Chapter 231 The General and the Male Companion (8)

He had even placed a蛊毒 (gu poison) on Wu Jin Chu for the sacrificial ritual. He expected that in a few days, Wu Jin Chu would be feigned dead, fooling the Wu family, and then would be taken away.

This 蛊毒 would cause one to vomit blood, followed by weakness, appearing as if their life was ebbing away within days.

Finally, due to the inability to diagnose the illness, the victim would exhibit signs of death, thus creating a state of feigned death.

"Wu Jin Chu?" Sheng Huai Zhi repeated, the name sounding familiar.

As expected, tempted by silver, the Wu family soon found a witch doctor.

Lord Wu heard that his daughter could be saved and was overjoyed. He took leave from the emperor without delay, neglecting his official duties.

"Lord Wu's only daughter, Wu Jin Chu."

No wonder it sounded familiar. It was the family he had granted a marriage to just two days prior.

However, he cared not for these matters. This ritual had been prepared for a long time to resurrect Yun Yao Yao. How could it be disrupted by one Wu Jin Chu?

Sheng Huai Zhi's eyes were cold. The reason Su Ming dared to act without his report was because he knew the emperor would not care about such things in his pursuit of resurrecting Yun Yao Yao.

He would spare nothing, not even the lives of everyone in the realm, to achieve his goal.

Did the emperor truly not know what the Empress and Noble Consort Ru were doing in the harem?

He was merely keeping them around for now...

In this man's heart, Yun Yao Yao was more important than his entire kingdom.

The reason he was heavily relied upon by the emperor more than a decade ago was that he had obtained the secret method to resurrect Yun Yao Yao in An Zhou, thus allowing him to survive.

It was also because of that fearless little princess of An Zhou that An Zhou suffered such calamity.

When he returned back then, Yun Yao Yao had already self-immolated in her own palace. From that moment, Sheng Huai Zhi hid her body.

He had never given up on this absurd method of resurrection.

The method of resurrection first required the sacrifice of hundreds of women.

The final crucial step involved ten individuals with destinies identical to the person to be resurrected, who would serve as sacrifices.

The method was to bind these sacrificial individuals at a specific time and burn them alive on the altar.

Even Su Ming found this method to be utterly absurd.

Yet Sheng Huai Zhi was fixated on it, regardless of how preposterous it seemed.

"Oh? What exactly has happened? Why are there problems?"

Su Ming even felt that Sheng Huai Zhi might say he would have Wu Jin Chu brought to him at any moment.

After all, one could never predict the thoughts of the one in power.

Su Ming felt a pang of unease but still replied, "The plan was on the verge of success, but the Wu family suddenly brought in several martial arts practitioners who are now searching for a witch doctor to counteract the 蛊毒 I cast."

Sheng Huai Zhi's face contorted with anger, his expression growing even more stern.

"Your Majesty, Noble Consort Ru has arrived!"

It was the same eunuch who had announced her presence earlier.

Upon hearing this, Sheng Huai Zhi's complexion worsened. He rubbed his temples, his brow furrowed, feeling utterly vexed.

"What does she want?" At this moment, he had no desire to see this woman.

Sheng Huai Zhi showed no mercy. "Tell her to return to her palace and stay there!"

The eunuch had served the emperor for many years and could sense his current irritation. He quickly retreated.

"Su Ming, the grand ceremony is still some time away. Can you accomplish it?"

If his answer was even slightly hesitant, Sheng Huai Zhi would likely kill him on the spot.

Su Ming did not hesitate and quickly knelt, "Your Majesty, I will surely accomplish it!"

Hearing this, Sheng Huai Zhi's brow finally relaxed. Su Ming also let out a sigh of relief.

"My loyal subject, rise quickly. Why do you kneel? If you handle your duties well, I shall not mistreat you!"

The smile on Sheng Huai Zhi's face sent a shiver down Su Ming's spine. He quickly bowed in gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty! I will do my utmost!"

Cold sweat beaded on Su Ming's forehead. He had unfortunately witnessed Sheng Huai Zhi's unpredictable temper before. The people of An Zhou did not deserve such ruthless extermination, but...

Although he resented An Zhou for the death of his brother, he would not go so far as to annihilate the entire Yue clan of An Zhou.

"A Zhan, you guard this place. Do not let anyone in!"

"Yes!"

The dark guard materialized and knelt directly on the ground.

Sheng Huai Zhi walked towards the inner chambers.

"Clang!"

The stone door gradually opened, and Sheng Huai Zhi entered.

The person on the sickbed remained in the same posture. However, the incense and flowers in the room had been changed many times.

This secret chamber could only be entered by Su Ming and A Yue, besides Sheng Huai Zhi.

A Yue had been by his side since Sheng Huai Zhi was a young general of the Sheng family and had always been deeply trusted by him. Therefore, only she was allowed to approach Yun Yao Yao.

A Yue was mute.

A Yue was responsible for all the cleaning and sweeping in this secret chamber.

A Yue had been with him the longest and naturally knew his preferences best.

Yun Yao Yao was also very familiar with her.

"A Yue, you may leave now."

A Yue bowed and then walked directly out the door.

After A Yue left, Sheng Huai Zhi finally approached the ice bed.

"Yao Yao, I have come to see you." He sat down on a nearby chair.

But the person on the ice bed remained motionless.

Sheng Huai Zhi's mind conjured Yun Yao Yao's image. In the past, she had always smiled at him, her smile so beautiful...

But all of that was ruined by the old emperor and Xie Qing!

In an instant, Yun Yao Yao's smiling face contorted.

She smiled so eerily, like a flower dripping with poison, captivating him yet using him.

All manipulation!

Everything was fake!

Sheng Huai Zhi's expression turned extremely grim. He recalled the day he had killed everyone in the former dynasty's palace but could not find her.

Later, he had personally watched Yun Yao Yao disappear before his eyes, walking alongside Xie Qing.

He had searched for two years and finally managed to find her.

But everything had changed...

"Brother Huai Zhi, will you help me get revenge?"

The day her elder brother died, she had said this to him with red-rimmed eyes.

"Yes!"

He was a man of his word. Once he promised, he would fulfill it.

Later, he overthrew the former dynasty, and the old emperor died in his palace.

"But Brother Huai Zhi, I never loved you. I was always using you!"

When this was ruthlessly exposed by her, Sheng Huai Zhi lost even the chance to deceive himself.

Thus, he became a complete madman.

Since she had deceived him, why couldn't she continue to deceive him?

"Yao Yao, I miss you so much..."

He tentatively reached out towards Yun Yao Yao, but in the next second, his hand stopped in mid-air.

Yao Yao cherished her face the most. In her current state, she would surely not want him to touch her.

Sheng Huai Zhi retracted his hand.

"Yao Yao, do not worry, I will definitely restore you to your former self!"

He had promised this countless times.

It was as if he was speaking to her, and also speaking to himself.

*

"Jin Chu! My daughter, you are finally awake!"