Ye Yun emerged from Mo Qingchen’s courtyard and noticed Lingzhi walking beside her, clearly distracted. “What are you thinking about? You’re not paying attention to where you’re going.”
Lingzhi snapped back to reality, full of deference. “Miss, this servant is just a bit worried about you.”
How could Ye Yun not understand? Earlier, when she was with Mo Qingchen, Lingzhi had been standing nearby, hearing every word and seeing everything. Lingzhi had served by her side since childhood, completely loyal to “Ye Yun,” so of course she would be concerned—especially after what happened with Mo Heng. “Don’t worry, I know my limits.”
“Mm.” Lingzhi nodded obediently.
“You’re making me feel like all the men I fancy are no good. Do you think your young lady is that unfortunate?”
Lingzhi hurriedly replied, “Of course not! How exceptional Miss is—you will surely find a perfect husband as you wish and be happy for life.”
“That’s more like it.” Ye Yun spoke lightly, raising her hand to pat Lingzhi’s shoulder. “No more distractions while walking.”
“I won’t.” Lingzhi shook her head. “Miss, shall we return to the residence now?”
Ye Yun smiled faintly. “Of course… we’re not returning.”
Yesterday, she had taken the elixir the original host usually relied on to maintain her health. The medicine wasn’t problematic and indeed helped stabilize her delicate constitution, but it could only sustain her. Thus, she had to take it regularly every day. This inherent weakness since birth stemmed from her internal organs not fully developing to maturity, making it impossible for her to enjoy the robust health of ordinary people from the start. While conditioning was one thing, complete restoration was another matter entirely. Yet for this frail body, she needed to pursue both approaches simultaneously.
The fact that the Elixirist from the Duke’s Residence had managed to stabilize “Ye Yun’s” condition with elixirs for so many years was already remarkable. Had “Ye Yun” been born into an ordinary family without access to good medicine, she likely wouldn’t have survived past her first year. To achieve full recovery, gathering all the required medicinal ingredients posed a significant challenge.
After preliminary assessment, she determined that using Dragon Saliva Grass, Millennial Cinnamon Mushroom, Snow Spirit Grass, Fire Lotus, and Centennial Wild Ginseng as the five main ingredients, combined with twenty-five supplementary herbs to refine an elixir for consumption, followed by a period of nourishing adjustment, should enable recovery.
Currently, for the elixir she intended to refine, the supplementary herbs weren’t overly particular, but the five main ingredients demanded extreme precision—both in terms of their age and medicinal properties. Not the slightest error was permissible; otherwise, the desired effect would be unattainable, rendering all efforts futile.
Soon after leaving Prince Chen’s Mansion, Ye Yun boarded the Protectorate Duke’s Residence carriage. She looked at Lingzhi and said, “Lingzhi, we’re going to the largest medicinal shop in the Imperial Capital.”
Though puzzled, Lingzhi simply followed her young lady’s instructions and directed the coachman.
Before long, the carriage came to a halt, and the coachman’s voice sounded from outside. “Miss, we’ve arrived at the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion.”
As Ye Yun stepped down from the carriage, the scent of herbs wafted toward her. “Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion”—did the name imply it encompassed all medicinal ingredients under heaven? She hoped to find at least some of what she needed here.
She entered directly. The grandeur and scale confirmed it was indeed the largest medicinal shop in the Imperial Capital. The moment she stepped in, an attendant came forward to greet her.
“Miss, what medicinal ingredients are you looking to purchase? Our Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion has everything you could need.”
“Does it truly have everything?” Ye Yun retorted. The medicinal herbs she required had extraordinary demands in terms of age and potency. Although the Elixirists at the Protectorate Duke’s Residence possessed numerous rare herbs, none of the five primary ingredients she needed were available. Coming to the largest herbal shop in the Imperial Capital was merely a shot in the dark.
The shop assistant smiled, “Of course. Might this young lady have a prescription? This humble one can help you search.”
“Do you have paper and brush? I’ll write it for you.”
“Young lady, this way please.” The assistant promptly guided Ye Yun to a nearby counter.
Ye Yun didn’t specifically emphasize the age and potency requirements of those five herbs, simply writing down their names before handing the list to the assistant. “Go look for these first. If you have them, please bring the finest quality available.”
“Very well. Please wait a moment. This humble one will immediately search for them.”
Just as the assistant departed, Ye Yun unexpectedly heard a sarcastic voice from behind.
“From afar, I thought it looked like Sister Ye Yun, but I feared I was mistaken. How is Sister Ye Yun here alone at the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion?”
Ye Yun turned and glanced at the speaker, quickly identifying her from the original host’s memories—
Su WanYing. Although nominally raised as Grand Secretary Su Shen’s granddaughter, who could address the Empress as aunt and the Crown Prince as cousin, she was actually merely a concubine’s daughter from a collateral branch of the Su Family, not of the main lineage. Moreover, this Su WanYing had designs on the Crown Prince and had frequently harassed the original host in the past.
“What do you want?” Ye Yun coldly uttered two words.
Su WanYing said gently, “Sister Ye Yun, such distant words. I merely came over with good intentions to greet you. If Sister Ye Yun hadn’t called off the engagement with Cousin the Crown Prince, I’d still be addressing you as ‘cousin-sister-in-law’.”
Ye Yun frowned slightly. This woman must have something wrong with her. “I’ve terminated the engagement. If you want him, take him quickly. I have no interest in your so-called cousin the Crown Prince.”
“Is that so? Sister Ye Yun wasn’t like this before. Speaking of which, I truly never expected that Sister would actually agree to…”
“Can you not understand human speech? My affairs are none of your concern. Since you’re so concerned about Mo Heng’s matters, why don’t you enter the palace and ask him yourself? Even Her Majesty the Empress couldn’t intervene in the matter of me and Mo Heng terminating our engagement. Since when do you possess such qualifications? Do you believe you have more authority than Her Majesty the Empress Dowager?”
Ye Yun continued with a warning, “Furthermore, stop calling me ‘sister’. It’s nauseating to hear. This young lady only has three elder brothers above her, no sisters.”
Su WanYing forced herself to endure it, sneering coldly, “Why must you be so harsh?” Su WanYing stepped closer, lowering her voice to mock, “You’re right though. Cousin the Crown Prince never truly cared for you. Seeking Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s intervention to terminate the engagement was truly a wise decision on your part. Otherwise, how would you have dealt with all those scandalous rumors about you chasing after Cousin the Crown Prince?”
“Pity that even if I’m no longer the Crown Princess, it still won’t be your turn.” Ye Yun retorted sarcastically. “You’re merely a lowly commoner.” Even if raised in Grand Secretary’s residence, what does that change? Even the legitimate young masters and ladies of the Su Family must show me three parts deference. Someone like you isn’t even fit to hold my shoes.”
“You…”
“What ‘you’? Get lost!” Ye Yun left not an ounce of face for this person.
Su WanYing felt stifled inside. When had Ye Yun become so assertive? People nearby were already noticing their exchange. Staying here any longer wouldn’t upset Ye Yun but would only make her lose face herself. How infuriating! Ye Yun, just you wait.
Ye Yun found Su WanYing’s flustered appearance utterly ridiculous. Who gave this person the courage to think she could gain any advantage here? Trying to disgust her? This young lady would humiliate you directly!