If Yi Zhen really chose to go on a marriage alliance, the two countries would enjoy good relations.
Yi Zhen must not come to any harm.
Then how could she avenge herself?
Should she start with Concubine Shen? As Yi Zhen's mother, she surely wouldn't sit idly by and watch her daughter be sent to another country for a marriage alliance, right?
However, given Yi Zhen's current situation, being almost under house arrest in the nunnery, it would actually be extremely beneficial for the Shen family if she were really sent for the marriage alliance. Maybe even if Yi Zhen wasn't initially chosen, they might "sacrifice family ties for the greater good" and send her there themselves.
Yun Xi half - lowered her eyelashes and quickly racked her brain for a countermeasure.
The room fell silent for a moment. Then Liu Jingyue pondered and spoke up:
"I think this marriage alliance is not as simple as it seems. The tattoo belonged to a spy from the Ying State and appeared in that mural. And that underground palace was the lair of that Holy Master who kidnapped Yingying before. That means those so - called Holy Master and his gang must be from the Ying State without a doubt."
"Fourteen years ago, they sneaked into the capital, caused chaos, and created a plague. They also searched everywhere for Yingying to use her to make poisonous insects."
"They've been scheming for so long and then laid low for such a long time. Now they suddenly come to propose marriage. What about all their previous schemes? In my opinion, there must be something fishy about it."
"Mother is right," Yun Xi snapped out of her deep thought and echoed. She was about to say more when a maid came to report that Shen Zhou had heard Yun Xi had been poisoned and no cure had been found for a long time, so he had managed to find an antidote and come to pay a visit.
Everyone exchanged glances, wondering where he had got the antidote for something that was supposed to be incurable.
However, since he had come and specifically said he had brought the antidote, even though Yun Xi didn't actually need it, they were still putting on a show for the outside world, so it wouldn't be appropriate to turn him away.
Moreover, everyone was curious to see what the antidote for the Suji Yin, which had stumped both Master Hunyuan and Doctor Ji, was like.
After seeing off Jiang Ning, Yun Xi hid behind the gauze curtain. Everyone quickly adjusted their expressions and then ordered:
"Please show him in."
"Yes," the maid replied respectfully and withdrew.
Not long after, Shen Zhou was led in by the maid, looking a bit anxious.
"Yingying, how are you?" Shen Zhou's voice came in even before he entered the room.
"I've found the antidote. You..." The rest of his words got stuck in his throat. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Yun Weisheng and his wife looking rather strange, and Yi Yuan standing coldly beside the hanging gauze curtain, staring at him.
Shen Zhou quickly composed himself, bypassed Yi Yuan, and greeted Yun Weisheng and Liu Jingyue directly.
Liu Jingyue pretended to be eager and stepped forward, saying:
"Mr. Shen, no need for formalities. The servant said you've found the antidote for the Suji Yin. Is it true?"
Looking past them at Yun Xi behind the thick gauze curtain, Shen Zhou smiled, took out a bluish - white porcelain bottle from his bosom, and replied:
"Yes."
"I got this medicine from a friend of a friend. He swore it was the antidote, and as long as Yingying takes it, she'll be fine. I had someone test it, and there were no other problems, so I brought it here."
"Then thank you, Mr. Shen," Yun Weisheng stepped forward, took the porcelain bottle, thanked him, and then pulled out the wooden stopper and turned it around to look at the contents.
There was only a round pill the size of a thumb, nothing else.
Yun Weisheng poured it into his palm, exchanged a knowing look with Liu Jingyue, but neither of them was in a hurry to take it in for Yun Xi to take.
Shen Zhou saw their concerns. Although there was a hint of disappointment in his heart, it was only natural for them to be cautious. So he said considerately:
"After all, I got this antidote from an outsider, and I don't have anyone under me who is both a great doctor and an expert in poisons. For Yingying's safety, General Yun should find a reliable person to examine it carefully before giving it to Yingying."
Yun Weisheng and Liu Jingyue were both taken aback. They just wanted to study what ingredients the antidote for the Suji Yin, which had stumped so many people, was made of, but they didn't expect to cause such a misunderstanding from Shen Zhou.
Just as they were about to explain, Yi Yuan coolly said:
"We understand. The antidote has been delivered. Mr. Shen must be busy, so please go back."
He was starting to kick the ladder away before even crossing the river.
Yun Xi felt a bit guilty even behind the gauze curtain.
Thankfully, Shen Zhou had a good temper. Even when Yi Yuan was so straightforward in driving him away, he remained calm. He even took a few steps in Yun Xi's direction and said:
"I'm not busy. Yingying has been poisoned by such a vicious poison. She must be very vulnerable now and surely needs my company."
"However, I see that the prince is quite busy. There are a lot of court affairs after the New Year. It's okay for you to leave first."
Seeing the two of them arguing again, Yun Xi felt a headache coming on.
It wasn't appropriate to drive them away directly. Just as she was about to turn to her parents for help, she saw them quickly put away the pill and quickly slip away, citing the excuse that they wanted to study and make a few more antidotes for the Suji Yin just in case.
Yun Xi: …
Helplessly rubbing her throbbing temples, Yun Xi coughed softly in a weak voice and said:
"Thank you, A Zhou, for coming all the way to deliver the medicine today. But my face... my face..." Yun Xi's voice was tinged with a wronged sob. "Anyway, I don't want to talk to anyone right now. You, all of you, please leave."
Pointing at himself, Yi Yuan asked, "Me too?"
Yun Xi could almost imagine Yi Yuan's aggrieved and dissatisfied expression even through the gauze curtain. She held back her laughter but didn't give in. She softly replied "Yes" and said:
"You were originally busy. It was Father who had something to ask you to come. Now that the matter is over, I can't delay your important business."
After all, according to common sense, a woman who has been disfigured would least want her sweetheart to see her.
If she only drove Shen Zhou away and kept Yi Yuan, it wouldn't make sense. And based on Yun Xi's understanding of these two thick - skinned people, if she only told one of them to leave in this situation, the other one would probably cling on stubbornly.
It was better to let both of them go so that she could have some peace.
Shen Zhou instantly burst into laughter.
Yi Yuan's face darkened immediately. He was still reluctant to leave and wanted to try to persuade her, but Shen Zhou half - mockingly and half - seriously said:
"Come on, Your Highness. Let's go."
"I came here not only to deliver the medicine to Yingying but also have something else to talk to you about..."
Me?
Yi Yuan quietly sized up Shen Zhou for a moment and finally didn't refuse.
Although Yun Xi was curious about what Shen Zhou wanted to talk to Yi Yuan about, she didn't ask. Now that things were becoming clearer and it seemed like they were just one step away from the truth, she also had a lot of things to do.
"Miss..."
As soon as Yun Xi lay back on the bed, Sai Xing angrily came in to report:
"Old Lady Yun is here. She brought Lady Wei and Miss Wei Manzhu with her. They said they heard that Mr. Shen brought an antidote for you and insisted on coming to 'pay a visit'."
"Are they in such a hurry?"
Yun Xi idly played with the tassels hanging from the bedside and lazily asked:
"Where are Father and Mother?"
"The general took the pill to the palace to find Master Hunyuan. Lady is receiving them in the front hall."
Sai Xing's voice was full of annoyance:
"Lady didn't want them to come to the backyard for fear of disturbing your plan. But from the way Lady Wei is acting, I'm afraid we can't stop them..."
Before she finished speaking, Yun Yixiao's scolding voice rang out outside:
"As a grandmother, it's a blessing that took her several lifetimes to have me come and visit her, a junior. It was me who pitied her and didn't ask her to get up. How dare you, as a daughter - in - law, try every means to stop me? Isn't that disrespectful?"