Ning Huan felt as if his head were about to split open from the pain.
At this moment, the System, which had been absent for a long time, spoke again: “The male lead is investigating you.”
Ning Huan gave a faint “Mmh” in response, his eyes remaining closed.
The System said, “Existence itself is its own justification. Rest assured, this world will automatically help you round out your lies. The male lead might feel something is abnormal, but he is a psychopath; many things look abnormal to him.”
Still caught in the depths of sleep, Ning Huan offered another soft “Mmh.”
The System couldn’t say much more. It only dared to speak to Ning Huan during his half-awake state because the plot had already been twisted by him. However, all roads lead to Rome; although the methods differed, the male lead had developed the intention to seize the throne because of Ning Huan.
The System couldn’t help but praise Ning Huan: “You have done a good job with your work.”
Clearly, the System was an unscrupulous one. It didn’t say a single word regarding the specific reason why the male lead had suddenly become ambitious and eager to fight for the throne.
Ning Huan asked, “Then can I go home?”
The System suddenly lost its voice.
The day had long been bright. Mu Jinyu was originally supposed to attend the morning court session today, but A-Xi had called him twice without successfully waking him. According to the laws of the Great Luo Dynasty, any official who missed the court session without cause was to be punished with twenty strokes of the heavy board.
Even the Crown Prince was no exception.
A-Xi simply could not get the man up and had already prepared himself for Mu Jinyu to be impeached by the Censors and receive a beating.
Ning Huan slowly opened his eyes. The flush on his face had not yet faded, making him look as if he had just experienced a bout of passion. Combined with his sweat-soaked inner garment and the dark hair clinging to his cheeks, he was a sight that drew one’s gaze more than ever.
Mu Jinyu’s iron arms tightly encircled Ning Huan, pulling him entirely into his embrace. Ning Huan’s body temperature was on the lower side, always feeling cool to the touch. In winter, he was exceptionally chilly; while a night under the warm blankets helped, he was still cooler than a normal person. Having now inadvertently caught a cold, he had developed a high fever, leaving him limp and without much strength.
Mu Jinyu looked down at Ning Huan’s face: “…”
Ning Huan curled up in his arms, his voice slightly raspy: “Did the Crown Prince not go to Zuihua Building last night? Why did you run to my bed again?”
Mu Jinyu closed his eyes. “Can we stop mentioning Zuihua Building?”
Ning Huan gave a light laugh and squeezed the hard muscles of the Prince’s arm. “Let go of me, I want to get down.”
Mu Jinyu rolled over and pressed himself on top of Ning Huan. “This Lord hasn’t had enough sleep.”
Ning Huan was already weak from the cold. Having a large man press down on him so heavily, he nearly lost his breath. Mu Jinyu considered himself physically weak and nothing but skin and bones, but such a tall man was heavy even if he was thin.
Ning Huan gave a cold snort. “Get up.”
Mu Jinyu hugged Ning Huan’s shoulders. “I won’t.”
Ning Huan felt as if he were about to spit blood from the weight. He pinched Mu Jinyu’s waist. “Why didn’t you go to the morning court today?”
Ordinarily, if Mu Jinyu missed the court without cause, the Emperor would certainly have a eunuch serve him a round of the board. Recently, however, the situation was different. No matter how much Mu Jinyu acted out, the Emperor wouldn’t do anything to him, at most calling him over for a scolding.
Mu Jinyu sniffed Ning Huan’s neck. “I didn’t want to go.”
By the time he finally got up, Ning Huan was also covered in sweat. He rang the bell for Die Qing to bring water. Mu Jinyu got off the bed to dress himself. “Why aren’t you getting up?”
Ning Huan didn’t want his body to be seen. “I’ll get up in a bit. Your Highness should head out first.”
Die Qing brought the water in, and Ning Huan wiped his body down. His cold was still quite severe, so he had no intention of leaving the Crown Prince’s Manor today.
Mu Jinyu hurried to the palace. A-Xi said from the side, “The Censors already enjoy targeting you. Since you weren’t there this morning, there’s no telling what they’re saying about you in front of the ministers.”
Previously, Mu Jinyu would have been beaten for missing court without cause. Today, he was called to the Emperor’s study, where the Emperor gave him a lecture and threw a teacup at him.
Mu Jinyu didn’t dodge. The teacup struck him right on the forehead, and blood seeped out instantly.
The Emperor was startled, and a trace of regret surfaced in his heart.
He didn’t want to injure Mu Jinyu this time; this was the same reason he hadn’t arranged for Mu Jinyu to be beaten with the board. Mu Jinyu was about to be dispatched to the northern border and had to leave the capital unscathed. If he left with visible injuries, it would likely cause the commoners and soldiers to speculate.
The Emperor’s majestic eyes were like torches, currently filled with anger: “Useless thing. You can even sleep through the morning court. How will you inherit the great succession in the future?”
Mu Jinyu knelt perfectly straight, remaining motionless below. His upper body was as upright and elegant as a pine or cypress. He pursed his lips tightly, looking resentful and indignant.
The Emperor said, “This unrest with the Fengdan is exactly the right time to send you out for tempering. Crown Prince, you must not disappoint me again.”
“This son does not want—”
Before he could finish, Mu Jinyu felt the Emperor’s cold gaze fall on his face. He quickly avoided the Emperor’s eyes and changed his tune: “This son accepts the decree.”
The Emperor felt satisfied seeing Mu Jinyu’s useless and irritable manner. He was originally uneasy about handing military power over to Mu Jinyu. The northern border was far away; if the Crown Prince had ulterior motives and colluded with the Fengdan, the Great Luo Dynasty would be in peril. Mu Jinyu looked as though he completely failed to cherish this opportunity. Having stayed in the capital’s prosperous “land of gentleness” for so long, why would he be willing to go suffer in the freezing borderlands?
Once Mu Jinyu was dead, the Emperor would also need to observe whether Prince Yue or Prince Rui was better suited to be the Crown Prince. Speaking of which, none of these sons of his seemed particularly capable.
The Emperor added, “Jinyu, your temperament is violent and impulsive. If not for your status as the legitimate heir, I would certainly be unwilling to establish you as Crown Prince. This time, once you reach the northern border, you must be more steady. Listen more to the suggestions of your subordinates and never act rashly.”
As he expected, Mu Jinyu appeared deeply hit by these words, leaving the study looking lost and despondent.
The Emperor took a sip of tea, wondering if it was too early to make his move. If the Crown Prince wasn’t faking it, the boy wouldn’t be able to stir up any waves even if given another two years.
After exiting, A-Xi was startled to see the blood on Mu Jinyu’s forehead. “Your Highness, your forehead is bleeding.”
Mu Jinyu let out a cold laugh and reached up to wipe the blood. “It is nothing. Let’s go to the Imperial Academy of Medicine.”
Zhao Yi of the Imperial Academy of Medicine happened to be free. He was also shocked to see the Crown Prince bleeding from the head. “Boy, go get the golden sore medicine and gauze.”
Only the Emperor would dare to wound the Crown Prince. Mu Jinyu’s reputation was always poor, so the other imperial physicians avoided the scene when they saw Zhao Yi going to perform the bandaging.
Zhao Yi took the items from the young attendant. “Go, go, get out.”
A-Xi and the young attendant exited together.
Imperial Physician Zhao lowered his voice: “The Emperor was angry?”
A sharp look flashed in Mu Jinyu’s eyes. “During this time, have you been performing the routine health checks for the Empress?”
Zhao Yi replied, “The Empress’s health has been poor these past two years. The routine checks were taken over by the Academy Head, Wei Su.”
Wei Su’s medical skills were exquisite; he had always checked the pulses of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager and was deeply trusted by the Emperor.
Mu Jinyu asked, “The Empress has been fed Opium (Afurong) for a long time. Do you have a way to solve this?”
Zhao Yi was stunned. “Once addicted to Opium, it is very hard to quit. It is a forbidden drug in the palace; it cannot be taken in large quantities, and it is very hard to obtain in large amounts. How does Your Highness know the Empress is being fed this? Could it be the Emperor—”
“The Emperor gave it; the Crown Princess discovered it.”
Zhao Yi also felt this matter was thorny. He thought for a moment. “It is not easy to solve. I will think of a way. Your Highness, is the Crown Princess trustworthy? Can you work with him while you are away from the capital?”
“There is some truth in what he says, but working together is out of the question,” Mu Jinyu said. “I am still not clear on his origins.”
Zhao Yi’s brow was furrowed with worry. Finally, he sighed. “Crown Prince, please sit. This official will apply the medicine and bandage you.”
Mu Jinyu didn’t like others touching him, especially his head or face. He took two steps back. “No need. I will go back and have the Crown Princess bandage it.”
The Crown Prince came and went in a hurry. He did not deliberately hide his visit to the Academy of Medicine—it couldn’t be hidden anyway—and news soon reached the harem.
The Emperor was drinking tea in Noble Consort Shen’s palace. He let out a cold snort. “He isn’t completely insane yet. Knowing to find a doctor when he’s injured.”
When he returned to the Crown Prince’s Manor, Ning Huan was grinding medicine. A cat was lying on the table, watching Ning Huan obediently.
Mu Jinyu shooed the cat away. He glanced at the crushed medicinal powder. “What is this?”
Ning Huan didn’t look up. “This winter is cold. Several servants have developed chilblains on their hands. I’m making some chilblain ointment.”
Mu Jinyu asked, “Chilblain ointment?”
“It can make chilblains heal quickly and prevent the face and hands from cracking. The prescription is very simple, and the herbs are easy to obtain.” Ning Huan’s hands didn’t stop. “Is Your Highness interested?”
Mu Jinyu said, “Tell me about it.”
This was a medical prescription passed down in the Ning family. The Ning family was a lineage of military generals; because marching and fighting were exceptionally arduous, soldiers developing sores on their hands and feet in winter would delay many matters, potentially even making them unable to hold their weapons. Therefore, the Ning ancestors had paid a high price to buy this prescription.
This time, Mu Jinyu was going to the northern border to confront the Fengdan tribe. When the capital would be blooming in spring, the north would still be a world of ice and snow. Furthermore, there would be a once-in-a-century blizzard there; countless soldiers would be frostbitten, their bodies, hands, and feet rotting from the cold.
Ning Huan gave a slip of paper to Mu Jinyu. “If you don’t have lard, you can replace it with sheep fat. Fat and Astragalus (Huangqi) are essential; missing one or two of the other ingredients won’t have much of an impact.”
It was easier to obtain sheep fat in the northern border, as there were more flocks of sheep there.
Mu Jinyu tucked the slip of paper away. “I am injured.”
Only then did Ning Huan look up at Mu Jinyu. The area smashed by the Emperor was still seeping blood occasionally. His face was already somber, and paired with this wound, he looked even more terrifying.
Ning Huan reached out and pinched Mu Jinyu’s chin to look closely. He couldn’t help but gnash his teeth. “You truly are my ancestor (my great burden).”
Because his cold hadn’t healed, Ning Huan’s voice was a bit nasal.
Mu Jinyu’s face was cupped by him, and his earlobes slowly turned red. “Hmph!”