Quickly Wear the Face of the Devil
chapter-29

Later that night, Zhou Yun Sheng went back home and told his father of his drunk antics and other events.

“I didn’t think you would actually enter the eyes of His Royal Highness Prince, this can be considered rare. In recent years, His Royal Highness’ temperament has been violent, so there are few pleasant times.” Shen father stroked his beard and lamented, but his heart was quite worried. The Prince had gradually lost his mind, in recent years, he often treated courtiers like waste storage. His son was walking too close to the edge ah!

Zhou Yunsheng also knew his father’s thoughts, he continued, “When your son accidentally angered Prince, Seven Princes was silent in his seat, his expression could even be descried as joyful. Do you see father? Seven Princes is not our ally.”

Shen father’s eyes darkened, he was silent.

Zhou Yunsheng returned to his room, sent away the personal servant, and sat in front of his lamp to meditate. He reincarnated many lifetimes, one of which was a devil magician, not only was his martial arts high, his medical knowledge was unparalleled in the world. The Prince’s body herb scent was thick, he must take the medicine every day, but the prescription was really presumptuous.

The name of the medicine was Han Shisan, its popular name was- five stone powder, after taking it people entered into a state of euphoria.

But its most fundamental effect was the treatment of typhoid fever, and it was a life-saving recipe. The proper use could quickly heal the typhoid fever, but its abuse would cause addiction, poisoning the body.

Taking Han Shisan led to a high fever, if they did not quickly cool down the taker would die. The method of heat removal was to eat cold rice, wear thin clothes, sleep on cold couches, cold showers etc. They couldn’t let the body have too much heat. But it also involved a lot of drinking, preferably warm wine, the drunk state would improve heat distribution.

After taking it a long time, many changes will appear. A violent temperament was only one side effect, there was also excessive body temperature and easily bruised thin skin – so soft well-worn clothes was necessary, they couldn’t wear new clothes, and the clothes had to be relaxed and elegant, not too tight. In order to reduce foot bruising, they had to give up boots and only wear clogs.

The point was, the Prince did not suddenly turn arrogant- it was a side effect.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yun Sheng opened 007 and searched the databases for Han Shisan, a moment later he let out a puff of air. Zhou Dynasty did not have Han Shisan on its records, the drug was not some secret underground medicine, it should not even exist in this era. In the entire Zhou Dynasty maybe only the Crown Prince was using it.

The kind of person who would offer him that medicine, Zhou Yun Sheng could guess without thinking.

The Prince was 27, the prime of life, Tian Chen looked healthy but he was already 65, in these ancient times he was past longevity and sooner or later he’d have to cross the Jordan. Tian Chen Emperor had always favored the Prince, the Prince was also talented in politics-in fact he was talented in all things. Since the early years of the Emperor he’d already gotten the support of the courtiers and the people.

With such a good heir, who would not be satisfied? As long as the Prince was stable, naturally no one could argue his right to the throne. Someone couldn’t shake the Prince’s outside position, so they managed to break in from the inside.

He had to admit that this method was very clever, to get rid of the most powerful enemy without sacrificing a soldier.

The heroine had the medical space and spiritual spring, Zhou Yunsheng guessed that this Han Shisan was the heroine and Seven Princes’ handwriting. If they wanted to destroy the Prince, then Zhou Yun Sheng will ruin their plans and help the Prince ascend the throne.

Decided, Zhou Yun Sheng blew out his candles, and laid down to sleep.

——————–

The Prince found the small champion scholar very interesting, not only did he look beautiful, his courage was also great. He exuded vitality all the time, it made him feel comfortable.

“His Royal Highness, do you have any questions?” Zhou Yun Sheng held a “Book of Changes“, slightly bowed.

The Prince seemed to be listening to his lectures, but he was actually staring at his opening and closing   lips. He saw him glance over with his pair of peach eyes, and finally woke up and waved, “No, sit down, help me practice some more.”

After getting along for a while, the two had become extremely familiar. Zhou Yun Sheng sat and automatically grinded ink for the Prince. The Prince used to write in a Semi-cursive script, but three years ago he suddenly switch to cursive, and it was the most difficult cursive to write.

He had extraordinary talent, it took a while but after a few months he managed to master it.

Zhou Yunsheng looked down to see him write quickly and powerfully, penetrating, the words quickly flowing onto the paper:

Too much I have decayed!

Alas, all my life I’ve seen friends and companions fade away,

And now how many of them are left?

With gray hair hanging in vain three thousand meters long,

I laugh away all worldly things.

Is there anything left, you ask, that might cheer me up?

I see in green mountains such alluring charm;

I expect that they see the same in me,

For in heart and in appearance

We are a bit similar.

Goblet in hand, scratching my head by the east window

I presume that Tao Yuanming, having finished his poem “Halting Clouds,”

Was in the same mood now I am.

Those on the south side of the Yangtze who got drunk only to seek fame,

How could they know the magic of the turbid wine?

Looking back, I conjure a gust of wind and send clouds flying.

I regret not that I can’t meet the ancients,

But that the ancients had no chance to see my wildness.

The number of people who understand me

Is no more than two or three

(Poem is called Congratulating the Bridegroom by Xin Qiji, translation stolen from How to Read Chinese Poetry: A Guided Anthology by Zong-qi Cai)

I regret not that I can’t meet the ancients, but that the ancients had no chance to see my wildness. Zhou Yunsheng slowly chewed this sentence, he caught a glimpse of the Crown Prince’s temples which was showing an early hint of gray, and couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss. He can write such a magnificent poem in beautiful calligraphy, the Prince should not have such a ghostly look.

After the Crown Prince put down his pen, he picked up his jug to drink. Zhou Yun Sheng couldn’t hold back any longer, “His Royal Highness, you cannot go on like this.”

The Prince was not angry, he only faintly glanced at him and smiled.

Zhou Yun Sheng continued, “Please His Royal Highness forgive me, minister wants to borrow His Highness’s medication.”

“Why, you want to take it to try?” The Prince put down the jug and raised a delicate brow. If someone else coveted his god medicine, he would’ve long ago chopped the person into meat sauce, but the one who coveted it was his small champion, he couldn’t even work up the slightest anger.

“No, if the small minister wanted to take it, I wouldn’t wait until now. And I have already made it myself.”

“How did you make it? Only one person knows the ingredients.”

Regardless of the Prince’s far above extraordinary appearance and ability, one thing always made him unhappy, that was his frail body. This was an ever present problem, he couldn’t cure it and every winter would bring a tough cough. But he was blessed, one day while hunting he saved an old man, the old man was grateful and offered him a lifesaving medicine, after five years it would eradicate his illness and even grant longevity.

The Prince helped the old man for several months, but the man died from an unrelated injury. The prescription was tested with someone else, the effect of the drug was significant.

The Prince knew that if he had a weak body and sat on the supreme throne, he’d eventually suffer. He tested the drugs on at least ten more people, he saw their thin bodies grow more robust every day, how could he not be tempted? He has been taking the medicine for three years, and had long been unable to get rid of the drug’s control.

Speaking of which, although the powder was poisonous, it really was a life-saving god medicine. Because after taking it the body burned in fire, but when the fire went out the illness would also be taken away and the body could quickly return to health. Its efficiency not only relied on cold food, and cold baths, it also relied on a lot of exercise to temper the body.

Three years ago the Crown Prince was very thin, but he now had muscle, they could clearly be seen through his open collar. So, he was naturally convinced of the efficacy of the drug.

Zhou Yunsheng quickly organized his luggage, bowed and said, “His Royal Highness, humble servant’s sense of smell is far above ordinary people, just a sniff and I would be able to tell all the ingredients. I’m also proficient in medicine. His Highness takes the medicine all year round and his body is thick with the smell of medicinal herbs. I know what is in the drug, and how much.”

The Prince was interested, he hooked his lips and laughed, “Then tell me, if it is wrong, I’ll punish you.” His hand stroked the young man’s slender neck, his actions were dangerously ambiguous.

Zhou Yun Sheng nodded then listed them one by one, ” stalactite three portions, amethyst two portions, white quartz half portion, sulfur three portions, red halloysite… …”

As he continued the Prince’s expression became more uncertain.

Zhou Yunsheng was completely fearless, when he finished listing he bluntly said, “Your Highness, the medicine is a good medicine, but if you take it any longer I fear for the life of His Royal Highness. In recent years you’ve become more and more moody, this medicine is the initiator.”

The Prince placed his right hand on his sword, his eyes flashed, his killing intent obvious.

Zhou Yun Sheng did not wait for him to launch an attack, he continued, “His Royal Highness, you checked the medication before, but I’m afraid this poisoning is long-term. Small minister has a better way to test, and His Highness can always try again to cure his illness. The minister also knows that today’s words should not be said, and I fear death by your hands, but I couldn’t bear to watch the Prince be unknowingly killed, so I risked death. I beg your Majesty to give me a chance to remonstrance.”

The Prince pinched his jaw, Shen Yin’s eyes stared straight back into his eyes. The Prince caught a glimpse of his heavy concern and love, his heart fiercely shook.

“Then… I will give you a chance.” After a long time, he let go of the boy, his thin lips raised into a cold smile.

Zhou Yunsheng’s squeezed chin was imprinted with violet thumb prints, he backed up two steps, rubbed his chin, eyes tearful.

Seeing his pitiable and lovely look, the Prince’s piled up rage was swept away.

————————-

The next day, the small scholar brought two mice into the palace and dedicated them to the Crown Prince. The Prince carefully raised them for several days, he seemed very fond of them.

The next day when he returned to the palace, a eunuch hurriedly ran over, panicked, and said, “His Royal Highness, the two mice had an accident.”

The Prince’s mind turned cold, he quickly walked into his room.

The two mice were crazy, squeaking and biting at the golden cage. Their two front teeth did not give up, they also scratched at each other then wrapped around in a crazy fight. A quarter of an hour later, the cage only remained two piles of stinky flesh and blood, the two lovely mice were long gone.

The Prince stared at the golden cage, his face changed from white to green, and then green to purple, he was angry to the extreme.

An old man, a God medicine, gratitude! Who is behind this? The Second Prince, Fourth? Or are all of them joining together to kill me?

The Prince slowly walked towards the table, drank from a pot of warm wine, and finally couldn’t suppress his laughter. No matter who, without missing a soul, he would kill them all!

===========================

T/N:

Yes, that is the poem that is in the story. No, it was not easy tracking down the translation.

Han Shisan – Cold-Food Powder/ Five Minerals Powder.  Wikipedia “….a poisonous psychoactive drug popular during the Six Dynasties (220-589) and Tang Dynasty (618-907) periods of China.”

Book of Changes- I Ching/Classic of Changes. Wikipedia “…an ancient Chinese divination text and the oldest of the Chinese classics. Possessing a history of more than two and a half millennia of commentary and interpretation, the I Ching is an influential text read throughout the world, providing inspiration to the worlds of religion, psychoanalysis, business, literature, and art.”

Semi-cursive/cursive– According to Wikipedia, semi-cursive is considered artistic and cursive is considered sloppy.