Chapter 302: Side Story 3: Mo Yunyan

Side Story 3: Mo Yunyan

"What's wrong?"

Seeing the shocked look in her eyes, Mo Junyan frowned slightly and asked, "Where does it hurt?"

"Think carefully—when your mother‑consort was still alive, was there anything amiss?"

"Amiss?"

"What I mean is... whether there is any similarity between us."

"With you..." Mo Junyan's pupils narrowed sharply, and in a deep voice he said, "You mean that your mother‑consort, like you, is also a person who crossed over?"

"Exactly. Today the Emperor said that your mother‑consort once uttered the same words as I did. If she were a woman of this era, under such rites she would never have spoken such rebellious words. Moreover, she advocated women entering official service, which already contradicts current proprieties. The only explanation that fits is that your mother‑consort is also a person who crossed over."

Mo Junyan nodded, "That's right. If, as you say, your mother‑consort is also..." Before he could finish, his brow tightened, "After your mother‑consort's suicide, she..."

"When I was in the Southern Frontier, I met a very mysterious old man who instantly recognized that I came from another world. He might know something about your mother‑consort."

Chi Nan Yi did not notice that when she mentioned that old man, Mo Junyan's complexion shifted slightly.

Today's inquiry was left unresolved, and before the two could even leave the palace, a young eunuch hurried over with an anxious expression.

"Crown Prince, something's happened."

"What is it?"

"Eldest Princess, the Eldest Princess—she..."

Without waiting for him to finish, Chi Nan Yi and Mo Junyan hurried toward Mo Yunyan's chambers.

At that moment, the Imperial Physician was solemnly taking her pulse.

"Alas."

Bì'er, who was beside Mo Yunyan, saw this and was on the verge of sobbing.

"Sir, how is our Princess? Don't just sigh! Please speak!"

Doctor Wen shook his head, "The Princess is poisoned deep in her lungs; no medicine can cure her. We can only prepare for the aftermath."

Hearing this, Bì'er couldn't help but cry, "Princess! Princess! Princess, wake up! Princess!"

Chi Nan Yi and the other reached the doorway and heard Bì'er's heart‑rending cries.

She hurriedly pushed open the door and saw the maids in the room all kneeling, weeping softly.

Doctor Wen, seeing her enter, quickly saluted, "Your Excellency."

He is Chi Nan Yi's direct subordinate; since she returned from the Southern Frontier, he has been going daily to the Imperial Pharmacy to answer the court physicians' questions, imparting all his knowledge.

The court physicians who had previously objected because she was a woman were now sincerely impressed.

Among them, Doctor Wen admired her the most.

Thus, even though she had become the Crown Princess, he still addressed her as "Your Excellency."

"How is the Eldest Princess?"

"I have already examined the Eldest Princess's pulse; the toxin has spread throughout her body. No medicine can cure her."

Bì'er knelt beside Chi Nan Yi, repeatedly kowtowing, "Crown Princess, please, you must save the Eldest Princess."

She went to the bedside and placed her hand on her wrist.

At that moment, the pulse beneath her fingertips had already ceased.

Chi Nan Yi took out Spirit Spring Water and poured it into her mouth.

After a few cups of Spirit Spring Water entered her stomach, the previously stopped pulse showed a slight flutter.

She drew a Silver Needle and inserted it into the meridian points around her body.

Using internal force to drive them, all the Silver Needles began to tremble vigorously.

She lost track of time; enough time passed that her arms grew a bit sore.

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of black blood spurted from her mouth, trailing along her lip corner onto the pillow.

"Huh..."

She exhaled deeply, her complexion no longer as pallid as before.

Chi Nan Yi knew that her life had been saved.

Doctor Wen, seeing this, couldn't help but exclaim, "A miraculous hand revives spring! Your Excellency truly has a miraculous hand!"

Chi Nan Yi merely gave a faint smile.

She knew well that she was not a miraculous healer; she merely relied on spatial techniques.

Nevertheless, Mo Yunyan survived.

After a short while, the person lying on the bed slowly awoke.

She opened her eyes and saw Chi Nan Yi; her eyes instantly reddened.

"Chi Nan Yi."

"I'm here."

"You saved me."

"Mm."

"Chi Nan Yi, I'm sorry." After the words, two clear tears slipped down as Mo Yunyan choked, "I know I shouldn't ask for your forgiveness, but..."

"I understand." Chi Nan Yi's face bore a faint smile, "It's not your fault."

"But ultimately it was my birth mother who killed your entire family, leaving you alone and helpless."

"Indeed, but what does that have to do with you? At that time you were still a child, weren't you?"

"I hate it, I hate that such filthy blood runs in me. Mother‑consort treated me exceedingly well; I was raised at her knee from childhood as if I were her own daughter, taught me to read and write, taught me principles, never once harshly rebuked me for not being her biological child, but..."

"I told you, none of this is your fault. Why do you torment yourself? No one blames you; the real mastermind is already dead, the Situ Family's fate cannot be reversed, so why risk your own life repenting for sins that have nothing to do with you? Aren't you just making those who love you suffer even more?" Chi Nan Yi pulled her wrist and pressed firmly at the middle of her forearm.

Mo Yunyan winced in pain, her brow furrowing.

"What's this?"

"Gu, you have gu inside your body." Just then, while taking her pulse, Chi Nan Yi sensed the gu insects within her: "If I'm not mistaken, the gu insects in your body were planted by the Zhao clan. This type of gu is the Mother of Ten Thousand Gu. The person who plants such gu can nourish ten thousand gu with their blood. You were born of her; if your blood is used to feed them, those gu will be driven by her. Over time, she will also be able to drive you. Therefore, she gave birth to you with a purpose from the start. She intends to use you to control the whole Daqi, and once she obtains everything she wants, she will not spare your life."

Mo Yunyan's body shivered a bit: "Do you mean... I have gu insects inside my body?"

"That's right. Do you want to take this gu out?"

Mo Yunyan nodded without hesitation: "Could you help me?"

Chi Nan Yi gave no answer, merely picked up the scalpel and cut at her elbow.

He took out the pre‑prepared gu‑extracting potion and applied it to the wound; soon, under the skin of the arm a soybean‑sized lump rose, that little lump kept moving, and before long a golden, round, plump thing emerged from the incision.

Chi Nan Yi, with quick eyes and swift hands, used tweezers to extract it and placed it into a porcelain bottle.

As the gu left her body, Mo Yunyan felt her body become much lighter.

"Nan Yi, thank you."

"Sister Yunyan, why so formal with me?" She shook the porcelain bottle, smiling: "To be honest, this is a good thing; it can be deadly, yet it can also cure illness."

"Sister Yunyan, what are your plans next?"

"I want to go to the northwestern desert."

"Why go there?"

"In the early years, General Bai and Situ General fought in the northwest, suffering unbearably, yet still failed to fully pacify the northwest. This life of mine was given by my mother queen, and I also owe debts to the Bai family and the Situ family. For the rest of my life, I only wish to atone; if I can achieve something, it will be under the protection of my mother queen's spirit in heaven; if I die on the battlefield, that is also where my heart lies."

"The northwest is bitterly cold and often has sandstorms."

"I know, but I do not regret it."