Gu Zhi Ruo was about to ask Wan Qing why she had returned.
But the words stopped at her lips.
The woman who walked in was dressed in night clothes.
Just as she was about to cry out in alarm, Yun Shu spoke, "It's me, Yun Shu."
Gu Zhi Ruo was astonished, "Yun Shu?"
"Yes," Yun Shu nodded gently and closed the door behind her.
Once Gu Zhi Ruo was sure it was Yun Shu, her heart settled, and she asked with disbelief, "How did you get in?"
Yun Shu walked closer and winked at Gu Zhi Ruo, "I flew in!"
Gu Zhi Ruo shook her head weakly and smiled, "So playful. I knew you knew martial arts."
She was just worried if she had been injured by the guards in the mansion when she broke in.
"You don't want to see me because you're afraid of passing on your illness?" Yun Shu asked softly, already sitting by the bed.
Gu Zhi Ruo covered her mouth and nose, leaning further inside, deliberately creating some distance from Yun Shu, and retorted somewhat unconvincingly, "No."
"Do you believe me?" Yun Shu suddenly asked in a low voice.
Gu Zhi Ruo froze, "Of course, I believe you."
"Good then," Yun Shu nodded with a smile.
For the next quarter of an hour, as Gu Zhi Ruo watched Yun Shu examine her pulse, write a prescription, and even administer acupuncture, she thought she was dreaming. She looked at Yun Shu in disbelief.
She was so shocked that she didn't have a chance to say a word from beginning to end.
She just stared in astonishment.
"Take the medicine according to the prescription, and you will be much better in a few days. I will come to see you then."
After Yun Shu finished speaking, she glanced at the sky. It was late. She hadn't slept well these past few days and was already feeling sleepy. After bidding farewell to Gu Zhi Ruo, she left.
Gu Zhi Ruo, however, stared at the prescription in her hand, still in shock.
Until she woke up the next day.
She had slept quite soundly.
It was the first comfortable sleep she had had in a long time.
Wan Qing, seeing the prescription that had fallen on the floor, was startled. "Miss, what is this?"
Gu Zhi Ruo yawned and looked at the prescription in Wan Qing's hand, suddenly realizing that last night was not a dream! She had not been dreaming.
It really had been Yun Shu last night.
"Wow! Miss's complexion is much better today. Is it because the medicine we changed recently is working? If so, that would be great!" Wan Qing exclaimed, seeing that Gu Zhi Ruo's face was no longer so pale.
Gu Zhi Ruo blinked. Not only had her complexion improved, but she even felt a surge of strength at that moment.
She suddenly remembered that Yun Shu had asked her last night, "Do you believe me?"
She immediately looked at the prescription in Wan Qing's hand. "Wan Qing, we're changing the medicine starting today. Go and get the medicine according to the prescription in your hand."
"Ah? Miss, are you sure you want to change the medicine? My servant sees that the medicine you've been taking these past two days seems to be working. If we change it..." Wan Qing hesitated and asked with some worry.
Gu Zhi Ruo smiled and waved her hand, "It's fine, we'll use this one."
Wan Qing wanted to say more, but seeing her mistress so resolute, she went out to get the medicine as ordered.
After Wan Qing left, Gu Zhi Ruo immediately got out of bed.
She was still very weak.
But she managed to walk to the dressing table.
She sat in front of the dressing table and looked at her reflection.
In the bronze mirror, she could see that her complexion had improved.
She believed Yun Shu.
Because the few words Yun Shu had spoken carried an invisible strength, a strength that made her firm in her belief.
...
Night King's Manor.
Gu Xiao Feng woke up in the morning but did not go out.
He frowned.
A hint of fear lingered in his heart.
The Night King had so confidently said he was his son.
Did the Night King really believe his adoptive father's words?
But he wasn't.
He was a pawn sent in by his adoptive father.
He suddenly, intensely, longed to find his mother.
"Young Master, are you up? Would you like to have breakfast?"
The gentle voice of the butler came from outside the door.
Gu Xiao Feng bit his lip. Just as he was about to say no, that he wanted to leave the manor, his stomach rumbled. He hadn't eaten lunch or dinner at the palace yesterday; he had been very nervous and also sad.
After a night's sleep, he was now so, so hungry.
He was so hungry he was losing strength.
"Yes," he opened the door directly.
Steward Wang looked down at Gu Xiao Feng and was taken aback. He looked so much like the King and the young prince!
He hadn't believed the King had another son, especially one sent by the Regent, but now he believed!
Moreover, he didn't think his King would be easily fooled by the Regent. There must be some evidence the King controlled that made him so confident that this child before him was his son.
"For breakfast, do you prefer porridge or steamed buns?" Steward Wang asked kindly.
Gu Xiao Feng blinked. No one had ever asked him what he liked for breakfast before.
He always ate whatever was given to him.
As he stood there stunned, Steward Wang offered more options. "The kitchen also made baked flatbread, soup, and Yang Chun noodles. Young Master, please choose what you like, and I'll go get it."
Gu Xiao Feng blinked his long, long eyelashes. "I want Yang Chun noodles."
He had never eaten Yang Chun noodles before.
His master had said Yang Chun noodles were delicious, but in the village, his master didn't cook. They ate cornbread, wild vegetable soup, and occasionally roasted meat. When he was with his adoptive mother, he ate whatever she ate. His adoptive mother didn't like noodles, saying they affected her appearance and demeanor.
"Okay, Young Master, please wash up first, and I'll go get it," Steward Wang said with a chuckle.
A moment later, Steward Wang returned.
He was carrying a tray.
On the tray was a steaming bowl of Yang Chun noodles and a small plate of vegetables.
The aroma was enticing, and Gu Xiao Feng's stomach rumbled even louder.
"Eat up, Young Master," Steward Wang said kindly.
Gu Xiao Feng said thank you. He had never met such a kind and amiable butler. The butler at the Regent's manor was very cold and emotionless. He didn't care if Gu Xiao Feng ate or what he liked. If he made a mistake, he would scold him.
Steward Wang looked at Gu Xiao Feng with even more affection, wondering what kind of life Gu Xiao Feng had endured outside all these years.
When he first saw the Yang Chun noodles, his eyes lit up as if he had never eaten them before.
He suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
Suddenly.
Steward Wang noticed Zhan Xiao Li standing at the doorway.
And he seemed unhappy. His already cold little face was now covered in an extra layer of frost.
"Young Prince?"
Zhan Xiao Li walked in and approached Gu Xiao Feng. "You're not my father's son, are you?"
Gu Xiao Feng was focused on eating his noodles, intending to deal with Zhan Xiao Li after he finished.
Seeing that Gu Xiao Feng was ignoring him, Zhan Xiao Li became a little angry.
"Young Prince, he is the King's son, your brother, or perhaps, your older brother?" Steward Wang was a little puzzled. He couldn't tell which one was older.