Chapter 116: Following

"What... what are you doing?" Caihuan said in alarm. "You want to kill me? Didn't you just say that if I told you, you'd spare my life? How can you go back on your word?"

"Heh, what, you're allowed to betray me but I'm not allowed to go back on my word?" Ru Lan gripped her chin with one hand and forced the tea laced with heartbreak grass powder down her throat with the other. "The fate of one who betrays their master should be exactly this."

"You... you..." At that moment, a wave of cramping pain surged through her abdomen. Caihuan's body went limp uncontrollably, and within a few breaths, she breathed her last.

Ru Lan clenched her fists tightly, her body trembling slightly.

If not for the Southern First Young Master just now, the one in this miserable state would have been herself.

Thinking of this, Ru Lan knelt down without hesitation. "Thank you, Southern First Young Master, for saving me. This life of mine was saved by you, Young Master. From this day forward, I am willing to acknowledge you as my master and follow you loyally."

Hearing this, Chi Nan Yi gave a faint smile. "I have no intention of interfering with your Millennium Pavilion."

"The Millennium Pavilion... I'm afraid it can no longer continue to operate. I am willing to change my identity and leave with you, Young Master."

She spoke the truth. Ru Lan had unilaterally severed ties with Mo Junheng—how could Mo Junheng accept that? The vast information network that was on the verge of completion had fallen apart just like that. He would surely launch a frenzied retaliation. If Ru Lan did not leave, it would not be long before she lost her life to him as well. Though she was the Pavilion Master of the Millennium Pavilion, how could she possibly contend against the Crown Prince, whose power and influence were overwhelming?

"If you wish to follow me, that is fine. But everything you currently possess must be started anew. Moreover, I have always been cautious. If you follow me, you must abide by my rules." She took out a pill. "This is a poison, but as long as you take the antidote regularly every month, you will be fine for the rest of your life. However, if you betray me, your fate will be far worse than your maid's. Knowing this, are you still willing to follow me?"

"I am willing." She took the pill without hesitation and swallowed it. "I am willing to follow you, Young Master, and never betray you."

"Good." Chi Nan Yi nodded. "In that case, you may simply follow along. But there is one more thing I must tell you first."

"What is it?"

Chi Nan Yi removed the hairpin from her head, and her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Ru Lan was startled as she looked at the stunningly beautiful woman before her.

She was a woman?

"As you can see, my real name is not Nan Yi. I am called Chi Nan Yi."

Ru Lan smiled and said, "This subordinate was clumsy-eyed and failed to see that you are a young lady."

"I am about to set out for Nanpu. Are you willing to go together?"

"I am willing." Ru Lan looked back at the Millennium Pavilion, a hint of reluctance in her eyes. "I imagine it won't be long before the Crown Prince learns of what happened at the Millennium Pavilion. This subordinate will pack her belongings today and leave with you, miss."

"Good."

Ru Lan was a decisive and efficient person. That very day, she withdrew all her assets from the silver shop, dismissed everyone in the Millennium Pavilion, and quickly sold it off. In just half a day, she had dealt with everything. By the time she left, the entire Millennium Pavilion was already emptied of people.

When the Crown Prince's men found this place, the Millennium Pavilion had already changed hands. The new owner was dismantling its original decorations.

And Ru Lan had already set out on the road to Nanpu with Chi Nan Yi.

Chi Nan Yi was still dressed in men's attire. Chi Shao yuan looked at her with a half-smile. "As expected of Brother Nan Yi, your charm is truly immense. I had heard that the manager of the Millennium Pavilion had a cold and proud temperament, and would only play the zither for those who caught her eye. Now she is actually at Brother Nan Yi's side—truly boundless charm!"

"Brother Shao yuan, you flatter me. I simply felt an immediate affinity with Ru Lan, and besides, she is no longer called Ru Lan now. She is called Lanxi."

"Miss Lanxi, I have been presumptuous."

"Young Master Chi, there is no need to apologize."

Chi Nan Yi looked at Chi Shao yuan's complexion, which was much rosier than before, and said with a smile, "Brother Shao yuan's body should be much lighter than before."

"Indeed." Chi Shao yuan nodded. "Thanks to Brother Nan Yi's medicine, in all these years, I have never slept so well."

"There is still some distance before a full recovery, but as long as you keep taking the medicine, you will soon recover to be no different from an ordinary person."

Hearing this, Chi Shao yuan's eyes lit up. "Truly?"

"Indeed."

"Wonderful!" Chi Shao yuan grabbed Chi Nan Yi's hand and said excitedly, "Wonderful! Truly wonderful!"

Lanxi saw this and her eyelid twitched. Their master was a young lady—for Young Master Chi to act like this was rather improper.

How could Chi Shao yuan know that this savior before his eyes was a young lady? He patted her shoulder one moment and clapped her back the next, making Lanxi frown straight.

Nanpu was not far from Qingjun County. Heading south from Qingjun County all the way, one entered Nanpu territory after crossing the border.

The Chi Family was considered a first-rate noble house in Nanpu. Before the carriage even reached the capital, a group of Chi Family servants was already waiting there.

"Second Young Master." The leading guard saw the carriage and hurried forward. "You are finally back. Where is Divine Doctor Xiao?"

Chi Shao yuan lifted the carriage curtain and said in a low voice, "On this trip, I did not find Divine Doctor Xiao, but I found another Divine Doctor whose medical skills are no inferior to Divine Doctor Xiao's."

The guard saw Chi Nan Yi's youthful face and could not help but feel doubtful.

Had the Second Young Master lost his mind? Such a young physician—no matter how high his medical skills, how high could they be? How could he compare to Divine Doctor Xiao?

"Young Master..."

"How is my grandfather?"

The guard shook his head. "Not well."

"Not well" meant he was on the verge of passing.

Chi Shao yuan's heart tightened, and he looked back with panicked eyes.

"Let's see first before discussing," Chi Nan Yi urged. "Do not waste time here."

The guard raised his horsewhip, and the convoy sped quickly toward the Chi Family.

After galloping for about half a shichen, the carriage finally entered the capital and stopped in front of the Chi Family.

Unlike those military noble houses, just looking at the architecture, one could feel a rich scholarly atmosphere.

"The Second Young Master is back! The Second Young Master is back!"

Everyone in the Chi Family knew that Chi Shao yuan had gone to invite Divine Doctor Xiao. Seeing him return, they assumed he had found Divine Doctor Xiao, and every one of them was very excited.

But everyone had already walked inside, and no one who looked like Divine Doctor Xiao could be seen.

"Shao yuan, this is..." The Chi Family's Eldest Young Master, Chi Xingzhi, stepped forward and looked at Chi Nan Yi behind him, his brow tightly furrowed. "Who are they?"

"This is the Divine Doctor I invited to examine my grandfather."

"Nonsense!" Chi Xingzhi's brow furrowed tightly. "So young—how can he treat Grandfather? Where is Divine Doctor Xiao? Why didn't he come with you?"

"Eldest Brother, I searched all over Jingcheng and could not find any trace of Divine Doctor Xiao. So I hurried from Jingcheng toward Nanpu, searching along the way, but still could not find him. However, I met Brother Nan Yi, whose medical skills are no inferior to Divine Doctor Xiao's."

"How is that possible..."

"The illness on my body was cured by Brother Nan Yi."

Hearing this, Chi Xingzhi could not help but be stunned. "Second Brother, you mean... your body has recovered?"

Yeah! Even the breath when speaking is much fuller, big brother—haven't you noticed?

A flicker of wild joy flashed in Chi Xingzhi's eyes; just then, behind Chi Xingzhi came the voice of their father, Chi Xianshi, which also carried a slight tremor: "Child, what is your name?"