Who knew how many rounds of trial medicine it might take — and given Elder Brother Qi’s distinguished status, how could he be used as a test subject?

“A’Jie, you want me to pretend to be sick?” Yan Yunning looked at her, exasperated.

“Ningning, trust me — if you fall seriously ill, Elder Brother Yu will surely send for Physician Wen.” Yan Shiyao clasped her hands earnestly. “Ningning, A’Jie would not deceive you.”

Yan Yunning’s lips twitched. “A’Jie, before Elder Brother Qi fell ill, he had said cutting things to Xuan Yanyu. Xuan Yanyu is not going to fetch Physician Wen for Qi Qingchen’s sake.”

Yan Shiyao: “Ningning, as long as Physician Wen comes, we can slip him some extra silver. Physician Wen is not foolish — why would he refuse to treat Elder Brother Qi?”

Qi Qingchen curled in, crouching closer, and settled himself obediently at Yan Shiyao’s side, blinking cheerfully at Yan Yunning.

Yan Yunning: “…”

“Ningning, hurry and go lie down on the bed. I will go find Elder Brother Yu.” Yan Shiyao urged.

Yan Yunning’s brow gave a faint twitch. “A’Jie, it would be useless. No matter how much silver you slip Physician Wen, without Xuan Yanyu’s approval, he will not treat Elder Brother Qi.”

Even if she handed over the entire Chancellor’s residence to the imperial physician Wen, he would not dare treat Qi Qingchen.

“Why? Does he not need to make a living as well?” Yan Shiyao’s brow creased.

“A’Jie… if you want Physician Wen to treat Elder Brother Qi, you would still need to go and speak to Xuan Yanyu.”

Yan Shiyao pressed her lips together, tears sliding down her cheeks. “Ningning, you saw how Elder Brother Yu was today — he simply has no intention of helping Elder Brother Qi.”

The more she replayed it in her mind, the more hurt she felt. She was still having difficulty coming to terms with the fact that Elder Brother Yu had suddenly become so cold toward her.

Yan Yunning lowered her head and said nothing.

“Yaoyao, don’t cry, don’t cry.” Qi Qingchen wrinkled his mouth and used his sleeve to wipe Yan Shiyao’s tears.

“Elder Brother Qi.” Yan Shiyao threw her arms around Qi Qingchen and broke into unrestrained sobs.

What would happen if Elder Brother Qi never recovered?

How would the Qi Emperor’s fury be appeased?

Yan Yunning stared up at the ceiling beams. The two of them were carrying on as though they were on their deathbeds, weeping their final farewells.

Yan Shiyao cried for a while, then looked at Yan Yunning with reddened eyes. “Ningning, could you perhaps go and say something to Elder Brother Yu?”

Yan Yunning tapped her fingers together. Xuan Yanyu had no desire to get involved because he feared that if Qi Qingchen drank Physician Wen’s medicine and his condition worsened — or if he took the medicine and still did not recover — and the Qi Emperor came looking for answers, he would be dragged into it.

The Crown Prince of Xuanzhao inviting an imperial physician for the Qi Prince — who knew what kind of intentions might be attributed to that?

Better for him to stay out of it entirely.

If he involved himself and the treatment worked, all would be well. But if the treatment failed, the Qi Emperor would surely suspect that Xuan Yanyu had done it deliberately. And even though the Qi Nation’s strength was no match for Xuanzhao’s, with his most valued prince reduced to this state, the Qi Emperor might very well be furious enough to go to war with Xuanzhao regardless.

“Ningning.” Yan Shiyao was growing irritated. “It is only a matter of saying something to Elder Brother Yu. You refuse even that?”

Yan Yunning looked up at her. “A’Jie, if you tell Xuan Yanyu yourself and he does not agree, what makes you think he would agree if I said it?”

“Can you not tell that Elder Brother Yu cares a great deal about you?” Yan Shiyao choked back tears. “A’Jie is asking you this one favor. Will you please help?”

Yan Yunning tried to dampen her hopes. “A’Jie, if Xuan Yanyu agrees to invite Physician Wen and Elder Brother Qi still does not recover, would that not just implicate Physician Wen for nothing?”

“How could he possibly not recover?” Yan Shiyao could not hold back and raised her voice.

How could he possibly not recover?

Qi Qingchen blinked, his gaze drifting back and forth between them.

Yan Yunning also felt a small flare of temper. “You are doing everything for Qi Qingchen — but has he ever given any thought to you? When he was clear-headed, what did he ever do for you?”

Yan Shiyao’s throat seemed to seal shut, and not a single word could pass through it.

Elder Brother Qi had never done anything for her. He had not even measured up to Elder Brother Yu — at least Elder Brother Yu protected her.

“Send him back to the palace and have the imperial physicians examine him.” Yan Yunning pressed her lips together.

If the Qi Emperor genuinely pursued the matter, even if Xuan Yanyu refused to get involved, Prince Xuan would protect the Chancellor’s residence. Surely they would not allow the family of Xuanzhao’s future Crown Princess to be executed by the Qi Emperor.

Yan Shiyao said in a trembling voice, “That will not do. What if the Qi Emperor holds us accountable?”

Yan Yunning had just drawn breath to speak when a sudden pain shot through her abdomen. A rush of heat surged up her throat. After several dry heaves, she spat out a mouthful of blood.

The young woman looked down at the bloodstain on her clothes, a dizzy spell coming over her. It seemed she would not need to pretend to be sick — she was genuinely ill this time.

“Ningning.” Yan Shiyao’s heart gave a violent jolt, and she struggled to hold back her cries. “I’m sorry — A’Jie should not have raised her voice at you. I’m sorry.”

“I’m fine.” Yan Yunning’s vision was going dark.

【Fafa! What is wrong with me? Could it be the medicine I drank last time still hasn’t run its course?!】

Fafa: 【Master, rest assured, it will absolutely never happen again.】

It had suppressed it for her, had it not?

Yan Yunning bit down hard. She regretted it now — she regretted ever listening to that thing and going to buy that medicine, being discovered by Xuan Yanyu, and then drinking it herself, resulting in her coughing up blood at any moment!

“I will go find Miss Shen — you stay here and lie down.” Yan Shiyao pulled back the bedding and guided her toward the bed.

“A’Jie, there is no need — I am fine.” Yan Yunning smiled.

Yan Shiyao frowned. “No, once the female physician has had a look, A’Jie will be at ease.”

Yan Yunning lowered her head. Yan Shiyao poured a cup of water and handed it to her, coaxing gently, “Rinse your mouth. Stay here with Elder Brother Qi and wait for A’Jie — A’Jie will go find Miss Shen.”

After Yan Shiyao had been gone for a while, Yan Yunning let out a soft sigh and looked at Qi Qingchen crouching on the floor. She murmured quietly, “It would be good if you cared a little more about A’Jie.”

And if A’Jie were a little wiser.

Yan Shiyao, who had hurried off in search of Shen Ruochu, suddenly stopped in her tracks, turned around, and went to Xuan Yanyu’s side chamber instead.

……

“Your Highness, the Chancellor intends to take a co-equal wife. The Chancellor’s wife has quarreled with him over it, and the Chancellor’s residence has become quite the scene.” Ye Jian poured the tea and handed it to Xuan Yanyu.

The man was half-reclined on the chaise, his long legs crossed and propped leisurely on the footrest, a smile at the corner of his mouth. “A co-equal wife? The Chancellor’s wife is making a scene?”

Ye Jian: “It is not exactly a scene — but the Chancellor’s wife is displeased. She is willing to accept a concubine, but not a co-equal wife.”

Xuan Yanyu laughed softly. “The Chancellor’s residence will certainly be lively from now on.”

Taking a co-equal wife meant the Chancellor greatly favored this new wife. The Chancellor’s wife would surely be vexed and unable to eat in peace day after day.

“Your Highness, there is… there is one more thing.” Ye Jian covertly raised his eyelids.

“Speak.” Xuan Yanyu toyed with his teacup and replied lazily.

“Qi Qingchen proposed a marriage arrangement with the Chancellor — proposing Second Miss Yan.” Ye Jian quietly took several steps back without appearing to do so.

A sharp crack rang out. The teacup in the man’s hand shattered against the ground, and his handsome face turned dark and stormy.

The slightly scalding tea splashed across the floor. Ye Jian’s heart nearly stopped. He had known this would happen.

“Did Chancellor Yan Ruijing agree?!” Xuan Yanyu drew the dagger at his waist and began spinning it between his fingers.

Ye Jian quickly said, “No, Your Highness. According to information passed along by the attendants, the Chancellor said he wishes for you and Second Miss Yan to be together.”

The man unhurriedly sheathed the dagger, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. “Is that so? Did the Chancellor really say that?”