Chapter 376: Chu Yi Sets Off for Battle
"Husband..."
Su Ziyue hesitantly approached Chu Rui.
Her face was filled with guilt and self-blame. "The Crown Princess is so beautiful, I never imagined she could be so cunning. If she hadn't deceived me, I wouldn't have eaten that osmanthus cake... Husband, please forgive me."
Chu Rui turned his head, his voice extremely indifferent: "The deep palace is treacherous. You're inexperienced and easily deceived, so don't dwell on it."
Su Ziyue breathed a sigh of relief and smiled sweetly: "I knew my husband wouldn't blame me."
"There's one matter where I can only ask for your help." He took his wife's hand. "Find an opportunity to visit the Marquess of Boyuan's wife and see if you can persuade her to arrange a secret meeting between me and the Marquess of Boyuan."
Su Ziyue nodded: "Alright."
She had met the Marquess of Boyuan's wife before. This lady particularly adored jewelry. Among her dowry was a luminous pearl from the East Sea, which her father had purchased at a high price—the most valuable item in her dowry. However, she didn't care for such extravagant things. If giving it to the Marquess of Boyuan's wife could bring her husband advantages in official circles, why not do it?
Yun Chu sat in the carriage, deep in thought.
There were only three Gu poison parasites in total. The first was in Su Ziyue, the second must be in Chu Rui—so who had the third?
Chu Rui was skilled at deception. How to eliminate the Gu parasite within him was also a major challenge.
Better to first detoxify the Emperor.
Once the poison was neutralized, it wouldn't matter who had the Gu parasites.
In the blink of an eye, it was the day when Crown Prince Chu Yi would lead troops to campaign against the Eastern Tomb Kingdom.
Before dawn, Chu Yi awoke.
Normally, if he woke early, he would rise quietly so as not to disturb Yun Chu's rest.
But today was different. After waking, he pulled the woman beside him into his arms, kissing her repeatedly until Yun Chu was roused from sleep.
Yun Chu wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes full of reluctance: "The people of the Eastern Tomb Kingdom are cunning and treacherous, stopping at nothing. When dealing with them, you need not hold any mercy. The children and I will await your safe return."
"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to me." Chu Yi held her tightly. "It's you and the children I'm worried about..."
The capital appeared prosperous and peaceful, untouched by turmoil, but in reality, undercurrents were surging everywhere. He feared Yun Chu, as a woman, might not be able to handle it alone.
Yet, he couldn't refuse to go to battle.
First, it was an imperial decree. Defying minor orders was inconsequential, but refusing to lead troops in a major campaign meant only one outcome: execution.
Second, as the Crown Prince, a subject of the Great Jin Kingdom, he couldn't ignore the Eastern Tomb Kingdom's longstanding covetous ambitions.
Finally, since the Eastern Tomb Kingdom had kidnapped Changsheng once, they might very well try again. Without repelling them, they would surely return someday.
Thus, this battle was one he must fight.
"Don't worry about me." Yun Chu curved her lips into a smile. "Once we detoxify His Majesty, Chu Rui will be executed. Rest assured, I'll handle everything."
She rose and helped Chu Yi into his clothes, donned his armor and battle robe, and placed the armored helmet on his head.
"Wow, Father looks so majestic!" Chu Hongyu bounded in from outside. "Father is so impressive, he'll surely crush the Eastern Tomb Kingdom completely!"
Chu Changsheng looked up at her father: "Father, you must return safely!"The wet nurse brought Jue Ge'er over as well. The little one seemed to sense that his father was about to depart for battle, his mood clearly low. His small mouth was pursed, as if he might burst into tears at any moment.
"Jue Ge'er, be good," Chu Yi said gently, despite wearing rigid armor. "Your father will return victorious soon. You four—mother and children—need not see me off!"
He patted each of his three children on the head, then turned and strode away.
At the doorway, he glanced back and met Yun Chu's slightly reddened eyes.
Unable to resist, he quickly turned back, kissed Yun Chu on the eyelids, then swiftly turned again and disappeared beyond the gate.
The Crown Prince led the troops on their expedition, with all civil and military officials bidding him farewell. The common people lined the streets, watching as Chu Yi rode into the distance.
Though Chu Yi had told Yun Chu not to see him off, she couldn't help herself. Changing into plain, unadorned clothing, she took two maids and squeezed into the crowd.
Standing among the people, she looked up at the man riding the tall horse at the front.
When she had first decided to marry him, she had liked him about fifty percent.
Later, after becoming his wife and giving birth to Jue Ge'er, that fifty percent had grown to one hundred percent.
Like their children, he had become an indispensable part of her life.
Chu Yi led his troops out of the capital, beyond the city gates.
The Emperor, accompanied by his officials, stood atop the city wall, raising a cup in farewell—a grand spectacle.
Yun Chu watched the Emperor from afar and noticed that he needed support from Gao Gonggong and an elderly matron to remain steady.
Hadn't Wu Yun said that after taking the first three antidotes, the Emperor's health would improve significantly? Why did it seem instead that the Emperor's condition was worsening?
Unless...
At this thought, Yun Chu's heart sank.
Suppressing her worries, she left the crowd and approached the base of the city wall, waiting quietly for Yin Fei.
Yin Fei had long since been reduced to tears, just as when her son had first gone to suppress bandits—she had wept as if her heart were breaking.
"Mother Consort," Yun Chu approached her. "The Crown Prince will surely return safely from this campaign. Only then can he truly secure his position as heir apparent. You must take care of your health."
Yin Fei wiped her tears and sighed. "Even if he returns safely, it will be at least half a year. Just thinking about it makes me miserable... I don't understand. Yi'er is the Crown Prince—why must he lead troops into battle? How could the Emperor issue such an edict..."
"Mother Consort, mind your words," Yun Chu glanced around and lowered her voice. "I have something to discuss with you. Let's share a carriage."
Distraught, Yin Fei didn't think much of it and followed Yun Chu into her carriage.
Once inside, Yun Chu said, "I'd like to ask you to count how many black dots are on His Majesty's chest."
"What?" Yin Fei's watery eyes widened. "Chu'er, what—what are you trying to do?"
Yun Chu hesitated for a moment.
Yin Fei was straightforward and guileless. If she learned about the Emperor's Gu poison, she would surely mention it in front of him, and then the Emperor would become suspicious of her too.
After a pause, Yun Chu said, "This is a task the Crown Prince entrusted to me. It's connected to celestial omens and can foretell whether this battle will be won or lost."
"So that's how it is..." Yin Fei nodded. "Don't worry, I'll find out for you tonight."
But before evening fell, news came from the palace—the Emperor had exactly nine black dots on his chest.
Yun Chu's heart sank straight to the depths.Over the past few days, she had given Gao Gonggong a total of three detox pills. The Emperor's chest should now have only six black spots left.
This meant Gao Gonggong had not administered the medicine to the Emperor.
Had Gao Gonggong explained everything to the Emperor, and the Emperor refused to take the medicine, or...
No, if Gao Gonggong had confessed, the Emperor would have surely summoned her to the palace and pressed her to reveal what kind of medicine this was...
Gao Gonggong was also infected with Gu poison!
Yun Chu didn't feel disheartened; instead, she considered herself fortunate. If not for this incident, she would never have realized that one of the child Gu worms had actually taken root in Gao Gonggong.
OpenNovel