"Elder Sister, Father was furious when he heard you ran away! He was going to send someone to drag you back to the temple, but I talked him down for a long time before he calmed down." Liu Yuanyin, shedding her usual arrogance and domineering attitude in front of her, became gentle and considerate as if she were a different person. "Elder Sister, don't worry. I’ve already spoken with Father. Since you’ve agreed to marry Prince Zhen, there’s no need for you to return to the temple. If Prince Zhen wants to see you, running back and forth would be such a hassle, don’t you think?"
As soon as Liu Yuanyin appeared, Jiang Jiu, who had been following Liu Qingxu, subtly stepped aside, pretending to be a passerby as he walked past them, then quietly went to catch up with Lord Si and Yu Hui.
Seeing them walk away, Liu Qingxu breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Crossing her arms and tilting her head, she looked at Liu Yuanyin, not bothering to hide her disgust. "Since you know I’ve agreed to marry Prince Zhen, you should be at ease. I won’t compete with you for the Crown Prince anymore. Please stay away from me in the future, so I don’t have to watch your hypocritical act and feel embarrassed for you."
She had tolerated Liu Yuanyin’s antics all along not because she feared her, but because she didn’t want to invite trouble for herself.
If Liu Yuanyin still didn’t know her place after she agreed to marry Prince Zhen, then she couldn’t blame her for losing patience. After all, she had already scolded the Crown Prince today—dealing with a mere Liu Yuanyin and beating her half to death wouldn’t be difficult at all.
"Elder Sister, I know I shouldn’t have targeted you over the Crown Prince. It’s all because I care about him too much. Now that you’re marrying Prince Zhen, my heart is at peace, and I won’t treat you like that anymore. I came to find you today because I want to make amends."
"Heh!" Liu Qingxu chuckled softly, looking at Liu Yuanyin as if she were a freak. What gave her the courage to come and seek reconciliation?
"Elder Sister, you must be tired from standing. Why don’t we find a place to sit?" Liu Yuanyin seemed oblivious to her disgust, still acting considerate and thoughtful.
Liu Qingxu truly didn’t want to say another word to her and started walking forward.
Liu Yuanyin didn’t get angry either. Walking beside her, she pleaded in a gentle tone, "Elder Sister, I know you’re still angry with me. I really know I was wrong. From now on, I’ll treat you well. Can you forgive me just this once?"
They say that when something unusual happens, there must be a reason; when someone acts out of character, there must be a hidden motive. Having lived two lifetimes, Liu Qingxu understood this better than anyone.
However, Liu Yuanyin clung to her like a stubborn plaster, and since she didn’t know where to go at the moment, after walking down a street, she simply entered a tavern by the roadside.
This Hongya Tavern was doing excellent business, with many patrons already seated even before noon. She originally intended to find a table in the main hall, but Liu Yuanyin chimed in beside her, "Elder Sister, we’re both unmarried women. Let’s go to a private room."
Liu Qingxu didn’t say anything and chose a private room closest to the main hall.
She knew Lord Si and the other two were nearby. Although they had known each other for less than half a month, after working together these past two days, her fondness and trust in them had soared. She believed that if anything happened to her, they wouldn’t stand idly by. If they would, they wouldn’t have left Shunhe Temple with her.
Since they were at the tavern, they couldn’t just sit there doing nothing. She ordered a pot of tea and two small dishes from the waiter, then sat cross-legged by the low table and began eating on her own.
Liu Yuanyin knelt opposite her, her almond-shaped eyes gazing at her with a pitiful expression.
"Elder Sister, please don't ignore me. I truly know I was wrong. Let us reconcile. Since we are both to marry into the Yan Family, we sisters must be of one heart. Only then will we not be bullied in the Yan Family in the future."
"You jest, younger sister. I am marrying Prince Zhen. By seniority, Princess Consort Zhen ranks only below Her Majesty the Empress. Even the imperial consorts in the rear palace must show me respect. Whether you will be bullied or not, I do not know, but I certainly will not be bullied." Liu Qingxu lifted her eyes, truly unable to resist dousing her with cold water.
"Elder Sister…" Liu Yuanyin's gentle expression could hardly hold.
She had thought Liu Qingxu would choose the Second Prince. After all, she had heard that the Second Prince had long admired Liu Qingxu, and last time at the temple, she had seen the affection the Second Prince showed toward Liu Qingxu.
But she never expected Liu Qingxu would actually choose Prince Zhen!
This wretched woman, she was clearly doing it on purpose!
Knowing she could not become the Crown Princess, she deliberately married Prince Zhen to become the Crown Prince's aunt, just to outrank her in seniority!
After secretly pinching her palm under the table, she looked at Liu Qingxu with concern again and said, "Elder Sister, are you really going to marry Prince Zhen? I heard Prince Zhen is fated with the Celestial Fiend of Solitude. Several women who entered Prince Zhen Manor before either became fools or went mad. If you…"
Liu Qingxu chuckled lightly, interrupting her, "If so, wouldn't that be exactly as you all wish?"
Liu Yuanyin pouted with grievance, "Elder Sister, I am serious. Please don't misunderstand my good intentions, all right? As the saying goes, it's better to believe it than not. Those women who entered Prince Zhen Manor all met terrible ends. Yet now you are about to marry into Prince Zhen Manor. How can we not worry? I truly don't know what you are thinking. The Second Prince is so deeply devoted to you, yet you turn a blind eye. It's such a pity for his profound affection. You don't know, but the Second Prince was so heartbroken when he heard you chose Prince Zhen!"
Liu Qingxu lowered her head to eat, but her mind couldn't help but recall some people and events.
Compared to Crown Prince Yan Rongxi, the Second Prince Yan Rongtai was gentle and sincere, like a modest gentleman who avoided worldly strife. In her original body's memories, there was no impression of Yan Rongtai contending for power, nor had she heard any gossip about Yan Rongtai. Thinking carefully, he indeed seemed more reliable than the Crown Prince and Prince Zhen.
But so what? Just because someone secretly admires her, she must choose that person?
Moreover, she had no intention of marrying at all. Choosing Prince Zhen was merely a temporary expedient. As for Prince Zhen being fated with some Celestial Fiend of Solitude, she found it utterly ridiculous. If it were truly that miraculous, wouldn't all the members of the Yan Family have been cursed to death by Prince Zhen long ago? What would be left for the Emperor and the Crown Prince then?
She ignored Liu Yuanyin's hypocrisy and continued eating the side dishes on her plate.
But as she ate, she suddenly felt somewhat hot, and her chest felt uncomfortably stifled.
She glanced at the sky outside the window. The temperature today was not high, and she hadn't done anything strenuous. Why did she feel so unbearably hot?
"Elder Sister, after you finish eating, come back to the manor with me, all right? Father is still waiting for you at the manor!" Liu Yuanyin's voice came from across the table again.
"No need. You go back by yourself." Liu Qingxu was growing impatient.
"Elder Sister…" Liu Yuanyin pouted innocently.
Liu Qingxu only felt increasingly stifled and hot inside her body, likely caused by Liu Yuanyin's incessant chatter. Thus, she lost her appetite and stood up to leave.
But as soon as she stood, her feet felt as if they had lost their balance, causing her body to instantly lose stability and uncontrollably fall back onto the cushion.
At first, she didn't think much of it, but the rapid heating of her body was clearly abnormal. She felt both annoyed and anxious—what had gone wrong?
Her gaze fell on the two remaining dishes on the table. Her pupils contracted sharply, her face turned deathly pale, and she glared furiously at Liu Yuanyin.
"What did you do?"
"What? I don’t understand what you’re saying, Eldest Sister." Liu Yuanyin blinked innocently, as if noticing her discomfort. She rose from the opposite side of the table, walked around to Liu Qingxu’s side, and bent down to try and support her, speaking with gentle concern, "Eldest Sister, you must be tired. Let me take you back to the manor to rest."
"Get away from me!" Liu Qingxu shoved her aside.
"Eldest Sister, don’t be like this. I’m only thinking of your well-being. Why won’t you accept my help?" Liu Yuanyin showed no sign of anger and even tried to take her hand.
"When did you tamper with it?" This time, Liu Qingxu didn’t push her away but instead grabbed her by the neck, her eyes filled with murderous intent as she glared viciously at her.
Liu Yuanyin chuckled softly. "Eldest Sister, don’t exert yourself too much, or it’ll only make the effects come faster. You wouldn’t want me to just grab any man off the street for you, would you?"
Looking at that innocent face before her, Liu Qingxu felt utterly disgusted. She wished she could snap Liu Yuanyin’s neck right then and there, sending her straight to the underworld!
But just as Liu Yuanyin had said, the more agitated she became and the more she tried to exert force, the more violently a surge of heat coursed through her body, as if her blood vessels were being steamed and roasted by fire, leaving her unbearably flushed and uncomfortable.
Gritting her teeth, she pushed Liu Yuanyin away and dashed toward the exit. Her immediate priority was to find a secluded place. As for Liu Yuanyin’s life, she vowed not to show the slightest mercy the next time they met!
However, before she could escape, two burly men entered from outside.
Her eyes widened as thoughts raced through her mind. She had chosen this tavern on a whim, precisely to avoid giving Liu Yuanyin any opportunity to tamper with anything. Moreover, she believed that with so many people around, Liu Yuanyin would hesitate to act even if she intended to.
It wasn’t until these two burly men appeared that she realized how naive she had been! Liu Yuanyin didn’t need to do anything herself—she could simply send others to do it for her!
"Eldest Sister, I advise you to come back with me quietly. At least that way, you’ll retain some dignity," Liu Yuanyin chuckled softly behind her. "If they have to drag you away, you’ll likely never be able to show your face again."
Liu Qingxu turned around. That innocent face was now adorned with a sinister, triumphant smile, as if she were certain that Liu Qingxu would be helplessly slaughtered today like a lamb…
Suddenly, she caught sight of a figure flashing past the window.
Her expression darkened instantly. She lunged at Liu Yuanyin, throwing a punch at her face, followed swiftly by a kick—
"Ah!"
The sudden assault elicited a piercing scream from Liu Yuanyin, who was sent flying and crashed with a loud thud against a nearby low table.
The two burly men were stunned, completely frozen in place.
Meanwhile, Liu Qingxu rushed toward the window and leaped out—
She had recognized the figure that flashed by earlier as Jiang Jiu.
That was why she dared to attack Liu Yuanyin—to vent her fury before making her escape.
What she hadn’t expected, however, was that her leap would land her squarely in Lord Si’s arms, sitting perfectly cradled in his embrace!
"……" Their eyes met, and she couldn't help but freeze.
The handsome face before her was as cold and aloof as ever. Over these past days, she had never seen a second expression on his face. Given his silent and solitary nature, she usually avoided getting too close to him.
But now, for some reason, sitting in the crook of his arm, leaning against his tall and robust frame, and feeling the icy aura emanating from him, she suddenly felt incredibly comfortable. It was as if a fever had met an ice pillow—not only did she forget to jump out of his embrace, but she also instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and began nuzzling against him.
And the more she nuzzled, the more comfortable she felt, until she couldn't help but let out soft, contented hums.
Jiang Jiu and Yu Hui stood with their mouths agape, staring at her in stunned disbelief.
Yan Siyuan stiffened, his dark eyes fixed intently on her as if his very soul had been rubbed away by her movements.
"Lord Si… you feel so good…" Liu Qingxu not only failed to restrain herself but even raised a hand to stroke Yan Siyuan's face. "Lord Si… how do you take care of yourself… why… why is your skin so smooth…"
Yan Siyuan snapped back to his senses and took a sharp breath.
Just as he was about to release her and set her down, he suddenly noticed how feverish she was. Every inch of her skin exposed to the air—from her flawless, fair oval face to her neck, even the fingertips caressing his cheek—was burning hot and flushed red. Her entire delicate body felt as if it had been steamed in a bamboo steamer.
His dark eyes narrowed sharply. Not only did he abandon the thought of putting her down, but he also tightened his arm around her and swiftly carried her away.
"Jiang Jiu! Follow me!"
Jiang Jiu and Yu Hui snapped out of their daze, exchanged a bewildered glance, and hurried after him.
…
In a secluded, spacious courtyard.
After taking Liu Qingxu's pulse, Jiang Jiu's face fell, looking as if he were on the verge of tears.
"Lord Si, Miss Liu has been poisoned with Lovers' Powder. The antidote must be administered within two hours, or she will die from violent hemorrhaging."
"Then why are you standing there? Go find the antidote now!" Yan Siyuan roared, his face ashen with fury.
"Lord Si, it's not that I'm incompetent, but the antidote is truly difficult to obtain!" Jiang Jiu dropped to his knees, explaining anxiously. "Even if we had the time to prepare the antidote, gathering the necessary ingredients within two hours would be nearly impossible."
"Without the antidote, does that mean Miss Liu is doomed?" Yu Hui trembled with fear beside them.
Jiang Jiu ignored his question and instead looked hesitantly at Yan Siyuan, stammering, "Lord Si… it seems you are the only one who can help Miss Liu now…"
Yan Siyuan's chest heaved, his thin lips pressed tightly together.
To make matters worse, the woman sitting on his lap was anything but still. Not only did she treat him like a block of ice, but she also seemed intent on igniting a fire within him. If he hadn't kept a firm grip on her hands, she would have stripped him bare by now!
"Lord Si… you… you… let me go… mmm…" Liu Qingxu, having overheard the conversation between master and servant, was already trembling with fear inside.
Even though she was inexperienced in matters of love, she understood certain basic facts. Moreover, her upbringing in the 21st century had exposed her to far more knowledge than the people of this unfamiliar world!
She felt a deep aversion toward the man before her. Even if he sacrificed his purity to serve as her "antidote," she couldn't accept it.
Shocked back to her senses by Jiang Jiu's words, she began to struggle.
But what frustrated her was that her bones seemed severely deficient in calcium, completely unable to support her struggles. Not only that, the more she exerted herself, the more she felt unbearably hot and flustered, as if a bonfire had been lit inside her body, slowly roasting her, threatening to cook her through and melt her away.
"Mmm…" She bit her lip and groaned. If possible, she would rather die, perhaps then she could return to her original world.
Yan Siyuan held her firmly in his embrace; the more she struggled, the tighter he wrapped his arms around her.
Hearing the sounds escaping her throat, he said to Jiang Jiu in a deep voice, "Fetch a pair of red candles!"
Jiang Jiu was stunned at first, but when he saw the determination in his eyes, he immediately understood.
Without daring to hesitate, he stood up and ran out.
Yu Hui cautiously said, "Lord Si… I won’t disturb you two…"
After speaking, he too turned and fled.