"Crown Prince Yi?" Yun Shu's expression shifted.
"Yes, Yi Zixing! We climbed trees together as children, so we have some connection. My informant told me Yi Zixing no longer has any intentions towards you. He recently took in a young concubine and seems very devoted to her. Apparently, Marquis Zhongyong was furious upon hearing this, thinking it was too outrageous for him to keep a concubine before marriage." Xie Jin said.
Yun Shu was somewhat surprised. "Concubine?"
"Yes, said to be a delicate beauty. My informant didn't get a good look at her, but Yi Zixing is quite protective of her. However, from what I know of Yi Zixing since childhood, he's always been upright and devoted. Hmm, I heard he was genuinely smitten with you before, and even Marquis Zhongyong praised you. It hasn't been long, and now he's fallen for some delicate beauty?" Xie Jin scratched his head, confused.
However, it was also quite normal.
Men!
After facing setbacks in love, they often seek solace.
If a delicate beauty appears at such a time, tenderly soothing their heart, they would surely fall for her again.
Yun Shu nodded. "As long as Crown Prince Yi is happy."
"Miss Yun Er is right, as long as he's happy! Marquis Zhongyong is too old-fashioned. Concubine or no concubine, as long as Yi Zixing likes her, he can bring her into the household later." Xie Jin pouted. He detested those old-fashioned elders the most.
Always imposing rules.
It's so tiring!
They lived their entire lives under oppressive rules and then expected their descendants to abide by them too.
"You've said enough for today. You can leave." Zhan Tianye saw that Xie Jin had opened the floodgates and seemed poised to continue his ramblings, so he directly told him to leave.
Bringing up Yi Zixing's feelings for Yun Shu?
Xie Jin's eyes widened. "I worked so hard for days, and I even left the capital to investigate. Aren't you going to let me stay for a meal?"
So heartless!
With a wife and son, he's forgotten his friends?
Prioritizing romance over friendship!
"Take your hangers-on and go eat at any restaurant tonight. The Night King's mansion will pay." Zhan Tianye said with a chilling expression.
Xie Jin was dumbfounded. "Really?! You're paying for all of it? Then I truly won't be polite! I owe so many meals these past few years, and those guys pressure me daily to treat them."
"If you don't go now, I might regret it." Zhan Tianye had lost patience.
Yun Shu listened to their conversation and then remembered that in the original owner's memories, there were indeed things related to Xie Jin.
Although Xie Jin was the heir of Marquis Wu'an, the Marquis Wu'an manor was very poor.
It was said that the Marquis Wu'an, lacking business acumen, insisted on engaging in trade years ago, losing all his assets. The Marquis Wu'an manor was bestowed by the former emperor, which was why they still had a place to live. However, Marquis Wu'an was deeply in debt. Xie Jin's demeanor didn't suggest he was short of money, but in reality, Xie Jin was as frugal as possible.
In any case, there were few people in the Marquis Wu'an manor, and most lived frugally.
But, being so poor, how could Xie Jin still afford to keep informants?
Hmm... not simple.
Xie Jin understood Zhan Tianye's personality too well. Without Zhan Tianye needing to say more, he bolted like a shot.
Afraid that if he ran a moment later, this meal would slip away!
It was a rare opportunity for him to treat his hangers-on to a feast, and he absolutely wouldn't miss it!
Xie Jin's speed of departure surprised Yun Shu.
Yun Shu smiled and asked Zhan Tianye, "Is Xie Jin still very poor?"
"Among all the noble families in the capital, for a hundred years, only our Marquis Wu'an manor has been the poorest. I am his creditor." Zhan Tianye said with a nonchalant tone.
Yun Shu's lips twitched. Creditor?
No wonder someone as unrestrained as Xie Jin willingly ran errands for Zhan Tianye!
Turns out he's the creditor.
...
Night fell.
A crescent moon hung in the sky.
Pale yellow moonlight cascaded onto the earth.
Yun Shu arrived at the Ruan manor.
The entire Ruan manor was quiet. Perhaps due to Ji Rong, Ruan Xi had also been less troublesome these past two days. Of course, she had given Ruan Xi some medicine these past few days, which had effectively suppressed the poison in his body.
The craving for that kind of thing, as long as one intended to suppress it, would almost always be controllable.
Ruan Xi whispered to her, "Yun Shu, will Ji Rong ever wake up? What's going on with him? He himself said he was dying, yet you were able to save his life at the critical moment, allowing him to have a breath of life. But he remains unconscious. Qin Yiqing has been guarding his bedside, never leaving. He just won't wake up."
Yun Shu shook her head. "I don't know either. It all depends on fate."
"Qin Yiqing seems to have gone mad, sitting by his bed and talking. The servants brought her water and food, but she's only had a little water and not eaten a bite in a day and a night. Please try to persuade her!" Ruan Xi showed a rare moment of concern for Qin Yiqing.
Although he found Qin Yiqing's impetuousness and lack of tact disagreeable, she was still Ji Rong's beloved.
"Alright, let's go."
A moment later.
Yun Shu saw Qin Yiqing.
As Ruan Xi had said, Qin Yiqing was even more gaunt than yesterday.
She muttered constantly, her lips moving.
Beside her were the untouched meals.
Even when she and Ruan Xi walked in, Qin Yiqing didn't notice.
Seeing this, Yun Shu sighed in her heart. Heaven was making things difficult for a pair of lovers.
"Yiqing." She spoke softly.
Qin Yiqing turned to look at Yun Shu, her eyes red, her face pale. She looked even more wretched than the unconscious Ji Rong. She forced a smile, which was no better than a cry. "Yun Shu, you're here. I feel like he can hear me. I've been watching him; his eyes move sometimes, and his hands are warmer than yesterday."
"Let me take a look." Yun Shu said gently.
Then she gestured for Qin Yiqing to move aside.
Qin Yiqing quickly stood up, but after sitting for so long, when she suddenly stood, she felt dizzy and unsteady, almost fainting.
Fortunately, Ruan Xi was quick to support Qin Yiqing.
Qin Yiqing steadied herself before her vision cleared, and she could see Yun Shu and Ruan Xi, who was supporting her.
Ruan Xi said speechlessly, "Do you think you're made of stone and don't need to eat? If you continue like this, not eating or drinking, when Ji Rong wakes up, you might have starved to death!"
For the first time, Qin Yiqing was rendered speechless. She stammered, then defended herself, "I... I'm not hungry. I didn't mean to not eat."
She really wasn't hungry!
After drinking some water, she felt no hunger at all!
"Ji Rong has indeed improved a lot. His pulse is more stable than yesterday." After examining him, Yun Shu suddenly felt a glimmer of hope.
Qin Yiqing's eyes lit up. "Really?!"
"Of course. I wouldn't lie to anyone but you." Yun Shu said with a smile.
Suddenly, there was a slight sound from the bed.