Author: Jiu Xiao Qi, Translated by: San Guniang

Chapter 94 - Peach Blossom Gu

Ye Zhen Zhen did not know whether she should believe what Ji Li You said before his death. She totally felt this kind of thing sounded hard to imagine, how Ji Wu Jiu could be controlled by someone. Probably this was Ji Li You intention to spread diversion before facing death, to make them could not live well in peace.

Without any better option, she had to relate this word to the person implicated. She asked Ji Wu Jiu if he felt somewhere abnormal.

Ji Wu Jiu shook his head disdainfully, no.

Actually yes. There was something very abnormal.

He always felt uneasy these days, as if he had to do something. Sometimes beyond his control he would go to this one direction and suddenly 'woke up' to find himself was on the way to Ba Jiao Pavilion.

What in Ba Jiao Pavilion is Bai Xiang Ru.

Ji Wu Jiu did not understand. Even if he was foolish, he also knew the feeling of rekindled old love. He did not have any sentimental idea towards Bai Xiang Ru now. Even if the past affection still remained, it had completely gone after he learned about her dad rebellion.

So now he was unable to control his leg wanting to go to meet her, how could that be?

Originally, Ji Wu Jiu thought there was a problem, but he did not want to act blindly without thinking before made the thing clear. Now Ye Zhen Zhen told him about this, he was more convinced that Bai Xiang Ru was doing something terrible, so he went to Ba Jiao Pavilion to personally ask her.

Contrariwise, Bai Xiang Ru was not surprised at all seeing Ji Wu Jiu. She smiled sweetly and said, "Your Majesty, you finally come."

Ji Wu Jiu did not want to talk nonsense with her, "What did you do to Zhen?"

Bai Xiang Ru raised her head to look at him. Her expression showed a hint of craziness, "Your Majesty, have you heard about Peach Blossom gu(1)?"

Ji Wu Jiu's face darkened, "You use gu to Zhen?

Bai Xiang Ru laughed desolately, "I don't want too, but you forced me."

"Unreasonable!" Ji Wu Jiu dumped these words and lifted his legs to leave.

But Bai Xiang Ru shouted at his back, "If you don't love me, you will die."

He turned his head and coldly said, "Even if I die, I will not love you."

"Why? You definitely love me. Before we……"

"Bai Xiang Ru," He interrupted her, "In this life, Zhen only loves one person and in the future will only love her." He calmly looked at her, "Probably you are mistaken. Zhen fortunately has a lot of woman, how to love each and every one?"

"What about Ye Zhen Zhen?"

He frowned, "You should call her Empress."

"Why is she? Why of all people treat her differently?" She was not willing to retreat and kept asking questions intensely.

"If necessary, Zhen can tell numerous reasons, but that's not important. Xiang Ru, Zhen thinks you just confused for a while. As long as you remove this incredible gu, Zhen will not investigate this thing."

"Which part of me not as good as her?"

His face became gloomy and cold, "You are not as good as her at all."

"……"

The negotiation parted on bad terms. Ji Wu Jiu returned to Gan Qing Palace and immediately summoned Tie Taiyi to come.

Tie Taiyi carefully examined Ji Wu Jiu's pulse and conclude that his heart's blood was weak. In general, this was symptom which likely appeared in someone with congenital deficiency or someone with serious illness and would not suddenly come on the body of someone healthy. Therefore, Tie Taiyi was baffled. After considering for a while, he explained to Ji Wu Jiu and at the same time inquired if he had been injured or ate something unusual.

Ji Wu Jiu shook his head one after another.

Since Tie Taiyi could not figure out, he did not dare to randomly prescribe any medicine. So he just gave him a prescription to enrich blood first. Fortunately, the emperor temperament was calm and did not punish him for crime of not exerting himself in diagnosing and treating. Tie Taiyi silently wiped his sweat.

After Tie Taiyi retreated, Ji Wu Jiu summoned the detective to come and let them going out of palace to look for gu technique master.

Prior to this, Ji Wu Jiu found that gu was only exist in the legend, occasionally it was written in historical records and always linked together with secret pending case and appeared to be more mysterious. He believed the reason why this thing was mysterious was because it was unable to stand itself, unlike supernatural beings, everyone talked about this but no one saw it, not worth believing.

That was why he regarded gu technique as small cheap trick to scam.

However, in spite of everything, he did not expect to personally encounter it  one day.

Up until now, Ji Wu Jiu did not completely believe it, but had to believe.  He was someone who rarely went out of control, if ever, it was because his mood was acc.u.mulated to the peak and he had no choice but to explode. In the past he never run into this kind of thing, to lose control over his body and unexpectedly he vaguely knew, as if his body was tangled by a thread and the motion was controlled entirely. Even though only a little before he could manage to react, but that already sufficient to make him unable to stand still. His nature was not allowed him to accept someone's coercion, let alone this kind of thing which entirely treated him as puppet.

Detective Zhao Zhi Cheng returned alone to Ji Wu Jiu the next day. Before introducing this person, he informed Ji Wu Jiu that the true gu technique master was gu Miao. They were scattered in Qian Nan prefecture and rarely left the mountain and had dealings with Han people. He brought this man now just to understand the Miao's gu technique first and for the emperor to use. Afterwards he would immediately bring this man to Qian Nan to look for the gu master.

The name of the man he brought was Da Xing, around 30 years old. He was a Han-Miao. Before teens, Da Xing lived with the Miao tribe. Later on he was abducted by a Han girl who charged to the deep in the mountain. Currently he opened a family dojo in the capital. His personality was honest, straightforward and not timid. Hearing that he was going to meet the emperor, he was extremely excited. Zhao Zhi Cheng afraid his mouth would make mistake and attract disaster, so he warned him thousand times to not speak with his usual carelessness in front of the emperor.

Hence, Ji Wu Jiu invited Da Xing to come, dismissed everyone, and asked him, "Can you see what gu inside Zhen?"

Sure enough Da Xing looked over Ji Wu Jiu carefully once, then greeted and answered, "Your Majesty, caomin(2) is not able to tell."

Ji Wu Jiu's heart relaxed and yet he doubted, could it be that Bai Xiang Ru lied him?

This moment, Da Xing said again, "Caomin's skill is not high. May I ask Your Majesty to describe your symptom for me to properly determine?"

Ji Wu Jiu had to explain some of his recent conditions.

Listening, he answered, "So it seems that it's Peach Blossom gu."

Ji Wu Jiu's heart sank, "How sure are you?"

Da Xing pondered for a moment, then asked, "Excuse me, may I ask Your Majesty if you have been intimate with the person that you have unconsciously wanted to find?"

"…… No."

"In that case Your Majesty, if want to confirm further whether you are under gu, I need to do one more thing, probably will injure your dragon's body."

After listening to his request, Ji Wu Jiu asked someone to get a silver needle.

Da Xing p.r.i.c.ked the silver needle on Ji Wu Jiu's que men xue(3). Immediately, crimson blood with dark layer poured out.

Ji Wu Jiu's frowned.

Da Xing let out the silver needle and returned it to the tray, and continued to say, "This is the symptom of gu poison break out. Gu poison is different from ordinary poison, it's not appeared on Taiyi examination. If Taiyi feel your pulse, probably what they can see is weak heart's blood because Peach Blossom gu is using heart's blood as food. If this constantly continues, Your Majesty, your life is not guaranteed."

Now Ji Wu Jiu had entirely believed. He asked, "Is there any method to break this gu?"

"Yes. As long as you and the gu owner love each other in all your lifetime and always faithful. This gu can guide you to find her."

"Aside from this?"

"The gu owner has to personally break the gu, but Peach Blossom gu is different from another gu. After breaking the gu, the gu owner will be devoured and die."

There was no one would commit suicide. This method was actually not a method.

Ji Wu Jiu's brows deeply wrinkled, "Is there really no other method?"

He shook his head.

Ji Wu Jiu said again, "Please tell Zhen first, after all what is gu?"

Da Xing answered, "Many of Central Plain people thinking that gu is nonsense. In fact gu and poison are almost the same, it's just that gu is alive. After entering someone's body also still alive. The word [gu] of Central Plain people literally means raising insects in a container, generally it's the idea. However, there are quite a lot of insect species, the method to raise insects also varies. Therefore, even if the species of gu are identical, if different person raise the insects, the method to break it also different. The name of Peach Blossom gu sounds nice to hear, but actually it's one type of malicious gu. The person under gu will be controlled by the insects, take the initiative to find the gu owner, and they will have intercourse. Because that person’s mind is controlled by gu insects, that's why it's not a true mutual love, just having both of them together and cannot have affair with someone else anymore. If not, the gu poison will break out, so betraying the gu owner will means death."

Ji Wu Jiu listened and feebly shook his head, "What an absurd thing."

Da Xing looked at him strangely, "Your Majesty, actually I'm very curious. Someone under gu generally will fall inside the loop with practically no exception. I listened to your saying just now, it seems you have been under gu for some days, but haven't go to find her?

"Zhen has a lover."

Da Xing looked at him with great respect, "It's really …… not east."

Ji Wu Jiu understood his meaning. The word 'emperor' and the words 'three-thousand beauties' were tied together. A monarch talked about true love indeed made someone felt amazed.

At this time, Da Xing said again, "You must love her so much."

Of course. Probably she was his all.

"Not only that. You should be an exceptionally determined person. You can control your own mind and is not confused by gu."

Ji Wu Jiu wryly smiled, "Only now." He did not know what would happen in the future. If really couldn't work, he would let Zhen Zhen tied rope around his neck and grabbed on her hand twelve s.h.i.+chen(4) a day. Thinking of that scheme, his heavy mood was slightly relaxed.

Da Xing frowned at him. "But now your gu poison had broken out. If you don't go and find her, in the end you will die."

"Even die, Zhen will not look for her. Definitely there is different method," Said till here, Ji Wu Jiu was a bit puzzled, "She is not a Miao, but how can she use gu technique?"

Da Xing replied, "Probably she learned from a Miao, but Miao people's gu technique is basically a secret, don't know what means she used."

Ji Wu Jiu contemplated for a moment and finally said to Da Xing, "You are really helping Zhen today and Zhen wants to properly thank you. Do you have something that you want to have or wish to do?"

Da Xing scratched his head and laughed, "My wife said, to be able to help Your Majesty is my good fortune. She told me to not ask you for a reward."

Ji Wu Jiu smiled and said, "Your wife is actually very interesting. Since Zhen said reward, then you just took it. If furen critized when you return, you say that this is imperial edict. The imperial edict can not be defied."

Da Xing nodded and said, "Since Your Majesty has said, then I will be blunt. Telling you the truth, my biggest wish is to let furen to see you. She is very curious about your looks."

Hence Ji Wu Jiu straightforwardly said, "Next time you bring her to enter the palace, Zhen will allow her to see."

"Many thanks Your Majesty! Ummm…… Can also see the Empress?"

"…… Can."

"Very good! Actually my wife wishes the most to see the Empress."

…… So he only regarded the emperor as complimentary.

~ Translated by: San Guniang ~

Glossary:

Gu = a legendary venomous insect, also translated as witchcraft. It is also defined as poison and to drive to insanity Caomin = This worthless commoner (male), a term used when referring to oneself when speaking to those of higher status Que Men Xue is an acupuncture point on inner forearm, 5 inches above wrist. For more details, please check on s.h.i.+chen = two-hour periods of the day

Notes: I wrote this chapter twice since I accidentally deleted the first translation and saved another chapter on it. I want to cry. Fortunately, I managed to finish redoing it in short while.