Chapter 14

Outside the Sifang Medical Center.

Xie Xuan had already waited for a whole incense stick’s worth of time, but Yi Ling still hadn’t come out. She felt both anxious and curious, her head poking out to try and take a look, only to retreat every time at the sight of the two fierce-looking guards standing nearby.

Earlier, her sister-in-law had said that the weather was cold and she was going to buy some seasonal medicinal herbs. But, concerned about the many patients in the Center, she had told Xie Xuan not to follow her inside so as not to catch any illnesses.

Her sister-in-law was thoughtful, but her actions were really rather slow.

How much medicinal tonic could take so long to buy?

Moreover, this Sifang Medicine Center seemed strange. Despite its fame, it was odd that no other customers had appeared all this time.

Just as Xie Xuan was pondering this, other customers arrived.

And they were familiar faces.

The second young master of the Rong Enhou’s family walked hurriedly toward the Center, dressed in modest clothes, head lowered.

He was about to exchange the secret code with the guards when he suddenly noticed Xie Xuan standing to the side.

He was startled and asked, “Miss Xie? What are you doing here?”

Xie Xuan had studied at the Rong Enhou’s family’s private school a few years ago, so they knew each other.

After a brief exchange, the maid beside him translated, saying that she was accompanying her sister-in-law.

“Mrs. Xie?” 

The second young master was even more surprised. “What is Mrs. Xie doing here?”

Xie Xuan didn’t want to bother with him.

What else could she be doing at a medicine Center?

Eating, drinking, but surely not asking for a consultation or buying medicine, right?

He really was a fool.

At that moment, Yi Ling finally emerged.

She didn’t notice anyone else and waved at Xie Xuan from a distance. When she got closer, she greeted her warmly, “Did you wait long? Are you cold?”

Xie Xuan shook her head, smiling with squinted eyes, then worried about Yi Ling’s situation. She gestured to ask why Yi Ling had been inside for so long, wondering if she wasn’t feeling well.

It was an intimate and friendly scene between sisters-in-law.

Until Yi Ling said she was fine and had only bought some tonics.

The second young master of the Rong Enhou’s family nearly dropped his jaw. “Tonics???”

Yi Ling then realized that there was an unfamiliar person standing nearby.

To call him unfamiliar wasn’t entirely accurate.

When she was still a young lady from the Yi family, she had met this second young master a few times.

At that time, he was still a boy, always following Yi Yun around for food, drink, and fun.

Years had passed, and the second young master of the Rong Enhou’s family wouldn’t recognize that the “Mrs. Xie” standing in front of him was the older sister from the Yi family he had once known.

Yi Ling didn’t expect to meet him here either and was taken aback. “What are you doing here?”

The second young master panicked for a moment, scratching the back of his head, and blurted out, “Of course, I’m here to buy tonics. I can’t be here to buy poison, can I? Haha.”

—
After leaving the Sifang Medicine Center, Xie Xuan felt that she had gotten closer to her sister-in-law. Along the way, her hands never stopped moving. She pointed at the candy shop by the road and occasionally touched the flower patterns on Yi Ling’s sleeve.

Yi Ling didn’t notice her small movements; her mind was entirely occupied with the Xuantiansan.

She had never expected to obtain such a miraculous medicine so easily—it was almost too effortless.

In fact, she felt like she was about to hold Xie Hengzhi’s life in her hands, which made her feel tense with excitement. She stood completely still the entire time.

Upon returning to the Xie residence, she dismissed the servants and personally made a pot of half-open tea.

When she went to send it to the study, she hesitated for a moment, her hands even trembling slightly.

If this Xuantiansan was truly as miraculous as it seemed, Yi Ling had too many questions to ask.

The first question was about what grave crimes Xie Hengzhi had committed—crimes so serious that the Emperor would immediately order his execution if he knew.

But Yi Ling had been a secluded young lady for so many years, and the most she had heard about were the sweet nothings of romance.

If she were to find out that Xie Hengzhi had committed treason or colluded with the enemy, it could lead to national chaos.

But those were matters for the future. Right now, the most important thing was to test whether this medicine was truly as magical as it seemed.

After all, how would she know if Xie Hengzhi was telling the truth just by word of mouth?

So, what was the question where the answer was obvious, but Xie Hengzhi would never admit to it easily?

Yi Ling immediately thought of the answer:

It was, of course, her—“Shang Yi Ling” herself!

Since becoming a member of the Shang family, Yi Ling had clearly felt that Xie Hengzhi had no feelings for her whatsoever.

Though he had never mistreated her, and she was well taken care of in wealth and comfort, they slept together every night, and yet he showed no deMy Lorde, not even a passing interest in looking at her.

Most men weren’t so pure-hearted.

Even the palace eunuchs would seek out opportunities for companionship, but Xie Hengzhi was completely indifferent, which could only mean he had no interest in her.

However, this wife had been bestowed by the Emperor, and if Xie Hengzhi were to admit he didn’t like her, it would be a slap in the Emperor’s face.

Thinking of this, Yi Ling felt somewhat confident.

She pushed open the study door, stuck her head in, and saw that Xie Hengzhi wasn’t behind the desk.

“My Lord? My Lord? Mr. Xie? Xie Hengzhi?”

Her voice was clear and melodious, with an uncontainable excitement, like a fresh stream of water flowing into the solemn study, filling the dim space.

“My Lord, are you not here?”

After a long while, Xie Hengzhi slowly walked out from behind the antique shelf, holding a scroll in his hand. He didn’t seem deaf.

He didn’t speak, only glanced at Yi Ling before heading toward the desk.

Yi Ling took his silence as consent, stepping inside and placing the tea on the table.

“You must be tired, My Lord. I made some tea for you.”

Her actions were indeed sudden, and Yi Ling understood that.

So, when she met Xie Hengzhi’s gaze, she immediately put on a warm smile, afraid he would notice something amiss.

“Please try some, My Lord.”

Xie Hengzhi, who had been busy for so long, must have been thirsty. He turned and sat in a chair, casually picking up the tea Yi Ling had brewed. He sipped it while flipping through the scroll, seemingly unaware of anything suspicious.

Staring blankly as the tea went down, Yi Ling swallowed nervously, her heart racing.

Once the cup was finished, Xie Hengzhi placed it back on the table. He looked up, and their eyes met. Yi Ling suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

He asked, “Is there anything else?”

Instinctively, Yi Ling shook her head, but she didn’t leave. She just kept her gaze fixed on the man in front of her, blatantly watching him.

His expression was calm, and she couldn’t tell if the effects of the medicine had kicked in.

“Master.”

Yi Ling suddenly spoke.

“Mm?”

“Do you think…” Yi Ling leaned forward with her hands resting on the desk, her body slightly closer to Xie Hengzhi. “Am I beautiful?”

Xie Hengzhi’s right hand had already unwrapped the bandage. He raised it to hold his brush, showing no signs of new injuries.

He carefully dipped the brush in ink, testing its intensity on the rice paper, and without any change in expression, he spoke a single word.

“Beautiful.”

Although he wore an impassive face, this was undoubtedly the truth.

Yi Ling was satisfied with the effects of the medicine. She had intended to get straight to the point, but as she watched Xie Hengzhi’s calm demeanor, an idea suddenly popped into her head. She asked, “So, do you think I’m beautiful, or is the daughter of Yi shangshu more beautiful?”
Without even glancing at her, Xie Hengzhi answered, “You are beautiful.”

“……”
She shouldn’t have asked that.

Yi Ling gave a light scoff before asking, “Then… do you like me?”

The tip of his brush froze on the paper.

Xie Hengzhi’s eyebrows and eyes were naturally deeper than most, and he always had a smile, giving him an inherently affectionate look.

But now he lowered his gaze to Yi Ling, who was leaning on the desk, his face unusually indifferent, giving no hint of emotion.

In the silence, Yi Ling’s heart raced, and her face flushed with excitement.

They stared at each other for a long time, and finally, Xie Hengzhi’s lips curled into a faint, almost mocking smile. “I love you deeply.”

“……?”

---

Fake medicine; this must be fake medicine!

Not only did Xie Hengzhi not fall for the effects of the Xuatiansan, but he deliberately said such chilling words to scare her!

Yi Ling was still in shock, pacing back and forth in the pavilion in the backyard for a long while before she could calm down.

Since Xie Hengzhi wasn’t poisoned, where had the problem come from?

Since the Sifang Medicine Center had allowed her inside, would they really dare to trick her with fake medicine?

After thinking for a while, Yi Ling concluded that the problem must lie with Princess Yu’an.

It must have been her spreading the news, making them all expect something from the Xuatiansan.

She had known that there was no such miraculous medicine in this world!

Yi Ling immediately called for Mama Cao, urging her to find out exactly what the Xuatiansan was.

---

After Yi Ling left the study, it began to rain lightly.

The sky darkened, with clouds hanging so low that they seemed to be draped over the roof eaves, blocking most of the sunlight.

Such a gloomy atmosphere made one feel sleepy.

Xie Hengzhi was leaning against the side of the bed, rarely showing such a lazy expression. He still held the book from earlier but seemed disinterested in reading it.

Actually, by the time Yi Ling returned to the Xie Mansion from the Sifang Medicine Center, the steward had already entered the study ahead of her to report the events of the day.

The steward, being cautious, didn’t dare outright refuse Yi Ling but also didn’t dare give her the Xuatiansan. Instead, he gave her a calming medicine.

The Xuatiansan…

What did she need this for?

Xie Hengzhi turned a page, staring at the dense characters on the paper, but his mind wandered to Yi Ling’s gaze earlier.

Anxious, fearful, and mostly, a tension that she couldn’t hide.

In short, it was definitely not murderous intent.

But the Xuatiansan was highly poisonous. Didn’t she know that?

Hmm.

Xie Hengzhi thought his wife, though exceptionally talented, might not know.

After a while, Xie Hengzhi put the book down, leaned back against the bed, and closed his eyes.

The steward had given Yi Ling a calming medicine, and though the dose wasn’t small, it wasn’t long before Xie Hengzhi began to feel the effects of the medicine.

Since he had nothing to do today and the sound of the rain outside was so soothing, he decided to take a nap.

It had been a long time since he had slept so peacefully. His body and mind sank into a soft, comfortable sensation, with his thoughts clear and pure, and no one around to disturb his tranquility.

He didn’t know how long had passed, but just as he was enjoying his deepest sleep, he was suddenly shaken awake.

Before he could even open his eyes, he heard a burst of desperate, sorrowful crying.

“Don’t die! Why did you have to die?! Wake up! Wake up!”

“I beg you, don’t die! Someone, come! Hurry, get a doctor!”

Xie Hengzhi took a deep breath and half-opened his eyes.

Yi Ling was kneeling beside the bed, shaking his arm desperately, crying with tears streaming down her face, her makeup ruined, not noticing that Xie Hengzhi had woken up.

“If you die, what will I do?!”

“Xie Hengzhi, if you die, I won’t be able to live either!”

Xie Hengzhi: “……”

Was it really that dramatic?