Chapter 39: Watching the Spectacle Together

Zhan Lianjing took a breath, but his voice remained cold. "It's nothing."

He pushed Le Qianxue away and reached out to feel along the stone wall, searching for the hidden mechanism.

Le Qianxue staggered, nearly colliding with the wall. In the dimness, she shot Zhan Lianjing a glare. She was stewing in her own irritation, but on the other side, Zhan Lianjing had already found the hidden lever. With a twist, the stone door swung open.

He stepped inside first. Le Qianxue hurriedly called up to Yuan Tianci, "Tianci, come down."

Yuan Tianci had been waiting above for a long time; people were nearly done searching, but upon hearing Le Qianxue, he jumped down. He had some martial training, so his landing was steady.

Zhan Lianjing pulled out a luminous pearl to light their way. Le Qianxue thought to herself, so this is how the wealthy behave, casually producing a night pearl to illuminate the path.

The three of them exited the secret passage, and Le Qianxue realized they had come down the mountain. The chaos up there must be in full swing by now. Reflecting on how smoothly everything had gone today, she realized it was thanks to Zhan Lianjing’s familiarity with the terrain.

Yuan Tianci, afraid of the dark, clung to Le Qianxue's sleeve. "Qianxue, I’m scared. You have to hold on to me."

"You're such a worrywart," Le Qianxue muttered, letting him cling to her. She and Yuan Tianci walked ahead, but Zhan Lianjing gradually fell behind.

She turned back. "Your Highness, have you summoned anyone to meet us?"

Zhan Lianjing frowned. "There are people waiting beneath the big tree up ahead. Go on."

"And you?"

Zhan Lianjing seemed annoyed by her persistence. "I have other matters to attend to."

Hearing this, Le Qianxue could only drop the subject. "Thank you for your help today, Your Highness. Tianci and I will surely come to thank you properly another day."

Zhan Lianjing was as ungracious as ever. "Enough with the chatter."

She couldn’t see his face clearly, but he turned away, as if about to leave. She didn’t linger either, and set off with Yuan Tianci toward their rendezvous.

Sure enough, everything was prepared; Chasing Star was waiting with a carriage. However, when he saw Zhan Lianjing was not with them, his face fell. "Where is His Highness?"

"He said he had something to do," Le Qianxue replied.

Chasing Star pondered this, giving Le Qianxue a deep look, but said nothing more and helped her and Yuan Tianci into the carriage.

"Chasing Star, did your prince scout out the Black Tiger Hall before bringing me to rescue Yuan Tianci?" Le Qianxue asked.

Chasing Star took up the reins and replied calmly, "His Highness learned Yuan Tianci was here, so he came himself to survey the layout."

Le Qianxue frowned. "He came himself?"

Given Zhan Lianjing’s current condition, how did he have the energy for such a thing? She’d thought he’d sent someone to investigate, but hadn’t expected the prince to come in person.

Yuan Tianci, noticing her frown, said quietly, "Qianxue, doesn’t that strike you as odd?" He kept his voice low, aware of Zhan Lianjing’s condition.

Le Qianxue nodded, clenching her fists in silent discomfort, and immediately asked Chasing Star to stop the carriage.

Chasing Star drew up the reins, puzzled. "Miss Le, what’s wrong?"

Le Qianxue quickly jumped down and said to Yuan Tianci, "Tianci, go on ahead. I’ve mastered everything you taught me."

Yuan Tianci was baffled by her sudden declaration, but Le Qianxue was already retracing her steps. The path was dark and ominous; she feared danger, so she didn’t dare run too fast and instead hurried along cautiously.

At last, she spotted two figures at the spot she’d left. Zhan Lianjing was sitting on the grass, his silver mask removed. In the moonlight, his face looked pale and slick with sweat.

Haoyue had taken out a waterskin, trying to help him drink. "Your Highness, have some water before you take your medicine."

Le Qianxue’s footsteps approached, and Haoyue instantly tensed. "Who’s there?!"

Turning around and seeing Le Qianxue standing behind them, Haoyue breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhan Lianjing opened his eyes with effort. Seeing her return, he couldn’t hide his irritation.

Haoyue asked, "Miss Le, why have you come back?"

Le Qianxue said nothing at first, but walked over and knelt down. "What medicine are you giving him? Let me see."

Haoyue handed her the powder. Le Qianxue smelled it. "This is just pain relief. It won’t help."

Remembering that Le Qianxue was skilled in medicine, Haoyue quickly asked, "Do you have a solution? In fact, this month, His Highness shouldn’t be able to even stand... But he felt Chasing Star and I weren’t up to the task and insisted on coming himself to help rescue Yuan Tianci."

Le Qianxue replied, "One must know one’s limits. If you can’t do something, don’t force it. Haoyue, take off his shoes and roll up his trousers."

Haoyue obeyed without hesitation. Zhan Lianjing, still barely conscious, saw Le Qianxue’s calm, stern gaze—the same look she’d had when she’d forced poison from his body before.

Le Qianxue took out her acupuncture kit, using the luminous pearl for light. The night was silent, and her hands were steady and quick as she inserted several needles.

Haoyue watched, tense. "Why didn’t Yuan Tianci come?"

Le Qianxue thought to herself that even if Yuan Tianci were here, he couldn’t save Zhan Lianjing. He’d only get in the way and arouse suspicion. She said aloud, "He won’t act rashly. Leave this to me."

After a few more needles, Zhan Lianjing’s pain eased significantly. Soon, black blood began to seep from his knee—the poison being drawn out.

Haoyue was astonished. "You expelled the poison? My goodness, Miss Le, you’re incredible!"

This poison had tormented Zhan Lianjing for years, and nothing had worked, yet Le Qianxue managed to draw out the poison in moments.

Zhan Lianjing was calm. "It’s a love toxin."

Le Qianxue smiled. "It seems Your Highness knows it well. There’s no cure for this poison. I only managed to draw out some of the toxin—the real source remains in your body, and I can’t reach it."

Haoyue’s joy faded as she lowered her eyes. "That wretch..."

Zhan Lianjing shot her a look, telling her to stop.

Le Qianxue packed up her needles. "That’s enough. Next time, Your Highness, don’t suffer in silence. I may not be able to cure you, but I can at least ease your pain."

Zhan Lianjing said coldly, "Should I thank you for that?"

Le Qianxue laughed. "Shouldn’t I be the one thanking you? After all, you insisted on coming with me to rescue Yuan Tianci. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be in this state."

Haoyue helped Zhan Lianjing put on his shoes and socks. Zhan Lianjing picked up a small stone and tossed it at Le Qianxue’s head.

"Ouch!" Le Qianxue yelped, rubbing her head as she stared at him. "What was that for?!"

"Don’t be so sharp-tongued," Zhan Lianjing retorted.

"How am I sharp-tongued? I spoke the truth! If you can’t handle something, don’t push yourself. If anything happened to you, I’d carry that guilt for life. I refuse! We’re here to save someone, not to throw our own lives away!"

Haoyue nodded emphatically, having tried to dissuade Zhan Lianjing before, but he’d stubbornly refused to listen.

Zhan Lianjing said nothing, his expression foul.

Le Qianxue went on, "Look at you—clearly, you don’t want to hear it. But let me say this: this is the month of the waning moon; the poison in your leg is cunning. Don’t force yourself during this time, or you’ll be meeting the King of Hell sooner than you think."

Zhan Lianjing’s face was still dark.

Haoyue stifled a laugh. "Miss Le, you really do care about His Highness."

Besides, only Le Qianxue knew Zhan Lianjing’s secret.

Le Qianxue waved her hands. "That’s what my master Tianci taught me. A doctor must nag so patients remember their words."

With that, she drew the line between them clearly.

Zhan Lianjing’s dark eyes grew deeper. He narrowed them. "Are you planning to linger here and chat all night?"

Le Qianxue glanced at the sky. "No, tomorrow the Third Prince is coming to teach me calligraphy again. I can’t sleep until noon."

She needed to hurry back to get some rest.

Zhan Lianjing said, "That Third Prince is truly to be pitied."

Le Qianxue snorted, "He’s nothing like you! He actually enjoys teaching me!"

Zhan Lianjing gave her a long look and muttered, "He must be blind."

Le Qianxue glared at him again, her mood souring. Zhan Lianjing never let a kind word slip past his lips.

Haoyue had prepared a carriage, and soon the two of them were riding back to the city together. This carriage was nothing like Zhan Lianjing’s usual one—not even a soft pillow.

He sounded irritable. "Le Qianxue, come closer."

"What for?"

"To be my pillow."

Le Qianxue thought, Is that all I’m good for?

Still, in the end, she let Zhan Lianjing rest his head on her lap. She was fuming, thinking she owed him a favor, but now she could consider it repaid.

After a while, Zhan Lianjing spoke again. "There’ll be a fine show in the capital tonight. Care to come with me?"

"What kind of show?" Le Qianxue was curious.

"You’ll see when we get there," Zhan Lianjing replied.

With the prince’s token, Haoyue had no trouble getting them into the city. When they reached a secluded spot, she let them off, still a bit worried. "Your Highness, please be careful."

Zhan Lianjing nodded to show he understood.

Haoyue instructed Le Qianxue to keep a close eye on him and make sure nothing happened to him.

Zhan Lianjing went ahead. Le Qianxue muttered under her breath, If he’s sick, why not just go home and rest? Why drag me out to watch some show? Is he really that bored?