Chapter 46

Chapter 46: The moonlight fades, and autumn thoughts are severed (Part 1)

That day, the Prime Minister caused a great uproar in the imperial study, offending the Emperor, and the incident 

was secretly spreading like wildfire. People were speculating about what had happened between the long-retired 

Emperor and the Prime Minister. 

At the morning court, Prime Minister Liu unexpectedly did not show up.

Si Cang Qing merely sat on the dragon throne with an unchanged expression and coldly announced that Liu 

Ziwen had disturbed the emperor and committed an offense against his superior, thus being stripped of his 

position as Prime Minister as a form of punishment. The position of Prime Minister would be taken over by the 

original Minister of Revenue, Liu Yi.

Most of the court officials today are young and middle-aged reformists, and they all support Liu Yi's appointment 

as prime minister.

After the morning court session, Si Cang Qing hurried towards the emperor's sleeping quarters.

Today, TianBi was going to expel the Heart-Devouring Gu for the emperor. When Si Cang Qing arrived at the 

Huan'ao Hall, he saw a huge wooden tub there, half-filled with black liquid, with steam rising from it in wisps.

The emperor, dressed in pajamas, leaned against the Nanhai Cold Jade Bed beside him, his expression grave; on 

the other side, Liu Ziwen sat silently, staring intently at the scroll in his hands, his whole body as stiff as a stone.

Since that day when Liu Ziwen barged into the imperial study and had a fit with the emperor, he has been going 

to the palace every day, not doing or saying anything, just sitting there reading his books…

Glancing at Liu Ziwen, the emperor smiled bitterly. Their relationship was much more relaxed than before, but it 

was also extremely awkward. Seeing Si Cang Qing coming in, the emperor's eyes lit up and he said anxiously, 

"Qing'er, I heard..."

Guessing what the emperor was about to say, Si Cang Qing replied without hesitation, "I dismissed Liu Ziwen 

from his position, and now Liu Yi will take over as Prime Minister." 

Staring blankly at Si Cang Qing, the emperor slowly turned his head and looked at Liu Ziwen again, sighing 

helplessly. Presumably, the idea of this dismissal was proposed by that person himself to Si Cang Qing!

A bit of a headache... 

The emperor looked at the wooden barrel filled with medicinal liquid in the center of the room and sighed softly.

After the palace maid set up the screen, Tian Bi finished his preparations and quietly walked up to Si Cang Qing. 

"Everything is ready," he said, with a hint of concern in his eyes. "First, let the Emperor sit in the wooden tub, 

then I will use the golden needle to open the acupoints. After that, the Emperor will have to endure the pain of the 

venom coursing through his body until the Gu worms are completely expelled..."

"No matter how hard it is, you can't leave the barrel, otherwise..."

Hearing this, Liu Zi, who was reading a book with his head down, looked at the emperor, his body trembling 

slightly.

Tianbi stared at Si Cang Qing worriedly and confirmed again, "Are you sure you want me to do this?"

Si Cang Qing's gaze drifted to the emperor's face, seeing his resolute expression, he replied lightly, "Father 

Emperor, I'll leave it to you." 

After saying this, Si Cang Qing also sat down beside him.

TianBi sighed and then walked behind the screen, saying, "Your Majesty, let TianBi help you change clothes 

first!"

Unable to hear any movement inside, Liu Ziwen had already raised his head, staring blankly at the intricate

patterns on the screen. The book in his hand had fallen to the ground, but he was completely unaware. 

Waiting is a long, desolate despair…

Si Cang Qing remained calm throughout. Just as he assured Liu Ziwen, he believed that his father in this life had 

been able to endure and survive in such an environment in the past. So what could this little pain do to him now?

The once silent main hall suddenly filled with low, restrained moans, gradually spreading through the air. The 

mingled pain made the listeners' hearts clench involuntarily. 

One could only hear Tian Bi's somewhat tense voice, "Your Majesty, you must hold on, absolutely do not move..."

The emperor's response was an even more unbearable moan. Listening to the commotion inside, Si Cang Qing 

slowly withdrew his gaze from the screen, his eyelids lowered, lost in deep thought.

"Master..." Feng Lan walked in at this moment, and just as he was about to say something, he heard faint but 

distinct sounds from inside, and abruptly stopped speaking. He sat down next to Si Cang Qing, his expression 

betraying his worry, gripping Si Cang Qing's clothes tightly, his palms sweating.

To make the emperor groan like this, the pain must be unimaginable for an ordinary person. 

Liu Ziwen suddenly stood up, leaned against the pillar, his whole body tensed up, and his face turned pale.

The painful low moans gradually subsided. However, before anyone could relax their mind, a thunderous roar 

erupted from behind the screen, hoarse and desperate. 

"Ah—"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty," amidst the deafening roar, a fragmented voice of worry mixed in, and TianBi's 

urgent voice followed, "Please don't move, hold on..." 

Liu Ziwen momentarily froze, then his face changed drastically, his whole body trembling, but his footsteps 

hurriedly rushed inside. He cried out in pain, "JueTian—"

"Master," Feng Lan tightly leaned against Si Cang Qing, listening to the heart-wrenching roar, his heart hanging 

in the balance.

Si Cang Qing slowly raised his eyes, his gaze deep and contemplative, staring at the flickering shadow on the 

screen. He lifted his hand and tightly embraced Feng Lan, sighing softly as he spoke, "Father Emperor will be 

fine."

One can imagine that behind the screen, it must be a chaotic scene at this moment, with the emperor's painful 

roars, Liu Ziwen's anxious calls, and TianBi's hoarse encouragements all mixed together, making the palace 

attendants outside the hall break out in a cold sweat.

I don't know how long it has been, perhaps a few hours, or maybe just a quarter of an hour, but the emperor's 

voice finally lowered bit by bit, and Liu Ziweng's calls became gentle and hoarse.

Outside the palace, the sunset was like blood.

◇Cang Huan◇Seven Palaces◇

After another round of chaotic noises came from behind the screen, everything finally returned to calm.

TianBi walked out alone, with a faint joy on his gray face. His originally rough and hoarse voice was now so 

hoarse that it was almost inaudible. "Qing'er, the emperor's poison has been completely removed!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Lan was overjoyed, and his entire body immediately relaxed. He murmured, "Master, 

Father is fine..."

"Mm." Si Cang Qing remained calm and indifferent throughout. He stood up and instructed the palace servants 

waiting outside the door, "You all clean this up!" 

"Don't touch that medicinal liquid," TianBi quickly said, "That is extremely poisonous. I'll handle it personally 

later."

Si Cang Qing looked at TianBi with a faint expression, his whole body swaying unsteadily, large beads of sweat 

oozing from his forehead, and his pale face carrying traces of an abnormal dark red.

Furrowing his brows, Si Cang Qing walked over to TianBi's side, pulled him over to the nearby couch, and placed 

his right hand on his back, channeling his true energy into him—presumably, this person had just exhausted too 

much energy and mental focus, and his frail body couldn't bear it! 

TianBi was slightly startled, but when he felt the familiar warmth slowly spreading through his blood, he 

understood and smiled faintly, "Thank you, Qing'er!"

Feng Lan silently watched Tian Bi, then lowered his eyes, stood up, and went to arrange for the palace maids to 

do the cleaning.

"Your Majesty, if you continue taking this medicine for a while," TianBi smiled at the emperor who was 

half-reclining in Liu Ziwen's embrace, "and then use medicinal cuisine for a few more years, your internal organs 

will gradually recover."

"Now that the Heart-Devouring Gu has been expelled, the Emperor doesn't have to be as cautious as before. Just 

be mindful on a daily basis," 

Si Cang Juetian smiled. Although he looked tired, he was more happy. "Thank you, Divine Doctor!"

Liu Ziwen looked down at the emperor in his arms, his face showing relief and joy. Ignoring the few young 

people present, he hugged the emperor even tighter. He looked at Si Cang Qing and said, "Your Highness, the 

emperor has just had the curse removed and needs to rest well. You should come to visit another day!"

Si Cang Qing slightly raised an eyebrow, glanced at the emperor's somewhat embarrassed face, and didn't mind 

Liu Ziwen's somewhat presumptuous words. He stood up and walked outside.

The sky was slightly blue, and the slender crescent moon playfully hung on the treetops.

A cool breeze blew, and the heaviness in everyone's heart dissipated.

In the East Palace Garden, green trees are swaying and flowers are fragrant.

Dressed in a deep purple palace robe and holding a sword, Feng Lan was leisurely practicing his swordsmanship. 

Ever since the emperor's health improved, the worries in their hearts had vanished. Now, it was truly a time of 

peace and prosperity, and Feng Lan's mood had become increasingly relaxed.

With the sword returned to its sheath, Feng Lan looked at Si Cang Qing, who was sitting nearby reading a book, 

with a beaming smile. "Master, we haven't sparred in a long time. I don't even know how my martial arts skills are 

now!"

This is the truth. He is different from the other shadow guards; nowadays, he mostly oversees their actions and 

rarely has the chance to take matters into his own hands. Of course, the most important thing is that he somewhat 

misses the thrill of sparring with Si Cang Qing.

As a martial artist, one always hopes to have a thrilling and intense match with a true master. 

Si Cang Qing put down the book in his hands, looked up at Feng Lan, his eyes flickering slightly, and then 

suddenly launched an attack on Feng Lan. Feng Lan was slightly startled, but then broke into a smile, quickly 

retreating and gripping the sword tightly, engaging in a fierce exchange with the opponent.

The sunlight slyly danced between the two entangled figures. A patch of purple, a streak of white, floated and 

swiftly retreated in mid-air, while the powerful palm energy and sword wind shook the trees on both sides, 

causing large swathes of green leaves to flutter down gently.

In the distance, the palace maids stopped to watch, all sighing in admiration. 

The dazzling techniques and the intertwining figures seemed like an exquisite dance, breathtakingly beautiful.

Si Cang Qing manipulated the airflow in his palm, suddenly twisting his body, and with his left hand swiftly 

wrapped around Feng Lan's waist, pulling him into his embrace. 

"Master..." Feng Lan shouted in dissatisfaction as the sword in his hand fell, "You are cheating!"

"Where did I cheat?" Si Cang Qing said nonchalantly, gently holding Feng Lan as they landed on the ground. 

"You, you deliberately held me, that's why my sword fell," Feng Lan's face turned slightly red. He blamed himself 

for being so weak; when held casually by the other person, his whole body would go soft, and he unconsciously 

let go of his sword…

Although his martial arts skills were not as good as Si Cang Qing's, it was still better than giving up and losing in 

less than a thousand moves. 

Si Cang Qing held him and said lightly, "No matter the method, losing your weapon means defeat." Being in this 

position, Feng Lan was far more dangerous than when he was his shadow guard. Perhaps his martial arts skills 

were excellent, but this world was full of schemes.

Feng Lan was stunned for a moment, then smiled again, leaning obediently in Si Cang Qing's arms, "Master, don't 

worry. When I was a shadow guard, I learned all kinds of tricks and ways to avoid them. Today, it's you, my 

talent……"

"Mmn," Si Cang Qing responded softly. He knew that Lan was an excellent shadow guard.

"His Highness truly adores the Crown Princess!" The observing palace maids, of course, couldn't hear the 

whispers between the two, and just assumed they were being affectionate. Such scenes were something they often 

witnessed. For this reason, rumors that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince greatly favored the Crown Princess 

quietly spread outside the palace and became a new topic of gossip among the people.

TianBi stood dazedly at the back of the crowd, watching the two people leaning on each other. A thousand 

thoughts passed through his mind, eventually turning into a soft sigh, and then he turned and left.

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