Zhou Guan Jia was inwardly furious, thinking, “Fine, since you’re not afraid of death, I’ll leave it all to you. When you get bullied by the madman later, don’t come crying and begging for our help.”
So, he went out with two male servants.
As soon as the door closed, Lin Xingyao turned around and poured the medicine into the toilet.
The moment the medicine was brought in, she had smelled a faint sour odor hidden within the strong herbal scent. This particular sour smell was unique—it was the distinct aroma emitted by Mixincao.
Mixincao had hallucinogenic effects. Long-term consumption could disrupt the mind, induce symptoms of madness, and eventually lead to exhaustion and death. Because Mixincao was extremely rare, found only in northern Myanmar, very few people in the country could recognize it.
Originally, Lin Xingyao had suspected that Jun Xuanye might be feigning madness, but now it seemed he was truly insane. However, this madness was different from mental illness—it was artificially induced.
It appeared that the murky waters of the Jun Family ran deeper than she had imagined.
About half an hour later, Jun Xuanye finally exhausted himself and collapsed unconscious on the bed.
Only then did Lin Xingyao leisurely walk over, checking Jun Xuanye’s pulse. The symptoms indeed matched her suspicions, and they had already reached an advanced stage. If left untreated, he would surely meet his end within a month.
Taking a closer look at Jun Xuanye, she had to admit the man was truly stunning. His features were flawless, and together they formed an exceptionally handsome face. A man like this was born to stand at the pinnacle—what could have reduced him to such a pitiful state?
His wrists and ankles, bound by iron chains, were now marked with bloody scratches from his earlier violent struggles.
Lin Xingyao took out the key she had discreetly taken from Zhou Guan Jia earlier and unlocked the chains for him.
Mixincao could cloud the mind and induce madness, but it also allowed intermittent periods of lucidity; it wouldn’t leave someone unconscious after an episode. Yet Jun Xuanye was either raving or lying in a dazed stupor—there must be other means of control at play.
Lin Xingyao took out a pill and fed it to him, then felt around the back of his head. Seeming to find something, she pulled forcefully and extracted a silver needle. The man groaned softly in pain, but his complexion visibly improved.
The silver needle had darkened slightly, indicating it had been embedded for a long time. How ruthless!
“I’ve killed people, and I’ve saved people. Jun Xuanye, by saving you this time, I hope you won’t let me down.”
After saying this, she adjusted Jun Xuanye into a more comfortable sleeping position and thoughtfully tucked him in.
In the evening, a servant delivered several sets of clothes. Judging by the packaging, they were all branded items, though none of the brands were particularly well-known.
Lin Xingyao didn’t stand on ceremony. She chose a dress she liked, went to the bathroom to take a shower, and changed into the new outfit.
When she emerged, her entire demeanor and appearance had been transformed.
She was actually quite beautiful—her delicate oval face, almond-shaped eyes bright and expressive, and a figure that was flawlessly perfect. Earlier, to match the identity of a “country girl,” she had deliberately darkened her skin and added dark circles under her eyes, making herself look dull and unremarkable.
Now, in the Jun Family, she no longer needed to hide her true appearance. She removed her makeup, shed her cheap clothes, and donned a pure white dress. She looked as fresh and radiant as a lotus emerging from water.
When Zhou Guan Jia came again, he almost thought he had mistaken the person at first glance. It wasn’t until Lin Xingyao asked, “What is it? Remember to knock next time you come in,” that Zhou Guan Jia confirmed from her voice that it was indeed the Second Young Mistress.
“Fourth Young Miss has returned from school. Hearing there’s a newcomer in the house, she asks you to go meet her.”
The Jun Family had four children in total. Only the Third Young Master Jun Zihao and Fourth Young Miss Jun Yufei were born to the current Madam; the others were half-siblings.
Seeing Lin Xingyao still sitting on the sofa reading a book with no intention of moving, Zhou Guan Jia urged her again.
Lin Xingyao then lazily replied, “Since my sister-in-law wants to see me, she should come herself. Why should the elder go to see the younger?”
Zhou Guan Jia was amused by her words. “I say, Second Young Mistress, putting on airs in front of us servants is one thing. But who is Fourth Young Miss? The apple of the Master and Madam’s eye, a proper master of this house. How dare you ask her to come see you?”
Lin Xingyao turned a page of her book, seemingly engrossed, and said indifferently, “If she doesn’t want to come, that’s fine. I don’t particularly want to see her either.”
Zhou Guan Jia couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Fine, fine. Since you don’t know what’s good for you, just wait and see how Fourth Young Miss deals with you later. She’s the little tyrant of our Jun Family; no one dares to provoke her!”
After saying this, Zhou Guan Jia left in a huff.
Lin Xingyao finally put down her book and stood up. But it wasn’t because she was frightened by the butler’s final words; it was because she saw Jun Xuanye open his eyes.
His gaze was still somewhat dazed, but unlike before, when he would open his eyes and start screaming and thrashing wildly, he was very quiet now. He stared blankly at the ceiling for a while before shifting his gaze, his eyes landing on Lin Xingyao.
“Tired from lying down so long? Get up and sit for a while.”
Jun Xuanye didn’t move or speak, allowing Lin Xingyao to help him up like a puppet on strings and sit him on the edge of the bed.
Lin Xingyao looked at him quite satisfied. “You’re recovering well. Although you’re still a bit dazed now, don’t worry, you’ll fully recover soon.”
Her medical expertise was profound. If she said she would save him, she could certainly restore him to his former self.
Zhou Guan Jia had long disliked Lin Xingyao. Seizing this opportunity, he embellished the story in front of Fourth Young Miss.
Sure enough, Jun Yufei was furious. “I wanted to see her as a favor to her. Not only did she not appreciate it, she actually dared to say she didn’t want to see me? Does she really think she’s my sister-in-law?”
She had never liked coming to the fifth floor before because Jun Xuanye was too cold and arrogant, never giving her a friendly look. Later, when Jun Xuanye went mad and became terrifying, she was even less willing to come.
Today, she was truly enraged. But when Jun Yufei angrily pushed open the door, ready to teach that wild girl a lesson, she saw her second brother actually sitting on the edge of the bed.
“S-second brother, you’re awake?” Her relationship with Jun Xuanye was distant, and she didn’t know much about his condition.
As for the butler, seeing Jun Xuanye up, he immediately thought he was about to go mad again. Noticing that his ankle and wrist chains had been removed, his face instantly paled with fright.
“How were Second Young Master’s chains opened?” Zhou Guan Jia hurriedly reached into his pocket for the key but found it empty.
Just as he was wondering, he saw Lin Xingyao take out a key and wave it in front of him: “Were you looking for this? You dropped it here earlier. When I saw my husband’s hands and feet bruised from the restraints, I helped him unlock the shackles.”
Zhou Guan Jia’s face turned livid with anger: “You… you actually unlocked the Second Young Master’s shackles?”
Lin Xingyao looked puzzled and retorted: “My husband isn’t a criminal, so why should he be locked up?”