Chapter 81: Chapter 77: Restoring Beauty

’Heart Inquiry Bureau?’

’What does that mean?’

Lu Mingyuan wondered as he looked at the hexagram.

’According to the divination, I have to pass through the Heart Inquiry Bureau to turn my misfortune into good fortune. If I skip it, I’ll still suffer disaster and lose the initiative.’

’The Celestial Heart Wisdom Eye is certainly not bad, but how could it compare to the Nine Orifices Exquisite of a Venerable Purple Fate Grid?’

’The Heart Inquiry Bureau, set up by the Second Prince, must be a trap meant for me.’

’The first hexagram means that if I break through the Heart Inquiry Bureau, good fortune will naturally follow. That implies the Heart Inquiry Bureau itself is nothing to be afraid of.’

’The key is the one who set the trap.’

’If I pass this trial, my opponent will still resent me, but I’ll be able to gain the help of others.’

’If I fail, my opponent will be able to target me relentlessly. I’m not yet a match for the Second Prince; I’d only be able to react passively.’

’That’s the gist of it.’

’As long as I can get through this Heart Inquiry Bureau, I’ll have what I need to stand up to the Second Prince. This benefactor is crucial and cannot be underestimated—they’re the key to my survival.’

’Even though I’m confined here, there are still people who want me dead.’

’Since that’s the case, my only choice is to brave the Heart Inquiry Bureau.’

Afterward, Lu Mingyuan saw that his mother had also brought many things. Among them was a bottle containing something that quite surprised him, as he had only mentioned it in passing before.

“Zi Yun, come here.”

He called out as he examined the object in his hand.

Zi Yun hurried over from her post at the door. Her figure was still voluptuous, and her purple dress was graceful. The sight of her running was a different kind of scenery altogether.

“Your Highness called for me?”

Zi Yun’s tone held a hint of a question.

“Is there anything you require?”

Lu Mingyuan smiled, shook his head, and handed her a porcelain bottle.

“Do you know what this is?”

A wide-eyed innocence showed in Zi Yun’s almond-shaped eyes. She uncorked the stopper and sniffed for a long time, but couldn’t identify the scent.

“What is this, Your Highness?”

“A Ten Thousand Springs Beauty Pill.”

Lu Mingyuan said, one word at a time.

Zi Yun’s expression first froze, then her eyes lit up, followed by overwhelming surprise…

’With the Ten Thousand Springs Beauty Pill, my looks can be restored!’

But she still had some reservations. She pouted cautiously and said, “Your Highness, this thing is incredibly expensive. I couldn’t afford it with twenty years of my salary.”

Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan smiled faintly. “Silly girl, it’s not like I’m asking you to buy it. Isn’t it enough that I’m giving it to you?”

“But… these are treasures taken by the daughters of high officials and the Harem’s concubines. Giving it to a servant like me… wouldn’t it be a waste?”

Zi Yun’s usual low self-esteem surfaced.

Lu Mingyuan was not at all surprised to hear this.

Back then, using [Recognizing People], he had seen the kindness in her heart at a glance. She was indeed a woman who always thought of others.

Zi Yun was the first woman he had grown close to since coming to this world, and also the most obedient.

’Hong Wan is wonderful, but Zi Yun has her own advantages.’

’For instance, her voice is the sweetest—a delicate, milky tone.’

’For instance, her… ahem… are rather large.’

’And so on…’

“What, are you not going to listen to me anymore? Hurry up and eat it.”

Lu Mingyuan feigned anger, his tone growing a fraction heavier.

Nearby, Hong Wan also smiled and tried to persuade her. “Sister Zi Yun, you follow His Highness, and you’re gentle and understanding. You’re so pitifully lovely, virtuous, and upstanding. You’re full of feminine charm, and your figure is even better than mine. You’ve contributed so much; His Highness is rewarding you.”

Although she had the looks of a mature, sophisticated woman, Zi Yun was actually the older of the two.

“Yes!”

Hearing Hong Wan’s words, Zi Yun felt touched and immediately poured out an Elixir and swallowed it.

The next second, something miraculous happened.

The originally hideous scar began to slowly flake off, like the dead bark of a pine tree.

In its place was skin as fair as a newborn baby’s, like suet-white jade.

Soon, the remnants of the scar had completely fallen away, and Zi Yun was thoroughly transformed.

Besides, Zi Yun had never been ugly to begin with. Even with the scar, it was only on a corner of her forehead. If her hair covered it, it wasn’t that conspicuous, just disharmonious to look at.

Now, with her smooth, jade-like forehead revealed, her almond eyes bright and spirited, and her temples glistening with fragrant sweat, she had unexpectedly transformed into a great beauty.

Zi Yun herself couldn’t believe it. She stared at her reflection in the small courtyard pond, repeatedly stroking her face and examining herself.

“Wow, Sister Zi Yun, you’re truly as beautiful as a Celestial Immortal!”

Hong Wan couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration after seeing the transformation.

Seeing this, Lu Mingyuan also nodded repeatedly. “She had good features to begin with. Now that her looks are restored, she’s definitely no less beautiful than any of my imperial father’s Consorts.”

Gazing at Zi Yun—with her full waist, ample chest, and the pale expanse of her cleavage—he found her exceptionally pleasing to the eye and couldn’t help but be moved.

Tenderness like water filled Zi Yun’s almond eyes. Her vermilion-lacquer lips pressed together in emotion as she gave Lu Mingyuan a deep bow.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for granting me this Pill!”

“I will continue to serve Your Highness even more diligently from now on.”

Lu Mingyuan smiled faintly. “Rest assured. As long as you follow me, life will only get better and better.”

…

「In the blink of an eye, it was afternoon.」

A beautiful, elegant young woman knocked on the door. When it opened, Lu Mingyuan smiled at the sight of her.

“Miss Qi.”

But Qi Muxue’s first words upon seeing him were a direct question:

“You’re getting married?”

“Miss Qi, how did you hear this news?”

Lu Mingyuan’s expression faltered, and he asked in confusion.

Qi Muxue’s expression today was unusually calm. She gave a faint smile. “This morning, your mother was telling everyone she met. By now, most of the Imperial City knows.”

Lu Mingyuan touched his forehead and gave a wry smile. ’My mother is really taking this to heart.’

“Did you come because of this matter, Miss Qi?”

Qi Muxue shook her head and got straight to the point.

“No. My father wishes to see you.”

“Elder Mr. Qi wants to see me?”

“Yes. It’s at Jingxin Studio. You’ve been there before, on the west side of the Harem.”

As if realizing something, Lu Mingyuan asked one more question:

“Did he say anything else?”

“Nothing.”

Lu Mingyuan thought for a moment before finally deciding to go. “Alright, I’ll go.”

Qi Muxue watched his retreating back, her eyelashes trembling slightly. For some reason, she felt a trace of sadness and disappointment in her heart.

…

Lu Mingyuan walked along the road without bringing a Maid with him.

His mind was in constant contemplation.

’Qi Xingyan has tested me like this several times; there has to be a reason.’

’I vaguely sensed it last time at the study.’

’Perhaps Qi Muxue spoke well of me, and now he knows what I’ve been doing.’

’Is the old man planning to test me, and then decide on a candidate for the succession?’

’But I think that possibility is rather low.’

’Since Qi Xingyan has already failed once, he wouldn’t easily enter the fray again to wade back into these muddy waters.’

’It’s like falling in love and getting your heart broken. Would you immediately go looking for someone new? The chances are slim, right?’

’In any case, you need a cooling-off period.’

’Besides, I’m not qualified to inherit the throne myself. There’s really not much use in supporting me.’

’Unless… the old man wants to help clear my name.’

’That possibility, on the other hand, is much higher.’

’Elder Mr. Qi is one of the few people who has experienced the Second Prince Lu Guangjing’s methods firsthand. Moreover, he’s the Advisor of the Imperial Censorate. If he submitted a petition to appeal my case, there’s a real chance the verdict could be overturned. Then, the resulting Momentum would crush me until I couldn’t breathe.’

’In that case, it wouldn’t be what I want.’

’Unless I’m ten thousand percent certain, I will absolutely not leave the palace.’

…

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