Chapter 392: The Pure Boundary

The two hurried over and fixed their gaze to look again.

There was indeed a person on the bed.

Wrapped in sheer gauze like a silkworm cocoon, and tightly bound in a five‑fold lashing to the four corners of the couch.

Isn't this the Regent Prince whose life or death has been uncertain all night?

He Jinghui reached out to check his breath, let out a relieved sigh, and broke into a grin: "He's still alive!"

Moreover, his breathing was steady, his complexion normal; he seemed to be merely asleep.

Mu Nan Zhao hadn't been woken by the noise; he still kept his eyes tightly shut, looking utterly exhausted.

He Jinglan, however, noticed that Gu Xixi had vanished and grew anxious: "Xixi! Xixi, where are you?"

She ran to the outer room, glanced around anxiously, and was about to head for the door.

Suddenly she saw an arm slowly stretching out from below.

"Here."

Hearing Gu Xixi's voice, He Jinglan was overjoyed, stepped over a bronze basin, and then went around the fallen chair.

Now she saw Gu Xixi sitting by the windowsill next to the door.

She sat against the wall on the floor, looking exhausted, and managed a weak smile.

"I'm here."

He Jinglan squatted in front of Gu Xixi, frowned, and touched her cheek: "How come you look thinner after just one night apart?"

Gu Xixi's eyes were lifeless; she gave a hollow, hollow chuckle twice.

"We fought, I chased him around the room, pleaded with him earnestly not to go mad, finally managed to pin him down, and just tying him up was a struggle—he almost broke free. Do you know how strong he is, even if he's lost his wits?"

He Jinglan stared, speechless.

He Jinghui came running over excitedly: "Boss Gu, was it you who made Qi Xiu end up like this?"

He Jinglan gave him a sideways glance: "Besides Xixi, who else could it be here?"

He Jinghui laughed and explained: "I mean, how did you manage it, Boss Gu?"

"Also, what poison did Qi Xiu take, and why did you bind him like that?"

Gu Xixi ignored He Jinghui and grabbed He Jinglan instead.

Like someone who had spent three years digging in a black coal mine finally seeing their hometown kin, she began a tearful accusation:

"He's lying there peacefully now, but my work has just begun—I have to give him detox medicine, needle him to expel toxins, and wash off the sweat his body forces out with clean water!"

"Because! That sweat reeks of medicine to high heaven! Who knows what crazy aphrodisiac he swallowed! The dosage would be enough for an ox or a pig! If we don't clean it off promptly, he'll keep raving and tormenting himself!"

"By the time I finish with him, turning around will already be dawn."

"He somehow fell asleep soundly at some point; I could only find a spot to rest a bit, and then you showed up."

"Spring… aphrodisiac?!"

He Jinglan turned pale with shock, her words tumbling out in panic: "Xixi! You, him!"

"Did he… you…"

He Jinghui's gaze was strange; he turned to look at Mu Nan Zhao, then swiftly swung back to Gu Xixi.

"No way, no way, no way—did a ten‑thousand‑year iron tree really bloom last night?"

Gu Xixi weakly shook her head: "Don't worry, he's fine; I didn't do anything to him."

As a modern woman's soul, when the moment comes, she doesn't mind sharing some pleasant intimacy with someone she likes.

But she doesn't want to do it while the other person is confused and oblivious.

First, it would look like taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable state.

Second, it would leave her feeling wronged.

At this moment, He Jinglan, flustered, blurted out the whole sentence: "Who cares about him—I'm asking whether, when he turned into a beast, he did anything to you!"

He Jinghui reminded her: "Boss Gu already said she didn't do anything to him."

He jerked his chin toward the couch: "Look at him—it's not clear yet, but it seems he wanted to do something to Boss Gu, yet failed."

Seeing Gu Xixi nod, He Jinglan finally relaxed.

She leaned in and embraced Gu Xixi, feeling guilty, heartbroken, and regretful.

"Filthy man, wicked man—who would have thought he'd ingest that filthy stuff! If I'd known, I wouldn't have let you take care of him."

"Thank goodness you're all right; otherwise… I couldn't even bear to imagine it!"

He Jinghui gazed at the still‑unconscious Mu Nan Zhao, his expression turning grave.

"He's always more alert than others; with all this commotion he's still out, showing how potent the drug is."

"The Prince's Manor has no women; last night he locked himself in the study and toughened it out."

"If Boss Gu hadn't come, the Prince's Manor might really have been holding a funeral this morning."

By the end of his words, He Jinghui's face darkened and he gritted his teeth.

Who exactly had the gall to do this?

And what means were used to ensnare Mu Nan Zhao!

This matter must be investigated immediately.

He Jinghui turned to Gu Xixi: "Is he all right now?"

Gu Xixi nodded: "The detox was timely enough; it hasn't done him much harm."

"He's just built up some empty fire; once he wakes, a few days of yin‑nourishing, qi‑boosting tonic will set him right."

He Jinghui clasped his hands solemnly: "Thank you, Boss Gu, for saving his life."

"I, He Jinghui, will remember this favor; in the future, Boss Gu, whatever you desire, I will spare no effort to fulfill it as repayment."

He then looked at his own sister and said, "I'll have the Prince's Manor staff come in to attend; you two should head back now."

Boss Gu had a hard time last night; you must certainly take good care of her.

Seeing He Jinglan nod in agreement, He Jinghui planned to first send the two young ladies back to the Xiao He residence, then go secretly investigate the poisoning incident.

When leaving, he finally turned his head to look at the 'silkworm cocoon' on the couch.

A heavenly dog devouring the sun, June snow—none of those could compare to the sight before him.

What a pity; we can't find a painter to record it on the spot.

Otherwise we could keep it as a memorial to be passed down through the ages.

In the morning, He Jinglan came along with her elder brother, so she entered the prince's residence through the front gate openly and aboveboard.

On the way back it was the same, with He Jinghui accompanying her, so there was no need to worry about being seen.

At the Jade Bamboo Courtyard, the maidservants quickly prepared a bathtub, hot water, food, etc.

He Jinglan also stayed awake all night, waiting for Gu Xixi to finish bathing and changing; then the two ate their fill and drank their fill before collapsing into sleep.

At nightfall, Mu Nan Zhao finally woke up.

The small study had already returned to its original state.

He sat behind the desk, listening to the part of the process that He Jinghui knew, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.

He Jinghui said, "I investigated what you ate and drank at last night's banquet in the South Pavilion; there was nothing of that sort."

"Can you recall where the drug was likely administered?"

"The washbasin." Mu Nan Zhao gritted his teeth, "I had left my seat to change clothes, then used a basin of clean water to wash my hands, and even splashed water on my face twice."

"That's the only possibility."

Last night's banquet at the South Pavilion was hard to decline for various reasons.

Mu Nan Zhao had originally planned to have just a couple of drinks as a formality and then leave.

After washing his hands, he felt a slight burning sensation in his palms, but at the time he paid it no heed.

He returned to the banquet, exchanged greetings, and then left first.

As he walked through the South Pavilion's corridor, he gradually began to feel agitated and anxious.

At that moment, a woman emerged from the darkness, as if she had anticipated his arrival, appearing before him.

The woman wore a light gauze veil over her face and was dressed lightly.

Having sensed something amiss, Mu Nan Zhao shoved her away and hurriedly fled the South Pavilion.

He ordered the coachman to speed back to the prince's residence.

What happened afterward is what everyone knows.

He Jinghui furrowed his brows and pondered, "Since we can't see her face... what about her complexion, posture, and other such features?"