Feng Yexuan led Chu Qianli to a hidden spot deep within a valley.
Although Chu Qianli had no idea what lay inside, the area was clearly heavily guarded.
"Your... secret base?" she turned back to look at Feng Yexuan, who was seated behind her.
Feng Yexuan remained silent. He leaped off the horse and then strode towards the entrance.
His attitude... Fine, considering he was clearly in a bad mood today, and she had previously angered him to the point of spitting blood, she wouldn't argue with him.
Chu Qianli also dismounted and followed him.
As expected, as they approached, a slight rustling sound came from the surroundings.
Two figures instantly landed before them: "Your Highness!"
Feng Yexuan ignored them and continued forward.
Chu Qianli still followed behind him, and the guards did not stop her.
They walked deeper into the valley, passing through a small grove of trees.
Chu Qianli had expected it to be like other secluded paradises, where the view would suddenly open up.
However, the deeper they went, the less light there was. Stone walls appeared around them, as if they were passing through a crevice.
The crevice was narrow and long, only wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side. If someone were slightly taller, like the man in front, it would be very crowded for two to walk abreast.
As they walked, Chu Qianli began to feel something was amiss.
"Your Highness, wait a moment!" she quickened her pace, grabbed his hand, and said, "Be careful! There are medicine people!"
She smelled the scent of medicine people, a kind of decaying odor.
The deeper they went into the stone crevice, the more pronounced this scent became!
Was this another valley of medicine people ahead? But why were his people guarding it?
Chu Qianli looked up at Feng Yexuan.
Feng Yexuan's expression was blank, his deep gaze somewhat indistinct in the dark crevice.
However, at intervals, a luminous pearl was embedded in the stone crevice, providing some light to illuminate the surroundings.
Chu Qianli could clearly see Feng Yexuan's calm gaze, as if he had known about the medicine people all along.
Chu Qianli furrowed her brows and tightened her grip on his large hand.
Feng Yexuan simply said, "If you're afraid, go back."
Then, he resumed walking forward.
Chu Qianli's heart was complicated. Feng Yexuan was truly different today.
His attitude towards her was also somewhat subtle.
After much thought, she figured he was probably still angry, so she decided not to press the issue.
She quickly quickened her pace to catch up with him.
Finally, they emerged from the crevice, not to a suddenly open vista, but to a large cave.
Inside the cave, there were stone chambers, and in them were imprisoned medicine people!
Some medicine people were sleeping, while others were active. However, they all lacked the killing intent that Chu Qianli had encountered outside.
"What exactly is going on?"
Feng Yexuan did not answer, but soon, Chu Qianli saw someone who could answer her question: Liujin.
It turned out that Liujin's frequent absences from the prince's mansion were because he stayed here to research medicines.
"These medicine people are brought back by His Highness for us to test medicine on."
The phrase "test medicine" sounded extremely cruel, but what Liujin was testing on them was the antidote.
Feng Yexuan walked ahead, his back looking cold and distant.
Liujin glanced at Chu Qianli: "I'll take you to see the medicine storehouse, but..."
He couldn't help but look ahead a few more steps: "What's wrong with His Highness? Is he sulking? Did you make him angry again?"