HMIME Chapter 43: Accompanying you like a Mother

“What shouldn’t have been touched?” Bai Lu was very puzzled. “What is it?”

He heard that the harem should not interfere in politics. Could it be that Mei Fei had also emulated Wu Zetian and intervened in court affairs?

Chu Ya raised his hand. “Let him see it.”

Si Zhu took out a brocade pouch from his pocket, untied the brown wax rope that was tied around the bag’s mouth, and took out a paper package from inside. Layer by layer, he revealed a small handful of snow-white powder.

This action and scene seemed familiar to Bai Lu. Subconsciously, he said, “Is this poison?”

“It’s a medicine called Wushi Powder, also known as Hanshi Powder.”

As Chu Ya spoke, he sat down next to Bai Lu and gently rubbed his reddened wrist.

“This is a medicine extracted from minerals. It has a strong and hot nature. After taking it, it will make people sensitive, mentally refreshed, clear-minded, and enter a chaotic state of feeling as if floating and wanting to become immortal.”

“After the effects of the medicine wear off, it will lead to easy depression and melancholy. Long-term use of this medicine will make the skin fair and delicate, but emotions will become erratic, and the five organs will gradually deteriorate until death. It also has a strong addictive nature. Once used excessively, it’s difficult to quit. That’s why I classified it as a prohibited drug long ago.”

Bai Lu suddenly remembered the first time he saw Mei Fei and marveled at her glowing white skin. Concubine Wen also mentioned that Mei Fei was not as irritable in the past years. Was her current viciousness due to taking Wushi Powder?

Bai Lu hesitated. “You killed her because she touched the prohibited drug?”

Chu Ya shook his head. “Not only that. Since you like investigating cases so much, why don’t you guess: as a major prohibited drug of the Chu Dynasty, who dares to produce and sell Wushi Powder?”

Bai Lu thought for a moment and suddenly realized, “Could it be my former boss?”

“…” Chu Ya felt helpless about being addressed like that, but it seemed appropriate. He affirmed, “Yes, it was the Wolf Sect where Lin Xiao’an used to belong. Their second in command, Chen Hu, as you were told before, colluded with Mei Fei and secretly introduced Wushi Powder into the harem through her.”

Bai Lu’s expression changed. “So, besides Mei Fei, are there other concubines who used this drug?”

Chu Ya nodded. “That’s why six months ago, I planted Si Zhu by Mei Fei’s side to secretly investigate this connection. I originally planned to close the net next month and let her live a few more days, but…”

He gave Bai Lu a meaningful look, speaking in a calm tone as if recounting a trivial matter, “But she did something that made me angry, so I removed her ahead of schedule.”

Bai Lu shivered inexplicably. So when Chu Ya ordered Mei Fei to be confined for seven days without any expression on his face, was he already treating her as a dead person?

Not only did he kill her, but he also threw her into a damp and humid stone cave, exposing her corpse in the most disgusting and ugly way. Although it unintentionally ‘hurt’ Bai Lu and Geng Qing, it was undoubtedly a despicable retaliation akin to beating a dead horse even after death.

He held grudges. Men with small minds were terrifying… Bai Lu thought he had a bad temper, but it turned out that Chu Ya’s character was much worse.

Bai Lu nervously swallowed saliva and whispered, “You’re terrifying. I definitely don’t want to be your enemy in the future.”

Jokes aside, even if Chu Ya only used half of his sinister tricks against him, Bai Lu would still end up being played to pieces. He wouldn’t even have bones left!

Chu Ya couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t worry, I won’t use such methods against you.”

Then he paused, seeming to find his words insufficient, and added solemnly, “As long as you behave yourself and don’t cause trouble everywhere, I won’t bully you.”

Bai Lu gave him a sharp look. “So, in the end, you have the final say on everything, right?”

Chu Ya didn’t respond, smiling to confirm Bai Lu’s assumption.

Bai Lu was already boiling inside. Okay, he admitted that he acted impulsively and was too arrogant and underestimated the situation, falling into Si Zhu’s tricks. But being toyed with like this while tied to the bed, no one would be happy, especially not Bai Lu, a man who refused to bow down to anyone.

So now, facing Chu Ya’s usual contemptuous smile, Bai Lu was even more irritated. He pushed Chu Ya forcefully, stood up, patted his wrinkled clothes randomly, and said, “I don’t care what you’re up to, but in the future, you’re not allowed to hide anything from me. If there’s another time…”

He gestured with his hand, indicating ‘I’ll make you regret it’, glared at him fiercely, turned around, and strode towards the door.

Si Zhu stood by the slightly open stone door. Bai Lu brushed past him without acknowledging him, perhaps holding a grudge against him for the needle, or perhaps for cross-dressing and wasting his affection. He even provocatively bumped his shoulder.

Si Zhu stepped back slightly. Even in front of His Majesty, Bai Lu dared to frown and playfully imitated a female voice, “Young Master Bai, you’re really heartless. After all, I saved your life.”

Bai Lu frowned at him. “When did you save me, in your dreams?”

“I knew you wouldn’t remember. You ungrateful wolf.” Si Zhu ruffled his hair and smiled mischievously. “That day, when Mei Fei blocked you in the bamboo forest, if it weren’t for me, how could Ling Feng have arrived so timely?”

Bai Lu looked surprised. “You sent the message?”

“Of course, it wasted one of my Silent Cloud Arrows.”

“Silent Cloud Arrows?” Bai Lu repeated subconsciously. So the blood-red fireworks he faintly saw in the sky that day weren’t hallucinations caused by his injuries but signals sent by Si Zhu?

“Do you know how many steps it takes to make such an arrow?” Si Zhu stubbornly held Bai Lu’s arm, half seriously and half jokingly pestering him. “I don’t care, you have to compensate me for one!”

“What can I use to compensate you? I don’t know how to make them!” Bai Lu was getting a little frustrated, subconsciously looking at Chu Ya not far away. “Can’t you manage your employees?”

Chu Ya scolded helplessly, “Stop messing around and let him go.”

His Majesty had spoken, so Si Zhu reluctantly let go of Bai Lu’s arm and stood aside, idly picking at his delicate nails.

Bai Lu opened the door, then turned back to glare at Chu Ya, “Talk to me about Wushi Powder in detail tonight. I’m going on patrol now.”

Without waiting for Chu Ya’s reply, he slammed the door shut and left. Si Zhu watched him go, feeling both surprised and complex. Although he had seen Bai Lu’s unrestrained behavior many times, every time he still felt amazed, even a bit envious.

Bai Lu was truly uninhibited, daring to say anything and do anything, unlike him. In front of His Majesty, he had to carefully weigh his words before speaking. If His Majesty frowned, he had to immediately adhere to the rules.

“Si Zhu.” Chu Ya suddenly called his name. Si Zhu was startled and quickly straightened up. “I’m here. What are your orders, Your Majesty?”

“Give me the list.”

“Yes.” Si Zhu took out a thin piece of paper from his pocket and respectfully handed it to Chu Ya. “Everyone involved in the harem regarding Wushi Powder, whether participating in selling it or using it, is listed here.”

Chu Ya glanced at it and saw that apart from concubines, there were three people, and a total of eleven palace maids and eunuchs.

Chu Ya expressionlessly folded the paper and said calmly, “Kill them all by the end of the month.”

Si Zhu saw this as nothing new and bowed to accept the command.

“Also, do it cleanly this time, and don’t let anyone catch any clues.” Chu Ya glanced at him with a calm but dangerous tone. “Don’t forget what I told you last time.”

Si Zhu’s back was covered in cold sweat, hurriedly assuring, “Your Majesty, rest assured, there will be absolutely no mistakes this time!”

Pieces that have no utility will be discarded, and subordinates who are disobedient or always make mistakes will be eliminated. Si Zhu certainly understood this, so he must use the lives of those eleven people in the harem to prove to His Majesty that he was still the perfect assassin.

This month, it was going to rain blood from the sky, probably starting tonight.

Chu Ya’s eyes looked deeply at the closed door as if trying to see Bai Lu’s departing figure through the thick stone wall.

Actually, he didn’t insist on hiding things from Bai Lu. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have allowed him to go to the mortuary to see the body and wouldn’t have ignored his investigation.

Chu Ya’s attitude had always been to hide things if possible, but if not, it didn’t matter. After all, there were some subtle connections between Bai Lu and the Tianlang Sect. It was better to explain everything clearly now than to wait for trouble later.

But it was a bit tricky now because he knew Bai Lu definitely couldn’t stand his cruel methods. Chu Ya could solve problems without resorting to killing, but for efficiency and convenience, he chose to eliminate this dark line directly, using those lives to construct his own chess game.

But it didn’t matter; he could just tell Bai Lu half of the truth and keep half hidden. Lies mixed in with the truth were the hardest to detect, and Chu Ya could perfectly camouflage the slaughter as a clean investigation in front of Bai Lu, skillfully concealing his dark thoughts.

Because Bai Lu was still the same innocent Bai Lu from before, while Chu Ya had lived in this palace filled with hidden currents for two years. He wasn’t the same Chu Ya as before, or perhaps this was his true nature—sinister and ruthless, where human lives could be the foundation, and everything else was inconsequential.

The door creaked open again, and Bai Lu’s face appeared from behind it.

Chu Ya knew the soundproofing of the secret chamber was excellent, so he wasn’t flustered. He just immediately softened his cold expression, seamlessly switching to a gentle smile, and asked, “Why are you back again? Didn’t you say you were going on patrol?”

Bai Lu was displeased. “It’s all your fault. It’s already dusk outside, and I’ve missed my patrol time. I’m definitely going to have my pay docked today. You owe me compensation!”

Chu Ya smiled helplessly. “Alright, I’ll double your compensation. Is that okay?”

“That’s more like it.” After saying that, Bai Lu wanted to leave again, but Chu Ya stopped him in time, gently saying, “It’s time for dinner. Let’s eat together. What do you want to eat?”

Bai Lu thought for a moment. “It looks like it’s going to rain outside. Let’s have something hot, like braised beef hot pot?”

“Of course, that’s fine if you like it.”

Chu Ya’s hand brushed against Bai Lu’s back, leading him outside, and kissed his cheek softly, whispering, “Ah Bai, I was just too worried today, afraid that you wouldn’t remember in the future when facing danger. So I let Si Zhu scare you. Please understand, don’t be angry.”

Basically, when Chu Ya softened and apologized, Bai Lu fell for it. He rolled his eyes and responded indifferently, “In consideration of the double pay, I reluctantly forgive you.”

Chu Ya pinched his hand, his eyes filled with a smile like the spring breeze. “Then tonight, I’ll add a stewed pigeon for you. You like that, right?”

“That’s fine.”

Chu Ya continued, “By the way, remember to wash your hands before eating, don’t pick up the chopsticks if they fall, and definitely don’t wipe them casually before using them. And don’t be picky; I ordered the Imperial Kitchen to cook the vegetables better a few days ago. Eat a little more later.”

Bai Lu impatiently responded with an “Mm-hmm” to Chu Ya’s nagging, then turned to leave. Si Zhu watched in amazement, feeling complex emotions. Wasn’t it said that accompanying the Emperor was like accompanying a tiger? But the person accompanying Bai Lu wasn’t a tiger but a mother, right?!