He spoke at length, but his tongue was stiff, making more than half of his words unclear.
Yun Xiao vaguely heard something about "Imperial Brother" and "dreaming," and by carefully guessing, she thought the Emperor must have offended him. It seemed highly likely.
"Alright, don't be sad. We've had our drinks, why don't we return to the manor?"
Yun Xiao leaned in and gently persuaded him, trying to coax him back to the royal manor. Unexpectedly, the man stretched out an arm, wrapped it around her neck, and forcefully pulled her towards him.
Yun Xiao struggled to breathe and quickly moved around him, patting him hard in an attempt to pry his arm away. Unfortunately, the man seemed oblivious to pain, as if his entire body was numb. Even killing him at this moment might not elicit a reaction.
Yun Xiao couldn't help but wonder what the Emperor had done to provoke this man to such grief.
Lost in thought, she was suddenly embraced by someone. Shangguan Lin held her tightly, burying his head in her shoulder, remaining motionless for a long time.
Yun Xiao froze for a moment, then reacted. She raised a leg and kicked him. This time, she used force, and Shangguan Lin was kicked flying, falling beneath the chair with a thud. He didn't move for a long time. Yun Xiao tentatively called out.
"Your Highness, Your Highness."
However, there was no response. Yun Xiao felt uneasy. Had she kicked him to death? She hadn't used that much force. Was a grown man so fragile?
She quickly squeezed over and crouched down to look at him. His dark hair obscured his face.
Yun Xiao reached out and helped him up. He leaned on her shoulder and sat back on the chair. At this moment, his chiseled features and deep, dark eyes were filled with profound pain, and tears streamed down his face. This man was actually crying.
Even if the sky fell or the earth shook, it wouldn't be as astonishing as this. The cold and ruthless Shangguan Lin was crying. What could have wounded his heart so deeply?
"Your Highness?"
Yun Xiao's heart ached. As his friend, she felt obligated to help him. She reached out and gently tidied his dark hair.
"Speak, is there anything I can do to help?"
Shangguan Lin shook his head and spoke dully, "Leng Yue, I have no more brothers, no friends. You are my only friend. I don't want to lose you, so please don't find out anything. I don't know what to do now to turn the tide."
After he finished speaking, he chuckled, his consciousness again somewhat muddled.
Yun Xiao furrowed her brows. Crying one moment and laughing the next, she truly didn't know which was genuine. However, she knew that this matter was likely related to the Emperor.
Had the Emperor done something to make him so sad? Yun Xiao could only think this as she reached out to help Shangguan Lin, intending to take him out.
Just then, Mu Li's voice sounded from outside the door.
"Young Master Ye."
"Mhm, where is Your Highness?" A clear, distant voice rang out. From the sound alone, one could tell he was likely a person as cold as ice.
Yun Xiao let go, and Shangguan Lin slumped back into the chair. She didn't want Ye Wuyun to think she had done something to Shangguan Lin, so she stood aside, waiting for the person outside. Sure enough, someone pushed the door open.
Under the brilliant, vibrant lamplight, a tall, cold figure stood, clad in a light purple brocade robe. The cuffs and hem were embroidered with faint, unknown small flowers, dotted like stars in the dark night, exuding an unspeakable elegance and charm.
Looking at the person, it was none other than Ye Wuyun. His features were exquisite, his handsomeness unparalleled. His two narrow, long eyebrows framed his star-like eyes, which cast a cold, brilliant light, like the clear crescent moon on a cold winter night.
Yun Xiao inwardly praised him. Truthfully, Ye Wuyun was indeed handsome. Among everyone she knew, he was the most striking. However, his cold gaze and distant expression were quite unsettling and made her uncomfortable.
"What is going on here?"
He pointed at Shangguan Lin, who was leaning askew in the chair, his eyes filled with suspicion, as if he suspected Yun Xiao of having ulterior motives. He then narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them, "And who are you?"
Yun Xiao pointed at herself and replied coldly, "I am Leng Yue, merely an unknown nobody, unlike the renowned Young Master Ye."
Before Ye Wuyun could speak, Shangguan Lin, who had been leaning askew in the chair, suddenly opened his eyes. He grinned at Ye Wuyun, pulling Yun Xiao's hand, "It's Wuyun. This is my brother, Leng Yue. Don't scare him."
After saying this, he slumped back into the chair. He was truly drunk.
Yun Xiao's heart ached. Ah well, being drunk was also a form of happiness. Perhaps when he woke up tomorrow morning, he would forget everything that had happened.
"Leng Yue, you are the Leng Yue who detoxified the Emperor with human blood."
This time, Ye Wuyun's voice showed a slight fluctuation, but it vanished quickly, returning to its previous indifference.
Yun Xiao nodded slightly. It seemed she had become famous after detoxifying the Emperor last night. She hoped this wouldn't bring any trouble.
"Is Young Master Ye referring to the person who was poisoned last night? That's correct, it was I who treated him. Doesn't Young Master Ye think this is excessive? I am not a prisoner."
After speaking, Yun Xiao called out towards the outside, "Mu Li, Qiao Chu, come in and help your master out."
Upon hearing that their master was drunk, Mu Li and Qiao Chu had already rushed in. They helped Shangguan Lin up from either side, and the three walked out. Yun Xiao followed closely behind them, not looking at Ye Wuyun, and strode away.
In the private room, Ye Wuyun's eyes were slightly glazed, and a faint curve appeared at the corner of his lips.
Leng Yue, is it? It seems he truly has some skill. We will meet again.
A subordinate flashed in, respectfully stating, "Young Master, was that Young Master Leng Yue just now? Why didn't we ask him to treat Qiao Fan?"
"No rush, let's wait a bit longer. There's no urgency for this,"
Ye Wuyun spoke lightly. He had seen that Leng Yue held prejudice against him, or perhaps his own coldness had offended him. However, judging by his arrogant demeanor, he wasn't much inferior to himself.
"Let's go back."
"Yes." The two turned to leave. Ye Wuyun had originally intended to ask Shangguan Lin about Leng Yue's medical skills.
Unexpectedly, he heard the shopkeeper report that Your Highness had arrived, so he hurried over. He just hadn't expected to meet Leng Yue under these circumstances. He was more handsome than ordinary people and very arrogant, seemingly possessing some real skill.
He was well aware that most people with skill had eccentricities.
Mu Li and Qiao Chu drove the carriage, first sending Yun Xiao back to the medical clinic, and then returning to the royal manor.
At the medical clinic, Wanwan and Yanmei were waiting. Seeing her return unharmed, they were finally relieved.
That night, Yun Xiao lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Thinking about Shangguan Lin's unusual behavior tonight, her unease grew.
She had a strong feeling that all these recent events hid a shocking conspiracy, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was, and there was a strange sensation.
This matter was related to Murong. Although she had long known that Murong was likely a prince of the imperial family, and his revenge against the royal family was due to his hatred, it seemed there was something more. What could it be?
Yun Xiao decisively sat up, cross-legged on the bed. Her gaze involuntarily fell upon Feng Jue near her ankle. Seeing it reminded her of the gentle and doting expression in Murong's eyes when he tied Feng Jue for her.
The thought made her heart feel sweet, but thinking about recent events filled her with apprehension. She feared something might happen to Murong.