Chapter 72: Probe

In my view, her herbal cuisine shop won't stay open for long at all.

Steward Zhao did say we should look after them a lot, and as a face‑saving gesture for the Zhao family we have to make a visit.

These words were occasionally heard by Chi Nan Yi; Chi Huai Qian, hurrying the carriage, pursed his lips and said, "Little sister, have you ever heard of herbal cuisine?"

Chi Nan Yi hadn't spoken about opening a shop yet, so they naturally didn't know the shop belonged to Chi Nan Yi.

From what she recalled, her grandmother and parents weren't very supportive of going to the town, so she thought she'd wait until everything settled before saying anything; if they opposed, it wouldn't work.

"Hmm, what's up?"

"I don't know which big head thought of opening an herbal cuisine shop; can something made from medicinal herbs even taste good?"

After Chi Huai Qian finished speaking, there was a long silence before Chi Nan Yi responded.

He thought Chi Nan Yi hadn't heard clearly, so he repeated it louder.

Soon a cold, eerie voice came from behind: "Big head?"

"Yes! Medicinal herbs are already hard to eat, and making them into rice only makes it even harder to swallow."

"How did you find this morning's meal?"

"Little sister's cooking is naturally top‑notch; I actually ate three whole bowls of porridge."

"Heh, it's terrible yet you managed three bowls?"

"Huh? How could it be terrible? The porridge Little sister makes is the best in the world, how could it be bad? Only something made by that big head could be awful."

When he finished, Chi Huai Qian sensed something was off; a cold draft brushed his neck.

He blinked, replayed the conversation, then gripped the reins hard and exclaimed, "So the herbal cuisine shop—did you open it?"

"Heh, don't call me little sister from now on; call me big head." Chi Nan Yi slammed the carriage door shut.

Chi Huai Qian scratched his head, realizing he'd offended little sister.

When Chi Nan Yi administered acupuncture to Mo Junyan, she was still fuming, her smile vanished.

"Who has upset this little girl?"

"Prince, after today's acupuncture, your legs will be completely healed, and the commoner girl won't need to come again." She produced two porcelain bottles: "The red one contains ten pills; each taken will cause leg congestion symptoms, which will subside on their own in about five days if ignored. The white one, when taken, will make the leg congestion disappear."

"Completely healed?"

"So you mean after today you won't come back?"

Chi Nan Yi nodded as if it were obvious: "Prince's body is already healed, so the commoner girl is no longer needed."

Mo Junyan heard this and clenched both fists slightly.

His face revealed neither joy nor sorrow, yet his heart was already in complete turmoil.

"How could he not be needed?"

"Before, I failed to protect her…"

"I heard you're opening an herbal cuisine shop."

"Yes." Chi Nan Yi's eyes shifted, wondering how she could have forgotten such a massive Buddha.

"When the shop opens, if Prince is willing to grace us with his presence, it will be an honor for the commoner girl."

"Fine." Mo Junyan nodded: "This Prince will definitely patronize it."

"There's another matter." Mo Junyan looked at her, a faint light flashing in his eyes: "I heard the Crown Prince developed a very hard‑to‑cure red rash, the symptoms identical to Steward Zhao's."

"Is that so?" Chi Nan Yi blinked: "I'm just a commoner; I have no way of learning about the Crown Prince's affairs."

"Little liar." Mo Junyan smiled lightly: "The red rash on Zhao Anqi came from your hand; don't tell me you don't know."

Chi Nan Yi stood there speechless.

Under Mo Junyan's scorching gaze, Chi Nan Yi cleared her throat a few times: "Prince, what would you like to ask?"

"This Prince is somewhat curious." Mo Junyan stood up, leaning slightly forward, the distance between them shrinking, a hint of inquiry in his eyes: "Do you have any grudges with the Crown Prince?"

"Prince, whatever you say, I don't understand." Chi Nan Yi stepped back a few paces, avoiding his gaze.

"If there's no grudge, why would you risk exterminating an entire clan to poison the Crown Prince?" Seeing her evasive eyes, Mo Junyan's inquisitiveness deepened; eager for an answer, he stepped forward: "You haven't answered This Prince's question. Should I call you Chi Nan Yi or Meng Nanyi?"

Chi Nan Yi heard this and looked up brightly.

She should have known already that he had investigated her identity before letting her treat him.

"Commoner girl Chi Nan Yi, the surname Meng is already a thing of the past, a fleeting dream."

"I heard Prime Minister Meng long ago intended to betroth his legitimate daughter to the Crown Prince; now you act like this toward the Crown Prince—do you resent him for not recognizing you, or is there an old grudge?"

Chi Nan Yi was pondering how to answer when he murmured: "If there's a lingering grudge, This Prince could certainly avenge you, after all, Miss Chi is This Prince's lifesaver."

Chi Nan Yi heard this, the corners of her eyebrows slightly raised.

"Is this to avenge herself, or merely a pretext for him to profit while claiming to help?"

"The commoner girl has no grudge with the Crown Prince; whatever Prime Minister Meng thinks, I don't know and don't wish to know. While in Jingcheng, I never met His Highness the Crown Prince."

Hearing that, Mo Junyan nodded: "Seems This Prince was overthinking."

Chi Nan Yi saw he didn't press further and let out a long sigh.

The original owner apparently had no connection with Prince Li, so he shouldn't suspect anything.

"I never expected Prime Minister Meng to let you study medicine. When I was previously in Jingcheng, I only heard that the Minister's Residence legitimate daughter was renowned for her beauty, a beauty that topped the city; such advanced medical skill was never mentioned by anyone."

"Here it comes."

Chi Nan Yi already knew Prince Li was not someone easy to fool.

Her expression unchanged, she smiled lightly: "I learned it in secret; Prime Minister Meng is unaware."

"I see, you learned it secretly." Mo Junyan nodded: "No wonder you're Jingcheng's top prodigy; you can master medicine without a teacher."

From his tone it was clear he didn't believe it.

Chi Nan Yi herself knew such an explanation held no persuasive power.

But even if he doesn't believe, what can he do? No matter how omniscient Mo Junyan is, he can't guess her true identity, so when Chi Nan Yi lies she feels no pressure at all. Yet this also serves as a warning to stay vigilant before Mo Junyan; trying to fool him is as hard as reaching the heavens.

"Have you ever considered opening this shop in Jingcheng?"

Chi Nan Yi's motions of arranging the medicine box halted.

"Open in Jingcheng? Your Highness hasn't yet tasted a common woman's handiwork..."

"You're not a careless person; since you want to open a shop, I suppose the flavor must be excellent."

Chi Nan Yi gave him a somewhat surprised glance.

He spoke as if he understood her perfectly.

"First, let's properly open this shop; as the ancients said, never be overly ambitious."

"Miss Chi, you are indeed down-to-earth," Mo Junyan said with a smile. "However, This Prince has a question: Miss Chi, would you take private commissions?"

"The Prince's meaning is..."

"This Prince now wishes to taste Miss Chi's cooking; I wonder if Miss Chi would be willing?"

"Willing, you sister."

He still wants me to personally prepare a medicinal meal for him now—how can he be so bold?

She was just about to refuse when Mo Junyan produced a box: "Miss Chi, if you agree, everything inside will be yours."