Chapter 145: Xie Yan 'Died

Shen Shuangning glanced at the charred, curled corpse, and her stomach lurched violently.

She forced down her nausea, turned her face away, and stumbled back to the doorway, leaning on the doorframe as she coughed violently, her eye sockets turning red.

"All right, all right, don't look." Su Chen saw her face ashen as paper, hurriedly ordered the door shut, then said: "These corpses were already slated for cremation today to prevent plague. Xie Yan is dead; Fourth Miss, can you rest easy now?"

Shen Shuangning nodded, a metallic sweetness still in her throat, but she let out a long breath.

Xie Yan is dead, the great strategist who in his past life aided Prince Rui's rebellion, finally gone.

However, the Queen remains a major threat, and I don't know what Prince Xiao Jingyuan plans now.

When Shen Shuangning arrived, Xiao Jingyuan wasn't in the office; Su Chen said he had gone to the palace early to handle affairs.

Su Chen caught sight of the wooden hairpin on Shen Shuangning's head, couldn't help glancing twice, and immediately understood.

A few days ago, the heir apparent specially had someone fetch fine sandalwood, even borrowed a set of carving knives from him, saying he wanted to "make something himself."

At the time he wondered why the heir apparent would personally make something, but it turned out to be carving a hairpin for the Fourth Miss, which made sense.

Now seeing the Fourth Miss wearing it, Su Chen thought, it seems the Fourth Miss isn't as heartless as the heir apparent claimed.

"The heir apparent gave advance instructions: if Fourth Miss you come, you may first rest in his quiet chamber." Su Chen said.

Shen Shuangning gave a slight nod: "Thank you, Mr. Su, go ahead with your work."

Su Chen indeed still had official duties, knowing Shen Shuangning was familiar with the place, he bowed his farewell and left first.

Shen Shuangning, however, didn't go to the quiet chamber; she merely took Ah Heng for a casual walk along the corridors of the Office of Detention.

Although the Office of Detention is a place for investigations, it also has a few bamboo plants planted; when the wind rustles the leaves, it adds a touch of tranquility.

As they walked, a familiar figure suddenly caught her peripheral vision not far away, and her steps halted involuntarily.

Ah Heng followed her gaze and also expressed surprise: "Huh, isn't that Doctor Mu?"

Only Mu Yu was seen wearing a light purple dress, its hem brushing the blue stone slabs, carrying several bundles of medicine wrapped in brown paper, walking quickly with her head down, unaware of the people in the corridor.

Shen Shuangning signaled Ah Heng to stay quiet and quietly followed her.

This Office of Detention is an important office; not just anyone can come and go freely.

Shen Shuangning had a suspicion.

Could Mu Yu be one of Xiao Jingyuan's people?

Soon after, she saw the black-armored guards along the way treating Mu Yu with great respect, almost confirming Shen Shuangning's suspicion.

Before long, the two followed Mu Yu through two moon gates to a secluded courtyard.

Guards were stationed on either side of the courtyard, so Shen Shuangning and Ah Heng couldn't get too close; they could only watch Mu Yu disappear behind the door.

Ah Heng wondered: "How could Doctor Mu be in the Office of Detention?"

Shen Shuangning looked over and said: "Let's go see and we'll find out."

The guards dared not stop Shen Shuangning.

Mu Yu had no idea there were two little tails behind her.

She had only returned to the capital five days ago; the previous two days she had been seeing patients at Miao Shou Tang, and for convenience she had gone straight into the Office of Detention.

Xiao Jingyuan had been testing poison on himself to develop an antidote for Shen Shuangning.

The toxin left by the former hall master was overly domineering and tricky; after returning, Mu Yu took on this task, only able to formulate the antidote bit by bit and test it bit by bit.

He naturally has a special constitution that can suppress a hundred poisons; though he needn't worry about losing his life, the process is still extremely agonizing.

After all, in preparing the antidote, a bit too much or too little is deadly poison; when the toxin acts, it hurts just as much as it would for an ordinary person.

Mu Yu had long wanted to test poison on Xiao Jingyuan; since he was willing, she naturally had nothing more to say.

Though the poison on Shen Shuangning's body posed no mortal danger, it was still poison; delaying its resolution by a day meant additional discomfort.

Xiao Jingyuan naturally hoped she would be healthy and sound.

Mu Yu was bending over to weigh medicine on the scale when footsteps sounded behind her, accompanied by a familiar call: "Miss Mu."

Her whole body tensed, and the herbs in her hand nearly slipped.

She whirled around to see Shen Shuangning standing still in the doorway, wearing a lotus-green dress, her gaze calm as she looked at her.

"Fourth, Fourth Miss?" Mu Yu's face flickered with panic: "How did you come here?"

Shen Shuangning's gaze swept the interior: shelves against the wall were filled with medicine jars and herbs, a charcoal brazier in the corner was simmering medicine, its gurgling sound accompanied by a bitter medicinal aroma that permeated the air and lingered.

She withdrew her gaze, resting it on Mu Yu's face: "When did you return to the capital, Miss Mu?"

Mu Yu replied sheepishly: "I've only just returned not long ago."

Shen Shuangning said: "If you weren't seeing patients at Miao Shou Tang, how did you end up boiling medicine in the Office of Detention?"

Mu Yu gathered her composure, forced a smile, and said: "Hey, it's not that the Office of Detention people sought me out. You know, they often get injured on duty, and the prisoners in jail frequently suffer minor ailments, so Lord Xiao asked me to help with consultations for convenience. Well, I'm currently boiling anti-inflammatory medicine for the injured."

That explanation sounded perfectly reasonable, with nothing to fault.

Shen Shuangning said nothing, merely letting her gaze linger a moment longer on the steaming medicinal broth in the pot.

But just then, Qing Yun's voice came from outside; before he entered, his familiar voice drifted in:

"Little Yu, I've fetched the several detoxifying herbs you wanted; take a look and see if this is it——"

Before he finished speaking, Qing Yun lifted the curtain and entered; upon seeing the people inside, the latter half of his sentence caught in his throat, and he widened his eyes in surprise: "Fourth, Fourth Miss?"

Shen Shuangning turned her head slightly toward him, raised her eyebrows faintly, her tone revealing no emotion: "Little Yu?"

Qing Yun opened his mouth, wanting to explain: "I......"

Shen Shuangning spoke first: "She's already told me everything."

Mu Yu silently thought, "Not good," about to speak, but Qing Yun had already said it.

"You already know, little Yu is indeed the heir apparent's person; the heir apparent previously had little Yu approach you, with absolutely no ill intent, merely because the heir apparent, holding his office, must be cautious in all matters, thus......"

"So Mu Yu really is one of yours." Shen Shuangning curled the corner of her lip.

Only then did Qing Yun realize he had misspoken; his face flushed and paled alternately, and he looked toward Mu Yu as if seeking help.

Shen Shuangning also looked at Mu Yu: "So the claim that I was poisoned and needed to take medicine for ninety-nine eighty days was also false?"

Mu Yu chuckled and said: "....... Yes, but not entirely. However, rest assured, the food I'll give you later are all nourishing pills, harmless to your body."

Shen Shuangning nodded calmly, then looked at the charcoal brazier and asked: "Is this prepared for me?"

Mu Yu's eyes flickered slightly, he nodded and replied 'Yes', not daring to say another word.

"Then I'll trouble you." Shen Shuangning didn't ask further and just left like that.

Left alone, Qingyun and Mu Yu stared at each other, bewildered.

The Fourth Miss Shen was even calmer than imagined; she...... could it be that she isn't angry?

Shen Shuangning was indeed not angry; after all, at that time she clearly knew that Xiao Jingyuan did not trust her, had people sent to monitor her, which was not hard to understand.

However, being deceived is never a pleasant thing; to have her pretend it never happened is absolutely out of the question.

Therefore she borrowed the kitchen of the Office of Pacification.

Meanwhile, Chen Jia was driving his carriage to Jiangting Farm, full of ambition, intending to achieve great things in the fields.

His companion was his disciple Shitou, a young man more talented than him, with strength like an ox, a fine seedling for farming.

He was just a bit impatient, due to his poor family background, that's why he followed him to work.

If properly guided and trained, his future achievements will certainly not be low.

Shitou was driving the carriage, while Chen Jia studied the ledger inside, pondering what to do next.

At that moment, a child with sky-high braids suddenly rushed out from the grass ahead.

Shitou jumped in fright, quickly tightened the reins, and shouted angrily: "What are you doing? Do you want to die?!"

Chen Jia lifted the curtain: "What's going on?"

"I don't know, there's a little brat." Shitou looked annoyed and shouted at the child: "Kid, get out of the way!"

Seeing it was a ragged little child, Chen Jia stopped Shitou: "Don't be harsh with him."

Chen Jia, dressed in plain cloth, got off the carriage and walked over to the child, bending down to ask: "Why are you here alone? Where are your parents?"

The child, seeing his kind face, flung his arms around his thigh, looked up with a tearful face, squeezed out a few tears, and cried: "My parents abandoned me, but I have an older brother who was bitten by a poisonous snake, infected with venom, and is about to die; please, sir, save him!"

Chen Jia had no wife or children, but he loved kids; seeing this, his heart softened involuntarily.

But Shitou walked over, grabbed the child and pulled him away, then said to Chen Jia: "Master, this is a desolate wilderness; a child suddenly appearing out of nowhere is highly suspicious—we'd better not get involved."

The child was pulled and fell to the ground, yet made no sound, only staring at Chen Jia with reddened, dark eyes, unblinking, looking utterly pitiful.

Chen Jia really couldn't bear it; he gently pushed Shitou aside, went forward to help the child up, patted his dirty clothes, and asked: "Where is your older brother?"

Xiao Jingyuan returned from the palace in the evening; upon entering the office, he heard that Shen Shuangning had been busy in the kitchen all afternoon, specially preparing a full table of dishes for him.

The fatigue accumulated from recent drug trials and official duties instantly dissipated by half; a smile appeared in his eyes, his steps grew lighter, and he hurried to the dining hall.

The Office of Pacification's dining hall is located to the east, with no strict hierarchy; officials and subordinates eat in the same area, seeking liveliness and convenience.

Xiao Jingyuan rarely came here usually; first, he was swamped with work, and second, he often handled official duties late into the night, merely snacking in the study to get by.

Today he returned later than usual, already past mealtime. Seeing the heir return, and knowing the Fourth Miss had specially prepared a meal, the subordinates tacitly cleared their utensils and withdrew.

Soon the vast dining hall held only the two of them.

Shen Shuangning sat at the side arranging utensils, the table set with four dishes and one soup, steaming hot, and said to him: "You're back? Have a seat."

Xiao Jingyuan stared blankly for a moment, then lifted his foot and walked over.

Seeing her laying out the dishes for him, he said: "I can do it myself."

Shen Shuangning ladled him a full bowl of fish soup and placed it before him.

Have a taste.

Xiao Jingyuan looked at her, a wave of sweetness rose in his heart, softening the sternness in his brows and eyes a little, while he remained unaware of the impending "danger".

All right, I'll have a taste.

Outside the door, several suspicious figures peered in.

Xiao Jingyuan was in a good mood and didn't mind; he scooped a spoonful of fish soup with his spoon and put it in his mouth.

At that moment, his smile froze, he hesitated and glanced at Shen Shuangning; the soup lingered in his mouth, and he dared not swallow.

Shen Shuangning rested her chin on her hand, smiling with crescent eyes: "Is it good?"

Xiao Jingyuan forced himself to swallow the strange taste in his mouth, his throat moving with difficulty, yet he said insincerely: "...... It's good."

"Then why not keep drinking?" Shen Shuangning pushed the soup bowl toward him again, her tone carrying a hint of "sincere" expectation.

Xiao Jingyuan took a deep breath, prepared himself mentally for a full moment, steeled himself, and lifted the bowl to drink it all in one go.

Before he could recover, Shen Shuangning picked up a piece of glossy, oily braised pork and placed it in his bowl: "Try this."

Xiao Jingyuan stared at the braised pork in his bowl, oil dripping from the meat, still harboring a sliver of hope: "It's fine; maybe Ningning just isn't good at soup, but this hearty dish might turn out well."

He closed his eyes, picked up a piece of meat and took a small bite—immediately, his taste buds were overwhelmed by a cloyingly sweet flavor.

He almost spat it out.

He forced it down, holding his breath.

This meal was pure torture: the vegetables that should be salty were salty to the point of bitterness, as if a salt jar had been overturned; the fish soup that should be fresh was rancid to the point of being deadly, without even a slice of ginger; and this braised pork was cloyingly sweet to the point of sickening.

At that moment, Xiao Jingyuan's gaze swept to Mu Yu outside the door, and he paused.

Mu Yu was looking at him with an apologetic expression.

Xiao Jingyuan instantly understood what was going on.

It turned out that Shen Shuangning had done this on purpose to mess with him.

Xiao Jingyuan had no complaints; under Shen Shuangning's gaze, he picked up his chopsticks and stubbornly finished every last bit of food left on the table.

He even solemnly praised: "Ningning's cooking skills are truly excellent."

Shen Shuangning had wanted to see him beg for mercy, but she didn't expect that even a dog wouldn't eat this food, yet he finished every scrap.

Seeing his face turn green, Shen Shuangning deliberately said: "How about I come cook for you every day?"

Xiao Jingyuan choked: "How could that be? The office has cooks; there's no need for you to go to all this trouble."

Shen Shuangning looked at him for a long while, then got up to pour him tea to rinse his mouth, and then said lightly, "Don't keep placing your people around me; I am not your caged bird."

"Okay."

Xiao Jingyuan obeyed, drinking the tea she handed him.

Finally, after thinking of something else, he said, "I know you have always been unwilling to set foot in the Prince's residence; I have already had people buy the vacant residence next to the Duke's residence, which is currently under repair. After we marry, you will live there; this way, you can also often go back home to visit."

Shen Shuangning startled at his words.

She indeed harbored opposition to Prince Yan's residence, but never voiced it; he, however, had noticed.

Shen Shuangning shook her head: "How could that be? Who has a newlywed wife bring her husband to live separately right after moving in? If word got out, wouldn't people laugh?"

Perhaps upon hearing her call him "husband," Xiao Jingyuan was very pleased.

"Outside gossip doesn't matter. Ningning, you are free; you need not wrong yourself in the slightest for the marriage."

He then took her hand, clasping it in his palm, his gaze falling on her face, and earnestly emphasized, "I only want you to know that from beginning to end, I never intended to use this marriage to confine you. When the two-year period ends, the decision to stay or leave is yours."