Chapter 142 Accepting Yuwen Hao
Yuwen Che's gaze was fixed on Bai Xiao, his expression carrying an undeniable authority: "Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Bai Xiao took a deep breath, met his murderous gaze, and finally spoke with difficulty: "The one who was poisoned... is you, not her."
Yuwen Che's pupils constricted sharply, and he froze: "What do you mean?"
"Yuwen Che, you've been poisoned by a Gu poison, a sinister thing called 'Heart-Eating Gu.'" Bai Xiao's voice quickened. "It will erode your mind, amplify your negative emotions, and eventually drive you completely insane. Have you been increasingly unable to control your temper lately? Have you been experiencing frequent headaches? That's the Gu poison taking effect!"
He pointed at Su Luoxue, who was sleeping unconscious on the bed, and said in a suppressed voice, "This poison... has no cure. The only solution is to exchange lives! We must find a woman who has had intimate contact with you, who will willingly take another 'Soul-Guarding Gu,' and then introduce the Gu poison from your body into her! The one who draws the Gu... will surely die!"
Bai Xiao closed his eyes, then opened them again, his expression a mixture of guilt and resolve: "I... I told her about this behind your back. She agreed without a moment's hesitation. I originally wanted to buy time to find other antidotes as soon as possible, but I didn't expect... her to act so quickly..."
Yuwen Che was struck dumb, staggering back a step, staring incredulously at Su Luoxue, who lay pale on the bed. So… her unusual initiative and enthusiasm, her words that sounded like farewells this morning… were all for…
He suddenly grabbed Bai Xiao's collar, his voice hoarse and broken: "Then what about her now...?"
“She survived.” Bai Xiao let him hold her, his tone heavy, “But… the ‘Heart-Eating Gu’ has already taken root in her body. I used golden needles and strong medicine to suppress it temporarily, but it’s like a knife hanging over her head. It might never recur, but maybe in a year, maybe in ten years, maybe in twenty years… I don’t know when it will recur, and then…”
Yuwen Che's hand loosened weakly, his voice trembling slightly, a tremor he himself didn't even notice: "You're not sure? Even you're not sure how much longer she can live?"
"Yes!" Bai Xiao replied decisively, his eyes sharp. "This is Gu poison! A strange Gu poison from Nanzhao! Almost no one in the Great Zhou knows about it! I need time, I need manpower, and I need to go to Nanzhao to find a possible antidote! Until then, her life is as fragile as a candle in the wind!"
A deathly silence fell over the bedchamber.
Yuwen Che slowly turned around, walked to the bedside, and looked at Su Luoxue's still slightly furrowed brows as she slept, remembering how she had repeatedly said "I love you so much" this morning...
It turned out that it wasn't unease, but rather her way of saying a final goodbye to him.
Overwhelmed by immense regret and heartache, he reached out and gently stroked Su Luoxue's cold cheek, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably.
"Xue'er..." he called softly, his voice choked with emotion.
He suddenly looked up at Bai Xiao: "Go find it! Use all the resources of the Shadow Pavilion, at all costs, to find the antidote for me! Turn Nanzhao upside down and find it for me!"
"Yes!" Bai Xiao solemnly accepted the order.
Yuwen Che lowered his head again, took Su Luoxue's hand, and pressed it against his forehead, like the most devout believer.
"Xue'er, I'm sorry... I'm such a bastard... You must wait for me... I will never let anything happen to you..."
Yuwen Che gazed at Su Luoxue's pale sleeping face, his voice low and hoarse: "When...will she wake up?"
Bai Xiao immediately replied, "With the medicine taking effect and the golden needles stabilizing his heart meridian, he should wake up soon."
Yuwen Che nodded, and when he looked up again, his eyes were filled with icy killing intent and determination, and the majesty and ruthlessness of an emperor had returned: "Bai Xiao, you personally lead the men, gather the top Shadow Guards of the Shadow Pavilion, and set off immediately for Nanzhao."
He said calmly, "The King of Nanzhao might have an antidote for this poison. Tell him that either he obediently hands over the antidote... or..."
Yuwen Che paused slightly, his eyes sharp as knives, as if they had pierced through the palace walls and were pointing directly at the Southern Zhao royal court: "I will go and get it myself."
Bai Xiao's heart tightened. Yuwen Che's presence at this moment made him dare not be negligent in the slightest. He bowed solemnly and said, "Yes, my lord! I will depart immediately!"
But after hesitating for a moment, he still braced himself and added, "My lord, I must speak frankly. Even in Nanzhao, the king may not have an antidote for this kind of insidious poison. Those who raise Gu in Nanzhao are unpredictable and treacherous. Some of their Gu... they themselves don't even know how to make an antidote for, all for the purpose of eliminating their own offspring."
"I know." Yuwen Che's voice was cold and hard, unwavering in the slightest. "But this is the only clue we have right now. Go find it! Turn Nanzhao upside down! Dig three feet into the ground, find any possible antidote! Bring back to me any records, rumors, or even just a few words related to the 'Heart-Eating Gu' and the 'Soul-Guarding Gu'!"
He looked at Bai Xiao, his eyes deep: "At all costs."
Bai Xiao sensed the weight and determination in those words, and clasped his hands tightly, saying, "Your subordinate understands! I will not fail you!"
He said no more and turned to leave to make arrangements.
"Bai Xiao." Yuwen Che suddenly called out to him again.
The white owl turned its head.
Yuwen Che's gaze returned to Su Luoxue's face, his voice lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible earnestness: "As soon as possible."
"Yes!" Bai Xiao responded, his figure quickly disappearing outside the hall.
Silence returned to the bedchamber, leaving only Yuwen Che and the unconscious Su Luoxue.
Yuwen Che sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand tightly, and pressed his forehead against the cold back of her hand, like a lost child who had found his only support.
"Xue'er..." he murmured softly, filled with endless regret and lingering fear, "I'm sorry... it's my fault... that you had to suffer all this..."
"You must wait for me... I will definitely find the antidote..."
"Wait for me..."
Yuwen Che was immersed in regret and worry when he caught a glimpse of a small figure timidly hiding behind a pillar by the door of the sleeping quarters, peeking inside. It was Yuwen Hao.
Yuwen Che's heart was suddenly touched. He remembered Su Luoxue holding his hand earlier and saying earnestly:
"Hao'er isn't a bad child... He's most like you at heart... I don't want him to resent Cheng'an and Ning'er in the future..."
Yes, why does he insist on pushing this child to the opposite side? Does he want him and Cheng'an to end up like himself and his brothers?
Will they fight to the death for power and the throne?
Looking at Yuwen Hao's timid appearance, and then thinking about how lively and bold Cheng An was in front of him, throwing tantrums at him, he felt a mix of emotions.
These two children, though both his own flesh and blood, are in worlds apart.
Yuwen Che suppressed the complex emotions surging in his heart and tried to make his voice sound gentle. He reached out to the figure behind the pillar and called out, "Hao'er... come here, come to your father."
Yuwen Hao subconsciously shrank back, his small hands gripping the cold pillar tightly, as if it were his only refuge.
Looking at his frightened appearance, Yuwen Che kept his outstretched hand and softened his tone: "Don't be afraid, come here, let your father take a look at you."
Yuwen Hao hesitated for a long time before slowly releasing the pillar, lowering his head, and taking very small and slow steps to move to the bedside, but still keeping a distance from Yuwen Che, not daring to get too close.
Yuwen Che looked at his lowered head and the old robe that was obviously not quite right for him. "Today... it's all thanks to you for finding your mother in time."
Yuwen Hao suddenly raised his head, seemingly surprised by the praise. A glint of light flashed in his large eyes, but it quickly dimmed again. He murmured softly, "Your subject... Your subject should do what he should do..."
"Hmm." Yuwen Che responded, looking at his features, which were somewhat similar to his own: "Are you getting used to living in Chengqian Palace? If you need anything, or if the palace servants are not serving you well, just tell... just tell Li Dehai."
Yuwen Hao quickly shook his head, then lowered his head again: "Your Majesty, I...I lack nothing, and the palace servants...are all very well."
Another silence followed.
Yuwen Che looked at his tangled fingers and suddenly asked, "Are you... very afraid of me?"
Yuwen Hao's body stiffened visibly, his head drooped even lower, and his voice was barely audible: "Your subject... dares not..."
It's not that they're not afraid, but that they dare not.
Just then, Su Luoxue on the bed let out a very soft moan, her eyelashes trembling.
Yuwen Che's attention was immediately drawn to it, and he quickly leaned down and whispered, "Xue'er? Xue'er, you're awake?"
Yuwen Hao also looked nervously at the bed.
Su Luoxue slowly opened her heavy eyelids. Her vision was blurry at first, then gradually cleared, meeting Yuwen Che's worried eyes. She weakly moved her lips: "A-Che..."
"I'm here!" Yuwen Che immediately gripped her hand tightly, his tone filled with the relief of having found her again. "How are you feeling? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
Su Luoxue shook her head slightly, then turned her gaze to Yuwen Hao, who was standing not far away, looking at her with the same concern. A faint smile appeared on her pale face, and she said softly, "Hao'er... is here too..."
When Yuwen Hao saw that his mother had woken up and was smiling at him, a look of relief immediately appeared on his face. He took a small step forward and whispered, "Mother..."
Yuwen Che watched this scene, seeing the undisguised affection in Su Luoxue's eyes for Yuwen Hao, and then seeing Yuwen Hao's expression relax slightly because of Su Luoxue's words.
Perhaps... Xue'er is right. Trying to accept this child might not be a bad thing. At least, for Xue'er's peace of mind, he should make some changes.
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