WK Chapter 49

People are very practical. The news of the Sword-Holding Marquis returning to the capital made the city invisibly livelier.

 

Qu Dubian gave up pondering. No matter how turbulent things were outside, he couldn’t intervene. Since his maternal grandfather was already on his way back to the capital, he would just let things take their natural course.

 

These two days, he included horse stance in his daily plan. After completing one round of Tai Chi, he would practice the horse stance. Currently, he could only hold it for ten minutes at most, his legs trembling afterward.

 

He borrowed a diagram of human meridians and acupoints from the Imperial Physician’s Office.

 

He also roped in an imperial physician.

 

The physician was a familiar face, Imperial Physician Yang, who had come to take care of him during both of his illnesses.

 

He stripped down to just a pair of shorts, asking the physician to mark the acupoints on his body with a pen tip so he could recognize them better.

 

A small child, hugging a medical text, listening to the imperial physician explain acupoints, and turning his body into a canvas for performance art—it was like a student who hadn’t even passed the children’s examination aiming for the imperial examination, looking comical from any angle.

 

Even Emperor Chongzhao was amused and teased him: “I see you often go to the Astronomy Bureau and work on calculation problems given by the deputy head, which is fine. But now why are you interested in medicine? Don’t tell me you want to be an abacus-using little doctor in the future?”

 

Qu Dubian told the truth: “I want to practice martial arts, learn medicine, and be able to fly with lightness skills. It’s very useful.”

 

With more practice, perhaps his physique could become healthier. Emperor Chongzhao didn’t want to dampen the child’s confidence and said: “Practicing Tai Chi and horse stance daily, I want to see if you can become Da Zhou’s great general when you grow up, protecting the common people.”

 

Qu Dubian shook his head: “I’m not becoming stronger to protect the common people.”

 

“Oh?” Emperor Chongzhao sat behind his desk, glancing at the little one curled up on the kang bed.

 

Following Imperial Physician Yang’s introduction to acupoints, Qu Dubian turned the book to the next page, “I’m becoming stronger because I want to protect all the people who are good to me in the future.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “Oh… who are they?”

 

Qu Dubian: “Father Emperor, you just want to know if you’re included, right? Of course you are.”

 

“How disrespectful.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao lightly rebuked, the corners of his mouth slightly turning up.

 

Qu Dubian focused on memorizing the key acupoints from the manual, using his exclusive small brush, dipped in his father’s cinnabar, to draw circles on them.

 

After finishing his studies, he personally escorted Imperial Physician Yang out, thoughtfully giving him a box of pine nuts as a thank-you gift, then returned and said: “Father Emperor, tonight I’ll go sleep with Fifth Brother.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “Why sleep with him? Don’t disturb your Fifth Brother’s studies.”

 

Qu Dubian: “Don’t worry, I just want to play with Fifth Brother for a while.”

 

The main reason was that the appointed time with Yi Shi’er had arrived. If he stayed in Zichen Palace, Yi Shi’er wouldn’t be able to come in and circulate true qi through his body.

 

Emperor Chongzhao thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. After all, he had slept with the fifth son before. If he forcibly kept him, it would seem like he, as a father, was reluctant to let go.

 

So after dinner, Qu Dubian had Da Hei pull him to Changxin Palace.

 

Changxin Palace had become quieter, but Noble Lady Rong lived more comfortably. Although she didn’t particularly like the Seventh Prince, she appeared more enthusiastic on the surface.

 

Hearing he was coming, she specially prepared many small snacks.

 

Interestingly, after they were served, she ate several pieces herself and had the Fifth Prince taste some too. “Gonggong Xiaoyuan, I’m not like Noble Lady Chu with her wicked heart. You can all eat these things without worry.”

 

Ye Xiaoyuan smiled helplessly, dealing with Noble Lady Rong’s exaggerated self-justification.

 

Finally, when everything settled down, the Fifth Prince didn’t go to bed to rest but sat at his small desk, silently reviewing his lessons.

 

Qu Dubian listened to what he was reciting for a while, then said: “Fifth Brother, you can’t memorize it all at once. Let’s go to sleep. Would Tutor Fang assign such a long memorization task?”

 

The Fifth Prince shook his head: “It’s what Sixth Brother was punished to recite by Tutor Fang the other day. He couldn’t memorize it himself, so he asked me to memorize it all and remind him later.”

 

“He doesn’t think that Tutor Fang will hit Fifth Brother’s palms instead of his, does he?”

 

“But Sixth Brother will be unhappy. If he’s unhappy, Mother Consort will know and also be unhappy.”

 

The Fifth Prince had recited it many times, still stumbling. By the end, his eyes were a bit red, perhaps thinking about the punishment or scolding he would receive tomorrow if he couldn’t recite it.

 

Qu Dubian sighed, not knowing what to say. Sixth Brother was clearly used to oppressing Fifth Brother, and Fifth Brother was accustomed to being oppressed, with Noble Lady Rong pressing from above.

 

Fifth Brother didn’t even know where to escape.

 

At such a young age, with so much pressure, what if he became depressed in the future?

 

Qu Dubian jumped off the bed and took the Fifth Prince’s hand, “Fifth Brother, let’s sleep.”

 

“But—”

 

“Tomorrow I’ll go to the study hall with you. We’ll switch places, and Sixth Brother won’t give you a hard time.”

 

Fifth Prince: “That won’t work, little brother.”

 

The little brother holding his hand immediately let go, his small back full of disappointment. He turned to look at him, looking pitiful.

 

“Fifth Brother doesn’t trust me?”

 

Fifth Prince: “…!”

 

“No!” He hurriedly waved his hands.

 

Oh no, had he made his little brother cry?

 

Qu Dubian immediately smiled brightly: “Then let’s go to sleep, come on.”

 

The Fifth Prince was worried but fell asleep as soon as he touched the bed. After he was asleep, Qu Dubian laboriously put on his shoes, avoided the Fifth Prince’s personal eunuch, left the sleeping chamber, and went to a deserted corner.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun didn’t know about Yi Shi’er’s former identity as a secret guard, but they knew about Qu Dubian’s plan to sneak out tonight. Although curious, they didn’t ask much.

 

The two of them guarded two different locations.

 

Qu Dubian lowered his voice: “Liuliu, Yi Liuliu.”

 

Yi Shi’er appeared silently. Just as he was about to bow, his hand was grabbed by the child, “Thank you for your hard work. Come, have something to eat first.”

 

Qu Dubian led him to sit on the steps behind the sleeping chamber.

 

Moonlight poured down, the shadow of a red plum tree reflected on the stone steps.

 

The small child, wrapped in a thick cloak, pulled out two cushions from his bosom, one for himself and one for Yi Shi’er.

 

“Your hands are cold, Liuliu. Eat something first.”

 

The snacks were still warm. Yi Shi’er was stunned for a moment, following the pulling force on his hand to sit down. His legs were very long, and sitting on the cushion with his feet on the steps made him look a bit awkward.

 

Could he really eat?

 

This was considered working hours.

 

Under the child’s encouraging gaze, Yi Shi’er opened the oiled paper and took a bite of the snack.

 

Qu Dubian clapped his hands, “Right, and this too.”

 

He reached into his sleeve, rummaging around, and pulled out a large money pouch, stuffing it into Yi Shi’er’s hand.

 

“Your salary! Is it enough for a year?”

 

The money pouch jingled, sounding like it contained more than just silver and copper coins… Yi Shi’er opened it and saw that it indeed wasn’t just silver. Besides two gold ruyi scepters, there was more gold dust, gem fragments, jade pieces, and so on.

 

It looked very familiar.

 

–

 

Meanwhile.

 

Zichen Palace.

 

Emperor Chongzhao finished reviewing the memorials and lay down on the bed. As he turned over, his gaze suddenly fixed on something.

 

His low-key yet luxurious innermost bed post… Emperor Chongzhao moved closer to look. He saw that the coiled dragon on the bed post had been persistently scraped of a layer of gold dust by someone using some tool, and the decorative gems and cinnabar jade had been pried off.

 

Not only that, but there was also a face with its tongue sticking out drawn on the bed post.

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “…”

 

This blood pressure-raising act—he knew without thinking who had done it.

 

“Qu Xiaoqi!”

 

Has this child gone mad from poverty!

 

–

 

“Your Highness, this salary?” Yi Shi’er hesitated.

 

Qu Dubian looked righteous: “This is all earned through my hard work and labor, feel free to use it.” Since the old man wouldn’t tell him where he hid his money, he had to take matters into his own hands to clothe and feed himself.

 

“I haven’t even received my monthly 20% milk tea money yet. I can afford to keep you, so teach me well.”

 

Yi Shi’er: “This money is enough for several years of my salary.”

 

Including overtime pay.

 

He finally didn’t have to scrimp and save to buy story books.

 

He quickened his pace to eat a few more snacks, then looked at Qu Dubian, his eyes questioning.

 

Qu Dubian’s little face became solemn as he sat cross-legged on the cushion, “Let’s begin.”

 

Yi Shi’er nodded slightly.

 

Actually, circulating true qi once through the body had no real effect, but since the little prince said he was curious and wanted to experience it, he would comply.

 

Yi Shi’er held his wrist, and a slightly warm current passed through the meridians, slowly passing through each acupoint. Qu Dubian could match some with the diagrams in the medical text, but not others.

 

This warm flow eventually converged in the dantian.

 

His dantian wasn’t open, so the true qi naturally dissipated.

 

Though it was said to be one circulation, Qu Dubian didn’t ask him to stop, so Yi Shi’er circulated it two more times before stopping. He withdrew his hand, palm down, adjusting his own true qi.

 

Qu Dubian’s entire body warmed up.

 

No wonder Yi Shi’er wore so little in the cold weather. With true qi circulating inside, one would start sweating.

 

“How amazing. I definitely want to open my dantian in the future!” Qu Dubian opened his eyes, looking at Yi Shi’er with even brighter eyes.

 

Yi Shi’er: “Opening the dantian is very dangerous.”

 

Qu Dubian: “How dangerous?”

 

“Everyone’s meridians are different. No one can accurately predict how much true qi they need to impact the dantian. Too much, and the dantian ruptures; too little, and it doesn’t open. Both can lead to meridian damage or even breakage,” Yi Shi’er said: “Throughout history, very few members of the royal family have dared to open their dantian.”

 

Qu Dubian: “Oh…”

 

He should be fine. If he failed, the simulator could convert it into a disease type. At worst, he’d have to try a few more times.

 

“I will definitely become a master who can fly around in the future.”

 

At his current age, saying he wanted to practice martial arts and open his dantian, no one would take his words seriously. Yi Shi’er just nodded, as if humoring a child.

 

Qu Dubian said like a big brother: “Go back and rest. When you go to the palace gate or the main kitchen to buy milk tea, mention my name, and it’ll be free.”

 

Yi Shi’er nodded, though it wasn’t clear if he had listened.

 

After he left, Qu Dubian sat alone on the cushion for a while. Yi Shi’er’s favorability had increased several points when he fed him snacks and gave him money.

 

He opened the simulator and summarized his recent achievements.

 

[Wen Xiaochun Favorability: 51]

 

[Xie Mingxuan (Consort Xuan) Favorability: 30]

 

[Zhang Chansi Favorability: 21]

 

[Yi Shi’er Favorability: 14]

 

[Martial Arts Check-in: Tai Chi, Horse Stance (starting from 10 minutes)]

 

[Simulatable Disease Types: Fever (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3), Drug Overdose. Newly added [Cough], [Rhinitis], each with three subtypes.]

 

[Backpack: Strawberry Seeds (0 remaining, can purchase), Novel Story Books (3 remaining), Prank Dream (0 remaining, can purchase), “Mian Shou Jue · Upper Chapter” True Qi Circulation Diagram.]

 

Qu Dubian exhaled, giving himself encouragement. He could do this.

 

Yi Shi’er had taken his cushion, so Qu Dubian only had his own. He called to Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun, who were guarding both ends, to go rest.

 

Wen Xiaochun: “Is Your Highness familiar with that person from just now?”

 

Qu Dubian: “Mm… quite. Barring any accidents, he will be by my side.”

 

Wen Xiaochun seemed thoughtful.

 

If it was someone who could be trusted, then he should be able to go to the Inspection Department with peace of mind.

 

–

 

The next day.

 

The Fifth Prince woke up his still-sleeping brother.

 

Qu Dubian rubbed his eyes, propped himself up to change clothes, yawning continuously, and went to the study hall with the Fifth Prince.

 

 

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(advanced chapters available on kofi)