Hidden Motives
The night in the capital was surprisingly beautiful. The Guanhe Tower was brilliantly lit, bustling with guests, and everywhere one could hear the playful banter of patrons and the coquettish laughter of beauties.
After giving Xu Zhiyan’s name, the waiter led them toward a private room on the second floor. As they passed a room named Peony Garden, Jiang Zhaoying paused and turned to the waiter.
Shu Yun placed a small silver bean in his hand, and the waiter beamed with delight.
“It’s the Second Young Master of the Song family, Madam.”
So it was Song Mingji. With such a major incident happening in his household, he still had the mood to come out drinking.
Truly…
How interesting.
Jiang Zhaoying blinked, and after a moment, she smiled. Then, she took two silver notes and handed them to the waiter.
“Call two beauties for him. If he asks, just say it’s from a familiar friend. No need to say anything else.”
“Yes.”
The waiter nodded in acknowledgment and then led them to a private room named Peony Garden. Pushing open the door, the enticing aroma of food wafted out, suggesting Xu Zhiyan had already ordered quite a few delicacies and soups.
Hearing movement at the door, the tall, handsome young man sitting by the window, who had been exuding an air of aloofness, turned around. The chill in his eyes instantly melted away, replaced by warmth as he walked toward her.
“They’re right next door. Have something to eat first. You must be hungry after being busy for so long.”
Jiang Zhaoying looked at the dishes before her—shredded meat soup, plum ginger, red date and bird’s nest, steamed tender lamb, five-spice chicken wings… Her eyes curved into a smile. They were all her favorites.
“I really am hungry.”
Hearing this, Shu Yun and Shu Yu hurried forward to attend to their young lady, but they were stopped by a slender, fair hand. Xu Zhiyan pointed to the small table on the soft couch.
“You two must be tired as well. Go over there and have something to eat. I’ll take care of Ying’er.”
Jiang Zhaoying smiled faintly at his words. When she was a child, every meal she ate had Xu Zhiyan’s involvement. Back then, she was quick at everything else, but eating was particularly slow.
Xu Zhiyan and Jiang Zhiyu would take turns feeding her, and sometimes a single meal would take a long time.
“Thank you, Young Master Xu.”
Shu Yun and Shu Yu’s cheeks flushed slightly. After offering a curtsy, they giggled and walked toward the soft couch. Once seated, Shu Yu glanced at their two masters and leaned in to whisper to Shu Yun.
“Shu Yun, wouldn’t it be wonderful if the young lady married Young Master Xu?”
“Don’t speak nonsense.”
Shu Yun hurriedly covered Shu Yu’s big mouth. Although she also felt it was a pity, there was one thing that puzzled her greatly.
She could tell that Young Master Xu liked the young lady.
But why hadn’t Young Master Xu proposed to the master? Given their long-standing acquaintance, the master should have agreed, in principle.
The mistress’s journal said that if you like someone, be with them; if you don’t, then part ways. Life isn’t about endless responsibilities and obligations—those are just excuses lazy people leave for others.
“Eat a little more.”
Lowering his gaze.
Looking at the slender Jiang Zhaoying beside him, Xu Zhiyan’s eyes softened. With elegant movements, he busied himself with one dish after another, wishing he could push everything in front of Jiang Zhaoying.
“I’m quite good at eating now. Sometimes I can even finish two bowls of rice.”
“That’s good. It’d be even better if you gained a little more weight.”
Her waist was as slender as a willow branch—far too thin. Girls should be fair and plump; that way, they look much healthier.
Seeing their young lady relaxed and smiling, Shu Yun and Shu Yu also began to eat earnestly.
Bang…
The sound of something being smashed to the ground suddenly rang out, followed by the noise of hurried footsteps and objects colliding.
“Princess, Princess.”
“Tingyun…” It was the Crown Prince’s voice. “How could she be like this? Go, fetch the imperial physician at once.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Jiang Zhaoying glanced at Shu Yun, who immediately slipped from her seat, picked up a cup of tea, and swiftly stepped out.
The private room instantly grew tense, everyone straining their ears to listen to the commotion outside.
As expected.
A startled cry from Shu Yun was heard, and the tea cup shattered on the floor.
“Oh dear, this was the Tianshan tea prepared for Dr. Qiu, five taels of silver per cup!”
Dr. Qiu was a well-known physician in the capital. The guard who had rushed out instinctively started to run forward but then paused, grabbing Shu Yun.
“Who did you just mention?”
Shu Yun looked innocent, pointing to the third floor.
“Today is the day for physicians to discuss medical techniques. They’re all upstairs, didn’t you know, sir?”
“Really?”
The guard’s face lit up with joy. Seeing Shu Yun nod, he quickly thanked her, turned to his companion to send for the imperial physician, and then hurried upstairs himself.
Shu Yun hastily picked up the broken tea cup from the floor and scurried back into their private room.
“Miss, it’s done.”
Jiang Zhaoying nodded, then rose with Xu Zhiyan and walked to the balcony, leaning close to the shared wall between the two private rooms to listen quietly.
She soon frowned.
Princess Tingyun was indeed ill, unconscious and deathly pale.
Shu Yu, meanwhile, stood by the door, occasionally peeking out. After a moment, she rushed over and said.
“Miss, all the physicians have come down.”
The younger ones ran faster, while the older ones followed behind. In total, over twenty of them swarmed over.
Shen Liuguang ordered the guards to secure the entrance, allowing the most skilled physician to enter first.
Dr. Qiu was escorted into the private room by the guard.
Upon looking up.
He was startled by the cold, imposing figure seated on the couch. Guards stood all around, the cold glint of weapons at their waists. The small bed by the window, meant for resting, had its curtains drawn, but faintly, he could see a young lady lying ill.
Seeing such a scene, he knew it must involve someone of high status. Just as he was about to bow, the Crown Prince said coldly.
“Examine her.”
Dr. Qiu nodded, set down his medicine chest, placed a cloth over Princess Tingyun’s wrist, and carefully took her pulse.
“Heart disease?”
After speaking, Dr. Qiu stepped back, gesturing for another physician to take the pulse.
Jiang Zhaoying listened, her long lashes fluttering slightly.
Heart disease attacks swiftly, and without prompt treatment, it can be fatal. However, maids usually carry medicine for such emergencies. Why was it so sudden this time?
“It is heart disease.”
Over a dozen physicians took turns diagnosing, all reaching the same conclusion. Finally, everyone looked to Dr. Qiu, who frowned.
“It is indeed heart disease, but this young lady seems to have been born with a toxin in her system, which makes the attacks particularly severe and life-threatening.”
Listening nearby, Jiang Zhaoying suddenly remembered that after Princess Tingyun’s mother, Consort Quan, had helped her, she had brought gifts to the palace to express her gratitude.
Consort Quan had held her hand, tears in her eyes, saying she once had a daughter as beautiful and obedient as Jiang Zhaoying. If not for their carelessness, she would still be alive and well.
Seeing her grieve and weep for her lost daughter, Jiang Zhaoying’s eyes also reddened.
So.
Was it because of this toxin she was born with?
“The medicine for the heart condition is easy enough, but this poison…”
Several physicians whispered among themselves, their eyes showing a hint of difficulty. The poison also required medication; otherwise, the young lady would not be able to endure it.
“Strange. Logically, this young lady’s health should have been restored by now. Why is she still in such a state?”
…
Jiang Zhaoying paced back and forth, her eyes flickering with uncertainty, as she retrieved the detoxification pill from her bosom.
“What is it?”
“A detoxification pill, Second Brother. My mother earned a great deal of money and prepared an abundance of medicine.”
Jiang Zhaoying explained softly.
However.
If she were to send the detoxification pill now, the Crown Prince would likely suspect Xu Zhiyan of having ulterior motives—otherwise, how could he have such a medicine so conveniently?
But if she did not go.
The physicians would not be able to concoct a detoxification pill with such potent effects in such a short time. Jiang Zhaoying knew the origin of this medicine; her mother had explained it in her notes. Worried that her child might be poisoned, she had spent a fortune in advance to prepare these things.
Each of them carried five of these pills!
“I’ll go.”
Xu Zhiyan naturally understood the worry in her eyes. As a married woman from a noble family, it was not appropriate for her to appear at this moment. It had to be him. He patted her shoulder, took Jiang Zhaoying’s hand, and gently pried it open to take the pill.
“Even if the Crown Prince becomes suspicious, before the earthquake occurs, he won’t say or do anything to us!”
Jiang Zhaoying nodded. After Xu Zhiyan left the private room, she stepped forward, lifted the curtain slightly, and quietly observed the commotion next door.
Bang…
Fury surged once more from that direction, followed by Shen Liuguang’s voice.
“You are all renowned physicians in the capital. Is it so difficult for you to work together to concoct a single pill?”
Inside the room.
The physicians broke out in cold sweat. Physician Qiu, who held an esteemed position in the capital, naturally stood at the forefront. Speaking from a medical perspective, he said with some difficulty,
“Concocting the medicine isn’t the hard part. The challenge lies in creating a pill that can completely neutralize this poison. Moreover, given how long it has been, we cannot determine what poison the young lady has been afflicted with. If we take our time, the young lady cannot wait. If we concoct the medicine now, we fear it may not have the desired effect.”
“For now, we can only prescribe a formula to wake the young lady. But whether she survives will depend on whether she makes it through the night.”
The Crown Prince’s handsome face darkened, his eyes sharp. Suddenly, he recalled that Consort Quan had once mentioned something.
She had sadly said that Tingyun’s fifteenth year was a critical juncture.
If she did not overcome it, Tingyun might die.
What should he do?
“Young Master, this matter cannot be delayed. The young lady’s illness has struck too suddenly. We must go and prepare the medicine.”
Whether it succeeded or not, they had to try. They could not simply watch her die.
The Crown Prince nodded. Shen Liuguang instructed the guards to lead the physicians out to begin their work. Just as he finished giving orders, a guard entered.
“Young Master, Young Master Xu is outside.”
“Xu Zhiyan?”
The Crown Prince’s long lashes lifted slightly, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. Xu Zhiyan had been appearing rather frequently lately, and his arrival likely meant he had learned something.
“Let him in.”
The guard obeyed and hurried out to usher Xu Zhiyan inside.
Xu Zhiyan bowed, then opened his palm, revealing a pill before Physician Qiu.
“This is a detoxification pill, Physician Qiu. Please take a look.”
Several physicians immediately gathered around. Physician Qiu took the pill, carefully sniffed it, and then nodded.
“This is indeed a rare and miraculous medicine, but this young lady’s constitution is weak, and the potency of this medicine is extremely fierce. I’m not sure if she can withstand it…”