Physician Ye was absorbed in studying the formula and did not notice Yan Ruoxi’s expression.
Yan Ruoxi’s face shifted from pale to flushed, her fists clenched tight, revealing a look of jealous hatred.
After half a day, Physician Ye finally figured out the formula for the wound medicine. He nodded approvingly: “What a marvelous remedy—when Seven‑Day Grass and Polygonum are used together, they can swiftly stop bleeding…”
Physician Ye rose to his feet, ready to send someone to fetch the herbs.
"Almost forgot, the wound medicine must be returned to Lord Chu…"
Although Chu Yunli said nothing, it was clear that the wound medicine was very important to him, something he valued greatly.
Physician Ye reached out, just about to take the wound medicine.
At that moment, Yan Ruoxi suddenly called out: “Master, wait!”
"Can I also take a look? I want to know what makes this medicine different from ordinary wound medicine." Yan Ruoxi looked at Physician Ye, making her request.
Physician Ye’s movement halted, and he furrowed his brows.
Yan Ruoxi acted coquettishly, tugging at Physician Ye’s sleeve: “Master, please let me take just one look. I only want to see what is special about this formula…”
In the end, Physician Ye could not resist Yan Ruoxi’s request and agreed.
"Alright then."
Yan Ruoxi nodded happily: “Master, once I finish reading, I’ll deliver it to Brother Chu!”
Physician Ye sighed inwardly. Xi’er was deeply devoted to Lord Chu, only seeking excuses to draw closer. Yet it was like the falling flower yearning for the flowing water—unreciprocated. In the past half month, Lord Chu’s attitude had made everything clear.
"Xi’er."
Physician Ye advised: “Lord Chu has no interest in you; you should rein in your feelings.”
Hearing this, Yan Ruoxi lowered her face, filled with sorrow and disappointment: “But I truly love Brother Chu. In this world, the only one who matches him is me… I’ve studied medicine for many years, all so I could lend Brother Chu my strength…”
“If not for that Jiang Ning…” At this point, the words broke off abruptly.
Yan Ruoxi clenched her fists, unwilling to accept it. She was clearly many times better than Jiang Ning—so why would Brother Chu not spare her even a glance?
Physician Ye let out a long sigh, shook his head: “As your master, I still hope you can let go.”
“No! I will marry him!” Yan Ruoxi lifted her face, eyes reddened and brimming with tears: “From the day he saved me, I swore to the heavens—this life, I will marry no one but him!"
Physician Ye saw the resolute look on Yan Ruoxi’s face and knew further persuasion was useless.
Xi’er is a clever and lively child, gifted in medicine, willing to endure hardship. If she could join with Lord Chu, they would be a golden boy and jade girl—a match made in heaven.
It was simply unknown whether Lord Chu would be moved.
Physician Ye did not dwell further; what mattered most now was saving lives and healing the wounded.
Physician Ye walked out the door.
In the room, only Yan Ruoxi remained.
Yan Ruoxi looked at the white porcelain bottle on the table—it was medicine made by Jiang Ning… and in her eyes flickered a trace of jealous hatred.
She walked over, seized the porcelain bottle, and was about to smash it to the ground.
She wanted to destroy it all!
But her hand froze in mid‑air, unable for a long time to smash the porcelain bottle.
If Brother Chu knew she had smashed the porcelain bottle, he would surely be angry with her.
At that moment, a thought flashed through her mind.
Why should I smash it?
She could use this medicine to do certain things… for example, to make Brother Chu lose his trust in Jiang Ning.
Yan Ruoxi stared at the porcelain bottle, her gaze clouded and vicious: “Yes…”
She let out a cold laugh, drew an oiled paper packet from her sleeve, and sprinkled white powder into the porcelain bottle.
The white powder quickly dissolved into the wound medicine, colorless and tasteless. Ordinary people would notice nothing unusual; even physicians could not tell the difference. No one would discover that something else had been mixed into the remedy.
After finishing everything, Yan Ruoxi took the medicine bottle and went to find Chu Yunli.
As she reached the doorway of Chu Yunli’s room, Yuan Feng blocked her path.
“Miss Yan, the lord is discussing important matters and has ordered that no one be allowed to enter and disturb him.”
Yan Ruoxi lifted her face and said, “I’ve come to deliver medicine.”
“Delivering medicine?” Yuan Feng looked at her.
Yan Ruoxi handed the porcelain bottle to Yuan Feng: “Master has already confirmed the prescription and told me to return the wound medicine to Brother Chu.”
Yuan Feng recognized the white porcelain bottle—this was medicine made by Miss Jiang.
He had heard that Physician Ye borrowed Miss Jiang’s wound medicine, intending to use her prescription to treat the people of He province.
He nodded slightly: “Alright, I will hand it to the lord.”
“Then I’ll be going back…” Without pausing, Yan Ruoxi handed the porcelain bottle to Yuan Feng, then hurriedly turned away, a guilty feeling lingering in her heart.
She feared that if she lingered even a moment, Yuan Feng would see through her.
She felt her spine turn to ice, cold sweat breaking across her body. As she handed over the porcelain bottle, her hands trembled faintly—for inside that bottle was poison…
This could not be blamed on her.
All of this is because of Jiang Ning!
She only wanted to be with Brother Chu… it was Jiang Ning who suddenly intervened, so don’t blame her for striking ruthlessly!
Yuan Feng watched Yan Ruoxi’s departing figure, sensing that today she was strangely different—she hadn’t insisted on going in.
In the past, she would have clung to the lord’s side; today she obediently went back—it was truly strange.
Yuan Feng turned and walked into the room.
In truth, Chu Yunli was not discussing state affairs at all, but studying the map of He Province. He simply did not wish to be entangled with Yan Ruoxi, so he casually found an excuse to keep her outside.
“My lord, Physician Ye has returned the wound medicine,” said Yuan Feng.
Chu Yunli gave a faint hum: “Put it over there.”
.........
The following days were filled with ceaseless busyness, almost without sleep or rest.
On one outing, Chu Yunli returned with an injured shoulder; fortunately it was only a superficial wound, not touching the bone, so it was no great matter.
Yuan Feng said with concern: “My lord, shall we call Physician Ye over?”
Chu Yunli shook his head: “No need, this small wound doesn’t require Physician Ye. You may go.”
“Yes.” Yuan Feng answered, then went outside to stand guard.
Chu Yunli removed his outer robe, revealing a strong, well‑built frame. His muscles were evenly toned, but his shoulder bore a knife wound, blood flowing down.
His brow did not furrow even once; he took out the wound medicine and sprinkled it onto the injury.
Yan Ruoxi heard that Chu Yunli was injured, and she hurried anxiously to his side.
“I heard Brother Chu was hurt—was the injury serious?”
Yuan Feng blocked Yan Ruoxi at the door. At this moment the lord was applying medicine, so Miss Yan must not be allowed to barge in.
“My lord is fine, it’s only a minor wound.”
“A minor wound?” Yan Ruoxi was slightly startled, lifting her face. “Then… has Brother Chu used the wound medicine?”
“It’s already been used,” Yuan Feng replied. Whatever Miss Yan asked, he answered properly, but he never let her into the room.
Yan Ruoxi stood rooted to the spot, her face pale, her hands trembling slightly.
After a long moment, she turned away: “Then I’ll be going back…”
Brother Chu has already used that wound medicine.
Yuan Feng cast a suspicious glance at Yan Ruoxi; in recent days, Miss Yan had seemed rather strange.
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