Chapter 23: CH 20

Wushi reported, “And in the past month, only Little Young Master Song Xian has frequently visited the Third Prince’s Manor.”

Sui Yan’s brows furrowed, “Then who gave the medicine to the Third Prince?” 

Just as Wushi was about to respond, Jun Jingxing, listening to the side, couldn’t help but cut in. He gently kicked away the rabbit lying on his feet, walked over, and said, “Wait a minute, what medicine with strong side effects are you talking about? Little Young Master was clearly poisoned with Stigma. Are you questioning my medical skills?”

Although Wushi didn’t know who this was, the fact that this person could stay here while he was reporting about something like this meant this person held a place in Sui Yan’s heart. Thus, Wushi acted very respectfully towards him.

“I didn’t mean to offend this Young Master, but that was what I found in the Third Prince’s Manor,” Wushi cupped his hands towards Jun Jingxing, “This type of medicine can be found in ordinary pharmacies. In such a big city, you only need to visit a few pharmacies before finding some. It isn’t a rare medicine, and it doesn’t cause major harm to the body. It just makes people feel feverish, like they got a cold, but it doesn’t threaten their lives.”

With a sullen expression, Sui Yan glanced at the prescription that Wushi was holding and threw it to Jun Jingxing without even looking up, “Take a look.” 

Jun Jingxing’s medical skills were superb. He took the prescription and skimmed over it, only to find that it was really an ordinary medicine that could cause symptoms of colds.

Jun Jingxing’s brows tightly furrowed.

Sui Yan held onto his small hand warmer and said, “It seems like Duan Zhisu is being used.”

From this conversation, Jun Jingxing knew the gist of what had happened. He asked, “Then who can poison someone in the Third Prince’s Manor? It’s even a life-threatening poison, with the crown prince as the target.”

In his previous life, after Duan Mingchong’s death, Duan Zhisu’s personal attendant knelt down and begged for mercy. He testified that Duan Zhisu had ordered him to put medicinal powder in the wine. The evidence was solid, and Duan Zhisu was unable to defend himself.

Thinking back, if that attendant hadn’t been bought over by Duan Ruwang, it was likely that he had no idea why there would be poison in the wine. As a result, he thought Duan Mingchong’s death was caused by the cold-inducing medicine that Duan Zhisu had given him.

Sui Yan took the prescription, folded the paper twice, and lightly ordered, “Go investigate Duan Ruwang.”

Wushi froze but didn’t dare to question the instructions. Just as he was about to accept the orders, Sui Yan stopped him. 

Sui Yan handed the prescription back to Wushi, leaned forward, and whispered, “Oh, right, remember to inform Duan Zhisu about this. The Third Prince’s Manor was recently built, but there are already rats inside. It’s about time for him to clean it up. Otherwise, he won’t even know how he died.”

Wushi was shocked.

Sui Yan’s lips hooked into a smile, the dark red shade making it seem sinister.

Jun Jingxing, who stood behind him, smacked him on the back of his head, displeased, “Don’t smile like this at such a young age.” 

Sui Yan, “……”

Sui Yan originally had a cold and stern aura. After being interrupted, he covered his head and fiercely glared at Jun Jingxing, abruptly returning to the demeanor he should have at this age.

Sui Yan angrily waved his hands and said, “Go, do it well.”

Wushi finally left. 

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As he spoke, he lightly kicked the rabbit and scolded, “Go away. Just now, you wouldn’t let me touch you. Now that I have the hamster, I won’t pet you even if you ask for it.”

Sui Yan reached a hand out to poke the hamster’s chin and said, “You’re the best, so I’ll give you a name. How about Yuejian?” 

Jun Jingxing, “……”

Jun Jingxing was speechless, “Isn’t that rabbit called Yuejian?”

Sui Yan replied, “It fell out of favor. Now my favorite is this one. Look, it’s so cute.”

Jun Jingxing ignored him so that he wouldn’t vomit blood out of anger. 

Wushi was very efficient. Within a day, everything that Sui Yan had investigated had reached Duan Zhisu’s ears.

Although Sui Yan had ruined his plans, Duan Zhisu only thought Sui Yan was young, frivolous, and didn’t understand anything, unlike Song Xian, who suspected that Sui Yan had noticed something and decided to support the crown prince. As a result, he let the matter pass and didn’t send anyone to investigate.

When Wushi’s news reached Duan Zhisu’s ears in the middle of the night, he nearly smashed his cup. The housekeeper ran over when he heard the noises and almost crashed into Duan Zhisu.

Duan Zhisu’s eyes were red as he quietly ordered, “Prepare the horses, I’m going to the Sui Manor.” 

The housekeeper hurriedly persuaded, “Your Highness can’t do that. It’s almost curfew, so it isn’t a good time to go out.”

Duan Zhisu sternly said, “I’m going right now!”

The housekeeper had never seen Duan Zhisu act this coldly and sternly before, so he didn’t dare to persuade him anymore and hurriedly instructed servants to prepare the carriage.

In the Sui Manor, Sui Yan had long fallen asleep. He was woken up by the sound of someone pounding against the door. 

It was the middle of the night, and a cold wind blew outside. Sui Yan was too lazy to get up, so he called towards the side room, “Yuejian, go open the door.”

Before Sui Yan’s poison had been detoxified, he would cough up blood in the middle of the night. Jun Jingxing didn’t dare to let others wait on Sui Yan, so he always stayed in the side room. These past few days, he was afraid the poison would act up again, so he hadn’t left.

Jun Jingxing angrily put his clothes on and got up, “Are you expecting that mouse to open the door for you?”

Sui Yan patted his pillow twice, stretched his neck out, and shouted, “It’s not a mouse! It’s a hamster!” 

Jun Jingxing had already stepped into the courtyard, and his complaint could be heard from a distance, “It’s a prettier name, but isn’t it the same as a mouse?”

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The cold wind blew through the night and the snowflakes on the eaves that hadn’t yet melted danced in the air as they were blown away.

Holding a lantern, Jun Jingxing opened the door.

“Who is it?” 

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Li Zhao holding another lantern.

Since Haitang usually served the side courtyard, Li Zhao rarely came over. At this time, his face was full of embarrassment as he helplessly requested, “Young Master Jun, I’m troubling you to let the Young Master get up.”

Jun Jingxing replied, “It’s so late. Did something happen?”

Li Zhao awkwardly answered, “The Third Prince suddenly came to visit. Second Young Master is staying at the military camp tonight and can’t come back, and nobody else in the manor can serve as a host, so……” 

Jun Jingxing’s brows furrowed, but he nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll go get him.”

A quarter of an hour later, a dazed Sui Yan put on his clothes and yawned as he followed Jun Jingxing outside.

Jun Jingxing reminded him, “Just have a few words with him. You still have to go to Xiangguo Temple early tomorrow morning, and sleeping too late isn’t good for your body.”

Sui Yan didn’t even open his eyes as he mumbled, “Oh.” 

The two of them soon arrived at the front courtyard. The hall was brightly lit, and bodyguards from the Third Prince’s Manor were standing outside. When they saw Sui Yan, they rushed to greet him.

Sui Yan entered the hall like a gust of wind.

Duan Zhisu was standing in front of him, wearing an ink-colored cloak. Perhaps his arrival had been too hasty, but even his hair, which was usually meticulously combed, was messy, with a lock of hair on his forehead. He cut a sorry figure.

When Sui Yan saw him like this, he knew Duan Zhisu had already heard the information, so he didn’t pay any respects. After he entered, Sui Yan stood quietly, gazing at Duan Zhisu indifferently. 

Duan Zhisu’s eyes were bloodshot, and his lips were chapped. When he saw Sui Yan arrive, he looked flustered. He instinctively wanted to walk towards Sui Yan, but he found that he couldn’t move.

Sui Yan couldn’t see him like this. His heart finally softened, and he looked away as he quietly said, “Your Highness, it’s so late. Is something the matter?”

Duan Zhisu stared at him in a daze. A long while later, he finally murmured, “……On New Year’s Eve, the matters for the Heaven Worship Ceremony were all handed over to the Crown Prince to manage……”

Sui Yan didn’t understand why Duan Mingchong suddenly brought this up. He stayed silent as he looked at the prince. 

Duan Zhisu paused before he continued, “The Crown Prince attends to everything personally and is very meticulous. After the New Year, he will be fifteen. Father Emperor will definitely grant him permission to enter the cabinet a year in advance and participate in government affairs……”

Sui Yan nodded. He understood. Duan Ruwang was scared of the Crown Prince showing his talent in this position. As a result, he set Duan Mingchong up to make a mistake at the Heaven Worship Ceremony that the imperial family attached great importance to. This would cause the emperor and nobility to be dissatisfied, so nobody would bring up the matter of letting the Crown Prince participate in government affairs in advance.

Sui Yan asked, “So when Duan Ruwang asked you to poison him, you agreed?”

Duan Zhisu’s pupils shook. He seemed to want to defend himself, but he forced himself to stop, “Yes.” 

Sui Yan gathered up his sleeves and tilted his head to stare at the nearby candles. After a while, he finally said, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Duan Zhisu stayed silent.

Sui Yan laughed self-deprecatingly, “You even told an idiot like Song Xian, but you wouldn’t tell me anything about it. Your Highness, have I……done something that has been bothering you recently?”

Duan Zhisu pursed his lips and hoarsely replied, “You haven’t, I only……don’t want you to get involved in such muddy waters.” 

When he spoke, he even felt that this explanation was weak.

Sui Yan coldly laughed in his heart.

Duan Zhisu took a deep breath, and his brows furrowed, “But I never imagined that you would actually choose to risk your own life to save the Crown Prince……”

Sui Yan’s smile gradually faded. 

When Duan Zhisu finished speaking, he suddenly felt that he sounded like a scum. He rushed to add, “I didn’t mean that. I know you saved the Crown Prince so I wouldn’t be implicated, but you actually did something as dangerous as drinking that glass of poisoned wine. How are you now? What did the imperial physicians say?”

Sui Yan’s voice was chilly, “He said I wouldn’t die.”

When he had told this to Duan Mingchong, Sui Yan had been smiling, and he had spoken with a half-teasing tone. However, now that he was facing Duan Zhisu, he was filled with disappointment, as if his heart was full of ashes.

Duan Zhisu looked at this youth whose face still held traces of childishness. Even the thick winter clothes he was dressed in couldn’t hide how emaciated his figure was. He stood in front of the door, and the candlelight shone on half of his face. It was clearly such a warm light, but looking at it, he felt as cold as frost. 

All of a sudden, everything seemed to have changed.

Sui Yan seemed to be fed up, and he turned around as he spoke, “It’s cold and late at night. Your Highness’s body is precious, so please go back as soon as possible.”

Sui Yan was about to leave. In a daze, Duan Zhisu stared at his back. Suddenly, he felt that if he did nothing this time and let Sui Yan go, the two of them could never return to how they were before.

Duan Zhisu rushed forward, grabbed Sui Yan’s hand, and dragged him inside. 

Sui Yan was caught off guard, and he looked back at Duan Zhisu furiously, “What are you trying to do?!”

Duan Zhisu hesitated.

Sui Yan acted fiercely, “Let me go back and sleep. I still have to visit Xiangguo Temple with the Crown Prince tomorrow.”

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