C81 (2/2)
He raised his hand and pulled out the silver needles, leaving behind the ones on the reverse scale. ”Oh, you can take these silver needles with you, they won't affect your rest at all. You can pull them out after an hour. ”You can just have Wude send it over to me. I should go back and apply the medicine.”
He deliberately lifted his sleeve to expose the bruises on his arm, then turned around and walked out of the room without saluting.
This little cat was still as fierce as ever. He lowered his head to ponder over Ji Tian Ning's words. Was he really unable to protect his only son?
”Wude, did she do it?”
”Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant doesn't dare to speak carelessly. I've only found out that the person who murdered the prince, Qinglei, was once serving in Zhaoyang Palace.”
”Zhaoyang Palace, she's so ruthless!”
The only two women in the imperial harem that he was wary of were his mother, the empress dowager, and her, his empress. What he feared was not the two women themselves, but the power of the clan behind them.
The empress was the daughter of the King of Shoulder, whose father was the founder of the kingdom and who held the military power.
The empress dowager came from the same family, and the empress was the empress's niece. Although the empress dowager and his father-in-law stood side by side, they were not born of the same mother, but the same father. The late emperor and the Shoulder King were sworn brothers. As the founder of the Southern Champion Kingdom, the Shoulder King Family had always fought alongside their father and son, holding military power in their hands.
Presently, the Southern Champion had half of the military authority, and holding it in the hands of the Shoulder King was the thing that the Flaming reverse scale feared the most.
”Wu De, please help me to bathe and change.”
Huo Ni Lin stood up, feeling abnormally exhausted. Perhaps it was as his beloved concubine had said, that he should take a bath and rest.
Although he was immersed in the hot spring, he could not let his mind rest. Although he knew that the more he thought about it, the more serious his condition would become, but he had no other choice. There was no one to share in the matters of Feng Yuan, the prince's death, and so on. They could only bear the responsibility of their own loneliness.
”What would happen if I let that little kitten come and help me bathe?”
Huo Ni Lin suddenly asked this. He didn't really want Ji Tian Ning to serve him, but that would only embarrass him. That little cat, she was a woman who could do anything.
Wude smiled but didn't answer. He knew that his master didn't need to answer.
”Wu De, my prince, you have to watch carefully.”
”This servant obeys the decree, I will definitely do my best.”
”I'm very worried that she won't let go of my only prince.”
At this moment, Huo Ni Lin felt helpless. He couldn't guarantee his only son's safety. And Ji Tian Ning's prophecy made him feel uneasy.
”Wude, do you think her words will be true?”
”This servant doesn't know. Perhaps His Majesty could have the Empress foretell a few things tomorrow to see if it was accurate.”
Huo Ni Lin shook his head and said tiredly, ”I think that a prophecy isn't something that can be done anytime. She also said that she isn't a deity. ”If all prophecies can come first, then what I want to know the most is whether I can recover from my illness and whether I can fulfill my wish.”
”Your Majesty, this servant has already found two people with similar illnesses to His Majesty.”
Huo Ni Lin's eyes lit up as he looked deeply at Wu De, ”Wu De, you know my heart the best. Are their symptoms the same as mine?”
”This servant has already given those two to the Grand Hospital for them to treat. If they're the same as His Majesty, we can have the Empress treat their injuries and see how the results are.”
”Reporting to Your Majesty, Shang Qiuyuan requests an audience.”
”He came pretty fast. Let him in.”
Shang Qiuyuan slowly walked in. He had originally thought that he would be waiting outside the hot spring, but who would have thought that Huo Ni Lin would call him over when he was bathing in the hot spring. This was an indication of the Emperor's favor.
”This humble subject pays his respect to Your Majesty.”
Shang Qiuyuan bowed slightly, his hand holding the imperial report. His gaze swept across the hot spring and he discovered that there was a silk handkerchief wrapped around the reverse scale's head. There seemed to be something underneath the silk cloth. He looked down and also saw the scars on the reverse fire scale. It was a shocking sight.
His expression was indifferent and calm. He silently stood at the side and waited for Huo Ni Lin's orders.
”You can come down and bathe with me, my beloved. The hot springs here are excellent.”
He understood that this monarch was expressing his favor and trust towards him. Although there were many ministers in the imperial court, they had never heard of anyone sharing a bath with the emperor. This was a great favor, but he still did not change his expression. He only bowed to express his gratitude.