A grand and imposing courtyard stood before them, its entrance adorned with a crimson plaque boldly inscribed with the three characters: Yu Wang Fu.
Inside the study, a man who had already bathed and changed his clothes now wore a black brocade robe. He leaned back in his chair, clutching a crumpled note in his hand. His deep, penetrating gaze fixed on a small medicine bottle on the desk, while an aura of chilling pressure radiated from him.
Just then, the study door opened, and two guards entered.
"Your subordinates pay their respects to the Prince."
Receiving no response, the two guards knelt silently, not daring to rise. They could sense their Prince was in an exceptionally foul mood and couldn't help but tremble slightly.
After a long pause, the man's thin lips parted. "What happened last night? And where did that woman come from?"
The two guards were taken aback, exchanging bewildered glances.
"Your Highness, we did not arrange for any woman last night… Before Dark Two and I left, the poison in Your Highness's body was about to flare up. For safety's sake, we evaded the assassins. The Prince's residence was surely swarming with killers, and the inn was too conspicuous a target. As a last resort, we placed Your Highness in Huaxianlou. With its bustling crowd, it was less likely to draw attention. I instructed the madam to have a servant guard the door, and then Dark Two and I immediately returned to the Prince's residence to deal with the assassins, intending to retrieve Your Highness as soon as possible… Could it be that Your Highness… Your Highness…"
Dark One swallowed hard, ultimately not daring to voice the question in his mind.
"You two abandoned your posts without authorization. Go and receive twenty lashes each! Also, investigate the person you arranged for last night. Find her and bring her before me immediately!"
"Yes! Your subordinates obey!"
After the two shadow guards withdrew, an old man carrying a medicine chest entered the study.
"This humble official pays his respects to the Prince!"
"Imperial Physician Liu, examine this pill and see if it is effective against the poison in my body."
Prince Yu casually tossed the small medicine bottle on the desk to Imperial Physician Liu.
Imperial Physician Liu opened the bottle, sniffed it, then poured out a pill. He scraped off a bit of powder, rubbing it between his fingers.
"Marvelous! Truly marvelous! Where did Your Highness obtain this pill?"
Seeing Imperial Physician Liu's reaction, Prince Yu already understood—the medicine left by that woman was effective for him.
"I came across it by chance. Have you discerned anything, Imperial Physician Liu?" For safety's sake, he still inquired.
"This old man is unworthy. Despite all these years, I have been unable to concoct a pill with such effects for Your Highness. I am truly ashamed! This pill is indeed effective—and highly so! It can suppress the accumulation of poison in Your Highness's body and also alleviate the pain during flare-ups."
"Oh? Then examine my pulse."
With that, he rolled up his sleeve and placed his arm on the desk.
Imperial Physician Liu's eyes lit up with delight. "Has Your Highness found a divine physician for treatment?"
Prince Yu shook his head, puzzled. "After the poison flared up yesterday, I felt my body was somewhat better than before."
Imperial Physician Liu stroked his beard, nodding. "Your Highness's spirit today is indeed much better than in the past! Your pulse is strong and vigorous. The poison in Your Highness's body has been sealed, and it will not spread for at least three years. If Your Highness can find this divine physician, it may be possible to cure the poison entirely. Based on their ability to concoct such an exquisite pill and their acupuncture technique, this person must be one of the world's foremost divine physicians! There is always someone greater beyond the heavens, and beyond people, there are always others. This old man is truly in awe!
Your Highness, if I could be fortunate enough to meet this divine physician and exchange knowledge with them, I would die without regret…"
Prince Yu recalled the woman from last night, his handsome brows furrowing as his gaze turned obscure and unfathomable. He spoke lightly, "You may leave now."
"Yes, Your Highness! This humble official takes his leave!"
After Imperial Physician Liu departed, he once again unfolded the paper he had crumpled into a ball. The handwriting on it was messy, the paper itself was snow-white and thick, and the pen tip used to write seemed very fine—unlike ink.
His suspicion about the identity of last night's woman deepened. Although she had left behind pills that could suppress his poison, what she had done to him was truly hard to accept.
Hah—compensation? Defiling this prince's purity, and then compensating with just a few pills?
If she could cure his poison, hmph, he might consider sparing her life! Otherwise, he would make her experience a hundred ways to die.
…
"Miss, something's happened, wake up quickly…"
Yun Li was sleeping soundly when she was shaken awake. She lazily opened her eyes to see a round-faced, round-eyed girl with a plump appearance—the maid Tao Hong, the original owner's servant. An orphan taken in by the original owner's mother and raised by her side, after the mother's death, the two had relied on each other for survival.
Yun Li asked nonchalantly, "What is it?"
"Miss, it's about the eldest young lady! I heard she was hiding a man in her room, and this morning several people in the residence saw it…"
Seeing Yun Li remain silent, Tao Hong nervously thought she had disturbed her mistress's sleep and added, "I saw you sleeping until noon and still not waking up, so I couldn't help but come to call you."
Yun Li nodded, "Oh, and then?"
"Also, the eldest young lady's room was completely robbed by a thief—overnight, everything disappeared! The man seemed to be dead. The Prime Minister returned from court in a furious rage, ordering a thorough investigation. He also warned everyone in the residence who saw anything to keep their mouths shut, or else…"
Tao Hong narrated vividly, even making a throat-slitting gesture.
Yun Li was amused and asked, "How did my dear elder sister react?"
"I heard the eldest young lady fainted on the spot, and the madam also fainted. The physician is currently treating them."
"How easily frightened~"
However, the Passion-Inducing Pill she had given Yun Ran was not something an ordinary physician could detect, so she wasn't worried about any investigation.
Feeling quite pleased, she decided to take Tao Hong out for a stroll to see the streets of Yueqi Kingdom.
As they walked and talked, heading toward the courtyard, the Prime Minister's Residence was in chaos, and no one would pay attention to them. Thus, Yun Li swaggered out without a care.
"Tao Hong, do you want to change your name? I think your name is a bit old-fashioned."
"Ah? Miss, this servant's name was given by the madam, and it's been used for over ten years…"
Yun Li shook her head. Her mother was too old-fashioned—such a cute girl given such a rustic name…
"Tao Hong, listen to me, I'll give you a nicer name! Cherry! Little Cherry! Round and adorable, enticingly red…"
"Well, alright! But Miss, you've called this servant by that name for over ten years. If you're used to it, what if you find it awkward later?"
"It won't be a problem~ Calling you Cherry will feel even more natural! And from now on, don't keep saying 'this servant' when you speak! Just refer to yourself as 'I'!"
"But… but…"
"No buts, just listen to your miss, okay~ Be good…"
"Alright."
These ancient notions of hierarchy and status were too deeply ingrained, and the constant bowing and formalities were truly annoying…
After saying that, Yun Li pinched Ying Tao’s chubby little cheek.
Mmm~ What a wonderful texture, soft and bouncy…
“Come on~ From now on, I’ll take you to enjoy all the good things in life!”