Chapter 59 - 58: Gu Xiangzhu: Sometimes, I’m Truly Helpless

Chapter 59: Chapter 58: Gu Xiangzhu: Sometimes, I’m Truly Helpless

Wangshu Palace.

Practice Room.

The two of them stared at each other in silence for a while.

Gu Xiangzhu felt that she never should have come to the Imperial Palace seventeen years ago. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have been saddled with this son of convenience.

’I thought that by becoming the Demon Sect Saintess, I could stay away from stinking men for the rest of my life.’

’After entering the palace, I even managed to intimidate Zhao Huan into keeping his distance.’

’But I never imagined that every bit of physical contact, proper or not, would be stolen by this young punk.’

A foot bath?

The very thought of it made Gu Xiangzhu’s head buzz.

’I just want to devote myself to the grand enterprise of Alchemy as soon as possible.’

’What did I do wrong?’

’I have my limits!’

’This brat is utterly shameless!’

"Fine!"

Gu Xiangzhu nodded. "I’ll have to trouble you then, Ci."

’Forget it!’

’It’s just for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.’

’The main thing to guard against right now is Zhao Huan’s meddling.’

’Barring any extreme circumstances, I must keep this "Kind Mother" card firmly in my hand.’

Zhao Ci nodded happily. "It is Mother-Concubine who has been working hard! Please, return to your room and rest for a moment. I will go prepare the warm water and medicinal herbs."

With that, he quickly left the Practice Room.

Gu Xiangzhu stood frozen on the spot for a long moment before gritting her teeth and returning to her room.

’For the Demon Sect!’

’I’ve worried myself sick!’

But for the sake of the Alcohol Refining Technique...

The moment she thought of the Alcohol Refining Technique, she grew incredibly frustrated.

From the moment she heard the report from Li Shu, she had wanted to get her hands on this technique, but it had been delayed again and again until now.

Although the reasons for each postponement were logical and reasonable, she still felt that something wasn’t quite right.

’I’ll wait just this one more time.’

’If something else goes wrong, then it would truly be unreasonable.’

"Sigh."

Gu Xiangzhu sat on a soft chair and let out a light sigh. She felt like she didn’t know where to put her feet.

’Being a lone agent undercover in the Zhao Imperial Family... sometimes, it’s truly helpless.’

About a quarter of an hour later, a tall, straight figure entered carrying a wooden basin.

Gu Xiangzhu subconsciously shrank her feet back a little, though the smile on her face was quite calm. "You’re here, Ci."

"Mhm!"

Zhao Ci smiled, placed the basin in front of her feet, and raised an arm to wipe the sweat from his temple. "These medicinal herbs were a bit tricky to prepare, so it took a little longer," he said with a grin.

Gu Xiangzhu was slightly on guard, but when she smelled the herbal aroma carried by the steam, her wariness quietly dissipated.

’These few herbs are indeed for soothing muscles and improving circulation.’

’The ratios and ages of the herbs are all orthodox.’

’It seems this brat really did put some thought into it, rather than having other disrespectful ideas.’

"Mother-Concubine?"

"Ah?"

"If you would lift your foot, I will remove your boots for you!"

"Ah?"

Gu Xiangzhu’s heart tightened, and she instinctively pulled her feet back again.

Zhao Ci sneered inwardly. ’So the little wench knows fear now? Why weren’t you afraid when you were plotting against me just now?’

[Gu Xiangzhu’s Current Wish]: I don’t want to wash...

’Like hell you don’t!’

Zhao Ci chose to ignore this wish completely, sighing with a hint of guilt. "Mother-Concubine must be too tired. You don’t have to lift them, I’ll just..."

As he spoke, his hands reached for Gu Xiangzhu’s ankles.

"No need, I’ll do it!"

Gu Xiangzhu was startled. Not daring to shrink back again, she quickly kicked off her shoes. Wanting no further entanglement with Zhao Ci and just wishing to get this over with, she also moved to take off her own white socks.

But before she could react, she felt her foot enveloped in warmth.

’These hands...’

"Mother-Concubine, you just rest!"

"..."

Gu Xiangzhu’s body stiffened slightly. She wanted nothing more than to knock Zhao Ci unconscious with a single palm strike, but alas, she couldn’t.

But the scene before her was something she truly couldn’t bear to watch directly.

However, if she closed her eyes and turned her head away, it would make her seem abnormal.

She could only force a calm expression, watching with eyes as still as an old well as Zhao Ci helped her remove her socks.

In the process, he couldn’t help but touch her fair ankles.

The warm touch made her sense of shame nearly explode.

She had never, ever imagined that she, the Demon Sect Saintess, would one day be forced into such a mortifying situation.

Zhao Ci said with a serious expression, "Mother-Concubine, your feet and calves are a bit stiff. You must be exhausted."

Gu Xiangzhu: "..."

’Is this stiffness from exhaustion?’

’I’m asking you, is it from exhaustion?!’

She forced a gentle smile. "Then I’ll have to trouble you, Ci."

At first glance, there seemed to be nothing wrong with her tone.

But Zhao Ci had been tempering his Primordial Spirit with the Divinity Refining Furnace for half a month—and using the Yu Xin Flame at that. His five senses were more than twice as sharp as before. He could clearly hear a slight tremor in her voice.

’Heh!’

’Looks like this Insult Talisman really works!’

’But just how old is this Demon Sect woman?’

’Why is her skin so smooth?’

’And these...’

Although she was tall and slender, her feet were, after all, not a man’s. At least, resting in his hands, this pair still looked delicate and small.

’Skin of ice and bones of jade, the sensation was superb.’

He smiled, then guided them into the water.

"Mother-Concubine, this is Yongquan..."

"I already know. You don’t need to explain."

"Oh! It’s not really for your sake. It’s mainly because this is my first time giving someone a foot bath, and I’m afraid I’ll forget. So I’m saying these things to make sure I don’t make any mistakes. You can just treat it as me talking to myself!"

"..."

"This is the Yongquan acupoint. Stimulating it with True Qi can eliminate fatigue, warm the meridians to dispel cold, lower blood pressure, and aid sleep. You’ve been exhausted lately, so I will press it thoroughly for you."

"Mmmph~"

"This series here is Taichong, Taibai, Taixi..."

"Mmmph~"

"And this here is Zusanli, its effect is..."

"Ah? You’re massaging my calves too?"

Gu Xiangzhu couldn’t help but ask.

Zhao Ci’s face was stern. "But of course! The meridians of the entire body are connected. How could it make sense to only massage one spot? Mother-Concubine, you just relax. My Imperial Extreme True Qi is exceptionally pure, perfect for eliminating hidden ailments and consolidating your foundation."

As he spoke, his hands slid up from her ankles, pressing close against her skin.

Gu Xiangzhu: "Mmmph~"

She didn’t dare make a sound, forcing the breath in her mouth and nose back down.

She felt as if all the blood in her body was rushing to her neck and cheeks.

Only by forcibly circulating her True Qi did she manage to control the blood flow.

She didn’t understand why a mere foot bath could provoke such intense shame, or how she was managing to endure it.

’Oh, the hatred!’

’I never should have agreed to this!’

’Let it end quickly!’

Gu Xiangzhu began to circulate her Heart Method, trying to force herself to calm down.

But to her surprise, after massaging her calves, Zhao Ci actually started pulling her toes.

Her: "..."

She gazed out the window, pretending to admire the moon.

Tonight, the moon was as white and lustrous as jade, like a woman’s skin.

Wisps of cloud drifted by occasionally, caressing the moon like a delicate veil.

The maple leaves outside the window were like a pair of hands, holding the moon in their palms.

The wind blew from time to time, making a rustling sound as the trembling maple leaves fondled the moon.

The teasing made the moon’s reflection tremble unceasingly.

After a long, long time.

It was finally over.

Gu Xiangzhu braced herself with both hands on the arms of the chair, almost unable to sit steadily. She didn’t understand why her body was having such a strong reaction to a simple foot wash.

Zhao Ci looked astonished. "Mother-Concubine! Why do I feel like you’re even more tired after the massage?"

Gu Xiangzhu: "???"

’Why am I more tired?’

’You tell me why I’m more tired!’

Her expression was nonchalant. "Not at all! The effect was excellent. Thank you for your trouble, Ci."

Zhao Ci: "Mother-Concubine, let me help you dry..."

"No need!"

Gu Xiangzhu immediately circulated her True Qi, instantly evaporating the medicinal liquid. She then quickly put on her socks and shoes and stood up. "Let’s go! To the Tenth Prince’s Mansion!"

Zhao Ci: "..."

’Wow, she’s fast!’

Although Gu Xiangzhu acted perfectly normal, he was certain that this woman was having an internal breakdown.

Of course, he would very likely be in major trouble for this later.

But this woman had been undercover in the palace for seventeen years. She was clearly a person of consequence and would almost certainly not let personal emotions interfere with important matters.

’The day I’m exposed, I’m definitely going to suffer anyway.’

’So I might as well be as aggressive as I can now.’

’It’ll make me feel better.’

’I have to admit,’

’it’s actually pretty fun.’

’Let the storm rage as violently as it wants.’

’I’ve already satisfied my base desires.’

Gu Xiangzhu stood at the door. "Ci?"

"Coming!"

Zhao Ci knew that if he delayed any longer, his suffering would start ahead of schedule, so he quickly followed.

Seeing the strange look on his face, a trace of suspicion flashed in Gu Xiangzhu’s eyes, but she still asked softly, "Is there something else?"

"I, of course, have no other ideas."

A troubled expression appeared on Zhao Ci’s face. "Actually, Father-Emperor sent me a Transmission today. He said there’s still a major hidden problem with this Alcohol Refining Technique and told me not to hand it over to Mother-Concubine until I’ve resolved it."

Seeing Gu Xiangzhu’s face darken, he naturally added, "But with Mother-Concubine’s discerning eye, you’ll surely be able to spot the problem at a glance. I can just explain it to Father-Emperor afterward."

"Excellent!"

Only then did Gu Xiangzhu’s expression soften. She smiled in satisfaction and led Zhao Ci onto the carriage leaving the palace.

The carriage rumbled forward.

It rolled out of the palace at a steady, unhurried pace.

With every foot the carriage advanced, a fraction of the hostility in Gu Xiangzhu’s heart dissipated.

Meanwhile, Zhao Ci was cursing up a storm in his head.

’Old Deng, you really know how to play it cool, don’t you!’

’If you don’t show up soon,’

’this old hag from the Demon Sect is going to get the Alcohol Refining Technique!’

Just then!

"WHOA!"

The carriage came to a halt.

Gu Xiangzhu’s expression changed instantly. "Why have we stopped?" she asked in a low voice.

The driving eunuch replied in a hushed tone, "Your Highness! Your Majesty has arrived!"

Gu Xiangzhu: "???"