Chapter 19

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Seeing Nalan Yu’s gaze riveting upon Mu Qianyue throughout, the wrath in Mu Yurou’s heart intensified. She gritted her teeth, her fingers clenching into tight fists.

Just as Nalan Zheng was about to ask further questions, next to him Lan Keyu hooked her arm with his, a bashful and charming expression on her gorgeous face. “Your Majesty, what kind of medical skills could a young lady like her possibly know? I’m hungry, hm…”

“Alright, alright, we shall return to the palace to have our meal now.” Nalan Zheng’s eyes were glowing and there was a lewd smile on his face. By ‘meal’, he definitely wasn’t referring to ordinary food.

As the ministers watched Nalan Zheng and Lan Keyu disappear from view, they were somewhat dumbfounded. Since even the Emperor had left, why should they continue hanging around?

Naturally, they went back to their respective homes and went about their respective businesses.

…

Once out of Xuande Hall, Mu Qianyue inhaled deeply, still immensely baffled. Why did Consort Yu help her out time and time again when this was only her first time seeing her? If Consort Yu hadn’t distracted Nalan Zheng’s attention twice earlier on, she might not have been able to come out unscathed so easily.

Ah, forget it. Since she couldn’t think of the reason why she decided not to ponder the matter anymore.

Just as she was about to leave, she saw someone clad in white flowing clothing come over to her. Following that, he squirmed into her arms and held her tightly. The youth’s signature snow lotus fragrance entered her senses. It was a faint smell that was both refreshing and pleasant.

“Sister, I just heard that His Majesty has appointed marriage between the two of us. From now onwards you will be my wife!” There was a trace of delight and joy in his clear and chilly voice.

Mu Qianyue’s mouth twitched at the corners as she pushed him away and responded softly, “Mm.”

“Great! Sister, no wait… I should call you my dear, no?” Nalan Jing looked thrilled, his flawless face seemingly radiant from his happiness.

“You’re not to call me ‘dear’!” Mu Qianyue glared at him.

“… But, but you are my dear.” The aggrieved-looking Nalan Jing lowered his eyes, a dejected tone in his voice. “I know you must scorn me for being blind and ugly. Everyone says I’m blind and ugly. Nobody wants me…”

Mu Qianyue’s mouth twitched at his words. Although he was indeed blind, his handsomeness was practically unparalleled. If even he was considered ugly, would there be any good-looking people in this world?

“You’re not ugly. I don’t scorn you.”

“I’m really very ugly. Not my face, but my body. Look, there’s a huge bump on my body. Everyone says it looks terrifying.” As Nalan Jing spoke, he pried away the clothing at his chest and revealed a fair patch of skin, upon which a black bump stood in contrast right in the middle. One could even detect a foul odor coming from it.

What? Mu Qianyue focused her gaze. That wasn’t a bump! It was clearly a malignant tumor, a sign of one being poisoned! From the looks of it it had been there for a long time!

“How long has it been there?” She slightly narrowed her eyes, her voice turning a notch colder. Despite the fact that he already couldn’t see, there were still people plotting to harm him?

“Hmm… several years? I can no longer remember. In any case, it’s been there since I was young. Oh right, I fell drastically ill at five, and when my illness recovered I could no longer see. And then, this bump appeared.” There was fear, as well as hope on the youth’s face as he asked cautiously, “My dear, are you really not afraid? You won’t disdain me because of this, will you?”

Those slightly drooping lilac pupils sparkled like stars in the night sky.

Mu Qianyue breathed in deeply and tried her best to calm herself down, heartache involuntarily surfacing in her eyes. “It’s okay. Isn’t it just a bump? I’m not afraid. Actually, this bump can be treated.”

As she spoke, she gently pulled up his clothes, as if afraid she would hurt him.

“Really? But I’ve had many imperial physicians look at this. All of them said that there is no cure.”

“Do you believe in me?”

“Of course!” The youth declared resolutely with a faint smile.

“I will make sure you fully recover from it. Believe me, I will make it disappear completely. In the future, no one will call you ugly anymore. But it’s going to take some time.” She couldn’t help but feel heartache for this innocent and pure youth. Every time she saw him, she felt as though she had known him for a long time, and it was just that she couldn’t recall those memories.

A hint of doubt and confusion flickered across his eyes.

Nalan Jing froze. He lowered his gaze, the trace of darkness dissipating in the depths of his eyes. But a moment later, he concealed the expression in his eyes and revealed a child-like smile that radiated pure happiness. “My dear, you’re too good to me. But I can’t keep you company any longer. I’m going to have to decorate our home. I’m going to spruce up the place and wait for our wedding day.”

Upon hearing this, Mu Qianyue paused. Looking at the excitement and joy on the youth’s face, she didn’t have the heart to wake him up from his beautiful dream. It was destined that she would disappoint him, for marrying him was only an expedient measure and she wasn’t really intending to become a married couple with him in the true sense.

Forget it, she decided to just let him bask in that joy for the time being.

…

The moment she returned to Brightmoon Courtyard, Mu Qianyue entered the Heaven Connecting Tower.

“Tianshuo, what means have you to elevate one’s powers in the shortest time possible?”

“Based on your current status, you can consume the Essence Cultivation Liquid,” replied Tianshuo.

After obtaining the prescription for the Essence Cultivation Liquid from Tianshuo, Mu Qianyue immediately went to purchase the medicinal herbs. Following that, she then washed and classified the medicinal herbs, before starting to refine the medicinal liquid.

She focused all her concentration on watching over the fire in the medicine cauldron, as well as making sure she observed the changes in the medicinal herbs inside the furnace. After refining a blade of Heaven Herb, she cautiously poured the green medicinal liquid into a bottle, before proceeding to refine the next ingredient—a blade of White Ravengrass.

Due to the absence of the Spirit of Fire, it required great skill to refine medicinal liquid using ordinary fire. The refining process would end up in failure if one wasn’t extremely careful, and this was why one had to watch over the fire throughout the entire process. If the fire got too strong, the medicinal herbs could easily be destroyed; on the other hand, if the fire wasn’t strong enough, the potency of the resulting medicinal liquid would be lackluster. Finally, after wasting several blades of medicinal herbs, she finished refining these three medicinal herbs.

The steps that followed were much simpler—all that was left to do was to mix these three types of medicinal liquids together. However, it was also the most crucial step.

“I wonder if the Life Energy in the Ring of Life could be used to refine the medicine? Hm, I shall give it a try,” Mu Qianyue murmured to herself. Since the Wood Element in the Ring of Life could be used to save a person, perhaps it could also be used to refine pills?

Using her Spiritual Power, she transferred the Life Energy in the Ring of Life to the medicinal cauldron slowly.

A look of approval flashed across the eyes of Tianshuo, who was watching her by the side. She was pretty bright, able to draw inferences about other cases from a single instance. It seemed like he had chosen to serve the right person.

“Huff… finally it’s done.” Mu Qianyue took in a deep breath, her fair face covered with perspiration. However, those black eyes of hers were filled with excitement and delight.

She realized that refining medicine using the Ring of Life resulted in a much better fusion of the various liquids, as well as a higher potency!

After taking a short rest, Mu Qianyue raised her head and gulped down the Essence Cultivation Liquid, before closing her eyes and starting to cultivate. She inhaled the Essence Energy in the air, and the Nine Dragons Soul-Devouring Technique started its work to filter out the impure Essence Energy. Strands of pure Essence Energy flowed into her dantian through her meridians and converted into faint white True Essence Energy.