Wei Yuan, noticing the bite marks on Ji Jinmo's lips, suppressed a chuckle. While preparing the medicinal herbs, he casually asked, "Were you forcefully kissed?"
"Or perhaps, you attempted a forceful kiss but ended up poisoned instead?"
Ji Jinmo was poisoned by the Iris Flower. Wei Yuan imagined a R-rated scene of dominance and counter-dominance.
Judging by his perpetually unsatisfied scowl, he must have failed in his attempt to dominate and ended up being dominated instead.
Tsk, so you have your off days too?
Looking at Wei Yuan's face, Ji Jinmo felt that the people of the capital were all blind. Calling him a gentleman like jade, virtuous and elegant?
They really should see this expression of his.
"If you don't want to die, shut your mouth, Your Highness!" Ji Jinmo threatened with a dark expression.
Wei Yuan let out a chuckle. Seeing Ji Jinmo's increasingly chilling gaze, he raised his hands in surrender, "Alright, alright, I'll shut up, shut up."
The scent of herbs filled the air. The fire was turned down, and Wei Yuan stopped fanning it. He opened the medicine pot, letting the medicine simmer slowly. He walked over to Ji Jinmo and sat down, taking out a small porcelain bottle from his怀 and handing it to him. "To promote blood circulation, reduce swelling, and relieve pain."
Ji Jinmo glanced at him.
Wei Yuan exclaimed, "What are you looking at? I'm doing this for your own good. Do you intend to attend court with that mouth?"
Ji Jinmo didn't speak, but silently accepted the porcelain bottle.
A flicker of amusement flashed in Wei Yuan's eyes. He asked, "Jinmo, what's the deal with your Princess Consort?"
Ji Jinmo frowned.
"Is she truly Nan Chaoyin's daughter?"
Ji Jinmo nodded.
Wei Yuan's smile remained, but his expression became more serious. "Jinmo, have you ever considered how a pampered daughter of a prime minister's mansion would know how to use poison? Did she switch things around herself, or was she instructed by Nan Chaoyin?"
"I was somewhat gratified to see you, this impassive block of ice, show emotion. But there's one thing: don't get yourself hurt."
Ji Jinmo had already noticed Nan Shiying's unusual nature, but some things he couldn't explain in detail to Wei Yuan.
Feeling his friend's genuine concern, a warmth surged within Ji Jinmo, yet his expression remained as cold as ever. He glanced at him and said coldly, "This King knows!"
Tsk, such a tsundere!
Wei Yuan ignored him. The medicine was almost ready. He got up, turned off the fire, poured out the medicine, and handed it to Ji Jinmo. "Drink up!"
Ji Jinmo downed it in one gulp.
Wei Yuan took the empty bowl and said to him, "It's not a fatal poison. She showed restraint. However, with a princess consort who is skilled in poison, Jinmo, your future days will likely not be easy!"
Ji Jinmo's face was grim. He quietly stared at Wei Yuan, radiating a chilling aura. Wei Yuan shivered violently. He shook his body, threw down the bowl, and shouted towards the door, "Thirteen, you handle the rest."
With that, he grabbed his fan and walked out the door.
Thirteen entered to clean up and couldn't help but glance at his master.
Didn't he go to see the Princess Consort? Why was he injured?
Or perhaps...
Ji Jinmo glanced at Xuan Thirteen, who immediately lowered his head, focused on his nose and eyes, not daring to look further. He also quickened his pace. In a moment, he finished cleaning up, closed the door, and retreated.
Inside the room, the scent of herbs remained strong. Ji Jinmo raised his hand and touched his swollen lips. His slightly lowered phoenix eyes concealed the stirring deep within his pupils.
...
Linglong Pavilion.
A furtive figure dug up the soil in the flowerbed outside the courtyard and dumped a bag of things into it. After doing so, they re-buried the soil shallowly.
Then, the person took out a small cage from behind and released all the mice confined within.
After completing all these actions, the person departed gracefully.
At the same time.
Another figure appeared in the main kitchen and threw a dead cat into the kitchen waste in the backyard of the main kitchen.
"Ah~"
The next morning, a scream pierced the sky.
Nan Shiying woke up slowly. Her greenish eyes held a somber aura. She sat up, her head bowed, as if shrouded in a veil of shadow, radiating a chilling resentment in all directions.
Lu Wan shivered, her movements becoming gentler.
She cautiously approached Nan Shiying and handed her a warm handkerchief. "Your Highness, you didn't sleep well last night?"
Nan Shiying placed the handkerchief on her face and gritted her teeth as she hummed in assent.
Lu Wan didn't dare to ask further and instead said, "The maids in the main kitchen were just screaming."
Nan Shiying hummed again.
The atmosphere in the room became somewhat subdued.
Just then, Bai Zhi rushed into the room excitedly, relaying the scene she had witnessed to Nan Shiying. "Your Highness, the main kitchen is in chaos. The maids are all terrified, and breakfast will likely be delayed. But I anticipated this, so I found Jia Huan early this morning and asked him to buy food from outside the manor."
As Bai Zhi spoke, she placed the food box on the table.
"Your Highness, large wontons, fresh meat buns, appetizing small dishes, and a steamed shrimp and lily porridge... they're all still warm. Your Highness, eat them while they're hot."
Lu Wan glanced at Bai Zhi, feeling a little envious of her carefree nature.
Nan Shiying took down the handkerchief and slowly stood up. A hint of dejection flickered in her slightly lowered eyes. Lu Wan quickly helped the Princess Consort change. Sensing the atmosphere in the room, Bai Zhi immediately dared not speak.
After silently finishing breakfast, Lan'er and Xiao Huan returned from outside.
Nan Shiying sipped her tea while listening to their reports.
Lan'er said, "Your Highness, Madam Xinyang threw a huge tantrum, loudly scolding the concubine for poor household management, nepotism, and for indulging the kitchen matrons to the point of lawlessness, making the entire prince's manor a mess. Madam Xinyang intended to complain to His Highness, but Madam Lanyu, upon learning of this, intercepted her."
Xiao Huan nodded, then added, "Your Highness, apart from this, Madam Lanyu showed no reaction. She calmly ate breakfast, seemingly unconcerned by the neglect in the main kitchen."
Nan Shiying swirled her teacup, looking at the rippling water, and gently curved her lips.
...
At night, Nan Shiying's eyes suddenly snapped open.
As the scent of irises wafted through the air, she leaped from the bed. The cold gleam in her hand suddenly erupted, carving a chilling arc in the darkness.
Ji Jinmo reached out and pinched the dagger between two fingers, pulling forcefully forward.
The dagger slipped from her grasp, and Nan Shiying instantly retreated.
Ji Jinmo threw the dagger onto the ground and lit the candles with a sweep of his sleeve. He looked at Nan Shiying, who was extremely vigilant, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed.
"You..."
"Ji Jinmo, if you dare to take liberties with me again, I will make you wish you were dead."