The night's fine rain had washed the sky clean, leaving it a clear, limpid blue like a sea. The sunset glow filtered through the clouds, casting a warm radiance upon the land.
On the riverbank, willows were lush and verdant, the grass dewy and fragrant, with purple flowers blooming profusely. People occasionally walked by, and everything appeared so peaceful, showing no trace of last night's chaos. Even the scattered bloodstains had been thoroughly washed away by the rain.
Within a tent, a soft, gentle voice was heard.
"Young Master, why do you think I slept so soundly last night?"
Upon waking early, Wanwan had gone for a walk by the river and discovered the water within it held a faint crimson hue, appearing exceptionally mysterious. Hearing people passing by discuss the events of the night, she learned that something significant had occurred. She, a mere servant, not only failed to protect her master but had slept as if dead.
Thus, after her walk, as she returned to the tent and waited for her Young Master to awaken, she could not help but reflect on herself self-reproachingly. Yun Xiaoxiao watched her, not revealing that she had been acupoint-sealed.
"It's in the past now, why dwell on it?"
Yun Xiao got up, checked her chest binding, then her collar. Finally, she let Wanwan arrange her, and after a quick wash, she emerged. The morning sunbeams were truly warm. Tilting her head back, she felt the light shine upon her face, her eyes slightly narrowed, her long eyelashes fluttering charmingly. The corners of her lips curved upwards as she took deep breaths, then suddenly opened her eyes, a cute smile gracing her face.
"The sunlight is so warm."
With that, she retracted her hand, turned, and led Wanwan towards her father's tent. Little did she know, a dark gaze was fixed upon her from behind. The gaze slowly shifted, furrowing brows; that uncomfortable feeling resurfaced.
Could he truly be a pederast? The thought made her chest tighten abruptly. However, soon a subordinate rushed over and respectfully asked,
"Your Highness, fifty thousand troops are approaching. Vice Commander Feng has sent someone to inquire if they should enter the city directly or take a detour?"
Shangguan Lin's brows furrowed even tighter. The coldness surrounding him was palpable, his temper particularly fiery. "Enter the city. There is no plague, what is there to fear? Also, instruct them not to eat or drink for a period; the residual poison has not been cleared, and we must prevent infection."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the man retreated.
Shangguan Lin turned his head back to look, but the youth was nowhere to be seen.
Just moments ago, he had unintentionally seen him tilt his head back and take a deep breath. For some reason, seeing him like that had caused his heart to constrict, as if something had changed. But upon careful reflection, he couldn't pinpoint anything. He didn't understand what was happening to him.
Shangguan Lin's expression was somewhat grim. Mu Li and Qiao Chu dared not say anything more, speaking softly behind him.
"Your Highness, aren't you going to see Prince Yun?"
"Mm," Shangguan Lin snapped back to reality, cursing himself. He had lost his mind. There were still important matters to resolve; what was he thinking about? He strode towards Yun Mo's tent.
Distant voices could be heard. They were coming from Prince Yun's tent, discussing matters related to the plague. Shangguan Lin couldn't help but quicken his pace. As he reached the tent entrance, Generals Mu Qing and Mu Bai respectfully greeted him,
"Greetings, Your Highness."
The voices inside ceased abruptly. As if hearing the sounds outside, everyone stopped and turned their gaze towards the entrance.
When Shangguan Lin appeared, Yun Zhen and Yun Xiao stood up. Besides them, there were several deputy generals, seemingly Yun Mo's confidants, all standing. Shangguan Lin first glanced at Yun Mo, whose complexion had improved considerably, no longer as pale as yesterday. Then he looked towards Yun Zhen and Feng Guan.
Upon seeing Feng Guan, that familiar feeling surged within Shangguan Lin. *I am a pederast, I am a pederast.* His mind buzzed. However, everyone was waiting for him. With a dark gaze, he waved his hand.
"Everyone, please be seated."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Everyone sat down. Someone else brought a chair and placed it in the center. Shangguan Lin made no ceremony, promptly sitting down, and then looked at Yun Mo, asking with concern,
"Prince Yun, are you alright now?"
"Mm, I thought I was destined for the Yellow Springs, but unexpectedly, I've made a journey and returned."
Yun Mo sighed, his gaze shifting to Xiao'er on the side. He saw that Xiao'er's face was darkened, her eyebrows drawn thickly, and a crescent moon painted on her brow, making her appear like an entirely different person. Without careful observation, one would not dare to imagine. This was his Xiao'er. He still preferred Xiao'er dressed in women's clothing; she was adorable and spirited, and now that she was no longer foolish, she would surely be even more outstanding. Xiao'er was no less than any woman in this world. In the future, she would surely meet someone who cherished her, someone who would hold her in the palm of their hand like a treasure. Last night, he had woken up once, and Zhen'er, who was guarding him, had reported on the situation of the plague. He was truly astonished beyond measure. Xiao'er, the fact that she could curb the spread of this poison was due to her. He never expected Xiao'er to not only cease being foolish but to become a miracle doctor. This was truly hard for him to believe. It wasn't until Zhen'er continuously said that many things in the world were unpredictable and inexplicable by reason. He had thought about it all night and finally accepted this explanation. It must be the spirit of Yu'er in heaven protecting her daughter. Xiao'er not only ceased to be foolish but was also endowed with miraculous abilities. He never expected her to save him overnight, and in front of so many people. It seemed Heaven had not abandoned the Yun Mansion, nor the Eastern Qin.
Yun Xiao reached out and held her father's hand. She was truly worried her father would accidentally reveal her identity, but fortunately, he understood many things at a glance; how could he make such a rookie mistake?
"Although this poison has been controlled, the source has not yet been found. I fear others who consume it will still be poisoned."
Yun Xiao, who had remained silent, looked up and said with a smile.
"Actually, I already know." As her voice fell, everyone stared at her in unison, filled with surprise. Once the source of the poison was found, it would be manageable. The entire tent fell silent, only her slow, deliberate voice could be heard.
"Originally, I couldn't figure out where they would have put the poison. This morning, when I got up, my maid mentioned something, and I figured it out." Yun Xiao glanced at Wanwan as she spoke. It was indeed due to Wanwan's inadvertent remark that she had a realization.
"She said, 'Young Master, the water in the West River is so clear.' Although it had a faint red hue, at first glance, it was as clear as blue silk." Yun Xiao paused here, scanning the faces of everyone present. They were all focused, especially those who had spent time at Fengya Pass. They exchanged glances, and then suddenly realized with excitement,
"So, they poisoned the West River! The West River always had a high water level. As long as it was poisoned there, all the ancient wells in the entire city would be infiltrated. Therefore, anyone who used well water and hadn't drunk Ziluogen would all be poisoned. After being poisoned, they continued to drink that well water, so their condition worsened. It wasn't that the plague was that severe."
Yun Xiao smiled and nodded. "Actually, this poison is not very potent, but because it dissolves in water, it's convenient to administer. Being able to dissolve in such a wide range of water sources, this type of poison is currently rare."
"That means there is hope for a cure."