As long as Han Yunxi died, the position of the Duke of Qin's official consort would remain empty. Once Murong Wanru became a secondary consort, she could enjoy all the privileges of an official consort and forget the nightmare of being a servant girl.
At last, they reached the door to the woodshed. Murong Wanru, who was always calm, couldn't wait any longer. As soon as the guard unlocked the door, she pushed her way in, full of anticipation.
Inside the woodshed, there was an icy blue figure lying paralyzed in a pile of straw. She was so small and frail that she looked like she'd be blown away by the wind.
"Heheh, I knew she'd fainted," Grand Concubine Yi gave a cold snort. "Someone come, wake her up."
The guard immediately brought over a bucket of water. Murong Wanru knew what was going on and suppressed her excitement. "Mufei, the water's so cold. It's better if I go wake sister-in-law up."
Grand Concubine Yi looked at her helplessly. "You're the only one with a soft heart!"
Murong Wanru rejoiced and quickly walked over, putting on an act as she pushed Han Yunxi. "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, wake up. Sister-in-law, mufei's here … sister-in-law. Sister-in-law, admit your wrongs to mufei properly. Mufei will forgive you. "
As she pushed, she used the back of her hand to block the view of the people behind her. Her other hand couldn't help but tremble from excitement and fear. Still, she reached under Han Yunxi's nose to check her breathing.
As her hand drew closer, Murong Wanru's heart shrank. She'd even thought of how to shout and say Han Yunxi was dead.
But!
Before Murong Wanru's hand could touch Han Yunxi's nose, Han Yunxi's eyes flew open and she stared at her guardedly. "I'm not dead yet. What are you doing?"
Although she was already very weak, Han Yunxi hadn't lost consciousness. Her innate vigilance made her as vigilant as a hedgehog. Her phoenix eyes were as sharp as knives as she glared fiercely at Murong Wanru.
Murong Wanru gave a start before she gave a frightened shriek and fell to the ground.
"Wanru! What's wrong? "Grand Concubine Yi cried out in alarm. Two guards immediately stepped forward to detain Han Yunxi.
Grand Concubine Yi propped Murong Wanru up as she looked disdainfully at Han Yunxi. "What did you do to Wanru?"
"I haven't eaten for a few days … Mother, what else do you think I can do to her?" Han Yunxi asked sarcastically.
Grand Concubine Yi was at a loss for words. Her embarrassment turned to anger as she kicked over the spoiled rice on the side. "Even the dogs in the estate can eat it. What, you can't eat it?"
Was he saying that she was worse than a dog?
Han Yunxi struggled to prop herself up. "Mufei … how about this concubine make a bet with you?"
Grand Concubine Yi wasn't happy, but she was still curious. "What else could you want? Tell me."
Han Yunxi laboriously brought over a bowl of clear water from the side. "Mufei, I bet … I bet that even the dogs in the residence won't drink this bowl of water."
Murong Wanru grew alarmed at her words. "Sister-in-law, how could you make a bet like this with mufei? Mufei only brought up the dogs in a fit of anger. As a junior, you can't compete with your elders. "
So speaking, she immediately snatched Han Yunxi's bowl of water away and threw it in a huff.
Seeing this, Han Yunxi laughed coldly in her heart. She was so weak that it was hard for her to even speak, much less argue with Murong Wanru. She only wanted to confirm her own guesses. Murong Wanru was so nervous that it was without a doubt that she was the one who poisoned her!
Han Yunxi looked at her, her pale lips drawing up in a mocking smile. Murong Wanru felt like she'd been electrocuted as she hastily avoided her gaze.
She took Grand Concubine Yi's hand. "Mufei, don't be angry. Give sister-in-law a bit more time, she'll definitely know her wrongs."
Han Yunxi smiled coldly. Murong Wanru was afraid she'd admit her wrongs, wasn't she? She was afraid her relationship with Grand Concubine Yi would improve?
Murong Wanru acted like a peacemaker as she tugged at Grand Concubine Yi to leave. Compared to the submissive Murong Wanru who tried to curry favor with Grand Concubine Yi, Han Yunxi had a bargaining chip that none of the women of this era had. Cold as she looked at Murong Wanru, her lips curled up in a mocking smile.
Right at this moment, Mother Gui suddenly rushed in from outside in a fluster, "Imperial Concubine Dowager! Esteemed Imperial Concubine, it's bad! Bad news! "
"What's the rush?" Grand Concubine Yi asked unhappily.
"Esteemed Imperial Concubine, Princess Changping has come!" Gui mama replied urgently.
At these words, Han Yunxi's smile deepened, making Murong Wanru fearful for no reason.
"Princess Changping?" Grand Concubine Yi was astonished. This princess had been spoiled rotten by the empress dowager and empress, but she'd never come to the Duke of Qin's estate. What was she doing here?
One wouldn't visit a temple without a cause. It'd been a long time since she'd had a face-off with the empress dowager's people. Grand Concubine Yi immediately became spirited as she threw Han Yunxi to the back of her mind.
"If she's come, then she's come. What are you panicking for? Even if the empress dowager comes, it's the same! Have her wait, I don't have time to see her. " She elegantly waved her hand. "I'll go soak in a hot bath first, then sleep. Aye, the hot springs at the estate are still the most comfortable."
Seeing this, Gui mama grew distressed. She didn't dare speak, but she had to. "Esteemed Imperial Concubine … Princess Changping said … she said she wanted to see Qin Wangfei!"
What?
At these words, everyone present was stunned. So she'd come to find Han Yunxi. Murong Wanru was greatly alarmed as she fearfully looked towards Han Yunxi.
The self-righteous Grand Concubine Yi's face grew hot as she flew into a rage out of humiliation. She kicked Gui mama. "Useless thing, you don't even know how to make a report! What does Princess Changping want to see her for? "
"Your servant doesn't know. Princess Changping's really anxious. If she doesn't see her tonight, she'll spend the night here," Gui mama replied hastily.
Only then did Grand Concubine Yi look towards Han Yunxi with a cold snort. "What does Changping want to see you for?"
Han Yunxi withdrew her sarcasm and feigned weakness as she shook her head. She didn't reply.
Grand Concubine Yi narrowed her eyes and stopped asking. Coldly, she instructed Gui mama, "Go tell her that Qin Wangfei isn't free. Have her wait."
The empress dowager actually dared to issue an arrest warrant for the Duke of Qin's men behind her back. How could she not seize the chance to show off her strength to Princess Changping?
Seeing the crowd leave in a hurry, Han Yunxi finally let down her guard. She collapsed weakly in the grass, her brows knitted together in pain. She felt like her stomach was about to burst from hunger.
Still, she encouraged herself from the bottom of her heart. Han Yunxi, you have to hold on. Bear with it a little longer, it'll be all right soon.
… …
Princess Changping couldn't wait any longer. She made a ruckus in the guest hall, but Grand Concubine Yi ignored her.
"What a Han Yunxi. Hmph, this princess will go find imperial mother. Let's see if you'll see me!" Princess Changping tossed out these words before storming off.
Grand Concubine Yi was puzzled. "Wanru, why do you think Princess Changping came?"
"I find it strange too. She shouldn't be holding a grudge over the young general's matter, right?" Murong Wanru guessed.
"She dares! I haven't even settled accounts with her yet, but she still has the face to come? "Grand Concubine Yi immediately lost her temper.
No matter why Princess Changping came to find Han Yunxi, Murong Wanru wouldn't give Han Yunxi a chance to leave the woodshed. She had to strike first to gain the upper hand.
That night, she'd arranged for assassins. But who would've thought that in the dead of night, Princess Changping would come again. Moreover, she'd really brought the empress with her.
After all, the empress was different from Princess Changping. She was the mother of a nation and the official wife of the emperor. Grand Concubine Yi was still polite on the surface.
"Aiya, what kind of wind blew you mother and son to my place tonight?" Grand Concubine Yi entered the guest hall with a pleasant expression and called over a servant girl to bring out good tea.
The empress's status was higher than the grand concubine's, but out of filial piety, she still had to pay respects to Grand Concubine Yi. Of course, Grand Concubine Yi bowed in return.
Princess Changping was already sulking as she stood unmoving on one side.
Only then did Grand Concubine Yi notice Princess Changping's abnormality. She was wearing a white muslin bamboo hat that not only covered her face, but her entire head.
"Changping, this is …" Grand Concubine Yi grew curious.
Princess Changping grew agitated at her question. "I'm fine!"
"Changping, don't be rude," the empress lectured unhappily, but her heart was filled with helplessness.
Princess Changping didn't know what sort of filth she'd gotten into that night in the prisons, but after a day or two of itching on her feet and face, she couldn't scratch them. Who knew that she'd end up with ringworm?
At first, it was only on her feet, but by the second day it had grown on her face in large patches. It looked very much like psoriasis, but all the imperial physicians said it wasn't.
They could only confirm that it wasn't psoriasis, but no one could make a diagnosis. Some suspected it was poison, but none of the poison doctors had any results.
Because of Mu Qingwu's incident, Princess Changping bore a grudge against Imperial Physician Gu and didn't seek him out. But since the day before yesterday, the ringworm on her feet had started to itch. Princess Changping couldn't take it anymore and scratched with all her might, tearing the skin with each scratch. The imperial physicians were scared out of their wits and said it'd definitely leave a scar.
Princess Changping grew anxious and could only set aside her grudges to find Imperial Physician Gu. He said it was probably poison that he couldn't treat, so he suggested she seek out Han Yunxi instead.
Princess Changping flipped out on the spot and said it was impossible.
But since yesterday, the ringworm on her face had started to itch as well. It'd leave a scar if she scratched it. Once it flared up, Princess Changping rolled on the ground in discomfort, not daring to scratch it.
She didn't want to be disfigured!
Although she didn't want to accept it and didn't trust Han Yunxi's medical skills, she was already at the end of her rope. She couldn't give up on her last ray of hope, so she could only sullenly seek out Han Yunxi.
Grand Concubine Yi's lips rose to a mocking smile. "This girl's personality is just like that. I'm used to it."
The empress was the one asking for help, so she didn't dare retort. She smiled and said, "Grand Concubine Yi, is Qin Wangfei not at home? Changping said she came looking for her last night, but didn't see her. "
Grand Concubine Yi didn't answer, but asked, "Do you have business with Yunxi?"
The empress was about to speak when Princess Changping stopped her. She didn't want Grand Concubine Yi to know her face was ruined. The more people who knew, the more people would laugh at her! If Grand Concubine Yi laughed at her on the spot, she'd lose even more face.
"I just have business with her. Grand Concubine Yi, hurry and have her come out. I have important business to take her to the palace," Princess Changping said willfully.
Grand Concubine Yi exhaled slightly and didn't ask any more questions. She said mildly, "So it's like that. But Yunxi and the Duke of Qin went out on a tour."
"What? Then where did they go? "Princess Changping was alarmed as she took a few steps forward, agitated.
"Aiya, Changping, you know your Imperial Uncle Qin's temper. He never reports to his mother where he goes," Grand Concubine Yi said helplessly.
Princess Changping's heart burned with impatience. "Then … then they …"
At this moment, the empress suddenly grabbed Princess Changping's hand. She was the empress after all, so she knew Grand Concubine Yi was making things difficult even before she arrived.
Princess Changping was about to speak when the empress tightened her grip and scolded her. "Changping, how many times have I taught you not to be so impetuous and impudent? Your business is important and urgent, but Qin Wangfei isn't here. Aren't you making things difficult for Grand Concubine Yi? "
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