Chapter 038
Chapter 38: Why Are You Spying on My Heir Apparent?
Yun Wan Ye forced himself to hold back. If he lost control and revealed his little sister’s heaven-defying secret, Father would chop him to pieces on the spot, and Mother would likely applaud.
[Sigh.]
He could not ask, but his heart burned with impatience.
Thankfully, Yun Wan Ning did not keep him waiting. Her inner voice began to recite with calm detail, laying out recipes, pill-refining steps, and key instructions so clear that even a beginner like Yun Wan Ye could follow: [Prepare Detoxification Pills. Use coptis root, bezoar, ginger juice, forsythia, and borneol. Grind them fine, then mix with honey and form pills. First refine the honey, then make a dough, divide it, roll it into small pellets, dry them, and coat them. Once complete, His Majesty should take one pill three times a day. He must avoid greasy foods and eat lightly. Combine with silver-needle acupuncture and herbal baths. Within three months, the accumulated toxins will clear.]
She paused, then continued with a sober certainty: [But poison is not the greatest problem. His Majesty is weak from birth. He has relied on golden elixirs for too long. Once he stops, his body may collapse. We must treat the root. First detoxify. Then slowly reduce his dependence on the elixirs. Strengthen him with training and internal cultivation. Later, when I can walk, I will refine strengthening pills to nourish the body and improve his innate constitution. I promise he will grow stronger than ordinary men.]
[Aiya, I am overthinking again. My head hurts. Time to sleep.]
She shut her eyes and settled her breath. In moments, she was sound asleep. When Yun Zhan and Yun Wan Ye finished sorting her words and looked back, they found a tiny milk bun dozing in peace.
“Your Majesty, Little Fourth has fallen asleep, allow me to hold her,” Yun Zhan said.
“Very well,” Mo Yuan Lin answered, and with a reluctant nod, he passed the soft bundle back.
Outside Yun Manor, Mo Zhao Zhao noticed the Jiang family carriage tucked beyond a large roadside tree. She thought at once of Yun Wan Yao, who had hurried off, and of Jiang Zi Tang, who had not appeared.
[Elder Cousin Sister is already here, yet she did not enter the manor for Little Sister’s banquet. Did something happen.]
“Zhao Zhao, what are you looking at,” Lu Huai Jin asked as he followed her gaze.
“Nothing much. I saw my maternal uncle’s carriage. I will greet Elder Cousin Sister. You head back first,” she said with a quick lift of her skirts, leaving before he could reply.
Lu Huai Jin narrowed his eyes, a thin doubt stirring. [Strange. Why is the princess so distant today. Is she unhappy that I rescued the Grand Commandant’s daughter. She often spoke harshly of Su Qian Xue before. Could it be the princess had a hand in what happened at the lake.]
Inside the carriage, Jiang Zi Tang spoke softly with Yun Wan Yao. Outside, the maid and coachman offered hurried greetings to the princess.
“It is the princess,” Yun Wan Yao said as she sprang up and stepped out. She took Mo Zhao Zhao’s sleeve and asked with worry: “Princess, why did you come outside. Are you alright.”
She checked her from head to toe before letting out a breath. It seemed Yun Wan Ye had done well and not failed her trust. Last night, she had told him to watch the princess in secret. When a maid ran to report that Jiang Zi Tang would not enter the manor due to trouble, Yun Wan Yao had panicked and left the princess’s side to check.
“I am fine, all is well. What about Elder Cousin Sister. Did something happen,” Mo Zhao Zhao asked.
The curtain lifted. Jiang Zi Tang’s pale face appeared at the window. Leaning against the frame, she spoke in a soft voice: “My apologies, Princess. I am not feeling well and cannot get down.”
“It is alright, do not worry. But Elder Cousin Sister, what happened,” Mo Zhao Zhao said, full of concern.
Jiang Zi Tang opened her mouth and flushed with embarrassment. Yun Wan Yao leaned close and whispered the truth. Understanding at once, Mo Zhao Zhao nodded: “Elder Cousin Sister, then please rest and take care.”
It was only her first cycle. She had stained her clothes as she stepped down and dared not show herself before the nobles. She had sent a maid to deliver the gift, but the shy girl fumbled her words, which made Yun Wan Yao think it was grave.
“Oh right, is it still early. Has the banquet ended. I saw many guests leaving. Are you heading out too,” Yun Wan Yao asked, confused.
Mo Zhao Zhao brightened and laughed: “I was just about to tell you. It was delightful. Su Qian Xue fell into the lake. The Grand Commandant and his wife rushed her home, and the guests left after. So Little Sister’s banquet ended early.” [Pity she was rescued by Lu Huai Jin.]
“What,” Yun Wan Yao and Jiang Zi Tang cried together, wide-eyed. Yun Wan Yao was most shaken. [Did Little Fourth not say Su Qian Xue held the script. Why would she fall.]
“She likely ran to the lake and slipped. Or perhaps the heavens grew tired of her and gave her a lesson,” Mo Zhao Zhao said lightly. She would not reveal the truth even to close friends. Too many ears and eyes watched. If word spread, Su Jian would not spare her or Yun Wan Ye. On the surface he would not touch a princess, but in the dark, who could know.
The more she thought, the more uneasy she grew. [I was foolish. A princess cannot ignore the noble houses.] Only after Yun Wan Ye’s warning did she understand. From now on, she would be humble and lie low.
“Heh, then she truly has rotten luck,” Jiang Zi Tang said with a chuckle, making no effort to hide her joy.
Yun Wan Yao did not believe it. Slip and fall, punished by heaven. Lovely lies. If she must guess, it was Yun Wan Ye’s work. He was not soft. For family he had warmth; for outsiders he was precise and cold. Now that he knew from Little Fourth’s heart that Su Qian Xue was their fated enemy, how could he not strike.
Most likely, the mantis stalked the cicada, and the oriole waited behind. While Su Qian Xue planned to trap the princess, Yun Wan Ye struck first and sent her into the lake. As for the princess, she surely knew and kept silent. Lately, she had grown closer to Yun Wan Yao, and her dislike of Su Qian Xue was plain. With a common enemy, it was natural to join hands.
Yun Wan Ye and the princess, birds of a feather. Strangely, Yun Wan Yao liked it.
Still, her brows drew tight. Grand Commandant Su would investigate. She only hoped Yun Wan Ye had left no trace. If not, the cost would be heavy.
After seeing the princess and Jiang Zi Tang off, Yun Wan Yao returned to the manor and recalled that Mo Yuan Hao said he would come. She waited long, and he did not appear. The servants said he had left with His Majesty. Oddly, she did not feel let down. She felt relieved. Too much had happened. She was not ready to face him.
Night fell. Lanterns bloomed like stars across the estate. Servants bustled, sweeping up the joy and disorder left by the day. Madam Yun, worn from the endless greetings, retired early with Yun Wan Ning. Yun Zhan and Yun Wan Ye stayed awake, copying the prescription and checking every line, then went to speak with Yun Zheng about His Majesty.
In Moon Seizing Pavilion, one unexpected guest lingered, a frail sprout who looked ready to snap in a wind.
“Miss Su, it is already dark. You should return home. I will have someone escort you,” Yun Wan Chen said gently, his calm gaze lifting to meet hers. The girl was gaunt and sallow, yet her dark eyes held a quiet light.
He disliked being watched, whether with pity or with amusement. After greeting guests in the morning, he had withdrawn to his courtyard to work with Imperial Physician Yao on his crippled legs. When the physician left, he sat in the warm sun and half-dozed until a shout split the quiet: “Who are you. How dare you spy on our young heir.”
A sharp thud followed as someone struck the wall. A girl, startled, hit her head as she tried to flee. Even while clutching her skull, she ran. With a flick of Yun Wan Chen’s fingers, Cang Yan vaulted the wall and returned soon after, holding the girl by the back of her collar like a stray kitten.
She trembled when set before him.
He studied her thin frame. Her wrists and neck were twig-delicate. Her clothes were plain and too light for early winter. Her face had a bluish cast from cold. She wore no adornments at all.
“Who are you,” he asked, voice soft with a blade’s quiet edge. Everyone invited today was noble or wealthy. Even their maids dressed well. Was this girl an outsider who had slipped in.
“I… I-I…” she stammered, panic in her eyes.
“If you will not speak, I will bring you before the guests. Let your family claim you. If no one does, you will be judged as trespassing in Duke Ning’s estate,” he said.
“No, please do not,” she cried. “I will speak. I will tell you everything.” Her defense broke. “Su Qian Yue. I am the concubine-born daughter of the Grand Commandant’s manor.”
A faint surprise crossed Yun Wan Chen’s face. [Su Qian Yue. The girl Little Sister mentioned, the one who would one day collect my body, who tried to follow me in death, who was dragged back by Su Jian and forced into a loveless marriage, and ended her life soon after.]
But this Su Qian Yue was like a half-wilted flower. Could this be a daughter of that house. If outsiders saw her, they would think the Su family starved her.
“The women’s banquet is by the garden. Why are you here,” he asked.
“I… I got lost,” she whispered, guilt dim in her tone.
She lied. In truth, she came to catch a glimpse of him. Her stepmother said she was not fit to appear at the Yun family’s feast and had not planned to attend at all. Since Yun Wan Chen’s engagement to the Su family’s eldest had been broken, their house was a laughingstock. Her stepmother wished to hide. But the eldest insisted that not attending would look like fear, and so the Su family came to save face.
Su Qian Yue begged to come, just to see him from afar. Her stepmother delayed on purpose. When they arrived, Yun Wan Chen had already returned to his courtyard. She made an excuse to visit the restroom, bribed a maid for directions, and slipped away alone.
She found him, and then was caught. She expected harsh punishment, perhaps a beating. Instead he was gentle. He spared her and ordered warm dishes brought.
She ate, still hungry and cold, and had never seen such fine plates in her life.
[What do I do now.]
Her longing grew. “Thank you for the food, Young Heir,” she murmured, head low, voice steady with effort.
If she left now, she might never see him again. But he had already asked her to go. She could not be shameless. Her eyes stung. She bit her lip to hold back tears. Why was she always so useless.
“No need,” Yun Wan Chen said softly.