As the saying goes, once you’ve taken someone’s money, your words carry less weight before them — and having accepted gifts from Chu Feiyan, Lord Changming naturally felt himself a step lower in her presence! After all, he had yet to do anything in return for her.

He understood perfectly well what Chu Feiyan’s bribery had been meant to secure.

Though Chu Feiyan remained courteous, he knew exactly where he stood.

“Lord Changming, Prince Yao seems to command a great deal of respect in Nanzhao,” Chu Feiyan said with a smile. Even though he wasn’t her man, she couldn’t help but feel a certain pride on his behalf.

“His Highness has heard much of Prince Yao’s many accomplishments and has invited him to visit several times. Prince Yao is indeed held in high regard by His Highness,” Lord Changming answered honestly.

Chu Feiyan smiled, teasing. “Merely regard? Surely there’s more to it than that — I’d wager there’s a fair bit of wariness mixed in as well?”

At this, Lord Changming was immediately alarmed and hurried to shut the courtyard gate. “Grand Princess, that’s not something to be said aloud!”

“I was only joking. Why so nervous?” Chu Feiyan laughed, though her next question, delivered as though casually, was in fact the very thing she most wanted to know. “I wonder… has Princess Yao asked you to have her clothes changed at all these past few days?”

“I’ve declined a few times already, telling her the palace ran out of fabric — that hers was specially made and couldn’t be replaced,” Lord Changming answered honestly.

He reported every single move Han Ziqing made — even her request for looser-fitting clothing had already been relayed to Chu Feiyan.

“Ha, dressed so beautifully already — why would she need to change?” Chu Feiyan said, smoothing the folds of her own loose gown with a cold smile.

“Just now she also asked me to let her bring an escort of guards along. I couldn’t grant that either — in the end I only reluctantly allowed her two attendants,” Lord Changming added.

“Why would she need attendants at all?” Chu Feiyan asked, instantly alert.

“She said she doesn’t like being served by strangers,” Lord Changming answered honestly.

“Ha, I doubt it’s that simple. That woman’s up to something — best keep your guard up. Watch those two closely!” Chu Feiyan said earnestly.

“Of course!” Lord Changming had already taken precautions.

Chu Feiyan hesitated a moment, then lowered her voice. “Lord Changming, is the Poison Water truly that deadly?”

“Indeed — not even a touch is safe!” Lord Changming answered earnestly.

“And if a person fell in entirely?” Chu Feiyan asked, her voice dropping even further.

Lord Changming froze, then suddenly understood. “Grand Princess, you… you are truly formidable!”

“Ha, isn’t the arrangement of this journey entirely in your hands? Which physicians to bring, which medicines to bring — with so many small details to manage, mistakes are only natural, aren’t they?” Chu Feiyan said with an air of complete sincerity.

If Han Ziqing truly possessed that constitution, she’d make certain the woman never left Nanzhao again — Jun Beiyue still hadn’t woken up, and she doubted Da Zhou would dare provoke Nanzhao over it.

Of course, if Han Ziqing didn’t have that constitution, she’d be even happier — the Poison Water’s toxin allowed only the time it took to drink a cup of tea before it became fatal. Without an antidote in time, she’d finally see just whose reputation could possibly save that woman’s life then.

Lord Changming immediately grasped Chu Feiyan’s meaning and nodded repeatedly.

He thought to himself — if he could confirm Han Ziqing’s special identity, it would be an enormous achievement for the Nanzhao royal family!

Though the Nanzhao royal family had always treated everything related to the isolated island as taboo, even now, His Highness continued secretly seeking out information about it!

If he could provide this lead, his future would be secured beyond doubt!

At the thought, Lord Changming couldn’t help but feel a secret thrill of delight, and he saw Chu Feiyan off with a respectful bow as she took her leave…

The next morning, at first light, the caravan set out!

The Medicine Clan’s territory wasn’t far from the capital — three or four days’ journey would bring them to the Poison Water River, from which they would travel further to reach Mingjing River.

The travelers included the entire royal family of Nanzhao, officials of the third rank and above along with their families, followed by the chiefs of each clan and their families, and of course, the four foreign delegations accompanying the Prince of Nanzhao.

These people would hold the Water-Splashing Festival at Mingjing Lake, after which the Prince of Nanzhao would personally carry a ladle of the sacred water back to the capital to sprinkle upon the people — that would mark the true nationwide celebration of the Water-Splashing Festival.

Along this stretch of the journey, aside from Yelu Qianqian occasionally coming to pester Ziqing over Situ Haonan, there was little else to disturb her.

When Situ Haonan rode on horseback, Yelu Qianqian could do nothing about it, not daring to make a scene in public. But whenever Situ Haonan slipped into Ziqing’s carriage, if Yelu Qianqian ever caught him there, the consequences would be…

At this moment, inside the carriage, Ziqing sat quietly to one side, gazing at the scenery receding past the window, while on the other side, Yelu Qianqian had Situ Haonan’s ear firmly clamped between her fingers, growling into it, “You dare hide from me, run from me, lie to me, ogle my—”

“Shh — don’t you know a girl’s supposed to have some modesty!” Situ Haonan cut her off just in time, or this little troublemaker would surely have shouted the word “body” for the whole caravan to hear.

“I don’t need modesty around you. This is just how I am!” Yelu Qianqian declared earnestly.

“You! You! Have you no shame at all?!” Situ Haonan sputtered, exasperated.

“No shame needed around you — it wouldn’t do any good anyway!” Yelu Qianqian retorted, sharp-tongued as ever.

“You! Don’t you know there’s a saying in the Central Plains — a woman adorns herself for the one who delights in her, maintains modesty for the one who delights in her, upholds propriety for the one who delights in her, cultivates herself for the one who delights in her!” Situ Haonan said earnestly. It wasn’t that he couldn’t overpower this little troublemaker’s grip — he simply feared that if he struggled too hard, he might accidentally fling her clear across the carriage, and then he’d really be in trouble.

This was precisely why a good man never fought with a woman.

“What nonsense! Hypocritical! Pretentious! Fake!” Yelu Qianqian wasn’t buying a single word of it. Just as Situ Haonan opened his mouth to argue, she raised her voice to drown him out. “Besides, this princess never said she liked you — you’re thinking too much of yourself. This princess simply wants you to take responsibility and come back to Xijing with me as my consort!”

Situ Haonan was momentarily struck speechless, utterly defeated. Every bit of experience told him — when faced with a girl like this, he had no choice but to flee!

The two of them kept bickering back and forth, each thoroughly annoyed with the other, neither realizing how the scene looked to an outsider — nothing but a warm, affectionate display, the very picture of a young couple exchanging playful barbs.

Ziqing gazed out the window, listening to it all, though she kept telling herself not to think about it, to focus entirely on the matter of the Poison Den, not to let herself be distracted!

And yet, in the end, she couldn’t help it — her thoughts drifted to that man. There had been no word from him at all since she’d arrived in Nanzhao. She had no idea how he was doing now…

Meanwhile, far across the eastern sea, a ship slowly came to rest against the shore.

Liuxian Island had, in ages past, belonged to Da Zhou, but its great distance and the inconvenience of travel had gradually severed contact, until it slipped away from imperial rule entirely.

It was a large island, home for generations to several great martial clans, though the Gu Clan held the greatest power among them.

Though not technically its own nation, it was also not an island one could simply set foot on — its harbor was guarded by sentries from each of the great clans.

Physician Gu drove the carriage himself, with Jun Beiyue, still unconscious, riding within, while Yingzi led the way ahead. Before they’d gone more than a few steps, a guard stepped forward to block their path. “Who are you? What business do you have on Liuxian Island?”