemingly told me a lot, but you haven’t said a single word about what I care about most.”
She didn’t specify what those things were, leaving some room for maneuver in case she had guessed wrong.
Besides, she believed Yu Jiuzhou knew what she was talking about.
Of course, Yu Jiuzhou knew. “I will tell you.”
After saying that, Yu Jiuzhou fell silent. Chi Wan waited for a long time, but no answer came.
What couldn’t be said? Was there anything more important than restoring her memory?
If she truly had amnesia, the most urgent task should be to recover her memories.
Meeting her questioning gaze, Yu Jiuzhou pressed a fingernail into the flesh of her palm. The slight pain brought her back to her senses. “You can’t handle that much information right now. Forcing your memories to return might turn you into a simpleton.”
A simpleton?
Chi Wan pondered for a moment. Generally, the brain only developed problems under extreme overload, but that didn’t necessarily mean one would become a simpleton.
Based on her assessment of her own body, she was very healthy at present. It was unlikely she would become a simpleton.
“Who said such a thing? It’s completely devoid of common sense. You should listen to a physician. Did Qiu Lai say this as well?”
But Yu Jiuzhou was insistent. “But you were poisoned with a Gu.”
What about a Gu? A Gu couldn’t defy the laws of nature, could it?
“So?” Chi Wan still didn’t understand. For someone with amnesia, you were supposed to tell them every little detail about their life to aid in their recovery.
Yu Jiuzhou picked up her tea. “I forced Nanyue to send over all their Gu masters. The most skilled Gu masters from Lingnan have also come to the capital.”
This included the master of Insect Valley and the young master, Xi Wu.
Chi Wan’s heart stirred. “What did they say?”
What could they have said to make Yu Jiuzhou so conflicted?
Yu Jiuzhou gripped the warm teacup, recalling her meeting with those Gu masters a few days ago.
The first person she met was the master of Insect Valley. The man was already old. When he heard her describe a Gu that caused memory loss, he was first taken aback, then asked, “There are many types of Gu that cause memory loss. Which one does Your Majesty speak of?”
Yu Jiuzhou frowned. Qiu Lai, who was beside her, described Chi Wan’s symptoms.
“River of Oblivion?” The master of Insect Valley immediately stated the Gu’s name.
“Speak!” Yu Jiuzhou was barely suppressing her rage. Seeing the Gu masters from Nanyue, if not for the fact that Chi Wan’s poison had yet to be cured, she would have made them wish for death.
The master of Insect Valley, however, was unafraid. “I implore Your Majesty to spare the people of Nanyue and to spare Insect Valley. They are innocent.”
“Innocent?” Yu Jiuzhou scoffed. “You attacked Great Zhou. Are the people of Lingnan not innocent? Are my Great Zhou soldiers not innocent? Was Chi Wan, who was schemed against by you, not innocent?”
“Our patience is limited. You don’t want to see your disciples from Insect Valley die before your eyes, or see Nanyue razed to the ground, do you?”
Even if she promised, the master of Insect Valley wouldn’t believe her. On the contrary, her current attitude would make him think that as long as he cured the poison, Nanyue could be spared.
But…
“River of Oblivion has no cure.”
Yu Jiuzhou glanced at Li Bao beside her. “Kill them. Kill them until she remembers the antidote.”
Li Bao brought in a group of Gu masters from Insect Valley. In front of everyone, he unhesitatingly killed the first person.
Then the second, the third…
These people cried and screamed, begging their master to save them. The master of Insect Valley was in agony, biting his teeth until they bled.
It was only when this group was finished and Li Bao was about to have another brought in that the master of Insect Valley hastily stopped him. “Wait! I’ve thought of something.”
Without waiting for Yu Jiuzhou’s permission, he immediately explained the method. “There is one way that might be able to cure this Gu. The person afflicted is a Qian Yuan. Have her mark someone, a Kun Ze. Just being marked is enough. During intercourse, the Gu worm will become excited and travel throughout the body. When it leaves the brain, the brain will begin to heal. Even if it doesn’t restore all memories, after a few times, the host will remember many things. Furthermore, if the Gu worm becomes too excited, it will burst and die.”
If the Gu worm died, the poison would naturally be cured.
Having gotten her answer, Yu Jiuzhou waved her hand to have the master of Insect Valley taken away. The master suddenly remembered something. “Your Majesty, if you do not wish for the host to become a simpleton, do not let the host know too much about herself before the Gu worm bursts. Otherwise, the host’s emotional fluctuations will increase, and she might recover that period of memory. If the Gu worm discovers it can no longer control the host, it will cause destruction within the host’s brain.”
“The River of Oblivion Gu is one of the top-ranking Gu worms. All of the top ten Gu worms share this characteristic. Once they sense they are losing control of the host, they will destroy the host’s body.”
The master of Insect Valley knew that if anything happened to the host of this Gu, everyone in Insect Valley would have to die, and it might even affect Nanyue.
Nanyue could not withstand the cannons of Great Zhou.
In truth, she knew who was afflicted with the Gu and who had administered it. But the mistakes of the disciple should be borne by the master.
After the master of Insect Valley left, Yu Jiuzhou met with Xi Wu and over a dozen skilled Gu masters from Lingnan in succession.
After learning the Gu’s name, more than half of those dozen masters had only heard of it by name. The remaining few only described the characteristics of the River of Oblivion Gu and possible cures.
Only one old woman said, “Love will make the host remember.”
This “love,” as the old woman explained it, was quite similar to the answer given by the master of Insect Valley. It had to be said, the people of Great Zhou were more reserved than those of Nanyue.
She also confirmed the master of Insect Valley’s words about the top ten Gu worms; there were indeed no discrepancies.
As for Xi Wu, the one who had poisoned Chi Wan, Yu Jiuzhou would have her sliced into a thousand pieces.
Xi Wu was not surprised that Yu Jiuzhou would see her. From the moment Yu Jiuzhou issued the decree forcing Nanyue to send all its Gu masters, she knew what the other woman intended to do.
She asked nonchalantly, “Where is the Prince? Is she not here?”
“Since you know why We have summoned you, just speak plainly.” Yu Jiuzhou had no desire for pleasantries, especially with one of the main culprits who had harmed Chi Wan.
Xi Wu lowered her eyes. “There is no cure.”
Yu Jiuzhou had already obtained a method from many others. Hearing Xi Wu’s claim of “no cure,” she laughed in anger. “My people in Nanyue will make Duan Jinxian’s life a living hell, then throw Nanyue into civil strife. As for who will ultimately become the King of Nanyue, no matter who it is, We will not allow the King of Nanyue to bear the surname Duan again.”
Xi Wu clenched her fists and was about to stand up, but the palace guards beside her immediately forced her to her knees.
Looking at her state, Yu Jiuzhou’s tone was flat. “This is just the beginning. If We are in a good mood, Nanyue will be peaceful. If We are in a bad mood, Nanyue will be plagued by constant internal conflict until all its people are dead. I trust the Young Master knows how to make Us happy.”
Xi Wu took a deep breath, no longer able to maintain her usual gentle and calm demeanor. “Yu Jiuzhou!”
“We do what We say!”
Xi Wu finally spoke, but what she said was no different from what her master had said. She only added at the end, “If you don’t want Chi Wan to become a simpleton, then by all means, try to force her memories back.”
Yu Jiuzhou suppressed the rage in her heart and had Xi Wu taken away.
Of course, she would not spare the person who had poisoned Chi Wan, but her revenge would have to wait until after Chi Wan had recovered.
Yu Jiuzhou did not hide any of this; she told Chi Wan everything.
As long as it wasn’t content that could agitate Chi Wan, it could be said.
What could agitate Chi Wan was anything that might stimulate her to recover her memories.
Chi Wan had not expected this to be the reason Yu Jiuzhou had withheld so much information.
“So last night, you were helping me cure the Gu?”
At the mention of last night, Yu Jiuzhou’s body stiffened. “Yes.”
Chi Wan raised an eyebrow. It seemed to have had some effect, but not a particularly significant one. Did it need to be done a few more times?
She was startled by her own thoughts. What did she mean, a few more times? Was this something that could be done multiple times?
“Alright, I believe you.”
Only Chi Wan herself knew if she truly believed it.
Yu Jiuzhou understood Chi Wan. In her heart, she was likely half-believing and half-doubting, merely saying she believed it out loud.
But thinking of the Gu masters’ words, Yu Jiuzhou didn’t dare to gamble. If something really happened to Chi Wan, she couldn’t bear the consequences.
As long as Chi Wan was by her side, everything was fine. If anything else happened to Chi Wan, she feared she would become a walking corpse.
Just as Chi Wan had once advised her, “Don’t spend all day reading memorials, or you’ll become nothing but an emperor-machine.”
But without Chi Wan, wasn’t she just an emperor-machine?
Yu Jiuzhou gazed at Chi Wan, her eyes filled with an indescribable depth of affection.
Chi Wan averted her gaze. A look like that from Yu Jiuzhou made her heart skip a beat.
Fortunately, the carriage arrived at the Earl of Huai’an’s Residence. Outside, Chun Gui called for them to disembark.
When the emperor traveled, the Imperial City Division had long since surrounded the Earl of Huai’an’s Residence, making it watertight. Even inside the residence, people were stationed in every courtyard to prevent any tactless person from offending the emperor.
Chi Wan opened the door to get off the carriage but noticed Yu Jiuzhou hadn’t moved. She turned her head to look. “Is Your Majesty not coming?”
“You are here to see Chi Qing. I will not go.”
Yu Jiuzhou thought to herself that Chi Wan now understood enough about Great Zhou. As long as she was careful not to expose her amnesia, it would be fine.
Starting with the Earl of Huai’an’s Residence, she would let Chi Wan gradually begin to interact with outsiders.
Since the Gu poison couldn’t be cured in a short time, and Chi Wan was no longer as ignorant as when she had first lost her memory, she couldn’t keep her confined to one corner and not let her out.
Being overprotective might be counterproductive.
Even if Chi Wan couldn’t recover her memories in the short term, she could at least live a normal life.
But too many people were watching Chi Wan. She could only be let out in small, gradual steps.
The prerequisite was that her amnesia was not discovered at the Earl of Huai’an’s Residence.
Seeing Chi Wan step down from the carriage and about to leave, Yu Jiuzhou opened the window again. “Jinzhao.”
Chi Wan, now used to being called Jinzhao, immediately stopped and looked at Yu Jiuzhou.
Yu Jiuzhou tapped her temple, reminding Chi Wan not to reveal her amnesia.
“I know.”
Chi Wan replied casually and stepped through the gates of the Earl of Huai’an’s Residence.
The guards of the Imperial City Division were all Chi Wan’s trusted subordinates. Rumors outside claimed the Commander had grown too powerful and had been imprisoned by Her Majesty. While some of them seemed not to believe it, their hearts had already begun to waver.
Now, seeing their Commander standing before them, some were so moved that tears nearly welled up in their eyes.
The Imperial City Division guards who saw Chi Wan knelt in unison. “Greetings, Lord Commander.”
“Greetings, Lord Commander.”
Everywhere Chi Wan walked, people knelt.
She was very unaccustomed to it and wanted to tell them to rise, but remembering she couldn’t expose her amnesia, she could only walk forward with a composed expression.
Then, Li Bao came forward to greet her. “Her Majesty said that Your Highness’s injuries have not yet healed. This servant has prepared a sedan chair.”
Li Bao, one of the Vice-Commanders of the Imperial City Division.
Chi Wan mentally matched the person to the name. This was thanks to Xia Qu, who had woken her up early this morning to have her look at portraits and information of all the officials in the court.
They really trusted her memory.
Wait, how did they know she had a photographic memory?
Chi Wan was certain her memory in the past was only slightly better than average, far from photographic. So why would they know that?
Before she could think further, Li Bao beside her called out uncertainly, “Your Highness?”
Chi Wan finally reacted. “No need.”
She slowed her pace, making it look as if her injuries had not yet healed.
Seeing her disinclined to speak, Li Bao quickly bowed and led the way. For a eunuch like him to obtain his current position was all thanks to the Prince and Her Majesty. He was a household servant, not a court official.
So, faced with Chi Wan’s reluctance to speak, he quickly shut his mouth.
He led Chi Wan to Chi Qing’s courtyard. Chi Qing was standing there, holding a rattle drum in her hand.
Sensing Chi Wan’s arrival, Chi Qing smiled and beckoned her over. “Look, these are all things you played with as a child.”
Chi Wan walked over. On a blanket made of some unknown fur, there were many ancient children’s toys.
She squatted down, curiously picked one up, and examined it in her hand for a while. She had to admit the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient toys.
The two were silent for a moment. Chi Qing took out a small package. “Here are the things you wanted, along with travel permits. I made a few extra.”
If one identity didn’t work, she could use another. One never knew when it might be needed.
Chi Wan was surprised. “Thank you, Elder Sister.”
She had originally intended to trouble Chi Qing to hide these things for her, but since she had already caused Chi Qing enough trouble, she put the items away.
Fortunately, she was wearing a wide python-patterned robe, so the extra items were not noticeable.
Hearing Chi Wan call her “Elder Sister,” Chi Qing’s eyes narrowed. “Actually, I know you are not my real sister.”
Chi Wan’s heart tightened. Had her transmigration been discovered?
She glanced at Chi Qing without a change in expression and continued to play with the toy in her hand.
Chi Qing was not surprised by her reaction. “You think you are our aunt’s biological daughter, but in fact, I am. You are Chi Mingwu’s child. By rights, we are just cousins. But because of a past incident, they discovered that you were actually registered under Mother’s name, while I can only be Chi Mingwu’s daughter for the rest of my life.”
What did she mean? The reason they weren’t real sisters, according to Chi Qing, was because Chi Qing was actually the daughter of Chi Mingwen, making them cousins. By a twist of fate, Chi Wan had been registered under Chi Mingwen’s name, becoming her legitimate daughter.
Chi Wan thought for a moment. “Elder Sister means our identities were swapped?”
“You could say that. Back then, Chi Mingwu took advantage of my mother’s death and forced my birth mother to be his concubine. At that time, my mother was already pregnant with me. As for you, Chi Mingwu looked down on your mother’s merchant background and didn’t want to acknowledge you as his daughter, so he registered you under my mother’s name.”
“The grand residence of a noble marquis, yet all they do are filthy deeds, worse than beasts. They may look human, but inside, they are man-eating demons.”
As if she knew she was about to die, Chi Qing revealed the secrets buried deep in her heart.
She also told Chi Wan, “Don’t worry, Ah Wan. The Grand Madam will definitely die before I do.”
Chi Wan quickly said, “Don’t worry, Elder Sister. Her Majesty will not kill you. After I leave and the Imperial City Division withdraws, you can do whatever you need to do.”
Chi Qing: “?”
After Chi Wan left the Earl of Huai’an’s Residence, Li Bao arrived with a verbal decree. “A decree from Her Majesty: The Earl of Huai’an should not act so recklessly in the future. We will act as if this matter never happened.”
As she left, Chi Wan felt a warmth in her heart. Chi Qing was truly good to her, this younger sister, not even fearing death.
When she saw Yu Jiuzhou again, this warmth in her heart finally allowed her to say something relatively warm in return. “Your Majesty has been waiting long.”
Yu Jiuzhou’s brow twitched slightly. She was curious about what Chi Wan and Chi Qing had discussed, but she didn’t ask. “Let’s go. It’s still early. We’ll go have a look at the Grand Princess’s Residence.”
The Grand Princess’s Residence? A trace of anticipation welled up in Chi Wan’s heart. She was finally going to that place.
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