Chu Zhiyan had never seen a matter being debated back and forth four or five times before. Just as he was about to chuckle inwardly, he noticed a strange look on Di Lanmo's face.
"What's wrong?" Remembering her last words, his hawk - like eyes narrowed. "Administering medicine? Did you give me medicine last night?"
Seeing that his expression seemed genuine, Di Lanmo asked menacingly, "You forgot?"
Chu Zhiyan inexplicably felt a twinge of guilt, but he wracked his brains and couldn't remember what he had forgotten. He tentatively asked, "What happened last night?"
Di Lanmo gritted her teeth. It was better that he didn't remember. "No, it's just that you couldn't swallow the medicine when I gave it to you, Your Highness."
Di Lanmo's tone was flat, and her expression showed no difference, but Chu Zhiyan could sense a hint of killing intent from the last two words.
The two stared at each other in silence, and the atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward. Di Lanmo, distracted by him, forgot about settling the score and started making small talk. "Um, are you hungry?"
"Well, a bit."
"Maybe I should change your dressing first!"
"Okay."
"Pfft!"
The two looked at each other and burst out laughing. One was as gentle as the clear wind and bright moon, the other was as hearty and enthusiastic as the sun!
Sometimes, the relationship between people is just so wonderful. They had known each other for almost half a year and were even married, but both Di Lanmo and Chu Zhiyan knew that they had never truly trusted each other before. They had only regarded each other as partners.
But now, the invisible barrier seemed to be broken at this moment.
"Even if they are together until old age, it feels like a new acquaintance; even if they meet by chance, it seems like old friends."
Unconsciously, this line came to both of their minds.
"Knock, knock—"
The sound of knocking on the door broke the harmonious atmosphere. The two turned their heads simultaneously, still smiling.
Lan Jiaoshu was stunned by the smile on Chu Zhiyan's face that he hadn't had time to retract.
In the past, the prince mostly showed sarcasm, and his rare smiles never reached his eyes.
But now, it was a genuine, hearty laugh!
Her rational self told her that she should be happy for the prince's happiness, but there was also a crazy voice in her heart saying: He's not smiling at you! He's not smiling because of you! The one who makes him happy is this woman who has been in the prince's mansion for less than ten days!
"What is it?" The cold voice was like a basin of cold water, dousing the anger in Lan Jiaoshu's heart.
She looked up. Chu Zhiyan seemed to be the cold - hearted man she was familiar with.
But she knew in her heart that everything had changed!
Lan Jiaoshu regained her composure and said in her usual tone, "The Empress Dowager sent Nanny Chen. She said she would continue to teach the princess etiquette!"
Let's go back to last night.
While Di Lanmo and Chu Zhiyan were teetering on the verge of life and death, the Empress Dowager woke up abruptly from her sleep. "Jinyan!"
The Empress Dowager summoned Nanny Chen. "Early tomorrow morning, you go to Ayan's mansion and continue to teach Mo'er etiquette!"
Nanny Chen was confused. "Your Ladyship, didn't you say you wouldn't teach anymore?"
The Empress Dowager snorted. "I almost got deceived by that brat during the day! It's her business that she has a wild personality, but as the Princess of Qin, how can she be completely ignorant of the proper etiquette?"
The Empress Dowager patted Nanny Chen's hand. "You don't come back until you've taught her thoroughly. Do you understand?"
Nanny Chen replied in the affirmative. Then, as if remembering something, she asked, "But what about the prince?"
"Just go!" The Empress Dowager sneered. "If that little rascal dares to talk nonsense again, tell him to come to the palace and talk to me himself!"
In the Prince of Qin's mansion.
Nanny Chen entered the room and curtsied to Chu Zhiyan and Di Lanmo. "This old servant pays respects to the prince and the princess!"
Looking up, she was shocked to see Chu Zhiyan lying in bed. She rushed forward in a panic. "This, this, Your Highness, what's wrong with you?"
"The old poison has flared up again. It's nothing serious." Chu Zhiyan showed rare kindness to this nanny who had watched him grow up.
Nanny Chen knew a thing or two about the poison in Chu Zhiyan's body, but it was not appropriate to say anything. After sighing twice, she changed the subject and told him what the Empress Dowager had said. Of course, it sounded much nicer than the original words!
Di Lanmo stood behind Nanny Chen, desperately winking: Hurry up and speak well of me!
Chu Zhiyan blinked: What's in it for me?
Di Lanmo rolled her eyes and made a scissors gesture: Subtract two from the score I just calculated!
Chu Zhiyan curled his lips: Deal!
Watching the two communicate silently with their eyes, a hint of gloom flashed across Lan Jiaoshu's eyes. She clenched her fists tightly, and her sharp nails dug into her palms. Drops of bright red blood dripped onto the floor.
"You've traveled a long way out of the palace today, Nanny. Why don't you rest first? You can teach the princess tomorrow," Chu Zhiyan said calmly.
Seeing that Nanny Chen agreed, Chu Zhiyan said to Lan Jiaoshu, "Arrange a courtyard for Nanny!"
"Yes!" Lan Jiaoshu came back to her senses. "Nanny, please follow me."
After the two left, Di Lanmo took out the medicine box. "Let's change your dressing."
Chu Zhiyan joked, "You tied my waist so tightly that I can't get up."
The meaning was obvious. Di Lanmo resigned herself and helped him sit up.
Last night, in the rush, she hadn't had the mind to pay attention to Chu Zhiyan's figure.
The smooth lines outlined perfect muscles. A bit more would make him look too bulky, and a bit less would make him look too thin.
Even in such a weak state, one could still feel the powerful strength emanating from his muscles.
A hint of amazement flashed across Di Lanmo's eyes, and she couldn't help but whistle.
Chu Zhiyan's face immediately darkened. Where did you learn such a hooligan behavior?
Di Lanmo ignored his murderous look and continued to change his dressing on her own.
Her slender fingers rested on Chu Zhiyan's wrist. Di Lanmo frowned. "This poison of yours is quite tricky. I need some time to study it. For these days, I'll just use the existing medicine to suppress it!"
"Okay, thank you!"
Di Lanmo gave him a sideways look. "If you know it's a bother to me, then plead with Nanny nicely. I don't want to waste too much time on these useless things!"
Chu Zhiyan smiled and agreed.
The next day.
Di Lanmo got up early for her usual training as always. The people in the prince's mansion were already used to the princess's strange behavior every day.
After the training and breakfast, she plunged into the mansion's pharmacy to research the antidote.
Qiao Yan had arranged for the mansion's doctor to change Chu Zhiyan's dressing and so on.
As for Nanny Chen, Di Lanmo had already thrown her out of her mind.
Nanny Chen walked to the gate of Qinghuan Courtyard brightly and early. "Where's the princess? It's time to learn etiquette!"
She looked around but didn't see anyone. Nanny Chen asked Qingque anxiously, "The princess didn't run away, did she?"
Qingque pursed her lips and was about to explain when she heard Chu Zhiyan's voice from inside the room. "Nanny."
Nanny Chen quickly rushed into the room. "Your Highness, are you feeling better today?"
Chu Zhiyan shook his head slightly with a pale face. "The princess is worried about my health and has gone to make medicine for me."
"But what about learning etiquette—"
Chu Zhiyan gently interrupted her. "How about this? The princess will spare half an hour for you every day. Please don't make things difficult for her, Your Highness... cough, cough—"
A heart - wrenching cough made Nanny Chen's heart ache. She no longer cared about teaching and quickly agreed. "Yes, yes, half an hour a day is enough. This old servant won't make things difficult for the princess. Your Highness must rest well and take care of your health!"
After Nanny Chen left, Chu Zhiyan closed his eyes contentedly to rest. That cough just now hurt his throat. He had to be more careful next time!