Has the Crown Prince Been Deposed Today? - Chapter 12

Chapter 12. The Taste of Marrow

This time, the killing intent in Wei Zhao’s eyes was genuine.

The Marquis of Dingbei’s wrath, in the northern border, meant rivers of blood and mountains of bones. Even the fiercest invaders would flee at the mere mention of his name. Even with mental preparation, it was not something a youth could easily withstand.

Mu Yun looked at those sharp, cold, emotionless phoenix eyes and suddenly felt a hollowness in his heart. He instinctively wanted to break free.

However, having experienced the body search, the hand gripping his waist was obviously very experienced. Before the youth could even show a hint of struggle, it immediately and ruthlessly increased its grip by another notch. “Ugh…” After a few rounds, a thin layer of mist was forced out of the youth’s dark, jade-like eyes.

Wei Zhao thought to himself, he really is quite delicate. He had only used three-tenths of his strength, so why such a big reaction?

Could it be another act?

But upon closer inspection, the mist in those eyes didn’t seem fake.

He never doubted the little Crown Prince’s martial prowess. The reason was simple. As one of the top martial artists in the Mu Dynasty, Wei Zhao had failed to block that stab three years ago.

Such a terrifyingly profound inner force was not something an ordinary expert could achieve. Therefore, during these two close encounters with the little Crown Prince, he had preemptively seized the other’s pulse point.

…

Feeling the body wrapped in the bright yellow night robe finally relax and submit, for some reason, Wei Zhao felt as if a cat’s paw had scratched his heart. There was both the pleasure of having caught this cunning little wolf cub and a strange sense of guilt.

The Wei family had been a noble house for generations. Whether in the Southwest or in the Imperial Capital, they were an illustrious family without a hint of impurity. Wei Zhao, in particular, was a true scion raised in luxury, a pampered son of a wealthy family. From a young age, he had done his fair share of mischief – climbing roofs, stealing tiles, robbing birds’ nests, and fishing in rivers. If it weren’t for the early passing of his parents, forcing Wei Zhao to experience the harsh realities of life, responsibility, and burden that his peers wouldn’t encounter for another decade or two, he would have likely grown up spoiled and crooked under the doting of his parents and Old Madam Wei, perhaps even more unruly and troublesome than any other dandies in the Imperial Capital.

Wei Zhao disdained the things that the sons of the capital’s noble families enjoyed, but that didn’t mean he didn’t understand them. He knew there was a place in the capital called Phoenix Perch, whose business was even more booming than the brothels. The male prostitutes there were all as beautiful as spring flowers, even more alluring than women. Many dandies threw their money around there, inventing countless new and exciting ways to play, seeking pleasure night after night until dawn.

He had always looked down on this. After all, men were men. Their skeletons were naturally stronger than women’s. No matter how they looked, could they be as satisfying as women in bed? Military life was monotonous and boring. There was often a need to relieve the pressure and anxiety caused by frequent battles. Thus, homosexuality was even more prevalent there than in other places. Once, a centurion, relying on his good looks, had climbed into Wei Zhao’s commander’s tent while he was drunk. In his drunken stupor, Wei Zhao didn’t clearly see the man’s face, but he knew clearly that such looks were far from enough to catch his eye. As for the body beneath the neck, which was, like his own, hardened by the wind and sand of the border, it was too firm and solid to arouse any of his carnal interests.

That centurion naturally failed to climb the ranks and was demoted to the fire-stoking unit the next day by the very displeased Marquis of Dingbei.

But tonight, when Wei Zhao inadvertently touched the sensitive spot on the youth’s body during the search and used this sensitivity to subdue him again, he unexpectedly felt a faint sense of having tasted the marrow and knowing the flavor [1]…

So, it turned out that terms like “skin like ice and bones like jade” weren’t only used to describe women.

So, it turned out that it wasn’t only women who could arouse a man’s desire for conquest.

No wonder those dandies like Gu Rufeng and Liu Si’an frequented Phoenix Perch every day, sometimes staying for days and nights on end.

Because of some unpleasant experiences in his youth, he had always had a strong aversion to relationships between men, and consequently, he couldn’t muster any interest in sex. While in the northern frontier, Wu Han often teased him with sour words: “If word got out that you, Marquis Wei, are still a virgin, the whole country would laugh their teeth off. Shameful, shameful.”

Wei Zhao’s gaze returned to Mu Yun, who was firmly trapped by him.

The youth’s skin was fair and smooth, like carved jade. His large, moist eyes were brighter than the stars in the sky. Because of his martial arts training, his physique was exceptionally beautiful and elegant, not at all effeminate or weak. However, his waist was inexplicably slender and soft, almost not a handspan wide, very different from ordinary martial artists. If it weren’t for his noble status as a member of the imperial family, second only to the Emperor, which prevented others from even daring to look at him for too long, he would have probably…

Just then, the old wound on his chest suddenly throbbed dully, as if reminding him of his inappropriate and absurd thoughts.

Wei Zhao was like a man doused with a bucket of cold water, suddenly regaining his senses. He was truly mad. At such a critical moment, he was actually swayed by shameful desires and entertained improper thoughts about this body, which was pure and harmless on the surface but cruel and violent to the core.

…

Looking at the pitiful act the youth was putting on, Wei Zhao suddenly tightened his grip on that soft waist, using considerable force. The body in his arms trembled violently.

The youth bit his lower lip, his brows furrowed deeply. Before long, his forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat.

“Still not going to admit it?”

A mocking smile bloomed on Wei Zhao’s lips. “Wenshu orchid has no major problems for ordinary people. If the dosage is controlled properly, it can even have a calming and detoxifying effect. But for people with heart conditions, it is a deadly poison.”

“I heard from your residence’s steward that Your Highness has always had trouble sleeping, and His Majesty even specially ordered the creation of a dragon blood wood bathtub that has the effect of activating blood circulation and calming the nerves. Even if the First Prince really died of suffocation today, Your Highness could say that you were not familiar with the properties of the medicine and only wanted to take Wenshu orchid to help you sleep, but unexpectedly, some of the powder got on the First Prince’s clothes, isn’t that right?”

After narrating this slowly, he calmly waited, his deep phoenix eyes fixed on every subtle change in the youth’s expression.

Even when interrogating the fiercest and most barbaric prisoners in the northern frontier, very few could escape this kind of invisible pressure and coercion.

To Wei Zhao’s surprise, the little Crown Prince before him was able to meet his gaze without fear for nearly an incense stick’s worth of time, although his gaze was somewhat pitiful, making one think of a dying wolf cub. His heart was clearly filled with fear and terror, yet he still bared his little milk teeth and waved his not-so-sharp little wolf claws to scare away an enemy that was clearly stronger than him.

Unfortunately, in the face of absolute power, bluffing was completely ineffective, at most delaying the inevitable for a moment.

Now that the physical evidence was conclusive, he couldn’t imagine what other tricks the little Crown Prince could use to defend himself.

“It doesn’t matter if Your Highness is unwilling to hand over the antidote. Although the antidote’s ingredients are difficult to find, with so many people in the Imperial Hospital, they will eventually find a way to make it. But this case, this subject will absolutely not let it be closed so unclearly. Witnesses can be found by searching every nook and cranny, and the Crown Prince’s residence can be searched with an imperial decree. This subject’s methods, Your Highness should be familiar with them.”

That cold, deep, and handsome face drew closer, and the iron grip on his shoulder deliberately tightened. A fine, dense pain continuously seeped out from the joints.

“This Prince does not know what Wenshu orchid is… nor does he know what Marquis Wei is talking about.” After a long silence, the youth finally loosened his teeth and spoke in a calm tone. As his eyelashes fluttered, the light in his eyes, hidden in the depths, instantly rippled like stars falling into water, creating shimmering ripples.

To the uninformed, he would appear completely pure and innocent.

Wei Zhao frowned. Just as he was about to press further, the youth suddenly gasped for breath, his features contorted in pain. After a faint moan, he slumped forward, collapsing into Wei Zhao’s arms. Wei Zhao was taken aback. He looked down and saw that the front of his own robe was stained with dark blood – it was coming from the corner of Mu Yun’s mouth.

How could this be?

Wasn’t Wenshu orchid supposed to have little effect on ordinary people?

“Your Lordship! Your Lordship!”

Zhou Shen received the urgent report and, disregarding all rules of propriety, burst into the room. “News from the First Prince’s residence says that the First Prince’s condition has changed. Imperial Physician Zhang has important matters to report to Your Lordship… Ah!”

Looking at the scene before him, Zhou Shen’s mouth fell open in shock, his old face frozen.

What did he see!

His Lordship had actually beaten His Highness, the Crown Prince, until he coughed up blood!!

Didn’t he say he wouldn’t use his position to seek personal revenge!!!

Wei Zhao also hadn’t expected Zhou Shen to barge in like this. Their eyes met silently for a moment. Wei Zhao frowned and ordered, “Close the door first.”

“Ah, yes!” Zhou Shen was flustered. He thought, yes, he had to close the door quickly. If that fat steward from the Crown Prince’s residence saw this, he would probably scream until tomorrow, and it would be bad if he woke up Old Madam. The Marquis really was too rough.

Wei Zhao lifted the youth horizontally and placed him back in bed. He ordered Zhou Shen to quickly summon the imperial physician. The soft, bright yellow fabric of the youth’s robe slipped down his shoulder as he moved, revealing a patch of fair skin and two dark bruises in the shape of fingerprints.

Zhou Shen’s heart, which had just calmed down a little, froze again.

Good heavens, what exactly did his Lordship do to the Crown Prince!

***

The imperial physician soon arrived, trembling with fear. After taking the pulse, he suddenly uttered a surprised “Huh?” and said with a strange expression, “This… how is this possible?”

“May I ask Your Lordship, are the clothes that His Highness, the Crown Prince, took off still here? This old official would like to examine them again.”

Wei Zhao nodded and ordered Zhou Shen to fetch them. The imperial physician held the piece of fabric soaked in wine and sniffed it repeatedly. He clenched his fist and suddenly realized, “So that’s it!”

“Your Lordship, besides Wenshu orchid, this robe is also stained with another medicine.”

The imperial physician’s eyes were filled with excitement, as if he had discovered a new continent. “This official was negligent earlier and didn’t detect it. This medicine is not a poison but a powerful tonic called Lindan. It has a very similar smell to Wenshu orchid and is specifically given to those with deficiencies to boost their vital energy and strengthen their heart. But for those with excessive internal heat, it is a dangerous drug. In mild cases, it can cause blood to rush upwards. In severe cases, it can cause blood vessels to burst.”

“His Highness, the Crown Prince has a condition of excessive internal heat. The entire Imperial Hospital knows this. His Majesty even specially ordered the creation of a dragon blood wood bathtub that can balance blood energy to help the Crown Prince sleep. In our daily practice, we are extremely cautious when prescribing medicine, and we would never use any warming tonics, let alone a powerful tonic like Lindan. His Highness, the Crown Prince probably vomited blood and fainted because of this.”

If the dosage had been a little higher, the little Crown Prince would probably be lying dead in the Marquis of Dingbei’s residence right now.

“How dangerous, how truly dangerous.”

The imperial physician exclaimed, still shaken.

“…..”

Wei Zhao was silent for a long moment. This explanation of the medicine’s properties sounded strangely familiar. Similarly, it was beneficial to one person but a deadly poison to another. But because the dosage was just right, both parties were “fortunately” safe.

Wenshu orchid was like this.

Lindan was also like this.

***

At the same time, the First Prince’s residence was also in an uproar.

The First Prince, who had been lying quietly in a coma, suddenly became feverish for some unknown reason. He stripped off all his clothes and kept crying out for ice, as if he were extremely thirsty.

Imperial Physician Zhang was about to pull his hair out when Wei Zhao finally arrived.

“It was all this official’s negligence. I didn’t realize that the First Prince had also taken Lindan. Now the two medicines are clashing, and the tonic effect of Lindan can’t be dissipated, which is why the First Prince is so uncomfortable.”

Wei Zhao sighed and asked, “Is there any way to relieve it?”

“Unless we can find a golden snake gall bladder to neutralize the effects of the Wenshu orchid.”

Moonlight streamed in through the window. Wei Zhao turned his back to him, half-closed his eyes, and the hem of his robe moved with the wind. His handsome features were bathed in the silvery light. In a flash, an unprecedented thought crossed his mind…

He made up his mind and instructed, “Then I’ll trouble the old imperial physician to help spread some news.”

“The First Prince’s condition has taken a turn for the worse in the middle of the night, and his life is hanging by a thread. Without the antidote, he may not make it until sunrise.”

Imperial Physician Zhang was shocked and broke out in a cold sweat.

He thought to himself, the Marquis of Dingbei truly is someone who has walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. He can curse a prince without even blinking.

Footnotes:

[1] To get a taste for and want it again.