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

“Your highness really gets news fast,” Han Yunxi replied.

Long Feiye didn’t look into it any further, but said, “Rest early. Tomorrow morning, come out with me.”

Where did this guy want to take her?

“To do what?” Han Yunxi was curious. If it was a banquet at a friend’s place, she wouldn’t make a big fuss.

“Treat poison,” Long Feiye’s said simply.

This again. Han Yunxi really wanted to tell him, Instead of being your wangfei, why don’t I be your poison specialist instead? Faced with such a proposition, her manner remained professional. “What kind of poison?”

“You’ll know when you get there.”

Han Yunxi nodded. “I want to charge consultation fees.”

Long Feiye’s face turned disdainful. He didn’t even bother to answer but nodded his head before turning to walk away. Only two steps later, he said, “I’ll find you tomorrow at Yin hour.”

Han Yunxi was about to nod back when she suddenly stopped. Wait a minute!

Yin hour?

Yin hour was the period of time between three and five AM in the morning. Maybe the ancients considered it morning, but to her it was still late night! Waking up early on a winter morning was more painful than anything else, much less going out. Han Yunxi’s face had turned white by the time she caught up to him. “If we’re going, let’s go tonight! Or at least until after the sun rises tomorrow! I can’t go if it’s that early.”

“Why not?” Long Feiye frowned.

Han Yunxi only replied with a single word: “Cold.”

“I’ll double the payment for your consultation fee.”

Long Feiye was very generous, but Han Yunxi was adamant. “Not even if you increase it by ten times.”

Only now did Long Feiye turned to face her. “Han Yunxi, are there any poisons you can’t treat?”

Surprised, she nevertheless replied honestly. “That’s not easy to say. There are countless varieties of poisons in this world. Even within the same type, there’s different subdivisions and classes. Even for the exact same poison, the intensity of the toxin, along with factors like time and health of the victim will affect how to treat it. So there’s no way for chenqie to give you a straight answer.”

Long Feiye listened carefully before asking, “What if it’s not a human that’s poisoned?”

“Is it an animal?” Han Yunxi was puzzled. Her first thought was of this guy’s horse. What other animals would he keep? But they didn’t have to get up so early just to treat his horse, right?

Long Feiye didn’t answer, only said, “You’ll know when you get there. Rest early, I’ll find you at Yin hour.” He left when he was done. Though Han Yunxi chased after him a few steps, she couldn’t keep up.

“Hey, what’s going on? Exactly what’s been poisoned?”

“Explain things clearly!”

“If you don’t, then I really won’t go!”

……

No matter how Han Yunxi shouted, Long Feiye didn’t raise his head. Very quickly, he disappeared amongst the plants. Han Yunxi stood stunned in place, filled with pent up feelings. What kind of poison is it? What kind of non-human thing’s been poisoned? Did he have to leave me hanging?

Should she even go?

As a senior poisons specialist, she had a strong professional curiosity. In her own time, she always thoroughly researched any and all poisons to come her way. Now that she was in the past, she was even more curious about ancient poisons that didn’t exist in modern day.

What kind of secrets was Long Feiye keeping, and what was the situation? The whole night, Han Yunxi tossed and turned in bed before she fell asleep.

—

Knock knock knock!

The forceful pounding on the door startled Han Yunxi awake after she’d just fallen asleep. Looking at her hourglass, she realized it was precisely Yin hour. Han Yunxi put on her thickest clothes but still didn’t feel any warmer. When she opened her door, Long Feiye’s mountainous form blocked out half the doorframe, yet the piercing cold wind still found its way inside through the corners and cracks. She didn’t even take a step outside before her teeth started chattering. Quickly, Han Yunxi ducked aside from the door. Her build was already petite, but her huddled form with her hands in her sleeves and shrinking neck made her seem even tinier than before.

From high up, Long Feiye looked disdainfully at her pathetic form, lip curling. This woman was so weak!

“Still coming?” he asked coldly.

Unexpectedly, Han Yunxi lifted her head. Her face was ashen white, but those bright eyes glimmered with a stubborn brilliance. It was cold enough to make her lip tremble, but her voice remained steady. “Yes, of course I’m going! 300 taels and not one less!”

Long Feiye felt his heart gave a subtle jerk in surprise. He couldn’t help but admit that this answer went beyond his expectations.