THE ANCIENT CURSE

Zhu Su was standing in silence on the veranda at the second-floor pavilion. The wind had been blowing hard since the morning. The sky was filled with thick gray clouds. The trees twisted to and fro. The air temperature was more accurately said to be cold than cool. The coldness made the whole body shiver.

"It's not a good sign. Gray clouds, strong winds... but the rain doesn't fall... and the chill, the chill is too early to come right now... What is Nature actually trying to show by these signs?"

"Your Highness, is there something you are thinking about?"

Zhu Su turned around. Hu Nayin was walking towards him.

"Nayin, it is cold now, not good for health. Moreover, you are pregnant. You should return to your room." Zhu Su quickly grabbed Hu Nayin's hand, ready to escort her back to her room.

"Ah, this temperature is normal for me. Isn't Mount Laojun colder than this?"

"But you are pregnant..."

"I am tired of staying inside all the time. I am not used to be locked up, I'm used to working hard. So, please allow me to take a walk, Your Highness," Hu Nayin's eyes met with Zhu Su's. "And, please let me help you. At least you can share your problems with me. What are you thinking about?"

"Ah, you know, it's all about State's problems."

"Still thinking about the rioters?"

Zhu Su nodded. "It always screws up my brain. But I am halfway to success. Chen Xinyi said that they are in hot pursuit of Merchant Zhao, and he is sure that he will catch him in the near future."

"Hence, nothing you should worry about?"

Zhu Su turned his gaze onto the cloudy sky. "The atmosphere gives an unpleasant sensation. The sky is cloudy, the wind blows hard, but there is no sign that the rain will fall. The thunder is unheard, we can't smell the scent of rain. I get a hunch that something bad will appear..."

"Don't believe in such that hunch, Fu Wang."

Zhu Youdun appeared from the turn of the veranda.

"Didn't you say that we have to be positive? Even if there is no bright spot in our hopes to be fulfilled, we should keep believing?"

"Do you remember what Sir Gao Qing said, Youdun? Nature often tells us about everything, so we must be willing to listen to Nature's warning and not ignore it?"

Zhu Youdun also looked up, staring at the sky. "Then... what kind of message has Fu Wang got from Nature?"

Wu Qi ran onto the veranda, straightly approached Zhu Su. He bowed respectfully. "Your Highness, a letter has been delivered to you."

Zhu Su took the letter that Wu Qi handed him. The young commander's face had told Zhu Su that a bad thing had happened. He quickly opened the letter. A second later, his eyes widened in anger.

"Huan Shikang... how dare you..." Zhu Su's hands trembled as he read the letter.

Hu Nayin and Zhu Youdun also read it.

"Will jinx our entire family?" Zhu Youdun asked scornfully. "Such an arrogant man, he really thinks he is far greater than us?!"

"Huan Shikang and his cronies also openly set up a big stage, there he will hold a ritual of witchcraft he will do to those who oppose him, as well as their families."

"I want to see it by myself!"

"So do I!"

Hu Nayin shouted enthusiastically. Zhu Su soon forbade her. "You mustn't, Nayin! Keep staying here!" "Your Highness, I find a very dangerous word. Gu Shu. Do you know what precisely it is?"

"Gu Shu? Witchcraft of Insect King?" He totally did not notice these words in Huan Shikang's duel challenge letter. And he did not know what the heck Gu Shu was at all.

"I somehow often hear of it... but to be what actually it is, I don't know..."

"Gu Shu is a very well-known branch of witchcraft that is synonymous with the Miao ethnic. Gu Shu is also widely used by other ethnicities, but everyone admits that the Gu Shu of Miao ethnic is the most formidable. This Gu Shu is terrible as the way to make the insect king for the witchcraft is also creepy. Hundreds of poisonous insects such as centipedes, scorpions, poisonous spiders, and so on are collected and locked up in a big bottle. All insects aren't fed in order to make them kill and eat each other, until only one insect remains as the winner. This insect has absorbed all of the poison from its opponents, making it the most poisonous insect - the Insect King, "Gu". This Gu then is used in this witchcraft. The wizard or witch then jinxes his or her victim by sending Gu to him or her," Hu Nayin explained at length.

"Yes... I've also heard about the horrors of Gu Shu." Wu Qi joined in. "But, Huan Shikang isn't a Miao, right? He shouldn't master this witchcraft?"

"But if he can't use Gu Shu then how does he dare to write it in this letter?" Hu Nayin insisted. "Gu Shu is the heaviest scourge for us the Miao since the witchcraft is so dangerous that it may even threaten our life. For that reason, I have to accompany you!"

"You mustn't!" Zhu Su shouted loudly. "You mustn't follow me!"

"I agree with Fu Wang, Madame Nayin. He wants to jinx Fu Wang's entire family, then you are also in danger. For the safety of your life, you must stay here. Let me alone who accompanies Fu Wang."

"You can't follow me either, Youdun! If this is really dangerous, then let me be the one to bear all this!"

"But, Your Highness..."

"Don't argue anymore! This is an order! Don't leave this palace even an inch!" Zhu Su shouted, so loudly it startled Hu Nayin. She soon fell silent. Zhu Su turned to the court ladies. "Make sure Wang Fei is okay here while I'm going out."

The court ladies immediately bowed in respect. Hu Nayin could not help but remain silent, although her eyes kept staring at Zhu Su in worry, until he went downstairs and disappeared from sight.

"So Gu Shu is very dangerous, Madame Nayin?" Hu Nayin's worried expression aroused Zhu Youdun's curiosity.

"Yes... So dangerous... Terrible witchcraft which can kill many people in an instant..." Hu Nayin kept staring at the palace gate anxiously. "His Highness... he braves the danger just by himself... how can I let him do it?..."