Volume One: The Emperor's Sword Chapter 69: Righteous Spirit

Upon learning that his father had been poisoned, Zhou Yuanliang did not hesitate; he dragged Yun Que and Luo Xiaoyu straight to his own home.

Yun Que found it rather puzzling—how could the current Grand Minister attend a wedding banquet while being poisoned? Where had Zhou Shibo been poisoned, and how? Since Luo Xiaoyu had spoken with such certainty, Yun Que was inclined to believe that Zhou Shibo had indeed been poisoned, though the man himself seemed oblivious.

Yun Que had a favorable impression of the Grand Minister, whom he had only met today at the wedding feast. After all, it was Zhou Shibo who had shouldered the blame for the prison break; had only Zhou Yuanliang escaped, Zhou Shibo’s rank would have been demoted by a level or two at most, but with Yun Que, the Marquis of Coldwater, involved, the minister had been demoted three ranks in one fell swoop. In essence, Zhou Shibo had taken the fall for Yun Que. Even though he was soon reinstated, Yun Que could not disregard this act of kindness.

When they arrived at the Zhou residence, Zhou Yuanliang, in a state of panic, rushed to his father's side and hastily explained the poisoning, only to be fiercely berated.

“I think it’s your head that’s addled! Useless and idle all day long—get back to the Sword Palace at once! The less I see of you, the longer I might live!” Zhou Shibo’s anger flared the moment he saw his son, and he seemed on the verge of kicking him.

A wise judge cannot resolve family quarrels, as the saying goes.

Though capable of governing a nation, this Grand Minister was helpless before his unruly son.

Zhou Yuanliang himself began to doubt Luo Xiaoyu’s judgment; his father seemed spirited enough, hardly the look of a poisoned man.

He wasn’t very familiar with Luo Xiaoyu’s abilities, and after his father’s scolding, he was at a loss. But Yun Que knew well what Luo Xiaoyu was capable of.

“Grand Minister, our judgment is not without basis,” Yun Que said, bowing respectfully.

“Marquis Yun, please, no need for such formality. Sit, have some tea!” Zhou Shibo replied graciously.

Though Yun Que was young, he was a marquis in his own right.

Yun Que smiled and accepted the invitation, seating himself with Luo Xiaoyu, while Zhou Yuanliang, not daring to sit, stood awkwardly by.

“My son is a good-for-nothing rascal, always causing trouble. Marquis Yun, I advise you to keep your distance, lest you be led astray by this wayward child,” Zhou Shibo sighed.

His tone was not merely disappointed—it was as if he regretted having such a son at all.

“Your son is actually a good person at heart,” Yun Que replied with a smile. “He’s loyal to his friends—would risk his life for them.”

“Risk his life? I’d say he’s more likely to get others killed!” Zhou Shibo retorted coldly. “Marquis Yun, you needn’t speak up for him. This scoundrel is rotten to the core.”

Yun Que had expected a strained relationship between father and son, but had not anticipated the depth of Zhou Shibo’s disdain.

Upon reflection, however, it was hardly surprising. Treating the imperial prison like a brothel and daring to flirt with a princess—just not driving his father to an early grave was already a feat.

Zhou Yuanliang was accustomed to his father’s low opinion and seemed unconcerned, though he was visibly anxious, desperately signaling Yun Que to produce some evidence to make his father believe in the poisoning.

“My junior sister here is deeply skilled in the use of poisons. She is quite certain you have been poisoned, Grand Minister,” Yun Que said, getting to the point.

“Yes! Junior Sister Luo is an expert in poisons!” Zhou Yuanliang added, exaggerating wildly.

Zhou Shibo shot him a glare, then turned to Luo Xiaoyu with a frown. “Young lady, since you claim I’ve been poisoned, tell me—what poison am I suffering from?”

Luo Xiaoyu scrutinized him up and down, blinked, and said, “I don’t know.”

Zhou Yuanliang nearly collapsed.

Didn’t know? Then why all the fuss?

He braced himself for a beating.

Before the Grand Minister could explode, Luo Xiaoyu hurriedly added, “It’s a very strange poison. I’ve never seen anything like it, and it hasn’t manifested any symptoms.”

“No symptoms?” Zhou Shibo was skeptical. “You’re saying there’s a deadly poison in my body, lurking quietly without ever acting?”

“That’s about right. That’s why I said it’s strange,” Luo Xiaoyu nodded vigorously.

“Absurd!” Zhou Shibo swept his sleeve, his face darkening. “Even assuming such a bizarre toxin exists, I have been eating and sleeping well these days, with not a single sign of poisoning. Besides, I am a disciple of Confucianism—I cultivate righteous energy. Ordinary toxins cannot affect me!”

There was indeed a profundity to Confucian practice.

Though Zhou Shibo had no martial cultivation, the righteous energy he had cultivated all his life could rival the foundation-laying of a true cultivator. Such trivial poisons meant nothing to him.

Luo Xiaoyu was at her wit’s end. If he refused to believe her, there was nothing she could say to convince him.

Yun Que pondered a moment and asked, “Has the Grand Minister experienced any discomfort recently?”

“Discomfort…” Zhou Shibo unconsciously rubbed his stomach.

Luo Xiaoyu seized the moment. “Yes! The poison is in your stomach.”

Zhou Yuanliang covered his face in exasperation. This junior sister of his seemed more like a charlatan—if his father had rubbed his head, would she have said the poison was there? It was a wonder his father believed any of this.

Zhou Shibo ignored Luo Xiaoyu and Zhou Yuanliang, addressing Yun Que instead. “My abdomen has been unsettled recently, but it’s nothing serious—probably just a chill. Still, thank you for your concern, Marquis.”

“Does the Grand Minister have any means of self-examination? Perhaps you might check, just to be safe. After all, you witnessed what happened today at the Duke of Yu’s manor—the barbarian impersonating Lan Yusheng had a parasite in his stomach and perished by self-destruction without even knowing it.”

Zhou Shibo’s face grew solemn at Yun Que’s words. “I have no cultivation and cannot sense as a practitioner might, but I can circulate my righteous energy to see if all is well within.”

He dismissed the servants, then closed his eyes, circulating his righteous energy through his meridians and organs.

The group waited quietly.

As Zhou Shibo channeled his righteous energy, Yun Que sensed a profound aura radiate from the Grand Minister. It was utterly distinct from spiritual energy—formless and intangible, more like a powerful intent, a gleaming righteousness that commanded respect and awe.

It was a familiar feeling to Yun Que, reminiscent of his childhood mischief when faced with the stern scholars of the academy—a spontaneous reverence.

Righteous energy, one of the great forces of heaven and earth, seemed invisible yet could banish evil and send spirits and demons fleeing.

That Zhou Shibo could cultivate such energy proved him a true master of Confucianism, a leader among scholars.

Before long, Zhou Shibo opened his eyes, his gaze troubled.

“Father, how was it?” Zhou Yuanliang asked anxiously.

“There is indeed an obstruction in my abdomen—I know not what it is. Perhaps, as you said, I have been poisoned.”

Zhou Shibo had to concede that the possibility of poisoning was real. Though righteous energy was potent against evil and spirits, it was powerless before a deeply hidden, mysterious toxin.

Zhou Yuanliang grew nervous, afraid his father might self-destruct before his very eyes.

Yun Que pondered in silence. It seemed that the hidden hand in the capital was targeting not only the Duke of Yu, but also the Grand Minister himself.

Zhou Shibo remained composed. He bowed to Luo Xiaoyu. “I was blind—thank you for your warning, young lady. I apologize for my earlier rudeness.”

Luo Xiaoyu quickly stood and returned the bow, insisting there was no need for apologies.

Yun Que admired this greatly.

This was the magnanimity of a true scholar—able to admit fault, to value reason above all.

“Let’s go to the Sword Palace at once! I’ll beg Grandmaster to help, and if necessary, ask the Swordmaster for assistance!” Zhou Yuanliang ordered the servants to prepare a carriage.

At this point, the most prudent course was to seek help from a Core Formation cultivator to detoxify his father.

Zhou Shibo did not object, and boarded the carriage with Zhou Yuanliang and Yun Que.

However, not long after they left the manor, Zhou Shibo instructed the driver to take a different route; he wished to visit another place first.