Chapter 243: Chapter 242: PhantomInside Taian Palace


    The fragrance of wine wafted through the air.


    Qi Wuya tasted a sip of the warm plum blossom wine, shook his head, and uttered four words, "Nothing special."


    He did not know why Huo Yu favored such a drink.


    Han Mo sat opposite him, took a sip as well, and found it to be refreshingly sweet with a lasting, mellow aftertaste, quite a decent wine.


    "Not bad."


    He took another sip, analyzing, "Young Master Huo is physically weak and has a gentle disposition, preferring something smooth and soft on the palate, which is quite normal. If it were a strong liquor, I’m afraid his body couldn’t handle it."


    Qi Wuya listened, nodded in acknowledgment, but still felt something was amiss.


    "There are plenty of smooth and soft drinks, so why prefer this one in particular?"


    Qi Wuya took a few more sips of the plum blossom wine, tasted it again and again, but could not discern the reason.


    Thus, he stood up, hooking a smile onto his lips, "Let’s go. To the General Mansion. Perhaps their plum blossom wine is vastly different."


    Upon hearing this, Han Mo’s eyes shifted, guessing his intention.


    He didn’t say anything and followed him out.


    It was nearly dusk outside.


    The two of them took a carriage out of the Imperial Palace.


    Outside the Imperial Palace


    On the wide and flat main street


    The cold wind howled, and pedestrians were scarce.


    Two carriages approached each other.


    One luxurious.


    One modest.


    On the modest carriage


    Han Chen was driving the carriage, one hand on the horse reins, the other holding a sheepskin wine pouch.


    Half a pouch of liquor remained inside.


    He bit off the stopper and guzzled down the drink.


    The strong liquor went down his throat.


    Burning through his chest.


    Stirring his blood.


    Excitedly, he yelled, "Damn it all! We’ve finally arrived at the Capital City!"


    Such was their sudden encounter.


    Qi Wuya lifted the carriage curtain, looked at the familiar man on the modest carriage, and smiled, "Stop the carriage!"


    The luxurious carriage immediately came to a halt.


    Han Mo also recognized his brother’s voice, smiling as he lifted the curtain and stepped out.


    "Brother! Mr. Jiu!"


    Han Chen leaped down from the carriage with joy.


    A reunion after a long absence.


    A cause for celebration.


    The two brothers hugged each other tightly for a while before letting go.


    "Mr. Jiu!"


    Han Chen let go and turned his gaze toward Qi Wuya, his eyes brimming with joy.


    He wanted to embrace him.


    But Qi Wuya, with his handsome features, elegant attire, and transcendental demeanor, made him hesitate to draw near.


    In the nearly one month they had been apart, Mr. Jiu seemed to have transformed.


    Oh, that’s right, he was now acting as the Crown Prince.


    That was the aura of an Emperor about him.


    He was not the same as before, unattainably high.


    And he, having endured a grueling journey and not bathed for several days, was in quite a disheveled state.


    A sense of inferiority welled up within him.


    He unconsciously stepped back twice.


    Fearing that his own stench would taint the other.


    "You’ve had a hard time."


    Qi Wuya, without such careful thoughts, extended his hand, patted his shoulder, and then his gaze shifted toward the carriage.


    Compared to Han Chen, he was more concerned about the person inside.


    Han Chen felt somewhat lost.


    He had been away from Mr. Jiu for so long and missed him greatly.


    But Mr. Jiu seemed—


    Never mind.


    He was the master, and he was the servant; what was he aimlessly pondering?


    "Mr. Jiu, I have brought Miss He back, but her health—"


    He felt ashamed, as if he had not taken proper care of He Hongzhao.


    He wondered if Mr. Jiu would think him incompetent.


    Qi Wuya said nothing and went straight into the carriage.


    Inside the carriage


    Beneath several thick layers of blankets, a bit of dark hair was faintly visible.


    Qi Wuya saw this, furrowed his brows, feeling that such heavy blankets could smother a person.


    "Hong Zhao?"


    He called out softly.


    There was no reply.


    "He Hongzhao? Are you asleep?"


    He called her name gently a few more times.


    Still no reply.


    His brows tightened as he pulled away the blankets.


    The woman beneath the blankets was as pale as a ghost.


    Her eyes were tightly closed, with no breath.


    Was she truly suffocated to death?


    His heart skipped a beat, and he reached out to feel under her nose—indeed, there was no breath.


    What should he do?


    He had relied heavily on He Hongzhao for many matters!


    Had Han Chen gone to great lengths only to bring him a corpse?


    His mood was utterly spoiled.


    But he wasn’t sentimental about He Hongzhao’s death.


    At most, it was regrettable.


    And somewhat troublesome.


    The death of He Hongzhao had disrupted many of his plans.


    Just as he was irritated—


    "Mr. Jiu, Miss He is fine, she just took a Taixi Pill. That thing can conceal a person’s breath and make one appear to be in a state of false death."


    The voice of Han Chen explaining came from outside.


    Having heard this, Qi Wuya breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh."


    So she took a Taixi Pill.


    Good that she wasn’t dead.


    And she could also appear to be in false death?


    Excellent.


    Excellent.


    Her medical skill was indeed superb.


    It wasn’t in vain that he had sent people to bring her over from afar.


    "Miss He has poor health and frequently vomits blood. Beiqi is cold and freezing; she could hardly bear it, fearing that she might die en route, so she took a Taixi Pill."


    Han Chen continued to explain outside.


    Qi Wuya withdrew his hand, no longer concerned with the "deceased" He Hongzhao, and said to the people outside: "I understand. Return to the palace first."


    "Right away."


    Han Chen happily hopped onto the carriage, yanked the horse reins, and drove towards the Imperial Palace.


    The gates of the Imperial Palace were open.


    The guards stood on both sides, spears crossing, blocking the way.


    Han Chen had no choice but to stop the carriage and said to the person inside, "Mr. Jiu, the carriage can’t go in."


    As his voice fell, the carriage curtain was lifted—


    Qi Wuya’s face emerged.


    "Greetings to the Ninth Prince—"


    The guards saw him, respectfully saluted, and immediately let them pass.


    The carriage continued to move forward.


    "To Taian Palace."


    Qi Wuya stated the destination.


    "Yes."


    Han Chen responded and then drove the carriage to Taian Palace. Sёarch* The N?vel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before long, they arrived in front of the palace gates.


    The carriage stopped.


    Qi Wuya dismounted the carriage and had Han Chen carry the person out.


    Han Chen was stunned for a moment, thinking he would carry the person out himself.


    Wasn’t he longing for this person for a long time?


    Even if it was out of admiration for her skills, shouldn’t he show a little more warmth?


    Qi Wuya took no notice of Han Chen’s perplexity and turned to head for Taian Palace.


    Seeing this, Han Chen composed himself, got off the carriage, wrapped He Hongzhao in a blanket, and carried her down.


    He followed into Taian Palace.


    Inside, the hall was warm.


    Qi Wuya loosened his overcoat and threw it onto a soft couch.


    Then he pointed with his hand: "Put her there."


    He was referring to a room in the side chamber.


    Han Chen was no longer baffled by this action.


    If Qi Wuya was unwilling to carry the person himself, how would he arrange for her to be placed in his own bedroom?


    He couldn’t help but feel that He Hongzhao was somewhat pitiable—apparently, she hadn’t made quite an impression in Mr. Jiu’s heart.


    Who would ever capture Mr. Jiu’s heart?


    A name flashed in his mind.


    His heart skipped a beat and then returned to calm.


    He entered the side chamber, placed the person on the bed, and covered her with a quilt.


    The side chamber was colder than the main hall.


    Qi Wuya clearly felt it too and ordered someone to heat the room.


    Afterward, looking at the woman on the bed in a death-like state, he asked, "When can she wake up?"


    "Very soon."


    Han Chen said as he took out a white bottle from his bosom, poured out a red pill, then went over, pried open her mouth, and placed it inside.


    Qi Wuya promptly brought over a cup of hot water.


    Han Chen took the hot water and fed it to her.


    After administering the medicine, he thought for a moment and decided to explain, "Miss He’s body is truly weak, Mr. Jiu will soon understand."


    He believed He Hongzhao was naturally frail and severely deficient physically, not because he had been negligent in his care.


    He didn’t want to leave another impression of incompetence with Mr. Jiu.


    Qi Wuya watched the motionless woman on the bed, nodded, and said nothing.


    He was detached and indifferent, not caring about the state of He Hongzhao’s health; as long as she was alive to complete a few tasks for him, even if it was only until his ascension to the throne.


    "Cough cough cough—"


    A burst of violent coughing.


    He Hongzhao struggled to open her eyes, her vision still blurry, and faintly saw a familiar figure standing not far away: "Mr... Mr. Jiu?"


    She swallowed, rubbed her eyes as if to make sure, then suddenly sat up, stretched out her hand, and strenuously tried to grasp the illusion: "Mr., Mr. Jiu?"