Chapter 48: Prophecy and Plague The night was deep, in the East Palace study...

The night was deep, and only a few dim palace lanterns remained in the East Palace study.

The Crown Prince and Xiao Wangshu sat opposite each other with a chess table between them. The Crown Prince had dismissed his attendants, and Eunuch Wei was guarding outside the door.

"Ah Shu," the Crown Prince spoke first, twirling a white chess piece, his voice lazy and casual. "That Mr. Chihua, when he was in Zhu County, was your good friend. Why is he refusing to even admit you now? Besides, he was so confident in the hall, talking about 'divine secrets' and 'divine punishment', all that mysterious nonsense."

Xiao Wangshu's slender fingers unconsciously rubbed the black chess piece in his hand. After placing a piece, he pondered and said:

"Your Highness, I received much care from him during my time in Zhu County. Although Mr. Chihua isn't known for his outbursts, his words and actions are certainly approachable. It's for this reason that today in the Golden Palace, he ignored me, as if we'd never met, and acted so aloof and detached, that I find it so puzzling."

The prince's eyes became sharp:

"This is exactly what I'm most suspicious of. He used your words to gain the trust of the Emperor, but then distanced himself from you. This is definitely not the behavior of an ordinary alchemist. If he truly is an otherworldly master, why would he care about these worldly opinions? But if he has other intentions, this move is to remove you and avoid being implicated, or perhaps..."

He paused, his voice deeper.

"...deliberately diverting everyone's attention from his old acquaintance with you?"

Xiao Wangshu nodded, his eyes gleaming with thought:

"Your Highness and I share the same view. Mr. Chihua was quite skilled in divination when he was in Zhu County, but predicting the Imperial Concubine's death date... This is extremely risky. If he is not extremely confident, then he has a purpose that we have yet to uncover.

As for the term 'someone from another world'... although this statement may seem vague and illusory, Your Highness and I are prime examples. Therefore, it's hard to say what the origins and purpose of this Mr. Chihua are."

"His purpose..." the Crown Prince said slowly, "The Imperial Concubine? The Emperor? Or the Zhongshan people? Who is the 'person from another world' targeting?"

He looked at Xiao Wangshu, "Ashu, do you think there is someone behind him?"

After a moment of silence, Xiao Wangshu shook his head:

"Chihua may appear peaceful, but he is truly resolute. No one can manipulate him unless he wishes. I'm more inclined to believe he has his own agenda, one that requires the current chaotic situation to achieve. Furthermore, his appearance at this time is no accident. However, at least Mr. Chihua will not harm the people, nor will he harm Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Oh, where did this come from?"

Throwing the chess pieces randomly onto the chessboard disrupted the game, but the opponent did not get angry, but cleaned up the mess in an orderly manner.

"Back in the counties, if he wanted to kill Your Highness, he could have simply pretended not to know Your Highness was poisoned. Besides, Master once told me that Your Highness was 'the Man of Heaven'."

The prince didn't care much about this statement. He just kept muttering:

"The man of destiny..."

"Your Highness, the will of heaven is unpredictable, and the human heart is even more unpredictable. Regardless of Mr. Chihua's purpose, his appearance has upset the balance. We must be more cautious and proceed with every step carefully. Especially you, Your Highness, who is at the center of this vortex, must be even more cautious."

After cleaning up the mess, Xiao Wangshu looked seriously in the direction of the prince, but his hand was held tightly by His Highness.

"Ashu, just be at ease."

Xiao Wangshu shook hands back, his eyes firm and gentle:

"I will always be by your Highness's side."

At the same time, in Prince Liang's mansion.

The cicadas chirping outside the window accentuated the dead silence inside. King Liang stood by the window with his hands behind his back, his heart pounding like a raging sea.

The words "Soul from Another World" hung like a sword of Damocles over his head. He was on high alert regarding Chi Hua's origins and purpose.

"This Taoist must not be left alive." A cold light flashed in King Liang's eyes, but he immediately suppressed the impulse. Taking action now would be tantamount to revealing his identity.

He thought of Concubine Liu, and his heart ached even more. The eighty-one-day death prophecy was like a death warrant. He had to find a way to save her, but the prerequisite was to ensure his own safety, otherwise everything would be in vain.

At this moment, the study door was gently pushed open, and a figure leisurely strolled in. The man was dressed in a brocade robe, with a handsome face and the folding fan he always held in his hand tucked behind his waist. It was the Sixth Prince.

"Uncle Wang, you have such a refined taste. Why are you here alone enjoying the night?"

He spoke first and then sat down and poured himself a cup of tea.

King Liang collected his thoughts and said calmly:

"Rong'er, why are you here so late?"

Xie Jingrong chuckled and took a sip of tea, his eyes sharp and vicious:

"That Taoist Chihua has now moved into the palace, refusing to see visitors. I still remember his shocking words in the main hall that day. Not only did he claim that a being from another world, 'the Soul's Different Path', had infiltrated the palace, he also accurately predicted the date of my mother's return...

Uncle Wang is knowledgeable and has a broad perspective. Do you think this is true or false?"

Xie Jingrong spoke in a relaxed tone, as if he was talking about an interesting story, but his eyes were fixed on King Liang, not missing any of his slightest reactions.

Prince Liang's heart was filled with alarm, but he remained calm.

"You are not to speak of strange things. How can one trust the words of a sorcerer? My brother has temporarily placed him in custody, presumably with the intention of verifying his facts."

"Oh? Really?"

The Sixth Prince drew out his words, playing with his teacup.

"But Uncle Wang's reaction in the hall that day was quite interesting."

The smile on his face deepened, and his tone was barely perceptible, tentative and cold.

King Liang suddenly raised his head with a look of anger on his face, as if he had been hit in a sore spot.

"Rong'er! That evil Taoist priest is deliberately being mysterious. He deserves death! How could you trust him so easily? You even suspected Uncle Wang!"

"Gullible?"

The Sixth Prince sneered, put down his snuff bottle, and his eyes suddenly became sharp, like a poisoned dagger.

"I actually hope he's talking nonsense. But if he really is, why did you, Uncle Wang, react so strongly, both back then and now? So strongly that I can't help but wonder if he's accidentally revealed some... secret that Uncle Wang is desperately trying to hide?"

The hands in his sleeves clenched slightly, and King Liang thought of a solution in a hurry, but a helpless smile appeared on his face:

"Rong'er is really too clever for his own good! After the Fourth Prince, the only one left is the 'Crown Prince' of the Eastern Palace.

The emperor is poisoned, and he has great trust in you, the Sixth Prince. No matter what, the throne will never fall on the head of a prince whose maternal grandfather is from a noble family.

The situation is clear, but now a Taoist like this has appeared. This Taoist was an old acquaintance of the traitor Xiao Wangshu. If they knew that Your Highness had alienated you and me because of such nonsense, wouldn't they laugh their heads off!

The most urgent task is to find a famous doctor to treat the Imperial Concubine. No matter what this Taoist asks for, we cannot let him prove that he has supernatural powers, otherwise it will be detrimental to the Sixth Prince's plan!"

The Sixth Prince stared at him for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter and stood up.

"Uncle Wang is right. I'm overthinking it. But..."

He walked to the door, stopped, turned around and gave King Li a meaningful look, and said softly:

"But Uncle Wang, regardless of whether that Taoist is real or not, I will never let him go if he dares to implicate Mother in this matter. If it turns out that he is talking nonsense, I will find a way to make him pay. If his words unfortunately come true..."

In the dim light, the Sixth Prince's profile appeared unusually cold and hard, and a trace of extremely cruel coldness flashed across his eyes:

"...I don't care what secrets or destiny are behind him, or who's involved, whether it's a 'spirit from another world' or some other evildoer...I will make him, and anyone who might be involved in this matter, be buried with my mother."

After saying this, he resumed his dashing appearance and left leisurely.

The door was gently opened and then closed. The Sixth Prince left, leaving Prince Liang standing alone in the cold study. His face was as pale as paper, and his whole body was cold, as if the word "buried with him" had drained all his strength and warmth.

Over the years, King Liang knew the background of this "nephew" very well, and naturally knew that Xie Jingrong, who was meticulous and vindictive, was not joking when he said this.

But one problem after another arises.

The next morning, at the Golden Palace.

The turmoil caused by the incident of Taoist Chihua had not yet subsided when another urgent report hit the hall like a heavy hammer - after the flood in Hezhou, a plague broke out!

The report described the disaster in detail and implicitly mentioned that the disaster was caused by the former imperial envoy, the Fourth Prince, who embezzled money and neglected the project during his tenure, resulting in poor disaster prevention and untimely disaster relief.

The emperor was already troubled by his own poisoning and the imperial concubine's predictions. Hearing about the plague, his brow furrowed even more. He slammed the memorial to the ground and swept a gloomy gaze over his ministers.

"My Lords, how should we deal with the plague in Hezhou? Does anyone have a good plan?"

The palace was momentarily silent. The word "plague" was like a scourge, a threat everyone shied away from. Furthermore, the Fourth Prince's actions in Hezhou had indeed drained the national treasury considerably; this was an indisputable fact.

At this time, Yao Ce stepped forward. Ever since his wedding to Princess Duanyang, he had been seen as a member of the Sixth Prince's faction. Before the Fourth Prince's downfall, there was quite a bit of gossip about him, but now everyone was trying to curry favor with him. With the Sixth Prince's protection, his official rank had risen steadily.

His voice was steady and clear:

"Your Majesty, I believe that stability should be prioritized. The Fourth Prince previously falsely reported disaster damage and embezzled construction funds, resulting in a massive drain on the national treasury. This is a lesson for us.

The current situation of the plague reported in Hezhou and whether it is as serious as reported still needs to be verified.

I fear that some of this may be exaggerated. If we rashly mobilize a large number of troops and allocate huge sums of money, it will again lead to waste of manpower and money, which will play into the hands of local officials."

He paused, and seeing that the emperor was silent, he continued:

"Furthermore, the plague is a serious matter, and it cannot be solved instantly with just a few silver and two men. If handled improperly, it could spread with the movement of people, affecting neighboring states and causing even greater disasters."

Seeing the emperor nodded, as if agreeing with what he said, Yao Ce felt more confident:

“In my opinion, it would be better to first block the main roads leading to the outside world in Hezhou and strictly control the entry and exit of people to prevent the spread of the disease.

At the same time, a small team of experienced medical officers can be dispatched with basic medicines to guide local epidemic prevention.

We can allocate limited food and fodder to appease the people. As for the epidemic… life and death are determined by fate, especially for the elderly, the weak, and the disabled, who are truly vulnerable to it. Forcing treatment will likely be counterproductive, costing enormous sums for little benefit. We should prioritize the overall situation.”

His words were calm and almost cruel. He put "saving national strength" and "controlling risks" above the lives of countless victims. The core of his words was "sacrificing pawns to save the king", and he tacitly acknowledged that the deaths of some victims were a necessary price to pay.

When this statement was made, although some officials felt that it was inappropriate, considering the horror of the plague and the reality of the national treasury, they remained silent or echoed it out loud.

"Master Yao is wrong!"

A sharp rebuke suddenly broke the silence. Xiao Wangshu strode out, his face icy and his eyes burning with suppressed anger.

He looked directly at Yao Ce, his voice rising slightly with excitement:

“The people of Hezhou are also subjects of our dynasty. How can we abandon them just because the journey is too far or because of the mistakes of the previous officials?

The plague is like a fire. If it is not put out in time and allowed to spread, can it be controlled by simply blocking off a state?

"Sir Yao, with the words 'the old, weak, and sick are too weak to resist', is he willing to give up countless lives? How is this any different from watching someone die without helping? How can a government official speak like this?"

He turned to the throne, knelt heavily, and said in a resounding voice:

"Your Majesty! This disaster is urgent and requires no delay! Every moment of delay could result in the death of countless civilians! I am fully aware of the dangers of the plague, but precisely because of its severity, we need the court's full support, not shrinking back!

"I, Xiao Wangshu, hereby request an imperial decree to proceed to Hezhou to oversee epidemic prevention and disaster relief efforts! I will do my utmost to control the epidemic and comfort the victims. If I cannot quell the disease, I will submit to military court!"

His words resonated like thunder in the hall. His unflinching attitude was in stark contrast to Yao Ce, who seemed so cold and ruthless at the moment.

The emperor looked at His Highness Xiao Wangshu who was kneeling upright, then glanced at Yao Ce who had a calm expression, and weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

He admired Xiao Wangshu's courage and responsibility, but Yao Ce's words of "safety" also met his own selfish desire to avoid more trouble and save national strength. However, he had to keep up appearances, especially after experiencing the prophecy of "people from another world", he needed to show the attitude of a benevolent monarch.

"It is a blessing for the nation that your beloved minister, Xiao, has taken on this responsibility," the emperor finally spoke, his voice unrecognizable as either joy or anger. "According to your request, I appoint you as Imperial Commissioner, with full authority over Hezhou's epidemic prevention and disaster relief efforts. You will coordinate with the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Medical Service for all necessary matters. I hope you will live up to my expectations and quell the epidemic as soon as possible."

"Your Majesty, I accept your order and thank you!" Xiao Wangshu kowtowed with a firm look in his eyes.

That night, the East Palace.

Ever since Xiao Wangshu asked to go to Hezhou in the main hall, he knew that this would happen sooner or later, but now that it was happening, he couldn't help but feel like backing out.

"Do you know what that place is? It's a place where the plague is rampant! It's not the place you go to investigate in the counties!"

The prince was practically growling, his eyes, which usually seemed to be indifferent to everything, were now filled with anger and panic.

"Although Yao Ce's words may not be pleasant to hear, they are indeed mature and prudent views for the country! Blockade and control are the most reliable methods! Why do you insist on being a hero?! Do you know that once you are infected..."

As soon as he stepped into the inner chamber, he was greeted by a barrage of scolding. In his rage, the Crown Prince even swept down all the movable objects around him, and porcelain pieces shattered all over the floor.

"Your Highness!"

Xiao Wangshu interrupted him, his tone equally excited, but with unquestionable insistence,

"That's not being a hero! That's countless lives! If Yao Ce follows his plan, what kind of hell will Hezhou City become? If the court abandons them, they will just wait for death! I can't just turn a blind eye!"

"Turning a blind eye?" The prince laughed in anger, "Xiao Wangshu! You are always like this! You were like this in your previous life and you are still like this in this life! In your heart, the people are important! The country is important. Anyone in Zhongshan Kingdom is more important than me!

You can betray me for them, you can even risk your life for them! Have you ever thought about me? Have I ever thought about you?!

He grabbed Xiao Wangshu's arm with such force that it caused Xiao Wangshu to feel a slight pain. "Ah Shu, I absolutely do not agree with you going! I will go and ask the old emperor to revoke his order!"

Seeing the madness and fear in the Crown Prince's eyes, Xiao Wangshu felt a tearing pain in his heart. He knew the Crown Prince's inner demons had struck again, the shadow of losing him in a past life, and the almost obsessive possessiveness in this life. The Crown Prince's world was small, so small that it could only accommodate him alone. The country, the people, and even the throne were nothing more than tools to keep him alive or burdens he had to bear. The Crown Prince he knew never cared about these things.

But his heart was filled with the common people, his responsibilities and ideals towards the country, so he read books, especially those of sages.

His love for the prince is deep and complicated, mixed with guilt, pity, and true love. He can never become the Xiao Wangshu that the prince hopes belongs only to His Highness the Prince.

"Your Highness..." Xiao Wangshu's voice deepened, carrying a hint of fatigue but unwavering determination. "You know, the imperial decree has been issued and cannot be changed. I must go."

"What if I don't allow it?!" The prince almost shouted, his eyes red.

Xiao Wangshu stared at the Crown Prince quietly for a long time. He wanted to hold him in his arms and agree to all his requests, but he couldn't.

He very slowly slid out a gleaming dagger from his sleeve.

He did not aim at the prince, but turned the tip of the knife and placed it against his own heart.

The prince's pupils suddenly contracted, and all his rage was instantly replaced by great fear:

"Ashu! What are you doing?! Put it down!"

"Your Highness,"

His voice was unusually calm, yet filled with a heart-pounding determination.

"If you ask Your Majesty to revoke your order now, or use any means to prevent me from going to Hezhou, I will die in front of Your Majesty."

"You...you actually threatened me with your own life?!" The prince's voice trembled as he looked at him in disbelief, looking at the tip of the knife that was pressed against his heart without any falsehood, where...there was what they called the "life-sharing Gu".

"Not a threat,"

Xiao Wangshu's eyes were sad but firm.

"Yes, Your Highness. The people of Hezhou cannot wait any longer. Every moment of delay means someone dies from lack of medical care. I cannot sit idly by and watch this happen. If my life and death can earn Your Highness's compromise, and give Hezhou a glimmer of hope, I... have no other choice."

He knew the prince too well. The prince's paranoia stemmed from his fear of loss. Only by being more resolute than he was, and confronting his greatest fear—losing himself—could he possibly break this impasse.

He added the final stakes by pointing a dagger at his heart.

"Your Highness, have you forgotten? I have taken the Life-Sharing Gu. As long as Your Highness is willing, you can always 'find' me back."

The prince stared at the dagger, then looked at Xiao Wangshu's resolute face, and all the strength in his body seemed to be drained.

"I'll have to wait for you for a few years. Those herbs are not easy to come by. Five years, ten years. You are always so cruel."

He knew he lost.

He lost to the righteousness in Xiao Wangshu's heart and lost to the damn people of the world, once again.

He will never win.

He closed his eyes, waved his hand, his voice hoarse and tired, with endless desolation, he was afraid that he could not help but lock this person up, even if it was just a "corpse":

“…Okay. Go ahead. Go ahead…”

Every word felt like flesh cut out from his heart.

"Ashu, you have to remember,"

He suddenly opened his eyes, and there was a dark light of extreme paranoia in his eyes.

"If you dare to die in Hezhou...if you dare...I will let the entire Zhongshan Kingdom be buried with you! I mean what I say!"

This is his last bottom line and also his craziest obsession.

The dagger fell to the ground with a clang. Xiao Wangshu walked forward, knelt in front of the prince, stretched out his hand, and gently hugged the prince who was trembling with coldness all over.

"Your Highness,"

He buried his face in the prince's lap, his voice muffled, full of promise and guilt,

"I will come back. As long as I have the same fate as the Gu, I will not die. I promise you that I will come back alive."

The prince did not respond, but just sat there stiffly, allowing him to hold him, like a jade sculpture that had lost its soul.

Finally, Xiao Wangshu stood up, looked deeply at the prince, and turned to leave. This time, the prince did not try to stop him.

The door to the East Palace slowly closed, separating the inside and outside into two worlds. Perhaps the promise of "the same fate is here" could become the only piece of driftwood to grasp in the darkness, even though it itself was the beginning of another deception.