The female official from the Imperial Physicians Bureau arrived quickly and carefully examined Yu Lingxi’s wounds, exclaiming with surprise: “Who bandaged the Second Young Lady’s wounds? The work is quite meticulous.”

Yu Lingxi couldn’t help but recall how Ning Yin had changed her bandages and blown on her wounds that morning, and her heart seemed to flutter with a gentle breeze.

She suppressed her upturned lips and said: “Probably a ‘divine physician’ with an unpredictable temperament yet capable of anything.”

The female official didn’t inquire further and reassured her: “The Second Young Lady is blessed with both fortune and wisdom. The toxins in your body have been completely cleansed, and your wounds are healing well. You only need to rest quietly for a few days to recover completely.”

Upon hearing this, everyone inside and outside the room finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Yu Lingxi knew that during the night she was away from home, her family must have been in turmoil, and she felt both warmth and guilt in her heart.

She looked around and asked with concern: “Where is Father?”

Yu Xinyi answered: “Someone reported a murder case on Guangzhai Street. Since that area houses advisors and guests of the Eastern Palace, it’s a significant matter. Father went with the Court of Judicial Review to investigate.”

When mentioning the Eastern Palace, her face showed clear disdain.

Yu Lingxi recalled Ning Yin’s appearance when he washed his hands and changed clothes earlier, and understood everything clearly in her mind, but said nothing.

She took her mother’s hand, unable to hide her concern and guilt: “Your eyes are red from exhaustion, please go rest.”

Lady Yu fastened Yu Lingxi’s spring robe, gently smoothed her temples, and said softly: “Sleep well, Mother will stay with you.”

Yu Lingxi rested her head on her mother’s shoulder: “If Mother won’t sleep, I won’t either.”

After much persuasion, she finally convinced her mother and sister to return to their rooms to rest.

Su Wan couldn’t bear to leave and, feeling remorseful, personally prepared porridge and snacks for Yu Lingxi, arranging a whole table full of fragrant dishes.

Su Wan held up a bowl of porridge to feed her, smiling as she answered: “I just saw him standing in the corridor.”

Yu Lingxi recalled her brother’s complicated expression when facing Ning Yin and knew he must have a stomach full of questions he wanted to ask her.

Some things couldn’t be avoided, and she never intended to keep secrets from her father and brother forever.

After finishing the porridge, Yu Lingxi made up her mind.

She lifted the quilt, got out of bed, and walked toward the corridor.

Sure enough, Yu Huanchen stood with folded arms before the steps, his spirited brows tightly furrowed, appearing deep in thought.

“Brother,” Yu Lingxi called as she approached.

Yu Huanchen suddenly turned his face, dropping his hands: “Suisui, why did you get out of bed?”

Yu Lingxi’s picturesque features relaxed as she said sweetly: “I can’t sleep. Would Brother accompany me for a walk?”

Yu Huanchen’s eyes changed expression several times, but ultimately compassion prevailed, and he nodded in agreement.

The breeze was cool on the waterside pavilion’s walkway, with lotus leaves standing tall and erect.

Yu Huanchen slowed his pace, looking at his increasingly graceful and mature sister walking ahead.

How much did Suisui know about Wei Qi?

He didn’t want his sister to be used or kept in the dark.

“Brother has already guessed who the assassin was, right?”

Yu Lingxi looked down at the fish swimming in the water from the walkway and took the initiative to say: “The Crown Prince cannot tolerate the Yu family. Even if he doesn’t act now, after ascending the throne, he will move against the Yu family to prevent their power from threatening him. But if Father and Brother wait until then, it will be too late.”

Yu Huanchen casually raised his hand and patted his little sister’s head: “These are matters for Father and me to bear, not issues for a young girl like you to worry about.”

“When villains attempt to assassinate me and my sister-in-law in the street, these matters are no longer just your and Father’s concern, but difficulties our entire Yu family must face.”

Yu Lingxi smiled and said perceptively, “Brother already has the answer, otherwise why would you secretly investigate the Seventh Prince’s whereabouts?”

Yu Huanchen raised his sword-like eyebrows.

He had a belly full of questions to interrogate her with, but in the end, he was the one being questioned by his sister.

Family members should be straightforward with each other. He didn’t deny it, merely raising his hand to lean on the carved railing of the walkway: “Investigating other princes is simply creating another option, nothing more. We’re still far from making a decision. As for you, Suisui, you seem to have grown too close to that Wei Qi.”

Yu Lingxi could naturally hear the probing in her brother’s tone, as well as his hidden concerns.

“I know what Brother wants to ask. Thinking back on all the incidents I’ve encountered recently, each time, I’ve been immensely grateful that I kept Wei Qi.”

Yu Lingxi’s pale green skirt danced slightly in the summer breeze as she candidly told her brother: “Regardless of who Wei Qi is, he has saved my life many times.”

“No man does anything without seeking profit, Suisui.”

Yu Huanchen snorted, “You think he doesn’t expect repayment, but how do you know he isn’t scheming for something more important?”

For example, his sister.

Once Suisui’s life was in the hands of someone with deep schemes, it would be like holding the Yu family’s vital point.

Yu Lingxi gently shook her head, her apricot eyes filled with tender light: “I trust him, and I ask Brother to trust me just once.”

Yu Huanchen looked at his sister and sighed: “Suisui, you’re taking too much risk. Do you know who he is, that he deserves such trust from you?”

“I do,” Yu Lingxi said.

He was someone she had come to understand over two lifetimes, worthy of entrusting with all her trust.

Yu Huanchen looked at his sister, deep surprise appearing in his eyes.

“After the spring hunt, I said Wei Qi was no ordinary person.”

Yu Lingxi, without any timidity, softly repeated: “I know everything, Brother.”

Yu Huanchen finally understood what a grand game this seemingly delicate and fragile sister of his was playing.

“But at that time, you also said you could distinguish between gratitude and romantic feelings.”

Yu Huanchen asked, “Does Suisui still stand by those words?”

Yu Lingxi was slightly stunned.

This brief hesitation did not escape Yu Huanchen’s eyes.

“Do you know why Father and I have been hesitant to make a decision?”

Yu Huanchen pondered for a moment, then decided to reveal the truth he had discovered, “The wife of Prince Xian Yuan was a renowned beauty, also the Emperor’s sister-in-law. Later, when the current Emperor ascended the throne, Prince Yuan died unexpectedly. The Emperor took his subject’s wife, imprisoned her in the rear palace, and forced her to bear him a son… That child is the Seventh Prince, Ning Yin.”

Yu Lingxi suddenly raised her head, looking at her brother in disbelief.

“Unfortunately, emperors are fickle. The woman he used every means to snatch away, after enjoying her for a few years, was discarded like worn-out clothing.”

This was a deeply hidden secret within the imperial palace. Yu Huanchen’s voice deepened, “The Seventh Prince is the product of incest between uncle and sister-in-law, born in the Cold Palace. From birth, he has never been acknowledged or blessed by the world.”

To align with such a prince was undoubtedly to stand against the moral teachings of the world.

Yu Lingxi’s heart filled with dense pain as if something were infinitely expanding in her chest, letting in a cold wind.

She finally understood why, in her previous life, she could find not even a trace of information about Ning Yin’s background.

He was the pitiful product of imperial plunder, born with original sin.

He killed his brother and father because the Crown Prince wanted the lives of him and his mother, while his hypocritical birth father gave him the filthiest, most insane bloodline in this world.

Her eyes reddened.

Yu Huanchen turned to look at his sister and asked softly: “Now do you feel afraid?”

Yu Lingxi shook her head.

No, she felt heartache.

“A person cannot choose their birth; that is not his fault. If I were to reject everything he has done because of his inauspicious birth, it would only prove that he misjudged me, that I am unworthy of his protection.”

Yu Lingxi sniffed, her eyes filled with bright, resolute light, “I believe he can rise against the wind and rule the world.”

This was the only thing she had never doubted.

Yu Huanchen was a frank and intelligent person. Even though his sister had sheltered such a dangerous person and made such a risky plan, he showed no blame.

“I know Suisui wants to find a way out for the Yu family, and I will consider this matter carefully. But you must understand, I could discover Wei Qi’s identity, and others can too.”

He simply told his sister calmly, in the tone of an elder brother, “The biggest obstacle before you won’t be me. The court situation changes rapidly. Brother only hopes you never get caught in this whirlpool, never.”

The summer willows were as green as silk, the wind stirred the pond into ripples like wrinkles, and the sunlight scattered dazzlingly.

After Yu Huanchen left, Yu Lingxi stood alone on the walkway for a while, leaning on the railing, gazing at the shimmering water surface, lost in thought.

Behind her came unhurried footsteps, followed by Ning Yin’s handsome reflection appearing on the water.

Under the lotus leaves, the brocade carp scattered at the sound of footsteps, and the deity-like reflection in the water was also broken into fragments.

Yu Lingxi turned around, looking at Ning Yin’s handsome and cold profile. After a moment, she blinked her eyes softly.

“Ning Yin?” she called, “Why are you here?”

Whenever her emotions rose, she would call him by his full name.

“I forgot to bring the Young Lady’s medicine.”

Ning Yin rubbed the small medicine jar in his palm, looking at her for a long time, slowly furrowing his handsome brows: “Why does the Young Lady look so devastated? Has someone bullied you?”

If Yu Huanchen had said something he shouldn’t have, he wouldn’t hold back.

“My parents are fine, don’t talk like that.”

Yu Lingxi seriously glared at him, then softened her gaze.

Thinking of the past that her brother had mentioned, her heart couldn’t hide the dull pain that pulled at her thoughts.

Ning Yin never cared about his own body or life, with indifference bordering on self-abuse.

Yu Lingxi even felt that if he had a choice, he would rather have died in the womb than come into this dirty world to suffer.

“It’s a pity.”

She sighed, looking somewhat sad, “That bowl of grape custard I bought for you yesterday was spilled.”

Ning Yin laughed, dismissively saying: “If it’s lost, it’s lost. Why be so distressed over it?”

Yu Lingxi shook her head: “What I’m distressed about is not that bowl of grape custard.”

She just urgently wanted to let Ning Yin taste something sweet.

His heart was too bitter.

The crowded lotus leaves by the walkway swayed in the wind.

Yu Lingxi had thought and stretched out her hand, trying to reach for the nearest lotus pod.

Her left arm was still injured, and a large movement inevitably pulled at the wound.

Just as she was standing on tiptoe with furrowed brows, she saw Ning Yin’s slender arm extend from beside her. With a crisp snap, he broke off the plump, emerald lotus pod for her.

Ning Yin tapped her smooth forehead with the lotus pod, coolly saying: “Does the Young Lady not want her wound to heal?”

Yu Lingxi took the lotus pod from his hand, broke off a lotus leaf to hold it, and leaned on the carved railing, concentrating on peeling it.

Her delicate fingertips were even whiter and more tender than the lotus seeds.

She placed the peeled lotus seeds on a clean lotus leaf and handed them to Ning Yin, saying: “For you to eat.”

Ning Yin’s cold smile disappeared.

He looked at Yu Lingxi for a long time, reached out to take one, and put it in his mouth, chewing even the bitter core thoroughly.

“Is it sweet?” Yu Lingxi asked, holding the lotus leaf.

Ning Yin savored the pure sweetness and slight bitterness on his tongue, narrowing his eyes to say: “Sweet.”

Yu Lingxi smiled and continued peeling.

It turned out that without the catalyst of the Extreme Pleasure Fragrance, just quietly watching her like this could also taste endless sweetness and beauty.

The bright, scorching sunlight fell on her body, transforming her ice-jade bones into a tempting warmth.

“Why is the Young Lady so attentive?” Ning Yin asked.

Yu Lingxi didn’t raise her head, saying softly: “Because you deserve it.”

Ning Yin said “Oh,” and replied indifferently: “Then the Young Lady must always be good to me. If one day you tire of me, I will kill…”

He was about to talk nonsense again. Yu Lingxi lightly snorted: “Kill whom?”

Ning Yin began to laugh softly, joyful and greedy.

He took a lotus seed, put it in his mouth, and bit it bit by bit, looking at her with near tenderness: “…I couldn’t bear to kill the Young Lady. Then I would have to kill myself.”

Plop, the lotus seed that Yu Lingxi was half-peeling fell to the ground.

It rolled a few times, then plunged into the pond.