Zhou Wanyou indulgently ruffled her hair. "Be careful when you're out, don't go with strange uncles, and always have servants with you."
Su Yunmo agreed to everything, acting as obedient as could be.
"You just know how to act cute to trick You'er," Su Qingtian grumbled from the side. The more he looked at his daughter, the more suspicious he became.
She was too smart, too cunning, not at all like his own flesh and blood.
"Madam, it's about time, we should be going," Su Qingtian said, displeased that the little ones were occupying too much of Zhou Wanyou's time.
He had booked a private room at Guangmeng Tower to watch a play today, wanting some time alone with her.
Zhou Wanyou cast him a coquettish glance, annoyed by his impatience.
But not wanting to spoil the mood on her birthday, she gave the children a few more instructions and sent them away.
The children scattered as soon as they were out the door.
Su Sizhuo had arranged to meet friends for calligraphy and painting. Su Siqi was always out and about, and no one knew what he was doing.
Rarely, Su Siyuan wasn't clinging to Su Yunmo. He had already made plans with Xie Hongfei to go bird hunting.
Su Yunmo took off her ornate dress, changed into casual clothes, and left the manor, heading straight for the Imperial Prince's mansion.
Before going, she made a special detour to the wild game market to buy some things.
Hearing that she had arrived, and knowing it was about her treatment, Ye Jingyu had her ushered in.
This was Su Yunmo's first time visiting the Imperial Prince's mansion.
The mansion had two gates. The main gate led to a smaller front gate, and beyond that was the main courtyard. The over two hundred square meter courtyard was planted with a few flowers and plants, not many, but very elegant.
There were four pavilions in the four corners. Directly opposite the arched gate was a grand hall – the Reception Hall. Two rows of rooms flanked it, with a central landscape feature.
A corridor behind the hall wound inwards, with water features, carp, and tiger-head spouts, grand and tasteful, exuding an air of luxury and nobility.
The residence was like the person.
Qianxue had already heard from the servants about her arrival and came out to greet her, leading her directly to where Ye Jingyu was.
Ye Jingyu was in his study. This part of the study was different from other areas, filled only with the scent of ink, devoid of any material wealth.
Su Yunmo didn't knock, pushing the door open directly.
Ye Jingyu, leaning against his desk, stopped writing. "No manners."
Su Yunmo walked in and placed the items on his desk. "Thank you for the compliment."
Ye Jingyu was immediately choked.
Qianxue stifled a laugh and closed the door for them.
Ye Jingyu glanced at the items on the desk, his brow furrowing slightly.
The object was in a black bag, and he couldn't tell what it was, but it seemed to be alive, as it was moving.
"You want to use this to treat me?" he asked, frowning, doubting Su Yunmo's sincerity.
Su Yunmo replied, "Not necessarily, it depends."
"It depends" likely meant depending on the pulse diagnosis, Ye Jingyu thought, so he extended his hand.
Su Yunmo climbed onto a chair and sat on the desk, pretending to take his pulse. One eye was open, the other closed, and the open eye was only a slit, watching him.
"We've known each other for some time now. We're not friends, but we're not enemies either. Since I'm treating you, shouldn't you offer some reciprocation?"
Ye Jingyu held a book in one hand, not looking at her. "What do you want?"
Su Yunmo immediately leaned closer, smiling sweetly. "That Thousand Love Gu..."
"No," Ye Jingyu interrupted her before she could finish.
He put down the book, his expression unyielding. "You said yourself you were treating me, I never said I would help you."
Su Yunmo puffed out her cheeks and glared. "Can't you be a little accommodating?"
Ye Jingyu ignored her, turned a page of the book, his silence speaking volumes.
"Stingy! Petty!" Su Yunmo glared at him resentfully, stopped taking his pulse, jumped off the ground, picked up the black cloth bag from the desk, and turned to leave.
A huffing voice drifted back from a distance: "No more pulse-taking, I'll use medicine!"
She asked Qianxue for the location of the kitchen, then kicked everyone out once inside. She then busied herself in there for a while.
When she emerged, she was carrying a porcelain bowl.
The lid was on, so what was inside was hidden, but the portion was considerable.
Qianxue saw her staggering and feared she would fall, so she took the bowl to help carry it into the study.
Entering the room, she placed the bowl on the desk. As soon as the lid was lifted, a greasy, mixed odor wafted out.
Ye Jingyu frowned sharply, instinctively wrinkling his nose and recoiling.
Inside the bowl was a crow, half-cooked. It was boiled in plain water, with a layer of something floating on top. Star anise and other spices had been added to the soup.
Not only Ye Jingyu, but even Qianxue couldn't help but cover her mouth and nose.
Su Yunmo stood opposite, arms crossed, a friendly smile on her lips. "This is a folk remedy. Drink it, and perhaps your anorexia will be cured."
Ye Jingyu took a deep breath and gritted out four words through his teeth: "I will not drink it!"
Swallowing something like this would make his stomach churn!
Su Yunmo feigned difficulty. "You said you would cooperate unconditionally. It seems Your Highness also goes back on his word. Some people truly have no integrity."
Ye Jingyu stiffened, took a deep breath, and sat back in his chair.
Qianxue hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and offered him a spoon.
Ye Jingyu didn't take it. He picked up the bowl, held his breath, and then gulped it down.
The moment he took the first sip, his stomach churned, and he almost dropped the bowl.
Su Yunmo's voice drifted over. "If you vomit it out, it will be ineffective. If it's ineffective, you'll have to drink it again."
Ye Jingyu's hair stood on end. He used his internal energy to suppress the bitter liquid rising in his throat.
The bowl of crow soup was finally finished.
Ye Jingyu covered his mouth, unable to speak.
Su Yunmo smiled and reached out a small black claw, pulling a leg from the crow and holding it in front of Ye Jingyu's face. "Here, eat this."
"Ugh!" he grunted, bloodshot gathering in his eyes. He finally couldn't help but push the table and run out.
Shortly after stepping out the door, a retching sound could be heard from the base of the wall outside.
Su Yunmo felt a sense of satisfaction.
She threw the crow leg back into the bowl, cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, and shouted, "Even if you vomit, you still have to eat the meat! The internal organs too, bloody and fresh."
"Ugh!" The retching sound intensified.
Su Yunmo smacked her lips and looked up, seeing Qianxue's complicated expression.
"Little Miss, isn't this a bit too much?" Qianxue was speaking up for her master.
Su Yunmo frowned. "Do you think I'm doing this deliberately to mess with him? Am I that kind of person?"
She sat up straight, wagging her finger, and earnestly imparted knowledge.
"The crow, also known as Piju, has the effects of dispelling wind and calming seizures, nourishing yin and stopping bleeding. Its gall can detoxify and improve vision. It is a medicinal ingredient."
It just didn't cure anorexia!
Qianxue didn't understand at first, but after hearing her explanation, she suddenly realized. "Little Miss, you really are very thoughtful of our master. Qianxue thanks you."
Su Yunmo raised her little claw. "We're family, no need to be polite."
Ye Jingyu vomited for over fifteen minutes. Not only his dinner, but even his bile came out.
When he finally stopped, his vision went black, his legs felt weak, and he couldn't walk steadily.
Qianxue stepped forward to support him. Seeing his pale, greenish face from vomiting, she felt a pang of sympathy. "Master, why must you suffer this indignity with Little Miss? You know she's toying with you."