Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 443: Extra Story – Chu Rui 1

Snowy Night.

Snow fell in thick flurries, blanketing the grand hall in a thick layer that reached above the ankles with every step.

Inside the hall, a brazier burned brightly, creating a stark contrast to the icy world outside.

A frail young boy lay on the couch, stubbornly pressing his lips together.

"Rui'er, drink it."

Empress Dowager Feng sighed.

Seeing the boy remain unmoved, her voice gradually turned cold: "If that's the case, then I have no choice but to force it down. Attendants."

Two sturdy matrons stepped forward, forcibly lifting Chu Rui from the couch.

"No, I won't drink it." Chu Rui clenched his teeth tightly. "This is human blood—it's a human life! I'd rather die than drink it!"

"You...!" The Empress Dowager's face darkened. "You've disappointed me greatly!"

With that, the elderly woman personally took action, pinching Chu Rui's jaw and pouring a bowl of dark red blood directly down his throat.

"Gag—"

Chu Rui leaned over the edge of the bed, retching as if he wanted to vomit out all his internal organs.

"Cover his mouth! Don't let him vomit!"

The Empress Dowager's voice was icy with fury.

Just then, a young girl rushed into the hall from outside and knelt by the couch, pleading, "Empress Dowager, let me handle this. I'll persuade Rui'er. He listens to me, his elder sister, the most..."

The Empress Dowager rose coldly and swept out of the room with a flick of her sleeve.

The matrons and palace attendants inside the hall tactfully withdrew.

"Rui'er, why must you be like this? Why?" Chu Zhixia took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from the corner of Chu Rui's lips. "You've been drinking this heart's blood since you were a child. After all these years, you should be used to it by now."

"But I never knew it was heart's blood before!" Tears streamed from Chu Rui's eyes. "The Empress Dowager told me it was medicine mixed with the heart's blood of various animals. That's why I was willing to drink it all these years..."

It wasn't until three days ago, when he accidentally stumbled into the underground chamber of Kunning Palace, that he discovered the truth: what he had been drinking was the heart's blood of young girls.

So many maidens in the bloom of youth, many around his own age, had been abducted to serve as his medicinal ingredients.

With his frail, broken body—someone who should have died long ago—how could he allow those flower-like girls to lose their lives for his sake?

He swore in his heart that he would never take the medicine again. He would rather die like this.

"Do you know how much sin the Empress Dowager has borne to find this heart's blood for you? She only does it for your own good." Chu Zhixia untied a sachet from her waist, opened it, and took out a small porcelain bottle, speaking softly, "I know you don't want to drink human blood, so I've found a little creature to drink it for you."

Curious, Chu Rui looked over and saw two black worms crawling out of the small bottle. The worms were tiny, even smaller than grains of rice.

"These are gu worms. They survive on human blood." A smile spread across Chu Zhixia's face. "If you swallow these two worms, any heart's blood you drink from now on will actually be consumed by them. This way, you shouldn't resist it anymore, right?"

"Elder Sister, you still don't understand." Chu Rui fell silent for a long moment. "I refuse to drink the heart's blood because I don't want to contribute to more killing and sin. If people still have to die, what difference does it make whether I drink it or the gu worms do?"

He reached his fingers into his throat and vomited out the entire bowl of blood medicine that had just been forced down.Chu Rui carefully stored the two small insects and said softly, "I'll leave these two little things with you for now. Swallow them whenever you've made up your mind. If you can successfully nurture the gu insects, they'll become your greatest hidden asset someday. Well, it's getting late, time to rest."

The snowfall ceased after a short while.

Unable to sleep, Chu Rui draped a robe over his shoulders and sat by the main hall's entrance, quietly admiring the snow-covered scenery.

The palace attendants attempted to persuade him several times to return indoors, but seeing their efforts were futile, they eventually relented.

Dawn broke, marking the start of another day. For Chu Rui, daytime and nighttime held little distinction—both were spent lying in bed recuperating from illness.

Since childhood, his constitution had been frail, constantly requiring medicinal brews and acupuncture treatments. Confined to bed around the clock, he often wondered why someone like him didn't perish sooner, questioning what meaning there was in such an existence...

"Your Highness," a palace maid entered and whispered, "Today is New Year's Eve. His Majesty's eunuch has come to inquire whether Your Highness will attend the New Year's Eve banquet."

Chu Rui shook his head. "I won't be going."

Over the years, he had rarely appeared in crowded gatherings due to his health limitations.

"Rui'er, you should go," Chu Zhixia entered beaming. "Staying cooped up in the palace every day isn't good for you. Come with your elder sister."

Chu Rui was taken aback.

Since their father and mother had passed away one after another, his elder sister had never attended any court banquets.

Because every time she saw the person sitting on the dragon throne, she would be reminded of their father—that position should have rightfully belonged to him.

He couldn't help asking, "Elder sister?"

A faint blush suddenly spread across Chu Zhixia's cheeks.

Understanding dawned on Chu Rui. "Has Brother Lu returned to the capital?"

"Mm," Chu Zhixia replied softly. "Uncle Lu has been transferred back to the capital, so he returned with his family. I've learned that he'll be attending tonight's palace banquet."

"How wonderful." Chu Rui also brightened up. "Brother Lu and elder sister are betrothed—he'll surely propose marriage during the banquet. This is excellent news. Elder sister can finally leave this icy cold palace."

Chu Zhixia's initially shy smile gradually became tinged with worry. "But if I leave, what will become of you, Rui'er?"

"Has elder sister forgotten? I am Prince Zhuang." Chu Rui smiled. "I can leave the palace whenever I wish... But elder sister's current attire is too plain. Let me help you dress up properly."

Suddenly energized, he accompanied Chu Zhixia to her chambers, selecting a vibrant crimson outfit for her and carefully arranging her hair and makeup...

Soon, evening arrived, and the siblings followed Empress Dowager Feng to the grand hall where the banquet was being held.

This palace banquet permitted court officials of third rank and above to bring their families. Many had attended, making the hall exceptionally lively.

Chu Rui immediately spotted Brother Lu—Lu Hao—standing among the crowd.

Lord Lu had served as Governor in Jiangnan several years earlier and had only been transferred to the capital months ago. He now held a prominent first-rank position highly valued by the Emperor.

As the legitimate eldest son of the Lu family, twenty-two-year-old Lu Hao carried himself with graceful elegance, naturally becoming the ideal future son-in-law coveted by noble families in the capital. At that moment, he was surrounded by numerous people engaging him in conversation.

However, some noblewomen who remembered events from over a decade ago murmured quietly, "The former Crown Prince had betrothed the Lu family's eldest young master to his own legitimate eldest daughter years ago."

"The former Crown Prince's legitimate eldest daughter? Princess Fukang? We haven't heard anything about this princess for many years—I'd nearly forgotten she existed.""It has indeed been a long time since we've heard any news about Princess Fukang and Prince Zhuang, both residing in the palace. I wonder if that marriage arrangement from back then still holds?"

"The Lu family's status has risen considerably now. The eldest young master of the Lu family, only twenty-two years old, already holds a fifth-rank official position in the court, with a future as bright as brocade. But as for Princess Fukang's status..."

Though she holds the title of princess, being the eldest daughter of the late Crown Prince makes her background rather awkward, easily arousing the Emperor's suspicion. Therefore, for the noble families present with good lineage, Princess Fukang is not considered an ideal match.