Ning Wan Wan glanced at Yuan Zhu, realizing he was skilled with hidden weapons. Di Jin’s earlier move was likely his doing.
“Cough, cough…” Si Zhan covered his chest and softly coughed.
“Zhan ge-ge,” Ning Wan Wan said, wanting to check his wound. But Si Zhan gently blocked her hand. “It’s nothing serious. I was measured with this sword strike.”
To frame Di Jin for attempting to assassinate a prince, Si Zhan had risked his life by deliberately stabbing himself. Ning Wan Wan felt a chill thinking about this.
Unbeknownst to her, after returning from Qingfeng Tower, Si Zhan had sent people to investigate how this information was leaked, tracing it to Lin Yutong from Luling. Lin Yutong had followed Ning Wan Wan, who had disguised herself as a man. She witnessed Ning Wan Wan visiting a medical clinic and a mysterious traveling physician.
Initially wanting to find the physician, Lin Yutong later discovered that Yuan Bi had taken him away. She sensed the physician had some unspeakable secret and intended to find him, but he disappeared after leaving the Yiwang Mansion.
It was only when Shaoyin sent someone to Luling to inquire about Ning Wanwan that the matter was revealed, as Shaoyin was close to the Di family’s third young lady.
Later, Lin Yutong “committed suicide by jumping into the river” with her wheelchair.
On the fifth day after Di Jin’s death, a message from the palace indicated that Si Suo was seriously ill.
In an unusual gesture, Si Zhan brought Ning Wanwan to the palace to visit Si Suo.
In the eastern bedchamber of Qingshou Palace, Si Suo lay weakly on a yellow brocade cushion, wearing a light yellow dragon-patterned garment. He glanced at Si Zhan and his wife, saying, “Fifteenth brother, it’s hard for you to come and visit me even while injured.”
Si Zhan replied, “Your Majesty is Huai Jin’s elder brother. Since the emperor is ill, Huai Jin is naturally concerned.”
Si Suo sighed with guilt, “Ah, I have been too harsh on you.”
Si Zhan humbly responded, “Your Majesty speaks too seriously. Huai Jin has always remembered the emperor’s kindness.”
Si Suo’s eyes flashed with contemplation before he turned to Ning Wanwan, smiling weakly, “Yunxiang, I have some private matters to discuss with my fifteenth brother alone.”
