Mu Yunjin felt she was being foolish. Though anger toward Chu Li simmered in her heart, remembering his poor night vision, she deliberately slowed her pace.
She knew that on the public streets, Chu Li would never take out his jade pendant to light his way.
Chu Li indeed followed behind Mu Yunjin. After watching her leave, he had also set off toward the Governor’s Mansion. But after walking for a while, leaving the town center, the surrounding roads grew dark, and he could barely see the path ahead.
Just as he was about to take out his jade pendant to light the way, he heard familiar footsteps ahead.
Those footsteps moved at a measured pace, maintaining a consistent distance from him—not too far, yet not too close.
Listening to those footsteps, Chu Li felt an inexplicable sense of reassurance. At this moment, he suddenly realized that Mu Yunjin, that woman, seemed quite decent after all…
The entire journey, the two walked one in front of the other, until the lanterns hanging at the entrance of the Governor’s Mansion illuminated the night road. Only then did Mu Yunjin dash into the mansion as if her feet were greased.
In the light, Chu Li saw her quickly running figure and followed with hastened steps.
…
…
…
Their rooms were arranged directly opposite each other. By the time Mu Yunjin reached her door, Chu Li had caught up.
Mu Yunjin didn’t spare Chu Li a glance. She pushed open her door and was about to step in when a voice came from behind, “Wait.”
Mu Yunjin paused and turned around, facing Chu Li, who had somehow already reached her side. She spoke impatiently, “What?”
“You…” Chu Li had only uttered one word before feeling uncomfortable, that sense of awkwardness from earlier in the day surging back.
Seeing him hesitate, Mu Yunjin frowned, giving him a puzzled look.
Chu Li, caught in her clear gaze, felt a momentary confusion and blurted out without thinking, “Does your hand hurt?”
After saying this, even he was stunned.
Mu Yunjin was also momentarily surprised, believing for an instant that she had misheard.
After a moment, she nodded at Chu Li, giving a cold snort with pouting lips, “Of course it hurts!”
“Let me see.” Chu Li spoke again as if possessed, realizing that when facing Mu Yunjin, he often couldn’t control his emotions.
Seeing Chu Li’s sudden change in attitude, Mu Yunjin’s anger instantly dissipated. She extended her hand, offering it to Chu Li.
Chu Li lowered his gaze, examining Mu Yunjin’s small, fair hands. One area was still red, causing him to frown slightly as he instinctively reached out to hold her hand.
The moment he grasped Mu Yunjin’s hand, Chu Li experienced a strangely familiar feeling, but when he tried to recall, no specific memory came to mind.
Mu Yunjin felt a warm embrace around her palm, but before any other emotions could surface, she pulled her hand away.
She feared Chu Li might be having another mood swing and would push her away again.
Being rejected once or twice was bearable, but three or four times might be too much for her to handle.
“It’s late, better get some rest.” Mu Yunjin tugged at the corner of her mouth, glanced at Chu Li, then entered her room and closed the door.
Chu Li stood outside her room, looking at his hand, gently clenching his fingers.
…
Early the next morning.
The first thing Mu Yunjin did after getting up was to find Hua Ying.
Hua Ying had already risen and was working on developing an antidote. Upon entering the room, Mu Yunjin looked around and, seeing that Hua Ying was alone, approached her.
“My lady, you’re up so early.” Hua Ying looked at Mu Yunjin, her lips curving into a smile.
Mu Yunjin nodded and moved closer, “I need to ask you something.”
“Yes?” Hua Ying looked at Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin lowered her voice and asked Hua Ying, “Do you know about Celestial Star Grass?”
“Yes, for Governor Xu’s antidote, there’s a particularly potent poison that requires Celestial Star Grass. However, this Celestial Star Grass is extremely rare and not easy to find.” Hua Ying sighed softly.
“Are you free now? Come with me somewhere.” Mu Yunjin noticed it was still early, and others were likely still sleeping.
Hua Ying nodded, then left with Mu Yunjin.
The two arrived at the inn, where Mu Yunjin approached Rong Jiu’s door and gently knocked.
Before any response came from inside, a door to the side opened, and Hong Ling emerged. Seeing Mu Yunjin and Hua Ying, she smiled.
“Princess Consort Ning, you’re here so early.”
“Yes, this is the friend I mentioned yesterday, Hua Ying.” Mu Yunjin introduced Hua Ying to Hong Ling.
Hearing this, Hong Ling nodded to Hua Ying in greeting, “Hello, Miss Hua Ying.”
“Hello,” Hua Ying nodded back.
“Have you had breakfast yet?” Hong Ling asked. At this hour, she had only just gotten up herself.
Mu Yunjin and Hua Ying shook their heads.
“Then let’s eat first. It would be a sin to let you go hungry.” As Hong Ling spoke, she was already linking arms with both of them and heading downstairs.
Due to her pregnancy, Mu Yunjin, as in the past two days, only ordered a bowl of plain porridge. Beside her, Hua Ying and Hong Ling also had little appetite, ordering similarly light foods.
After the three finished breakfast, Hong Ling asked the waiter to prepare another portion, then they went upstairs.
At Rong Jiu’s door, Hong Ling knocked gently, “Your Highness, Princess Consort Ning is here.”
“Come in.” A hoarse voice came from inside.
Hong Ling pushed open the door, first looking at Mu Yunjin, gesturing for her and Hua Ying to enter.
Mu Yunjin stepped in and saw Rong Jiu, just like the previous night, leaning back in a rattan chair, his face haggard.
“Your Highness, please have breakfast first.” Hong Ling placed the meal in front of Rong Jiu, noticing that he looked more worn than yesterday, and furrowed her brow.
Rong Jiu shook his head, “Later.”
“Very well.” Hong Ling, ultimately not daring to insist on Rong Jiu, had to place the breakfast aside.
Meanwhile, Hua Ying approached Rong Jiu, examined his face briefly, and then crouched down. “Extend your hand; I’ll check your pulse.”
Rong Jiu raised his eyelids slightly and slowly extended his hand. “Thank you for your trouble.”
Hua Ying smiled faintly and placed her fingers on Rong Jiu’s wrist.
After a while, Hua Ying stood up, walked to the table, took an empty teacup, and pulled out a silver needle from her waist. “I need to take a sample of your blood.”
“Alright.” Rong Jiu nodded.
Hua Ying pricked Rong Jiu’s finger, collecting the drops of blood in the empty cup.
After taking a small sample of Rong Jiu’s blood, Hua Ying examined it, then lowered her head to sniff it gently. A darkness and surprise flashed across her eyes.
“Do you have any findings?” From the moment Hua Ying began checking Rong Jiu’s pulse, Mu Yunjin and Hong Ling’s gazes had been fixed on her.
Hua Ying nodded, placing the cup aside. “Ten Thousand Bone Poison.”
“When the poisoned person has been afflicted for a long time, the blood in their body will drain completely, leaving only skin, flesh, and white bones.” Hua Ying finished, looking at Mu Yunjin. “Among Governor Xu’s hundred poisons, one is precisely this poison.”
“For the antidote formulation, apart from Celestial Star Grass, we have all the other ingredients.”
Hong Ling, also skilled in medical arts, nodded in agreement upon hearing Hua Ying’s diagnosis. “Correct, it is Ten Thousand Bone Poison. Among the antidote ingredients, only Celestial Star Grass is the most troublesome.”
After a pause, Hong Ling asked, “So, has the Governor of River Moon City also been poisoned?”
“You said yesterday that the last Celestial Star Grass was discovered within River Moon City’s boundaries?” Mu Yunjin asked.
Hearing this, Hong Ling was startled.
In an instant, she realized something—Celestial Star Grass was already extremely rare, finding even one was incredibly difficult. Yet now, two people needed Celestial Star Grass.
So…
Mu Yunjin caught Hong Ling’s expression and naturally understood her concern. She stepped forward to reassure her, “Let’s first find the whereabouts of the Celestial Star Grass together.”
“Mm.” Hong Ling nodded.
“Take this; it can suppress and alleviate the symptoms when the poison flares up.” Hua Ying handed Hong Ling a bottle of medicine—the same she had given to Xu Heyu to ease his poison symptoms.
Hong Ling accepted it and thanked her on Rong Jiu’s behalf.
…
Leaving the inn, Mu Yunjin and Hua Ying walked back toward the Governor’s Mansion.
“My lady, I have a question,” Hua Ying looked at Mu Yunjin.
“You want to ask, if there’s only one Celestial Star Grass, who would I choose to save?” Mu Yunjin curved her lips into a smile, glancing sideways at Hua Ying.
Hua Ying nodded.
“I don’t know either; this question truly stumps me.” Mu Yunjin’s interactions with Xu Heyu weren’t deep, and the same was true with Rong Jiu, but both these people with whom she had limited connection were still friends in her heart.
Suddenly, for the first time, she felt the impossible choice of having to choose between two equally important options.
“Princess Consort Ning…” Hong Ling’s voice suddenly came from behind.
Mu Yunjin stopped and turned to see Hong Ling running to catch up with them.
Approaching Mu Yunjin, Hong Ling looked apologetically at Hua Ying. “Miss Hua Ying, there’s something I’d like to say to Princess Consort Ning in private…”
Hua Ying looked at Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin nodded, “Go back first; I’ll return shortly.”
“Alright.” Hua Ying acknowledged and walked away.
After Hua Ying left, Hong Ling glanced around and said softly, “Princess Consort Ning, may I speak with you privately?”
…
Following Hong Ling to a secluded alley, Mu Yunjin looked at her with confusion, feeling that she was about to reveal something significant.
“There are some things I had originally intended to keep hidden. His Highness also told me to stay silent. But I never expected things would suddenly take such a turn.”
“Princess Consort Ning, if you find the Celestial Star Grass, could you give it to the Crown Prince first?”
Mu Yunjin frowned, “Why?”
When Hong Ling began to speak, her expression momentarily became distant, her eyes filled with sorrow. “His Highness’s poisoning and Zhang Bai’s death—they’re all because of you.”
“Me?” Mu Yunjin pointed at herself, exclaiming in surprise. She hadn’t had any recent interactions with Rong Jiu.
“What I’m saying might seem selfish, but for our prince’s sake, I must be selfish this once and tell you everything that happened a month ago!”
Mu Yunjin’s eyelid twitched. “What exactly happened a month ago?”
“A month ago, when you were in the Northern Ming Kingdom, weren’t you trapped in the Ice Cave?”
“At that time, the Second Prince’s messenger came to find His Highness, telling him you were trapped in the Ice Cave, your life hanging by a thread. If he didn’t rescue you, you would certainly perish there.”
“Upon hearing this news, His Highness, disregarding all our advice, left Eastern Lin Kingdom in the night. Halfway through the journey, he encountered an ambush set by the Second Prince…”