Mu Baiyu tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He felt a persistent discomfort around his neck, and the memory of what happened today sent a sharp pang through the artery there.
Damn it!
Mu Baiyu got up, his brows furrowed deeply.
No, he had to find Wei Yuan and get it checked.
...
"Haa~~"
Wei Yuan was jolted awake by the loud banging on his door. Sleepy-eyed, he opened it to see Mu Baiyu standing there, the cold air clinging to him and his face drawn. The tears that threatened to escape his eyes from yawning were held back as he rubbed his eyes, glaring at Mu Baiyu with clear annoyance.
"Are you insane! Why aren't you sleeping at this hour!"
Wei Yuan slammed the door shut, intending to keep the late-night disturber of his peace outside. But Mu Baiyu’s hand stopped it. Compared to Mu Baiyu, who had practiced martial arts since childhood, Wei Yuan’s strength was no match. Not only did the door fail to close, but Mu Baiyu pushed his way inside.
Wei Yuan lit a candle, his face grim. He looked at Mu Baiyu with such intensity, he looked like he could devour him whole. He gruffly demanded, "Spit it out, and then scram!"
Mu Baiyu, however, seemed accustomed to Wei Yuan’s temper. Unfazed, he grinned and extended his arm, saying, "Take my pulse. I feel like something's not quite right with my body."
Wei Yuan scoffed in disdain but placed his hand on Mu Baiyu’s wrist, still chiding him, "I bet you're just afraid of dying, making a fuss over nothing and asking me to check your pulse. I..."
Mid-sentence, Wei Yuan’s voice abruptly stopped.
Mu Baiyu, who had been relaxed moments before, felt his heart lurch as he saw Wei Yuan's expression change. His own face paled in response.
"What is it? Say something!" Mu Baiyu asked, a hint of nervousness in his tone.
Wei Yuan pretended to be nonchalant, shrugging his shoulders and mocking, "See? I told you you're just afraid of dying, look how scared you are!!" After a brief pause, he added, "It's nothing, you can go now!"
"It's really nothing?"
Mu Baiyu didn't quite believe him.
If it was nothing, why that expression just now? Like his father had just died!
Wei Yuan shot him an impatient glare and grumbled, "I said it's nothing, how many times do I have to tell you? But tell me, what exactly happened to make you so anxious? Spill it."
Wei Yuan was no longer sleepy. He got up, threw on an outer robe, rummaged through a cabinet in the outer room for a jar of tea, and brewed a pot himself. The aroma of tea filled the air. He poured a cup for Mu Baiyu, gesturing for him to drink and speak quickly, or be on his way.
Mu Baiyu mumbled a few words, but ultimately told Wei Yuan everything that had transpired that day.
Wei Yuan’s hand paused as he was drinking tea, but a moment later, he looked up and sarcastically said, "That's it?"
Mu Baiyu downed the entire pot of tea in one go, shot Wei Yuan a fierce glare, and stormed out. As he listened to the sound of the door slamming shut, as if venting his frustration, Wei Yuan's smile finally froze. Mu Baiyu's pulse was abnormal, its fluctuations unclear. It was as if his carotid artery had been sealed by something, and he wondered if it had anything to do with the maid from the Southern Estate.
He propped his chin on his hand, staring at the flickering candlelight, and cursed under his breath as he stood up. After getting dressed, he quietly slipped out the door.
...
The Regent’s Estate.
Wei Yuan looked at Nan Shiying, who was lounging on a soft couch, almost ready to shed her clothes and lie down. He couldn't help but twitch his mouth. Ji Jinmo, you scoundrel, didn't you hate it the most when people ate in your study? What is this? Is this your selective blindness after your iron tree bloomed and you fell in love?
Hmph!
Wei Yuan had been mentally berating him, but on the surface, he appeared calm and unfazed. Knowing the Regent’s indulgence and affection for Nan Shiying, Wei Yuan didn’t hide his purpose and recounted Mu Baiyu’s situation.
"Wait a moment, you… you are friends? I mean, you and Mu Baiyu." After Wei Yuan finished speaking, Nan Shiying blinked. So, Mu Baiyu and Ji Jinmo weren’t just strangers with no connection? It turned out that the eldest grandson of the Mu family had already been secretly involved with the Regent… no, had allied himself with the Regent?
Wei Yuan winked at Ji Jinmo: What? You didn’t mention it?
Ji Jinmo ignored Wei Yuan’s eyes, which were practically twitching uncontrollably. He simply looked at Nan Shiying and said in a low voice, "Childhood playmates!"
Wei Yuan: ...
You ungrateful wretch. Ever since the Emperor Emeritus died, you've stopped being human.
Playmates?
After more than twenty years of friendship, and you dismiss it with a single word?
Hmph!
If he could win, Wei Yuan would have spat on him. However, he also understood Ji Jinmo's hardships over the years. Aside from cursing him in his heart, he didn't feel any resentment because of his words.
Wei Yuan chimed in, "Yes, yes, just childhood playmates!"
Nan Shiying glanced at Ji Jinmo, then turned to look at Wei Yuan. She had wondered why Ji Jinmo was so tolerant of Wei Yuan. It turned out they had such a deep friendship.
She made a soft "oh" sound and casually said, "I know about Mu Baiyu. I sealed the carotid artery in his neck."
"Ah?"
She said it so casually, but it made Wei Yuan gasp for breath.
He glanced at Ji Jinmo. He didn't think Ji Jinmo would allow Nan Shiying to harm Mu Baiyu, so he didn't question Nan Shiying out of panicked concern. Instead, he asked, "Why would my sister-in-law do that?"
Nan Shiying: ...
He called her "Princess Consort" earlier, and now he's calling her "sister-in-law." Was it because she knew about their "affair" that he gave up trying to be proper?
Nan Shiying glared at him and irritably retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting? Call me Princess Consort or Miss Nan!"
"I understand, sister-in-law!"
Nan Shiying: ...
Never mind. No point arguing with an idiot.
Nan Shiying comforted herself, then said, "What I actually sealed wasn't his carotid artery, but the蠱 worm that had entered it. Your friend here was afflicted with a love蛊 by a Miao Jiang蛊 master. I saw that the master wasn't old, but his movements were steady and ruthless, quite skilled. At the time, I had something else to attend to, so I could only use a needle to pin the蛊 worm to his carotid artery."
"As for how to remove it, I haven't studied it and don't know."
At the end, Nan Shiying spread her hands, indicating that she was powerless beyond that point.
Wei Yuan listened, dumbfounded. So that's what happened. Combining this with what Mu Baiyu had told him, everything suddenly connected.
Gu masters, it was the Gu masters again.
Ji Jinmo's incident back then was also because of these Gu masters.
To think that years later, another one of his friends had been afflicted by a Gu. Damn it, those accursed bastards!
"It's these Gu masters again. They weren't content with scheming against you, and now they're scheming against Baiyu... Jinmo, after winter passes, it will soon be the spring equinox, you—"
"Wei Yuan."
"It's late, you should be going home."
Before Wei Yuan could finish, Ji Jinmo interrupted him. Seeing Ji Jinmo’s slightly grave expression, Wei Yuan cast a discreet glance at Nan Shiying.
Yes, he hadn't told her yet?
He said no more and turned to leave.
Nan Shiying put down the pastry in her hand and slowly stood up, giving him a roguish wave, "I'm leaving too!"