6 – Unexpectedly Different from the Previous Life (Revised)
As night began to fall, the sound of whipping echoed from Qingyang Hall.
The shadow guard Wuqing knelt on the ground while another guard wielded a long whip, striking him.
He had been ordered by Nine Thousand Years to secretly monitor every move in Moon Departure Palace, but today he had failed in his duty, allowing the young Emperor to disguise himself as a palace maid and slip out of the palace.
Nine Thousand Years punished him with twenty lashes.
Wuhuan entered from outside and, seeing Wuqing being beaten, cast a sympathetic glance his way.
Wuqing’s punishment was undeserved.
Wuhuan approached Shang Guanqi, bowed, and reported, “Lord of a Thousand Years, it has been confirmed that there is indeed a palace maid named Xiuzhu in the palace. She was assigned to Moon Departure Palace a month ago but had been ill and only returned to her post yesterday.”
Shang Guanqi did not even look up, but his expression turned cold and stern.
He was certain Jiang Lige had left the palace today.
The original Jiang Lige was already dead, so why would the new Jiang Lige miss Consort Zhao’s belongings?
Jiang Lige had disguised herself as a young palace maid and left the palace, but he had no idea whom she had encountered at the prince’s residence.
“How was Wen Zhimo today?” Shang Guanqi asked.
Wuhuan replied, “Wen Zhimo stayed at Flower-Filled Tower last night, drunk and unconscious. He only returned to his residence in the late afternoon at dusk.”
Shang Guanqi fell into deep thought. From the morning’s landslide and cave collapse, there had been an eerie atmosphere.
In his previous life, there had been the same heavy rain, but no stone tablet had appeared, and Jiang Lige had not left the palace on this day.
What had changed today?
…
Moon Departure Palace.
“Luzhu, you’re finally back. How did it go?”
Luzhu returned to Moon Departure Palace, followed by another young palace maid.
“Your Majesty, rest assured, everything is fine. This is Xiuzhu, who will be serving in Moon Departure Palace for now. Young Master Xie has already arranged for someone to handle Xiuzhu’s information. Nine Thousand Years will absolutely find no flaws. Your Majesty can sleep without worry,” Luzhu said happily.
This Xie Shu is truly remarkable! Jiang Lige thought to herself.
“Your Majesty, things are looking up now. With Young Master Xie and Young Marquis Wen helping you, you will surely rule the world in person one day,” Luzhu said excitedly.
But Jiang Lige was not as cheerful. Good fortune doesn’t fall from the sky for no reason. Xie Shu’s sudden appearance was somewhat suspicious, and she had no idea what his intentions were.
As for Wen Zhimo, she could recall some clues from her memories.
Wen Zhimo was young and reckless, bearing the hollow title of a marquis and often looked down upon by others. He had repeatedly expressed his frustration to the original host, wanting to join the military, achieve great deeds, and regain his pride.
However, as the only heir of the Wen family, they would never allow him to leave.
Wen Zhimo had likely taken a risky path, hoping to gamble on Jiang Lige.
As for Xie Shu, Jiang Lige could not see through him. Just from today’s events, it was clear that he was meticulous and left no room for error. To deceive Shang Guanqi, his methods were extraordinary.
Such a formidable person suddenly appearing before her made Jiang Lige naturally wary.
Come to think of it, she needed more loyal confidants like Luzhu to maneuver effectively within the palace.
Jiang Lige thought for a moment and said, “Luzhu, I’m going to see Li Fu.”
…
“Eunuch Li, the Emperor is here to see you.”
Li Fu lay face down on the bed. Hearing the young eunuch’s announcement, he was startled and struggled to get up, only to feel a sharp pain in his buttocks and nearly roll off the bed.
“Enough, enough. Stay lying down and don’t move,” Jiang Lige stepped forward and pressed him back down.
“Here, this is pain relief medicine. Take one pill a day, and one pill will last you the whole day.”
Jiang Lige tossed a porcelain bottle to Li Fu.
This was something Jiang Lige had taken from her Space today, specifically placing it in a porcelain bottle.The latest painkiller from the 22nd century, one pill can last a whole day without any side effects.
Li Fu held the porcelain bottle and poured out a small white object—round and flat.
What is this? Could it be that the young Emperor holds a grudge and wants to poison him?
Li Fu’s suspicion and confusion were written all over his face.
“Li Fu, what kind of expression is that? Do you look down on it? Swallow it for me!”
Ignorant fool. This was her exclusive, specially developed medicine. In the 22nd century, you couldn’t buy a single pill even for a hundred thousand yuan.
Jiang Lige suddenly grew angry, pressed down on Li Fu’s head, and forced him to swallow a pill dry.
It tasted a bit bitter, but it was small and went down quickly.
“Your Majesty, spare me… Your Majesty, this servant knows he was wrong… Huh…”
Li Fu was certain this was no good thing and felt like crying but had no tears.
Halfway through his sentence, his body suddenly underwent a strange change—it really didn’t hurt anymore. His buttocks were completely pain-free!
“Incredible. What kind of miraculous medicine is this? Such a tiny pill, just swallowed, and the pain is gone…”
Li Fu climbed out of bed, walked around the room in circles, both shocked and delighted.
Jiang Lige called him back, “Hurry up and lie down. This only stops the pain; the wound is still there. If you move around and the wound splits open, even my miraculous medicine won’t help.”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
Li Fu beamed with joy and lay back down on the bed.
Seeing him drop his guard, Jiang Lige sat down amiably beside him, casually grabbing some sunflower seeds to snack on with Li Fu.
“Eunuch Li, I’ve treated you quite well, haven’t I?”
Li Fu had been in excruciating pain all day, but now, having received this miraculous medicine, he already regarded Jiang Lige as his savior.
“Mhm, Your Majesty’s kindness to this servant is as weighty as a mountain.”
“Do you want more of my miraculous medicine tomorrow?”
Li Fu, shrewd as he was, knew as soon as Jiang Lige spoke that she had something to say.
And he marveled at the medicine’s wonders. If he could have one pill every day, how much suffering he could avoid!
“Yes!” Li Fu nodded immediately. “Whatever Your Majesty commands, this servant will brave fire and water without hesitation.”
Truly a professional servant, flattering words came to him effortlessly.
Jiang Lige smiled. “It’s not that serious. I just want to ask you something. What does Nine Thousand Years like?”
Hearing the name Nine Thousand Years, Li Fu immediately grew wary.
Jiang Lige said, “Don’t be nervous. I just want to understand him better. Nine Thousand Years is a pillar of the state, the backbone of the court, and the pinnacle of beauty in the palace. I deeply admire him.”
“What does ‘pinnacle of beauty’ mean?” Li Fu asked.
“Uh, it means in this palace, Nine Thousand Years is the most beautiful!”
“Stop, stop!” Li Fu hurriedly interrupted. “Don’t say that. Nine Thousand Years hates being called beautiful the most.”
Someone who doesn’t like being praised for their beauty? Jiang Lige found it quite curious.
Li Fu extended a hand and shook it.
Dog servant! Jiang Lige cursed inwardly, then handed him another painkiller.
Li Fu carefully placed the pill into the porcelain bottle and slowly began, “This goes back to when Lord of a Thousand Years entered the palace. Eighteen years ago, when the Late Emperor brought Lord of a Thousand Years in from outside the palace, he was only about seven years old. I heard from my master that a family outside had offended the Late Emperor, so they pushed Nine Thousand Years out and presented him to the Late Emperor.”Li Fu glanced around and lowered his voice, “Just because the Late Emperor praised the Lord of a Thousand Years for his beauty, the parents and brothers of that family joined forces and forcibly castrated the Lord of a Thousand Years in their own courtyard. How cruel!”