Who exactly had administered the drug!

This question was the crux of everything.

Yelu Qianqian kept taking deep breaths, but having been held back by Xuanyuan Lige so many times already, she’d learned her lesson, swallowing her fury and listening obediently in silence.

“Physician Beiqiu, whoever tampered with the medication must have had direct access to it. Investigate everyone who’s handled it, one by one, and you’ll surely find the culprit,” Xuanyuan Lige said seriously.

“This old man doesn’t believe any of them would have the nerve on their own—someone behind the scenes must have put them up to it!”

Physician Beiqiu naturally knew far more about who had handled the medication than Xuanyuan Lige did. Xuanyuan Lige nodded—he understood that if that were true, this matter would only grow more complicated.

It could be said that everyone who knew Situ Haonan lay unconscious was, in some sense, a suspect!

Yet Physician Beiqiu made a swift decision. “Princess Qianqian, rest assured, this humble official will give you a satisfactory answer to this matter. Please grant this official three days—I will go investigate at once!”

Yelu Qianqian nodded repeatedly. Xuanyuan Lige added a reminder, “Physician Beiqiu, keep everything exactly as usual these next few days. Don’t startle the snake in the grass, or someone may silence witnesses to cover their tracks.”

Physician Beiqiu paused, startled, then responded firmly, “Yes!” before taking his leave.

The moment he left, Yelu Qianqian grew anxious. “Xuanyuan Lige, hurry and save Haonan.”

Though Xuanyuan Lige was anxious too, the sky had already brightened—they couldn’t linger here any longer. He promised, “Princess Qianqian, Master Situ is in no real danger, his body is recovering well. We’ll come by night to clear the drug from his system. I promise you, within ten days, he will wake.”

Yelu Qianqian was overjoyed, so moved she didn’t know what to say. Looking at Xuanyuan Lige, she thought this man must be the kindest, most good-hearted man in the entire world.

She couldn’t even imagine what would have happened without him.

“Master Xuanyuan, you’re… truly wonderful,” Yelu Qianqian said, choked up—not out of pretense, but genuine gratitude and emotion from the bottom of her heart.

“You helped me save Ziqing. I owe you this in return,” Xuanyuan Lige said flatly.

Yelu Qianqian didn’t know what to say—she wanted to help save Ziqing too!

Suddenly, a thought struck Yelu Qianqian, and she said hurriedly, “Master Xuanyuan, why don’t you go see Jun Beiyue too, if you would!”

At these words, Xuanyuan Lige’s footsteps visibly faltered.

Yelu Qianqian looked embarrassed, but pressed on anyway. “Master Xuanyuan, I know you and Jun Beiyue are… but…”

These two men were rivals in love, and enemies bound by national grudges too. Yelu Qianqian knew it was already remarkable that Xuanyuan Lige hadn’t kicked Jun Beiyue while he was down—there was no reason for him to go see him at all!

And yet, some part of her still hoped.

Ever since Ziqing had vanished, she and Yingzi had spent nearly half a year searching frantically, like headless flies, all because Jun Beiyue wasn’t there!

If Jun Beiyue were conscious, surely he’d find a way to locate Ziqing!

Yelu Qianqian trailed off, silently cursing herself for speaking so clumsily. By now, the two of them had reached the back door, and Yingzi, who could hear their conversation clearly from where he stood, caught every word of what Yelu Qianqian said—he too was waiting to see how Xuanyuan Lige would respond!

But Xuanyuan Lige said nothing at all, acting as though he hadn’t heard.

Yelu Qianqian didn’t dare ask again, and Yingzi swallowed back the words that had risen to his own lips.

He thought, Xuanyuan Lige wasn’t willing—and Prince Yao likely wouldn’t be willing either.

Ten days might seem long, but three days passed quickly enough.

Throughout those three days, Situ Haonan’s treatment continued as before. Every night, Xuanyuan Lige came to clear the residual drug from his brain meridian.

On the third night, just as Xuanyuan Lige finished putting away his needles, Physician Beiqiu arrived in person.

“Princess Qianqian, Master Xuanyuan, please come with me.”

Xuanyuan Lige remained silent, while Yelu Qianqian couldn’t help but ask, “Who was it!”

Physician Beiqiu’s expression turned complicated, and he didn’t answer directly. “Princess Qianqian, the person is in the hidden chamber—you should go ask yourself.”

Only then did Yelu Qianqian sense something was truly wrong, a wave of unease washing over her as she hurried to follow.

But the moment she entered the hidden chamber, Yelu Qianqian froze in shock—bound tightly and hung suspended was none other than Physician Beiqiu’s most capable assistant, his most favored disciple, Physician Ter’mu!

He was covered in blood, clearly having been tortured.

The moment they entered, Physician Beiqiu dropped to his knees before Yelu Qianqian. “Princess Qianqian, this official is incompetent, having raised such a beast under my own roof—I beg the princess’s punishment!”

Yelu Qianqian shook her head over and over, unable to fathom that it would be one of Physician Beiqiu’s own people—Ter’mu had absolutely no reason to do such a thing!

Yelu Qianqian had no attention to spare for Physician Beiqiu, demanding furiously, “Why did you do this? Who ordered you to?”

Ter’mu kept his head lowered, saying nothing at all.

“Physician Beiqiu, get up.” Yelu Qianqian steadied herself, personally helping Physician Beiqiu to his feet, her voice unnervingly calm. “Physician Beiqiu, tell me—who exactly is behind this?”

Physician Beiqiu shook his head helplessly. “Your Highness, this official is incompetent—this official couldn’t get him to talk!”

Yelu Qianqian released her grip without thinking, turning to look at Ter’mu. For a moment, the entire room fell silent. Xuanyuan Lige and Yingzi stood off to the side, saying nothing.

All that could be heard was Physician Beiqiu’s guilt-ridden sighing, while Ter’mu kept his head bowed, seemingly resolved to stay silent, utterly unmoved by Yelu Qianqian’s arrival.

Yet in the midst of that silence, Yelu Qianqian suddenly spoke, sharp and severe, startling everyone in the room—she sounded fierce, truly fierce. “This princess will only ask you once—will you talk or not!”

Ter’mu seemed shaken by the fury in Yelu Qianqian’s voice, slowly raising his head to look at her—but he only looked, with no intention of speaking!

“Won’t talk, is that it? Very well!”

A chilling malice flickered in Yelu Qianqian’s eyes as she suddenly drew out a dagger, walking toward Ter’mu step by step.

Ter’mu turned his face away, adopting an air of indifference, as though he didn’t care what she did to him!

Unfortunately, he failed to notice the way Yelu Qianqian’s eyes were gradually reddening—if he had, he would have known to be afraid.

The ice-cold blade pressed against Ter’mu’s face; no one knew exactly what Yelu Qianqian intended to do.

Then Yelu Qianqian grabbed hold of Ter’mu’s hand, prying his fingers open.

Ter’mu regarded this with disdain, letting her pry and press at his hand without so much as glancing back at her.

“This princess doesn’t flaunt her power often—did you think that made me a sick little cat?”

Yelu Qianqian said coldly, and suddenly pinned one of Ter’mu’s fingers still with one hand while gripping the dagger tightly with the other, driving it savagely straight beneath his fingernail! “Aaah…”

At once, a wretched scream tore through the air, continuing on and on without stopping!

Ter’mu’s eyes bulged as though they might burst from the sheer pain—the nerve endings beneath a fingernail were so sensitive, and yet she’d forced a blade that size straight into that narrow crevice. Just imagining it was enough to make one’s skin crawl, let alone enduring it.

Ter’mu was in so much pain he nearly passed out—how could he possibly refuse to yield now?

“I’ll talk! Aaah… I’ll talk, I’ll tell you everything!”