“Today I am extremely grateful for your rescue. Judging by your attire, you seem to come from a wealthy family. If I were to offer you gold or silver, it would likely be of little use to you. These two bottles of Black Jade Balm are my own creation—they are remarkably effective for treating external injuries. Please accept them.”
In the elegant room, Song Yun Chu’s eyes lit up as she looked at the two bottles of ointment Jiang Rumin handed her.
In the original story, Jiang Rumin indeed preferred repaying favors with various medicines she made herself. This Black Jade Balm was her mother’s secret formula, even more effective than the premium trauma medicine from the Imperial Hospital.
“This is too kind,” Song Yun Chu feigned reserve.
“There’s no need for modesty. With such exceptional skills, you must practice martial arts diligently, right? Those who train in martial arts inevitably suffer bumps and bruises. Please keep this ointment—it might come in handy someday.”
“Since you insist, I won’t stand on ceremony.”
Song Yun Chu accepted the ointment, feeling quite pleased.
Kindness was indeed one of Jiang Rumin’s character traits.
But self-conflict, love-struck foolishness, and stubbornness were also part of Jiang Rumin’s persona.
Therefore, Song Yun Chu still preferred not to associate with her too closely.
Saving Jiang Rumin once and receiving two bottles of ointment in return—they were even now.
“Might I ask your name, benefactor?”
“My surname is Song. Saving you was merely a trivial act. Now that you’ve given me a token of gratitude, you owe me nothing. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
With those words, Song Yun Chu turned and left. But the moment she stepped outside, she encountered Shen Yue.
Shen Yue was carrying a tray with three bowls of dark, bitter medicinal brew.
“Brother Shen, what’s this?” Song Yun Chu asked.
“Weren’t the three young ladies injured? The physician prepared this medicine for them. Young Master Luo has woken up, but he felt unwell and called the physician back for another examination, so I offered to deliver the medicine.”
“Young Master Luo is awake?” Song Yun Chu raised an eyebrow. “Did he blame me?”
“Why don’t you go ask him yourself? Hurry along.”
Only after watching Song Yun Chu walk away did Shen Yue set the tray down on the table.
Jiang Rumin was skilled in medicine and cautious about anything consumed, so he couldn’t possibly poison the medicine.
Although Song Yun Chu had just saved them, and he appeared to be on Song Yun Chu’s side—which might lower their guard—to be safe, he had only added Misty Sweat Drug. This drug couldn’t be detected with a silver needle. Once they collapsed, he could make his move.
He was about to urge them to drink the medicine while it was hot, but footsteps outside disrupted his plan—
“Your Highness, they’re really here!”
Following a clear female voice, two figures quickly entered the room.
Shen Yue’s expression shifted as he saw the newcomers.
The man at the front wore dark brocade robes, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes—his handsome face carried a stern coldness. It was Prince Yi, Jun Tianyi.
Following behind him was the Jiang family’s second young lady, Jiang Yuxi.
These two appearing at such a critical moment… truly inconvenient…
While Shen Yue was worrying over this, on the other side, Song Yun Chu was apologizing to the bedridden Jun Li Luo.
“Your Majesty, your servant admits his wrongdoing. Punish me as you see fit, but please believe in my loyalty to you. That Phoenix Woman possesses exceptional medical skills and is someone you favor—how could I stand by and watch her die?”
Song Yun Chu spoke earnestly, his tone tinged with remorse, “The situation was truly urgent at the time. Your Majesty was unconscious, but I don’t know how to treat illnesses. It seemed better to protect the Phoenix Woman, as she might have been able to heal you. However, she ended up quite severely injured herself. Fortunately, there was a medical clinic nearby. The physician said Your Majesty is not in serious danger this time—it’s just a recurrence of an old ailment that requires gradual recuperation. Otherwise, I would never be able to atone for my failure, even in death.”
Jun Li Luo listened to these words with a cold sneer in his heart.
That scoundrel Song Yun Chu has always been skilled at sophistry.
Since there were still many ways he could make use of Song Yun Chu, there was no need to tear apart their facade just yet.
So he spoke gently, “Yun Chu, I have never doubted your loyalty. Now that I am not seriously harmed, and both you and the Phoenix Woman are safe, I naturally won’t hold it against you.”
Song Yun Chu lowered his eyes.
[This dog emperor—acting all day must be exhausting. Fine, I’ll play along with you.]
“Even if Your Majesty does not blame me, I still hold myself accountable. I assure you, a mistake like today’s will never happen again.”
“I believe you.” Jun Li Luo offered Song Yun Chu a faint smile before asking, “By the way, you fought with those assassins targeting Jiang Rumin. Do you know their origins?”
Song Yun Chu shook his head. “Those people came well-prepared. I had intended to capture one or two for interrogation, but they were cunning—they released a cloud of smoke to obstruct my vision and took the chance to escape.”
[At this point in the story, the only vicious female character seems to be Jiang Yuxi. Those assassins were likely sent by her. Since she failed this time, she’ll probably resort to underhanded tricks again later.]
[Jiang Rumin’s protagonist aura has always been strong—Jiang Yuxi can’t possibly kill her. In the original story, many of her troubles were resolved by the protagonist’s group. As long as I, the antagonist, don’t cause her problems and find a way to keep the emperor away from her, the remaining minor villains won’t pose much of a threat to her.]
[If the dog emperor doesn’t compete with Jun Tianyi for Jiang Rumin, many of the heartbreaking plotlines later won’t happen. Jiang Rumin might live a more peaceful life. If I can dissuade the dog emperor, it’ll be my way of repaying Jiang Rumin for those two bottles of medicine she gave me.]
Hearing Song Yun Chu’s inner thoughts, Jun Li Luo’s gaze darkened.
He had casually asked about the assassins merely to test Song Yun Chu’s reaction. Clearly, Song Yun Chu didn’t suspect him at all and only suspected the fake Phoenix Woman, Jiang Yuxi.
Song Yun Chu knew full well that Jiang Rumin could affect both their destinies, yet he refused to eliminate the threat permanently, thinking only of keeping his distance. Did he really believe that staying away could prevent all disasters?
Someday in the future, Jun Tianyi would bring about his utter defeat. Didn’t that prove that Jun Tianyi, deep down, held no absolute obedience or recognition for him, the emperor?
Whether it was Jiang Rumin or Jun Tianyi, they were both potential threats to him. As the sovereign, he could not afford to be defeated, nor could he afford to show mercy.
Anyone who posed a threat to him, be they friend or kin, must die.
He wondered how Shen Yue’s mission was progressing.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. Jun Li Luo and Song Yun Chu both looked up to see Shen Yue return, his face bruised and swollen—clearly, he had just been in a fight.
Song Yun Chu was taken aback and was about to ask what happened when he noticed a tall, slender figure follow closely behind Shen Yue into the room.
“Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”
Jun Li Luo looked at Jun Tianyi, who was bowing before him, and said gently, “There’s no need for such formality, Imperial Uncle.”
Jun Tianyi suddenly appeared at the clinic. As one might expect, Shen Yue’s assassination attempt had undoubtedly been disrupted.
Song Yun Chu sized up Jun Tianyi, narrowing her eyes.
[That scumbag is quite handsome, but it’s a pity he’s blind and foolish. Deceived by the vicious female supporting character, he’s completely wrapped around her finger. Though his intelligence is inferior to the dog emperor’s, he still reached the peak of life relying on the protagonist’s halo. Ah, such envy is beyond my reach.]
Jun Li Luo remained expressionless, but his resolve to eliminate Jun Tianyi grew even firmer.
Jun Tianyi rose to his feet, cupping his hands respectfully toward Jun Li Luo. “Your Majesty, Minister Shen’s actions are utterly absurd. I humbly request Your Majesty to punish him!”