Chapter 390: Racing Against Time, Taking a Shortcut

Life is of utmost importance; Gu Xixi sprang up from bed quickly.

While dressing, she listened to He Jinglan explain what had happened.

According to the secret guard of the prince's mansion, Mu Nan Zhao returned to the mansion tonight; as he stepped down from the carriage, he already seemed a bit off.

His face was faintly flushed, and his steps occasionally staggered.

Yet he walked very quickly.

Just as he had just passed the second gate, he suddenly stopped and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Seeing the shocking blood under the moonlight, the attendants were greatly alarmed.

But they had no time to inquire; they only saw the prince rush into the inner court like a gust of wind.

The guards and servants hurriedly gave chase.

The door of the small study slammed shut.

They anxiously knocked on the door; after a long while, Mu Nan Zhao finally responded from inside.

He Jinglan said, "He ordered everyone to withdraw from the inner court and not to call a doctor."

"The guards could do nothing; upon leaving, they heard things falling inside the room, were genuinely worried, and had to come overnight to fetch my brother."

Gu Xixi was already dressed neatly, her hair casually tied into a neat ponytail.

"He's vomited blood and still won't see a doctor? Does he not want to live?"

"Besides, why is it always him who gets poisoned?"

"He was almost killed by poison before; at least he should have learned from that mishap and taken more precautions!"

Her mind was in turmoil; she felt that only by constantly complaining could she ease her tension a little.

Gu Xixi spoke while picking up her small cross-body cloth bag, quickly checking its contents.

All the medicines she had brought with her were there.

Finally, Gu Xixi pulled out a packet of silver needles from the bundle that held her clothes.

This was something the old doctor insisted she bring.

I never expected there would be a chance to use it.

He Jinglan saw Gu Xixi out, whispering, "The Regent Prince is second only to the emperor, above all others; no matter how tight his defenses, there will always be a loophole, and it's hard to guard against someone scheming to harm him secretly."

Gu Xixi nodded slightly, "I know, I don't mean to blame him."

He Jinglan continued, "Both the prince's mansion and my family have our usual doctors; he doesn't even trust them, so the situation is probably serious."

"Now, besides you and me, and the secret guards and deadly warriors of the two mansions, we cannot let anyone else know his condition."

While they were speaking, the two had already walked out of the corridor.

A black-clad secret guard stood silently in the shadows, waiting.

Gu Xixi stopped, looked up at the high wall to the east.

She remembered that Mu Nan Zhao had once climbed over this wall to come in.

Gu Xixi turned to the secret guard, "Can your skill bring a person over the wall?"

"It's best to take a shortcut, to save time."

Regent Prince's mansion, inner court.

Gu Xixi landed again, feeling as if her feet were stepping on cotton, and she felt a bit nauseous and dizzy.

Before, she only knew motion sickness from cars, boats, and planes.

But tonight, she, who never got carsick, experienced "person-sickness" for the first time.

The secret guard, observing the avoidance of suspicion between men and women, held only the back of Gu Xixi's collar the whole way.

He pushed off the wall for leverage, lifted Gu Xixi and flew over the courtyard wall; upon landing, he immediately used his lightness skill to sprint.

Upon encountering the next wall, he pushed off again to take flight, landing and running at full speed.

He repeated this over and over.

This secret guard's skill is indeed strong; his movements are light, agile, and fluid, with no pause whatsoever.

This truly met Gu Xixi's request to take a shortcut and save time.

Later, Gu Xixi was so dizzy she couldn't even count how many walls she had crossed.

"Boss Gu, this is the study." The secret guard respectfully clasped his fists.

Gu Xixi refused to show weakness at this moment, forcing down her nausea as she dragged her legs toward the house before her.

She held the door panel, quietly took a few breaths, and said, "Kick the door."

The young secret guard was momentarily confused, then panicked, "Ah?"

"I said kick the door!" Gu Xixi emphasized her tone, "If he investigates, I'll take the blame!"

"You don't want to wait until tomorrow morning to collect his corpse, do you?"

The secret guard's eyes suddenly focused, and he made up his mind.

He lifted his foot and kicked; though it seemed he didn't use much force, the two doors split at the seam and collapsed with a bang.

Gu Xixi stepped onto the broken door bolts and walked in, meanwhile saying, "He ordered you to withdraw from the inner court."

"Just stand guard outside the courtyard."

"If needed, I'll call for help."

For some reason, the secret guard who always obeyed only the Regent Prince had no hesitation in following Gu Xixi's orders.

He said "yes" and quickly disappeared.

Gu Xixi was still visiting this place for the first time; she took out her fire striker and, feeling around, found the desk and lamp stand.

While continually speaking to bolster her courage, she called out, "Mu Nan Zhao!"

"Chen Fang!"

"Regent Prince!!"

"If you're still alive, squeak once, or take a breath so I can hear it!"

No response.

Gu Xixi finally managed to light the oil lamp.

The room lit up, letting her briefly relax; she looked around and was instantly startled by the person lying in the chair.

Gu Xixi stepped back two steps, hand over her heart, "You're just standing beside me watching me, not saying anything?"

Only Mu Nan Zhao was seen sitting in the chair behind the desk.

He seemed awake, but his face was unusually red.

Mu Nan Zhao lifted his eyes and stared steadily at Gu Xixi.

His gaze was hazy, as if a thin mist veiled his pupils.

He raised his hand and tugged at his collar, which was already open, making it even wider.

Revealing skin moistened with sweat, a long neck, an alluring curve of the Adam's apple, collarbone…

Under normal circumstances, Gu Xixi would surely think it a waste not to look, and would at least glance a few times.

But at this moment, with lives at stake, she had no such inclination.

Gu Xixi stepped closer, waved her hand in front of Mu Nan Zhao's eyes, and felt breath.

But the air exhaled from his nostrils was surprisingly hot to the touch.

"Mu Nan Zhao, can you hear me speaking?"

"Mu Nan Zhao?"

"Chen Fang?! Regent Prince!"

Gu Xixi repeatedly called out several times, wondering if his senses had been sealed by poison.

If the poison is that overpowering, even after detoxing there would likely be aftereffects.

She doesn't know how to take a pulse, so using the old physician's detox pills combined with acupuncture to purge toxins—will that even work?

Acute poison admits no delay.

Gu Xixi pulled out a medicine bottle from her pack.

Are we really going to try another 'treat a dead horse as if it were alive' remedy?!

This is the Regent Prince's mansion in the capital; if we kill the Regent Prince while trying to cure him……

Then we'll just accept our bad luck and die alongside him!

No time to hesitate; Gu Xixi took her stand beside Mu Nan Zhao.

Just as she was about to open the bottle stopper, she heard Mu Nan Zhao's hoarse voice, "Gu Xixi……"

"Master…… is it you……?"

Gu Xixi's eyes widened slightly; in that instant she felt rescued.

"Yes! It's me, your master, no doubt about it."

Mu Nan Zhao's eyes suddenly blazed, "It's you, wonderful."

Gu Xixi startled, not yet pondering what was wonderful.

Suddenly she felt her waist tighten.

The world spun; Mu Nan Zhao actually scooped her up in a horizontal hold.

His arms were strong, astonishingly hot as if heated iron.

Gu Xixi initially had the presence of mind to wonder what ailment this person suffered from.

His body is quite strong, and his steps are steady.

It doesn't look like poisoning, nor does it much resemble drunkenness.

Could it be that fever is muddling his mind?

But ordinary fever wouldn't cause him to vomit blood.

Gu Xixi was thinking that when she unintentionally turned her head.

She discovered Mu Nan Zhao holding her, step by step walking toward the inner part of the study.

At the end of her sight lay a couch that looked very comfortable.

Light gauze hung on all sides, the atmosphere ambiguous……