Chapter 45: Warmth of an angel’s wings (1/2)

Fortune?

Princess Changping looked over, about to speak when the empress cut her off. “Isn’t that so? We’ll have to give thanks to Grand Imperial Concubine’s item for that. Chenqie will definitely tell the empress dowager so she can prepare a generous gift in gratitude.”

The empress didn’t dare to have the empress dowager find out about this. Yet she knew that Grand Concubine Yi wouldn’t leave unless she said these words. She really had enough of this! When Changping recovered, she didn’t want to see Grand Concubine Yi or Han Yunxi again!

Grand Concubine Yi was flushed with success as her face lit up with pleasure. “There’s no need to be so courteous. Yunxi was given to our house by the empress dowager!”

Han Yunxi noted some details and instructions before returning home with the grand imperial concubine. Seeing mother and daughter holding hands as they left, the empress was angry enough to stomp her feet. Suddenly, she turned to storm into the rooms. Princess Changping was still immersed in her own happy world. How did she know how many petty annoyances her mother had endured to save her?

“Changping, you better do things more carefully for me in the future. This time it wasn’t just me, but your imperial grandmother that lost face!”

“Did you see Grand Concubine Yi’s smug expression?!”

……

Seeing the empress so huffy, Changping finally had someone to take the mirror away. “Muhou, you can’t blame me for this. Isn’t it all Han Yunxi’s fault? If it wasn’t for her, I never would had to go to a dirty place like the prisons! Of course she should save me, but don’t think I’ll repay her for it!”

“You’re still talking. Can’t you do things without worrying your muhou for once?!” the empress roared.

Princess Changping fell into a fright. Her mother had never yelled at her like this before!

“I…I…” Changping changed her train of thought. “Muhou, there’s no telling if she was the one who poisoned me! I’ve long suspected that she poisoned Qingwu gege too. Otherwise, how could a useless trash like her suddenly get so skilled? If it’s her own poison, of course she’ll know how to treat it!”

These words put the empress on guard. For a useless trash like Han Yunxi to suddenly become a genius really was strange.

“Muhou, how’s this? We’ll test her one more time?” Princess Changping hurriedly suggested. The empress’s cold gaze turned thoughtful as she calculated. Han Yunxi was still one of the Han Family’s people even after getting married. She was Divine Doctor Han’s daughter, so perhaps she could discuss a countermove with the empress dowager…

—

Grand Concubine Yi let go of Han Yunxi’s hands as soon as they left the palace. Han Yunxi expected this. She knew that being the daughter of the empress dowager’s lifesaver naturally made her Grand Concubine Yi’s enemy, and didn’t demand the grand imperial concubine treat her like family. She just wanted less troubles for herself.

After getting into the carriage, Grand Concubine Yi’s first question was, “Where did you learn your medical skills from?”

She answered her the same way she answered Long Feiye, deciding that this would be how she always explained in the future. It was likely that both this woman and her son had looked into her beforehand. They couldn’t find her weak points within the Han household, so they shouldn’t expect to discover any clues with her, either. As soon as she mentioned Lady Tianxin, Grand Concubine Yi’s face turned much darker. She didn’t ask any more about her or her time in the prisons.

Murong Wanru was waiting at the gates, her usual docile expression overcast with gloom. Her heart had been stuck in her throat for half the day. The ten-seasons cicada slough was her long expected dowry, but it’d actually disappeared for the sake of Han Yunxi’s medicine! In the past, she could smile even in the face of people she despised, but this was becoming almost impossible with Han Yunxi. Seeing her approach with Grand Concubine Yi in the distance, Murong Wanru had to continuously take deep breaths for a long time until she calmed down.

She took sudden strides forward, her face filled with deep concern. “Sister-in-law, how is it? The empress and princess didn’t make things difficult for you, did they?”

Han Yunxi’s lips curved into a cold smile. “Mufei went as well, so how would they dare? That wouldn’t be giving face to mufei.”

Looking at her grieved face, Han Yunxi couldn’t help but almost feel that she really had bullied this foster sister. Grand Concubine Yi curled her lips in contempt, looking a bit impatient. “Han Yunxi, it’s good that you know to consider my pride. From now on, go to the accounting house at the start of every month for your stipend. A wangfei should look like a wangfei, see how shabby you are.”

When she finished, she examined her from head to toe before turning to leave. Murong Wanru was stunned into stillness. Mufei was going to give Han Yunxi a stipend? With that, she’d be more free than before. How was she supposed to make things difficult for her in the future? Murong Wanru was highly discontent. She lost her meek expression for a serious one.

“Little sister, I heard that the ten-seasons cicada slough was your dowry? That can’t be true, right?” Han Yunxi asked her on purpose.

“You!” Murong Wanru was hoarse with anger. Immediately, tears prickled at her eyes as she gave a cold scoff and ran off.

Seeing this, Han Yunxi laughed out loud. Murong Wanru, oh Murong Wanru, sooner or later I’ll reveal your true self!

After settling things with her, Han Yunxi remembered all the precious ingredients she’d brought back from the palace and felt even better. She bounced the whole way back to the Hibiscus Courtyard, but who knew that the first thing she’d see there was that giant iceberg, Long Feiye?

When did he come back?

This shadowy, mysterious man only came back when there was business. Last time he’d come for that antidote, though she didn’t know for whom. And how did he get poisoned himself in the first place? From what Han Yunxi understood, Long Feiye’s martial arts skills were formidable, so anyone who could hurt him couldn’t be a weakling. Unconsciously, she stopped to look at him from a distance, where he was sitting amongst the shrubbery to partake in tea.

Those hard, cold lines of his profile combined with sharply chiseled features to suggest an elegant and imposing monarch even when he was just sitting there casually! One man with his tea became his own world where no one could intrude. Han Yunxi felt herself turning dazed again until those icy eyes looked over, making her recover her senses. With Long Feiye staring at her, Han Yunxi revealed a friendly smile. “So you came back?”

She instantly regretted speaking. So what if he did? What did it have to do with her? Her smile grew stiff as she turned to leave.

“Come here!” Long Feiye commanded sternly.

Han Yunxi ignored him and kept walking.

“Your lordship has been waiting for you for a long time,” Long Feiye’s tone grew hard.

Waiting for her? Was it to treat poisons again?

All right, Han Yunxi admitted that she was a little curious–and a bit fearful of his mood. She made her way back until she was sitting before him. He opened his mouth and asked, “Did you resolve the matter with Princess Changping?”

Ehh….? He knew?