There were many medicinal items in the Kongjian. She took out several silver needles and inserted them into several major xue points on his body with skilled and precise movements.
Because the Kongjian was hidden in her sleeve, the man did not notice that she had produced the items out of thin air.
“It will feel a bit swollen and painful. If you’re uncomfortable, feel free to cry out.”
The man, however, remained silent, not even furrowing his brow.
To be fair, the imperial physicians had tried acupuncture before, but it was useless against the poison when it flared up.
And this woman before him… was she actually going to try acupuncture on him?
“Oh, right. After I finish, you might feel sleepy. When you wake up tomorrow, remove the needles yourself.”
Yun Qingge was still giving instructions, but the man’s consciousness was gradually fading, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier.
Through his blurring vision, moonlight broke through the clouds, and the radiance of Yue Hua spilled into the room.
Ye Feimo struggled to keep his eyes open, catching a vague glimpse of the woman before him.
She had a face the size of a palm, with stunningly delicate features that were almost bewitching. A pair of petal-like lips were slightly pursed, all her attention focused on the xue points on his body.
However, streaks of mud crisscrossed her face, marring her beauty.
Before he could think further, his eyelids finally proved too heavy to hold up, slowly closing as he lost consciousness.
Yun Qingge finished inserting the needles and saw him collapsed by the medicinal bath. She let out a slight sigh of relief and reached out to check his pulse.
Everything was normal.
Taking advantage of the moonlight, she leaned in to study the man closely.
Because he wore a half-silver mask covering his face, she could only see the lower half—entirely covered in wrinkled skin from burns.
The unconscious man’s eyes were tightly shut, his thin lips pressed together in a cold, merciless line.
According to the novel, five months ago, Jingwang had led troops into battle when an accident occurred. A great fire not only cost him his legs but also his looks.
That battle was a complete defeat, not only disappointing The Emperor greatly but also nearly costing him his military command.
And that great fire… was orchestrated by Ye Tianjue.
But the book clearly stated that Can Wang’s skin had been eighty percent burned. Yet looking at him now, it seemed only his face was affected—the skin on his body remained smooth and warm like jade.
She harbored doubts and reached out to touch his face, but then heard movement at the door.
Startled, she climbed out of the medicinal bath, wrung the water from her clothes, and slipped out through the window.
If she lingered any longer, she might be discovered!
Qingxuan pushed open the door and found his master asleep by the bath, but he wasn’t suspicious. Whenever the poison flared up, soaking in the medicinal bath always caused his master to faint. Once the water cooled, he would help his master onto the bed.
…
There was indeed no one guarding the courtyard. Even when the lock was picked by the wet nurse, no one came to check.
Yun Qingge returned to the woodshed and breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She changed back into the bridal gown inside the Kongjian, then lay down on the ground, pretending to be fast asleep.
It seemed she still had to enter the palace tomorrow to serve tea?
In the novel, the cannon fodder female supporting character died, so the next day’s tea ceremony turned into an investigation. The Emperor would directly decide who would become the Crown Prince, and Yun Wanyue would also enter the palace, putting on a show of righteous indignation over her sister’s death.
As for Can Wang in the story, he was always taciturn. During the confrontation, he only said it wasn’t him. The Emperor, already disappointed by the defeat five months prior, was so enraged that he convicted him on the spot.
Actually, before that campaign, the original text had stated that Ye Feimo was the most likely candidate for Crown Prince. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been regarded as the male lead’s greatest enemy—after all, The Emperor had always valued him greatly and even entrusted him with military power.
But that defeat had tipped the scales in The Emperor’s heart.
As for now… things were different.
She couldn’t help but look forward to seeing the female lead’s expression tomorrow when she discovered that this cannon fodder supporting character was still alive. It would be quite a spectacle.
Third watch of the night.
Ye Feimo woke up earlier than usual after the poison flare. He opened his eyes and abruptly sat up.
Qingxuan heard the movement and hurried into the room. “Master?”
“What time is it now?” He removed his mask and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Qingxuan quickly lit a candle and replied respectfully, “It’s exactly the third watch. Should I… invite the Princess Consort out?”
At the mention of the Princess Consort, he felt a bit worried.
Ye Feimo’s fingers pinching his brow paused slightly as he lifted his eyelids.
The faint, dim candlelight fell upon his unmasked face. He peeled off the wrinkles on his chin and squinted uncomfortably.
A face as beautiful as jade was instantly revealed in full—so perfect it seemed carved by the hands of a divine craftsman, peerlessly elegant.
Qingxuan had long grown accustomed to his master’s breathtakingly stunning appearance, yet every time he saw it, he was dazzled anew. He quickly lowered his gaze and asked, “Master?”
“Did you catch the assassin?” Ye Feimo paid no attention to the Princess Consort in the woodshed, seemingly more concerned about the female assassin who had suppressed his poison.
Qingxuan nodded. “The assassins were caught. They were all death warriors—they killed themselves the moment they were captured.”
“Was there a woman among them?”
Qingxuan was taken aback. “Ah? Master, no woman was caught.”
Recalling the female assassin she had encountered in the backyard earlier, who had clearly fled into the master’s quarters right before her eyes—how could she have simply… vanished? Perhaps it was an illusion?
Seeing Qingxuan shake his head, Ye Feimo furrowed his brow.
“Search. Begin the search from within the Wangfu. No woman is to be spared.”
Qingxuan accepted the order to search, but was called back. “Take the Princess Consort to Beiyuan to bathe and dress.”
They were to enter the palace at the sixth watch. Best that woman not cause him any trouble.
Qingxuan secretly wiped his forehead, his heart growing even more worried.
…
In the wood shed, Yun Qingge was given a rough shove.
“Princess Consort, wake up.”
Yun Qingge hadn’t slept long to begin with. She opened her eyes with some irritation and saw a timid, frightened young girl before her, dressed like a maidservant.
“You are…”
“Reporting to the Princess Consort, this servant was sent by the steward to attend to you. This servant’s name is Jixiang.”
Yun Qingge let out a soft “oh” and asked, “Jixiang, are you taking me back to Beiyuan?”
The little maidservant froze, stunned.
This Princess Consort was so composed—quite different from the rumors circulating within the Wangfu.
“Y-yes… At the sixth watch, you are to enter the palace to offer tea to the Emperor and Empress. His Highness ordered this servant to attend to the Princess Consort’s bathing and dressing.”
Was it really necessary to bathe and dress this early?
Yun Qingge grumbled inwardly for a moment before nodding and saying, “Very well.”
…
Beiyuan was perhaps the most desolate place within the entire Wangfu. Though its layout remained grand and imposing, it had not a single servant—even the southern compound where the staff resided was better off.
Back in the bedchamber, she glanced at the bridal chamber that had been prepared and curled her lips.
The novel described this Can Wang in such terms: averse to women, bloodthirsty and cruel, ambitious and calculating.
The author must have been the Can Wang’s wicked stepmother, deliberately making his fate so fraught with hardship.
When she had read the novel, she had wished she could charge into its pages and help him. Now she had that chance, but her intuition told her that His Highness would be a difficult one to handle.
After a round of bathing and dressing, Jixiang handed her a veil.