Zhou Jin maintained a calm expression on the surface, yet with just a few words, he quickly extracted the truth from the Second Prince's remarks.
Hah, severe depletion? Must abstain from women?
Xu Bao'er had grown bold, daring to spread such rumors about him behind his back.
With her causing such a scene, the matter had likely already spread throughout the palace.
Thinking this, Zhou Jin laughed in extreme anger, the ferocity in his eyes intensifying, like a storm brewing.
"Quickly accept it, Royal Brother won't laugh at you."
"This is all from Royal Brother's sincere intentions."
Under the Second Prince's strong persuasion, Zhou Jin accepted the overflowing package of medicine.
The Second Prince failed to notice that the medicine package had already been crushed with a large dent by Zhou Jin's grip.
"Take good care of your health."
The Second Prince looked relieved, finally glad to not be the only one with ailments. The feeling of finding a fellow sufferer was truly comforting.
"See the guest out."
Zhou Jin had no desire to speak further with the Second Prince. He was now impatient to deal with Xu Bao'er.
This woman—there wasn't a single thing about her that didn't disgust him.
After seeing off the Second Prince, the steward who had witnessed the entire scene dared not speak. Having served the Prince for so many years, he had never seen His Highness so enraged.
This Duanwang Fei truly had no regard for her own life.
Even if their Prince was frail, such matters shouldn't be spoken of openly.
"Duanwang Fei withdrew a considerable sum of silver from the residence the other day."
The steward took the medicine package and seized the opportunity to report to Zhou Jin. Although the amount wasn't significant for the Duanwang Residence, no matter how small, it was still the Prince's money.
Deep down, the steward did not approve of Xu Bao'er. She was utterly unworthy of their brave and battle-hardened Prince Duan Wang, let alone fit to spend their Prince's money.
"Hah, let's go see her."
Originally, Xu Bao'er had always known her place, aware that her marriage had come through disgraceful means and not daring to cause trouble.
But since that night, Xu Bao'er had become increasingly unruly.
Zhou Jin intended to personally crush her arrogance. One day, Xu Bao'er would die by his hand.
Without even changing out of his official robes, Zhou Jin strode quickly toward Xu Bao'er's courtyard. The wind rushing toward him lifted the Qilin Auspicious Cloud Pattern Black Sleeves of his robes.
"Report!"
An urgent voice called out as a eunuch hurriedly ran toward Zhou Jin, blocking his path.
"By Imperial Decree."
"The bandits in Jiu Lan Mountain are running rampant. The Emperor orders Prince Duan to swiftly quell the bandits and depart immediately."
"Your subject receives the decree."
Zhou Jin took the imperial edict with one hand, turning his head to glance toward Xu Bao'er's courtyard, his gaze profound.
"Prince Duan, the bandits of Jiu Lan Mountain massacred an entire village last night. The Emperor is furious and commands you to depart as soon as possible."
Seeing Zhou Jin's slight hesitation, the eunuch hurriedly emphasized the urgency of the matter.
Zhou Jin had long heard of the Jiu Lan Mountain bandits—they were extremely rampant, committing every atrocity from burning and killing to pillaging and raping.
Previously occupied with military campaigns, he had assumed the court would send someone to resolve the issue. Unexpectedly, the several waves dispatched had nearly all been completely annihilated.
Jiu Lan Mountain's treacherous terrain made it easy to defend and hard to attack, and the bandits were fierce and brutal, making them truly difficult to suppress.
"Very well."
Zhou Jin decided to deal with the bandits first and settle with Xu Bao'er upon his return.
The steward, holding the medicine, watched as his Prince walked away. Turning his head, he was startled.
From the nearby corridor, a figure peeked out, spying—a lotus-like face and a willow-slender waist.
Wasn't that Duanwang Fei?
Had she overheard everything just now?
"Steward, was His Highness originally planning to come to my courtyard?"
"Yes, His Highness was just preparing to visit you, Princess."
Xu Bao'er observed the steward's respectful demeanor, knowing full well that while his face showed deference, his heart held nothing but contempt for her.
It was hardly surprising. This steward was Duan Wang's man—it would be strange if he actually thought highly of her.
This so-called "visit" was clearly coming to settle scores with her.
The bandit suppression at Jiu Lan Mountain meant Zhou Jin would surely be away for a long time.
"Very well, you may withdraw."
Xu Bao'er turned back toward her courtyard, already planning to make her immediate escape.
Watching Xu Bao'er's retreating figure, the steward's thoughts turned to how he could deduct from the princess's monthly allowance. His master's money shouldn't be freely spent by this wretched woman.
Little did the steward know that Xu Bao'er had just been to the treasury to withdraw funds—and had taken quite a substantial amount.
Changing into men's clothing, Xu Bao'er went straight to the medical clinic. She needed to check whether that foreign youth was still alive.
Upon entering the clinic, the scent of medicinal herbs greeted her. This was a clinic Xu Bao'er had specifically sought out—remote in location yet elegantly furnished.
Countrous red sandalwood medicine cabinets displayed various remedies, with apprentices busily moving up and down before them.
"Young master, you've come."
The physician immediately came forward upon seeing Xu Bao'er, who was known for her generous payments.
"How is the person I brought here that day?"
"Doing quite well, currently recuperating in the separate courtyard."
Hearing that he had recovered but hadn't run away, Xu Bao'er decided to visit him and help the youth find a place to stay.
Entering the separate courtyard, Xu Bao'er immediately spotted the foreign youth from that day. Though he had changed his clothes and tied his hair with a red cord, those distinctive cat-like heterochromatic eyes allowed Xu Bao'er to recognize him instantly.
Who would have thought the previously filthy youth would transform into such a handsome young man?
The upward tilt of his eyes added a touch of cunning and ruthlessness, while the small tear mole in the center of his brilliant pupils perfectly softened his features.
He stared at Xu Bao'er, scanning her briefly.
Clearly, the youth had recognized Xu Bao'er too.
"I am Zhang San."
Xu Bao'er introduced herself first, unable to use her real name which sounded too feminine. When traveling the martial world, Zhang San served as her pseudonym.
"Jing Lie."
The youth's voice was relatively low, hoarse yet mellow.
Jing Lie—the name was considerably more pleasant than Zhou Jin's.
"That day, I saved you. Now I want to help you find a good place to stay."
Initially, Xu Bao'er hadn't planned to rescue the youth. It wasn't until she witnessed his desperate struggle to survive that she changed her mind.
He had jumped onto Da Wu, strangling the man's neck with deadly determination—the murderous intent in his eyes revealing him to be a ruthless character.
The unyielding fierceness in Jing Lie's eyes had moved Xu Bao'er.
In the youth, she saw shadows of her own childhood self.
Doing whatever it took to survive.
She admired such people.
Originally, Xu Bao'er had intended to leave matters be after saving the youth. Unexpectedly, her dormant system suddenly reactivated.
"Ding dong, congratulations host for successfully unlocking important character: Jing Lie."
"As reward for recognizing talent, one thousand taels of gold presented."
The best thing about this system was that rewarded items could be taken out of this world.
Since Jing Lie was an important character, she could surely obtain more rewards from him in the future.
Thinking this, Xu Bao'er took out some silver taels. "Later I'll help you register for household registration. Then you won't be an undocumented person and can walk the streets openly."
"Thank you, Young Master Zhang."
The reason Jing Lie hadn't left was precisely because of his undocumented status. Having finally escaped to the Da Zhou Dynasty, he couldn't move freely due to lacking proper registration.
Now that he had suffered internal injuries, he needed to recuperate properly and could not recklessly use martial arts.
Moreover, those who were hunting him were searching everywhere. It was clear that the young master Zhang before him could be put to good use.
Xu Bao'er read Jing Lie's thoughts and didn't mind that the other wanted to use her.
After all, raising a deadly wild wolf was quite interesting.