Yun Si Yu watched Mo Han Zhao’s retreating figure, her brows tightly furrowed.
She always felt that His Highness seemed a bit off, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint what exactly was wrong.
“Miss, what’s the matter?” Yin Suo called out, seeing Yun Si Yu lost in thought.
Yun Si Yu didn’t answer, only tightening her grip on the handkerchief in her hand.
Today, even though His Highness hadn’t met Yun Mu Jing, it still stirred a deep sense of crisis within her.
Now that Yun Mu Jing had returned, the one truly betrothed to His Highness was Yun Mu Jing.
Even if His Highness didn’t like Yun Mu Jing now, that fox-like, seductive appearance of hers always left Yun Si Yu uneasy.
No, she had to act quickly.
Thinking of this, Yun Si Yu suddenly remembered something. Her gaze swept over the red palm print still visible on Yin Suo’s cheek, and she immediately reached into her sleeve, pulling out a small box of ointment to hand to her.
“I was a bit anxious earlier because His Highness went missing. This ointment was given to me by Mother—it’s something all the palace consorts use. I’m giving it to you.”
“Thank you, Miss!” Yin Suo accepted the ointment, her face lighting up with joy.
Seeing Yin Suo’s delighted expression, Yun Si Yu smiled warmly and said, “Yin Suo, I know you’re close with Xiao Jin… Today, Yun Mu Jing met with an outsider in private, and Xiao Jin saw it, right?”
Yin Suo was taken aback at first, but she quickly understood the implication in Yun Si Yu’s words and whispered, “Don’t worry, Miss. I’ll go talk to Xiao Jin right away and have him tell the Master and Madam about this tomorrow.”
“The Master and Madam have always valued family reputation above all else. If they find out the Eldest Miss secretly met with a strange man, they’ll surely be furious. They might even drive her out of the General’s Mansion!”
The curve of Yun Si Yu’s lips grew deeper and more sinister. “I don’t just want to drive her out of the General’s Mansion—I want her to never have the chance to covet His Highness!”
“Miss, you mean…”
“For my birthday banquet today, I specifically invited Prince Yu.” Yun Si Yu chuckled. “I spoke with him about my elder sister and even showed him a portrait of her. He was quite pleased.”
“Although he didn’t say it outright, from his words, it seemed Prince Yu is quite interested in my elder sister.”
“Prince Yu is infatuated with you, Miss—that’s no secret in Dongliang. How could he be interested in the Eldest Miss?” Yin Suo asked.
“Do you think Prince Yu is a good man?” Yun Si Yu said lightly. “Men are all lustful, and Prince Yu, with his insatiable appetite, is no exception.”
On the surface, Prince Yu appeared dignified and proper, but in reality, he was a notorious womanizer, ruthless and endlessly cunning.
These things were hardly secrets among the nobility in the capital.
He usually pretended to be devoted, chasing after her, which disgusted her, but she had no choice but to play along because of Prince Yu’s status.
Especially since Prince Yu and His Highness were sworn enemies, she dared not offend either side, which gave her quite a headache.
Now, pushing Yun Mu Jing forward would not only nullify her engagement with His Highness but also shield Yun Si Yu from Prince Yu—truly killing two birds with one stone.
“So tomorrow, not only must this matter be reported to Father and Mother, but it must also be spread throughout the mansion. Make sure everyone knows Yun Mu Jing is a woman of loose morals! Understood?” Yun Si Yu whispered.
Yin Suo nodded. “Don’t worry, Miss. I’ll make sure everything is handled properly.”
“Excellent! Truly the personal maid I trained! I was originally worried that Father and Mother might be reluctant to marry Yun Mu Jing off to Prince Yu.” Yun Si Yu said with a smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons. “With this incident, to quickly cover it up, they will surely hurry to arrange a marriage for Yun Mu Jing.”
“At that time, I’ll take the opportunity to make the suggestion, and Father and Mother will even thank me.”
“…”
At the Eastern Palace of the Crown Prince, Mo Han Zhao had just finished handling official duties in Qianyun Hall. As he stepped out, he saw Zhu Ye at the entrance directing two guards who were huffing and puffing as they moved several chests.
“What’s going on?” Mo Han Zhao asked with a frown.
“Your Highness!” Upon seeing Mo Han Zhao, Zhu Ye clasped his fists in salute. “These are all the items I was ordered to deliver to Miss Jing on your behalf. However, including that roll of Blue Water Brocade, Miss Jing refused to accept any of them. I had no choice but to bring everything back.”
“Did she think what I gave was too little?” Mo Han Zhao asked, puzzled.
But from what he now understood of Yun Mu Jing, she didn’t seem like a woman who would be so greedy for such material possessions.
Sure enough, Zhu Ye shook his head. “Miss Jing said that Your Highness’s great kindness is already more than she can ever repay, and she could not accept further gifts.”
After speaking, Zhu Ye retrieved a sachet from his robe and respectfully presented it to Mo Han Zhao with both hands. “This is something Miss Jing asked me to pass on to Your Highness. She was concerned about Your Highness’s poisoning and vomiting blood. This sachet has calming and qi-replenishing properties, which would be beneficial for Your Highness.”
Mo Han Zhao did not reply. His usually cold and profound gaze fell upon the sachet, stirring with an unusual emotion.
For so many years, most women who approached him did so with ulterior motives. Aside from Si Yu, none had ever treated him with genuine sincerity.
Thus, Mo Han Zhao was particularly captivated by and cherished this affection from Yun Si Yu.
He never expected… Yun Mu Jing’s kindness would also give him this feeling of being cared for.
Suddenly, Mo Han Zhao reached out to take the sachet. His long, slender fingers, with distinct knuckles, grasped it. “How is the investigation into the culprit who poisoned me progressing?”
“Your Highness, forgive this humble servant. There were too many guests at the General’s Mansion tonight; I am still in the process of screening them,” Zhu Ye quickly replied, bowing his head with clasped fists.
Mo Han Zhao looked at him for a moment, then said calmly, “I will investigate this matter personally. Tomorrow, I will visit the General’s Mansion again.”
Zhu Ye was taken aback. “Your Highness, with your myriad responsibilities, perhaps it would be better if I…”
Before Zhu Ye could finish, Mo Han Zhao’s gaze, sharp as a blade, instantly fell upon him.
Zhu Ye shrank his neck and immediately fell silent, though he was still utterly confused by Mo Han Zhao’s sudden interest in the matter.
“…”
The night passed in a flash.
The next morning, Yun Mu Jing, supporting her weak legs, bathed again with Yu Ning’s help. She applied medicine to the bruises and injured areas and also rubbed a homemade skin-nourishing ointment on her body.
“Miss, I simply don’t understand,” Yu Ning said as she handed the ointment box back to Yun Mu Jing, her tone full of regret. “His Highness sent so many fine things yesterday, especially that roll of Blue Water Brocade—it’s priceless. How many noble ladies in the capital would scramble and fight to get their hands on it, yet fail?”
“Why… why didn’t you accept them?”
It was obvious to anyone that those were His Highness’s compensation for the young miss. She could understand the young miss’s kindness in not wanting compensation.
But given their current difficult circumstances, if they had accepted those items, they would at least be free from worries about food and clothing for a long time.
“No matter how much money you give, it will eventually run out.” Yun Mu Jing toyed with the ointment box in his hand, speaking leisurely. “You have to learn to cast a long line to catch a big fish.”
“Huh?” Yu Ning was completely confused.
Yun Mu Jing smiled without answering. “Go fetch the medicinal ingredients I stashed under the bed for preparing the skincare ointment. I’ll mix a little more.”