Ning Chen was only half following. It wasn't really going in.

"Old Meng, just tell me what to do."

Meng Jianbai said, "Does my lord prince know about the jianghu's masters above the ranks altogether?"

Ning Chen nodded.

Meng Jianbai went on. "They're called masters above the ranks altogether because they've trained a breath out inside themselves. It's a strange thing, that breath. It doesn't only strengthen the man who has it — it can nourish another man's body.

I read it once in an old book. A master above the ranks altogether had a disciple with severe internal injuries and failing organs... The master used the breath inside himself to nourish the boy day after day, and kept him alive.

If we could find a master above the ranks altogether to nourish His Majesty's organs with that breath day after day, and rare herbs alongside it, those failing organs might come back."

Ning Chen went still. He had trained that breath out himself.

Which meant he could save His Majesty.

Ning Chen said, "Old Meng, I can do it. I've trained that breath out."

Meng Jianbai's whole face said he couldn't believe it.

"My lord prince has trained that breath out?"

Ning Chen nodded.

Meng Jianbai couldn't have been more astonished.

Ning Chen pressed him. "Old Meng, how do I nourish His Majesty's body?"

"That..." Meng Jianbai shook his head. "I don't know that either. My lord prince is the first man I've ever met who has trained that breath out."

Ning Chen thought for a moment. "Wait here. There's someone who'll know."

He went straight to the door. "Old Nie. Send someone to my residence right now and ask Tantai Qingyue to come."

Nie Liang nodded. "Yes."

Tantai Qingyue arrived as the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Ning Chen couldn't get it out fast enough. "Little Tanzi, how do you use that breath inside you to nourish someone else's body?"

It took Tantai Qingyue a second to answer. She shook her head. "You can't. The breath in you is far too thin. It can barely make a…