Chapter 244: Chapter 243: BlissAfterwards came another intense bout of coughing, "Cough cough cough—"
As Han Chen had said, she coughed up fresh red blood.
Qi Wuya had seen too much blood in his life, even taking pleasure in the blood of others, but this kind of blood coughed up disgusted him.
However, his face did not show it, and he even walked over with eyes full of tenderness and held her icy hand, "You’ve actually become this ill. Had I known sooner, I wouldn’t have let him bring you here. I’ve caused you to suffer."
His eyes showed annoyance and a look of self-reproach.
Seeing how concerned he was, He Hongzhao suddenly felt all her pain vanish.
She shook her head with a smile, "Mr. Jiu, don’t say that. I, I cough cough cough—"
She couldn’t stop coughing.
She probably knew that her coughing up blood was disgusting, so she pulled away from his hand and covered her mouth with her sleeve.
"Bring some ginseng tea over."
Qi Wuya instructed a Palace Attendant nearby.
Then he took out a handkerchief and passed it over.
He Hongzhao took the handkerchief, covering her mouth and coughed for a while.
Fresh blood sprayed onto the handkerchief.
The handkerchief was snow-white and in a moment, soaked with fresh red.
"Cough cough cough—"
It seemed as if she wanted to cough out her lungs.
"Ninth Prince, the ginseng tea—"
The Palace Attendant carefully handed it over.
Qi Wuya took the ginseng tea and personally fed He Hongzhao.
He Hongzhao only took two sips and then shook her head, "My body can’t take such nourishment anymore."
Qi Wuya, "..."
He understood the underlying meaning in her words—she wouldn’t last much longer.
This was truly unfortunate news.
But still, he smiled gently and encouraged, "Hongzhao, don’t talk like that. With me here, you’ll be fine."
He was always good at saying the right things.
Especially when desperately seeking something worthwhile, he put on quite a show.
He had hot water brought in and took a clean handkerchief, dipped it in the water, and cleaned the blood from her hands.
She hadn’t bathed in several days; her nails were long and harbored dirt.
She sweated profusely as her body fevered, and even she noticed the sour odor.
"No need."
She looked at him, clad in spotless white, his whole being cleanly glowing, seemingly shining, and suddenly felt ashamed.
Qi Wuya, oblivious to her girlish thoughts, clutched her hand tightly and after wiping it clean, went on to wipe her face.
"Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?"
He needed her to recover as soon as possible, even if it was just a temporary improvement.
Seeing him made He Hongzhao’s mood better and she found a bit of appetite, "Plain porridge will do."
Qi Wuya knew she probably couldn’t stomach anything else, so he suggested, "Plain porridge isn’t nutritious. How about some egg custard too?"
He Hongzhao nodded, "Okay."
Qi Wuya then had someone prepare plain porridge and egg custard.
While they waited for the food.
He Hongzhao made a request, "I’d like to bathe."
Qi Wuya then had someone prepare hot water.
Han Mo noticed his attention was solely on He Hongzhao, so he quietly reminded, "Mr. Jiu, it’s getting late, are we still going to the General Mansion?"
Qi Wuya remembered his important tasks and began to focus on them, "Hongzhao, you rest well, anything you need, just instruct the Palace Attendants. I’m stepping out for a bit, but I’ll be back soon."
He Hongzhao nodded but also asked, "Is there anything I can help with?"
She knew her value to Qi Wuya and wanted to make use of it.
She wanted to be more important to Qi Wuya, even more so.
Qi Wuya originally intended to leave, but upon hearing this, he paused and truthfully said, "I’m investigating the death of General Huo’s youngest son. Like you, he was born frail, dying young. But I suspect there’s more to his death."
He Hongzhao listened quietly and then asked, "Was there anything unusual before he died?"
Qi Wuya thought for a moment and shared his findings, "Before he died, he liked drinking plum blossom wine. I heard he was very weak, couldn’t get out of bed, but didn’t seem in pain. It didn’t seem like an unnatural death, rather, there was a sense of calm."
Listening, He Hongzhao pressed her lips together with a smile, "I understand now."
Qi Wuya’s expression tensed, "What do you understand?"
He Hongzhao started coughing again.
He kept coughing and laughing, "Jile Powder."
Qi Wuya had never heard of such a thing before and was even more shocked by her sure tone, "Are you sure?"
He Hongzhao nodded.
Qi Wuya still harbored some doubts.
Seeing his distrust, He Hongzhao gave a bitter smile, "What’s there to doubt? Because this is the death I’ve arranged for myself."
Born frail and filled with poison blood, she lived in pain every moment.
How to die?
That was what she always pondered.
She ended up developing Jile Powder.
And even experimented on some drunkards.
Indeed, it brought happiness.
Especially a blissful death.
It was just that death came too swiftly.
She wasn’t ready to die and stowed it away.
But it still spread somewhat.
Unexpectedly, it had even reached Beiqi.
"Just let them open the coffin for an examination. It will surely reveal a blackened skeleton."
She looked at him, her eyes brimming with confidence.
Qi Wuya had already begun to believe her to a great extent; Huo Yu must have experienced great pain before his sickness took him. The Eldest Princess, for appearances sake, would also send people in search of medicine to alleviate his suffering. Whether by accident or design, the Jile Powder reached her hands and she mixed it with the plum blossom wine, resulting in his blissful departure.
"Jile Powder is a good thing."
She lay sideways on the bed, coughing and laughing, "Mixed into wine, cough cough cough, a sip and you’re nearly heavenly."
When her time came, she would die that way too.
Qi Wuya gave her one look, said nothing, and stepped out of the side hall. Sёarch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
He needed to pass on this good news to the General Mansion.
Outside Taian Palace
The carriage was still parked there.
Qi Wuya got back into the carriage.
Han Mo, following a step behind, also boarded.
The coachman immediately pulled the horse reins and drove out of the Imperial Palace.
Han Mo, observing the elated Qi Wuya, felt his heart in his throat, "Does Mr. Jiu really believe Miss He’s words?"
Qi Wuya countered, "Why not believe her?"
Han Mo was speechless.
He Hongzhao excelled in both medicine and poisons, and her words carried high credibility.
He believed her too, but—
"The key is, will General Huo believe her? So much time has passed, if there were any issues, evidence would have probably been cleaned up long ago."
He mentioned this and thought about the blackened bones He Hongzhao had talked about, his heart skipped a beat, "Mr. Jiu, you’re not really planning to have the Great General open the coffin for examination, are you?"
That’s insane!
The saying goes, "Let the dead rest in peace."
General Huo, mad with love for his son, how could he possibly agree to open the coffin?
Wait—
What if a person mad with love really went mad?
Qi Wuya had apparently also considered this and asked with a beaming smile, "Why not?"
Han Mo still felt it implausible, "What if the bones aren’t blackened?"
Respect for the deceased is paramount.
Qi Wuya, seeking to drive a wedge between the Eldest Princess and General Huo by concocting a story of his son being poisoned and pushing him to examine the coffin. If the son actually died a natural death, General Huo might just lose it and behead him!
"Mr. Jiu, you’re playing with General Huo—"
Han Mo thought about this, his expression turning a bit embarrassed, "If the bones aren’t blackened, he might not even wait till tomorrow to make his move."
Qi Wuya considered Han Mo’s words and nodded seriously, "Hmm... you’re right, that is a possibility."
His actions were indeed unscrupulous, truly exploiting people’s sore points.
Anyone would grab a knife against him!
Seeing his response, Han Mo cautiously suggested, "How about we consider a long-term plan?"
"There’s no need."
Qi Wuya waved dismissively and smiled mischievously, "Huo Yu consumed medicine for so many years, medicines carry their own toxicity, how could his bones not be blackened?"