Volume One: The Red Dress 010 Night Appointment

  "How bitter!" The thick, dark black medicine was poured down in one breath, the sour and bitter taste made people want to vomit. Yun Yi frowned and stretched out her hand, "Water!"

  The first thing handed over was a piece of candy - a lollipop?

  "Hua Yang, you still carry candies with you?" She raised an eyebrow in surprise, and saw Hua Yang nodding, neatly tearing open the oily paper wrapping to reveal a yellowish candy, which he handed over to her.

  Elliptical candy, supported by a thin wooden stick, looks like a lollipop. Yun Yi tried to lick it and found it sweet with a hint of peppermint coolness, the taste was not bad. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hua Shuang carefully putting an old-fashioned purse into her bosom, which seemed to be stuffed with a lot of candy.

  She also keenly discovered that the old handbag seemed to have an embroidered knife? Forgive her for not being able to judge what it was, but the needlework was really clumsy... A handbag that seemed to be hiding JQ, hmm, worth thinking deeply about.

  "It's not good to eat sweets after taking medicine, let's just drink water instead." The jade-like hand took away the candy and handed her a small cup.

  Upon hearing this, Hua Shang immediately looked up and glanced at Yuan Fengxi, seeing that he had casually placed the candy on a nearby table. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

  Yun Yi didn't mind, holding a lighter-than-usual cup, slightly trembling as she took a sip of water, still feeling quite happy. Being able to recover to this state in three or four days is great. It proves that Yu Wei Xiao put her heart into it, drinking several large bowls of bitter medicine every day, not in vain.

  "The weather is nice today, shall I take you for a stroll in the city?" Yuan Feng's gentle voice asked as he brought over hot water, wetted a towel, wrung it out and skillfully wiped her face and hands. His movements were warm and gentle, as if treating her like a precious treasure, his affectionate gaze never leaving hers.

  "Hmm." Yun Yi responded vaguely, this kind of intimate and meticulous care, although not the first time experiencing it, still couldn't get used to it. She simply turned her head to stare at a newly transplanted osmanthus tree.

  Heart's desire, if there were no other considerations, he would probably have to serve him even in bathing and washing his hands.

  "Breathing softly, you're going to... spoil me..." She sighed, seemingly true and false at the same time, earning a firm and loving response from him, "I like it, being with you."

  She opened her eyes, unexpectedly meeting his deep and mysterious gaze, but saw that inside was a clear and transparent reflection of her own beautiful face, her heart suddenly skipped a beat, her line of sight as if stuck, unable to move her eyes for a moment.

  "Report to the young master, the Right Minister requests an audience." Hong Bi's voice was like a clear bell, and the misty atmosphere instantly dispersed. Yun Yi cleared his throat uncomfortably and said, "Let him in!"

  Yu Fengxi indeed was a dangerous person. With her cold demeanor and guarded heart, she still fell under his spell unintentionally.

  Along with Ji Yunzhen, there was also Tianxing, the young servant of Yu Weixiao. The little guy still held a grudge from last time, so he glared at Yunyi with an expression that said "eyes aren't eyes and nose isn't nose". "Young Master ordered me to bring this medicine." He said, exerting force as he slapped several large paper packages of medicine onto the table. "This is a ten-day supply of medicine, including instructions on usage and dosage. Young Master said that once you finish taking these, you'll be fine, and any remaining recovery will have to come from your own efforts!"

  Having said that, he walked away without even turning his head back.

  "Tian Xing is straightforward and quick-witted, but has no ill intentions. I hope the Left Minister will understand." Ji Yunzhen smiled and bowed slightly, while Yun Yi glanced at her sideways with a hint of a smile, saying: "That's just a servant boy of the idle young master, what does it have to do with whether or not the Right Minister understands? Unless... can the Right Minister represent the idle young master?"

  "Yuan Zhen didn't mean it that way." Ji Yuanzhen knew that Yuanyun's temperament was like this, and if she said more, she would only humiliate herself. She simply clarified her intention, "I came here for two reasons: one is to visit the lord's injury, and the other is to inform the lord that General Qiu has already arranged his troops and will set out for the capital tomorrow. I hope the lord will make early preparations."

  It turned out that they were urging her to set off. Was Autumn Di afraid? She actually let Ji Yunzhen be the messenger. However, it would be best if her injury could rest for a few more days.

  "Not busy, the scenery here has not been fully appreciated yet. Just as Feng Xi was about to take me out for a walk, I will naturally follow General Qiu back to Beijing after I've had enough of the sights!"

  "This..." Ji Yunzhen's face showed a hint of difficulty, and she subconsciously looked up at Yuan Fengxi, her eyes revealing a hint of implication.

  With a faint smile, he glanced at her briefly and turned away, saying: "What you said is true. After several days of rain, it's rare to have good weather, so we should make the most of this fine autumn day."

  "Very well, I bid you farewell." Ji Yunzhen lowered her head, covering up the cold smile at the bottom of her eyes.

  "The wind is calm, I'll send off Right Prime Minister for you." Yun Yi slightly closed her eyes and said lazily.

  Upon hearing this, Ji Yunzhen's heart sank, wondering if Yuan Yuyi had sensed something. Yuan's breathing was steady and his expression calm as he said, "Right Minister, please..."

  Yun Yi raised her eyes, but saw the lush green jade hairpin in the garden. The white clothes and blue shirt complemented each other perfectly. From behind, they were also a perfect match, and she couldn't help but curl up the corner of her mouth coldly.

  "Hua Xie?" There was no response. When he looked up, the gray figure that had been silently mourning was already gone.

  Out of the courtyard gate, Yuan Fengxiu nodded slightly and said, "Slow down, Right Chancellor."

  Ji Yunzhen smiled and nodded, lightly batting her eyelashes, and as they brushed shoulders, she quickly said in a low voice: "Tonight, at the Ronghe River's Like-a-Painting Boat, if you don't come, it will be considered that we have parted ways."

  His expression unchanged, he gazed at her receding back, his eyes sunken and unfathomable. Standing still for a moment, he reached out to pluck a yellowed leaf from the tree, flicking it into the corner with a casual hand: "Come out."

  A grey figure emerged silently, with a yellow leaf in its mouth. It stared at him coldly for a while, then turned its head and spat out the leaf, before turning around and walking away quietly.

  Returning to the courtyard, only to see Yun Yi leaning back in her wheelchair with her eyes closed, under the soft light, her long hair as black as ink cascaded down the back of the chair, her face as beautiful as a peach blossom slightly raised, her slender eyebrows, upturned eyes, trembling eyelashes, and slightly parted red lips, all combining to create an enchanting and unparalleled beauty.

  Hua Sang gazed quietly, like a bamboo shadow, motionless. Until Yun Yi spoke up, "Hua Sang?"

  "Prince." He took a step forward, his ash-gray bangs slightly quivering, hiding the surging emotions in his gray eyes.

  "Tonight——" She looked at him, her red lips slowly unfolding a sly and charming smile, "Isn't it time to do what a personal bodyguard should be doing, huh?"

  Hua's body suddenly tensed up...

  Night, as promised. The moonlight is hazy, and people are gathering by the river.

  The river winds its way around the inner city of Suzhou, with a width of no more than ten feet. Although it can't compare to the prosperity of Kyoto, both banks are lined with flower-decked pavilions and the river is filled with painted pleasure boats as numerous as clouds.

  The river's water sparkles, reflecting the dazzling lights, the shore and the river's surface are fragrant with powder and perfume, the sound of silk and bamboo surrounds the ears. The elegant painted boat is among many other boats, but it doesn't stand out, at the bow of the boat two or three singing girls play the pipa and sing a gentle melody.

  In the boat, a person sits alone by the window, wearing white clothes as white as snow, with a face as black as ink and as smooth as jade, looking like a beautiful painting. The colorful lanterns and beautiful shadows outside the window all serve as a foil.

  When Ji Yunzhen walked in, she saw such a scene and couldn't help but pause for a moment. She then laughed at herself. It wasn't the first time, yet she was still bewildered by this leather bag, truly getting more and more muddled with age.

  He immediately sat down at the table and said straightforwardly, "I want that prescription." Whether it's for poisoning or detoxification, both require blood as a guide to restrain the enemy, which is the best.

  "What other conditions are there? Let's hear them all at once." Yu Fengxi turned back, a smile on his face, as gentle as water, with a hint of coolness. His dark eyes were deep and profound, like an abyss. Ji Yunzhen met his gaze unintentionally, and suddenly felt her heart racing and her flesh trembling.

  Taking a deep breath and suppressing the inexplicable feeling in her heart, she asked softly: "How's the investigation into the treasure going? Does she really have the treasure map?"

  Digression

  Thank you for the fresh flowers from Shallow Shirt Fog Clothes and the evaluation votes from Little Korean Fish. ╭(╯3╰)╮

  Said little fish dear, seeing you makes me very happy, just that, since you've come, why not make a splash...