Song Wen was utterly shocked. Aside from a few of the Prince's closest confidants, not even Miss Ye knew that the Prince had been ambushed and poisoned with the Cold Venom on his way back to the capital three years ago. Had it not been for the Prince's profound Internal Energy, he probably would have died long ago. How on earth did the Princess know?
In truth, Zha Muxi was also feeling quite helpless, considering the original host had indeed committed far too many offenses and made countless enemies. But now that she was the original host, she would repay those she owed, and settle the scores with those who owed her.
The male lead had saved the original host, yet she had responded to kindness with enmity, coercing him into marrying her and bringing him endless trouble. Therefore, she truly felt that it served her right that the male lead had not chosen the original host. Since the cause had been planted, the original host deserved to reap the consequence. Now, she only needed to detoxify him, and they would be even.
Seeing the complete incomprehension written all over Song Wen's face, Zha Muxi said with a calm expression, "I can cure my own poison; isn't his minor cold poison obvious at a glance?"
Song Wen's eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. "Princess, do you truly know how to cure the Prince's poison?"
Every time the Prince suffered from the torment of the Cold Venom, he could only stand helplessly outside the door. As a divine physician, being unable to cure this poison was a true disgrace to his title.
Zha Muxi smiled charmingly. "Imperial Physician Song, if you still don't believe me, why not quickly gather those medicinal ingredients? Once I successfully cure him, won't that prove my capability?"
Song Wen said cautiously, "Very well, your servant will procure these herbs immediately. It's just that the Seven-Color Begonia is rather difficult to find, so it might take a few days."
"No matter, thank you. You may go tend to your duties now; I will rest a bit longer."
"Yes."
No sooner had Song Wen stepped outside than he was called over by Mo Xuanjing.
Song Wen reported their entire conversation truthfully. "Your Highness, this subordinate feels that the Princess has changed a great deal since her return."
Mo Xuanjing had previously instructed his shadow guards to procure the ingredients on this medicinal prescription at all costs. This was what he owed her, and he would do his utmost to compensate her. To be honest, though, they had been married for two years, and he felt as though he didn't understand Zha Muxi at all.
"How has she changed?"
"In the past, the Princess was arrogant, but now she is indifferent. Although she keeps smiling, she gives people the feeling of being kept at a great distance." Could it be because the Prince didn't choose her? Was that why her personality had undergone such a drastic change?
Mo Xuanjing naturally felt the change in Zha Muxi as well. He had seen the look in Zha Muxi's eyes when she loved him—passionate and frenzied; now it was cold and distant. Although he knew in his heart that she might no longer love him—and that he ought to be happy about it—he still felt a faint discomfort in his chest.
"Mhm. Keep an eye on the Princess, and report any abnormalities to this Prince immediately."
"Yes."
Several more days passed, and still the Seven-Color Begonia had yet to be found.
Meanwhile, Mo Xuanjing had just unrobed and was about to retire for the night when he suddenly remembered he hadn't seen Zha Muxi in quite some time, and their last meeting had ended on an unhappy note. Regardless of everything else, she was still his Princess.
As these thoughts drifted through his mind, Mo Xuanjing found himself walking toward Zha Muxi's tent. He was about to turn back, but driven by some unknown impulse, he stepped inside anyway.
To his shock, he found Zha Muxi with pale lips, beads of sweat the size of soybeans continuously rolling down her face, and the hair at her temples soaked through. She was curled into a ball, trembling all over.
Mo Xuanjing knew the poison within her had flared up. He hurried forward, scooped Zha Muxi into his arms, and channeled some of his Internal Energy into her to alleviate the pain. A trace of imperceptible heartache flashed through his eyes as he softly said, "If it hurts too much, bite this Prince's hand."
Zha Muxi was already delirious with pain and could no longer hear what was being said. She sank her teeth fiercely into his hand.
Mo Xuanjing furrowed his brow, but his other hand continued to stroke Zha Muxi's back. Had she really been suffering this terribly all along? A full hour and a half passed before Zha Muxi finally drifted peacefully into sleep.
At that moment, Zha Muxi's hair at her temples was in disarray, her rosy lips slightly parted, and her bright eyes tightly shut. Although her brows remained furrowed from the lingering agony of the poison, it could not conceal her peerless beauty.
Mo Xuanjing's Adam's apple bobbed up and down. *This Prince never realized she was so breathtakingly lovely.*
Waking up the next day, Zha Muxi's sole desire was to murder Lan Chenyu. She was also somewhat baffled as to why Mo Xuanjing had been so kind-hearted last night as to channel his energy to help ease her pain. Didn't he utterly despise her?
Still—*heh*, Lan Chenyu, she was logging this debt. Zha Muxi felt that if she suffered another relapse like that, she genuinely might die. Should she just use that tiny bit of divine soul power to kill him first and then self-destruct?
Sensing Zha Muxi's dangerous thoughts, 77 hurriedly chimed in, "Little Master, my little ancestor, I'm begging you, you must stay calm and not act rashly! There are plenty of handsome men in this world, you know!"
Miraculously, Zha Muxi instantly felt the air become fragrant again, and her anger vanished.
Mudan had just stepped inside when she happened to catch sight of Zha Muxi's face—first deathly pale and utterly desolate, then abruptly breaking into a radiant smile.
Believing the Princess was grieving because she had been discarded in full view of everyone and would inevitably become the laughingstock of the court upon their return, Mudan softly said, "Princess, Imperial Physician Song requests an audience."
Zha Muxi raised her eyes and saw Mudan looking at her with an expression full of maternal affection.
Zha Muxi couldn't help feeling somewhat bewildered. Just what scenarios was Mudan imagining in her head? She felt as though a blinding aura of sacred light was radiating from behind her back.
...
Zha Muxi shook her head to stop herself from letting her own imagination run wild, then curved her brows into a faint smile. "Help me dress and do my hair. Song Wen must have gathered all the herbs."
"Yes." Mudan snapped back to her senses. The Princess truly was an all-1-consuming beauty; even as a woman, she had been left completely dazed.
"This subordinate pays respects to the Princess. I have gathered everything. I wonder when the Princess wishes to begin?" Song Wen looked at Zha Muxi with a hint of excitement.
Zha Muxi was equally delighted. "Let's do it today. Bring all those materials to me. Mudan, prepare a bathing tub for me."
"Yes." Song Wen and Mudan replied in unison.
Once preparations were complete, Song Wen naturally could not linger. In his heart, he felt profound regret; his entire life had been devoted to medicine, yet he knew it was inappropriate to stay and watch how Zha Muxi would conduct the treatment. His face was filled with disappointment.
Seeing this, Zha Muxi chuckled. "Actually, it's very simple. It's fighting poison with poison. Just put the ingredients into the tub in the exact order specified on that prescription. Of course, I kept a small portion back to brew together into a tea for drinking. Once these toxins are balanced against the poison already in my body, I will later find someone with profound Internal Energy to help me guide the toxins toward my arm, and then let the blood out."
Song Wen looked completely stunned. "But how does the Princess know the exact dosage required? Isn't the Princess playing with fire and courting death?"
Once that delicate balance was broken, wouldn't the Princess die instantly? One had to realize that the toxicity of these drugs was enough to cause a person with profound Internal Energy to bleed from all seven orifices and die in an instant. No, he had to inform the Prince.
Mo Xuanjing had hurried over at that moment and happened to overhear these words, prompting him to ask anxiously, "What is going on here?"
Zha Muxi hadn't expected Mo Xuanjing to rush over at this hour; she had assumed that once he finished his military duties, he would go find Ye Shuxin. Seeing Mo Xuanjing, Song Wen hurriedly told him everything that had just happened.
Looking at Mo Xuanjing's increasingly darkened expression, Zha Muxi had a rather ominous premonition.
Sure enough, Mo Xuanjing said with a tinge of anger, "This Prince never knew the Princess was so eager to die? Someone, take these things away."
Zha Muxi hurriedly stepped in front of them like a mother hen protecting her young, saying anxiously, "Your Highness, I truly know what I'm doing. Hear me out first."
Mo Xuanjing stared at her fixedly, and Zha Muxi stared right back without blinking. She was joking—if these things were taken away, she would genuinely be dead for sure.
Finally, Mo Xuanjing took a step back. "Speak, then. What makes you so certain?"
Knowing he was making a concession, Zha Muxi hurried to explain, "Once I take a little of my own blood and mix it with these poisons, I will be able to calculate the exact amount I need."
Only then did Mo Xuanjing calm down. He didn't know what had come over him; the moment he heard Zha Muxi was taking such a desperate gamble—where the slightest mistake would result in instant death—he had felt utterly furious.
Song Wen was also overcome with shame. Had he not failed to ask clearly, things wouldn't have reached this pass, and he cast an apologetic glance at Zha Muxi. Only then did Mo Xuanjing wave the soldiers back.
Zha Muxi began her experimentation. After repeating the process some four or five times and taking the average, she had a firm grasp of the measurements in her mind. Once she dropped the poisons into the water in succession, she finally turned to face the others.
"I need to soak for half an hour. No one else needs to be present."
The others immediately withdrew—all except Mo Xuanjing.
Zha Muxi looked at Mo Xuanjing in confusion. "Your Highness, are you not leaving?"
Mo Xuanjing didn't know why he wasn't leaving either. Was it worry? No, this was merely a sense of guilt. Mo Xuanjing said coldly, "This Prince must keep watch over you. Besides, we have long since shared the intimacy of husband and wife."
Mo Xuanjing figured that if any emergency arose, he could intervene immediately to stop Zha Muxi.
Zha Muxi was momentarily speechless, but she didn't want to drag out a stalemate either; the water was growing cold. She had no choice but to compromise. "If nothing else, Your Highness, turn around first."
Surprisingly, Mo Xuanjing behaved obediently this time and turned around. Only then did Zha Muxi's heart settle.
With Mo Xuanjing's formidable martial arts, his hearing was naturally exceptionally sharp. As he heard the rustling sounds of Zha Muxi shedding her clothes, the tips of his ears flushed red.
Mo Xuanjing felt a flicker of annoyance. He had clearly despised her utterly in the past, yet now he was driven to such distracted turmoil on her account, losing his focus even in front of Ye Shuxin. Could it be that he felt something for her... No, the person he truly loved was Xin'er. Yes, he loved Xin'er; it had to be that way.