The matter of Yan Ruoxi being driven out reached Shuangyue, who then told Jiang Ning.
"Miss Yan was driven out?" Jiang Ning was astonished.
Shuangyue nodded. "The lord ordered that from now on, no unrelated person may enter the residence, so Miss Yan was expelled."
Chu Yunli drove Yan Ruoxi out, forbidding her from entering the residence…
No… it can’t be…
Yan Ruoxi clenched the corner of her clothes. The poison she had added was almost identical to one of the wound medicine’s ingredients, so it would not be detected. Besides, even if it were discovered, no one would know she was the one who had poisoned it.
Yan Ruoxi’s heart pounded, nearly bursting from her throat. She lifted her face and said, "Brother Chu, isn’t this the wound medicine?"
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.”
Chu Yunli entered the palace overnight to report to the emperor.
This action startled everyone, and the palace was instantly ablaze with lights.
Chu Yunli has returned!
Jiang Ning handled the wound with practiced precision, wholly focused, her expression intent, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
Only after finishing the treatment of the wound did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Jiang Ning lifted her face to look at Chu Yunli. “What happened? How did you get poisoned?”
Chu Yunli’s tone was cold and indifferent. Turning his back, he said, "I am somewhat tired, Miss Yan, please leave."
"Brother Chu…" Yan Ruoxi opened her mouth but stopped short, not knowing what to say. Brother Chu looked as if nothing was wrong at all.
Could it be that the wound medicine was not used?
On her way back, Yan Ruoxi’s hands trembled, her face pale.
She did not want to hurt Brother Chu, but she had no choice—everything was forced upon her…
Yuan Feng watched Yan Ruoxi’s departing figure, his expression clouded with doubt.
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…”
Chu Yunli tacitly accepted Physician Ye and Yan Ruoxi’s company, and the group continued toward He Province.
Chu Yunli’s coldness made Yan Ruoxi feel wronged, but she quickly adjusted her state of mind. The road was long, and there would surely be chances to draw closer to Brother Chu.
Her looks were no less than Jiang Ning’s, her medical skill outstanding, and as the daughter of a noble family, she surpassed Jiang Ning in every way.
Chu Yunli’s band of elite soldiers were also on edge. Not long after they passed the winding mountain path, it collapsed behind them. Fortunately, the place where they stood was safe.
“Lord Chu, the mountain slope in the distance has collapsed…” An officer rushed over to report.
Chu Yunli glanced at the mountain above and the village below, then said, “Continue forward.”
In the Marquis’s residence, Ning’an Courtyard, the oil lamps were lit.
At the instant Jiang Ning heard the news, her face turned deathly pale, blood drained away, her body swayed. Though the oil lamps lit the room, her vision darkened in waves, everything blurred.
“The mountain has collapsed…”
Jiang Mengyue stepped into the house; hearing the sounds from the courtyard, she gave a cold smile.
She held command over matters of the future, of great use to the crown prince, who would surely protect her completely.
Even the crown princess could not touch her.
Jiang Mengyue cursed inwardly that the crown prince’s secret guards were useless—letting someone break into her home and even allowing that madwoman to slap her twice.
Where have all the secret guards gone?
“Someone! Where are you!” Jiang Mengyue cried out, shaking all over with fury.
At this moment, Jiang Mengyue still had no idea that trouble was about to arrive, as she was preoccupied with worries about Jin Jingxiu.
She had once thought Jin Jingxiu was like a dog she kept—summoned at a wave of her hand. But Jin Jingxiu had thrown down the house deed and left coldly, and to this day had never come back to her.
Jiang Mengyue tugged at her handkerchief, her expression dark.
Xiuzhu followed the Crown Princess’s instructions and went to Huaya Courtyard.
But when she reached near Huaya Courtyard, her face flushed red with shyness, and she hesitated, unable to move her feet.
It was her first time doing such a thing, and she was nervous. Worse, the place she was going was hardly respectable. When she saw several men entering together, her face flushed so red it seemed blood might drip, and she lowered her head deeply.
Jiang Ning moved all the medicinal herbs prepared by the Fourth Prince to Physician Xue's residence.
As expected of the Fourth Prince; he managed to find many of the rare herbs on the list that aren't even available on the market.
Xue Xiu opened the door to greet them, and her eyes widened in shock when she saw a cart full of medicinal herbs.
When Huaya Garden was brought up, the Crown Princess looked down, her hand resting on her belly. She bit her lip softly, and a trace of unwillingness flickered across her features.
Jiang Ning caught the change in the Crown Princess’s face.
Huaya Garden is a pleasure ground, a place of indulgence, where women are strictly barred.
The next day, Jiang Ning rose early and went to the courtyard to practice with her whip.
She swung it with ease, finding it more and more effective, and couldn’t bear to put it down.
At that moment, a waiter from Qingxin Teahouse delivered a tea box.
Chunlan carried the tea box over; it was made of rosewood, looking very precious.
Jiang Ning had no idea she’d become the target of resentment.
She didn’t know that her casual act of saving Jin Jingxiu would shift something in him—and cause Jiang Mengyue no end of trouble.
She was swinging a whip in the courtyard at that moment.
The whip Jin Jingxiu had gifted her felt just right in her hand. She liked it better than a dagger—whipping suited her more.
When Jin Jingxiu heard Jiang Mengyue mention the Crown Prince, he became even more certain of what he had seen that day.
He took the deed from his sleeve and placed it on the table, saying, “This is the deed to this residence.”
Jiang Mengyue was completely confused and hadn’t reacted yet—why bring up the deed to this residence now? They were talking about the Crown Prince.
