Chapter 39 - 1#

The spring rain was as precious as oil, but this rain had lasted for two days, chilling the hearts of the court officials waiting bitterly outside the palace gate.

If the rain hadn’t lessened today, a few of them might have collapsed.

Shen Zikun stood in the crowd, braving the drizzle. His face was calm and composed, more so than anyone else. There were people who wanted to talk to him, but he deflected them all with vague answers, giving no definite information.

Suddenly, the tightly closed palace gate opened silently, revealing a crack.

Ning Hongru appeared before their eyes with several people.

He accurately identified several important court officials, plus Shen Zikun, Wang Huailu, Tian Rui, and two old princes in the capital, and invited only these people inside.

As for the questions from others, Ning Hongru just smiled slightly and did not answer.

But Ning Hongru’s appearance in front of everyone was already an answer.

No matter how thrilling the events in the palace had been in the past two days, Emperor Jingyuan was undoubtedly safe and sound.

There were also members of the Huang family in front of the palace gate.

When Ning Hongru appeared, many eyes glanced at their faces, trying to find any flaws. Unfortunately, the misty rain covered everyone’s vision quite a bit, making it hard to see clearly.

But a mutiny in the palace could only be one of a few possibilities.

Many people guessed it was the Empress Dowager, but it was unknown. However, after Ning Hongru appeared, the atmosphere in front of the palace gate changed after all.

The original restlessness also disappeared.

This group of princes and ministers who followed Ning Hongru into the palace smelled a strange fragrance as soon as they walked into the solemn and long palace road.

The smell was so strong that it almost permeated the entire imperial city, seemingly everywhere, excessively rich.

Some old princes smelled it and couldn’t help coughing; others covered their mouths and noses with their sleeves to avoid being invaded by the scent.

Ning Hongru seemed to realize just now and bowed to everyone: “In the past two days, this servant has been walking in the palace and has become accustomed to this smell, forgetting that you are not used to it. Xu Fang, present the veils to everyone.”

A eunuch behind Ning Hongru stepped forward and handed veils to several people. Although it looked a bit nondescript, after putting them on, they could finally tolerate the overly strong fragrance a little.

The leading Old Prince Kang was the late emperor’s full brother, in his fifties this year, and was highly respected. The other one was Old Prince Jing, a concubine-born prince, who usually didn’t talk much and followed Old Prince Kang’s lead.

Old Prince Kang frowned: “Why is there such a strong smell in this palace?”

Ning Hongru said unhurriedly: “His Majesty was attacked yesterday. The means used by the thief were too peculiar, so incense was sprinkled everywhere in this palace to drive it away, lest…”

Before he could finish his words, he saw a small team of guards hurriedly passing by them, without even having time to salute.

Among them, two were carrying a wounded person. The arm hanging down actually showed dense white bones, as if a huge hole had been gnawed out by some living creature.

This accidental sight was shocking.

The smell of blood mixed with the strange fragrance was another weird smell, which was particularly unpleasant.

Shen Zikun looked at the mottled bloodstains on the ground and asked slowly: “Director Ning, who injured those guards?”

Ning Hongru always had a bit more respect when facing Shen Zikun. He said respectfully: “To answer Lord Shen, these guards were injured by Gu worms. The Noble Consort tried to drive Gu worms to attack His Majesty. After being stopped, the Gu worms rioted and wreaked havoc in the palace. It is precisely for this reason that His Majesty mobilized the army to guard the imperial city and forbade anyone from entering or leaving, for your safety.”

After Ning Hongru finished speaking, he looked up at these princes and ministers in front of him, shook his head and sighed.

“After all, these Gu worms feed on human flesh. If they are not cleared early and more people are allowed into the palace, it would just be feeding them.”

Ning Hongru’s words, coupled with the bloody scene just now, made many people’s faces slightly pale.

Naturally, they wouldn’t believe whatever Ning Hongru said.

For example, Gu worms?

Although there were many rumors about these magical means, they rarely appeared in reality. Whether it was true or false was hard to say.

…But, the Noble Consort attacked Emperor Jingyuan?

This was the truly shocking event.

They had many guesses in their hearts, but they never thought it would be a concubine.

Noble Consort Huang Yijie was a member of the Huang family.

Why did she want to attack His Majesty?

If it was true, was it out of her own will, or was she instigated by someone…

Just as Ning Hongru’s voice fell, in an instant, these people’s thoughts had already twisted and turned, associating to a deeper level.

Seeing that everyone stopped asking questions, Ning Hongru didn’t say much, but led them forward.

Before reaching Qianming Palace, they were stopped by Wei Haidong. Commander Wei had dark circles under his eyes, looking a bit weather-beaten. It seemed he hadn’t rested for two days.

He led his men to stop this group, first clasping his fists at the princes and ministers behind Ning Hongru as a salute, and then looking at Ning Hongru.

“Director Ning, the road ahead is blocked. It’s better to detour and enter through Zhengde Gate.”

Ning Hongru frowned: “Are there still fish that slipped through the net?”

Wei Haidong gave a bitter smile: “Director Ning, do you remember the damaged floor tiles in front of Qianming Palace a few days ago?”

Ning Hongru: “Wasn’t it dug open and resealed?”

“Fortunately, it was sealed once by the director before. Just now during the imperial patrol, strange noises were heard underneath. After making full preparations, it was dug open again. As a result, a huge nest of Gu worms was hidden underneath, different from the previous black worms, more ferocious, and has already injured several brothers.”

Wei Haidong frowned as he spoke, obviously looking very grim.

“However, there is enough incense to trap them in front of the hall for the time being. If the princes and lords want to see the emperor, it’s better to detour to avoid running into them.”

Wei Haidong should have been overseeing the dangerous area, but hearing that someone was coming, and of high status, he took the initiative to come up to greet them, lest they mess around without knowing the situation and let the worms break through the defense line.

Old Prince Kang exchanged glances with several Grand Secretaries and Ministers, his old voice carrying a bit of majesty: “This Prince would like to see how ferocious these so-called Gu worms are.”

Wei Haidong’s face didn’t look good: “Prince, this is not a stage, it can’t tolerate others watching a show.”

Old Prince Kang looked calm and wanted to stroke his beard, but was separated by the veil, so he gave up, “Just a look from afar. Without knowing the ferocity of this thing, how can we understand the consequences?”

Wei Haidong’s serious face was livid. If the speaker wasn’t Old Prince Kang, he would have wanted to punch him.

Ning Hongru quickly stepped between them, dragged Wei Haidong a few steps aside, and whispered something. Although their voices couldn’t be heard clearly, their fierce movements showed that a fierce argument had broken out.

Wei Haidong was the commander of the guards. If he really didn’t want to, Ning Hongru might not be able to force him. To sit in this position, he naturally had to be capable and highly valued by Emperor Jingyuan.

Shen Zikun: “If Commander Wei is unwilling, it’s probably for our safety.”

“His Majesty was attacked, we should share his worries.” Old Prince Jing said lightly, “We should see with our own eyes how powerful those Gu worms are.”

Old Prince Kang and Old Prince Jing had no conflict with Emperor Jingyuan.

They wanted to see mainly to confirm one thing—was the attack true or fabricated out of nothing?

Over there, the argument between Ning Hongru and Wei Haidong obviously had a result.

Wei Haidong strode over with a dark face and said stiffly: “If you want to see, let’s agree in advance, only a look from afar. No one is allowed to cross the position of those incense burners.”

Then, as if he felt it wasn’t safe enough, he distributed a small incense stick as thick as a finger to everyone. Looking at Wei Haidong’s pained expression, it was enough to see the preciousness of this incense.

Wei Haidong exhorted repeatedly: “You must hold the incense, don’t drop it. Even if Gu worms approach, holding the incense won’t be too dangerous.”

After making full preparations, Wei Haidong led them to the front of the hall.

Just a few steps later, a strong smell hit their faces.

This was ten times, a hundred times stronger than the smell they smelled when they entered the palace just now. They could also see smoke drifting, as if something was burning ahead.

Shen Zikun glanced at the sky imperceptibly. At some point, the rain had stopped. But the sky was still very dark, without a trace of light.

As soon as they approached Qianming Palace, they heard many strange rustling sounds, like the movement of countless pairs of wings rubbing. Hearing it for the first time made people’s hair stand on end and their bodies shiver.

That was the instinctive reaction of humans when encountering danger, the erected hair alerting to the impending danger.

Wei Haidong raised his hand, signaling them to stop.

From this place, everyone could also see several large furnaces burning in front of the hall. The fire was very strong, constantly roasting the things in the furnaces.

Those strange fragrances were drifting out from the large furnaces.

The distribution of these large furnaces was ingenious, mostly upwind, and fewer downwind. Many guards moved through the gaps with objects like cattail leaf fans, constantly sweeping the smoke back inside.

These actions looked weird and funny, but when their eyes fell on the middle, the dense, black and white insect tide, that horror would suddenly climb up their backs, goosebumps would rise all over their bodies, and there would be no more thoughts of doubt.

…Those spreading insect tides were like the most terrible nightmare, so dense that they made the eyes sting.

The buzzing movement was so distinct that for a moment, the ears could only hear those sharp friction sounds.

“Commander Wei, it worked!”

Just as they were numb with shock by this scene, a guard discovered Wei Haidong’s presence and immediately sent someone to report to him.

“Just now, a few brothers risked their lives to bring fragrant wood in and threw it into the cave. Now the Gu worms coming out are much fewer than before.”

Wei Haidong first showed joy, then his face turned cold: “What about the people who went in?”

The smile on the guard’s face also faded, becoming a little gray: “Except for A Biao who came back, the rest all…”

Wei Haidong gritted his teeth, cursed a few words in a low voice, ignored the group of princes and ministers behind him, and rushed up with the guards, his figure disappearing into the misty smoke immediately.

Ning Hongru glanced silently, turned around and said to the princes and ministers behind him: “If you want to watch, you can only stay here. Don’t take another step forward.”

Among them, some people’s faces had turned green.

Wondering if they were naturally afraid of bugs, they almost couldn’t stand steadily and leaned on Shen Zikun. Shen Zikun glanced at the old minister silently and made way.

Although there was a possibility of acting, these people were also old foxes. Wei Haidong’s anxiety just now couldn’t be faked, and those insect tides looked different from ordinary insects at a glance.

“Ah!”

In this gap, they heard a scream. Not long after, someone was dragged out, covered in blood, missing a few fingers on his left hand, and had fainted.

As soon as he retreated, someone immediately filled his position.

Old Prince Kang watched for a moment and said slowly: “Please trouble Director Ning to take us to Zhengde Gate.” His brows were furrowed, obviously the ferocity he saw just now exceeded his imagination.

Ning Hongru didn’t say much. Since Old Prince Kang said so, he looked at the others, and seeing no objection, he led them around.

Someone also asked: “Gu worms are so fierce, can those smoke alone kill them all?”

“Most Gu worms are inferior and unintelligent existences. They lost control after the Noble Consort fell into a coma, and will die if they smell too much fragrance. Originally, the Gu worms in various places had been almost cleared. This nest in front of the hall was just discovered.” Ning Hongru shook his head with a bitter smile, “And it looks much more powerful than the previous ones.”

Seeing their interest, Ning Hongru casually talked about previous events. When they heard that the palace walls used to be densely covered with black worms, everyone’s face was very grim.

After detouring from Zhengde Gate, the pace was much faster. Soon, Ning Hongru led everyone into Qianming Palace.

Inside the hall, Emperor Jingyuan was sitting on a soft couch.

An imperial physician was taking his pulse, frowning slightly, obviously particularly displeased with the pulse condition.

Even if there were people having an audience, the imperial physician couldn’t help but raise his voice: “Your Majesty, although this injury won’t kill you, don’t use force on this side. Which part of this sentence don’t you understand? Are you thinking that since the tendon isn’t broken, you insist on breaking it?”

This imperial physician really spoke with full vigor.

The sarcasm in his words was also strong. Listeners were afraid that the emperor would chop him in anger.

Next to where the imperial physician was sitting, blood-stained bandages were entangled together, exceptionally dazzling. And Emperor Jingyuan’s exposed arm was also wrapped with the same cloth strips, obviously just treated.

Emperor Jingyuan said indifferently: “Won’t die.”

What a cold and ruthless emperor.

Just don’t know why there was a shallow mark on the boots under his feet.

It seemed… someone stepped on it?

No no no, this is Emperor Jingyuan, how is it possible? Ministers who caught a glimpse immediately suppressed those outrageous guesses in their hearts.

In front, Zong Yuanxin almost tore off his beard, jumped up and said: “Won’t die now, but later, it’s hard to say.” He caught a glimpse of someone coming out of the corner of his eye, finally picked up the medicine box to make way for others, and walked out angrily.

“Divine Doctor Zong?”

The originally quiet hall, because of this sudden voice, everyone looked at the speaker. Zong Yuanxin, who was about to go out to prescribe medicine, also stopped subconsciously.

He purely because the speaker’s voice sounded somewhat familiar.

The Minister of Justice looked a little embarrassed, but couldn’t help being excited: “Divine Doctor Zong, you once saved my little granddaughter…”

The Minister of Justice’s little granddaughter suddenly fell ill three months ago, and many doctors were useless.

Even the imperial physicians had seen her.

Later, hearing that there was a divine doctor in the south of the city who occasionally gave free consultations, as long as it was him, no matter how serious the illness, it could be cured. It’s just that the divine doctor never made house calls. If you wanted to see him, you could only take the patient there.

Hearing that he happened to be there recently, the Minister’s wife took her sick little granddaughter out, almost angering her daughter-in-law.

Unexpectedly, after really prescribing a few doses of medicine, the originally dying child woke up again and cried that she was hungry. What a miracle!

Later, the Minister of Justice wanted to go and thank him again and give him a generous gift, but found that the divine doctor hadn’t appeared for a long time since then, so he gave up. Unexpectedly, he would see the divine doctor in the inner court today, and it seemed…

He had a close relationship with Emperor Jingyuan.

So Divine Doctor Zong was actually an imperial physician of the inner court?

But how could people from the Imperial Academy of Medicine have time to give free consultations to ordinary people outside?

Zong Yuanxin frowned, thought for a moment, and then remembered which patient this was. Fortunately, it was just a few days after he stopped free consultations, otherwise he wouldn’t remember.

A few days later, Emperor Jingyuan finally agreed to see a doctor. He was too happy, how could he run out every day?

Zong Yuanxin didn’t lack money. He never asked for money when he went out for consultations, and had no dealings with those dignitaries. He waved his hand casually: “No need to pay. If you must give, take the money to distribute porridge.”

After saying this, he hurried out, thinking about the prescription he had already drafted in his mind.

After this interruption, the atmosphere in Qianming Palace relaxed inexplicably. Ning Hongru lowered his head, “Your Majesty, the two princes and all the lords have been brought here. This servant will retire now.”

Emperor Jingyuan nodded, and he retreated outside the hall.

However, he didn’t go down the steps because it had been blocked by guards. Occasionally, those overlapping buzzing sounds could still be heard, which was really harsh.

But Ning Hongru was used to this sound and was very calm.

Just as Old Prince Kang speculated, the Gu worms in front of the hall were indeed an accident, and it couldn’t be considered an act.

Back then, Mao Zishi was bored and poked around in front of the hall with a dead branch. No one knew where he got the branch, but he really pierced the floor tiles in front of the emperor and paid a large sum of money.

Ning Hongru later had people dig up the floor tiles, confirm there was nothing underneath, and then reinforce and seal them again.

This was just an accident. If it weren’t for Mao Zishi’s itchy hands, the damage to the floor tiles would probably not have been discovered until the day of the pouring rain.

Now, Ning Hongru looked at the smoke-filled place with a somber face…

It seems that if Mao Zishi hadn’t messed around, this group of pests hidden underground would probably be one of the backup plans left by Huang Yijie.

They lurked extremely deep, right in front of Qianming Palace. If they could rush out, they would really catch people off guard.