Who could have such a deep hatred for him that they would resort to poisoning him?
Or perhaps the enemy had a grudge against his father, Lord Ye Si Yuan, which was quite possible, and he had become an unfortunate pawn.
Yun Xiao first let him bleed, then inserted several silver needles into key acupoints on his body, and finally handed him a pill she had made.
"Take one pill every day, and follow the prescription I've written. Good medicine tastes bitter, but you'll be well soon."
"Thank you."
Ye Wu Yun sat quietly before Yun Xiao, allowing her to remove the silver needles.
He remained motionless, like a sacred lotus, elegant and unfurling.
Yet, his cold demeanor persisted, as if the words spoken had not come from him at all.
Yun Xiao paid him no mind. Whether he was elegant, distant, or like an immortal was none of her concern.
She knew only that she was responsible for healing people, and by healing him, he owed her three favors, which he would have to repay.
"Wan Wan, bring me brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."
Wan Wan jolted back to attention. Just moments ago, she had been staring at this young master, Wu Yun, and had become completely mesmerized.
How was it possible for someone to maintain a single expression for so long? Though beautiful, it was exhausting to behold.
His gaze was distant and ethereal, as if nothing in the world could capture his attention.
To think that such a person valued a mere maid's life, and even fought with Liu Xing and Zhui Xing for her sake, was simply unbelievable, which was why she had been so captivated.
The writing materials were on the upper floor of the small pavilion. Wan Wan scurried up and quickly retrieved them.
Yun Xiao stood and walked to the table. Her brush moved like a leaping dragon, and she quickly wrote a prescription, which she handed to Qiao Fan. She spoke faintly, "Buy all these, decoct them for your young master, and the pain will gradually subside."
"Yes, Young Master Leng."
Qiao Fan replied. Ye Wu Yun finally stood up, a faint glow appearing in his eyes. He glanced at Yun Xiao and cupped his fists, "Thank you for your trouble."
With that, he led his maidservant Qiao Fan away. As Qiao Fan left, her eyes swept over Yun Xiao, as if she had something to say but hesitated. At this moment, she decided not to cause Young Master Leng any further trouble, as that person might still target him.
Yun Xiao did not watch them go, but busied herself with packing her belongings. As she saw Ye Wu Yun's tall figure walk out, she called out as if she had just remembered something.
"Ye Wu Yun."
Ye Wu Yun did not turn back, but stopped, awaiting her words.
Yun Xiao cautioned him, "Do not tell anyone that you were being treated, otherwise, your illness might have been treated in vain."
Ye Wu Yun paused, his eyes reflecting a fleeting brilliance. Even someone as tranquil as him was disturbed by these words. He left without saying anything.
Wan Wan watched them depart, then turned to her mistress and muttered softly.
"I think Young Master Ye is truly strange. Master saved him, yet he shows no happiness or expression. What do you think his intention is? Anyone else would be overjoyed. Someone on the brink of death is suddenly told they don't have to die, shouldn't they be happy?"
Yun Xiao packed her medical kit and glanced outside, but Ye Wu Yun's figure had already disappeared.
"There are many strange people in this world, but what you see with your eyes is not necessarily the truth. Perhaps his personality today is due to some reason. So why bother about how others are? We just do what we need to do."
"Yes," Wan Wan smiled faintly, and said no more, busying herself with tidying the room.
Jing Fu Palace, the residence of Emperor Shangguan Yao, was illuminated by a cluster of lights, as bright as day.
On a long, rectangular couch on one side of the great hall, a person reclined lazily. He wore a light yellow robe with wide, cloud-like sleeves that rested on the edge of the couch. His eyes were slightly closed, his long eyelashes casting shadows on a handsome face, his dark hair cascading down, exuding an indescribable clarity.
The hall was silent. Eunuchs and palace maids stood guard in distant corners, not daring to breathe.
The Emperor seemed to be asleep. If his peaceful slumber were disturbed, there would likely be dire consequences.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from the direction of the hall door. Xiao Ting Zi rushed in in a panic, falling to his knees with a thud, gasping, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened, Your Majesty."
The person who had been soundly dreaming abruptly opened his eyes. His gaze was sharp and menacing. He had just had a dream, a dream about Leng Yue, where he had pressed Leng Yue beneath him.
His male organ, hard as iron, pressed firmly against the other person's slender body. Just as he was about to take further action, he was interrupted.
Shangguan Yao was furious. His gaze swept across, like flames rising, as if he wished to instantly behead Xiao Ting Zi. This frightened the latter, leaving him trembling, unsure of how he had displeased the Emperor again.
As Shangguan Yao was about to unleash his anger, his eyes inadvertently fell upon his own lower region. It was showing signs of movement. His long-standing ailment seemed to have been cured. His heart leaped with joy. Could it be because his heart had been stirred? Even though the object of his affection was a man, his body had responded.
This was truly wonderful. Shangguan Yao’s cold demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by overwhelming ecstasy. The great hall was enveloped in warmth.
"Speak, what has happened?"
The Emperor's voice softened. One moment, killing intent permeated the air, almost swallowing everything; the next, it was as warm as the sun in March. Xiao Ting Zi, caught between this coldness and warmth, suffered immensely.
He wondered why the Emperor was so capricious, but there was no time for deep thought now. He quickly and cautiously replied.
"Your Majesty, the imperial physicians have reported that Concubine Zhaorong of Zhongde Palace has miscarried."
"What?"
Shangguan Yao suddenly stood up, his imperial yellow robes rippling slightly, glinting with golden light.
Although he did not favor the child in Concubine Zhao's womb, it was, after all, his first child. To think it had not been saved.
Shangguan Yao was extremely angry, but he managed to remain calm, for his own body was functional, and there would be future descendants.
"Prepare the imperial carriage to Zhongde Palace immediately."
Shangguan Yao quickly got up and strode towards the exit. Xiao Ting Zi waved his hand, signaling the few people at the hall entrance to follow the imperial yellow figure.
In his haste, Shangguan Yao did not wait for the eunuchs to prepare the soft sedan. As soon as he stepped out of the hall, he leaped into the air and, treading upon the moonlight, headed straight for Zhongde Palace.
Xiao Ting Zi and several eunuchs, holding lanterns, followed behind.
Zhongde Palace was utterly silent. The lights inside and out illuminated the great hall as if it were daytime. Faint, mournful cries could be heard from the inner chambers, cries of extreme sorrow and pain.
These cries belonged to none other than Concubine Zhao of Zhongde Palace. Looking at the bloody, partially formed fetus that had been miscarried, she wailed as if she were dying. The maids attending her cried and comforted her.
"Your Ladyship, your body has not yet recovered. Please refrain from crying. You will have other children."
Zhao Zhaorong paid no heed to her maid's comfort. With each glance at the bloody mass, she cried out. The imperial physician could not bear it and quickly instructed a eunuch to take it away, lest the concubine see it.
The young eunuch obeyed and carried the dead fetus out. However, the concubine struggled fiercely to get down from the bed, causing the imperial physicians in the chamber to break out in a cold sweat. Two or three imperial physicians quickly moved to restrain her.