484: Cao Zhengchun's scheming, Zhu Wushi's determination

This was precisely what troubled Zhu Wushi, and his time was running out; he had to act quickly.

However, before that, he first needed to find the remaining two heavenly fragrant cardamoms.

His plan was about to be implemented soon, and it would be too awkward if there was no empress by then.

Therefore, he had to revive Su Xin first, and the condition for revival was to find the other two heavenly fragrant cardamoms.

He now knew one of them was in Cao Zhengchun's possession. As for the third one, he had no leads yet; the only thing he knew was that it had been awarded by the Late Emperor to a concubine.

However, that concubine was now dead. When Consort Shu was critically ill, the Late Emperor urgently searched for a Night-Luminous Pearl, leading to the speculation that the heavenly fragrant cardamom was hidden inside it.

But later, he also searched for it and failed to find the whereabouts of the Night-Luminous Pearl.

For now, the most important thing was to first get his hands on the heavenly fragrant cardamom in Cao Zhengchun's possession. He would figure out the rest later.

Immediately, Zhu Wushi went to find Cao Zhengchun. Cao Zhengchun hadn't expected Zhu Wushi to be so impatient as to take the initiative to come knocking.

"What a rare guest the Marquis is! What brings you the time to visit this humble servant? May I ask what important business you have?" Cao Zhengchun said, holding his tea cup with a delicate gesture, smiling as he looked at Zhu Wushi.

"Eunuch Cao, let's speak plainly. You surely know why this prince has come to see you."

"Speak. What are your conditions for giving me the heavenly fragrant cardamom?" Zhu Wushi got straight to the point.

The smile on Cao Zhengchun's lips grew wider. Indeed, this day had finally come, though he hadn't expected it to arrive so quickly.

If he didn't seize this opportunity to firmly grasp Zhu Wushi, there might not be many chances like this in the future.

"Your Highness jests. You are the master of Dragon Guard Manor and the emperor's uncle, a figure standing above ten thousand and below only one."

"Is there anything you desire that you cannot obtain simply by asking?"

"However, as for that so-called heavenly fragrant cardamom, this humble servant does not have it." Cao Zhengchun spread his hands.

"Eunuch Cao, there's no need for riddles with me. I have reliable information that one of the three heavenly fragrant cardamoms is in your possession."

"You obtained it long ago and have not produced it, simply to use it as leverage against me. Speak, what do you want?" Zhu Wushi said coldly.

Cao Zhengchun stared at Zhu Wushi. Looking into his eyes, he knew that this time, Zhu Wushi was not joking; he truly wanted the heavenly fragrant cardamom.

"Ah, this matter... Please wait a moment, Marquis, allow this humble servant to think."

"Ah, I remember now! It seems there was indeed such a matter, but it was so long ago that I had almost forgotten."

"Since Your Highness has spoken, this humble servant naturally will not refuse."

"However, before that, I have a small request. I wonder if the Marquis can fulfill it." The smile on Cao Zhengchun's face grew increasingly intense.

He was certain Zhu Wushi would not refuse, and his request was simple: to use Southern Border Gu arts to control Zhu Wushi.

"Oh? What request? Let's hear it." A flicker of killing intent flashed in Zhu Wushi's eyes as he watched Cao Zhengchun impassively.

"For the sake of the Great Ming's realm, the Marquis has exhausted his efforts. With the Marquis present, the Martial World of Great Ming remains so stable."

"Therefore, this humble servant inadvertently obtained a Life-Extending Elixir in earlier years. Considering Your Highness's arduous service and great merit, this Life-Extending Elixir is presented to you." As he spoke, Cao Zhengchun took out an ornate box and placed it on the table.

Zhu Wushi narrowed his eyes slightly, a gleam of sharp light flashing in his gaze as he looked at the box.

He did not believe Cao Zhengchun could be so kind-hearted. A Life-Extending Elixir? It might very well be poison, intended to control him.

However, given the current situation, if he did not agree, Cao Zhengchun would not hand over the heavenly fragrant cardamom to him.

"Eunuch Cao is truly a loyal servant of our Great Ming, considering everything for this prince."

"If this prince does not accept, wouldn't that be ungrateful for your kind intentions?" Zhu Wushi said, looking at Cao Zhengchun with a smile.

"Oh my, there's no need for words of gratitude. This is simply what this humble servant should do."

"Marquis, please." Cao Zhengchun said with a smile, looking at Zhu Wushi with his delicate gesture.

Looking at Cao Zhengchun's smile, Zhu Wushi truly wanted to step forward and slap this old eunuch dog to death. However, now was not the time to turn hostile.

Once Su Xin was revived, it would be Cao Zhengchun's death day.

Without hesitation, Zhu Wushi directly took the pill and swallowed it. He was certain Cao Zhengchun did not dare to kill him; the only explanation was that he wanted to use the drug to control him.

Therefore, he did not hesitate and immediately consumed it.

"Good, good, good. The Marquis is truly admirable. For the sake of the woman he loves, he can be so decisive, even disregarding his own life." Cao Zhengchun looked at Zhu Wushi with a smug smile.

"You... you actually poisoned this prince?" Zhu Wushi's expression changed, looking at Cao Zhengchun in shock.

Of course, this expression was not acted; it was genuine pain.

Zhu Wushi now felt as if his heart were being bitten by ants, the pain causing his entire body to tremble. Cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.

"Marquis, do not be nervous. This humble servant did this for his own safety. You must know, this heavenly fragrant cardamom is this servant's life-saving talisman."

"For Your Highness, this humble servant has risked his life. Doing this is merely for self-preservation." Cao Zhengchun said, smiling as he looked at Zhu Wushi.

"Where is the antidote!" Zhu Wushi stared intently at Cao Zhengchun.

"Marquis, rest assured. The antidote cannot be given to you now, but it won't be long before this humble servant presents it to Your Highness."

"Until then, I must ask Your Highness to bear with it a little longer." Cao Zhengchun said with a smile.

"You..."

"Marquis, rest assured. The heavenly fragrant cardamom is right here. However, this item is useless with only two."

"If the Marquis wishes to save someone, you still need to find the other one." Cao Zhengchun reminded with a smile.

"Hmph, this prince's affairs do not need to be managed by a eunuch dog like you." Zhu Wushi looked at Cao Zhengchun with a gloomy expression.

"Ah, Marquis, do not be angry. When people are angry, they easily lose their reason."

"My words end here. Take care, Marquis." After saying this, Cao Zhengchun no longer looked at Zhu Wushi.

Zhu Wushi gave Cao Zhengchun a cold glance, then turned and staggered away.

He knew Cao Zhengchun did not dare to kill him within his own residence. What he needed now was to quickly neutralize the poison within his body.

Moreover, judging from the pain he felt earlier, he knew this was no ordinary poison; he needed to find Miraculous Physician Sai.

Zhu Wushi returned to Dragon Guard Manor at the fastest speed and summoned Miraculous Physician Sai.

"Your Highness, you have been afflicted with Gu, and it is no ordinary Gu." Miraculous Physician Sai looked at Zhu Wushi with a grave expression.

"Hmm? Southern Border Gu poison?" Zhu Wushi frowned.

"Correct, and it is a Mother-Child Gu. Without the command of the mother Gu, the child Gu will remain latent near the Marquis's heart."

"There is no way to remove it by external force. Only by controlling the mother Gu and using it to make the child Gu crawl out on its own." Miraculous Physician Sai said.

"It seems Cao Zhengchun wants to use this Mother-Child Gu to control this prince." Zhu Wushi said, his face ashen.