Ruan Xi's lips curved imperceptibly. Was he here for Yun Shu?
Everyone in the capital knew that Xie Jin and Zhan Tianye were close friends.
When he had visited the capital before, Xie Jin had never come to see him.
Now, he came to see him suddenly, and it turned out to be for Prince Ye and Yun Shu.
Heh heh, he had a head start in this matter.
"Does Sir Xie mean Shu'er? How did Shu'er go to Prince Ye's mansion?" Ruan Xi deliberately said "Shu'er" with deep affection.
Hearing Ruan Xi address Yun Shu like that, Xie Jin's feigned smile diminished.
From what he understood of Ruan Xi, he usually had no feelings for women. Could it be that this time he was genuinely smitten?
Xie Jin calmly stated, "Perhaps Miss Yun Er still has feelings for Prince Ye. They were exchanging glances in front of me, but it's a good thing for Prince Ye, who should also get married. And I can see that Miss Yun Er still likes Prince Ye a lot. Truly enviable!"
Ruan Xi showed a hint of disbelief. "Impossible?"
This astonishment was feigned.
He had to control the extent of it.
They needed to understand that Yun Shu was not easy to win over!
"Does Sir Xie remember that in Cong Shan, I told you that there has always been someone in my heart? Even if all the women in the world stood before me, compared to her, they would all become insignificant! No one could replace her position in my heart, and that person is Shu'er," Ruan Xi continued.
These words made Xie Jin's heart tighten.
It was over.
Prince Ye had met his match!
Moreover, this opponent understood women very well; few women could escape his grasp.
Xie Jin raised his cup and took a drink, making another calculation in his mind. "It seems you know Miss Yun Er very well?"
"Of course, I know many things about her, things others know and don't know. And because of this, I feel Shu'er is even more precious," Ruan Xi said sentimentally.
Hmph!
If Prince Ye wanted Yun Shu, it wouldn't be so easy!
After all, he had paid a painful price of blood and tears to express his feelings to Yun Shu before.
Alas, Yun Shu had no feelings for him.
Besides, he knew there was no possibility between him and Yun Shu. After all, Yun Shu knew his body too well.
No matter how shameless he was, he would still feel shy.
Never mind, there were many women in the world...
A shadow of gloom settled in Xie Jin's heart. This matter required a long-term plan; one could not rush.
He absolutely could not let Prince Ye's efforts be in vain.
"Great minds think alike. Prince Ye likely thinks the same! Miss Yun Er is truly a peerless treasure covered in dust!" Xie Jin sighed.
He never expected to misjudge a situation!
The pretense between them vanished.
Instead, they began to drink in earnest.
One cup after another, then another jar of wine was opened.
When Xie Jin left Ruan Mansion, thoroughly drunk, it was already late at night.
He swayed as he got into his carriage.
Just as the carriage was about to depart.
Suddenly, his drunken eyes caught sight of a female figure loitering near Ruan Mansion.
The woman held a sword, and in the darkness, she exuded an ethereal, detached aura.
Her figure was slender.
Vaguely, Xie Jin felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen this woman somewhere before. However, remembering Ruan Xi's reputation, it was not unusual for women to seek him out.
With so many women in the capital, it was normal for him to feel a sense of familiarity.
Nothing was more important than returning to his mansion to sleep!
After the carriage had driven some distance away.
The woman who had been lingering not far from the entrance finally approached and knocked on the door.
...
Yun Shu stayed with Xiao Li and Xiao Feng until they fell asleep.
After they were both asleep, she went to see Bai Chun.
Bai Chun was still unconscious.
Although his face was pale and he looked weak, Yun Shu could sense his strong will to survive.
That strong will to live had allowed Bai Chun to endure the great blow.
She took out her silver needles.
After pricking Bai Chun's body a few times, she went to write a prescription and placed it aside.
After doing all this, she suddenly saw Zhan Tianye at the door.
When had he arrived?
Just now, while she was with Xiao Li and Xiao Feng, hadn't he gone to the study to deal with matters?
"Does Prince Ye have something else?" Yun Shu asked.
Zhan Tianye gazed at her deeply. Under the moonlight, her beauty was even more striking, her figure alluring, and her gaze carried a hint of coldness and distance.
"Is there any other way to detoxify the poison in my body?" he asked in a low voice.
Yun Shu paused and shook her head directly. "No."
The person who had poisoned Zhan Tianye was insidious, leaving him no chance for an antidote.
It was fortunate that she encountered him, and coincidentally, she had researched the poison Ruan Xi had taken for a long time. The slight similarities allowed her to devise a solution.
This detoxification method was so simple, curing the ailment with medicine. Why did Zhan Tianye want to find another way?
Zhan Tianye immediately furrowed his brow and confirmed again, "Are you sure?"
Yun Shu was somewhat speechless and helpless. "Of course, I'm sure."
If she had any other methods, she would have told him, without any concealment.
"Prince Ye should detoxify as soon as possible. Delaying it will not benefit you. Especially since you just underwent acupuncture. Without detoxification, you won't be able to stand up again. Over time, Prince Ye's leg muscles will be affected. The sooner you detoxify, the better." Yun Shu advised from a physician's perspective.
Zhan Tianye's expression darkened further, and he looked at Yun Shu with complicated eyes. "Don't you know why I'm delaying detoxification?"
Yun Shu raised an eyebrow. "I'm not Prince Ye's inner thoughts, how could I possibly know what you're thinking? And what does what you're thinking have to do with me? It's getting late, I should leave."
As she spoke, she walked past him.
A short distance after she had left, he tried to stand up.
At this hour, he would usually be able to stand.
Now, looking at his legs, his expression turned incredibly cold.
Qiu Lu immediately asked, "Your Highness, shall this subordinate stop Miss Yun Er?"
Looking at Yun Shu, who had already walked far away, Zhan Tianye shook his head. "No need."
He turned his gaze back to Bai Chun lying on the bed.
The person behind Bai Chun might be the one who poisoned him.
If this person could be found, perhaps it could not only save Bai Chun but also cure his poison?
Without needing to use Yun Shu's detoxification method?
"Ruan Xi, dispatch more men. Find the person hidden behind Bai Chun at all costs," Zhan Tianye commanded in a low voice.
"Yes!"
Zhan Tianye looked up at the crescent moon in the sky, his resolve becoming even clearer.
...
The next day.
The General's Mansion.
As Yu Le styled Yun Shu's hair, she said, "Your maid just heard rumors from the market that the Eldest Miss's appearance has been restored! And she will also be entering the palace today."
Yun Shu's eyes flickered, and her gaze landed on the golden hairpin on her head. Today was to see the Empress Dowager in the palace. The Empress Dowager had returned, and a banquet was being held today, inviting some people to the palace.
She was among the invitees.