CMWKSD -Chapter 143 Blood Bewitchment

The two of them had no other options. Given their current ranks, even being able to enter the palace and meet Emperor Fengyuan today was no small feat. Let alone hoping for another opportunity in the future.

“Let’s go back first. Sort out whatever needs to be sorted. No matter what, I will climb up,” Ji Yiqing said softly, though his eyes were fixed on the deep palace walls. The square, imposing palace seemed to gape like a massive mouth, devouring everyone who came and went.

Ji Chaomian squeezed Ji Yiqing’s hand. Though no one else could hear, they were wary of eavesdroppers.

Ji Yiqing glanced at Ji Chaomian, and the burning desire in his eyes to climb higher almost seemed to envelop Ji Chaomian completely.

Yes, they couldn’t afford to remain weak. Jiu Yue’s abilities and talents had already caught Emperor Fengyuan’s attention. If they stayed powerless, how could they protect Jiu Yue, or even themselves?

So they had to climb—climb high. Next time something like this happened, they wouldn’t be left helpless, unable even to see the person in question!

Meanwhile, Jiu Yue felt even better seeing Ji Yiqing like this. She was especially anxious about the Chu family curse. Once it was resolved, she could rush back to Ji Yiqing for hugs, kisses, and lifting him high in her arms!

Li Feng stepped out from the side. “Doctor Jiu Yue!”

Jiu Yue nodded. “Li Gonggong, can you help me find two skilled men? I want to make a tour of the Inner Palace.”

Li Feng looked at her, puzzled. “The Inner Palace?”

Jiu Yue scratched her face. “I don’t know exactly where to go. Just the places where His Majesty and the princes and princesses stay, or frequently visit—I need to check all of it.”

Li Feng froze. “The princes and princesses have their own residences. Before leaving the palace, high-ranking concubines can bear children on their own, but once the children reach a certain age, they must go to the prince’s quarters.”

“Fine! Then we’ll start with the prince’s quarters.”

But just the princes’ and princesses’ quarters wouldn’t be enough. The palace was not limited to the emperor’s children alone; there were other princes as well. According to Jiu Yue’s investigation, even though most princes lived in their fiefs, they occasionally came to the palace for major events.

“I want to see the entire palace. If possible, the places His Majesty frequently occupies are most important.”

Li Feng pressed his lips together. Jiu Yue wasn’t deliberately hiding anything, but the implication was clear: something sinister existed in the palace.

“Doctor Jiu Yue, please wait while I report to His Majesty,” Li Feng said.

Jiu Yue nodded. “Alright. Also, I want to first inspect the place where I met His Majesty the other day.”

Li Feng’s eyes widened in surprise. “That… that is the Imperial Study!”

He didn’t need to explain how much secrecy was contained in the Imperial Study. But it was where the emperor spent the most time—she had to see it.

Jiu Yue looked at Li Feng firmly. “I must see it.”

Li Feng frowned but was about to speak when Jiu Yue added, “The Imperial Study will surely yield results.”

“Very well!” Since Jiu Yue said so, Li Feng chose to trust her.

By this time, the morning court had ended, and Emperor Fengyuan was in the Imperial Study discussing affairs with ministers. When the session concluded, it was nearly nightfall.

Jiu Yue waited until she nearly fell asleep.

Ying Yi entered from outside. “Doctor Jiu Yue, His Majesty sent me to assist you.”

Jiu Yue nodded, following Ying Yi into the Imperial Study.

In the past hour or two, Jiu Yue thought about every place all members of the royal family would visit. Emperor Fengyuan’s branch was simple—they had always lived in the palace. But the other descendants of the founding emperor had been granted fiefs. Over the years, they only appeared at major gatherings. Due to the Chu family’s small size, their health seemed poor, and any ambition for rebellion had vanished. Everyone focused solely on survival.

Indeed, short-lived people often caused fewer troubles.

Lost in thought, Jiu Yue reached the Imperial Study doorway. She stepped inside, and Emperor Fengyuan’s gaze fell heavily on her.

Jiu Yue remained composed, bowing formally before the emperor.

The emperor didn’t immediately let her rise. Instead, he looked at her. “Do you have an idea?”

Jiu Yue straightened, still kneeling. “Yes, Your Majesty. Once verified, you will see whether Jiu Yue’s idea is right or wrong.”

Emperor Fengyuan stood, looking down on her. “Then go and prove it to me!”

Jiu Yue nodded and rose. Ying Yi followed her as she paced around the Imperial Study, occasionally looking up or down, moving in a strangely meticulous manner that made Ying Yi’s heart race.

Everything in the room had been cleared—completely bare.

Jiu Yue approached the emperor’s desk. The chair was undeniably fit for Emperor Fengyuan, draped entirely in tiger skin, exquisitely luxurious.

She lifted the tiger skin to reveal the chair beneath, made of golden-threaded nanmu wood, perfectly seamless.

Ying Yi, along with Emperor Fengyuan and Li Feng standing behind the desk, had no idea what Jiu Yue was searching for.

Just as they were about to ask, Jiu Yue produced a silver needle from somewhere.

Li Feng’s pupils constricted. His mouth opened: “Gu…”

Before he could finish, Jiu Yue used the needle’s tip to lift a seemingly smooth, seamless section of the chair.

With a click, a small gap appeared in what looked like a single, solid panel.

From the gap, a few black pills tumbled out.

Jiu Yue held the pills and turned, noticing Ying Yi and Li Feng shielding Emperor Fengyuan.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

Li Feng swallowed nervously—mostly because of Jiu Yue’s confident handling of the needle. He had provided the eunuch uniform but had no idea the needle was hidden.

Emperor Fengyuan ignored the needle, focusing on the pills. “What is this?”

“This grows in extreme cold regions,” Jiu Yue said. “It is called Jue Ning Zi.”

The emperor clenched his fists behind his back. “And its effect?”

Jiu Yue frowned, unsure how to explain to the emperor’s stern gaze.

Emperor Fengyuan couldn’t hold back, demanding sharply, “What effect?”

Li Feng and Ying Yi quickly knelt. “Your Majesty, please forgive our disrespect!”

Jiu Yue had intended not to kneel, but she had no choice. Kneeling, she looked up at Emperor Fengyuan.

“Jue Ning Zi itself is non-toxic and even a miraculous antidote—extremely rare. But if it merges through the air with a poison called Blood Bewitchment, it will affect longevity.”

The emperor glanced at her, already guessing she hadn’t finished. “There’s more?”

Jiu Yue gritted her teeth. How could she explain this next part?

“Blood Bewitchment remains in the bloodline of the poisoned individual, passing down from father to son, mother to child, generation after generation…”

“Not only that, it affects descendants. After several generations…”

Jiu Yue couldn’t bring herself to say the rest. Emperor Fengyuan, sharp as ever, slammed everything on the desk to the floor with a single strike.