Chapter 37

How can the latercomer be on top just because the former doesn't fight or grab!

Who is he, Gu Rongjin?

It's impossible to not contend and not grab!

Even if his wife doesn't love him, she is still his wife!

The boat hasn't even docked yet, and Gu Rongjin can't wait to jump down.

Mu Yuanzhi was about to leave when a shadow swooped in front of her; before she could see who it was, a larger cloak fell and covered her.

"Wife, don't get cold." Gu Rongjin used his own cloak to tightly cover the eye-catching garment on Mu Yuanzhi's body, leaving nothing visible, and only then was he satisfied.

Mu Yuanzhi had fallen into the water, after a verbal spat she felt dizzy and had no mind to argue with Gu Rongjin about whether she was his wife; she simply wrapped herself tightly in the large cloak.

She remained silent, so Gu Rongjin took it as consent, feeling especially pleased, he raised an eyebrow at Xiao Yichen: "Here I am, Prime Minister Xiao, don't just stand there—go over and check on your wife."

He naturally gestured toward Pei Yunxi; beside Pei Yunxi, who was surrounded by admirers like stars around the moon, stood Consort De Pei Shangling and a crowd of noble young ladies and gentlemen, plus a group of imperial physicians rushing over.

On the contrary, over here with Mu Yuanzhi, aside from Hongdou and Xiao Yichen, not even an imperial physician came to check.

Xiao Yichen was distracted for a moment; by the time he turned around, Gu Rongjin had already embraced Mu Yuanzhi and walked away.

His gaze fell on their embrace, dark and unclear.

Just now he said he'd send her back, she refused, but when Gu Rongjin sent her she agreed, and they clung to each other so intimately.

It's obvious that today he has been helping her out of trouble everywhere; where was Gu Rongjin then?

She didn't appreciate it at all, not even a word of thanks.

Jealousy grew wildly in Xiao Yichen's heart.

Pei Yunxi returned to Changle Palace, ordered all the braziers moved in front of her bed, then wrapped herself in a cotton quilt; only when she grew hot enough to sweat did she relax, fearing she'd caught a chill.

If it weren't for Mu Yuanzhi today, she wouldn't need to be so embarrassed; yet she's busy attending to Xiao Chuchu and can't deal with Mu Yuanzhi!

Pei Yunxi, full of resentment, asked the attending Xueer: "Did you have people find the Southern Border red spider I ordered?"

"In reply to the princess, we found it; that person went to great lengths to find it, but he said it's a poisonous spider—what do you want the princess to do with it?" Xueer asked, puzzled.

Pei Yunxi didn't want to say more: "All things mutually generate and overcome; whether something is poisonous or not depends on how it's used."

I don't know if it's because the quilt is wrapped too tightly, but I keep feeling itchy somewhere.

Pei Yunxi twisted her body while curled up in the blankets.

Xueer nodded, half-understanding.

"Hurry up and bring it over for me to look at." Pei Yunxi urged.

Xueer nodded, but when she returned she was flustered; seeing her expression, Pei Yunxi had a bad feeling: "What's wrong?"

"Princess, the red spider is gone!"

"What?!" Pei Yunxi almost couldn't hold back from cursing.

This stupid maid can't even handle a small matter.

Xueer, clutching an empty glass bottle, was anxious like ants on a hot pan, and went off to search in a flustered manner.

Who knows where this red spider ran off to!

Just then, Pei Yunxi felt something bite her arm; she winced and let out a low cry, inwardly thinking, "Oh no."

Xueer widened her eyes, a bad feeling washing over her.

Could it be…

Mistress and maid, in tacit understanding, flung back the quilt and saw a red spider lying still on Pei Yunxi's snow‑white arm, motionless except for a few legs twitching.

Xueer cried out and fell to sit on the ground.

Pei Yunxi sucked in a breath, cold sweat pouring forth, her whole body feeling as if plunged into an ice cellar.

"Princess, don't be afraid, I'll go fetch the imperial physician right away!" Xueer scrambled, rolling and crawling, unable to stand.

But Pei Yunxi quickly calmed down, suppressing fear and nausea, she slapped the red spider to the ground and told Xueer: "First throw it into the Vermilion Bird Lake in Shanglin Park."

This kind of Southern Border red spider can swim.

"Princess?" Xueer didn't understand what Pei Yunxi meant.

"Just do as I say; remember not to let anyone know. After releasing the red spider, go to the Imperial Medical Institute and summon a physician." Pei Yunxi endured the pain of the toxin invading bit by bit, calmly instructing Xueer.

Perhaps it was her overly calm expression; Xueer also steadied her mind, nodded, and went to do as told.

Pei Yunxi curled the corner of her mouth.

The time for revenge has come, hasn't it?

Wait for it, Mu Yuanzhi.

At this moment, Mu Yuanzhi didn't yet know that Pei Yunxi had set her sights on her again; she drank a clear‑cold soup and was giving herself acupuncture.

Fortunately she knows medicine; otherwise, with the Imperial Medical Institute quickly becoming Pei Yunxi's personal medical team, she wouldn't know how to delay her condition.

Linglong grew angrier the more she thought, and also more distressed: "Master, your illness keeps flaring up one wave after another—how can it ever be healed?"

"It'll be fine." Mu Yuanzhi silently withdrew the needle.

As long as one lives, there's no obstacle that can't be overcome.

Linglong was infected by Mu Yuanzhi's strength, no longer sighing, she went off to busy herself.

That evening, when Xiao Nianzi came in to attend, he brought shocking news: "Master, I heard the person in Changle Palace has been poisoned!"

"Poisoned?" How could the perfectly fine Pei Yunxi be poisoned?

This woman's daily life and diet are strictly controlled; how could she possibly be poisoned?

"It's said she fell into the Vermilion Bird Lake today and was bitten by the Southern Border red spider inside, which is why she's poisoned." Xiao Nianzi continued.

"The Vermilion Bird Lake is a private lake in the imperial gardens; how could it possibly have this Southern Border red spider?" Too strange.

"That's what the people of Changle Palace say; the commander of the palace guards has already found this red spider at the bottom of the lake after draining the water."

Mu Yuanzhi furrowed her brows; this Southern Border red spider is a poisonous creature whose toxin is not strong and acts slowly, but once the toxin spreads throughout the body, there is still no cure.

The most deadly part is that, nowadays, they simply haven't managed to research an antidote for it!

By rights, Pei Yunxi should be taking pleasure in this unsolvable poison she's been hit with, but the whole affair is just too suspicious—she can't bring herself to feel happy.

Before Mu Yuanzhi could think much further, Xiao Yunzi rushed in to report: "My lady, the emperor has sent someone to deliver a message, ordering you to go to Changle Palace at once!"

As expected, this matter will surely drag her in!

Mu Yuanzhi knew full well that, as an expert in making and curing poisons, the emperor would surely think of her when he was at a loss.

But she has never studied this kind of poisonous spider, let alone its antidote; even if she wanted to save them, she couldn't.

Moreover, the toxin won't cause a full-body outbreak for more than ten days—such a short time, even immortals would be hard-pressed to find a cure, wouldn't they?

But she can't not go—now it's really troublesome.

Hongdou and the others naturally know this is a big deal; they told their mistress that going over would surely bring no good; Xiao Yunzi asked, "My lady, should we go and inform the Grand Empress Dowager?"