The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 476

These chief eunuchs were all nervously watching the unconscious Zhu Houzhao. When they saw Jiang Ning enter, they were about to reprimand him when Liu Jin spoke first.

"This is the Jiang Ning hero that His Majesty wants to invite."

Liu Jin didn't explain further. He stepped forward, pulled aside the eunuchs, and made way for Jiang Ning, saying, "Hero Jiang, we're counting on you."

At this time, Zhu Houzhao was unconscious and his face was pale.

"Hero Jiang, please, you must save His Majesty."

Liu Jin knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly to Jiang Ning.

The other chief eunuchs looked at each other in bewilderment, and then knelt down to beg Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning ignored them, took two steps forward to Zhu Houzhao's bedside, first looked him over, then examined his eyelids, and finally placed his hand on the pulse of Zhu Houzhao's right hand.

After a moment, Jiang Ning frowned.

"He's not sick, he's poisoned."

Jiang Ning's words surprised the group of chief eunuchs. One of them was about to speak when Jiang Ning gave a soft "hmm".

"wrong."

Jiang Ning frowned, looked at Zhu Houzhao's ears, nose, mouth and other facial features, then reached out and placed his hand on Zhu Houzhao's head, moving it little by little as if searching for something, until he stopped behind Zhu Houzhao's left ear.

Jiang Ning frowned.

"He was also bewitched."

Chapter 647: Treating Zhu Houzhao

"what?"

Jiang Ning's words astonished the chief eunuchs present.

One of the senior eunuchs suddenly jumped up and started cursing.

"Which son of a bitch dares to poison His Majesty? I'll curse his ancestors for eight generations!!"

The unnamed eunuch was furious, and at that moment he was cursing the person who had poisoned him from afar like a shrew.

"If I ever find out who it is, I'll skin him alive! I..."

The head eunuch continued cursing until Jiang Ning glanced at him, at which point he stopped abruptly.

For some reason, he felt a shiver run through him when he saw Jiang Ning's eyes.

"All right!"

At this point, Liu Jin finally spoke up, saying, "What's the use of you cursing now? Don't disturb His Majesty."

Liu Jin's tone was stern, which immediately drew a rebuttal from the chief eunuch, but he held back, thinking that the current environment was not suitable for them to argue.

A gray-haired eunuch stepped forward, looked at Jiang Ning, and asked nervously, "Great hero, you said His Majesty has been poisoned, then His Majesty... he..."

Jiang Ning glanced at Zhu Houzhao, then at the senior eunuchs in the room. He changed his mind and said, "I'm not sure, but I'll try my best."

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, the hearts of the chief eunuchs in the room jumped into their throats, and worry appeared in their eyes, especially Liu Jin and the other chief eunuchs, whose expressions were overflowing.

Some of them only have their current status and power because of Zhu Houzhao. If Zhu Houzhao cannot save them, their status will plummet.

It is said that every emperor brings a new court, and the same is true for these eunuchs, perhaps even more so. After all, ministers can return to their hometowns to retire peacefully after the new emperor takes over, but it's different for them. Countless people are eyeing their positions, and they have many enemies. Once they lose power, they will face utter ruin.

Liu Jin quickly stepped forward and couldn't help but grab Jiang Ning's sleeve.

"Master Jiang, I beg you, you must save His Majesty! I kowtow to you."

With a thud, Liu Jin knelt down again and kowtowed repeatedly.

"I would do anything to save His Majesty. I am willing to give my life for His Majesty's safety."

Seeing Liu Jin kneel down, the other senior eunuchs, who were a step behind, also reacted and hurriedly knelt down to kowtow to Jiang Ning, repeatedly expressing their loyalty to the unconscious Zhu Houzhao.

If not now, when?

Although Zhu Houzhao is now blind and deaf, they cannot fall behind others.

If Zhu Houzhao were to truly awaken later, everything they said and did would reach his ears.

Zhu Houzhao may not know how many people are kneeling now, but he certainly knows exactly who hasn't.

Seeing these powerful eunuchs kneeling before him, Jiang Ning felt little emotion, and simply said, "I can only do my best."

After saying that, Jiang Ning added, "Now you all go out, I need to treat him."

"This……"

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, the senior eunuchs hesitated, looking at each other, unsure how to respond.

Jiang Ning was carrying a sword and told them to leave. What if Jiang Ning had designs on Zhu Houzhao?

Liu Jin, on the other hand, was decisive. He got up and was about to leave, but seeing that no one else had moved, he urged, "Come on, what are you still doing here? Didn't you hear what Master Jiang said?"

But still no one listened to Liu Jin, and Liu Jin's face turned ugly, so he started cursing.

"Do you think you can protect His Majesty with all of you here? Master Jiang is someone His Majesty trusts. His Majesty has also said that if Master Jiang really wants to do something to His Majesty, not only us, but the entire palace can't stop him!"

After being scolded, the chief eunuchs finally stood up. Although some of them were dissatisfied, they did not argue with Liu Jin.

This isn't because they have masochistic tendencies, but rather because they are cautious.

With Liu Jin vouching for Jiang Ning, even if Jiang Ning really did something to Zhu Houzhao or something happened to Zhu Houzhao, the Empress Dowager and the court would have no responsibility if they wanted to hold them accountable.

Having spent a long time in the palace, sometimes the most important thing is not to climb the ranks, but to protect oneself. These chief eunuchs understood this very well. Now that they had been scolded by Liu Jin, they wouldn't have to suffer the consequences later.

Liu Jin understood what these people were thinking. Although he was angry, there was nothing he could do.

Just as these chief eunuchs were about to leave the room, Jiang Ning said again, "No one is allowed to come in without my permission, otherwise I cannot guarantee that he will be saved."

This time, the chief eunuchs were quite decisive. The chief eunuch who had been cursing wildly earlier said, "Master Jiang, rest assured, this servant will be waiting outside at all times. No one is allowed to come in. No one can enter unless Master Jiang gives the order, unless they step over this servant's dead body."

Jiang Ning didn't say anything more, just waved for them to leave. After all the chief eunuchs had left and closed the door, Jiang Ning looked at Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao was still unconscious and did not react to Jiang Ning's actions.

Jiang Ning came to the bedside, and without saying anything more, helped Zhu Houzhao sit up. He then went behind Zhu Houzhao, placed his hand on his back, and began to channel his innate internal energy into Zhu Houzhao's body. However, this was not to detoxify Zhu Houzhao, but to prevent Zhu Houzhao from dying later due to his body's inability to withstand the strain.

After half an incense stick had burned, Jiang Ning withdrew his hand and helped Zhu Houzhao lie down again. At this time, Zhu Houzhao still showed no signs of waking up, but his complexion had become much rosier.

Jiang Ning extended two fingers and pressed them against the area behind Zhu Houzhao's left ear, gathering his inner strength between his two fingers. At this moment, Jiang Ning's fingers emitted a scorching aura.

Jiang Ning held this position for only a short time before something happened.

At this moment, a small bulge suddenly appeared where Jiang Ning was pressing on the area behind Zhu Houzhao's ear. Although it was not obvious, Jiang Ning could feel it with his fingertips.

Jiang Ning's expression remained unchanged.

The protruding part then began to wriggle, as if trying to escape the area. Just as the protrusion was about to move toward the back of Zhu Houzhao's head, Jiang Ning stretched out another finger to stop it, and the protrusion moved to another area. The scene looked quite horrifying.

Jiang Ning repeatedly extended his other fingers to block its direction of movement, seemingly guiding its trajectory.

After finding that there was no way to go anywhere else, the thing under the protrusion moved towards Zhu Houzhao's ear, and Jiang Ning did not stop it.

Not long after, a horrifying scene unfolded.

Suddenly, something resembling an insect emerged from Zhu Houzhao's left ear, but only its tip was visible; its body was still inside Zhu Houzhao's ear, and its length was unknown.

After the insect emerged from Zhu Houzhao's ear, the unconscious Zhu Houzhao immediately frowned, as if in great pain, with cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

Jiang Ning still didn't make any extra moves at this point; the closer things got to this, the more patient he needed to be.

Jiang Ning's fingers slowly moved toward Zhu Houzhao's ear, and the insect slowly crawled out as Jiang Ning moved.

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but groan.

When most of the insect's body was completely exposed in the air, Jiang Ning finally made his move!

Jiang Ning suddenly stretched out his other hand, extending two fingers straight towards the insect.

The insect seemed to realize something was wrong and tried to shrink back, but it was too late. The next second, Jiang Ning had already grabbed the insect and pulled it out completely.

The moment the worm was pulled out, Zhu Houzhao suddenly opened his eyes, sat up the next second, crawled to the edge of the bed, gagged, and then gasped for breath.

"woke up?"

Before Zhu Houzhao could react, a voice came from the side, and Zhu Houzhao looked over.

Jiang Ning held the blood-stained, writhing insect in one hand and looked at him.

Noticing the insect in his hand was still wriggling, Jiang Ning glanced at it casually, threw it on the ground, and stomped it to death.

Chapter 648: Zhu Houzhao in a Panic

Zhu Houzhao still felt a chill when he saw the insect writhing and struggling on the ground being stomped to death by Jiang Ning.

The thought of this insect having been in his mind for so long filled Zhu Houzhao with lingering fear.

After a while, Zhu Houzhao finally recovered and smiled at Jiang Ning.

"I knew you could save me."

Jiang Ning neither confirmed nor denied this, but instead asked curiously, "I'm very curious why you were poisoned by the Gu."

"Poisoned by Gu? What is Gu?"

Zhu Houzhao asked in surprise.

Zhu Houzhao was not very clear about these things.

Jiang Ning explained a few words to him and continued, "This is a Gu used by the Miao people. Logically speaking, it shouldn't appear in the palace, let alone afflict you. I'm very curious how you were afflicted by the Gu?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao's face immediately darkened.

Seeing his expression, Jiang Ning asked, "It seems you already have an answer in your heart."

Zhu Houzhao's face was grim as he slowly said, "A few Miao girls who danced were brought into the palace some time ago."

The Miao girls danced very well, which Zhu Houzhao liked very much. So he kept them around, and whenever he had free time, he would have the Miao girls dance for him.

Upon hearing the words "Miao women," Jiang Ning frowned slightly, but said nothing. Instead, he asked, "Who brought those Miao women into the palace?"

"It's Liu Daban."

Zhu Houzhao said.

"Liu Jin?"

Jiang Ning was somewhat surprised by this answer.

Upon learning that the culprit who caused him to be poisoned was a Miao woman, Zhu Houzhao immediately suspected Liu Jin, who had lured those Miao women into the palace. However, he then shook his head, not believing that Liu Jin would harm him.

"No, Otomo wouldn't harm me."

Hearing Zhu Houzhao's mutterings to himself, Jiang Ning didn't dwell on it much, but instead asked, "What about those Miao girls?"

Zhu Houzhao, still pondering, replied without hesitation, "Still in the palace."

But then he realized what was happening.

"correct."

Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up.

“I can interrogate those Miao women and find out who is behind them.”

But Jiang Ning said, "They should be gone by now."

If they had used a curse on Zhu Houzhao, they would surely have disappeared by now.

Zhu Houzhao paused for a moment, then fell silent.

After a while, Zhu Houzhao spoke.

"Leaving aside the Miao woman for now, Brother Jiang, you said before that in addition to being afflicted by the Gu, I was also poisoned. What's going on?"

During his coma, Zhu Houzhao was not completely unaware of the outside world. Others thought that Zhu Houzhao could neither see nor hear after falling into a coma, but this was not the case. Although he could not wake up, he could still hear.

Jiang Ning was not surprised that Zhu Houzhao had heard his previous words, and said, "This is exactly what I am curious about."

“The poison in your body is not recent; it was present before.”