It was late at night, but the Song father and son still hadn't returned. In Jinxuan's courtyard, the lights were brightly lit. Song Jinyu scribbled on the paper from time to time, constantly recalling the over a thousand kinds of gu arts she had studied.
"Sigh..."
She was so sleepy that she finally slumped onto the bed and fell into a deep slumber. At this moment, the sky was just beginning to brighten.
It wasn't just her who had stayed up all night. Zhongli Mingye also didn't sleep in the prince's mansion. No matter whether Suoli could be saved or not, he had to find out the ins and outs of this matter and couldn't let the culprit go unpunished.
Qingfeng thoroughly investigated the backgrounds of all the people in the post station and finally found two suspicious individuals. After a night of interrogation, they didn't show any suspicious signs.
"Your Highness, the eldest miss has stayed up all night," Qingfeng hesitated before telling Zhongli Mingye the news he had gotten from Chengsong.
Since he had his hands behind his back, he didn't see the expression on Prince Yu's face.
However, Qingfeng heard him say, "Send some tonics to the eldest miss."
The two of them had a falling - out at the post station. Now that he got the news about the eldest miss, the prince still cared so much about her. It was obvious that he really wasn't angry with the eldest miss.
Presumably, this silly girl was really researching countermeasures. She was always so kind, innocent. There was nothing he could do but protect her well.
Thinking of Song Jinyu, he forcefully suppressed his eagerness to see her. "By the way, convey a message to her on my behalf. Tell her not to interfere in this matter!"
Qingfeng took the order and left. When the young girl in the Song Mansion heard this, her face flushed with anger. Before she could explode, Qingfeng quickly retreated.
"Good for you, Zhongli Mingye!"
The more he didn't want her to interfere, the more she wanted to go against his wishes. She was determined to take care of this! Yan Fei watched her with amusement, feeling a twinge in his heart. When had Song Jinyu become so childish? Was it Zhongli Mingye who had changed her?
At the post station, Suoli lay quietly, without a sound. Nai An and Xicheng came to check on her several times. The doctors in Liuzhou City couldn't determine her condition. The two princes were almost about to give up on her when a young girl showed up.
It was Song Jinyu who had diagnosed Suoli with the gu art the other day.
She had come to see Suoli again.
Nai An had a good impression of her and didn't try to stop her. So he allowed Song Jinyu to observe Suoli's condition.
Silently thinking about countermeasures, faint blue lines began to appear under Suoli's skin. These lines started from her fingertips and slowly extended along her arms.
Not good! Song Jinyu knew in her heart that if these lines reached the heart, not even the great immortals could save her.
She couldn't help but feel sorry for Suoli, who was only seventeen years old, yet was facing the tragedy of death. She shook her head, feeling sad. When she was about to leave, Zhongli Mingye blocked her way.
She was too lazy to pay attention to him. She bowed briefly and was about to leave, but was irritated by his cold words.
"Did you not take my words to heart?"
Why should she listen to him? Pretending not to hear, Song Jinyu quickly walked away in small steps. Qingfeng, who was waiting on the side, was stunned, while Zhongli Mingye was so angry that his forehead veins were throbbing. This girl! She completely ignored him.
Qingfeng secretly laughed: It was all because of your indulgence.
Song Jinyu didn't know what was wrong with herself. Whenever she saw Zhongli Mingye, she would get angry for no reason. She knew that he was doing it for her own good, but she still didn't want to see him.
"Sigh..."
Niaoniao poured tea for her and said helplessly, "Eldest miss, why do you keep sighing?"
"Because I have no idea..."
Micui came in to pay her respects. Seeing her frowning and holding her face, looking depressed, she said, "The prince is doing it for your own good. He treasures you the most. Naturally, he can't bear to see you suffer."
Treasures her the most? Song Jinyu gave Micui a disgruntled look. Did everyone from Prince Yu's mansion speak so sweetly?
"Princess Suoli's life is precious, but in the prince's heart, it's not as important as you." Micui's words stirred up ripples in Song Jinyu's heart. She wasn't unaware of Zhongli Mingye's affection. It was precisely because she knew how deep this affection was that she wanted to share this burden with him.
"You can all go. I want to be alone for a while..." After the door closed, Song Jinyu got up and walked to the desk.
She recorded her observations of Princess Suoli today, then closed her eyes again, desperately searching for scattered memories in her mind.
The matter of gu poison was no small matter.
Although the Jinshui Palace had been very secretive, it was an undeniable fact that Lady Jinhua was from the Miao ethnic group. Was this matter related to Ouyang Jinse? Song Jinyu was extremely annoyed. Now that the gu art hadn't been solved yet, it was also connected to Ouyang Jinse. For her, it was a big trouble.
The person she was thinking about was now in Qinghe Pass.
"The masked messenger conveyed the news to Ouyang Jinse, "His Highness the Crown Prince is very happy to hear the news from Liuzhou City."
But the young man in brocade clothes remained expressionless. "Don't be too happy too soon. Unless Zhongli Mingye really gets into trouble because of this."
The masked messenger didn't take it seriously. "Whether the plan succeeds or not, His Highness the Crown Prince's great cause is the most important."
"That gu poison is one in a million. Even if Hua Tuo were alive, he couldn't eradicate it completely." Ouyang Jinse was very proud. That gu worm was Lady Jinhua's masterpiece. It had been kept in the secret chamber of the Jinshui Palace and had never been shown to others.
He knew very well that ordinary gu poisons would definitely leave traces and could be removed by ordinary descendants of the Miao ethnic group. But the gu poison he used was a peerless gu poison developed by Lady Jinhua according to the secret legends of the Miao ethnic group.
No one could cure Suoli. Presumably, now Song Cishi and Prince Yu must be very distressed.
The emperor in the palace received the news that Princess Suoli was seriously ill in Liuzhou. He only thought that the assassin incident in the Liu Garden had frightened the princess, so he didn't take it too seriously. After all, although the Gu clan was important on the border, compared to the Great Xia Dynasty, it was just a small obstacle.
He Yizheng accompanied him fishing in the imperial garden. "Father..."
"The fish has taken the bait!" She clapped her hands happily. The emperor proudly took off the koi. He Yi excitedly went to look at the fish.
The emperor cast the fishing line into the water again and continued to close his eyes and fish. "Father, you look just like Jiang Taigong fishing now."
"Oh? Who am I waiting for to take the bait?"
He Yi bounced over and said with a smile, "Naturally, it's those who are willing to take the bait!"
Her words made the emperor laugh heartily. Seeing him happy, He Yi couldn't help but say a few more words. "Father, He Yi hasn't seen the third and fourth elder brothers for a long time."
"Why do you miss them?"
"He Yi's siblings have always been very close. But when we grew up, we rarely see each other." The young girl's smiling face made the emperor temporarily put aside his calculations.
"When you grow up, you'll have more troubles. The Mid - Autumn Festival is coming soon. Then you siblings will be able to see each other!" After all, these children had once been as dependent on him as He Yi. But when they grew up, they all had their own thoughts. A glint of light flashed in the emperor's wise eyes. If these children just stayed honestly on their fiefs without any thoughts, it wouldn't be a good thing either.
The emperor could clearly see the thoughts of Prince Cheng. He also knew the stupidity of the crown prince. Prince Yu was too cold - hearted and was the most unpredictable. Prince Yong was always brave and competitive, and was the least threatening. The adult princes were the biggest threat to the emperor, who was in his prime.
Suddenly, He Yi seemed to remember something. "Father, He Yi also wants to see Sister Jinyu."
"Why do you suddenly mention her?"
"I wonder if the fourth elder brother will bring her to the capital?"
The emperor smiled and said, "They aren't married yet, so naturally he won't."
He Yi said regretfully, "The fourth elder brother is the luckiest. He can marry Sister Jinyu. He Yi hopes that they will always be a harmonious couple and happy for a lifetime."
There was a hidden meaning in her words. He Yi was thinking about the matter of Prince Yu's side concubine last time. Recently, the queen was still not giving up and wanted to select some palace maids to bestow on the princes. So today she deliberately accompanied the emperor fishing.
"Miss Song is indeed a good match... She knows how to behave and is well - mannered," the emperor thought of the fourth prince and Song Jinyu after hearing He Yi's words. He also thought that they were well - matched. The queen bestowed side concubines and concubines from time to time. The emperor gradually thought that the queen had ulterior motives. It was time to give the queen and the crown prince a good warning. The emperor could clearly see their selfishness.
Seeing the emperor's face changing, He Yi changed the topic.