Chu Yunli began recuperating in his private residence. The poison had already been dispelled, and as long as his injuries healed, it would be no great problem.
But Jiang Ning kept a close watch, forbidding him from practicing swordplay or martial arts.
“No, I am the doctor and you are the patient—you must obey me.”
“No sword practice! No using fists!" Jiang Ning shook her head, rejecting everything. Did he even realize where his injury lay? If it wasn’t properly treated, that arm would be crippled.
Chu Yunli could only sit quietly, reading military books.
After a long while, he lifted his face and asked, "Bathing?"
"Hm? Bathing?" Jiang Ning thought for a moment. The wound mustn’t touch water, but she couldn’t forbid bathing altogether. So she said, "As long as the shoulder wound doesn’t get wet, it’s fine. Just be careful."
Chu Yunli smiled faintly and said, "What if I accidentally let water touch it? Should you come in to keep a strict eye on me?"
Watch him bathe…?
After hearing this, Jiang Ning’s face turned faintly red.
Afterwards, she feigned two coughs and summoned the guard outside: "Ye Feng!"
Hearing the call, Ye Feng immediately came in. "Miss Jiang, what instructions do you have?"
Jiang Ning said, "From now on, when your master bathes, you must go in and watch closely. Remember, not for a single moment may you look away. If his wound accidentally touches water, lift him up at once. Do you understand?"
Ye Feng: "…..."
Chu Yunli: "...…"
He had meant to tease her, but unexpectedly was teased in return.
The corners of Jiang Ning’s lips curved slightly. She picked up the medicine box and left in an excellent mood.
The two who remained in the room—Ye Feng glanced at his master’s expression. Chu Yunli’s face was faintly cold. "I don’t need anyone watching me bathe. Leave."
Ye Feng, as if relieved of a heavy burden, gave a reply and walked out.
After a few days, the elite troops who had gone to He Province for disaster relief returned to the capital.
After entering the capital, Yuan Feng returned to Chu Yunli’s private residence to report: "Master, the troops have returned safely, and no issues arose on the road."
"Mm." Chu Yunli answered faintly.
He discovered there was an ambush on the road, so he returned to the capital alone, spurring his horse and taking another route back.
Sure enough, those ambushes were directed at him. The mastermind behind it needs no guessing—it must be that person in the palace.
Chu Yunli’s expression was icy cold.
After a while, he said: "Have Divine Physician Ye and the others also returned?"
"Yes." Yuan Feng replied.
Chu Yunli toyed with a white porcelain bottle in his hand—it was Jiang Ning’s wound medicine. Stroking the surface of the bottle, he said lightly: "Tomorrow, go to the Prime Minister’s residence and have Miss Yan come to see me."
"Miss Yan?" Yuan Feng was taken aback, surprised. Why would the master suddenly want to see Miss Yan? He had always kept a cold and distant attitude toward her, avoiding her altogether. Why now, of all times, summon her specifically?
Yuan Feng couldn’t help but ask: "My lord, are you injured?"
Miss Yan is Divine Physician Ye’s disciple. Could it be that my lord wishes to have Miss Yan treat his wound?
That’s not right—if he were injured, he ought to go to Miss Jiang or Divine Physician Ye.
Chu Yunli said indifferently: "This matter is not for you to know. Go."
"Yes…" Yuan Feng responded, then withdrew from the room.
The Marquis’s residence.
Jiang Ning was handling medicinal herbs, preparing medicine to treat Chu Yunli’s injury.
Lifting her eyes, she saw the white porcelain bottle set not far away.
Back then, when the wound medicine was stored, it was placed in this kind of porcelain bottle. Upon seeing it, her eyes lowered.
She did not ask Chu Yunli whether he had found out the result.
With Chu Yunli’s methods, finding out who poisoned him is simple. He has kept silent these past few days, and it seems he already knows who the culprit is.
He will resolve it.
Jiang Ning withdrew her thoughts; she decided to trust him.
.........
The next day, Yuan Feng went to the Prime Minister’s residence to deliver a message.
Yan Ruoxi was stunned when she saw Yuan Feng, full of disbelief. "You mean… Brother Chu wants to see me?"
Yuan Feng nodded. "Yes, my lord asks Miss Yan to come over."
Yan Ruoxi was ecstatic, a smile spreading across her face—this was the first time Brother Chu had sought her.
She immediately said: "I’ll go right now!"
After taking two steps, she suddenly remembered her current state: worn out from travel, her face pale, dark shadows beneath her eyes, her appearance haggard.
She stopped walking. "Yuan Feng, you go back first. I’ll come over in a little while."
Yuan Feng nodded, did not linger, and turned to leave.
Yan Ruoxi stamped her foot in anxiety and immediately ordered her maid, "Quickly help me wash up and dress, and change into another outfit!"
To go see Brother Chu, how could she go just like that? She had to dress up beautifully; she mustn’t let him see her haggard look.
"Yes, miss." the maid responded.
Yan Ruoxi sat before the bronze mirror, applying a light powder and delicate makeup. Soon, the woman in the mirror appeared as beautiful as a flower—any man who saw her would be entranced.
The corners of her lips curved; she smiled with satisfaction.
Brother Chu, upon seeing her appearance, would surely like it very much.
Looking closely, her appearance was far lovelier than Miss Jiang’s, and as the Prime Minister’s daughter her status was much nobler. She was the one most suited to stand beside Brother Chu.
"Miss" the maid said. "Miss, you look so beautiful… are you going out?" the maid asked.
Yan Ruoxi gave a faint ‘mm’ in reply.
She is going to see Brother Chu.
This was the first time Brother Chu had taken the initiative to say he wanted to see her.
Yan Ruoxi rode in a carriage straight to Chu Yunli’s private residence, her heart leaping with joy, unable to wait to see him.
She had already gone more than half a month without seeing Brother Chu.
Yan Ruoxi stepped into the residence. Seeing her, Yuan Feng said, "Miss Yan, please—my lord is waiting for you inside."
"Alright." Yan Ruoxi smiled and pushed the door open, walking inside.
"Brother Chu, I have come."
After Yan Ruoxi stepped inside, she immediately saw the man standing there—Chu Yunli, clad in blue robes, graceful as jade, his bearing surpassingly elegant. She couldn’t help but stare in a daze.
Chu Yunli turned around and looked at her.
Yan Ruoxi’s face flushed red, and she said shyly, "Brother Chu, what business do you have with me?"
Chu Yunli held the wound‑medicine bottle in his hand, slowly turning it over.
His tone was cold: "For the Prime Minister’s sake, I will not press this matter further. From now on, you must not set foot in my residence. And… if you dare again to harm A'Ning, I will show no mercy!"
Yan Ruoxi was startled; it was the first time Chu Yunli had spoken to her in such an icy tone.
"Brother Chu…"
She had come brimming with joy, yet what she heard was a voice of utter coldness. Chu Yunli’s face remained expressionless, and when he looked at her, his eyes held nothing but ice—only ice.
Yan Ruoxi’s body trembled. "Brother Chu, why…"
Chu Yunli said no more, tossing the white porcelain bottle in his hand—it landed at Yan Ruoxi’s feet.
The porcelain bottle rolled with a clattering sound, stopping only when it hit Yan Ruoxi.
She lowered her head and saw the white porcelain bottle—it was the one that held the wound medicine.
She was struck with great fright, her face paling, her pupils contracting.
This was medicine prepared by Jiang Ning. Harboring hatred, she mixed poison into the wound medicine, intending to pin the matter on Jiang Ning.
But why… why would the porcelain bottle be here?
Could it be…?
Yan Ruoxi suddenly lifted her face and looked at Chu Yunli.
🐇♡🐇♡🐇♡🐇
Yan Ruoxi: Maid! Does my makeup look beautiful?
Maid: Miss, you look absolutely stunning!
Yan Ruoxi: More beautiful than Jiang Ning?
Maid: ...
Yan Ruoxi: ANSWER!
Maid: Miss, beauty is subjective.
Yan Ruoxi: SUBJECTIVE?!
Maid: I mean, you are beautiful in your own way!
Yan Ruoxi: ...
Maid: Very beautiful. Extremely beautiful. Unbelievably beautiful.
Yan Ruoxi: Good.
She stands, takes three steps toward the door, then rushes back to the mirror.
Yan Ruoxi: Wait! My hairpin is crooked!
Maid: Miss, you have already changed your hairpin seven times.
Yan Ruoxi: What if Brother Chu notices?
Maid: Miss, with all due respect, I don't think your hairpin is the problem.
Yan Ruoxi: What did you say?!
Maid: I said the carriage is ready!
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