Chapter 146: On this matter, the emperor reaches a compromise (1/2)

Chapter 146: On this matter, the emperor reaches a compromise

After staying outside all day, Han Yunxi was summoned by Grand Concubine Yi as soon as she returned home. She’d already finished two sessions of acupuncture and moxibustion for her since the poison, so this was the last time. Grand Concubine Yi was a person who truly cherished her life, so she wouldn’t be careless when it came to treatment.

Murong Wanru had been penalized with being shut up in her room, so every time Han Yunxi came to see Grand Concubine Yi, things would be very quiet. She could speak a few words with her without any misgivings. Right now, Grand Concubine Yi was reclining on her bed while Han Yunxi sat by her side. Although she had a lot of things on her heart, she quickly assumed a professional air upon picking up her needles and set to work. Some doctors liked to make conversation while trying their patients, but she didn’t. No matter whether the case was hard-to-treat or simple beyond simplicity, she was forever serious and focused. Her attitude alone was good medicine in itself, allowing her patients to calm down and feel at ease.

After a hour or so had passed, Han Yunxi withdrew the needles one by one before speaking. “Mufei, the poison in your body’s been thoroughly expelled. There won’t be any aftereffects, so you can set your mind at rest.”

Grand Concubine Yi nodded. Though she appeared unperturbed and indolent, her heart was filled with joy. She could finally stop worrying about her own body. Seeing her so calm, Han Yunxi’s eyes flashed with cunning before she spoke. “Actually, acupuncture and moxibustion are both beneficial things. They can be used to expel poisons and nourish one’s skin. It’s inevitable that poisons have built up in the body at mufei’s age. Though they won’t cause death, they’ll accumulate beneath the skin and make one’s complexion dismal and gloomy and cause melasma.”

Hearing this, Grand Concubine Yi’s eyes shone with excitement. Within her social circle, ladies at her age always liked to gossip and compete about their looks. A few years later and they’d be discussing their health.

“In other words, you’re an expert at such things?” Grand Concubine Yi probed.

“I can’t be considered an expert, but if I follow a course of treatment, it’ll still yield results. Detoxifying poisons to nourish one’s skin can promote longevity,” Han Yunxi was quite modest. She wasn’t here to do false advertising because expelling poisons to maintain a youthful appearance was a simple matter for her.

Grand Concubine Yi couldn’t remain calm after these words and hastened to speak. “Then why don’t you try a course of treatment with mufei first?”

“Chenqie will be honored. Tomorrow I’ll write up a treatment plan and have someone bring it over to mufei for approval,” Han Yunxi was pleased. She wasn’t going to lose a chance to get closer with Grand Concubine Yi. The more intimate they were, the more precarious Murong Wanru’s situation would become.

Grand Concubine Yi’s mood brightened as she exercised her neck. “I heard that Mu Qingwu stood in for Mu Liuyue’s bet today?”

“It’s fortunate that chenqie won, otherwise…” Han Yunxi laughed lightly but said no more. Grand Concubine Yi had been waiting for her to lose back then. If she fulfilled the bet and lost her reputation, the Duke of Qin would be able to divorce her. Of course Grand Concubine Yi remembered how she’d acted, but after doing so many things just like it, she wasn’t embarrassed by the fact at all. Instead, she offered her earnest exhortations. “I haven’t lectured you about this yet. Don’t make bets like this with others in the future. If you lose, you’ll suffer losses!”

Huh, even Grand Concubine Yi was teaching her this lesson when she’d been so eager to see her lose before? Han Yunxi was rather overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. It looked like her “detoxification diplomacy” was starting to take effect.

“Chenqie doesn’t mind suffering losses, but this time it looks like someone took advantage of the Han Family’s affairs to implicate mufei. Chenqie really deserves to die ten thousand deaths.” Han Yunxi said, before adding, “It’s still quite strange. Just what kind of person gave Lady Xu the guts? Were they aiming for chenqie or for mufei?”

If Han Yunxi hadn’t mentioned Lady Xu, Grand Concubine Yi might’ve forgotten her altogether. She was not only suspicious, but certain, that someone had been directing Lady Xu behind the scenes. When Grand Concubine Yi didn’t reply, Han Yunxi kept speaking.

“Actually, no matter whether they were aiming for chenqie or mufei, in the end their target was the Duke of Qin’s estate. But chenqie doesn’t know what kind of person would have the audacity to attack the Duke of Qin’s estate? Or perhaps…” she trailed off to give Grand Concubine Yi a significant look. “Or perhaps, they were aiming for chenqie after all, to sow discord between chenqie and mufei?”

When she finished speaking, Grand Concubine Yi furrowed her eyebrows at Han Yunxi. She’d once suspected that Lady Xu’s backing was none other than that woman in the palace[1]. Of all the people under Heaven, only she would have the guts to provoke her Duke of Qin’s estate. But she’d quickly discarded the idea because that woman in the palace had purposely tried to win over Han Yunxi. She wouldn’t act against her this way.

After listening to Han Yunxi’s conjectures, she couldn’t help but wonder if Lady Xu’s support was none other than…someone from her own camp, like Wanru?

And yet Grand Concubine Yi was quick to discard that idea as well. Wanru was suspicious, but she still couldn’t believe that the girl had the courage to do such a thing. Perhaps Han Yunxi herself was sowing discord right at this moment. She withdrew her gaze and said mildly, “What’s passed is passed. It’s useless to look too much into it, so just try to make less trouble in the future.”

Grand Concubine Yi wasn’t someone easy to deal with, after all. Han Yunxi sighed with emotion in her heart and said, “Chenqie is merely speaking on a whim. Actually, there’s no use guessing here and there. It might be better to interrogate Lady Xu in prison instead.” She rose to her feet as she finished.

“Mufei, it’s getting late. Chenqie should go back.”

Grand Concubine Yi didn’t keep her behind, but waved a hand to let her go. Still, Han Yunxi’s parting words had left a seed of unease in her heart. Lady Xu had been personally sentenced to death by Grand Concubine Yi, making it impossible for even Han Yunxi to see her. Still, she knew that Han Yunxi had left those words just because she suspected Grand Concubine Yi would visit the prisons eventually. One could only hope that she didn’t go when it was too late.

It was already dark when Han Yunxi returned, but speaking with Grand Concubine Yi had delayed her further. By the time she reached Hibiscus Courtyard, it was already deep into the night. Long Feiye’s quarters were still dark, indicating that its owner had yet to return. It was already this late, but was he still entertaining his guest of honor? So tonight…he wouldn’t come back?

Han Yunxi looked on from a distance before turning away with her head bowed to walk to Leisurely Cloud Pavilion. When Zhao mama saw her expression, she was concerned.

“Esteemed wangfei, what happened? Do you feel unwell? Was it too cold outside?”