055. Taking the antidote before killing

Le Qianxue snorted; with that, she was fully awake. She looked at Eunuch Chen and asked, "What happened? Why must I enter the palace so late at night?"

It struck her as odd, since she was hardly acquainted with the Emperor.

Eunuch Chen sighed helplessly. "Miss Le, this is the War Prince's order. I am merely following instructions."

"The War Prince?" Le Qianxue's expression darkened instantly.

She was even more displeased. "Why is it always him? Why call me over? It’s the middle of the night—can’t a person sleep?"

"It’s this way: the War Prince is unwell, so he asked Doctor Yuan and you to come to the palace," said Eunuch Chen, bowing so low he nearly knelt before Le Qianxue. Serving others was truly hard; all the masters’ tempers fell upon them.

Le Qianxue waved her hand, thinking to herself that this must be Zhan Lianjing’s idea. "All right, I understand."

The palace maid had finished combing her hair; Le Qianxue told her not to bother with any hair ornaments and simply took a plain hairpin to secure her hair.

She picked up her medicine box and started for the door. "Eunuch Chen, please show the way. Where is Yuan Tianci?"

"I have already sent someone to fetch Doctor Yuan. We’ll meet at the palace gates," said Eunuch Chen, hurrying ahead to lead Le Qianxue.

Yawning repeatedly, Le Qianxue finally reached the palace gates.

It was late in the night; ordinarily, the gates should never be opened. But tonight, for Zhan Lianjing’s sake, the gates had been unbarred time and again.

Yuan Tianci was still half-asleep, for he too had been dragged here against his will.

Eunuch Chen led them to the Imperial Prison, reminding them to take good care of Zhan Lianjing, lest anything go awry.

Le Qianxue asked, "Eunuch Chen, isn’t the War Prince still under accusation? How are we allowed in to treat him?"

Eunuch Chen sighed, almost in tears. "Ah, Miss Le—the Emperor has uncovered the truth. The War Prince is free to leave the prison, but he stubbornly refuses. You must persuade him. If the Emperor grows angry, none of us will fare well."

Le Qianxue’s mouth twitched; now she understood. So Zhan Lianjing had been cleared long ago, but insisted on staying here and dragging her and Yuan Tianci out in the middle of the night!

But Le Qianxue knew nothing was ever so simple; she never imagined these days would feel like hell.

When they reached the cell, Zhan Lianjing was already asleep. Yet, alert as ever, he woke the moment they entered.

He did not open his eyes, only said in a cool voice, "You’re here?"

Le Qianxue called out, unwillingly, "Your Highness."

Zhan Lianjing sensed her displeasure and continued, "All unnecessary people, leave us."

Eunuch Chen, hearing this, withdrew with the other servants, leaving only the three of them in the cell.

Zhan Lianjing remained motionless, his eyelids closed.

Le Qianxue was puzzled, so she pushed Yuan Tianci forward to speak.

After exchanging glances for a moment, Yuan Tianci asked, "Your Highness, where are you unwell? Let me take your pulse."

But Zhan Lianjing replied, "I am fine. Take my pulse tomorrow."

"What? If you’re fine, why call us here in the middle of the night? Look at my dark circles!" Le Qianxue snapped, furious at Zhan Lianjing’s antics.

Zhan Lianjing maintained his haughty demeanor. "Then rest. There is another cell next door—I had it specially prepared, with silk bedding."

Le Qianxue nearly lost her mind, almost cursing aloud.

She sniffed and said, "Your Highness, are you mocking us?"

Yuan Tianci, too, was helpless. Dealing with Zhan Lianjing was always trouble, and he had no idea what game the prince was playing.

Zhan Lianjing continued without opening his eyes, "I am not so idle. Rest. We’ll speak tomorrow."

Le Qianxue snorted, knowing they could not leave now. She exited Zhan Lianjing’s cell.

Yuan Tianci hurried after her. "Qianxue, what do we do now?"

"What else? We’re prisoners too!" Le Qianxue grumbled and stepped into the next cell.

Yuan Tianci blinked, feeling a bit wronged.

How good could the cell’s environment be? There was always a musty smell. Le Qianxue tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

She cursed Zhan Lianjing silently for the hundredth time. If not for Yin Susu, she would never have so much contact with him.

She had no idea what Zhan Lianjing would do next. She felt like a fool, always played by him.

Thinking these things, she eventually fell asleep. But at dawn, she heard someone calling her name.

Startled, Le Qianxue opened her eyes and rushed to the neighboring cell.

She found Zhan Lianjing awake, his brows furrowed. "Le Qianxue, come here."

Her taut nerves relaxed. She asked, "Your Highness, what’s wrong?"

"I have a cramp."

Le Qianxue nearly collapsed.

She had run over barefoot, and Zhan Lianjing noticed, his voice sharper. "Why aren’t you coming?"

Le Qianxue shrank back, then stepped closer.

Zhan Lianjing reached out and pulled her onto the stone bed.

The bed was covered with fine bedding; sitting on it was quite comfortable.

Her feet left the cold ground, and she felt much better.

"Why didn’t you wear shoes?" Zhan Lianjing’s voice held a hint of reproach.

"You called urgently—I was still half asleep," Le Qianxue pouted, sulky as if she were his servant, always at his beck and call.

Zhan Lianjing’s gaze lingered on her delicate feet.

Le Qianxue drew her feet back. "What are you looking at?"

In ancient times, men were forbidden to stare at women’s feet, and his look was a bit strange.

Zhan Lianjing glanced at her again. "That time at the cold pool—I saw nearly everything."

Le Qianxue blushed and gave him a glare.

But she was open-minded and snorted, "I wasn’t naked, so it’s nothing!"

Zhan Lianjing said, "True. You’ve never had a good reputation; such things mean little to you."

"Otherwise, should I brood and make myself unhappy? I won’t. It’s already happened."

She had lost nothing—just a kiss. Since he said nothing, she felt no need to demand responsibility.

Perhaps Zhan Lianjing had forgotten already.

He paused, wanting to speak, but Le Qianxue interjected, "Where’s the cramp? Let me massage it."

Zhan Lianjing said, "Left calf."

Le Qianxue shifted, kneading his calf with both hands.

Her touch was just right, and Zhan Lianjing felt much better.

His brows relaxed.

Le Qianxue remarked, "Your Highness rarely exercises, so cramps are inevitable. But once this dark month passes, you’ll feel much better."

There were ten days left this month; Zhan Lianjing would have to endure for a while yet.

He leaned back against the soft pillow, watching her hands with a calm gaze.

To prevent another cramp, Le Qianxue massaged his other leg as well.

Zhan Lianjing’s plight was not easy; the poison had left him like this.

Unable to restrain herself, Le Qianxue asked, "Your Highness, Master Tianzi says you’re afflicted with a bone-deep poison. How did you come to be poisoned so strangely?"

Zhan Lianjing frowned slightly. "Yuan Tianci truly has some skill, to recognize such a poison."

Le Qianxue flushed with embarrassment; actually, it was she who had discovered it.

Such poisons were difficult to detect by pulse—only a careful examination would reveal them.

But Zhan Lianjing seemed to understand his condition well. His composure was reassuring.

Unexpectedly, Zhan Lianjing said, "So this poison is called bone-deep..."

Le Qianxue nearly spat blood. "Doesn’t Your Highness know what poison you’ve contracted?"

"I don’t. It wasn’t I who administered it—how would I know?"

She pursed her lips. "Then how do you know you’ll be incapacitated this month?"

"After so long, one learns," he replied. "This poison has been in me for years. Would I be unaware?"

Le Qianxue was speechless—he had a point.

She nodded. "Very well. This poison is called bone-deep; it’s difficult to craft. The person must be a master of poisons."

Zhan Lianjing’s expression grew grim, a chill emanating from him. Just as Le Qianxue thought he was about to lose his temper, he spoke slowly. "That’s right. She is indeed a master of poisons."

Le Qianxue was intrigued. As a healer, she respected skilled poisoners; encountering a formidable opponent piqued her desire to compete.

She asked, "Who is she?"

"You think, after poisoning me, I would let her live?" Zhan Lianjing replied.

Le Qianxue sighed, "I had hoped to meet her. Perhaps she could help cure you."

"You will never see her again," Zhan Lianjing said. "If I do, I’ll kill her first."

As for the antidote, he cared little. His heart had suffered such trauma; even if he recovered physically, life would forever feel incomplete, as if something were missing.

"That won’t do. You must have the antidote," Le Qianxue insisted. "If you kill her, you’ll be like this for life, and die decades too soon. I won’t have it. Get the antidote—then kill her!"

Zhan Lianjing couldn’t help laughing. "I thought you’d be merciful, but you’re even more ruthless."