421. The Emperor Pa.s.sed Away (II)
Translator: Storm in a Teacup
Long Xiaoyuan had just finished breakfast when Liu Suifeng and Ouyang Chuan came together.
Indeed, Ouyang Chuan arrived.
Ouyang Chuan did not look tired from the long journey. Long Xiaoyuan guessed that he should have arrived last night and had a good sleep in the palace. Otherwise, he would not be so energetic.
Ouyang Chuan did have a good sleep in the palace. Otherwise, he wouldnât have been so refreshed.
This time, he obtained some unexpected stuff when he went back to look for their masterâs notes.
Those things were good stuff. If their master hadnât hidden them well, and if he had told them when he died, they might have taken them out and used them a long time ago.
They were all very well preserved herbs.
There were also some high-level antidote pills.
The antidote pills developed by their master were good things, much better than what Liu Suifeng made!
After all, their master had more experience and strength!
Long Xiaoyuan waved when he saw the two of them coming together. âYou guys are here together?â
Liu Suifeng nodded. âWell, we come to see if there are any problems on your side. In addition, I need some herbs.â
Long Xiaoyuan was puzzled. âIf you need any herbs, go find them. Donât we have a lot in the imperial medicine warehouse?â
âBut we need fresh herbs.â
Long Xiaoyuan understood. âSo?â
Liu Suifeng glanced at Madam s.h.i.+ meaningfully.
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou turned to his mother. âMother, please go ask someone to bring us two cups of tea.â
Madam s.h.i.+ immediately understood what she couldnât stay and listen to their conversation, so she immediately said, âOkay, Iâll go.â
After Madam s.h.i.+ left, Liu Suifeng said, âThe medicinal properties of the herbs are special. s.h.i.+ Qingzhou needs to take them on the spot along with some other medicine. Fortunately, he only needs to take them three times.â
âWhere are the herbs?â Long Xiaoyuan immediately asked.
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou looked at Liu Suifeng.
Liu Suifeng paused and said, âPan Mountain.â
Long Xiaoyuan and s.h.i.+ Qingzhou narrowed their eyes.
Liu Suifeng smiled bitterly, âThere was no other way. The terrain of Pan Mountain is special, and many medicinal herbs are growing there. What we are looking for is only one of them.â
Long Xiaoyuan muttered, âPan Mountain again? It must be fate that we have to go there every time.â
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou paused, and he didnât say anything.
Liu Suifeng rolled his eyes, âThe mountain has nothing to do with this. Even it is involved, itâs because someone uses it. Itâs not the problem of the mountain itself, okay?â
Long Xiaoyuan pursed his mouth. âOkay, letâs go together. I have to go this time.â
Liu Suifeng shrugged. âI have no objection.â
Long Xiaoyuan looked at s.h.i.+ Qingzhou.
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou said lightly, âOkay, letâs go together.â
âIâm gratified. Qingzhou doesnât want to shake me off, nor does he think I am his burden,â Long Xiaoyuan said with grief.
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou rolled his eyes, so did Liu Suifeng.
Therefore, they headed to Pan Mountain.
Long Xiaoyuan and s.h.i.+ Qingzhou rode the same horse together. It didnât take them to go from the generalâs mansion to Pan Mountain.
Maybe because it was daytime, or maybe there were no vicious things on it. Anyway, Long Xiaoyuan felt better this time. Just standing at the foot of the mountain and breathing in the clean air, he felt refreshed.
Long Xiaoyuan took s.h.i.+ Qingzhouâs hand and walked up the mountain. âQingzhou, the air here is fresh.â
âAir?â s.h.i.+ Qingzhou paused.
Long Xiaoyuan said, âYes, the air that we breathe in.â
âOh, I see.â s.h.i.+ Qingzhou smiled and looked at Long Xiaoyuan meaningfully.
Long Xiaoyuan immediately looked away. âQingzhou, what is the flower over there? Itâs pretty.â
âThatâs Beautyâs Thorn.â Liu Suifeng replied. âWhen you are bitten by a snake, you can chew its petals and smeared it on your wound to stop the poison from spreading.â
âIsnât it a good thing?â
âWell, it is a good thing, but it canât leave the earth. Once it is picked, it canât detoxify,â Liu Suifeng said, âthis is why there are so many of them here.â
âWhat a pity,â Long Xiaoyuan said.
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou said lightly. âItâs not a pity. If good things are useful after they are picked, they will probably be extinct.â
Long Xiaoyuan thought about it and smiled. âThatâs right. I was wrong.â
They were in no hurry, as if they were hiking.
Long Xiaoyuan held s.h.i.+ Qingzhouâs hand in a very good mood.
Long Xiaoyuan said along the way. âMaybe we can have a picnic here.â
Liu Suifeng sneered. âArenât you afraid that large beasts come out and bite you?â
Long Xiaoyuan blinked. âWhat do I fear? Arenât you guys with me here? All of you are masters. If I get bitten, you will be shamed!â
Liu Suifeng was lost for words. He could never hear any good words from Long Xiaoyuan!
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou smiled, but he didnât say a word.
Ouyang Chuan looked at Long Xiaoyuan with contempt. âDonât you feel ashamed that you count on others to help you instead of running away from the beasts on your own?â
His expression was obvious, as if saying, âYou are really useless!â
Long Xiaoyuan did not take it seriously.
They bickered as they walked. Finally, Liu Suifeng said. âAlright, this is it.â
Long Xiaoyuan looked at the special medicinal herbs that Liu Suifeng pointed at, which looked like ordinary gra.s.s. He definitely did not know what it was.
âSo this is it?â
âYes. Wait a moment.â
As Liu Suifeng said, he took out two jade bottles.
He first poured a pill from one of the jade bottles and asked s.h.i.+ Qingzhou to swallow it and use his internal power to activate its effect.
After s.h.i.+ Qingzhou followed his instruction, Liu Suifeng started to work on another bottle.
There seemed to be some liquid in the bottle, but Long Xiaoyuan did not ask what it was.
Liu Suifeng stirred the liquid for a while and then dripped it on the gra.s.s-like medicinal herb.
When s.h.i.+ Qingzhou opened his eyes, Liu Suifeng picked the herb and asked s.h.i.+ Qingzhou to eat it right away.
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou ate the herb without frowning.
Long Xiaoyuan seemed to smell a fragrance.
âIt smells good. What is the fragrance?â
Liu Suifeng said. âItâs from the herb, which is called Nameless Fragrance. After it is picked by a special method, its fragrance gives off, but it goes away quickly.â
Sure enough, after Liu Suifeng spoke, Long Xiaoyuan could no longer smell the fragrance even though he sniffed hard.
âThe world is so big that nothing is to be surprised at.â Long Xiaoyuan couldnât help but sigh.
Ouyang Chuan was at odds with Long Xiaoyuan, and he immediately mocked. âYou are ignorant.â
Long Xiaoyuan glanced at him. âYou sound as if you know everything, but actually you know nothing.â
âYouâ¦â Ouyang Chuan was angry.
Long Xiaoyuan laughed. âWhat? You donât allow me to tell the truth?â
Ouyang Chuan looked away angrily, wis.h.i.+ng to ignore Long Xiaoyuan.
Long Xiaoyuan laughed.
At this moment, s.h.i.+ Qingzhou stood up and looked at Long Xiaoyuan. âWhat are you laughing at?â
Long Xiaoyuan hurriedly shook his head and got closer to him with concern. He didnât care if he was in front of everyone, holding onto s.h.i.+ Qingzhou and asking questions. âQingzhou, how do you feel? Does it hurt? Does the little gra.s.s smell good?â
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou pulled a wry face. âWhat, you want to eat it too?â
Long Xiaoyuan quickly shook his head. âNot at all. Why do I need to eat it? Why should I s.n.a.t.c.h your food?â
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou was lost for words. Liu Suifeng rolled his eyes and said. âLetâs come back in three days. You will be fine after taking the herb three times.â
âAlright, letâs go back,â Long Xiaoyuan said.
âGo back now?â s.h.i.+ Qingzhou looked at him. âI thought you would like to have a picnic here.â
Long Xiaoyuan shook his head. âNo. Itâs not good for us to stay here for too long. Weâll attract attention.â
Liu Suifeng nodded. âI agree. Ask a few Shadow Guardians to stay here. I will give them antidote pills and anti-venomous insects pills. With these pills in hand, they should be fine. These were all left by my master, and we donât have many, so we should not have more than three Shadow Guardians to guard near the herbs.â
Long Xiaoyuan nodded immediately. âGood idea. Since the detoxifying pills left by your master are all good things, you can look at the ingredients inside, and make more. If you donât have time, there are many imperial doctors, who always have time.â
Liu Suifeng nodded.
âOkay. Letâs talk about it after we go back to the palace.â
Long Xiaoyuan asked again, âApart from this little gra.s.s, does Qingzhou need other treatments after he goes back?â
âOf course.â Liu Suifeng nodded. âI need to give him treatment every day.â
Long Xiaoyuan nodded and looked at s.h.i.+ Qingzhou. âQingzhou, you should rest well in the palace. Donât run out.â
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou said lightly, âOkay.â
Long Xiaoyuan pinched his palm. âOf course, Iâll definitely stay with you!â
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou smiled faintly without saying anything.
Long Xiaoyuan and s.h.i.+ Qingzhou went back to the palace.
On the day when s.h.i.+ Qingzhou received the second treatment and ate the gra.s.s, the emperor of Northern Barbarians replied that he would come to the negotiation personally.
At night, Long Xiaoyuan gave the doc.u.ment to s.h.i.+ Qingzhou.
After s.h.i.+ Qingzhou read it, he said lightly, âHe has decided to come over.â
Long Xiaoyuan rubbed his chin and smiled. âYes, Huhe Huangcheng has to be informed, let Liu Suifeng do it.â
Huhe Huangcheng was still under house arrest, but he was well provided, which was a good treatment for any prisoner!
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou nodded without any objections. âGood idea.â
Liu Suifeng was summoned.
âApart from telling him this news, you should properly express our concern. Actually, I am really afraid that the emperor of Northern Barbarians will not be able to leave his country.â
Liu Suifengâs mouth twitched. âPeople would think you are cursing him.â
âHow could it be?â Long Xiaoyuan raised his eyebrows. âYou just need to tell him that our empress, several high-ranking ministers, and even I, the emperor, have been poisoned. Some people have even been poisoned by the venomous insects produced by Northern Barbarians.â
Liu Suifeng was taken aback. âAnd the ministers?â
âJust say that.â Long Xiaoyuan waved his hand.
Liu Suifengâs mouth twitched. âSo, actually they did not?â
Long Xiaoyuan shook his head mysteriously. âWell, I think they will be. After you cure Qingzhou, you can go treat those ministers.â
âWhy do I have to wait until s.h.i.+ Qingzhou is cured? It doesnât take much effort to feel their pulse.â Liu Suifeng couldnât help but say, worrying that they would get in big trouble if many ministers had been poisoned by the venomous insects.
Long Xiaoyuan smiled faintly and shook his head. âNo rush. Anyway, I guess nothing will go wrong with those ministers for the time being.â
Liu Suifeng didnât understand. âWhat do you mean?â
âWell, do you want to be the Emperor? If yes, I will tell you.â Long Xiaoyuan looked at Liu Suifeng with a smile, as if he would give him the throne if Liu Suifeng agreed.
Liu Suifeng rolled his eyes. âWho wants to be the Emperor? Itâs a thankless task!â
After he spoke, Liu Suifeng left resentfully.
Long Xiaoyuan pouted and looked at s.h.i.+ Qingzhou with a sad expression. âQingzhou, he actually said my job is a thankless task. This is really too much!â
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou smiled slightly. âYes, itâs really too much!â
Long Xiaoyuan hugged s.h.i.+ Qingzhouâs waist. âQingzhou, canât you stop gloating when you stand up for me?
You donât look sincere.â s.h.i.+ Qingzhou laughed.
Long Xiaoyuan was lost for words.
Long Xiaoyuan wanted Liu Suifeng to remind Huhe Huangcheng that someone might be scheming the chaos in the three countries.
Long Xiaoyuan just wanted to give him a reminder. He never imagined that his reminder would turn into reality!
On the night before the emperor of Northern Barbarians set off, he was a.s.sa.s.sinated and died in the palace.
His most favored concubine, Lady Chuan, died with him.
The news shook the whole country.
When Long Xiaoyuan received the news, it was the third day after the Emperorâs death.
After all, the two countries were too far away from each other.
On this day, it was the third time s.h.i.+ Qingzhou took the gra.s.s.
They had planned to go to Pan Mountain, and this news depressed them.
However, s.h.i.+ Qingzhou had to go.
Long Xiaoyuan did not go with him. He planned to meet Huhe Huangcheng personally and tell him the death of the Emperor of Northern Barbarians.
This is was the first time in real sense that the emperor of Tianlong Dynasty met the future emperor of Northern Barbarians.
Huhe Huangcheng was only a crown prince, so he had to kowtow to Long Xiaoyuan, who didnât ask him to get up. He said, âI come here to tell you something. Three days ago, on the night before your emperor set off, he was a.s.sa.s.sinated.â
Huhe Huangchengâs heart skipped a beat, and he looked up in disbelief. âWhat, what did you say? How is my father?â
Long Xiaoyuan looked at his pale face and said. âHe pa.s.sed away. Lady Chuan died in the a.s.sa.s.sination as well. Now, your country is in chaos.â
Huhe Huangcheng collapsed to the ground.
From the look of it, Huhe Huangcheng had deep affection for his father.
He was the only prince of Northern Barbarians, and from his name, he was the next emperor of Northern Barbarians.
There was no power struggles like other royal families, therefore, the affection between father and son was deep.
Long Xiaoyuan looked at him and said lightly. âCrown Prince, do not grieve too much. You remember what I asked Doctor Liu to remind you a few days ago, right?â
Huhe Huangchengâs expression changed again.
âI can tell you that not only did something happen to your country, but also my country. My empress was poisoned by venomous insects which could control him. Crown Prince, do you know what this means?â
Huhe Huangcheng pursed his lips tightly.
Long Xiaoyuan looked at him and added lightly. âBy the way, I heard that the Eastern Darkness isnât peaceful, and the princes almost died out, right?â
Huhe Huangchengâs expression changed again.
Ignoring the fact that he was involved with the death of the princes in the Eastern Darkness, Long Xiaoyuan continued, âCrown Prince, you are smart. Please think about the connection between these accidents. After you figure it out, please send for me. I wonât disturb you anymore.â
After he spoke, Long Xiaoyuan turned to leave.
Huhe Huangcheng was pale, tears falling from his eyes.
âFatherâ¦â