Prince Gong of Xijiang rolled his eyes back and fainted. Prince Rui was immediately embarrassed: “This—”

He had heard of people fainting at the sight of blood or heights, but never heard of anyone fainting at the sight of a doctor, especially when the doctor was a delicate young lady.

Prince Rui couldn’t help but look at Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao’s heart stirred.

Just now, when Prince Gong of Xijiang saw her, his expression looked as if he’d seen a ghost. There must be something suspicious about this, but she couldn’t guess what the suspicion was.

“Third Miss—” Prince Rui called out.

Qiao Zhao smiled: “Your Highness needn’t worry.”

After speaking, she took out a silver needle and pricked Prince Gong of Xijiang’s tiger’s mouth. His eyelashes soon trembled, and he opened his eyes.

Qiao Zhao quietly stepped back half a step.

“How can you be here? How can you be here?” Prince Gong of Xijiang stared straight at Qiao Zhao, calling out twice.

Seeing that Prince Gong of Xijiang was not normal, Prince Rui hurriedly explained: “Your Highness, Third Miss Li is someone I invited to treat your illness.”

“Third Miss Li?” Prince Gong of Xijiang was stunned, his gaze gradually clearing.

Qiao Zhao bowed to Prince Gong of Xijiang and asked coolly: “Did Your Highness mistake me for someone else?”

Upon hearing Qiao Zhao’s words, Prince Gong of Xijiang’s whole body stiffened. He quickly shook his head: “No, this prince… I was just having a nightmare…”

Qiao Zhao tugged at the corner of her mouth and said nothing more.

“Third Miss, I see that Prince Gong’s complexion doesn’t look good. Please examine him first.”

Qiao Zhao nodded slightly and said to Prince Gong of Xijiang: “Your Highness, please extend your hand.”

Although Prince Gong of Xijiang had regained his senses, he was very wary of Qiao Zhao. After hesitating for a moment, he slowly extended his hand.

Cool fingertips touched his wrist, and Prince Gong of Xijiang suddenly trembled.

Qiao Zhao quickly withdrew her hand, suppressing the urge to wipe her hands with a handkerchief, and said coolly: “Your Highness’s pulse comes quickly and goes quickly, beating irregularly. This is caused by sudden shock.”

Prince Gong of Xijiang couldn’t help but look at Prince Rui.

Prince Rui shook his head, indicating he hadn’t told Qiao Zhao anything.

Prince Gong of Xijiang’s gaze toward Qiao Zhao changed again.

Qiao Zhao keenly noticed that much of the terror in Prince Gong of Xijiang’s eyes had receded.

“Prince Gong did indeed suffer a shock, and he hasn’t improved after taking the prescription Director Li prescribed.”

Qiao Zhao smiled at Prince Rui: “Director Li’s prescription is certainly fine, but—”

“But what?” Prince Gong of Xijiang couldn’t help but ask.

He had been ill for two days and felt his body becoming increasingly heavy. Thinking of his sister’s death made him feel even more desolate, fearing he would die in a foreign land.

If he could return safely, he would never come to Great Liang again. He and this place were incompatible!

“But Your Highness was shocked too severely, causing your soul to become unstable. Ordinary prescriptions won’t be effective.”

Upon hearing Qiao Zhao mention the words “soul,” Prince Gong of Xijiang immediately understood: “Miss Li means that I was scared out of my wits? We in Xijiang do have such sayings…”

Prince Rui silently rolled his eyes.

Was being scared out of one’s wits something glorious? To also drag Xijiang into this—truly hungry and indiscriminate!

“Physician Li once taught me methods to retrieve souls. I can try.”

“What does Third Miss need to prepare?”

“I only need a quiet room without windows, with no disturbances. That’s enough.”

“No disturbances?” Prince Rui hesitated.

A man and woman alone in a room wasn’t quite proper. If something happened, with one being an Xijiang prince and the other Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée, he would have an even bigger headache.

“I’ll have my maidservant assist me.”

Prince Rui breathed a sigh of relief: “Very well, I’ll have someone arrange it immediately.”

In the windowless room, the light was dim. Prince Gong of Xijiang was clearly very uncomfortable, forcibly suppressing the urge to bolt from the room. He asked hoarsely: “Can’t we light a lamp?”

“I’ll light one now.”

The young woman’s gentle voice came. Prince Gong of Xijiang, hearing her voice, wasn’t comforted but became even more tense.

Suddenly, the room brightened. Flames flickered in the candlestick on the table, but there was no sign of the young woman beside the table.

Prince Gong of Xijiang’s gaze unconsciously fell on the dancing red flames.

“The sky is very dark, outside is very quiet, only the candlelight in the room sways gently. You stare at the candle flame and gradually become entranced…”

The young woman’s voice sounded again. In this setting, it didn’t seem abrupt but merged with the environment, making Prince Gong of Xijiang focus all his attention on the candle flame, forgetting to notice who was speaking.

Binglu faithfully guarded the door according to Qiao Zhao’s instructions, not daring to breathe loudly, though her expression was filled with amazement.

“The night grows deeper and deeper, yet you can’t sleep…”

“Yes, I can’t sleep…” Prince Gong of Xijiang said in a dazed manner, murmuring.

“Why can’t you sleep?”

“I’m waiting for someone…”

“It’s so late, hasn’t the person you’re waiting for come yet? Who is this person? Where did they go?”

“She… she’s a dancer from my residence. I ordered her to go to the Jinlin Guard prison to deliver food to Marquis Guanjun…”

Binglu covered her mouth tightly, nearly crying out in shock.

Qiao Zhao’s expression turned stern, but her tone showed no fluctuation: “Why did she go deliver food to Marquis Guanjun?”

“The food was poisoned. I sent her to poison Marquis Guanjun…” Under Qiao Zhao’s imperceptible hypnotic guidance, Prince Gong of Xijiang revealed everything. “She looks exactly like Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée. This trip would surely not fail…”

Qiao Zhao secretly drew a breath and said calmly: “But she didn’t return…”

Prince Gong of Xijiang’s expression suddenly became agitated: “She returned! Her hands returned! In the middle of the night, someone knocked on the door, and her hands were placed in a food box outside the door… Someone wants to harm me, someone wants to harm me!”

“Don’t be afraid. Those hands have already been thrown away. You’re safe in Prince Rui’s residence…”

“I’m safe?”

“Yes, you’re safe in Great Liang because those hands aren’t here anymore.”

“Where did those hands go?”

The candle flame flickered bright and dim, the light in the room was murky, and the young woman’s voice became increasingly gentle and ethereal: “When you return to your own prince’s residence in Xijiang and are bathing in the tub, you’ll discover those hands reaching up from the bottom of the tub, grasping your feet—”

Prince Gong of Xijiang’s teeth chattered, his face deathly pale.

Just as he was about to collapse, the young woman’s voice became even more gentle: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. You’re safe now. You’re in Prince Rui’s residence. Here there are only people protecting you, not those hands…”

“No hands?”

“Right, no hands. Now forget about those hands. Have a good sleep, and all the things that frighten you will pass.”

Prince Gong of Xijiang’s eyelids began to droop. After about the time of a cup of tea, he finally couldn’t hold on and fell asleep leaning against the headboard.

The room was completely quiet.

After a long while, Binglu carefully said: “Miss, he, he—”

Qiao Zhao’s expression was serious: “He’s just asleep, understand?”

Binglu nodded repeatedly: “This servant understands!”

Qiao Zhao looked back at Prince Gong of Xijiang sleeping soundly on the couch and smiled coldly.

Since he dared to poison her man, he couldn’t wait to return to Xijiang and be scared to death by those hands.

Yes, that’s right. She had said it before—she was exactly this kind of person who would repay every slight.