The intuition was that Chu Lingyang was talking about some secret, which must be related to Feng Dingchu's former zombie-like existence.
That was a knot in Jiu Shu's heart that could never be untied.
Chu Qianli knew she shouldn't pry, but if there was a chance to know, she didn't think it was a bad thing.
To treat the illness, it would be best if Jiu Shu's knot could be untied.
She didn't want a repeat of seeing Jiu Shu self-destruct and not cherish his own life.
Chu Lingyang was already seven or eight parts drunk. Upon hearing this, he tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then said, "The last time I saw him, he came to find me. Now that I think about it, that guy seemed to be saying goodbye to me."
"He had a bit to drink that night. He couldn't hold his liquor well, and I didn't expect him to be so bad at it. He soon became a little tipsy."
"But he seemed... he seemed very deliberate, deliberately not letting himself get drunk... He said his living was a threat to them, that his living... living... was not good..."
"Why is it not good? A threat to whom? Your Highness... Your Highness!"
Seeing Chu Lingyang slumped over the table, Chu Qianli was almost driven mad, "Your Highness, can you finish speaking first?"
"Cannot say..." Chu Lingyang hiccuped, "Cannot say... I'm sorry, I was wrong, I was wrong, I know... cannot say."
"Cannot say..."
This was something he had just remembered, about A'chu, and he couldn't say it.
Yes, he couldn't say it.
"Your Highness..."
"Do not ask..." Chu Lingyang waved his hand, finally managed to lift his head, and was about to drink again.
"If I knew this was... this was the last time we met, I definitely... definitely wouldn't have let you go... Well, I won't say it, I won't say it, even if I'm beaten to death... I won't say it..."
"Come, drink, I really won't say it, Little Li'er... don't ask..."
He continued to drink.
But his alcohol tolerance was indeed not bad. Although he was still seven or eight parts drunk, he was at least two or three parts sober.
Chu Qianli knew she couldn't ask anymore. To do so would be disrespectful to Jiu Shu and would put him in a difficult position.
As long as Jiu Shu was living well now, that was good enough.
"By the way, I heard that the State Preceptor of the Southern Underworld Kingdom is very powerful, a reclusive master."
She changed the subject, "Your Highness, I really want to ask the State Preceptor about marriage. Can you ask the Princess Consort to take me to see the State Preceptor?"
Marriage was indeed a top priority for young ladies.
Chu Lingyang looked at her and laughed heartily, "Heh, little girl... you've got romance on your mind, but..."
He hiccuped again, then said in a slow, hoarse voice, "The State Preceptor... is no ordinary person. It's hard for me to even get an audience with him. The Princess Consort... won't be able to see him, it's impossible..."
Chu Qianli did not press further.
Princess Consort Ling and Zang Xu arrived.
"Princess Consort, His Highness is so drunk. I'll take him back to rest first."
It wasn't very presentable to be so drunk in front of outsiders.
Princess Consort Ling nodded, intending to escort Chu Lingyang back with Zang Xu.
Chu Qianli, however, smiled and interrupted her, "So the Princess Consort's surname is Lan. That surname is quite remarkable."
"Oh?" Princess Consort Ling stopped, letting Zang Xu escort the Prince back, and looked at Chu Qianli, saying, "It's just a small surname, what makes it remarkable?"
"Doesn't the Princess Consort know? I heard that in the remote regions of the Southern Underworld, there is a clan called the Lan clan, who are very adept at various esoteric arts."
Chu Qianli said with longing, "Soul-capturing techniques, illusionary arts,蛊术, formations... they can summon wind and rain, and are omnipotent. Princess Consort, do you think people surnamed Lan are all particularly powerful?"