Chapter 054
Chapter 54: The Test
Bright red blood trickled along the jade needle into a jade box. After gathering about three drops, Eunuch Shen softly announced, “It is done.” He swiftly closed the jade box, covering it firmly, then turned and respectfully handed it to Commander Fu Qi Wen with both hands.
Fu Qi Wen gave a slight nod and casually took the jade box in one hand, his gaze briefly sweeping over it.
At that instant, Yu Jin and Sun Chang Yu both jerked their heads upward, hearts trembling sharply.
They felt as though the Qi of heaven and earth within the entire great hall had suddenly boiled over.
With Fu Qi Wen at the center, an invisible whirlpool seemed to surge skyward, swiftly absorbing and devouring all the surrounding Qi.
Even the Qi within their meridians and dantian stirred restlessly, threatening to scatter and escape at any moment.
Alarmed, they immediately focused on circulating their martial techniques, steadying the Qi within their bodies.
At the same time, outside, the storm abruptly ceased above the great hall.
The endlessly gathering Qi of heaven and earth formed an invisible hand, pushing aside the pouring rain and driving the furious winds to curve around the Heavenly Brocade Guard’s headquarters.
Inside the hall, Fu Qi Wen held the jade box tightly, emerald light swirling rapidly around it. It spun so fast that the eye could barely follow—faster than sound itself.
Yet despite its incredible speed, the jade box, blurred into countless shadows, remained firmly anchored in Fu Qi Wen’s palm, never shifting even slightly from its place.
[Is this…some kind of human centrifuge?]
Li Mu Sheng stared intently at Commander Fu Qi Wen, silently marveling.
Truthfully, witnessing this strange test actually made him trust somewhat in the legitimacy of this parentage verification.
However, Li Mu Sheng’s eyes shifted suddenly toward one of his fingers.
Earlier, when his blood was drawn by the jade needle, he had sensed a strand of poison slipping silently into his body through the tiny wound.
The toxin was exceptionally strange; it wouldn’t directly kill him, but would instead quietly lie hidden inside.
Of course, no matter how unusual the poison was, it posed absolutely no threat to Li Mu Sheng, whose body was protected by the Immortal Golden Body.
[How interesting. I haven’t even officially stepped into the Imperial Court, yet trouble has already come knocking.]
Li Mu Sheng arched an eyebrow lightly.
Clearly, the jade box came directly from the Great Li Imperial Palace. Whoever had placed the poison onto the jade needle must also hail from within the palace.
Who was the culprit?
Perhaps it was Eunuch Shen, the Chief Steward of the Divine Palace standing right before him, or perhaps it was someone else entirely.
Li Mu Sheng didn’t know and, honestly, he didn’t feel like investigating further.
After all, those who should reveal themselves eventually would surely do so.
He had no interest in court intrigue; right now, he’d rather be a lazy farmer, quietly waiting for rabbits to leap into his lap.
At this moment, the surging Qi within the great hall abruptly halted, and Fu Qi Wen’s spinning jade box stopped simultaneously.
Outside, the previously halted wind and rain returned once again, resuming their tempestuous roar.
Raindrops pattered onto the tiles of the hall’s roof, creating a soft, rhythmic sound.
Fu Qi Wen observed the jade box silently for a moment, expression unchanged, then lifted his gaze toward Li Mu Sheng.
“This official must visit the palace. Young Master Li, please wait here for a while,” he calmly instructed.
Li Mu Sheng naturally nodded in acceptance.
Watching Fu Qi Wen turn to leave, Li Mu Sheng guessed his identity as a prince had likely just been confirmed.
Just then, Sun Chang Yu stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and spoke: “My lord, I, your humble servant, have something else to report.”
Fu Qi Wen halted, looking over and nodding slightly to signal him to speak.
Sun Chang Yu glanced cautiously at Li Mu Sheng, then quietly conveyed his message to Fu Qi Wen through Qi transmission.
Shortly after, Fu Qi Wen narrowed his eyes slightly, glancing deeply toward Li Mu Sheng before raising his hand dismissively.
“I already know of this matter.”
Then he turned toward Yu Jin standing to the side, ordering:
“Go summon Han Li and have him accompany Eunuch Sun.”
Without another word, Fu Qi Wen left, disappearing swiftly into the heavy downpour outside.
Eunuch Shen glanced briefly at Li Mu Sheng, eyes flickering slightly before stating gently:
“I, your humble servant, must also return to the palace and inform the Queen of this matter.”
With that, he quickly departed, following closely behind Fu Qi Wen.
Yu Jin wasted no time, immediately calling for a lean, middle-aged man named Han Li.
Han Li, one of Fu Qi Wen’s closest subordinates, promptly exchanged a few words with Sun Chang Yu before hurriedly departing with him.
…
The Great Li Imperial Palace.
Numerous majestic halls stood gracefully arranged, their glazed roof ornaments carved in various fantastical shapes. Rain cascaded down the golden tiles, forming countless glittering curtains of water.
Escorted by a little eunuch, Fu Qi Wen passed through grand, vermilion gates, ascended stairs of pure white jade, and finally entered a vast, imposing hall.
This was the Tian Qian Palace—the residence of Emperor Yuan Wu.
Shimmering tiles reflected clearly beneath their feet, while grand crimson pillars etched with clouds and dragons upheld the magnificent ceiling above. The entire hall radiated a solemn dignity.
Fu Qi Wen crossed through the grand main hall, arriving at a smaller chamber at its rear, where a bamboo curtain veiled an elegant bed made of purple sandalwood.
“Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince has been found.”
Bowing deeply toward the bamboo curtain, Fu Qi Wen took the jade box from his sleeve and handed it to an elderly, white-haired eunuch who respectfully presented it beyond the curtain to Emperor Yuan Wu.
Behind the curtain, Emperor Yuan Wu made no sound. Illuminated faintly by the flickering candlelight filling the hall, only a shadowy figure seated behind the curtain was faintly visible.
The figure glanced briefly at the jade box in the old eunuch’s hands and spoke evenly, without emotion:
“This secret blood-testing method comes from the Medicine King Valley of the Western Regions. It has been improved upon and tested by generations of physicians. There should be no issue.”
Then he gestured for the old eunuch to remove the jade box, turning his gaze through the curtain toward Fu Qi Wen.
“Qi Wen, tell me, what is your impression of my son?”
Fu Qi Wen folded his hands respectfully and lowered his gaze, pausing briefly to gather his thoughts before speaking:
“I have already reviewed the Seventh Prince’s records. A female constable from Six Gates discovered him in a small city in Wan Province. His past twenty years have been unremarkable. Before arriving at Shang Yang City, he stayed at a small martial arts hall as an apprentice.”
Hearing this, the shadow behind the bamboo curtain nodded slightly, seemingly unsurprised by these details.
“Continue,” the Emperor instructed. “I wish to hear your personal impression.”
“I only met His Highness today,” Fu Qi Wen replied calmly. “However, after observing him carefully, I noticed something unusual. His records say he possesses the martial dao cultivation of an Innate Stage martial artist, yet I could not detect even the slightest trace of martial Qi from him.”
Fu Qi Wen’s voice remained neutral, betraying no hidden emotions.
Behind the bamboo curtain, Emperor Yuan Wu fell silent, lingering in thought before finally asking slowly:
“Qi Wen, what do you believe is the reason?”