Chapter 178: Even if her poison is cured, she still won't conceive with you

Attendant Kang stood silently at the palace gate.

Queen Wang pondered for a moment, then said, "Your father emperor will surely summon you tonight for questioning; no matter what he says, just admit fault and voluntarily hand over the military authority of the Southern Three Provinces."

Prince Rui's heart jolted: "Hand over military authority? But what if he really agrees to it?"

"He won't."

Queen Wang sat steadily on the phoenix throne, the corner of her lips curling into a mocking cold smile: "Your father emperor is timid and suspicious; he fears chaos above all. The Southern Three Provinces have strong troops and sturdy horses—if he truly fears you, he will first placate you, never rashly strip your command, driving you to desperation."

Prince Rui, hearing this, steadied himself.

"Besides, what if he really does take away your command?"

Queen Wang slowly rose, her phoenix robe trailing on the floor, her gaze turned to the distance, her voice carrying a hint of undetectable harshness.

"We have operated in the south for so many years—every officer under your command was promoted by you personally. They follow you, not the imperial seal. If the emperor were to exterminate us, we need not show mercy!"

Queen Wang placed her hand on Prince Rui's shoulder and pressed firmly: "I have already laid a backup plan; do as the empress dowager says—voluntarily request to relinquish your authority, first to pacify your father emperor."

Prince Rui drew a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Your subject understands!"

Imperial Study.

"It's just some folk rumors—why are you making such a fuss?" Emperor Xuwen sat on the dragon throne, his face growing gaunter in the candlelight as he coughed lightly a few times.

Prince Rui maintained his kneeling posture, holding up his resignation petition with both hands: "Your subject has been away from the capital for years; though I dare not claim hardship in guarding the south, I have longed for home day and night. Now the realm is peaceful and the people safe—I only wish to lay down my command, return to the capital to attend my father emperor and empress dowager, to greet them morning and evening, fulfilling my filial duty as a son. I implore your permission."

Emperor Xuwen fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Come closer; let me have a good look at you."

Prince Rui lowered his eyes, hesitated a moment, then rose and walked forward, stopping before the imperial desk, still keeping his head slightly bowed, his demeanor respectful.

The emperor's gaze fell upon him, inscrutable as to joy or anger.

"You've grown taller."

Prince Rui said nothing.

Emperor Xuwen asked with concern, "Have you suffered any hardship in the Guard Bureau?"

Prince Rui twitched the corner of his mouth slightly; the Guard Bureau are all his spies—even a shift of his buttocks gets reported to him—now he pretends to be a benevolent father?

Thinking this, he forced out two tears, showing just the right amount of restraint: "... No. It's merely a few days in jail; compared to fighting in the south, it's hardly suffering."

Emperor Xuwen extended his hand, signaling him to hand over the resignation petition.

Prince Rui complied, feeling a bit nervous.

Emperor Xuwen stared at the petition, remaining silent for a good while.

Just then, a sudden urgent report tore through the silence outside the hall.

"Report—!"

The guard hurried in: "Your Majesty! Urgent report from the southeast coast—sea pirates have launched a surprise attack on Quanzhou Port, already destroying twenty warships! The Quanzhou Garrison cannot hold out and has sent three successive pleas for aid!"

Prince Rui's face shifted slightly; the pirates never attack early or late, but they chose to strike just as he sought to relinquish command—almost certainly this is the empress dowager's doing.

As he lifted his gaze, his eyes met the emperor's deep, pool-like depths.

Prince Rui's heart tightened; he quickly concealed the emotion in his eyes.

The Imperial Study fell silent for a moment.

Emperor Xuwen tossed the petition aside, looked at Prince Rui, and said, "The Quanzhou navy hasn't seen battle in a while; they're likely out of practice. You—hurry back south, gather troops, and go to Quanzhou to suppress the pirates..."

Prince Rui had the words "Your subject will obey the edict" on his lips when he heard the emperor's continuation,

"Furthermore, issue an order appointing Xiao Jingyuan as Supreme Commander of the Southeast, bearing the ceremonial axe to accompany you, assisting in logistics and scouting the enemy's movements."

Prince Rui jerked his head up.

That very night, the emperor's verbal decree reached Prince Yan's Manor.

Shen Shuangning's sleep was not deep, so she woke when Xiao Jingyuan rose to leave.

Not long after, when Xiao Jingyuan turned and entered the room, he saw her leaning against the headboard, her long hair loosely tied.

He involuntarily softened his steps and said gently, "Did I disturb you?"

Shen Shuangning shook her head: "What's happened?"

"It's nothing major—I just need to be away from the capital for a while."

Xiao Jingyuan told her what had occurred in the palace.

Shen Shuangning frowned slightly: "This timing is far too coincidental."

Xiao Jingyuan had already guessed what was going on; he sat beside the bed and murmured, "Hmm": "The emperor has sent me to serve as commander-in-chief—on the surface to assist, but in truth to monitor Prince Rui and probe his background."

"This journey will surely be fraught with danger—be extra careful," Shen Shuangning said solemnly.

Xiao Jingyuan lightly brushed a kiss onto her forehead: "Don't worry, I have my own arrangements. Rest now; I still have matters to attend to."

Shen Shuangning felt a bit puzzled—what could he be doing so late? But seeing that he would depart tomorrow, she supposed he was making preparations and didn't press further.

Seeing her lie back down obediently, Xiao Jingyuan then donned an outer garment and went out.

Mu Yu had received the news and was already waiting ahead of time at the Hall of Skilled Hands; upon seeing him arrive, he directly handed over a dagger.

"Draw heart‑blood and mix it with my medicine; it will guarantee she won't suffer a poison outbreak for at least three months, letting you leave the capital with peace of mind."

Xiao Jingyuan took the dagger, without a word moved to point the tip at his chest, the action swift and without a hint of hesitation.

Mu Yu's eyelid twitched; he quickly grabbed Xiao Jingyuan's wrist, urging, "Wait! Let me do it! Your strike lacks control—don't really puncture a hole!"

Mu Yu took the dagger, somewhat hesitant, but ultimately advised, "Drawing heart‑blood drains vital energy; one extraction requires at least a month of rest to recover. You depart tomorrow, facing the rigors of the journey and still having to deal with Prince Rui..."

"No problem."

Xiao Jingyuan cut her off, swiftly pulling open his collar to reveal a well‑defined chest, the muscle tissue still bearing a few old scars.

Mu Yu knew further words would be pointless and ceased his urging.

She gripped the dagger and made a swift, shallow, precise incision; beads of blood welled up instantly, bright red and striking, sliding along the muscle fibers to drip into the prepared jade bowl.

Xiao Jingyuan did not even blink.

Time trickled by; Mu Yu saw that enough blood had been collected, immediately applied hemostatic powder, and tightly wrapped the wound with a clean cloth.

A full small half-bowl of heart's blood, Xiao Jingyuan's complexion visibly turned pale.

Mu Yu took out a medicine bottle containing blood-replenishing pills from the case and handed it to him: "Better than nothing, three pills a day, slightly replenishing the deficiency of qi and blood."

Xiao Jingyuan said "Thank you," seemingly thinking of something, and asked: "Will this poison affect her ability to bear children?"

This poison, having been in the body for a long time, will damage the foundation; if not resolved early, I fear…… it will be very difficult to conceive.

"What medicinal ingredient is still missing?" Xiao Jingyuan clenched his fingers.

"Netherworld Flower." As soon as Mu Yu finished speaking, her eyes lit up, and she hurriedly asked: "Are you heading to Quanzhou?"

Xiao Jingyuan: "Exactly. Is the Netherworld Flower within Quanzhou's territory?"

"Not inside Quanzhou city, but not far away."

Mu Yu explained, "The Netherworld Flower grows on Black Stone Mountain near Quanzhou; that place is very evil, with miasma lingering year-round, poisonous insects everywhere, and the Netherworld Flower happens to grow on the cliff edge, making it hard to pick."

"This flower is extremely rare; on the black market, a single blossom is worth a thousand taels, and often there is no market for it despite the price."

If it weren't for lacking this medicinal ingredient, she wouldn't have taken so long to still not have developed an antidote.

Xiao Jingyuan's fingers hanging at his side suddenly clenched, his knuckles whitening. The scene from his previous life suddenly flooded his mind——

At that time he was leading troops abroad, while Shen Shuangning remained alone in the capital; on one occasion when he returned to the capital to report his duties, he bumped into her standing beneath the palace wall, gazing blankly at the baby in another lady's arms.

She loved children dearly, but because she was afflicted with cold poison, she lost the qualification to be a mother.

He usually felt nothing for children, yet he very much wanted to have a child with her; just the thought would surge a warmth and anticipation he had never felt before. Their child would certainly not be lacking.

"I understand." Xiao Jingyuan spoke slowly, "Once in Quanzhou, I will find a way to obtain the Netherworld Flower. This matter…… should be kept from her, so she need not worry unnecessarily."

At this moment, Mu Yu ruthlessly splashed a basin of cold water: "Even if the Crown Princess Consort's poison is cured, you still won't be able to get her pregnant."

Xiao Jingyuan frowned: "Why?"

"What do you think?" Mu Yu looked at him, words failing, as if pitying: "Unless, you want to give birth to a monster."

Xiao Jingyuan suddenly understood, his complexion turned even paler, he closed his eyes, as if in extreme anguish.