"Junior Sister, you're back!"
He Yan was polishing his sword. He looked up and casually greeted Song Jinyu.
"Senior Brother, is Master in?" Holding the charming blue flower in her hand, Song Jinyu rushed to the courtyard of Miao Yunshen excitedly.
"He just fell asleep after taking the medicine!"
As soon as she returned, she couldn't wait to rush to Miao Yunshen's courtyard. Now that she had the charming blue flower in her hand, she urgently needed to give it to him. Maybe it could help Master live a longer life.
Miao Yunshen roused himself. When Song Jinyu rushed in, he seemed to see Qiu Shuixin for a moment.
"Master..." The sweet - voiced girl quickly ran to his side.
Looking at her lovingly, "Yu'er, slow down... Cough, cough!"
"Look, what's this!" She proudly presented the treasure in her hand.
It was actually the charming blue flower!
Miao Yunshen propped himself up, "This..." He wanted to ask where it came from, which posed a problem for Song Jinyu because she had no idea how the flower got into the treasure bag.
So, she just mumbled vaguely, "Don't worry about that. Master, I'll go and make medicine with it!"
After Miao Yunshen took the medicine, she carefully covered the quilt for Master. She told the young servants to take good care of him, then silently walked down the steps. Yan Fei had been waiting for her for a while.
"Master's illness is getting worse. Even though I'm good at medicine, I still can't save him," Song Jinyu said sadly. She stood quietly on the steps. The moonlight shone down, and her hair fluttered in the wind. In the night, her face was a bit blurred, hiding the tears in her eyes.
Yan Fei silently walked to her side, "You've done your best!"
"Why torture yourself like this? Master has already seen it through."
"All he ever wanted was the peace and stability of Tianmen Mountain."
He handed a pack of hot food to Song Jinyu.
"Wow! It smells so good..."
She opened the tightly - wrapped lotus leaf bag, and the aroma of marinated chicken feet wafted in the night.
Song Jinyu munched on the chicken feet contentedly, "Senior Brother still loves me the most!"
Seeing her gobble it up, Yan Fei smiled and reached out to wipe the soup stains on her lips. Song Jinyu's bright eyes were the most beautiful scenery in his eyes.
The Second Elder, Du Zhouli, was in Wen Sirong's courtyard at this time. After a game of chess, Du Zhouli won by a narrow margin.
"Sirong... Your master's health is deteriorating day by day. Most of the power in Tianmen Mountain is now in your hands." He drank up the tea in his cup, hiding the eagerness for power in his eyes.
Wen Sirong was as gentle and elegant as ever, "I'm just doing things for Master. There's no talk of power."
He had been getting closer to the Second Elder recently. So, those with a discerning eye had long noticed that he had the support of the Elders' Council. After all, after the death of the First Elder, the Second Elder had become the de - facto controller of the Elders' Council. And after Miao Yunshen fell seriously ill, he actually took control of Tianmen Mountain.
"But your master once hinted that the young master of Tianmen Mountain is traveling around." Du Zhouli looked at Wen Sirong. This young man seemed gentle and kind on the surface, but Du Zhouli couldn't see through him.
"Second Elder, you don't need to worry about it. Master has already made proper arrangements."
Wen Sirong thought of that sly and charming face and his heart softened.
Du Zhouli walked up to him and blocked his way, "Anyway, your uncle is on your side!"
"Then, thank you, Uncle..."
The night was a bit cool. Song Jinyu returned to her courtyard and saw Wen Sirong waiting for her, "Junior Sister..."
"Senior Brother, why aren't you asleep yet?"
"Did you just come back from Master's place? How is he?"
Song Jinyu sat down on the stone bench in the courtyard, "Still the same, but I got a medicinal herb. I think it will be of great benefit to him."
"I hope Master will get better soon."
"He will surely be much better tomorrow morning." Song Jinyu had great confidence in the efficacy of the medicinal herb. Although it was said in legend to have the effect of bringing the dying back to life, after all, legends were just legends.
According to the "Herbal Canon", the charming blue flower was helpful for nourishing qi and blood and had the effect of rejuvenating dying patients.
Wen Sirong was a bit touched, "Thank you, Junior Sister!" Thinking of what Master had told him and looking at the bright - eyed girl in front of him, he actually felt a bit reluctant.
If that heavy responsibility were to fall on her young shoulders, would she still be able to smile so innocently?
The Elders' Council was eyeing Tianmen Mountain covetously, and the people in the Medicine Hall were forming cliques for selfish ends. Master had told him to secretly investigate but not to act rashly. He understood that the sect leader wanted to leave them for the young master to use as a deterrent in Tianmen Mountain.
But would she be able to do it?
"Junior Sister... No matter what, I will always be loyal to you!"
It was like an oath, which greatly surprised Song Jinyu, "Senior Brother, did you drink too much today?"
"We're siblings. There's no need to say so much. Besides, the future of Tianmen Mountain depends on you!"
Now she had figured it out. Master entrusting Tianmen Mountain to her was probably just to ensure that she wouldn't be bullied in the future. But Song Jinyu was growing up and had her own thoughts.
Zhongli Mingye's carriage was traveling on the official road. "It's getting late, Your Highness. Do you want to rest?"
"Keep going."
His mother's illness weighed heavily on his mind. No matter what, arriving earlier would give him more peace of mind.
It was a pity that Song Jinyu wasn't with him on this trip back to the capital. It made the journey rather dull. He also had another purpose for this trip to the capital, which was to ask the imperial astrologer to choose a good day.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. Even though the road ahead was full of hardships, this moment still felt sweet.
"Be careful! There are assassins..."
Qing Feng and Xing Jian tensed up. Suddenly, arrows rained down from all directions.
Zhongli Mingye quickly flew out of the carriage, and many guards surrounded him.
Good!
This assassination came just in time.
In the palace, Concubine Shu had just fallen asleep after taking medicine when the Queen's servant came to wake her up. "Sister Shu, you should take good care of yourself."
"Prince Yu has been assassinated and his whereabouts are unknown!"
Concubine Shu didn't hear the rest of the words clearly. Her eyes rolled up and she fainted.
When the Emperor came, he scolded the Queen severely. How could such news be told to Concubine Shu!
Zhongli Mingye was leisurely hiding in a manor outside the capital. He wasn't in a hurry to enter the capital. Let the palace be in chaos for a while first. After all, if this assassination ended up with no results like the previous ones, then his life as Prince Yu would be too worthless.
At the same time, the news also reached Ming Ruyi's ears. She happened to be in the capital. "That fox was actually assassinated? Is he dead?"
She shook her head, narrowing her fox - like eyes. There was something fishy about this. She couldn't afford to be careless.
The Crown Prince actually wished that Zhongli Mingye would die. But if he was assassinated on the official road to the capital, the Crown Prince's Mansion would be in big trouble.
Three days had passed, and there was still no news of Prince Yu.
The court was filled with discussions. Everyone knew that Concubine Shu was seriously ill and Prince Yu had returned to the capital to visit her. Who would have thought that he was ambushed and his whereabouts were unknown on the way.
The Emperor was extremely angry. He demoted several ministers within three days, all of whom were on the Crown Prince's side.
On the side of Prince Cheng, because the director of the Eastern Depot protected several people, they were not affected for the time being.