Chapter 651: Heaven's Will in the Unseen Workings of Fate

The Shangjing Imperial Palace was heavily guarded. The martial prowess of the palace guards had advanced a level since Chen Changsheng's visit many years ago, a fact readily apparent from their robust vitality.

Mo Yuan could not help but ask, "Didn't they say this Human Sovereign suppressed martial arts?"

"The imperial guards are naturally an exception," Chen Changsheng replied.

Mo Yuan cast a spell to conceal their figures, and the two slipped over the walls and into the palace.

The grounds had not changed much, though they were a bit more brightly lit than in the past. It was not only the people who had been replaced by the new.

Chen Changsheng followed his memories to the doors of the Imperial Study.

"Cough, cough..."

A soft cough drifted from within.

Looking through the crack in the doors, they saw a charcoal brazier burning in the room. The current emperor sat before the fire, wrapped in a thick padded coat. He rubbed his hands together, his face deathly pale.

Two figures stood beside the emperor.

One wore a physician's robes, while the other was a palace eunuch.

The physician was brewing medicine, while the eunuch used a handkerchief to dab the cold sweat from His Majesty's forehead.

It was the height of summer, yet he had a fire lit and wore a heavy coat.

It was truly bizarre.

Mo Yuan looked over and suddenly frowned.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

The coughing inside the Imperial Study grew more severe.

The eunuch gently patted His Majesty's back, his face full of worry.

He handed over the handkerchief. Yan Ruchu pressed it to his mouth, and when he lowered it, a fresh bloodstain marked the cloth.

He panted heavily but paid the blood little mind, as if he were already used to it. Trembling, he reached his hands toward the brazier. Gaining a bit of warmth, he felt somewhat more comfortable.

The eunuch brought over some water. "Your Majesty, it is warm."

Yan Ruchu took it and drank a sip.

He let out a long breath and looked at the physician beside him. "Physician Wenzhu, it is getting late. You should step down and rest."

Physician Wenzhu shook his head. "It is best if Your Majesty allows this commoner to remain."

Yan Ruchu waved a hand. "I won't die just yet."

"Aiyo!" The eunuch dropped to his knees, his face anxious. "Your Majesty, you must not say such things! It is bad luck, bad luck indeed!"

Yan Ruchu simply said, "Enough, both of you may step down. I wish to be alone for a while."

The eunuch and Physician Wenzhu exchanged a glance.

Both of their eyes held a hint of resignation, but even more so, a sense of powerlessness.

"Your Majesty, this commoner will take his leave."

The eunuch and the physician subsequently withdrew. Once outside the Imperial Study, they carefully pulled the doors shut.

They walked a few steps away.

Then came the sound of sighing.

The eunuch lowered his head and cupped his hands in a plea. "Please, Physician Wenzhu, do your utmost to save him!"

"Eunuch Xiang, there is no need for this. This is already what this commoner should do."

Their eyes met once more, still holding that resignation.

With things having reached this state, both of them knew exactly how terrible His Majesty's illness had become.

...

Outside the Imperial Study.

Mo Yuan frowned and said, "The Human Sovereign is ill..."

He opened his mouth, but then added, "How is this an illness?"

"Let's go in and take a look," Chen Changsheng said.

Warming himself by the fire in the Imperial Study, Yan Ruchu suddenly saw the doors being pushed open.

At the creak of the hinges, Yan Ruchu said calmly, "Did I not say I wished to be alone for a while? Xiang Fulu, can you not even understand that much?"

Yet he received no response for a long while.

Yan Ruchu slowly raised his head, only to suddenly see a figure in a green robe step in front of him.

Yan Ruchu froze. He glanced down at the brazier, then at the heavy coat on his body.

In that instant, this incredibly majestic Human Sovereign of the Imperial Court thought first of how to hide himself, to hide his current wretched state.

Chen Changsheng glanced at the brazier. "Is it also cold in the height of summer?"

"Mister Chen..."

Chen Changsheng reached out, grasped the iron tongs, and added another piece of charcoal to the fire.

Sparks splattered within the brazier, flying wildly as the lid was opened, though fortunately they quickly died down.

Chen Changsheng said, "Burning such a large fire in the Imperial Study, are you not afraid of burning down the entire Imperial Palace?"

Yan Ruchu recovered his wits and lowered his head. "I could hardly build a fire in the main hall. If people saw, I fear all of Shangjing City would not know peace."

Saying this, he coughed again and picked up his handkerchief to wipe the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth.

Yan Ruchu looked over, seeing a person he had never met standing behind Chen Changsheng.

"And this is...?" Yan Ruchu asked.

Mo Yuan said, "Mo Yuan, Mister Chen's mount."

Yan Ruchu nodded upon hearing this and said, "I have caught an illness and lack the strength to fetch a chair. Please, make yourselves at home."

Mo Yuan stared at him and suddenly asked, "Where is your lifespan?"

At Mo Yuan's words, Yan Ruchu visibly stiffened before the brazier.

His movements ground to a halt. When he looked up, those somewhat reddened eyes looked toward Mo Yuan.

Mo Yuan looked down at this Human Sovereign.

As their eyes met, Yan Ruchu felt as if he had seen a True Dragon soaring through the nine heavens, right before his eyes.

He snapped out of his daze. "So that is how it is..."

Yan Ruchu took a deep breath and said, "King Yu spoke the truth. There truly is a True Dragon in this world."

Mo Yuan said no more, simply waiting at the side.

He was wondering exactly who could be so bold as to steal a Human Sovereign's lifespan.

The lifespan of the Human Sovereign was the lifespan of the dynasty.

When heavenly condemnation fell, the resulting karma would mean total annihilation, implicating their entire clan.

Chen Changsheng said, "Mo Yuan is a black flood dragon who achieved Dragon Transformation. He has spent these years in the Desolate Sea, so he is somewhat later than the one in the Tongtian River."

Yan Ruchu said, "I said long ago that there must be a True Dragon in the Tongtian River, but Physician Wenzhu urged me not to be too superstitious about such things."

Chen Changsheng said, "When you held that Investiture of Immortals Assembly, who could have guessed your intentions? The physician was likely afraid you would be influenced and start consuming so-called immortal elixirs, which was why he spoke to you like that."

Yan Ruchu laughed upon hearing this, but his expression suddenly changed as he fell into a violent coughing fit.

Seeing this, Mo Yuan hurried forward and passed a breath of energy to Yan Ruchu, which finally allowed him to settle down.

Yan Ruchu let out a breath and said, "Thank you, True Dragon."

Mo Yuan shook his head and did not speak.

Yan Ruchu looked toward Mister Chen again and said, "Back then, my late father was utterly obsessed with Elixir Pills, yet his body grew worse by the day. How could I ever believe in the path of immortal elixirs again?"

Chen Changsheng said, "If that is so, what was the reason for your Investiture of Immortals Assembly?"

Yan Ruchu smiled and said, "It was for Xianle."

It was a somewhat distant name now.

Chen Changsheng had never expected to actually hear this name again.

He frowned and asked, "Has she still not entered Reincarnation?"

Yan Ruchu let out a breath and said, "The more one gains, the more one loses. Because Xianle saved me, she suffered a hundred and twenty-nine thousand lashes in the Netherworld Bureau. I traded my lifespan for her freedom and her future peace."

"Or perhaps..."

"It is heaven's will, in the unseen workings of fate."