Hua Yuxi finally stepped into the room as she wished, only to be assaulted by an even more pungent and irritating medicinal smell that brought tears to her eyes.
A massive floral-and-bird screen blocked her view, allowing her only a vague glimpse of the slightly raised figure on the bed.
Jiang Tanjing followed closely behind Hua Yuxi.
From behind the screen, they could tell the person on the bed couldn’t even sit up.
Someone was by the bedside, feeding him medicine.
He Zhixian emerged holding an empty medicine bowl, his face dark and gloomy, with deep shadows under his eyes—clearly, he hadn’t slept well in a long time.
Spotting the two standing outside the screen, his temper flared like a powder keg.
“Seen enough? If you have, get out! Young Wei can’t afford to catch even the slightest draft! We’ve barely managed to keep him alive, and you two…”
He Zhixian’s furious tirade was cut short as a masked guard quickly pulled him away.
Left behind were the two, stunned and bewildered by the scolding.
Hua Yuxi’s eyes reddened, and glistening tears began to well up.
She recognized this man—he was the physician by Ziyang Gege’s side, renowned throughout Jing An Cheng as a miraculous healer.
His state only heightened her fear, making her dread that her cousin was indeed as they said, already… already nearing…
Jiang Tanjing’s heart tightened. Could it be that this time, Wei Rong truly wouldn’t make it?
“You… you… didn’t you want… to see how I am now?”
“Why… come in… cough cough cough… and then not dare to look?”
The faint, self-mocking words, tinged with despair, sent Hua Yuxi’s tears streaming down her face. She hurried around the screen to look at the person on the bed.
“Ziyang cou… Ahhh!!!”
Hearing Hua Yuxi’s scream, Jiang Tanjing swiftly moved around the screen.
When he saw Wei Rong on the bed, he froze in shock.
The man on the bed was covered in dark green venomous patterns, his chin and neck area festering and raw. His exposed hands were wrapped in white bandages, and his entire body was emaciated, with sunken cheeks and eyes.
It was hard to believe this was the Wei Shizi, once famed throughout Jing An.
Like a bright moon fallen into muddy waters, or a stranded fish struggling in its death throes…
Hua Yuxi was terrified, even doubting whether the person on the bed could really be her Ziyang Gege. She was both frightened and heartbroken.
How had it come to this?
Jiang Tanjing supported Hua Yuxi, who was trembling and nearly collapsing, and stared at the man on the bed. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Steward Zhou escorted them to the door, his own eyes slightly reddened.
“Fengyang Princess, Heir Jiang, our mistress has been praying for our heir in the family temple and refuses to see anyone. This humble servant will see you off here.”
Hua Yuxi was in a daze, her mind filled with the image of Ziyang Gege lying on the bed, tormented by the snake venom into a state neither human nor ghost.
As her maid helped her into the carriage, she stumbled and nearly fell.
Fortunately, Jiang Tanjing caught her in time.
Seeing Hua Yuxi so distraught filled Jiang Tanjing with indescribable sorrow, but recalling Wei Rong’s condition, he found himself at a loss for words.
~
“Fengyang Princess was utterly heartbroken! She nearly fell from the carriage, but fortunately, Wuan Marquis’ heir played the hero and saved the beauty!!! Yet, the princess, consumed with worry and grief, remained oblivious to the affection shining in Heir Jiang’s eyes…”
Shen Shi transformed into a storyteller in the tavern, even posturing and performing a segment like a female opera singer from the theater.
Yun Fu thought Shen Shi was truly a live treasure—it was a shame he didn’t perform in the opera house.
Wei Rong, at this moment, bore no resemblance to his earlier half-dead appearance. Dressed in a jade-colored brocade robe with subtle patterns, topped with a gold-sprinkled bamboo-patterned overcoat, his hair was half-tied with a feathered crown. His face was as flawless as jade, and his demeanor was ethereal.
Recalling the entire performance at the Guogong Residence, Yun Fu almost felt as if she had stepped into an opera house.
Every person here could be considered a top-notch actor, skillfully deceiving the two visitors.
Especially Wei Rong—she had also seen his half-dead, terrifying appearance, particularly the festering wounds, which had startled even Yun Fu herself.
Had she not known in advance that it was a disguise, she would have believed it.
Hearing Shen Shi’s clamorous voice, Wei Rong frowned slightly and was about to tell him to be quiet when he caught sight of A Fu crouched on the table, staring intently with wide eyes.
The fluffy, round little cat fixed its bright, gleaming eyes on the gesticulating Shen Shi, its ears twitching occasionally, making Wei Rong’s heart itch with fondness.
Yun Fu, who had been watching Shen Shi’s “grand performance” with great interest, was suddenly scooped up by a strong arm.
A fresh, elegant, and cool fragrance instantly enveloped her.
“If you want me to hold you, then I’ll hold you for a while.”
A man’s unhurried voice came from above.
Hearing his words, Yun Fu tilted her head up, her face full of confusion.
“Meow?” What are you talking about?
When had she ever wanted him to hold her? Clearly, it was his own idea.
Perhaps because she had grown accustomed to being held over the past few days, Yun Fu had already adjusted her posture, lying limply and comfortably in Wei Rong’s arms.
Holding the soft, fluffy little creature in his embrace, Wei Rong’s heart melted into tenderness.
Shen Shi, having talked until his mouth was dry, suddenly realized something was off.
In the past, his heir would have shot him a sharp glare long ago. Yet today, he had spoken until he was parched without being interrupted—truly… remarkable!
Just as he was about to ask if he should continue—he still had plenty of embellished details to share—before he could speak, he heard his heir’s voice.
“Continue. A Fu enjoys watching.”
Shen Shi: ???!!!
He Zhixian shook his head with a smile. Ever since Young Wei had started keeping this cat, he smiled more often, and even the courtyard felt livelier.
“So, did the fish take the bait this time?”
Wei Rong gently squeezed A Fu’s soft, plump paws, occasionally scratching its little chin.
Hearing it purr contentedly, he knew it enjoyed this, and Wei Rong liked it too.
“Whether the fish took the bait or not, I’m not sure, but someone is certainly getting anxious.”
Hearing Young Wei’s words, He Zhixian was taken aback, then quickly pondered, “So, the ones who came to test the waters today weren’t just Prince Cheng’s people?!”
Wei Rong cradled the little creature in his arms, placed it in its small bed, and then walked to the desk, pulling out a book.
“The heir of Wuan Marquis is not Prince Cheng’s man.”
Jiang Zhe, the Wuan Marquis, had helped the Late Emperor conquer half the kingdom, commanding two hundred thousand troops and stationed at the border year-round.
Now, with the new emperor on the throne, the emperor had summoned him to Jing three times, but he had declined each time with various excuses.
“Wuan Marquis has always remained neutral, never taking sides. Now, he delays entering Jing An—could it be that he is…”
He Zhixian’s heart stirred, “A test!”
Wei Rong neither confirmed nor denied it.
The Wuan Marquis was a pure subject—upright, impartial, loyal to the emperor, and even more loyal to the common people.
To put it plainly, he did not care who sat on the imperial throne. He only cared whether the person occupying that position was virtuous and capable of governing for the benefit of the people.
His current probing was to observe how the one seated on the Dragon Throne would act—and to what extent—without Wei Rong’s support, facing the demons and monsters of the court and the wolves eyeing the throne.
Thus, he sent Jiang Tanjing to test whether the rumors of the emperor being on the verge of death were true.
As for the Fengyang Princess, she was merely a pawn, used as a blade by others.