Yi Zhen's beautiful eyes flitted about, and a slow smile curved her lips.
"So that's how it is..."
"Don't be hasty, Princess," the young eunuch stammered, kowtowing frantically. "Hun Yuan is no longer in the palace. Only Lian Yi remains. This humble servant will go and make inquiries right away."
After saying that, he mustered the courage to glance at Yi Zhen, whose smile had deepened. Understanding the unspoken meaning, he immediately scurried away.
"Princess," Yu An hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "If you interfere in the affairs of the Chaogan Hall, His Majesty will be displeased."
"What do you know?" Yi Zhen picked up the incense spoon with her slender, pink fingers and gracefully scooped some incense powder from the small, wide - mouthed bottle on the table. "Previously, Yun Xi was on the verge of death. After Hun Yuan visited, she went straight for the Liu family the next day. It's obvious that Hun Yuan saved her. But if she was already saved, why did Hun Yuan rush back and rummage around in such a hurry? Humph - most likely there's something amiss, and it's probably related to that Yun Xi."
Feeling a sense of unease, Yu An carefully said, "But Miss Yun has been proven to be from the Yun family. The Prime Minister is planning a marriage alliance with the Yun family. If we intervene, the relationship will be hard to salvage, and it might ruin the Prime Minister's plan..."
"Has he ever considered me in his schemes?" Yi Zhen suddenly flew into a rage and threw the silver spoon down with a clink. "He tells me nothing and just asks me to cooperate blindly. What? Just because I'm a woman, I'm not allowed to be involved? Since he doesn't care about me, I'll do as I please."
Her eyes glinted with a fine, venomous light, and her expression became dazed. "She must die. All those who get close... must die..."
Meanwhile, in the Zhihong Garden -
Yun Xi's heartache gradually subsided, but her face was still pale and listless. Her mind was in a whirl, but she managed to maintain a calm expression so as not to arouse Yi Yuan's suspicion.
She made up an excuse to send everyone away and gave Hun Yuan a look, indicating for him to come back quietly later.
Not long after, Hun Yuan climbed in through the window like a thief.
"What's wrong, junior sister? What did you hear from Zhang Huan that almost triggered the heart - centipede in you?"
Yun Xi half - sat up and leaned against the head of the bed. The look in her eyes made Hun Yuan's heart skip a beat.
"Senior brother," Yun Xi paused for a moment before slowly saying, "Zhang Huan said that the old prince colluded with a concubine in the palace, planned secret matters, and used the Liu family's children as test subjects, which led to the plague. The mysterious person who kidnapped me back then was very likely the old prince's subordinate."
"What!?" Hun Yuan jumped up from the low stool in shock. "Did Zhang Huan say that in front of everyone?"
"No," Yun Xi quickly shook her head. "I read it from her mind."
Letting out a long sigh of relief, Hun Yuan patted his chest and sat back down. "You really scared me."
After a moment of thought, Hun Yuan continued, "Is that exactly what she said? Who was the concubine? This matter should be extremely secret. How come none of the many officials from the Liu family in the court knew about it, but a woman in the inner courtyard did?"
"Um..." Yun Xi recounted what Zhang Huan had thought as accurately as possible. "Anyway, that's roughly what it means. I... I don't know how to face A Yuan now."
Hun Yuan's expression became solemn. "Junior sister, always remember that before all the evidence is confirmed, all speculations are just speculations. Sometimes the truth may be completely different from what you think."
He stood up and paced back and forth a few times. "In any case, if the old prince had a close relationship with a former imperial concubine, there must be traces to follow. And..." Hun Yuan paused and looked at Ye Xi. "Don't you think that the motive of that person named Mo Tong for seeking you is very similar to that of the Holy Master who kidnapped you before? Mo Tong was also looking for you for some scheme, and the Holy Master kidnapped you for some important matter behind them. Moreover, neither of them hurt you but protected you instead. I always feel that there must be a connection between them. They might very well be in the same group."
"You're right, senior brother," Yun Xi agreed. "I also had this feeling when I heard what Zhang Huan said. Actually, I suspect that the sudden activity of the centipede in my body and its invasion of my heart might be the work of the Holy Master during the half - month or so when he kidnapped me. If so, maybe we can find out the truth about the plague back then from the Holy Master. And... perhaps we can also find a cure for this damned centipede in my body."
Just then, Sai Xing knocked on the door and said cheerfully, "Miss, are you still resting? General Yun has returned to the capital!"
Both of them were startled. When they looked at each other, they both had the strange feeling of being caught in the act of an affair.
They silently laughed for a while. At Sai Xing's second inquiry, Yun Xi suppressed her laughter and replied lazily, "Okay, I know. Bring me a basin of hot water. I'll wash my face and go."
"Okay." Sai Xing replied and ran away in a flash, completely oblivious to Hun Yuan slipping away through the window.
When Yun Xi was ready and about to go out with Liu Jingyue and the others, Yun Weisheng had already arrived at the door.
"Father!" Yun Qi exclaimed in delight and took the lead to greet him.
"Why did you come back so soon? Didn't you say you'd return tomorrow?" Liu Jingyue said with a coquettish smile and pulled Yun Xi forward a few steps. "Have you seen His Majesty? Why didn't you send a message earlier? Now, no one was there to welcome you at the door."
Yun Weisheng hadn't even had time to take off his armor. His face was haggard from the long journey, and his whole body exuded the aura of a seasoned warrior. His cold and hard face and sharp, eagle - like eyes softened the moment he saw Liu Jingyue.
Chuckling, Yun Weisheng patted Yun Qi on the shoulder. "I was supposed to return tomorrow. But I received your message yesterday, saying that our Yingying was bullied. I couldn't stay any longer and rode all night to come back. I thought Yingying wasn't in good health, so I didn't tell you. I reported to His Majesty and then came straight here to have a good chat with you. Wouldn't that be better?"
Liu Jingyue covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes curving. She pushed Yun Xi in front of Yun Weisheng. "That's how a father should be. Look, this is our Yingying..."
Then she remembered the deadly centipede in Yun Xi's body and lost her smile. She said sorrowfully, "Master Qingyi was right back then. We should have sent Yingying away earlier. If we had kept her by our side, who knows... who knows..."
Her voice choked with sobs, and her eyes turned red.
Yun Weisheng gently comforted his wife. He really wanted to talk to Yun Xi and touch his daughter's head. But afraid of making her uncomfortable, he just rubbed his hands awkwardly and stared at Yun Xi stupidly.
It was Yi Yuan who came out to smooth things over. He greeted Yun Weisheng and led everyone into the house to talk.
After a long while of pleasantries, Yun Qi told Yun Weisheng everything that had happened to Yun Xi during this period, which made Yun Weisheng so angry that he almost smashed the table with one palm.
"Have you found a cure for the centipede in Yingying's body?" Yun Weisheng asked.
Yi Yuan shook his head. "Not to mention the notes left by Master Qingyi, there are so many medical books and classics in the world. How can Hun Yuan and the others search them all?"
"Since the general has returned to the capital to report his duties, I assume there will be a banquet in the palace tomorrow to welcome you. At that time, I intend to go to the Chaogan Hall myself and secretly bring back some books to search for a cure."