As the words fell, Ling Mohan’s gaze swept back and forth between the two.
Feng Jin, on the other hand, was completely at ease, not finding anything inappropriate about the situation.
Lin Yuwei, however, was flushed with embarrassment. She shrunk back behind Feng Jin and stammered, "Young General, I… I was also worried about you. I absolutely had no other intentions."
Her manner of expression was just wrong; she harbored no malicious intent to curse.
Ling Mohan’s face darkened. How long had Lin Yuwei and Feng Jin been together for Lin Yuwei to be so influenced by Feng Jin?
One had to admit, Feng Jin’s ability to assimilate others was truly powerful.
"What's there to explain? You were just stating the truth, and the truth isn't always pleasant to hear."
Feng Jin interrupted Lin Yuwei, pulling her to sit on a chair opposite them before walking towards Chu Chenyi.
The scene of being poisoned by Feng Jin last time was still vivid in Chu Chenyi’s mind. He instinctively flinched backward.
"What are you doing!"
"Taking your pulse. What else would I be doing!"
Feng Jin, with a look of disdain, grabbed Ling Mohan’s wrist and placed two fingers on his pulse.
Her brow furrowed slightly. "When it's overcast or raining, do you often feel your heart race?"
"How did you know?"
He had never mentioned this to anyone. He had this condition since childhood, and although the symptoms had lessened with age, he hadn't paid it much mind.
"When did it start?" Feng Jin didn't answer his question, merely inquiring on her own.
"It started when I was a child. I can't remember the exact time."
Feng Jin took out a silver needle, pricked Chu Chenyi's middle finger, and squeezed blood into a teacup.
She placed the detoxification pill into the cup, and the blood instantly diluted, gradually changing from red to a dark brown.
"Congratulations, you've been poisoned with 'Two Paths Entwined.' This poison should have been administered to the mother while you were still an embryo. After the mother gives birth to the child, she will die within a year or so, and the fetus will carry the poison for years to come."
Feng Jin had only read about such a poison in ancient medical texts; it connected mother and child.
However, looking at Chu Chenyi’s current state, it was clear that Consort Yijing had learned she was poisoned with 'Two Paths Entwined' and had, with her life's effort, transferred all the poison into her own body, thus keeping Chu Chenyi unharmed all these years.
Chu Chenyi’s face gradually turned pale and bloodless. He sat there as if devoid of all life.
"Your Highness…" Lin Yuwei called out tentatively when he remained unresponsive for a long time.
"So, my mother passed away shortly after giving birth to me because…"
"Your guess is correct. Your mother transferred all the toxins to herself to save you. Coupled with the inherent dangers of childbirth for a woman, this accelerated the effects of the poison, leading to her death after giving birth."
As Feng Jin spoke, she felt a pang of sadness. Women are inherently weak, but as mothers, they are strong. A mother would sacrifice everything for her child.
Beneath Chu Chenyi’s calm facade, a storm of hatred raged. The veins on his fair hands bulged.
Lin Yuwei looked at Chu Chenyi with pity. She hadn't realized his life story was so tragic, and now he was disabled.
Compared to him, she felt truly fortunate.
Feng Jin felt a surge of pity for Chu Chenyi as well. "The Empress Dowager ordered me to heal you, and I will do my best. However, it will be very painful, and I will need your complete cooperation."
Firstly, it was necessary to clear the 'Two Paths Entwined' from his body. She had also noticed Chu Chenyi’s legs; the reason he couldn't stand was partly due to the 'Two Paths Entwined' within him, and partly because his fractured leg bones had never been properly set from the beginning.
To break the bones and reset them would inflict pain beyond what an ordinary person could endure.
"I will do as you say. I just want to stand up. I need to seek justice for my mother and for myself."
Chu Chenyi’s eyes were filled with hatred and unwillingness. His constant forbearance had only invited others' envy and resentment.
If he wanted to survive, he had to become the one in control.
Feng Jin felt that Chu Chenyi finally resembled a living person; his previous despondency was tiresome to behold.
Ling Mohan slowly stood up and placed his hand on Chu Chenyi’s shoulder. "You should have thought this way long ago."
Ever since the leg injury, Chu Chenyi’s entire disposition had changed. He had become decadent, withdrawn from worldly affairs, and prone to self-pity.
"In the past, it was all because I couldn't overcome that hurdle. Now, I finally see the light. Thank you, Brother Han, and Madam Young."
Chu Chenyi did not directly call Feng Jin an ugly woman or a poisonous woman, but respectfully addressed her as Madam Young.
This made Feng Jin feel a little uneasy. "You don't need to thank me. I chose to treat you, firstly because I promised the Empress Dowager, and secondly, I don't want my sister to spend her life with a cripple."
"Sister…" Lin Yuwei tugged at Feng Jin’s sleeve, wishing she could be more tactful with her words.
Cripple, cripple… Chu Chenyi’s lips twitched. In Feng Jin’s eyes, he was a cripple.
Those words were too hurtful to his pride.
"You should say less," Ling Mohan pulled Feng Jin to his side. If she continued, the Prince of Jing would likely be furious, and there would be no point in treating him.
Feng Jin took out a porcelain bottle from her embrace and handed it to Lin Yuwei. "This bottle contains detoxification pills, nine in total. Take one in the morning, noon, and evening, dissolved in warm water. Two hours later, prick his middle finger again and let out the black blood from his body until the blood turns red."
"Sister, I can't do this…"
She had never even seen a chicken killed in her life, let alone prick a finger to draw blood.
"If you don't do it, who will? Outsiders absolutely cannot know that I am treating the Prince of Jing. If you don't want to spend your life with a cripple, or become a widow prematurely, then you don't need to concern yourself with this matter."
Feng Jin spoke harshly. This matter was of great importance and must not be known by others. Lin Yuwei, as his confidante, was the most suitable person to handle it.
"Then… alright!" Lin Yuwei reluctantly accepted the task.
Feng Jin then wrote a prescription on paper. "Follow the prescription to prepare a medicinal bath. Soak for half an hour daily. After three days, I will come to the Prince of Jing’s mansion to remove the poison for you."
"Thank you," Chu Chenyi said, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.
"It's getting late. If you stay here too long, it might arouse suspicion."
Feng Jin, calculating the time, directly ushered them out. "Cai Qing, bring the items."
"Yes, Madam Young."
"This is a set of colorful pearl hair ornaments, for Yuwei."
The reason for preparing this set of hair ornaments was to provide them with a guise as they departed.
Lin Yuwei examined the hair ornaments, her joy evident. Each pearl on the hairpin was round and beautiful, especially the pink pearl, which was truly exquisite.