Chapter 528: A Ridiculous Play

Emperor Longqing finally woke up and sat together with his mother, Empress Dowager Ning'an, his face full of joy.

They were so pleased with themselves that they overlooked their lifesaver, Gu Jiu Ling.

At this point, Gu Jiu Ling tactfully withdrew from the inner chambers, standing at the doorway to speak with Bai Xiaosheng, who followed behind.

Bai Xiaosheng, full of doubts, having avoided Emperor Longqing, fired off a series of questions.

"They say the Princess Consort of Rui in Shang Jing has superb medical skills, able to bring the dead back to life; I used to think it was bragging, but now I see it's truly true."

"Heh, what's true? He's about to die!" Gu Jiu Ling said indifferently, giving a light smile.

The admiration on Bai Xiaosheng's face froze there, and he stared at Gu Jiu Ling in disbelief.

He lowered his voice: "This is no joke—you didn't just save the Emperor, did you? How can you say he's about to die?"

Gu Jiu Ling whispered: "The tumor has already grown into his brain—how could he not die?"

"The medicine I gave him is a painkiller, and a strong one at that."

"He naturally feels no pain all over, and after being given adrenaline and other stimulants, he naturally woke up."

"The happier he is now, the more it's a final flicker; no matter how he struggles, it's only a matter of months."

Gu Jiu Ling's words cut off, and she looked at Bai Xiaosheng before her.

Speaking like that was a bit indiscreet; in fact, Bai Xiaosheng is also Emperor Longqing's son, and to say outright in front of someone's son that their father is about to die is also somewhat improper.

Gu Jiu Ling coughed softly and continued: "However, with careful care, he could still make it through the year."

"Have you thought it through? How will you respond when you go in later? I believe the Prince already taught you that."

Bai Xiaosheng showed a nonchalant expression, a flicker of coldness crossing his face.

He actually didn't feel much affection for this convenient father of his; the only feeling was that his father turned out to be the emperor.

Yet this father abandoned his mother, and years later sent people to slaughter the village where she lived, leaving no survivors—such a father is better off gone.

It was only what Xiao Yin said that truly moved him, though he wasn't particularly eager to avenge his mother.

After all, she raised him, so he still must repay this grudge.

He still intends to get this from Emperor Longqing as compensation for his mother.

More importantly, Xiao Yin said there is something in Mang Shan, and relying on just himself to find it would likely fail.

Let him join in; then, whatever treasure is obtained, how will it be divided among them?

Bai Xiaosheng is also a well-known name in the martial world, even though his deeds are despised by many.

But Xiao Yin is currently most lacking in manpower; Mang Shan at the tri-border area is a vast hundred-thousand-mile mountain range!

With just his few people searching, they might not find the core area even after a hundred years.

Now adding Bai Xiaosheng, they can later seek other martial sects; he doesn't believe they'll fail to uncover Mang Shan's ultimate secret.

Bai Xiaosheng is lively by nature, loves to wander the martial world, and his work is all about licking blood from the blade.

Now being stirred up by Xiao Yin, he immediately agreed.

This time, his primary task is to help Xiao Yin block the arrows shot from the Crown Prince's side.

Wang Gonggong walked over, performed a salute with Gu Jiu Ling, and said: "The Emperor invites this... young master to come in."

Wang Gonggong didn't say to invite her in, but directly pointed at Bai Xiaosheng.

Bai Xiaosheng raised his eyes to look at Gu Jiu Ling; her gaze steadied, then she slowly shifted it away.

Bai Xiaosheng nodded at Wang Gonggong, then turned and entered Emperor Longqing's inner chambers.

This time entering again, his mood was somewhat different from before, with Xiao Yin's repeated words echoing in his ears.

"You must never show obsequiousness before him!"

"The more heartless you are, the more he will firmly believe it."

"The more you travel a thousand miles to seek your father, the more he will think you harbor ulterior motives; go straight to him for benefits, and the more outrageous your demands, the better."

Xiao Yin's words turned over and over in Bai Xiaosheng's mind, until he once again smelled that strong, pungent mix of blood and medicine.

Bai Xiaosheng felt an urge to vomit.

Wang Gonggong took the remaining people out of the inner chambers, leaving only Empress Dowager Ning'an and Emperor Longqing.

Emperor Longqing felt much better, and was even able to sit up leaning on the pillow.

Empress Dowager Ning'an's gaze toward Bai Xiaosheng carried a hint of chill.

Unimaginably, the three people in this room are all blood-related, yet at this moment they resemble beasts trying to devour each other.

Bai Xiaosheng didn't even kneel before Emperor Longqing, instead staring fixedly at the emaciated emperor.

Emperor Longqing also coldly stared back, his eyes gaining a hint of complexity.

Father and son just stared at each other, and Empress Dowager Ning'an noticed their expressions were remarkably similar.

"Who exactly are you?" Emperor Longqing asked slowly.

Bai Xiaosheng gave a light chuckle: "Father, why ask such a thing? It's so hypocritical."

"Bold!" Emperor Longqing hadn't expected this child to dare defy him to his face; indeed, he's a wild child raised in the martial world, with no one to educate him.

Because his body was too weak, and after lying there for so many days, when Emperor Longqing exerted himself this time, he broke into a violent cough.

"Take care!" Empress Dowager Ning'an hurriedly reminded him, and Emperor Longqing then steadied himself, fixing a hard stare on Bai Xiaosheng before him.

"I never expected to still be able to father you."

Bai Xiaosheng also softly laughed: "Yeah, I never thought I'd live to see you, and I never imagined my father would be the sovereign of all under heaven—truly ironic."

"What are your intentions?" Since Bai Xiaosheng was brought in by Gu Jiu Ling, Emperor Longqing naturally asked more cautiously, his gaze toward him also unfriendly.

Bai Xiaosheng shrugged; his carefree attitude made the Empress Dowager Ning'an sitting nearby slightly darken her expression.

"My mother died in a fire several years ago, burning down to nothing; before she died, I never expected her to be clutching this."

Bai Xiaosheng took out the blood jade pendant that Xiao Yin had given him earlier and presented it before Emperor Longqing.

Upon seeing that jade pendant, Emperor Longqing's expression changed slightly.

He had spent a long time looking for this jade pendant back then; after all, at that time he was not yet the emperor's most beloved child.

He went to Mang Shan to help the emperor find those medicines, but unexpectedly he was entangled by a demon woman and only after great difficulty escaped; this is a disgrace for his life.

At this point, this absurd encounter actually resulted in a child?

Emperor Longqing only felt like laughing, but couldn't laugh.

Bai Xiaosheng's voice was cold; looking at Emperor Longqing, he didn't look like a son to his father, but rather like he wanted to devour him to relieve his hatred.

"I always thought I had no father; in the stronghold, I was bullied by other children from a young age."

"Mother also grew angry because of your departure, taking out all her resentment on me; I was beaten black and blue, with not a single spot of uninjured skin."

Speaking to this point, Bai Xiaosheng's body trembled slightly; the angrier he became, the more fury and hatred he felt.

Seated on the couch, Emperor Longqing's face instead turned pale.