The woman was Bai Yuchan.
Last time, Bai Yuchan had been so frightened by Ye Lingyuan that she cried and hid in the courtyard for three days without coming out.
Yet, even so, her mind was filled with Ye Lingyuan's image. Su Dan Fiction Network
She lost her appetite and had no interest in cultivation.
On the evening of the fourth day, unable to contain her anger, she contacted her good friend Mo Qingcheng, ostensibly to complain and inform her about the wasted Tongxin San.
Naturally, she used a private communication method known only to the two of them.
A day later, Mo Qingcheng replied, arranging to meet at a ruined temple outside the city.
It turned out that Bai Yuchan was an unfavored concubine's daughter from the Bai family. For reasons unknown, she and Mo Qingcheng were as close as sisters.
Later, Mo Qingcheng went to the Flowing Cloud Sect to become a Saintess, while Bai Yuchan, by a twist of fate, entered the Medicine King Valley.
Due to her exceptional medical talent, second only to Situ Yunfeng, she was quickly noticed and taken as a disciple by Situ Jinglei.
Despite being in different sects, she and Mo Qingcheng never lost contact.
The Tongxin San she had put into the ginseng soup the night she was scared by Ye Lingyuan was sent to her by Mo Qingcheng through a special method while they hadn't met.
Therefore, upon receiving Mo Qingcheng's message, Bai Yuchan quickly left the city.
However, she did not meet Mo Qingcheng. Instead, at the agreed location, she received another dose of Tongxin San left by Mo Qingcheng.
This time, the amount of Tongxin San was three times that of the previous batch.
Simultaneously, Mo Qingcheng left a letter. Along with the letter was a brocade pouch.
The content of the letter was essentially to urge Bai Yuchan to ensure Ye Lingyuan took the Tongxin San, and Mo Qingcheng also instructed Bai Yuchan to open the brocade pouch only after her battle with Zi Linling at Nine Absolute Peak.
Bai Yuchan trusted Mo Qingcheng implicitly and followed her instructions obediently.
As Mo Qingcheng advised, she did not disturb Ye Lingyuan before the duel at Nine Absolute Peak, trying to minimize her presence and avoid attracting his attention.
Firstly, she had indeed angered Ye Lingyuan that night. Further entanglement would surely incur his displeasure, making it difficult to find another opportunity to administer the Tongxin San.
Secondly, Ye Lingyuan was highly perceptive. If her intentions were too obvious, it would make him suspicious and guarded.
Of course, there was a third reason, but Mo Qingcheng did not write it in the letter.
It was a contingency plan Mo Qingcheng had made for herself, which she naturally wouldn't share with Bai Yuchan.
It turned out that Mo Qingcheng befriended Bai Yuchan because she had been using her all along.
Initially, Mo Qingcheng used Bai Yuchan to indirectly gather intelligence on the Bai family.
Later, Mo Qingcheng wanted to use Bai Yuchan to gain favor with the Medicine King Valley.
And this time, Mo Qingcheng intended to use Bai Yuchan to administer Tongxin San to Ye Lingyuan.
This was because Mo Qingcheng had tampered with the Tongxin San.
Therefore, once Ye Lingyuan took the Tongxin San, the one he would be inseparable from would be Mo Qingcheng, and never Bai Yuchan.
As for the brocade pouch, it was merely one of Mo Qingcheng's backup plans.
Inside it was the medicinal catalyst to activate the Tongxin San.
This catalyst had also been tampered with by Mo Qingcheng.
Once Bai Yuchan opened the brocade pouch, the catalyst would automatically enter her body and be nurtured within her.
At the opportune moment, Mo Qingcheng would devise a way to retrieve the catalyst into her own body, substituting one for another.
Unfortunately, Mo Qingcheng's battle at Nine Absolute Peak was a complete defeat. She was forced to transform into a demon, then sealed away in a forbidden land.
Thus, all her intricate schemes and calculations benefited Bai Yuchan entirely.
After receiving the letter and the brocade pouch, Bai Yuchan was extremely obedient, following every instruction in Mo Qingcheng's letter step by step, fearful of any mistake that might sever her bond with Ye Lingyuan.
Thus, it was only after Mo Qingcheng's decisive battle with Zi Linling at Nine Absolute Peak that Bai Yuchan cautiously opened the brocade pouch.
Of course, inside the brocade pouch, Mo Qingcheng had left another letter.
This letter guided Bai Yuchan on how to approach Ye Lingyuan and how to administer the Tongxin San.
After opening the brocade pouch and obtaining Mo Qingcheng's "love strategy," Bai Yuchan began attempting to approach Ye Lingyuan according to Mo Qingcheng's methods.
However, after the incidents with Qingyu and Qingdian, Qingfeng and Qinglei had increased the number of hidden guards around the study and instructed them to block Bai Yuchan if she tried to enter the study to see the Prince, even using lies like the Prince not being in the manor if necessary.
Consequently, over the past month, Bai Yuchan had been turned away at the study door dozens of times, being told that Ye Lingyuan was not in the manor and no one was allowed near the study.
Even though Bai Yuchan didn't believe it, she was helpless.
Firstly, she truly dared not force her way into the heavily guarded study. Secondly, Mo Qingcheng's "love strategy" had cautioned her against being too hasty.
Therefore, after being repeatedly shut out, Bai Yuchan grew wiser.
She bribed a servant to inquire about Ye Lingyuan's whereabouts.
The servant dared not speak directly, only telling her that if she wished to see the Prince, she would have to wait until the Princess Consort visited.
Bai Yuchan then inquired about the Princess Consort from that servant, only to learn that the Princess Consort the servant spoke of was Mo Qingcheng's sworn enemy, her once close friend.
Although unwilling and feeling indignant on Mo Qingcheng's behalf, she was powerless, as in terms of spiritual cultivation, she was no match for Zi Linling.
Thus, she gave the servant some of her own refined pills, asking the servant to send her a message when Zi Linling visited.
The servant was hesitant at first but couldn't withstand the allure of Bai Yuchan's various pills!
While these pills were not as potent as elixirs, they were still products of the Medicine King Valley and highly sought after elsewhere.
Therefore, under Bai Yuchan's continuous bribery, the servant agreed to her request.
As the servant was on duty at the gatehouse, he was able to receive first-hand information promptly.
Thus, today, as soon as Zi Linling stepped through the gates of the Underworld Prince's manor, Bai Yuchan received the news, leading to the scene described earlier.
Seeing Zi Linling, Bai Yuchan offered a slight smile and said, "I presume this is Brother Yuan's future Princess Consort?"
Brother Yuan?
Hmph! Knowing she was Ye Lingyuan's future Princess Consort, yet daring to address Ye Lingyuan so intimately as Brother Yuan – wasn't this clearly an unwelcome visitor?
Ye Lingyuan, oh Ye Lingyuan, you've attracted another admirer!
Zi Linling retracted her foot, furrowed her brows, and said with a half-smile, "Oh? May I ask who this 'Miss' is?"
The word 'Miss' was spoken with a sarcastic tone, making it very unpleasant to hear.
Bai Yuchan's brow twitched almost imperceptibly, and she said with elegant composure, "Miss is too much. Just call me Yuchan!"