Yu Yi: “Probably not, otherwise Pan Xian wouldn’t be so calm and would not have used the ink jade carried by the general to test me.”
Meng Qing: “Luo Zhan’s residence has been sealed off. We’ll spread the word that he’s been deeply poisoned and is on the brink of death.”
Yu Yi: “How are you feeling now?” Meng Qing’s physical condition was important since they had originally planned for him to possess Luo Zhan’s body when he was poisoned and semiconscious. She knew that although the poison was neutralized, he couldn’t be completely fine.
Meng Qing: “Not bad. My stomach still hurts a bit. The residual poison hasn’t been completely expelled.”
Yu Yi supported her forehead, speechless. After a while, she said, “It seems someone is coming outside, I’ll stop talking to you now.”
Meng Qing: “Be careful, my lady, the intercom is on.”
Yu Yi opened the intercom on her bracelet while lowering her head to compose her emotions.
The door opened, and Pan Xian walked in.
Yu Yi hurriedly bowed and asked, “Master Pan, may this humble girl go to retrieve General Xiang’s body?”
“
Pan Xian replied, “Please tell me the approximate location of General Xiang’s accident, and I will dispatch people to search.”
Yu Yi showed a look of grief and indignation: “This girl can only provide a rough location. How can one find anything in this deep, dark forest at night? Why won’t you let me lead the search?”
Pan Xian said, “Since Miss Yi is the daughter of Yi Ya, she must have learned some of her father’s skills. An oral description is unclear. Wouldn’t it be better to draw a map?”
Yu Yi coldly looked at Pan Xian: “So Master Pan still doesn’t trust me, constantly testing me. Has Master Pan considered that General Xiang is now exposed in the wilderness, his loyal soul unable to rest…”
Pan Xian said, “Miss Yi misunderstands. I only thought that since General Xiang was your senior brother, you would be heartbroken by his death. Moreover, it’s late at night, and the forest is full of snakes and insects. It would be too dangerous for you to go.”
After Pan Xian left, Yu Yi played a recording of low sobbing in the room, apparently informed by the guards. She no longer needed to cry and simply sat down dejectedly at the table.
Meng Qing spoke through the earpiece: “Don’t worry, my dear. I’ve found some of Yi Ya’s paintings.”
When Pan Xian asked Yu Yi to draw the location of General Xiang’s fall, he had already searched for over a dozen of Yi Ya’s paintings and called Lin Bai to create a memory package to send to Yu Yi.
Pan Xian ordered writing materials to be brought.
Yu Yi closed her eyes, soon opening them and picking up a brush to draw the shape of the cliff from her memory. She drew broken branches beneath the cliff, using brushwork from Yi Ya’s famous paintings.
Fortunately, she had learned painting among other arts at the Hou mansion. While her skills were mediocre except for her musical talents, she could still create a somewhat similar image by copying a master’s work. After all, she was pretending to be Yi Ya’s daughter, not Yi Ya himself, so slight imperfections in technique would not expose her.
After Pan Xian reviewed the drawing, he almost completely stopped doubting her. He had seen Yi Ya’s paintings before, and though her work lacked the master’s free-spirited spirit, the brushwork was undoubtedly from Yi Ya’s school. Yi Ya’s paintings were rare even to him, and a spy would be unable to learn such techniques without copying opportunities.
Pan Xian then said, “Fortunately, Miss Yi reported in time. We’ve already discovered the poisoned food, but the poisoner has not been found. The prince’s mansion is now sealed. For your safety, I advise against leaving.”
Yu Yi showed a sorrowful expression and described the location of the cliff.
Yu Yi walked step by step towards the center of the room, tears streaming down her face. She reached out to gently caress his face, then turned back to Pan Xian and said: “Master Pan, this disciple cannot let her senior brother be buried in such a state.”
Pan Xian stood beside her, nodding sympathetically: “Miss Yi, please tell me what you need.”
Yu Yi had a servant bring warm water. She removed the outer armor and robe from the general’s body, and with a clean cloth dampened in water, she carefully wiped away the blood and flesh from his face, then his neck, hands… She was patient, almost slow, wiping while crying.
Pan Xian could hardly bear to watch and advised: “Miss Yi, you haven’t slept all night. Go rest a while, and let the servants handle the rest.”
Yu Yi shook her head, insisting on cleaning the general’s body and changing him into a clean robe prepared nearby. Only then did she seem to collapse, sitting on the ground as if drained of strength.
Pan Xian quietly instructed the servants to take her back to her room. Yu Yi no longer resisted, allowing them to support her back to her room. After bathing, when the servant asked if she wanted to eat, she shook her head and lay down on the bed.
She had passed the final test, but she was so disgusted that she couldn’t eat anything.
—
Meng Qing woke up still feeling sore all over. He had no choice but to take another capsule to speed up recovery. While waiting for the medicine to take effect, he opened the terminal and saw a message from Yu Yi: The general’s body has been retrieved. I’ve gained Pan Xian’s trust and am extremely tired. Going to sleep for a bit.
He replied: Hard work, my dear. Here’s a comforting kiss to receive before you wake up, followed by a kissing emoji.
After getting up, Meng Qing ordered Xia Yuan to invite Yu Wen Xin and quickly freshened up.
Yu Wen Xin entered the room, closed the door, and said in a low voice: “Your Highness, the poisoners have been found. One is a female helper in the small kitchen, and another is a runner from the outer courtyard. They are now detained, awaiting Your Highness’s decision.”
Meng Qing said: “Keep these two locked up for now. Continue investigating spies in the residence. My current situation should remain concealed.”
“Your Highness is wise.” After learning of the third prince’s poisoning last night, Yu Wen Xin immediately screened the people in this courtyard, leaving only a few confirmed loyal and tight-lipped guards and servants, and gave them strict orders not to leak the news of the prince’s mild poisoning.
Meng Qing added: “Master Yu Wen, please arrange for me to change clothes and quietly leave the residence.”
Yu Wen Xin was inwardly surprised but maintained a calm expression, “Yes, I will prepare immediately. May I ask where Your Highness is going?”
“To my second brother’s residence.”
Yu Wen Xin was shocked and could no longer maintain his composure, urgently dissuading: “Your Highness must not. At this time, it is not advisable to let other princes know that Your Highness was not seriously poisoned, especially the Second Prince.”
Meng Qing waved his hand: “Master Yu Wen, no need to say more. Go prepare quickly.”
Yu Wen Xin wanted to persuade further, but Meng Qing had already turned away.
The Second Prince Luo Ye was also conversing with his strategist: “Sir, have the spies been found?”
Pan Xian shook his head.
Luo Ye asked: “So the woman who claimed to be the general’s junior sister was indeed lying?”
Pan Xian said: “Not necessarily. I have tried her multiple times, and she is indeed Yi Gao Zi’s daughter. The poisoning is also not baseless. I previously received information that the Third Prince was indeed poisoned last night and urgently summoned a royal physician, who has not left the residence since.
My people inside the Third Prince’s residence report that he was nearly killed by the poisoning and is now on the brink of death, with uncertain chances of survival.”
