Chapter 1444: The Beauty

Muyue rushed to the Jiangjun fu, yet saw only a gloomy atmosphere pervading the manor; even the usually lively Jin Qingqing wore a depressed expression.

"Your Majesty… you've come back."

Jin Qingqing was shoved forward by Jin Ye, immediately pinched her thigh to force out a few tears, then stepped forward.

"My second older brother…"

"Where is my older brother? Tell me quickly!"

Muyue's face turned awful, her voice barely staying calm.

"My second older brother has been poisoned with a deadly toxin; there were signs earlier, but today it flared up suddenly… the Emperor took him into the palace and had the Imperial Physician treat him. My second older brother asked me to give this to you—please hurry and finish your work to go see him."

Jin Qingqing handed him a green jade pendant.

This gift was something Muyue once gave to Jin Chen, symbolizing blessings of good fortune and health.

"Earlier?"

Muyue stumbled back two steps in disbelief.

"Why does he know nothing at all?"

"No… my older brother will be fine."

Muyue's eyes turned blood‑red, her heart tightened, she didn't linger, grabbed a horse and headed for the imperial palace's guest quarters.

"Older brother… wait for me."

Muyue didn't realize that after entering the palace, palace attendants kept guiding her way, each with a worried look—it didn't seem like they should know nothing of these matters.

But when he finally found the palace where Jin Chen was staying, he was stopped by the Emperor guarding the entrance.

Since ascending the throne, the Emperor hasn't faced such a challenging maneuver in ages! Before, he only used it against those imperial elder brothers of his.

"Eh…"

The Emperor sighed long, hands behind his back, pacing. Seeing Muyue arrive in a hurry, he quickly said: "The Monarch has finally arrived."

"Where is my older brother? Why hide the fact that he's poisoned from me?"

Muyue's mind went blank; she only knew Jin Chen must not die—absolutely must not die!

"Why keep it secret?" the Emperor echoed Jin Chen's words, asking, "What do you think?"

"What do you mean…?" Muyue, blocked by him from entering, had no spare thoughts to ponder further.

"Aren't you afraid he's ugly?" the Emperor asked.

Muyue found it absurd and snapped: "Are you sick? My older brother is the person I love most in the world—why would I despise him for being ugly?"

Emperor: "……"

He endured.

The Emperor drew a deep breath, calmed himself, then said: "If his poison made him uglier, fiercer, more terrifying, wouldn't you still be unafraid?"

Muyue suddenly felt these words were somewhat familiar.

"No matter how terrifying his poisoned state, he's still my older brother—hurry and let me in, don't block me!"

"Alright, go in." The Emperor waved his hand, signaling the guard at the door to step aside.

Inside the hall's bedchamber.

Jin Chen, not wearing a mask, was leisurely reclining on the bed watching the Imperial Physician and Fengyun laoren prepare medicine for acupuncture; hearing the hurried footsteps rushing in, he quickly lay down.

【Oh ho! He's come in, he's come in! The time to test the host's acting has arrived!】 Ling Gun Gun inexplicably felt a bit excited.

"Older brother!"

Muyue rushed in anxiously; upon seeing Jin Chen she couldn't hold back tears, knelt beside the bed with an ashen face, trembling as she reached for his hand.

"Older brother, what's wrong… what poison did you take?"

Jin Chen pulled him, his tone "weak" and indifferent, "Come up and lie with me."

"Okay, okay."

Muyue wiped her tears, immediately took off her shoes and slipped into his embrace, but feeling his warm hold she couldn't hold back her tears, sobbing uncontrollably, utterly miserable.

"Getting ready to needle, General."

The Imperial Physician readied the silver needles and approached respectfully.

Jin Chen hummed, pulled Muyue's right arm, rolled up her sleeve, and extended it outward.

Muyue: "……?"

He stared blankly at his wrist, then lifted his gaze to his older brother and sniffed.

"It's over…"

When my older brother's poison flares, he actually becomes stupid!

"Don't think wildly; today they're here to cure your poison." Jin Chen tapped his head, his tone not pleasant.

"Finally caught you, little liar."

These past few days I've been dodging him like a plague god!

Muyue gasped again, tears still on her lips, staring blankly at him: "So you're alright?"

"There is something," Jin Chen said in a low voice, "you're about to make me sick from anger."

Only then did Muyue realize that everything the Emperor had said outside the hall was aimed at her.

Meanwhile, the silver needle had been inserted into her wrist's acupoint, leaving her unable to pull back.

"Poison……"

Muyue's tears slid silently down her face: "My poison, the Imperial Physician can't cure."

Fengyun laoren walked over chuckling, stroking his white‑tinged beard.

"Your Majesty, rest assured—the poison concocted by that rebellious disciple, I have antidotes for; your toxin flares monthly and is not hard to resolve."

Muyue: "You are… Fengyun laoren?"

Exactly, old one.

Muyue stared blankly for two seconds, rubbing away tears in Jin Chen's embrace, "You haven't left Divine Mountain for decades, have you?"

Fengyun laoren silently glanced at Jin Chen.

What else could be the reason!

If he doesn't come out, this general will likely attack Divine Mountain—who could withstand that!

He silently cursed the crudeness in his heart, yet remained polite on the surface.

"The general treats me with courtesy, inviting me to leave the mountain—I have no choice but to comply."

"Ah Brother, when did you find out he was poisoned? You hid it so well."

Muyue still had a heart full of doubts unanswered, yet she had no strength left.

As more silver needles appeared on her arm, Muyue began to show the weakness and powerlessness that only occur when the toxin flares.

"Ah Brother..."

Muyue, in a daze, pulled Jin Chen's hand; fearing this state from the bottom of her heart, she knew that what would happen next would be beyond his control.

He instinctively sought the most reassuring embrace.

"I feel so awful…"

No matter how angry Jin Chen was, he now had to coax her, pulling Muyue into his embrace and gently rubbing her back: "I know, Yue'er, just sleep well; you'll be fine after you wake up."

Muyue clung to his chest like an addict, trembling all over, fearful of the irresistible force after the toxin flares.

But gradually, Muyue lost even the strength to think about these things, and fell into a deep sleep.

"General, don't worry." Fengyun laoren timely advised: "This is to first provoke the toxin, then treat it accordingly."

Fengyun laoren brought a white porcelain bowl and a small knife, half-squatting, preparing to cut Muyue's wrist to draw out the poisoned blood.

Jin Chen's voice sank, his brows furrowed tightly.

"I'll do it."

Fengyun laoren glanced at him, then had to hand over the knife, pointing out the acupoint and depth.

Red blood mixed with black fluffy substance flowed out; Muyue let out a soft groan, feeling the pain.

Jin Chen kissed their brow, "Guabao, it'll be fine soon."

Jin Chen again silently exuded a richer agarwood scent to soothe; anyway, only Muyue could smell it.

"General, after the toxin is resolved, the monarch will show unconscious frenzy symptoms when the toxin flares, lasting three to five days."

Fengyun laoren also said: "These few days, the general should try not to let the sovereign see strangers."