The tent fell into silence. Jun Beichen stared coldly at Bai Mengmeng, saying nothing for a long while.
The matter of Nangong Castle he had only just learned of himself.
Jun Beiyue’s poison wasn’t fatal, but at a time like this, he couldn’t afford to fall ill—couldn’t afford the delay. The situation in Xijing was critical, and Jun Beiyue was the only one who could persuade Situ Haonan!
Even if Sha Qiuzi managed to get the letter into Ziqing’s hands, Jun Beiyue would still have to go there in person!
Just as Jun Beichen hesitated, General Bai Hu suddenly spoke, his voice heavy. “Second Prince, if… if Mengmeng can’t save His Highness, then you may kill this old general too!”
“You!” Jun Beichen frowned.
At that moment, the physicians nearby stepped forward as well, speaking in unison, “We beg the Second Prince to reconsider—His Highness’s health comes first!”
Faced with a scene like this, what could Jun Beichen do but hope that when Jun Beiyue woke, he wouldn’t have his head for it.
“Bai Mengmeng, you’re the one who said it. Let me tell you this—if by tomorrow morning Prince Yao’s poison isn’t cured, don’t blame me for what comes next!” Jun Beichen said coldly.
Unexpectedly, Bai Mengmeng replied, “I can’t guarantee the poison will be fully cured, but I can guarantee Prince Yao will wake up. This Snow Poison can’t possibly be completely removed in a single day!”
“That’s right, Second Prince. To fully cure this poison would take at least ten days or so,” the physician quickly added.
Jun Beichen waved his hand impatiently, telling them to begin, without asking further questions.
“Physician, may I borrow your silver needles?” Bai Mengmeng asked.
“Young Lady Bai intends to…”
“Yes. There’s no time to find the antidote now. The only option is to use acupuncture to force the poison out.”
“Young Lady Bai knows acupuncture?”
“I studied it a little back when I was in the Three Realms. I just never had the chance to put it to use.”
Jun Beichen watched with suspicion, giving nothing away, while General Bai Hu stroked his beard, feeling deeply reassured. He’d known Mengmeng had studied acupuncture, but he never expected it would actually come in handy one day!
Once the physician handed over the silver needles, Bai Mengmeng got to work—calm, composed, professional. If one didn’t know her identity, didn’t know her past, one might have mistaken this girl for a miracle physician!
After several needles, Jun Beiyue’s deathly pale complexion gradually began to recover. The physician quickly checked his pulse and nodded happily toward Bai Mengmeng.
Bai Mengmeng’s small face remained serious, focused, as she continued applying the needles.
Soon, black blood began trickling slowly from the corner of Jun Beiyue’s lips!
Jun Beichen, without thinking, set aside his prejudice and stepped forward to wipe it away.
“Wonderful, wonderful!” General Bai Hu couldn’t help murmuring to himself.
But just as Jun Beichen was wiping the blood, his hand suddenly froze. A moment later, he abruptly stumbled backward, so startled that the cloth in his hand fell to the ground.
There, unnoticed by anyone, Jun Beiyue had opened his eyes—those deep, ocean-dark eyes, so bitterly cold that no one dared meet them directly!
He was awake!
“Y-Your… Your Highness…”
General Bai Hu couldn’t even get the words out, while Bai Mengmeng, still beside Jun Beiyue, remained focused on her needlework, unaware that he had woken.
The physicians, however, noticed. Without realizing it, they all stepped back and lowered their heads.
“Medium needles, two of them,” Bai Mengmeng said quietly.
No one answered her for a long moment. No one handed her the needles. Only then did she sense something was wrong—the silence around her had become terrifyingly complete!
Bai Mengmeng slowly lifted her head, and instantly met Jun Beiyue’s chilling, icy gaze. Even poisoned so severely, he showed not the slightest sign of weakness—still commanding, cold, and proud enough to make anyone want to bow and submit at his feet!
“Your Highness…” Bai Mengmeng murmured, the words slipping out before she could stop them.
But without warning, Jun Beiyue flung his hand out and sent her flying with brutal force. “Get out!”
Ziqing had told him—Bai Mengmeng was never to see him again!
Why was Bai Mengmeng here?
Bai Mengmeng was knocked backward and fell to the side. General Bai Hu hurried to help her up, while Jun Beichen rubbed his nose awkwardly and explained, “Fourth Brother, right now she’s the only one who can cure your poison…”
“Not necessary!” Jun Beiyue said coldly, not even sparing Jun Beichen a glance, his frigid gaze fixed instead on General Bai Hu.
That gaze—so icy, so merciless—made General Bai Hu suddenly feel like he was looking at a stranger. He understood at once: His Highness was completely serious.
Without thinking, he let go of Bai Mengmeng and turned to kneel down!
He knew he had defied His Highness’s orders. That His Highness had spared Bai Mengmeng’s life in the first place had already been the greatest favor shown to him. Back then he had been endlessly grateful—he shouldn’t now push his luck and ask for more.
Only…
“Your Highness, this subordinate knows he was wrong… but I beg you, please let Mengmeng cure the poison. Whatever punishment follows, this subordinate will accept without a single word of complaint!”
“Bai Hu, you should know that a lord’s word is never spoken in jest, and military orders are absolute! What I gave then was a military order, not a joke!” Jun Beiyue said coldly. “Have you considered—if this gets out, what will become of your authority and standing as a general? And what of me? What do you take my principles to be worth?”
Faced with Jun Beiyue’s rebuke, General Bai Hu accepted it fully, but he was still uneasy. “Your Highness, the poison in your body…”
“I won’t die from it!” Jun Beiyue said coldly. “Take Bai Mengmeng away!”
General Bai Hu glanced at Jun Beichen, who didn’t dare say a word either. With no other choice, he had no option but to obey.
Just then, Bai Mengmeng, who had been silent all this while, finally spoke. She showed no resentment, no anger. Quietly, she pulled herself up and knelt beside General Bai Hu.
“Prince Yao, this entire matter is Mengmeng’s fault alone. It was Mengmeng who begged Father to bring her here. Please don’t blame Father for it. Whatever punishment there is, Mengmeng is willing to bear it all herself.”
Though Bai Mengmeng desperately wanted to look up at Jun Beiyue, she forced herself not to. She kept her head lowered, utterly unlike her usual brazen, willful self—sincere and humble, the very picture of someone owning up to her mistakes.
She thought: surely her change would be seen, at least by Jun Beiyue.
“Your Highness, Mengmeng doesn’t want to redeem herself through merit, and has never begged for forgiveness. Mengmeng has also come to terms with her family’s deaths—it was all her own fault. Now Mengmeng only wishes to help clear Your Highness’s poison…”
But before she could finish, Jun Beiyue cut her off coldly. “Enough. Bai Hu, get out.”
Bai Mengmeng immediately fell silent, still keeping her head bowed, so obedient that even General Bai Hu found it hard to believe. Knowing this girl’s temperament, he’d expected her to at least plead a few more words!
But she didn’t.
Not only that—Bai Mengmeng rose to her feet even before General Bai Hu did, then helped him up instead, saying flatly, “Father, it’s your daughter who has brought trouble upon you. Please take your daughter back.”
General Bai Hu felt that Mengmeng had truly changed—truly become obedient and sensible. He let out a quiet sigh, then turned with Bai Mengmeng and walked toward the tent’s exit.
As Bai Mengmeng supported General Bai Hu with one arm, the corner of her lips curled into a cold, faint smile. She thought—before she even reached the door, Jun Beiyue would surely call out to her!
She had performed this act so well. She was no longer the old Bai Mengmeng. She was so obedient, so sensible now, and she could cure his poison—he was bound to look at her differently now!
Step by step, she walked, waiting for Jun Beiyue to speak!