No response?
How could that be?
General Bai Hu grew uneasy, while Bai Mengmeng lowered her voice pitifully, “Father, maybe I shouldn’t have come after all. Just tell me what to say, and you can pass it on to Prince Yao.”
General Bai Hu’s attention wasn’t on Bai Mengmeng at all, nor did he hear what she said. He simply frowned, listening for any sound from within the tent. “Your Highness… are you in there?”
Prince Yao’s temperament wasn’t one to ignore people—he was always decisive. If he didn’t want to see someone, he’d send them away; if he wanted to see them, he’d let them in!
What was wrong tonight? Could it be that his health…
The thought alone was enough to make General Bai Hu panic. Without further hesitation, he threw back the tent flap and went inside, while Bai Mengmeng, remarkably composed, waited obediently outside the entrance.
But who could have known that only a moment later, a startled cry rang out from within the tent. “Someone, come quickly! Summon the army physician, hurry!”
Hearing this, Bai Mengmeng was alarmed and rushed in without a second thought!
What had happened to Jun Beiyue?
To her, this man was practically a god—omnipotent. She had never imagined he could be injured, because she believed no one in this world could possibly harm him!
Of course, that was true—no one could, except Han Ziqing.
The moment Bai Mengmeng rushed in, she saw Jun Beiyue seated in the tiger-skin chair, eyes shut tight, his complexion ashen. And yet even like this, he remained breathtaking—his sharp, defined features carrying an aloof, unapproachable coldness, too noble to allow anyone close.
This man—even with his eyes closed, even looking like this—radiated an irresistible, magnetic pull. A fatal attraction!
What had happened to him?
Why was his face so pale, as if he were freezing!
As Bai Mengmeng stared, she found herself drawing closer without realizing it. Just then, several physicians rushed in from outside, and Jun Beichen entered right behind them!
“What happened?”
“I just arrived and heard there was no response, so I came in to check—and I saw His Highness…”
General Bai Hu was burning with anxiety, and like everyone else, he had no attention left to spare for Bai Mengmeng.
But no matter how anxious they were, there was nothing to be done. All they could do was stand beside Jun Beichen, watching and waiting.
The physicians took his pulse, inserted needles, yet one after another they only sighed and shook their heads.
“What exactly is wrong?” Jun Beichen asked, holding back his fury.
“The cold poison has already begun invading the spleen. If this continues, Prince Yao’s life will be in danger!”
“Indeed. This poison first seals off the major meridian points and locks away the true energy in the dantian. Given enough time, it invades the spleen and seals the vital energy. Once the vital energy is sealed, then…”
“Then what do we do?!” General Bai Hu stamped his foot in desperation.
“There are only two options—find the antidote, or find someone skilled in acupuncture to force the poison out! But…” The physician trailed off, hesitant. Their own abilities were limited; if Imperial Physician Gu were here, there would be no problem at all!
Though this poison was rare, judging by the nature of its onset, it belonged to the category of cold-natured poisons, which meant it could indeed be forced out with needles.
“Useless! All of you are useless!” Jun Beichen roared, barely restraining himself from kicking the incompetent lot of them out.
There was no telling how much longer Jun Beiyue could hold on. Imperial Physician Gu was already on his way—if they headed south to meet him partway, they could cut the travel time in half at least!
Jun Beichen made an instant decision. “Someone, prepare the carriage at once!”
“Where to?” General Bai Hu asked hurriedly.
“To meet Imperial Physician Gu halfway—that’s the only way to save time!” Jun Beichen explained, and turned to move forward.
But just then, Bai Mengmeng, who had been silent all this while, suddenly spoke up. “Wait! Wait!”
Only then did everyone notice her presence.
Jun Beichen already knew something of Bai Mengmeng’s history, and his eyes turned instantly cold. “General Bai Hu, why is she here?”
General Bai Hu hastily pulled Bai Mengmeng behind him and explained, “She knows a way even faster than a carrier hawk, so I brought her to see His Highness!”
“No need. His Highness already thought of a solution just now!” Jun Beichen said dismissively. Not long before he’d left, Jun Beiyue had called him back!
He’d told him to have a hawk carry a sealed letter to the border, to Sha Qiuzi, who would then personally deliver word ahead!
If not for Jun Beiyue’s urgency just then, how could he himself have failed to think of such a plan!
With Sha Qiuzi’s familiarity with the Xijing Desert, that plan alone was more reliable than anyone else, more reliable than any show of force—it offered real hope!
Only, no one had expected that not long after he left, something would happen to Jun Beiyue!
Hearing this, a flicker of dejection crossed General Bai Hu’s eyes, but he quickly recovered. He said nothing more, only murmured flatly, “Someone, escort Bai Mengmeng back.”
But who would have guessed—Bai Mengmeng showed no intention of leaving at all. Instead, she stepped closer to Jun Beiyue, a thoughtful look on her face, as if she’d noticed something.
“Bai Mengmeng, how dare you! Do you think this is a place for you to linger?” Jun Beichen said coldly, shooting a glance at the guard beside him.
But Bai Mengmeng paid him no mind and instead reached out and took hold of Jun Beiyue’s hand!
“How insolent!” Jun Beichen snapped, immediately seizing her wrist and wrenching it up hard. “Get out!”
Bai Mengmeng said, “I know what poison he’s been struck with!”
The moment those words left her mouth, the entire tent fell silent. Jun Beichen’s hand froze in midair, momentarily unable to process what she meant.
General Bai Hu, stunned, blurted out, “Mengmeng, what did you say?!”
“I know what poison Prince Yao has been struck with. It’s the juice of a special poisonous grass found only on the grasslands, one that only appears in winter.” Bai Mengmeng said earnestly.
Aside from matters concerning her family—her one weakness—she had always been someone who kept her composure.
This was a chance now, a chance to start over, and she would absolutely not make the same mistake again!
Under everyone’s shocked and hopeful gazes, under Jun Beichen’s disbelieving stare, she didn’t return his hostility. Instead, she bowed respectfully and said, “Second Prince, if you’re willing to trust me, please let me cure Prince Yao of this poison.”
“Why should I trust you?” Jun Beichen shot back.
Bai Mengmeng looked as though she’d been wounded. She glanced at General Bai Hu, then lowered her head, looking pitiful. “I sincerely wish to cure Prince Yao of this poison. I know I was wrong before, and I know my faults—I’m not asking for a chance to redeem myself. But His Highness’s life matters far more! This poison is called Snow Poison. Once struck by it, one cannot circulate internal energy—if one tries, the internal energy will gradually vanish, until it can no longer be used to fend off the cold. If Prince Yao hadn’t tried to circulate his energy, perhaps he wouldn’t have fallen unconscious now.”
Hearing Bai Mengmeng’s words, the physicians nodded repeatedly.
“That’s right, everything Young Lady Bai describes matches His Highness’s condition exactly!”
“Young Lady Bai truly understands this poison!”
…
Hearing the physicians’ words, Jun Beichen hesitated, while General Bai Hu grew even more frantic. “Second Prince, if we set out now to meet Imperial Physician Gu, there’s no telling what could go wrong along the way. Why not…”
Before he could finish, Bai Mengmeng dropped to her knees. “Second Prince, Prince Yao’s condition allows no delay. My life is here as proof—if he hasn’t woken by tomorrow morning, you may kill me for it.”