Chapter 125: The One She Admires

"If so many people's lives must be sacrificed for my sake alone, even if I survive, my conscience could never be at peace."

Chi Nan Yi had guessed this would be the outcome, and nodded: "Alright, since that is the case, I will not force you. However, before you set out, did the Emperor of Yuqin Guo give you any instructions?"

Qin Yue xi heard this and nodded gently: "That's right. The Emperor told me to find every possible way to marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's residence."

Sure enough.

"Did he say anything else?"

"The Emperor said that as long as I marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's residence, he would not make things difficult for anyone in the Qin family, but if I do not comply, the Qin family..." She did not finish the rest of her words, but from her expression it was not hard to see that if she failed to do so, the Qin family's fate would not be good.

"Dog Emperor," Chi Nan Yi said coldly. "Making a child who has not yet come of age marry for political alliance — has everyone in Yuqin Guo died out?"

Hearing her say this, Qin Yue xi's expression changed drastically. She reached out to cover her mouth, but then remembered that the person before her was a man, and felt it inappropriate: "Young master, please do not let others hear those words — it will cost you your head."

Seeing her timid appearance, Chi Nan Yi smiled and said: "Call me sister."

"What? Sister?"

"I am not a man. I simply dress this way because it makes traveling easier."

"No wonder. I felt a sense of closeness when I looked at you." Hearing that she was a woman, Qin Yue xi relaxed even more.

"Have you truly decided to marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's residence?"

At the mention of this matter, the smile on Qin Yue xi's face suddenly stiffened. The smile that had just risen froze, and she sighed, saying with some helplessness: "What else can I do?"

"You have not yet come of age. Even if you were truly sent here for a political marriage, it would have to wait until after you come of age — there is still nearly a year's time. If you do not wish to marry, you still have a chance."

"I still have a chance? Truly?"

"That's right." Qin Yue xi's eyes lit up, and she smiled: "Sister means I still have a chance to marry someone else?"

"Someone else?" Chi Nan Yi looked at the light in her eyes and could not help but laugh: "You already have someone you wish to marry?"

"Mm!" Qin Yue xi nodded firmly: "I do. He is also from your Daqi."

"Who?" Chi Nan Yi had a very strong premonition that the person she wanted to marry was perhaps someone she knew.

"Prince Li, Mo Junyan."

Sure enough, it was him.

"Prince Chen is not young anymore. Why would you want to marry him?"

Qin Yue xi was just about to answer when Mou Hanqin's voice sounded from outside the door: "Divine Doctor, how is she?"

Chi Nan Yi took out a pill: "Swallow it."

Qin Yue xi did not suspect anything and swallowed the pill.

As the pill entered her stomach, her vision gradually grew hazy.

Before long, she fell into a deep sleep.

Chi Nan Yi opened the door, and Mou Hanqin's gaze kept drifting toward the room.

"Divine Doctor Nan, how is our Princess?"

"It can be treated, but it will take some time."

"Please, Divine Doctor, do your utmost to help the Princess recover as soon as possible."

"Alright." Chi Nan Yi nodded and extended her hand toward Mou Hanqin. Seeing her gesture, Mou Hanqin was somewhat puzzled: "Divine Doctor, this is..."

"The consultation fee," Chi Nan Yi said with a half-smile. "Surely you are not planning to default on payment, sir?"

"Of course not." Mou Hanqin had a guard bring silver notes: "Here is one hundred taels."

"Yuqin Guo is truly generous." As Chi Nan Yi's words fell, a flash of pride crossed Mou Hanqin's face: "Since it is for treating our Princess, the consultation fee naturally will not shortchange the Divine Doctor."

Chi Nan Yi nodded and handed the silver notes to Lanxi: "This little bit of silver is your reward."

Watching Chi Nan Yi's action, Mou Hanqin's expression stiffened.

She...

Was this gesture mocking them for giving too little silver?

But right now, everything they had brought with them had been completely looted, and the little silver remaining was needed for their journey — where would they find so much more money to pay the consultation fee?

"To tell the truth, everything we brought has been stolen. I do not know which petty thief was so audacious as to steal our belongings right from under our noses. Rest assured, Divine Doctor — once we find the things we brought, your consultation fee will certainly not be shortchanged."

Find the treasures they brought?

Then they had no chance.

Once the treasures entered the spatial realm, even if they searched heaven and earth, it would be impossible for them to find them.

"Then take your time looking, sir. I will come again tomorrow to treat the Princess."

Over the next few days, Chi Nan Yi came to the post house every day to treat Qin Yue xi. Each time she administered treatment, Qin Yue xi would briefly regain consciousness.

It was not that Chi Nan Yi did not want to keep her conscious the entire time. After all, Qin Yue xi was still young, and facing an old fox like Mou Hanqin, she would inevitably let slip something incriminating. By using the opportunity of treating her daily, Chi Nan Yi had actually gleaned quite a bit of information about Yuqin Guo.

"When did the poison in your body first begin to act up?"

Judging from the degree of her poisoning, the Falling Moon Poison had not been in her body for long — she must have been poisoned after leaving Yuqin Guo. Ordinarily, after the Falling Moon Poison entered a person's body, it would take a very long time before it acted up. But Qin Yue xi had a special constitution — an extremely rare Ultimate Yin Body — so the Falling Moon Poison acted up very quickly within her.

This was perhaps something even the person who administered the poison had not anticipated.

"I traveled the whole way without feeling any discomfort. I fainted the moment I arrived at the post house. If I had to say when the poison acted up, I suppose it was then."

Chi Nan Yi nodded: "This is the last pill. After you take it, the poison in your body will be considered cured."

"Thank you, sister." A smile rose on Qin Yue xi's face: "Sister, have you ever met His Highness Prince Li?"

Chi Nan Yi's hand, which was organizing her medicine chest, paused. Aside from the first day when Qin Yue xi had mentioned Mo Junyan to her, she had not brought it up again these past two days, and Chi Nan Yi had not deliberately pressed the matter. For some reason, ever since she learned that the person Qin Yue xi wished to marry was Mo Junyan, she did not want to discuss the topic anymore.

"Mm, I have." Chi Nan Yi's voice was calm, making it apparent she was not enthusiastic about the subject.

"Is he still as tall and imposing, as handsome and dashing as the rumors say?"

Chi Nan Yi thought about it — tall and imposing... that should be about right! As for handsome and dashing, she had never even seen his face, so how would she know whether he was handsome or not? That mask he wore was quite handsome, though.

Seeing her expectant expression, Chi Nan Yi rubbed the tip of her nose: "More or less."

"I knew it."

"You don't even know whether he is handsome or not, so how can you want to marry him?"

"I saw him several years ago, and was struck at first glance as if by a celestial being. Back then I thought, how wonderful it would be if one day I could marry a man like that. But he is Prince Li of Daqi, while I am merely the daughter of a minister of Yuqin Guo—how could I ever have the chance? I never in my wildest dreams imagined that now I would go to Daqi for a marriage alliance in this capacity. Though the one the Emperor has me marry is the young lord of the Duke of Zhen's estate, just to catch a distant glimpse of him would be enough for me." She rested her chin in her hand, her eyes full of longing: "How wonderful it would be if the one in this marriage alliance were him?"