Si Que led You Yuji along a rather secluded path. Eventually, they had to pass through some streets, and he tugged at You Yuji’s hood, saying, “Hide your face.”
It was never good for others to see her riding a horse with someone like this. Moreover, others didn’t know about the Thousand Sores powder. Seeing her face’s current state, they might misunderstand her as having some dirty disease.
How to hide her face?
Luckily, she was sitting sideways. You Yuji turned her body slightly more and lowered her head. If there were people on the road, she would brace herself and try to hide her face in the embrace of the Poison Pavilion’s master.
Even in this hiding position, she kept a distance from the Poison Pavilion’s master and didn’t really lean against him. As the street scenes on the roadside receded, her view was filled only with the dark clothes he wore.
The air was thick with the medicinal scent from his body, faintly mixed with a hint of blood.
The sun gradually set, casting a warm and hazy glow over everything in the world.
The Poison Pavilion’s master suddenly turned his face and coughed. Through the mask, even his cough sounded muffled. You Yuji looked up in surprise. The blood-red mask covered his face, so she knew nothing of his condition. As she withdrew her gaze, she couldn’t help but glance at his neck.
He didn’t have an Adam’s apple either.
Every man in the world has an Adam’s apple, though some are naturally less noticeable. You Yuji thought, Ah Que is like that.
She didn’t expect the Poison Pavilion’s master to be the same.
Si Que led You Yuji back through the back gate of the You family residence. No one lived behind the You family mansion, so the back gate was naturally deserted.
“We’re here…” You Yuji’s eyes curved. She felt like she had survived a life-and-death ordeal, and now, after the storm, her home was in sight. A soft joy welled up in her heart.
Her body slid, and she jumped off the horse. But she was still weak. As soon as her feet touched the ground, her legs buckled involuntarily.
Si Que reached out to support her.
You Yuji stepped aside to avoid the hand that the Poison Pavilion’s master had placed on her waist.
She lowered her eyes, her voice soft and gentle, “Thank you, Master, for your trouble this time…”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but recall the embarrassing situation of the past three days. She tightened her grip on Baisui’s hand subconsciously. But she wasn’t unreasonable. Although she was poisoned in the Poison Pavilion, it was indeed her carelessness that had spilled that annoying poison…
There was no one to blame, no one to resent.
Instead, she had to thank him for his care. She remembered that no matter when she woke up in the past three days, she could see him busy. She remembered the handkerchief he used to wipe her sweat when she was unconscious and even how he fed her porridge, spoonful by spoonful, when she was too weak to lift her arms…
Her eyes reddened slightly, and for a moment, her heart was filled with a mix of emotions she couldn’t describe. There was shame and anger, but no one to blame except for her own recklessness. She could only softly repeat, “Thank you…”
“The eighteenth time.”
You Yuji furrowed her brows, finally understanding what he meant. So, these past few days, he had been counting how many times she thanked him?
You Yuji was astonished.
She stole a glance at him and quickly looked away. She thought to herself that the master of the Poison Pavilion didn’t seem as terrifying as the rumors suggested.
She felt like she should turn around and go home now, but her feet were rooted to the spot. She felt like she had forgotten something but couldn’t remember what it was.
Si Que sat on the horse, looking at the worry and gloom on her face, and said, “You will recover in seven days. All the red spots will disappear. Don’t worry.”
You Yuji nodded.
“The fake death drug will be delivered to you in a month.”
You Yuji nodded again, still holding the cat, standing there without turning around.
Si Que also stopped talking, just quietly watching her.
You Yuji finally remembered what she had forgotten.
“Um… you haven’t told me how much the antidote costs. When you come next time to deliver the fake death drug, I’ll pay you then?”
Si Que responded with a hum and said, “You can owe it for now.”
“This…” You Yuji wanted to say that it wasn’t right, but she couldn’t bear the awkwardness of being alone with him any longer. She nodded hurriedly and turned to go home.
She walked quickly to her back door and knocked lightly. Soon, a servant came to open the door. Seeing it was her, the servant was momentarily stunned, then quickly opened the door wider to let her in.
You Yuji hurriedly stepped over the threshold. She couldn’t help but look back.
The courtyard door slowly closed, and the tall figure on the horse gradually disappeared from sight.
Si Que watched the door close, no longer seeing the purple-clad figure. He muttered to himself, “Truly a troublesome… fox spirit.”
Si Que turned his horse and rode away. After some distance, he dismounted and used a dagger to cut open his palm. The scars on his body always healed slowly; the last cut on his palm hadn’t fully healed, and now a new cut bled.
Drops of dark blood fell, providing temporary relief from the pain in his body.
Nightfall was approaching, and everything was about to rest. However, he couldn’t rest yet; he had to make a trip to the palace.
The fake death drug was something he had concocted himself a few years ago for fun.
However, he had lied to You Yuji once again.
The process of making the fake death drug was quite complicated. Moreover, the materials were hard to find and difficult to handle. It was impossible to make the drug within a month.
Since he couldn’t make it, he would have to steal it.
There were still two pills of the false death drug left in the world, one of which was in the palace.
Si Que looked at the small pool of black blood at his feet and suddenly laughed.
“See how good I am to you, Princess. When I die, you’d better shed a few more tears for me.”
Lady Jing had been on edge for three days. When she finally saw You Yuji return, she breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing the news from the maid, she ran to see You Yuji, nearly tripping along the way.
“Oh my dear, what happened to your face!” Lady Jing’s eyes were red, showing that not only had she been unable to sleep these past few nights, but she had also been secretly crying.
“It’s nothing, I accidentally got a bit of the Poison Pavilion’s toxin on me. It’ll be fine in a few days,” You Yuji said with a gentle smile.
She had been scared before, but seeing the concerned faces of those who cared for her made her feel calm.
“That’s good, that’s good!” Lady Jing repeated several times.
You Yuji hurriedly asked about her concern, “No one knows I went missing, right?”
“Rest assured, madam, no one knows! That day, we stopped in a distant alley and saw many soldiers coming to surround the Poison Pavilion from afar. I left two people in hiding to watch and immediately had the coachman boldly drive back to the You residence. We told everyone you had gone home to tend to your mother.” Lady Jing sighed. “I was worried that if the heir came looking for you and couldn’t find you, we’d be in trouble. But the heir didn’t come. Only the princess sent her attendant, Gu Momo, to check on you. I told her you had gone to visit the Zhao family, and she was satisfied with that.”
You Yuji nodded with a smile, “I always trust you with these matters.”
Before long, You Jiamu heard the news and rushed home. Seeing the red spots on You Yuji’s face, he was startled. You Yuji explained everything to him properly, and he was finally at ease.
He sat next to You Yuji, muttering, “Sister, you’ve lost weight again.”
You Yuji patted his head and smiled, saying she hadn’t.
Liu Momo, standing by, said, “It’s good you’re back. Whatever needs to be said, say it tomorrow. You look tired already. Rest early.”
The others echoed her sentiment.
Liu Momo quickly instructed the maids to bring up dinner. You Yuji, still feeling weak, didn’t want to eat anything too greasy. She only asked the maid to serve her a small bowl of plain porridge.
As she took a bite of the plain porridge with the porcelain spoon, she suddenly recalled the dim jade chamber where the Poison Pavilion’s master had fed her spoonful by spoonful.
“Big Sister, why aren’t you eating?” You Jiamu looked over with a gaze full of concern.
You Yuji smiled gently, putting aside her thoughts and stopped reminiscing about those days, then ate the plain porridge. After a simple dinner, You Yuji instructed the maid to prepare bathwater, specifically requesting only clear water without milk.
She took out a medicine carefully hidden in her sleeve, poured a pill into the water, and then sat in the hot water. It had been three days since she last had a comfortable bath, and the warm water enveloped her exhausted body, bringing a sense of comfort that spread slowly.
That night, unlike usual, You Yuji did not curl up beside her mother but slept in her own bed. The word “home” seemed to have a magical power that made people feel exceptionally at ease.
You Yuji slept very deeply and for a long time.
In the following days, You Yuji stayed at the You family residence, following the instructions of the Poison Pavilion master. Each night before bed, she added the medicine to her bathwater and slept soundly at night.
Upon waking, she looked closely in the mirror, observing the red spots on her face and body gradually fading.
On the fourth day of her return home, Zhuo Wen and two guards were indeed brought back by people from the Poison Pavilion.
You Yuji smiled, “It’s good to know you’re safe.”
Zhuo Wen, however, was full of guilt, “It’s all because of my carelessness that I got bitten by that spider!”
“It’s all in the past,” You Yuji said softly.
She slowly lowered her long eyelashes, her gaze falling on the almost completely faded red spots on the back of her hand. If given a choice, she would rather have been bitten by a spider like Zhuo Wen and the others than have knocked over that bottle of poison.
Three more days passed, and the last pill in the medicine bottle was used, reaching the deadline given by the Poison Pavilion master. When You Yuji woke up the next day, all the red spots on her body had disappeared without a trace.
You Yuji had to return to the Jinnan Prince’s mansion.
“Big Sister, I really don’t want you to leave,” You Jiamu said with a somber face.
Jiamu was still young, and You Yuji was reluctant to tell him her plans. She bent down to look him in the eye, “Just wait a little longer. Sister will come back.”
You Jiamu forced a smile and nodded. He also had a plan to save his sister but wasn’t confident enough yet to tell her.
—
When You Yuji returned to the Jinnan Prince’s mansion, it was already the afternoon.
She went back to the Fragrance Pavilion and heard the sound of a zither from afar. She listened carefully for a few moments and confirmed that it was Si Que playing.
Upon learning of her return, Zhenxu and Baohe hurriedly came to greet her. Lady Jing handed them some pastries brought back from the You family to store away.
You Yuji instructed them to walk lightly.
Her own steps were also light, not wanting to disturb Si Que’s playing.
Baohe exchanged glances with Zhenxu and, when they were alone, couldn’t help but say, “Madam went home for a few days, and upon her return, she immediately went to see the princess!”
Zhenxu ignored her, carrying the tea tray to serve the tea.
You Yuji stood in the courtyard, looking at Si Que who was playing the zither under the window. Only when the last note faded and the lingering sound dissipated did she smile and step into the room.
“Sister is finally back,” Si Que raised his eyes, looking at her with clear and bright eyes.
You Yuji suddenly remembered that she had promised to return on that very day when she left. She opened her mouth but didn’t know how to explain.
Si Que slightly turned his wheelchair to face You Yuji.
You Yuji walked towards him, but as soon as she reached his side, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. Si Que pulled her onto his lap, his arm encircling her waist.
Zhenxu came in with the tea tray, her fingers trembling slightly. She forced herself to stay calm, put down the tea tray quickly, and hurried out, closing the door behind her.
After Zhenxu left, You Yuji pushed Si Que’s shoulder and whispered, “What are you doing?”
Si Que buried his face in You Yuji’s neck, inhaling deeply. His nose moved slowly down the side of her neck, inhaling gently.
“What are you smelling?” You Yuji tried to move away.
While continuing to sniff, he said with a hint of grievance, “Sister, it’s been many days since we last met. I’m smelling to see if there’s any scent of another man on you.”
You Yuji was momentarily stunned, lost in thought for a second, before gently pushing away Si Que’s restraining hands. She got up and quickly walked to the other side, sitting sideways on the chaise longue.
Si Que’s eyes darkened as he looked at her deeply, pushing his wheelchair towards her, “Sister, has someone bullied you?”
