Chapter 1618: Be Careful What You Say

Lord Qiu has been looking quite haggard and has lost a lot of weight recently," He Lingchuan softly said. "Here are a few soul-restoring pills; they truly nourish the spirit and replenish vitality. Just one pill will show an effect. Given your constant hard work, Lord Qiu, these are perfectly suited for you."

Accompanying King Yao, Qiu Long had seen all sorts of good things and wouldn't pay attention to ordinary items. However, there's an old saying: "Accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger." As King Yao grew older, his temper became more erratic, turning hostile at the slightest disagreement. Qiu Long indeed had to be extremely vigilant when by his side. Despite his cultivation, he was still very robust, but his energy couldn't compare to that of a youth. He truly feared King Yao would start to find him old and slow. Hearing that He Xiao was offering soul-restoring pills, he smiled. "Excellent, excellent, Island Master He, you are very thoughtful."

Medicines that could nourish and heal the spirit were exceedingly rare, and this was indeed what he needed at the moment. Given He Xiao's status and discernment, anything he presented would certainly be extraordinary.

He Lingchuan added, "These pills are delicate; they must be kept and warmed in this red jade box. The lid should not be open for more than ten breaths at a time, or they will easily spoil and lose their efficacy."

Qiu Long nodded and then asked, "Island Master He, do you truly wish to leave our country?"

In truth, neither he nor King Yao believed it. For the past few months, He Xiao had boldly confronted Qingyang, at times even splashing mud onto Qingyang's face with his audacious actions. How arrogant! Would he really become so timid now because of a single Cao Wendao?

"To be honest, I'm reluctant to leave," He Lingchuan declared frankly, speaking a blatant lie. "My gains during half a year in Tianshui City have far surpassed those of the past ten years. No one else would want to leave. It's just that, alas, things are a bit chaotic inside and outside the city, and I always feel that the Regent is secretly plotting against me. Doesn't the matter of Cao Wendao prove my feeling isn't unfounded?"

He then continued, "With the Imperial Dew about to erupt, I—" He left the sentence unfinished, shaking his head.

"The King's word is law; if he says you are safe, then you are safe in Tianshui City," Qiu Long reassured him. "Island Master He, you have nothing to worry about."

Qiu Long then escorted He Lingchuan to outside Chunhua Gate before turning back. A young palace attendant accompanied He Lingchuan out of the palace. Throughout the entire process, He Lingchuan made no further demands. Qiu Long accepted his gift with a clear conscience. Waiting until the last minute to offer gifts is the worst strategy, and recipients dislike direct approaches. Therefore, it's essential to cultivate relationships and build goodwill beforehand; then, when the time comes, a simple word is enough for mutual understanding. Otherwise, why would He Lingchuan always have so many officials surrounding him?

Now, Qiu Long specifically detoured to the Imperial Pharmacy, taking out the red jade box He Lingchuan had given him to examine it closely. The box itself was carved from a single piece of spirit jade, inscribed with runes and formations. He opened the box. A refreshing fragrance filled the air, and seven peanut-sized pills, gleaming with a greenish hue, lay on the velvet lining, looking exceptionally appealing.

Qiu Long picked up one pill and instructed the palace guard behind him, "Take this in for testing, quickly."

"Yes!"

Before long, the palace guard rushed out to report: "No poison detected. The main ingredient is likely Juruo tree fruit."

Qiu Long broke the pill in half and handed it to the guard. "This is your reward." The guard thanked him for the reward, took it, and swallowed it whole. As soon as the pill entered his stomach, he felt refreshed and invigorated. The fatigue from three consecutive night shifts vanished completely, leaving him feeling as comfortable as if he had soaked in a hot spring and then slept soundly for twenty hours. Even the puffiness and dark circles under his eyes miraculously disappeared, making him look radiant. He Xiao had not exaggerated; this medicine indeed possessed extraordinary efficacy.

Qiu Long then took the guard to attend to their duties. An hour later, the guard was still in excellent condition, with no discomfort whatsoever. Only then did Qiu Long consume the remaining half of the pill. Ah, pure comfort! Being by the King's side, even his mind felt more agile. So, Qiu Long carefully concealed the red jade box on his person.

Meanwhile, guided by the young palace attendant, He Lingchuan walked towards the palace gate. As he passed the Pomegranate Flower Pavilion, he heard voices emanating from within.

"What!" The person, clearly surprised, raised his voice by five octaves. "What did you say happened to Brother Zhao?"

"Zhao Xiao went out drinking the night before last and didn't return by dawn. His family went looking for him and eventually found him in a ditch, but it was too late," another person sighed. "He probably drank too much and slipped."

"Impossible! Brother Zhao always drinks sparingly. When have any of you ever seen him drink a fourth cup?"

"The authorities brought in a coroner yesterday to examine the body. He did indeed drown; there was water in his lungs, no external injuries on his body, and a small amount of liquor was still floating in the ditch."

"Then..." The first speaker barely uttered a sound before being interrupted. "Don't ask anymore. Too many questions won't do you any good. We both know what Zhao Xiao was recently planning to impeach."

"The provincial treasuries..."

"Shhh!" The others wished they could cover the man's mouth. "What kind of place is this? Be careful what you say, lest disaster strike!"

"What we know, don't the princes and high officials know? Don't Lord You and the others know?" another person added. "They're all feigning ignorance while being fully aware. Why should we stick our necks out?"

He Lingchuan deliberately made his footsteps heavier and walked past with the young palace attendant. As expected, he saw no high-ranking officials inside the pavilion. It was almost time for morning court, and these officials, disliking the stuffy indoor air, were temporarily in the Pomegranate Flower Pavilion, taking in a few breaths of clean, fresh, cool air and chatting briefly. Who in the royal court didn't recognize him? The officials in the pavilion all came over and greeted He Lingchuan warmly. He Lingchuan exchanged a few pleasantries with them and then departed.

No one noticed the inconspicuous little spider clinging to the hem of the robe of the person who had spoken up for Zhao Xiao earlier. This person was Huang Rulin, Zhao Xiao's colleague, who had entered officialdom almost at the same time as him and often chatted with him.

Today's morning court was also contentious, but Huang Rulin wasn't listening closely. He noticed King Yao on his throne, stifling a yawn with his sleeve, appearing as unconcerned as Huang Rulin himself. After the court session ended, he declined dinner invitations from other colleagues and went straight home.

His wife saw him return empty-handed and immediately asked, "Where's the hairpin from Baoxiang Tower?"

"Uh." Huang Rulin then remembered that he had promised his wife last night to pick up custom-made jewelry from Baoxiang Tower. "I forgot!"

"What's wrong with you? You look utterly distraught." His wife noticed his troubled expression.

He told her truthfully, "Zhao Xiao is gone. He was found yesterday morning, dead in the river ditch."

His wife was startled. "Oh my, how can a perfectly fine person just... disappear like that?"

Huang Rulin had married his mentor's daughter, who not only brought him good fortune but was also skilled at advising him. He pulled his wife into the room, dismissed the servants, and securely closed the doors and windows before saying, "The coroner said he was drunk, slipped, and drowned in the ditch."

"Nonsense! Zhao Xiao drinks even less than you," his wife suspected. "He's too straightforward and speaks his mind freely. Did he offend someone?"

Huang Rulin lowered his voice further. "I just remembered something. A few days ago, Zhao Xiao mentioned to me that there were problems with the military granaries in the four northern towns and several northwestern areas, and... and the problems weren't small."

His wife's brows furrowed. "What kind of problems?"