IRBSC 116

Chapter 116

The next morning, as Gu Yuanbai left Xue Yuan’s residence, he didn’t expect Xue Yuan to appear.

However, as the door opened, Gu Yuanbai met the gaze of a stubble-faced Xue Yuan, who offered a stiff smile, his shoulders damp with dew. “Your Majesty, I wish to enter the palace.”

“…” Gu Yuanbai asked, “For what purpose?”

Xue Yuan replied, “To protect you.”

Gu Yuanbai turned the jade thumb ring on his finger, his gaze lingering on Xue Yuan’s face before moving away from the stubble and dark circles under his eyes. “Do you require compensation?”

“Food and lodging provided by Your Majesty will suffice,” Xue Yuan said.

Gu Yuanbai nodded curtly. “Follow me.”

The entourage gained another member as Xue Yuan adjusted his boots, straightened his sword at his waist, and rejoined the ranks of the imperial guards.

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“They stretch across an entire mountain range,” the official replied cautiously. “The area has been secured by the garrison troops. Upon closer inspection, we discovered that the animals in the mountains like to lick a particular cliff face before midday. We investigated and found that after scraping the surface with a dagger, discolored salt crystals appeared. Scraping further revealed pure white salt underneath. The mountaintops seemed to be covered in white snow, but then we realized it wasn’t snow but rock salt. However, we lacked sufficient manpower and returned to report to Your Majesty first. We haven’t yet determined the exact quantity.”

Gu Yuanbai’s breath quickened. “And these mountaintops with salt lakes?”

“Yes,” the Surveillance Bureau official couldn’t help but smile. “We suspect these mountaintops are massive salt mines.”

This unexpected news brought a delighted smile to Gu Yuanbai’s face. Seeing the Emperor’s reaction, the Surveillance Bureau officials were also pleased and satisfied. They then presented a wooden box. “Your Majesty, upon returning from the coast, we discovered that the wealthy families there enjoy burning a particular incense. Its fragrance is pleasant and has an invigorating effect. We have brought some as a tribute to Your Majesty.”

Gu Yuanbai readily accepted, instructing Tian Fusheng to take the box. After extinguishing the existing incense in the hall and airing out the room, he lit the incense brought by the officials and placed it on his desk to appreciate its fragrance.

A delicate, elegant fragrance slowly diffused from the incense burner. The smile on Gu Yuanbai’s face faltered and gradually faded, replaced by a blank expression.

As his expression turned cold, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to freeze. The only movement in the vast palace was the swirling smoke from the incense.

Gu Yuanbai slowly leaned back against his chair, his voice laced with uncertainty. “This incense is from the coast?”

The Surveillance Bureau official’s expression turned serious. “I wouldn’t dare to deceive Your Majesty. This incense indeed entered our Great Heng Dynasty through the coastal regions.”

Gu Yuanbai’s breathing quickened, his grip tightening on the armrests of his chair, his knuckles turning white, a surge of anger rising within him. “I understand. You’ve all worked hard. You may take your leave.”

The Surveillance Bureau officials, their faces etched with concern, obediently withdrew.

Once they were gone, Gu Yuanbai turned to the Eastern Ling Guard, his eyes icy. “Bring the Seventh Prince of Western Xia here! Tell him I invite him to admire the Imperial Garden with me.”

The Eastern Ling Guard immediately departed to carry out the order. Gu Yuanbai’s face was dark as ink. He suddenly reached out and smashed the incense burner onto the floor. With a loud crash, the palace attendants in the hall prostrated themselves, the sound echoing through the room.

“Incense from the coast, incense from the coast!” Gu Yuanbai’s temples throbbed. “It has become the national fragrance of Western Xia!”

Western Xia was located inland, in the area of present-day Ningxia and Shaanxi, separated from the sea by the vast expanse of Great Heng. How could such an inland nation have a coastal incense as its national fragrance?

The incense burner rolled a few times on the floor before Xue Yuan stepped on it. His eyes shadowed, he approached and supported the trembling Emperor.

Gu Yuanbai sat back down, supported by Xue Yuan. His gaze was heavy as he looked at the scattered ashes, a thought suddenly flashing through his mind.

Addictive substance.

The wind blew in through the palace doors, causing his robes and hair to flutter. The midday sun streamed into the hall, stretching long shadows across the floor, but Gu Yuanbai felt a chill in his limbs.

He gripped Xue Yuan’s hand, his fingers digging into the back of his hand.

Addictive substance. What does that mean?

The most notorious example was opium. The infamous addictive substance, both hated and feared by the Chinese, was made from the poppy fruit.

There was also Five Stone Powder.

Five Stone Powder was prevalent during the Wei and Jin dynasties, but few people used it now. Opium, however, had been offered as tribute from foreign lands since the Tang Dynasty and was still considered a valuable medicine. Oh, right, opium wasn’t called opium these days; it was called yingsu su. ①

A chill ran through him, as if a dark cloud had settled over his internal organs. Gu Yuanbai felt his limbs grow cold, his grip loosening on Xue Yuan’s hand. Just as he was about to lose his hold, Xue Yuan tightened his own grip.

Xue Yuan’s voice was strained. “Your Majesty.”

Gu Yuanbai looked up at him blankly. “Xue Jiuyao, I think I’ve been poisoned.”

Addictive substances, when taken in small doses, could indeed be medicinal. Gu Yuanbai believed that if someone had secretly exposed him to an addictive substance under the watchful eyes of the Imperial Hospital, it would have been in minuscule amounts, doses that the imperial physicians might have deemed beneficial to his health.

But the heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, weakness in his limbs after leaving the palace, the nausea and vomiting – these were clear signs of addiction.

Xue Yuan’s grip suddenly tightened, his jaw clenched, as if about to explode with rage. “The incense?”

Seeing Xue Yuan’s readiness to lash out, Gu Yuanbai calmed down. “Not necessarily.”

If he truly were addicted, yesterday’s reaction would have been much more difficult to overcome. Even though Gu Yuanbai had never used drugs, he knew the withdrawal symptoms experienced by addicts.

Even if there was something wrong with the Western Xia incense, the fact that the Imperial Hospital hadn’t detected any harmful effects meant the dosage was too small to affect a healthy person, only providing an “invigorating” effect.

His frail and sensitive body was likely overreacting to the addictive substance.

This realization brought a sense of relief to Gu Yuanbai. “Let’s wait for the Seventh Prince of Western Xia.” For the first time, he was grateful for his poor health. “Regarding the Western Xia incense, I don’t believe they would dare to harm me so blatantly.”

Xue Yuan’s breath hitched. “Shouldn’t you summon the imperial physician first?!”

Gu Yuanbai looked at him, startled. “Wait.”

Xue Yuan didn’t press further, but gave him a deep look, checking his sword and standing by his side as they waited.

Remembering Xue Yuan’s words about blocking his path to the underworld, Gu Yuanbai’s expression shifted slightly. “Tian Fusheng, summon the imperial physician and have him wait in the side hall.”

Perhaps not.

Two people crowding the path to the underworld would be quite cramped.

The Eastern Ling Guard went to fetch the Seventh Prince of Western Xia but brought the Second Prince along as well.

The Second Prince’s expression was anxious, his smile timid. “Forgive this subject for intruding.”

“You are most welcome,” Gu Yuanbai said, looking at the two princes with a smile. “Someone, bring seats.”

After the two princes were seated, Gu Yuanbai exchanged a few pleasantries about Western Xia customs, then suddenly asked, “Seventh Prince, does the scent in my hall seem familiar?”

Li Angshun narrowed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and smiled. “Of course. It’s the national fragrance of Western Xia. From my father, the Emperor, down to the officials and wealthy families, everyone in Western Xia adores this incense.”

Gu Yuanbai repeated, “From the Emperor down to the officials and wealthy families…”

His heart sank.

“Precisely,” Li Angshun affirmed. “The fragrance in my father’s palace is even stronger than here. He loves it so much that he has attendants replenish the incense throughout the night. If the scent fades during the night, he becomes anxious and wakes up from his sleep.”

Gu Yuanbai closed his eyes. “I find the fragrance quite pleasant as well.”

It’s a slow-acting poison.

A smug look appeared in Li Angshun’s eyes. “This incense has a remarkably invigorating effect. It is highly praised by our esteemed officials.”

Gu Yuanbai had lost interest in the conversation. Feigning discomfort, he instructed his attendants to escort the two princes to the Imperial Garden.

The Second Prince obediently rose to his feet, but Li Angshun looked disappointed. Just then, he felt a hostile gaze and looked up to see a strikingly handsome guard standing behind the Emperor of Great Heng, staring intently at his fingers.

Li Angshun frowned, anger rising, but then he noticed two large, black wolves standing as tall as men in a shadowed corner, their eyes fixed on his fingers as well.

A chill ran down Li Angshun’s spine, and he turned to follow the attendants out of the hall.

A moment later, the imperial physician entered from the side hall and took the Emperor’s pulse. Gu Yuanbai kept his eyes closed, still disturbed by Li Angshun’s words about the incense being used by “everyone” in Western Xia.

The Emperor of Western Xia was clearly deeply addicted. Had they not yet discovered the harmful effects of the incense? Who had traded such a large quantity of this addictive substance with Western Xia, and who had arranged for it to be delivered to Gu Yuanbai?

Was this the source of the substantial reparations offered by Western Xia?

“Investigate,” Gu Yuanbai said, his voice hoarse, bearing the weight of a thousand burdens. “Investigate where this incense is being shipped from to Western Xia, and investigate how the same incense is entering Great Heng through the coastal regions.”

This type of addictive substance was practically a symbol of ultimate power, a tool for controlling and manipulating others.

This could not be tolerated. He had to find out who was coveting Great Heng, who had the audacity to try and swallow even Western Xia whole.