Xiao Huayong left the palace in high spirits but returned in a rage. Upon seeing his cold expression, Tianyuan instinctively shrank his neck.

Despite trying his best to minimize his presence, there was no escaping his role as a trusted courtier. As Xiao Huayong brushed past him, he tossed out a comment: “You look particularly ugly today.”

Tianyuan: …

The more Xiao Huayong thought about it, the angrier and more frustrated he became.

Knowing in his heart that she held no feelings for him was one thing, but having it so cruelly confirmed was another matter entirely.

What made it worse was that he had no standing to seek her out, and could only stew in his anger while she remained completely unaware!

“Tianyuan, go make me a bowl of wontons!” Xiao Huayong felt that only a bowl of wontons could quell the fire in his heart.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Tianyuan retreated as if granted amnesty, scurrying away swiftly.

Not only did Tianyuan have the Eastern Palace kitchen make wontons, but he also lit the cold-dispelling incense that Shen Xihe had sent. The delicate fragrance wafted through the air, gradually calming Xiao Huayong’s mood. By the time the fragrant wontons were served, his anger had largely subsided.

Though his face remained stern, after a few bites of the tender and savory wontons, Xiao Huayong’s expression finally softened. As he continued eating, he laughed at himself: “Even knowing the truth, why can’t I control myself?”

He had always been strong-willed, and in recent years had developed such composure that he could remain unmoved even if Mount Tai were to crumble before him. Almost nothing and no one could affect his emotions anymore. Yet since meeting Shen Xihe, he had truly experienced what it meant to have all his joys and sorrows controlled by a single person.

“The mind can control others, discipline itself, but a heart given to another is beyond control.” With a soft sigh, Xiao Huayong buried himself in his wontons, knowing that a full stomach would make him feel somewhat better.

Although he had come to terms with and comforted himself with the situation, Xiao Huayong was clearly lacking in spirits and remained low in mood.

When Tianyuan heard that Shen Xihe had arrived, his eyes suddenly lit up brilliantly. He hurriedly went to inform Xiao Huayong, who was half-reclining in his chair: “Your Highness, the Princess has entered the palace and sent word that she will be here shortly to visit you.”

“Really?” Xiao Huayong perked up, but then languidly settled back as he realized something, saying insincerely, “Well, if she’s coming, then let her come.”

Tianyuan: …

He couldn’t quite understand why His Highness, while keeping his neck turned toward the door, deliberately kept his eyes fixed in the opposite direction.

“Your Highness, does this mean you don’t wish to see the Princess?” Tianyuan feigned ignorance.

“When did I say I didn’t want to see Youyou?” Xiao Huayong glared at Tianyuan.

“This servant misunderstood. I’ll go prepare everything right away.” Tianyuan smiled sycophantically.

“Throw away that double fish and begonia flower tea set.” Xiao Huayong suddenly remembered the tea set he had seen yesterday at Princess Ruyang’s mansion, wondering how Xiao Wenxi had known about his set and managed to make such an exact copy.

“Yes, Your Highness.” As Tianyuan was about to withdraw, Xiao Huayong suddenly changed his mind, “Use that tea set today!”

Tianyuan: “…Yes, Your Highness.”

As Tianyuan stepped outside, he heard Xiao Huayong command again: “Change it.”

Tianyuan stood outside without responding. He figured that this tea set must be causing His Highness to feel both love and hatred toward the Princess. His Highness wanted to use it to spite the Princess but knew it wouldn’t affect her at all and would only end up frustrating himself, hence the back-and-forth struggle.

After some thought, Tianyuan suggested: “Your Highness, in my several visits to the Princess’s residence, I’ve noticed she always drinks beverages. The Princess probably doesn’t care for tea. Perhaps we should serve her beverages instead?”

“Fine, prepare some light refreshments, nothing too sweet.” Xiao Huayong finally made up his mind.

He changed his clothes, and while adjusting his sleeves, noticed the marks on the back of his hand. He immediately retrieved his implements and carefully concealed the marks, though he left the injuries on his fingernails untreated.

Shen Xihe came to the Eastern Palace only after paying her respects to the Empress Dowager. Her visit today wasn’t for investigation, but rather to understand Xiao Huayong’s physical condition. She had brought Sui Axi with her into the palace.

As soon as Xiao Huayong saw Sui Axi, he understood Shen Xihe’s intentions.

Shen Xihe was direct: “Your Highness, I recently learned that you were poisoned in your youth with a strange poison that remains unresolved. Axi is a newly recruited expert in poisons. I brought him to see Your Highness, not expecting to solve your urgent condition, but hoping to have one more person paying attention to it.”

“How could I refuse the Princess’s thoughtful concern?” Xiao Huayong was truly happy in his heart that she cared about his physical condition but also worried that once she knew the truth, she would reject him. With an anxious heart, he still extended his hand.

Shen Xihe noticed that while the back of his hand showed no injuries, his fingernails had been severely damaged and torn off, not yet regrown: “How did Your Highness injure your fingers?”

“Just a minor scratch.” Xiao Huayong glanced at it and answered casually.

Since he didn’t wish to elaborate, Shen Xihe didn’t press further.

Sui Axi took Xiao Huayong’s pulse, his brow furrowing deeper as he continued. He then examined Xiao Huayong’s pupils and pricked his finger to draw two drops of blood for careful examination. Finally, he spoke with some hesitation: “Your Highness has been treated by a master, the poison is being controlled extremely well.”

“I’ve been poisoned for eleven years. This poison is particularly strange. Back then, a physician helped remove the poison, and we thought it was completely gone, but three months later it resurfaced. It’s been the same every time.” Xiao Huayong explained.

“Princess, forgive Axi’s limited knowledge, but I’ve never heard of such a poison.” Sui Axi shook his head.

A poison that couldn’t be eliminated – Shen Xihe had never heard of such a thing either: “Is it poison or gu?”

Only living gu could regenerate inside the body.

“It’s not gu,” Sui Axi said with certainty. “It seems the true antidote hasn’t been found. After this poison is suppressed, the pulse appears normal, leading physicians to believe in recovery, but there remains a slight trace of poison which, over time, can grow stronger and cause havoc for certain reasons.”

After a pause, Sui Axi continued: “I notice that the poison in Your Highness’s body rushes up to the Qingming and Taiyang acupoints. Does Your Highness have difficulty with vision?”

Xiao Huayong raised his eyebrows to look at Sui Axi, then turned to look at Shen Xihe. He said: “I cannot distinguish colors.”

“This is caused by the poison flaring up, but thanks to the divine hand assisting Your Highness, you can still see. Your Highness should take careful care of yourself.” As Sui Axi spoke, he looked at Shen Xihe with some hesitation.

Shen Xihe said: “Speak freely if you have something to say.”

“This servant currently has no clue about the poison in Your Highness’s body, but I do have one method that might help Your Highness see without impediment,” Sui Axi said in a low voice. “This servant is only fifty percent confident, and while this method is harmless to normal people, for Your Highness… since we don’t know the nature of this strange poison, I cannot be certain whether it will stimulate the internal poison.”

Treating the eyes involved stimulating the damaged meridians and acupoints around them. Xiao Huayong’s inability to distinguish colors wasn’t because there was poison in his eyes – the poison was still in his body – but because the poison’s flare-ups had damaged the eye meridians. The meridians only needed to be repaired for his vision to be restored.

“What method?” Tianyuan asked in surprise.