Yun Xiao let out a surprised puff, spraying wine. She quickly recovered and said with concern, "What a waste of this peach blossom wine."
Recalling Yun Zhen's words, she laughed, unrestrained and bold, her laughter exceptionally loud in the night. Several heads peeked out from afar, wondering what had happened for their master to laugh so wildly and immodestly. However, they quickly retreated.
This laughter, however, brought them an uninvited guest.
Shangguan Lin, feeling thoroughly vexed, was strolling by the river with two guards.
The riverbank was lined with willows, their branches caressing the breeze, and amidst the wild grass, small purple flowers emitted a faint fragrance. The night air was cool, lifting his ink-black hair. His black brocade robes billowed, imbuing him with a chilling dominance. Currently, his eyes were filled with deep confusion.
Why had he been unable to remain calm earlier? What was he angry about? Had he been exposed, was he truly a cut sleeve? The thought, once conceived, refused to leave him, filling him with dread.
It seemed only this could explain why he had never taken to any woman; it was because he was a cut sleeve.
Confusion spread, his heart heavy.
Suddenly, a laugh reached him. On such a night, someone else was experiencing something similar, except that person was happy, while he was despondent.
Shangguan Lin unknowingly walked closer. Under the moonlight, he saw two figures, one tall and one short, in the distance. One lay on the grass, while the other sat laughing boisterously. Wasn't that laughing fellow Feng Guan?
So late at night, they were still...? Shangguan Lin's pupils darkened, and a chill enveloped him. He recalled how this detestable fellow had mocked him earlier.
Seeing him now acting as if nothing had happened only fueled his anger. He strode forward, his guards Mu Li and Qiao Chu quickly calling out behind him.
"Your Highness?"
His Highness was clearly outmatched by that fellow named Feng Guan in verbal sparring; why go looking for trouble again?
However, their master clearly hadn't realized this and walked forward furiously, looking down at the two people sitting on the grass.
"You dare to say I am a cut sleeve? You two are the cut sleeves!"
He glared coldly at Yun Xiao. Mu Li and Qiao Chu behind him, hearing this, instinctively closed their eyes, unable to bear watching their master. Master, they hadn't called you a cut sleeve; how could you connect it like that?
Indeed, after a moment of stunned silence, Yun Xiao looked at Shangguan Lin calmly.
"Feng Guan never said Your Highness was a cut sleeve. Feng Guan only said I don't have that preference."
Shangguan Lin was dumbfounded. They hadn't actually called him a cut sleeve, only said he was a normal person without that preference. Was this him digging his own grave?
After a round of self-reflection, his face dark and grim, he scanned the two of them. Finally, he glanced at the small wine pot in their hands and said with a heavy heart.
"You certainly know how to enjoy yourselves. I count myself as part of this."
He directly sat down on Yun Xiao's other side, reached out, snatched the wine pot from Yun Xiao's hand, and drank directly from it. Tonight, he was the one most qualified to drink.
He, a dignified prince, couldn't defeat such a mere physician. How could his mood not be depressed? Yet, the other party had committed no offense, so he couldn't hit or scold. All he could do was drink.
After several large gulps, he finished the wine in the pot. Shaking it forcefully, he cast a cold glance. "It's gone."
Yun Xiao's eyes widened, and she gasped, her chest heaving with anger. She wanted to scream, but she saw him finish it. This utterly detestable fellow had stolen her wine and drunk it all in front of her.
It wasn't the wine itself that angered her, but the fact that he had drunk from it after she had. Did he have no sense of propriety, no awareness?
Clearly, Shangguan Lin had no such awareness. Not only that, but he looked at Yun Xiao with righteous indignation.
"It's just a bit of wine, is it worth puffing out your chest and glaring? I'll treat you to drinks at the best restaurant when we return to Yan Jing another day."
"Thank you," a gruff voice replied, emitted heavily through his nose. Yun Zhen, standing to the side, saw Yun Xiao's eyes blazing with anger.
Recalling her boldness, he feared she would do something to infuriate Shangguan Lin. Shangguan Lin was a prince, after all, and there was no need to provoke him and bring trouble upon herself.
"Feng Guan, if you want a drink, have mine."
He handed over his wine. Yun Xiao shook her head and smiled. What was happening tonight? One person was eagerly offering her wine, and another had snatched hers. She was a woman, after all.
With a sharp movement, she stood up, preparing to leave. However, Shangguan Lin clearly had no intention of letting her go. He reached out and grabbed her sleeve, speaking with a persistent tone.
"Why are you leaving as soon as I arrive? Have you done something shameful?"
"You?" Yun Xiao turned around, her eyes blazing. She gritted her teeth, wishing she could punch this man's eyes out, to stop him from speaking lies. He was too detestable.
Shangguan Lin, on the other hand, was the opposite. Seeing her, he was infuriated, wanting to斩 him, yet his mood was incomparably pleasant.
So, getting revenge on someone brought such a sense of accomplishment. However, as he looked, his heart began to beat faster. Weren't this fellow's eyes too bright? Why were they so bright and dazzling?
More radiant than the stars in the sky. Shangguan Lin suddenly came to his senses. What was happening to him again?
"Feng Guan, since His Highness has arrived, perhaps we should properly discuss this plague?"
Yun Zhen pulled Yun Xiao back down and interjected to smooth things over. The matter of the plague was serious. Yun Xiao and Shangguan Lin put aside their previous animosity and sat down on the ground, beginning to discuss the current plague situation.
Shangguan Lin had only just arrived and did not yet understand the situation, only knowing that many people had died from this plague.
He had initially hoped the imperial physicians could identify the plague, but they were utterly wrong. Those old fellows were simply afraid of death and did not diligently study the plague. They merely claimed not to know its name and that it was spreading aggressively, fearing more deaths to come.
It was utter nonsense. It seemed that at this moment, they still had to rely on the young man before him. Although he was quite mischievous, his medical skills were undeniably superb. After comparing them earlier, he had immediately identified the Purple Luo Root as being able to inhibit the spread of the toxic gas.
"Actually, I inspected it again this afternoon. This is absolutely not a plague, but man-made."
"Man-made?"
Yun Zhen and Shangguan Lin spoke simultaneously, their eyes fixed on Yun Xiao. Yun Xiao continued.
"Although this plague outwardly resembles rat plague, in reality, rat plague does not spread this slowly. The symptoms of the patients are limb pain and headaches, with a dark blue complexion. However, there is one thing in this plague that these patients do not have: their tongues should be stiff. But these people speak nimbly, indicating their tongues are not stiff. Therefore, I have reason to believe this is not rat plague, but a poison, similar to a rat plague poison. As for what exact poison it is, it has not yet been discovered, but I believe it will be soon. I already have some clues."
Yun Xiao's small face was bathed in a radiant glow, dazzling and brilliant. Her confidence in her medical skills made her entire being shine.