(Before reading this chapter, I’ll give a friendly suggestion: read slowly, don’t skip lines or words. OK, you can begin now.)

Zhou Wenyu’s eyes were practically dropping ice shards, as if he could already see the Yellow Springs flowing behind me.

I looked back at him unmoved, deciding this wasn’t a hallucination, and said “Oh.”

Zhou Wenyu stared at me blankly: “Princess, you… the fire has reached your eyebrows, yet this is your reaction?”

“Should I be crying to heaven and earth, lamenting the setting sun with tears in my eyes?” I touched my nose: “That would require preparation.”

Zhou Wenyu: “…”

I pursed my lips, sat down, and poured myself a cup of warm tea: “Now, this Palace has several doubts. You might as well give me an explanation.”

Zhou Wenyu was startled.

“First, since this poison has been hidden in this Palace’s body for so long, why couldn’t you detect it when you saved me that day?”

Zhou Wenyu sighed: “Wanghun San is tyrannical precisely in this way. Even if poisoned, symptoms are difficult to detect through pulse examination in the first year. By the time it’s discovered, it’s already… beyond redemption.”

I turned the cup lid and asked again: “Second, why didn’t the academicians of the Imperial Medical Bureau detect any abnormality when taking my pulse?”

Zhou Wenyu showed some pride in his expression: “This poison has no record in medical history. Very few people in the world know of it. Moreover, the pulse symptoms resemble common cold. How could those old fools know? There have been similar cases in the past, which the Imperial Medical Bureau simply treated as ordinary poisoning resulting in sudden death. This old man has studied medicine with my master since childhood. He was… ahem, in any case, a once-in-a-century genius that cannot be compared to ordinary people.”

Difficult to detect? Very few know of it? Treated as ordinary poisoning?

I walked around the desk, casually picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote a few characters on paper. Zhou Wenyu looked at me sideways, saying carefully: “Princess, are you… alright? Regardless, this old man will do everything possible to treat the Princess…”

I lightly touched my chin with the brush handle and shook my head: “Something’s not right.”

Zhou Wenyu asked strangely: “What’s not right?”

Everything was wrong.

Regardless of which scoundrel poisoned me, making me lose my memory for nearly two years should have a reason.

If it were factional strife, they would have seized the opportunity to act. How could they allow a substitute princess to govern without exposing her? If it were to take advantage of my amnesia, my memory would eventually return, and by then, whether I died or not, they couldn’t escape retribution. Or was it because I discovered some unspeakable secret that they erased my memory? Even more wrong—it would be much simpler to just kill me directly. Why leave hidden dangers?

Speaking of which, this Wanghun San itself was inexplicable, completely failing to embody the core value of a poison.

Either die or live half-dead—what was the point of this “live first, die later” approach? Surely it wasn’t because I had done too many immoral things in the past, and someone was purely seeking revenge, making me spend two years in confusion, then die suddenly just when I was about to regain hope for life?

I asked: “Can you be certain I was poisoned with Wanghun San? Is it possible it was another poison, or just similar…”

Zhou Wenyu immediately showed a compassionate expression: “So the Princess still can’t accept this fact… Sigh, self-deception only increases sorrow. Of course, don’t doubt this old man’s medical skills. In this world, besides Wanghun San, what else could…” His voice stopped abruptly, as if suddenly remembering something. He stared at me: “Wait… this old man vaguely remembers my master once experimented with Tianshan Manduo, replacing the most deadly component of Wanghun San—mandala—with similar effects but no threat to life.”

My heart stirred slightly: “Really?”

Zhou Wenyu nodded, then regretfully shook his head: “Don’t mention that this was my master’s research that others couldn’t know. Even Tianshan Manduo is an extremely rare medicinal herb in the world. Who would invest such resources to create a Wanghun San pill?”

I asked: “So those who know about using Tianshan Manduo to replace mandala would most likely be from your school?”

Zhou Wenyu said: “Besides my senior uncle and junior brother, probably no one else would know. Senior uncle passed away with master long ago. Counting it all, only junior brother remains…”

I asked: “Where is he? Can you still find him?”

Zhou Wenyu said: “Naturally I can find him. He changed careers long ago to run a pharmacy business. The Tong’an Hall pharmacy in the capital is his… uh, does the Princess believe your Wanghun San was made with Tianshan Manduo?”

I raised an eyebrow noncommittally.

Zhou Wenyu said confusedly: “Although few know of this poison, it doesn’t necessarily come from my school.”

I said: “Naturally.”

Zhou Wenyu became even more bewildered: “Then why does the Princess have an expression of ‘I must have been poisoned with Tianshan Manduo’?”

I said: “Because… optimism?”

Zhou Wenyu: “…”

Indeed, causing amnesia was itself a premeditated frame-up.

Anyone who understood weighing pros and cons would take advantage of my vulnerability to gain benefits. But if the regent princess died suddenly, the entire nation would be shocked. At that time, many people would fall under suspicion, with the beneficiaries bearing the brunt. Since this person could make me stumble, they could naturally arrange for me to die smoothly when appropriate. Why create such trouble for themselves?

Of course, it couldn’t be ruled out that someone had too much money at home and felt that using such a bizarre poison to kill me was purely spiritual enjoyment for them. In that case, there would be no solution.

I stopped teasing Zhou Wenyu: “It’s just a possibility. Whether it’s true remains to be verified by finding your junior brother. As for whether it’s truly fatal, that’s beyond my control. The poisoning is certain—life and death rest with heaven’s will.”

Zhou Wenyu looked at me as if seeing a ghost, tilting his head and shaking it repeatedly: “This old man has practiced medicine for decades, seen those who faced death with courage, but never seen someone who views death like floating clouds…”

I smiled bitterly. Having wandered back and forth from death’s door several times, I had become somewhat numb to life and death. Besides, eating the rice bowl of a regent meant either being killed by others or being harmed to death by others. It wouldn’t do to be sorrowful all day long.

After Zhou Wenyu left, I was alone with increasingly tangled thoughts, so I put down my books and strolled through the flower garden. Standing by the water pool, feeling the clear breeze, bright sun, and osmanthus fragrance, my heart became as clear as the pool. Turning around, I saw someone sitting on the stone steps at the end of the corridor.

It was Han Fei.

He wore light, thin clothing, leaning against a corridor pillar, looking down at a book.

I walked forward and stood for a moment: “What book are you reading?”

Han Fei seemed startled and turned back. Seeing me, his expression calmed slightly. He bowed respectfully and answered: “An ordinary poetry collection.”

I took the poetry collection from his hands, glanced at the characters on the cover—it was Li Yu’s poetry collection—and smiled: “Li Yu was brilliantly talented, skilled in poetry and lyrics, a rare genius throughout history. He had no heart for power, yearning only for seclusion and freedom, but unfortunately he was born into an imperial family.”

Han Fei looked at me somewhat puzzled. He probably thought I was making much ado about nothing: “What does the Princess want to say?”

“Nothing, just expressing feelings.” I shrugged: “Young Master Han, let me ask you a question. Would you… particularly hope that someday heaven would open its eyes and take this Palace away, so you could regain freedom and fly as high as birds?”

Han Fei looked at me in surprise: “Why does the Princess say this?”

I waved my hand and laughed: “Don’t be nervous, I’m just asking casually…”

Han Fei straightened up and said seriously: “Han Fei doesn’t know why the Princess suddenly says such things. Regardless of how much Han Fei resents the Princess’s actions, remembering the Princess’s past affection toward me, everything began with my betraying the Princess first. Publicly and privately, Han Fei would never wish for the Princess to come to harm. So please don’t mention such words again, Princess.”

When he spoke these words, his eyes were like a star-filled lake surface, clear and bright.

I scratched my head somewhat apologetically: “I was indeed confused and spoke wrongly. Don’t take offense.”

Seeing me acknowledge my mistake, Han Fei finally relaxed. He turned and walked a few steps, then looked back with a conflicted expression, said nothing, and left with a sweep of his sleeves. I held the poetry collection and called: “Hey, your book…” Only after his figure disappeared did I slowly remove the stiff, aching smile from my face.

Something was wrong.

This was my palace garden. If he wanted leisure time, he could perfectly well compose poetry and play zither facing the clear sky and bright sun at the water pavilion. Why would he make such a big detour to come here and read Li Yu’s poetry collection?

I looked down and flipped through a few pages of the book, but after much pondering found no answers, so I circled back to my room.

Zhou Wenyu seemed absurd but was quite efficient in handling matters. Soon after contacting his long-unseen junior brother, he arranged this meeting for me.

His junior brother was surnamed Kang, named Lin, the manager of Tong’an Hall, the capital’s largest pharmacy. He was much younger than Zhou Wenyu—several years younger in fact—appearing at most thirty years old. When bowing, his jade thumb ring gleamed, a merchant reeking of money. I was currently dressed as a man. Kang Lin led Zhou Wenyu and me into the pharmacy’s inner hall, ordered tea and refreshments served, showing no neglect.

After dismissing the servants, Kang Lin lifted his robes, knelt, and kowtowed: “Respectfully requesting Your Highness’s well-being.”

I looked at Zhou Wenyu in surprise. Zhou Wenyu quickly waved his hands: “Ah, I never told junior brother you were… the Princess… Junior brother, how did you…”

Kang Lin raised his head: “Senior brother works at the Princess Manor. We haven’t met for years, but before we could catch up properly, you brought a girl disguised as a man. Seeing her noble bearing and composure, I thought she was most likely the Princess herself.” Looking at me: “Since this commoner guessed, I cannot pretend ignorance. Proper etiquette must be observed. If there’s any presumption, please forgive me, Princess.”

I reevaluated him. Though this person appeared ordinary and had a humble attitude, when speaking, the brilliance in his eyes was hard to conceal—unlike ordinary merchants. I smiled: “I’ve heard that disciples of Medicine King Valley are all exceptionally gifted, especially the last disciple. Seeing you today, you’re indeed extraordinary.”

Now it was Kang Lin’s turn to be stunned. Zhou Wenyu began waving his hands in amazement again: “Junior brother, I never told the Princess that master was from… Princess, how do you know…”

“When this Palace first met you, you said you had drifted north for over three months. Calculating backward, you most likely came from Linchuan or Chengzhou. Judging by your accent’s tonal patterns, you’re probably from the Linchuan area. The most famous place in Linchuan in past years was naturally Medicine King Valley of the Yao family. Later, the Yao family met with disaster, and disciples scattered across the world. This situation coincides with yours.”

I looked at them with complete composure, secretly breathing a sigh of relief that I had guessed correctly about Medicine King Valley. Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but wonder—how did I know about Medicine King Valley?

Kang Lin’s eyes showed appreciation. After standing, he sat properly and asked about my purpose. I exchanged glances with Zhou Wenyu: “Boss Kang is a first-class merchant in the capital. You must have met countless people and befriended many scholars and powerful figures?”

Kang Lin said: “Does the Princess want to investigate someone through this commoner?”

I said: “Speaking with Boss Kang is indeed efficient. Then this Palace will straighten the curves and ask directly. Previously, did anyone obtain a poison from you… called Wanghun San?”

Kang Lin became alert: “Yes.”

I said: “Boss Kang has good courage. Speaking so directly, aren’t you afraid this Palace will charge you with illegally selling prohibited drugs?”

Kang Lin said: “Since the Princess asks, you naturally have means to investigate. This commoner can only tell the truth to have a chance at forgiveness. I won’t hide it from the Princess—those two Wanghun San pills were personally prepared by this commoner.”

“Two times?”

“Correct.”

I frowned: “When were they respectively?”

Kang Lin thought for a moment: “Both over a year ago, during peach blossom season. Less than half a month apart.”

Peach blossom season? Wasn’t that exactly when I was saved by Xu Fang? Could my amnesia and disappearance have some inevitable connection?

“Were both times the same person?”

Kang Lin shook his head: “This commoner cannot answer that. People doing such business operate secretly, often using inconspicuous people as intermediaries. How would the real buyers behind the scenes easily show themselves? However, in this commoner’s humble opinion, the two buyers had slightly different operating styles and bought different medicines.”

“Oh? How so?”

Kang Lin said: “The first buyer was generous, directly sending three chests of gold. The gold bars had no markings, as if deliberately smelted to avoid revealing identity. The second buyer gave a thick stack of banknotes, new and old mixed, from both Huifu Bank and Tongyu Bank, seemingly accumulated over time. Of course, this might be another way of keeping a low profile. As for the medicine, the former was deadly poison, while the latter required ensuring no threat to life, even… threatening this commoner that if anything went wrong, my head wouldn’t be safe.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly: “Mandala and Tianshan Manduo?”

Kang Lin glanced at Zhou Wenyu again: “Senior brother even told the Princess about this.” Then turning back: “Precisely.”

Zhou Wenyu listened to this point and said blankly: “This… this makes it impossible to determine…”

Indeed, this way, I could have been poisoned with either the former or the latter…

However, what disturbed me was: besides dealing with me, who else would invest heavily in buying such poison, and for what purpose? During this time, had any important figures lost their memory…

Wait, could it be…

“Divine Doctor Zhou, Boss Kang, you’re both from Medicine King Valley. Your medical skills must be unmatched in the world. I have a doubt and hope you can answer truthfully.” Seeing them both nod, I calmed my tone slightly: “Is it possible for Wanghun San to make someone forget part of their memory overnight… for example, one year?”

Zhou Wenyu and Kang Lin looked at each other, both startled. Zhou Wenyu said: “Wanghun San’s effect is to lose all past memories, forgetting one day at a time, becoming like a lost soul, then gradually recovering before the soul departs. There’s no such thing as forgetting one year, and moreover…”

“Moreover,” Kang Lin continued, “forgetting one year of memory and such—probably no medicine in this world could achieve that…”

I trembled all over: “No such medicine exists?”

Kang Lin nodded: “Amnesia has many types with various causes—head trauma, psychological shock. Severe cases can’t even manage basic living. From an artificial perspective, causing complete amnesia is simplest.”

Zhou Wenyu said: “Poisoning, acupuncture—the principle is paralyzing the meridians in a person’s brain that store memories. But no one in this world can precisely control a person’s memory. Just as if this old man wanted to seal the Princess’s memories of today, it would be impossible.”

Kang Lin glanced sideways: “Why would you seal the Princess’s memory?”

Zhou Wenyu quickly waved his hands: “Ah, I was just giving an example… Princess, please don’t blame me…”

I could no longer hear their brotherly banter clearly. From when Kang Lin said no such medicine existed, I felt as if I had fallen into an ice cellar, every pore emanating cold air.

If no physician in this world could seal memories, then similarly, no one could make someone forget a period of memories overnight.

Yet this very thing had happened around me.

Then there was only one possibility.

Fake.

That person had never lost his memory. He remembered the memories belonging to Xu Fang and He Feng.

He clearly remembered, yet calmly said: “Girl, who are you?”

He clearly remembered, yet sternly questioned me: “What are your motives?”

He clearly remembered, yet said in the rushing river: “Truly a venomous heart.”

This was a deception.

From the beginning, Xu Fang… no, not Xu Fang. Xu Fang was a fictional character created by Nie Ran—he never existed.

The money painstakingly saved to buy a meat shop, the affectionate flute playing, the heartfelt vows of eternal commitment—all of it was acting.

That person who was completely devoted to He Feng, would do anything for He Feng, would stay up all night caring for sick He Feng with red eyes, warm as sunshine—was just a dream of He Feng amid osmanthus fragrance and moonlit waters.

And this dream was personally woven by Nie Ran—

Second Update—

Was this… the complete truth?

No, before personally confirming, I couldn’t panic or jump to conclusions.

I picked up the blue porcelain tea bowl from the table, wanting to drink water to force myself calm, but due to trembling, I knocked the cup to the floor. With a crisp crash, the cup shattered like my heart—cracked and broken.

Zhou Wenyu and Kang Lin were alarmed, hurrying forward, afraid I might be hurt by the shards. Kang Lin looked at me: “Is there something troubling the Princess?”

I looked at him woodenly, taking a long time to understand what he was saying. After a while, I asked: “Can mandala and Tianshan Manduo be easily distinguished by the naked eye?”

Kang Lin said: “Though they appear similar, experts can naturally distinguish them. People like my senior brother and me naturally…”

“That is to say,” I interrupted, “ordinary people might easily confuse them?”

Kang Lin said: “Passing off inferior goods as genuine has happened in the marketplace.”

I looked at him expressionlessly: “So Boss Kang might also make mistakes?”

Zhou Wenyu didn’t quite understand: “Princess, others aside, my junior brother and I would never…”

“Boss Kang,” I ignored Zhou Wenyu, staring directly at Kang Lin, saying coldly: “When preparing Wanghun San, you might have mistaken inferior goods for Tianshan Manduo and sold them to buyers, correct?”

Kang Lin looked steadily at me, a flash of confusion in his eyes. Suddenly he curved his lips in a smile: “If the Princess says so, then it must be so. Perhaps when importing a batch of Tianshan Manduo herbs, I mistook mandala for Tianshan Manduo.”

Zhou Wenyu was horrified and pushed Kang Lin: “What are you talking about? How could you make such a basic mistake?”

Kang Lin ignored his senior brother and smiled slightly at me: “For this news to spread wouldn’t be difficult—just need a customer who bought Tianshan Manduo to make a scene at the shop, take it to court, and naturally become notorious. However, this commoner’s pharmacy would lose nearly a thousand taels of silver…”

I said: “Double compensation—this Palace will reimburse Boss Kang.”

Kang Lin said: “If the buyer who purchased Tianshan Manduo Wanghun San comes to trouble this commoner…”

I said: “Does Boss Kang still need to worry about this?”

Kang Lin lowered his head and smiled.

Zhou Wenyu looked left and right, stamping his feet in frustration: “What are you talking about? This old man can’t understand at all!”

I gathered my sleeves and said to Kang Lin: “Since we’ve reached this point, this Palace won’t stay longer.”

Kang Lin bowed deeply: “Respectfully seeing off Princess Your Highness.”

My mind was in chaos, remembering only that face, that blue robe, that smile, that warmth—all those seemingly peaceful beauties slowly transforming into killing intent.

When I dragged my feet back to the manor bridge window in confusion, I saw Song Langsheng standing by the pond in the twilight, his fire-red official robes fluttering in the wind like clouds burning across the sky, blazingly bright… My eyes stung with tears. Regardless of palace intrigue and factional struggles, no matter how many undercurrents surged, no matter how much truth and falsehood remained, at least there was one person waiting for me to come home.

Song Langsheng saw me return and strode forward, frowning: “Your health isn’t recovered, yet you’re running around again. Where did you go?”

“I…” I forced a smile: “I went out to clear my head…”

Song Langsheng bent down slightly, pressing his palm to my forehead to confirm I had no fever, then sighed with relief. Seeing him like this, a warm current surged in my heart, and I even vaguely worried—if I really died someday, what would he do?

The night passed peacefully.

But the next day, the capital was stirred by small waves.

Tong’an Hall, the capital’s largest pharmacy, was detained by the capital magistrate on suspicion of selling various fake medicinal materials. Many customers who had previously bought medicines came to Tong’an Hall to cause an uproar. This matter quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys.

For the past two days, I had been recuperating at home, hardly leaving the manor.

On the third night, I woke from sleep and went alone to a residence on Junping Street near Xihua Gate. The servants opened the door for me, and I entered the master’s bedroom directly from the corridor, hiding behind a screen.

The master of this residence was naturally Kang Lin. Tonight at hai hour, the capital magistrate would release him due to insufficient evidence. Kang Lin had three residences in the capital. Coming from the magistrate’s office, he would have to pass through an official road before determining which residence he would stay at tonight.

That is to say, from confirming which residence Kang Lin would stay at tonight to arriving here, at the earliest it would take half an hour from this moment.

I waited quietly.

This was a gamble I was making.

I was betting that the second person who bought Wanghun San would come to find Kang Lin at the first opportunity, asking whether that pill contained mandala or Tianshan Manduo.

With a life at stake, he would certainly be anxious and would personally verify.

He might even wait in advance before Kang Lin returned to his room.

But no matter how early he came, he couldn’t be earlier than me.

All of this, from the beginning, was a smokescreen I had the capital magistrate release, in cooperation with Kang Lin.

If this person was someone I didn’t know at all, then I was most likely poisoned with mandala.

If this person…

Just as I thought of this, the side window creaked open as someone pushed it, and a black shadow floated in.

He came even earlier than I imagined!

I held my breath, listening to this person’s light footsteps, feeling him drawing closer to me.

My heart thundered, and I unconsciously breathed heavily twice.

That person suddenly stopped: “Who?”

I bit my trembling teeth, drew the long sword I had been gripping, and slowly stepped out from behind the screen.

That person’s face was covered with black gauze, and he also held a sword. With a backhand move, his blade pointed directly at me: “Who are you?”

I stepped forward two paces into the moonlight streaming through the area, revealing my true face before him.

That person shook violently, quickly retreating two steps. Before I could say anything, he was about to dash outside.

“Here, inside and out, are filled with my hidden guards.” I redirected my long sword to a rope hanging in the air in the darkness, saying methodically: “This rope is tied to a bronze bell. If you step one foot outside this door, I’ll cut the rope, the bell will fall and ring, all hidden guards will appear, and then you’ll have no escape.”

Hearing this, that person indeed stopped. I said in a low voice: “With your reaction, you must know me. You should understand why I’m here.”

That person didn’t speak or turn around.

I said: “Remove your face mask.”

That person remained motionless.

I said coldly: “Today you cannot escape this fate. You dared to poison—don’t you dare admit your crime?”

Outside, tree leaves rustled. He didn’t answer—only darkness remained.

After a very long time, so long my hand was almost too sore to hold the sword hilt, that person finally raised his hand to remove the face mask and turned around.

The bright moon slowly hid behind clouds, and the room fell into darkness. For a moment, his features were hazy and difficult to recognize. But when the dark clouds passed and bright moonlight clearly illuminated that face, I was momentarily blinded, feeling all my strength drain away, unable to move even a fraction.

He held his sword pointed at me, lips slightly curved in an indescribable expression: “Your hidden guards, no matter how fast, can’t be faster than me. If I wanted to take you hostage and leave, you would be powerless to resist.”

With a clang, my sword finally slipped from my sweaty palm and crashed heavily onto the wooden floor.

“So it really is you…”

“…Song Langsheng.”

—End of Chapter—

Author’s Note:

I revised the overall structure and the ending.

Hmm, seeing the comments, everyone has various speculations and confusions. Well, let me clarify a few things.

A beauty expressed that she couldn’t understand what this Yi Shou Zhe Tian Yi Shou Chui Di – Chapter was about. Actually, this Yi Shou Zhe Tian Yi Shou Chui Di – Chapter is about the Princess investigating whether she was poisoned with a deadly poison or a non-deadly one. From various signs and analysis, she then sets up a trap to find out who poisoned her—turns out it’s Prince Consort Song. So what about Nie Ran? Nie Ran actually has nothing to do with the Princess being poisoned. It’s just that during the investigation, she discovered he might—emphasis on might—be pretending to have amnesia to get close to her, because both divine doctors stated that no one could make a person lose exactly one year of memory overnight.

So what’s the truth?

Maybe everyone is protagonist-biased, thinking the female lead’s reasoning is the truth. This is actually quite one-sided. It’s like when the Prince Consort appears here—everyone thinks he’s the bad guy. Of course, many students say he’s a good guy trying to save the Princess by switching medicines. These are all speculations. What the truth is requires more information to determine.

Then I saw many people shouting “ahhh, the abuse has begun” and such.

Is this story abusive? Actually, weeping and wailing isn’t my style, nor the Princess’s style. So actually, following the Princess should be right. As for the abuse question… I can say it’s actually still early… poof…

I hope the above doesn’t contain spoilers…

Finally, about the male lead question.

It’s really still too early to jump to conclusions. Also, as I write, I’ve been changing many plot points and outlines. For example, initially I wanted Wei to be the male lead, then later I wanted Lu to be the male lead. However, I can guarantee that in the end, it will meet everyone’s expectations.

Hmm~~~ That’s it~~~ I’m going to play Immortal Sword 5~~~