"You rest first. I'll stay right outside the door."
Ye Yue led Yin Shiniang out of the room and took out the prescription, handing it over.
"Find someone you trust to make this medicine. When it's ready, bring it up. I'm going out."
Yin Shiniang took the prescription and was startled. "This is a pregnancy - preserving medicine. Is that girl pregnant?"
Ye Yue didn't answer. Then she heard Yin Shiniang ask again, "Whose child is it?"
"Don't ask so many questions. Just take good care of her."
Ye Yue returned along the original path, searching for Rong Xun's trace. She saw pools of blood not far away, but there was no sign of any living person.
All the people on the ground were dead. Each of them had a black plum blossom mark above their wrist. These were the people under the Mistress.
Yin Shiniang came in with the medicine and saw that the girl in the bed was already sound asleep.
She tiptoed over and covered the girl with the quilt.
"Who would have thought that the master would end up in your hands."
When the girl woke up, the room was pitch - dark. She fumbled to light the candle and saw the cold medicine on the table.
Although she didn't want to drink it, for the sake of the child in her belly, Tang Youyou finally gave in.
She picked up the medicine and was about to go out when suddenly she heard a noise behind her.
Tang Youyou quickly took a few steps back. When she fixed her eyes, she saw a man climbing in from a secret passage.
"Rong Xun?"
She saw the man standing upright against the wall with his head slightly lowered. After hearing her voice, he slightly raised his head and showed a faint smile.
"You'er."
He called out in a low voice and then fell straight to the ground.
Tang Youyou immediately took a quick step forward to support him. She helped him onto the bed and wanted to check where he was injured, but he grabbed her tightly.
"You'er, don't leave."
She tried to pry his hand open but found that he was holding on really tight. Helpless, she had to give up.
Tang Youyou checked his body and didn't find any injuries, but his state did look like that of a seriously - injured person.
She opened the package placed in the corner of the bed, took out a few carefully - developed pills and stuffed them into his mouth.
Seeing his throat move, Tang Youyou smiled faintly. "At least you know to swallow them."
She placed one hand on his wrist to check his pulse. There was nothing wrong with it. Everything was normal.
As for why he looked so weak, Tang Youyou was also puzzled. Could he be pretending? It didn't seem so.
"Rong Xun." She called out softly in his ear, but there was no response.
She had no choice. Since she couldn't leave, she had to lie down on the inner side of the bed next to him.
The next day, she heard the knocking on the door in a daze. She opened her eyes and saw that the man from last night was already gone.
"He really comes and goes as he pleases." She let out a bitter smile and then got up to open the door.
"Miss Tang, this is your meal and medicine."
Ye Yue came in with a tray. She saw that all the food was made according to her taste. Ye Yue was really considerate.
"Last night—" Tang Youyou began slowly. "It's nothing."
"Then enjoy your meal, Miss. I'll be in the next room."
Ye Yue returned to her own room and shook her head helplessly.
Last night, seeing the master looking half - dead really scared her. When the poison flared up, apart from looking pale, there were almost no special symptoms, but the bone - eroding pain was only known to the poisoned person himself.
That old woman was really vicious!
Tang Youyou pinched her nose and drank the medicine that was as bitter as gall, then quickly rinsed her mouth with tea.
"Maybe I'll be bitter to death before you're even born."
She stroked her belly and endured the urge to vomit so as not to throw up the food she had eaten.
"The morning sickness is really too severe."
"Master, all the strongholds in the Xia, Han, and Chu countries have been replaced by our people. All the people sent by the Mistress, no, Lin Yuan, have been wiped out by us."
On the bow of the ship where the cold wind was blowing, the man on the deck covered his face. The thin mist floating on the river made it even harder to see him clearly.
"Good. Remember to act carefully. Tell our people that if they find any of the Mistress's people, they must deal with them cleanly and not let her get suspicious."
"Yes."
Rong Xun took off his black hat and opened the bamboo tube with the letter in his hand.
"These people are the confidants secretly cultivated by that old woman Lin Yuan. Each of them has the right to raise an army. Go and investigate them. Don't alert the enemy."
"Yes."
After one black - clothed man disappeared, several others appeared one after another from nowhere.
One of them said, "Master, all the plum blossom secret guards have been dealt with. Lin Yuan is investigating this matter, but we have diverted her investigation target."
Rong Xun looked coldly at the plum blossom token in his hand. Just with a tiny plum blossom token, they dared to try to hurt his You'er. It was simply wishful thinking.
In Qiling Mountain Manor, Lin Sheng was practicing sword - play in the courtyard. Hearing the noise in the distance, she immediately stepped forward to take a look.
"Ling Xuan is back!"
She happily hooked her arm around his, not noticing the killing intent in his eyes.
"Auntie said she wanted me to go to her courtyard for lunch. Since you're back, we'll go together."
Rong Xun lovingly patted her head and said with a smile, "Okay."
At noon, Lin Sheng pulled Rong Xun's hand and couldn't wait to go to Lixiangyuan. As soon as they entered the door, they saw Lin Yuan sitting at the dining table waiting for them.
Lin Sheng happily skipped up to Lin Yuan. "Auntie! Ling Xuan is back today!"
"You girl, you're already married. Can't you be more well - behaved?" Lin Yuan patted the back of her hand, her eyes full of affection.
Lin Sheng thoughtfully picked up some food for Mo Lingxuan beside her and told him to eat more.
"You've been dealing with affairs outside all the time. You must be very tired. You can't eat as well as at home. Eat more. I think you've lost some weight."
Rong Xun took the food with a smile in his eyes. "It's all my duty."
He ate the dishes in front of him, but they tasted like wax. Seeing the meat, he felt a little nauseous.
You'er was suffering from severe morning sickness and couldn't eat meat. Before leaving, he specifically told Ye Yue to cook some light food according to her taste.
"Ling Xuan, you two have just gotten married. You can hand over those affairs to your subordinates. You don't have to be so busy."
Hearing this, Rong Xun smiled calmly.
"Yes. I also plan to stay for a few more days these days to accompany Sheng'er well."
Hearing his words, Lin Sheng blushed shyly. Then she suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, I wonder how that Saintess who suddenly fell seriously ill on our wedding day is?"
Hearing this, a fleeting killing intent flashed across Rong Xun's eyes.
"She should be fine. Sheng'er is so kind - hearted that you still remember her."
Lin Yuan put down her chopsticks, looked at him earnestly, but the words were actually addressed to Lin Sheng.
"You're the only bride who doesn't mind your husband holding another woman. If it were someone else, they definitely wouldn't be so broad - minded."
Lin Sheng didn't take it seriously. "That girl was in so much pain that she looked hideous. How could I care about so many things?"
Rong Xun crushed the green jade ring on his hand. He would never easily forgive anyone who threatened You'er!