Yang Shan was ambushed, and Jun Yuyan had already found out it was the Second Princeâs doing.
Given Murong Jiuâs life experiences, she couldnât have possibly met Yang Shan, unless the Second Prince had her recognize him.
Jun Yuyanâs thin lips were slightly pursed, his eyes deep and somber, and his presence grew colder. Those familiar with him knew his mood was sour.
Indeed, his mood was foul. Admittedly, whoever he married made no difference to him, but the moment before yesterdayâs wedding ceremony, when he learned from the Hidden Guard that the bride had been switched with Murong Jiu, who adored the Second Prince, he had contemplated putting her to death.
He couldnât possibly marry the Second Princeâs woman. The Second Prince and he had long been at irreconcilable odds, with only a facade of peace between them.
How could he allow the Second Princeâs spy to remain in his Prince Mansion?
Even if Murong Man were to marry into his mansion, it would be a dead end; he was already aware of the relationship between her and the Second Prince.
He wasnât a man to kill the innocent indiscriminately, but when it came to those deserving of death, he was anything but merciful.
However, the moment during the ceremony when Murong Jiuâs bridal veil was deliberately lifted, he caught a faint fragrance, which bewilderingly reminded him of a woman who had passionately spent a night with him over a month ago, the woman who had cured his poison.
Though the fragrance was no longer detectable upon closer inspection, that transient daze stayed his hand.
He knew Murong Jiu was not the woman he was searching for; that woman had skin as smooth as cream, a soft figure, a charming voice, and she carried a rich and unique scent that was intoxicating, resembling but not quite like an orchid, entirely different from Murong Jiu.
Following that, in their conversations, he found her to be very lucid, and her clear declaration that she had no more involvement with the Second Prince somewhat impressed him.
Today at the court, her performance was remarkable, shrouded as if in a thin veil of mystery, inviting curiosity.
But now, the change in Murong Jiuâs expression when facing Yang Shan made him doubt her purpose for entering the Prince Mansion.
He detested deceit above all.
At that moment, he heard Murong Jiu let out a sigh of relief, âItâs good that he hasnât been poisoned for too long; thereâs still a chance to save him. We need to prepare these few medicinal herbs immediately to counteract the poison. For now, I can use silver needles to halt his profuse bleeding, but detoxifying him is the only way to treat his wounds properly.â
As she spoke, Murong Jiu took out a set of silver needles from the medical box.
âHold on!â
Su Kai hurriedly voiced his objection.
Since there was something dubious about this woman, it was absolutely imperative not to let her treat Yang Shan again.
Murong Jiu asked, perplexed, âWhatâs wrong? If he doesnât stop bleeding, his life will be in danger; he wonât last half an incense stickâs time.â
Su Kai furrowed his brow tightly; half an incense stickâs time wasnât enough for either the Mansion Physician from the Prince Mansion or the Court Physician from the Marquis of Wuanâs Mansion to arrive.
They had already sought out physicians from the medical halls, who had declared themselves powerless against the poison afflicting Yang Shan.
He looked to Jun Yuyan for a decision, unsure of what to do.
âCan you really save him?â Jun Yuyan asked in a stern voice.
Murong Jiu didnât understand why his tone had grown so much colder and, unable to see his expression behind the mask, assumed it was worry for his Hidden Guard, so she immediately replied:
âThe poison heâs afflicted with comes from North Rong, derived from the most toxic root of the Nine-Bend Cold Grass, causing oneâs blood vessels to be unable to coagulate, leading to death by excessive blood loss. He has lost too much blood already, and as it keeps flowing more vigorously, all his blood will be drained within half an incense stick.â
After she finished, Su Kai grew even more suspicious of her identity. Even if she had learned some medicine in the countryside, how could she know so much, even about poisons from North Rong?
Jun Yuyan stared into her eyes and saw only urgency, devoid of any other emotion.
If this was an act, then her acting abilities were far too convincing.
âAttend to his bleeding, and tell me what medicinal herbs you need,â Jun Yuyan commanded.
âBrother Yan!â Su Kaiâs eyes widened in alarm. Yang Shan was a brother with whom he had experienced life and death; what if Murong Jiu deliberatelyâ¦
Murong Jiu, thinking Su Kai was questioning her medical skills, ignored him, turned around, and picked up the silver needles, inserting them neatly into acupoints around the two wounds.
Her movements were swift and fluid, her expression confident, without the slightest hesitation or indecision, her hand as steady as if she were a court physician who had practiced medicine for decades.
This left Su Kai thoroughly astonished, but what surprised him even more was that with just a few rapid pricks of her silver needle, Murong Jiu had stopped Yang Shanâs uncontrollable bleeding!
He looked incredulously towards Brother Yan, whose deep-set eyes also flickered with surprise.
âQuick, someone prepare Prunella Vulgaris, Cypress, Chinese bulbulâ¦â
As Murong Jiu administered the acupuncture, she listed over a dozen types of herbs.
With a clap of his hands, Jun Yuyan summoned a black-clad hidden guard, who stealthily flipped in through a window, as silently as a phantom, startling Murong Jiu.@@novelbin@@
âDid you get that? Fetch them from the storeroom.â
âYes! My lord!â
Su Kai still suspected that Murong Jiu had ulterior motives, but since she had stopped the bleeding, there was no need for her to tamper with the herbs and kill Yang Shan, because it was unnecessary.
If she wanted Yang Shan dead, she could have done nothing and just pretend she did not know how.
So what was her goal? Was she trying to make Yang Shan owe her a debt of gratitude for saving his life, or did she want Brother Yan to see her in a new light?
The Prince Mansionâs storeroom was well-stocked with herbs, and among those requested by Murong Jiu, only one was rare. The Prince Mansion had it, so the herbs were quickly brought.
Murong Jiu washed her hands and took out a clay pot for decocting medicine from her medicine box.
Perhaps due to many uses in preparing medicines, the pot had fully absorbed the herbal liquids, its color a nondescript grayish brown, unremarkable to look at, yet it was Murong Jiuâs treasure.
Because this pot was a gift from her master, made from a very rare type of clay, it could maximize the effects of the herbs being decocted.
But in her past life, the pot had been smashed by Murong Man.
âPrincess Consort, let this servant prepare the medicine.â
Eunuch Shi, by Jun Yuyanâs side, reached out and offered.
âIâll do it myself, Iâm faster.â
With that, Murong Jiu began to decoct the medicine under the eaves outside.
Her master said she was a medical prodigy, she could clearly remember the properties of every herb, and she was able to apply her knowledge flexibly, as if she was born for the practice of medicine.
In her past life, however, blinded by her affection for Jun Haoze, she became trapped in the inner court. Although she treated many people in the early days, they were all âuseful individualsâ chosen by Jun Haoze. Later on, once Jun Haoze held significant power, he had no more use for her medical skills.
Her master must have been very angry and disappointed, so he never came looking for her.
Taking a deep breath, she told herself that this time she would not lose herself for any man; she would carry on her masterâs medical legacy!
Before long, Murong Jiu had prepared the medicine, decanting it for Eunuch Shi to feed to Yang Shan.
She said, âFeed it to him quickly, the sooner the poison is neutralized, the better for his health.â
Su Kai was anxious, constantly looking outside. Why hadnât the court physicians from the Marquis Mansion and Prince Mansion arrived yet?
Could Murong Jiuâs medicine really be safe to drink?
âLet me do it.â
Jun Yuyan took over the medicine.
As the saying goes, a patient becomes his own doctor. Having often been the target of poisoning and assassination attempts over the past twenty or so years, he could tell whether there was anything wrong with the medicine.
He scooped up a spoonful and blew on it to cool it. Finding no poison, he then proceeded to feed Yang Shan.
âPrince!â
Just then, a guard rushed over, speaking loudly, âWeâve caught a maid from the Princess Consortâs service sneaking out to send a message, and she was also hiding poison on her!â