Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2577 - 2578: Consulting the Archives

Watching Miao Zi leave, Bai Ruozhu thought of Diao Bin and Ning Yu again, wondering where they were. Could that Xinghai with the fabricated scar be Ning Yu?

Jiang Yichun saw her standing absentmindedly at the door and indeed put his arm around her shoulders, "What’s wrong, still worried?"

Bai Ruozhu collected her thoughts, "It’s nothing, things always need to be solved bit by bit. I plan to meet the Emperor to borrow some texts from the Fusang Royal Family to see if I can find information related to Merfolk Island."

"Do you think the Fusang Royal Family has merfolk blood, so there might be some records?" Jiang Yichun seemed a bit doubtful, "Those kinds of secrets probably wouldn’t be recorded, even Duannian doesn’t know where it is."

Bai Ruozhu smiled, "It’s worth a try, and I suspect that when the Fusang people claim they’re descended from gods, they’re actually referring to merfolk."

Jiang Yichun immediately understood what she meant, "Merfolk have special abilities, appearing first in Fusang; being treated as deities is quite normal."

Bai Ruozhu nodded, "There are indeed some strange things, like Zhaoti Temple being built just a century ago, yet why is verifying the next Emperor’s heir their responsibility?"

"Let’s investigate first and take it from there."

The two found a time to enter the palace and successfully met with the Emperor.

The Emperor respectfully bowed to the two, saying, "You’ve helped me solve another big trouble."

Bai Ruozhu smiled, "I wouldn’t say it’s solved yet; the Anzhen Family hasn’t been uprooted yet. You’ll need to put in the effort to deal with them."

"I’ve decided to delay my abdication for a few more years; this time I intend to work harder, I won’t disappoint you." The Emperor said seriously.

Previously, his mind was on Buddhist rituals and not interested in wielding power, but after experiencing so much, he realized his inaction harmed those around him. If he continued like this, his abdication and entry into Zhaoti Temple would bring trouble to the temple.

"It’s good that you think this way." Bai Ruozhu nodded with a smile.

"Cilang has always wanted to apprentice under you. If Lord Bai is inconvenient, could Lord Jiang consider it?" the Emperor asked.

Jiang Yichun grimly said, "I never take on disciples."

His stern tone made the Emperor a bit embarrassed. Bai Ruozhu, remembering their request from the Emperor, hastily said: "We’ve made quite a few enemies. If we were to take the Second Prince as a disciple, won’t we just leave those enemies to him once we leave Fusang? We really can’t cause him trouble."

The Emperor, recalling the poison from the Anzhen, felt a chill and didn’t press further.

"Your Majesty, does the Royal Family possibly have some texts stored away that we could borrow?" Bai Ruozhu asked.

The Emperor suddenly focused on her eyes, "Are you hoping to see some private, undisclosed notes?"

Bai Ruozhu nodded, "If it’s convenient."

"Ordinarily, some things are only perused by each generation’s Emperor..."

Hearing this, Bai Ruozhu felt a bit disappointed, as expected, it wasn’t going to be easy to view these.

However, the Emperor’s following words gave her renewed hope, "But you’ve done a favor for the Imperial family. I feel you should be allowed to see them. Can you tell me why you want to view those texts? Is it because of the vein curse?"

Bai Ruozhu quickly glanced at Jiang Yichun, seeking his opinion.

Jiang Yichun slightly nodded, then said, "Your Majesty might have guessed, the Fusang Royal Family has merfolk bloodline. Some people are born with special abilities but wouldn’t live past thirty due to their awakened merfolk bloodline. We hope to find Merfolk Island to see if there’s a solution."

"You mean..." the Emperor looked at them in surprise, "Someone is also of Fusang descent?"

Jiang Yichun felt like laughing, he explained, "No, my mother was a merfolk, but she was taken back by her people."

The Emperor was even more surprised, "Then are you..."

"Yes, I have the vein curse. Considering I was also afflicted by another curse before, they’ve begun to affect each other and I can’t even live until thirty, I have less than three years left." Jiang Yichun’s statement ended with a hint of gloom. He quickly glanced at Bai Ruozhu, afraid of causing her distress again.

Bai Ruozhu, however, resolutely stated, "But I believe there’s bound to be a way to resolve this. No one can choose their birth; merfolk aren’t at fault. I hope Achun and I can grow old together."

The Emperor was moved, "Why can merfolk only live up to thirty? It’s so unfair!"

"No, heaven is just. Merfolk are born with greater strength and special abilities beyond ordinary people, like I can control water." As Jiang Yichun spoke, he extended a hand, condensing water vapor in the air to create a small blossom of water before the Emperor.

The Emperor stared, dumbstruck at the display, "You can really do this?"

"Heaven balances things out, granting you great power but also a bloodline curse." Jiang Yichun smiled wryly, "It’s said that no matter how old, merfolk are extraordinarily beautiful and ageless. But it’s because they never live past thirty. No one has seen an old-aged merfolk, so they believe they’re eternally young and beautiful."

After quite some time, the Emperor processed the information, and asked bewilderedly, "Then our deity was actually a merfolk? Why did I live past thirty?"

Bai Ruozhu explained, "Merfolk don’t live past thirty, but the Fusang Royal Family isn’t pure merfolk anymore; they mixed with ordinary human blood. So only a few awaken the merfolk blood, gaining special abilities at the cost of their lives not exceeding thirty, like the Crown Prince."

"Alright, I’ll take you to view the imperial records. If you find a way, could you... could you also help save the Crown Prince?" The Emperor was conflicted, hesitating before finishing his request.

"He’s not your son, even poisoned the Second Prince, and you still want to save him?" Jiang Yichun’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

The Emperor let out a heavy sigh, "I’m no saint; I’ve felt hate, but raising him for twenty years, emotions have developed. Besides, he is part of the Royal Family and it was my consort who wronged the Anzhen..."

A wise official can’t judge family affairs; Bai Ruozhu couldn’t untangle these complexities, so she simply said: "If possible, we’ll tell you the solution. If your descendants face this issue, you can save them. As for your relationship with the Crown Prince, that’s not our concern."

"Alright, alright, thank you." The Emperor expressed his gratitude and then led them to the secret chamber where the records were hidden.

In addition to the royal records, the chamber also held valuable treasure; the Emperor didn’t shy away from them showing his trust in their character.

What woman doesn’t like jewelry? One pearl shawl caught her eye, but out of respect for the trust placed in them, she quickly tore her gaze away from it.