"Your Highness?" After only a brief moment of stunned silence, Jiu Yue quickly conjured up a tone of delight, struggling to turn over and stubbornly pushing herself up to greet him.
"You're back..."
Her eyes were filled with him.
Prince Ping instinctively avoided her gaze, though his concern seemed genuine.
"Ah Yue, your injuries are severe..." he said, quickly stepping forward to support her arm, inadvertently catching sight of the large bruises on her skin.
"It's nothing, Your Highness. I’ll recover after resting for a couple of days." Limping, she let him guide her back to the bed. The moment she touched the mattress, she couldn’t help but ask, "Your Highness, is Sima Qing dead?"
Prince Ping smiled faintly and nodded. "Sima Qing is barely clinging to life now. Even if he doesn’t die, he won’t be a threat anymore... Ah Yue, you’ve worked hard for this."
Barely clinging to life—so he wasn’t dead yet.
"What’s the big deal? I was willing to face any hardship for Your Highness. You don’t need to blame yourself." Jiu Yue curved her eyes in a smile. "Besides, I’m not dead either. These wounds will heal eventually."
Prince Ping, however, couldn’t meet her eyes.
"That’s good." He lowered his gaze with a sigh, taking the medicine bottle from her hand. "That night was far too dangerous. At the time, I was surrounded by the Emperor’s men and couldn’t leave you an escape route."
"In the end, you had to take a desperate risk and throw yourself off the cliff to survive... Ah Yue, you understand, don’t you?"
Jiu Yue found it amusing inwardly, but she feigned displeasure, frowning and complaining, "That Emperor is truly despicable. With so many guards at his disposal, he had to send you to lead the pursuit..."
Prince Ping, who had volunteered precisely to witness Sima Qing’s demise, remained silent.
With a straight face, he agreed, "Alas, the Emperor’s orders left me no choice."
Jiu Yue rolled her eyes discreetly before snatching the medicine bottle back, offering a polite smile. "I’ll handle this myself, Your Highness."
Prince Ping had likely wanted to make a gesture of care.
Seeing right through him, Jiu Yue immediately played up her suffering. "It’s just that the wounds are quite deep, and I wouldn’t want to shock Your Highness..."
With that, she hastily poured the medicine onto her leg.
Faster, faster—she couldn’t let Prince Ping seize the chance to tend to her wounds. She couldn’t stand it!
Prince Ping watched her reckless application of medicine in silence.
"Very well." He withdrew his hand awkwardly.
Seeing her body wrapped in bandages and her stiff movements as she treated her leg, Prince Ping took a deep breath and suddenly grasped her hand holding the bottle.
This was one of the rare moments he felt genuine guilt.
"Ah Yue, trust me." His gaze was firm and tender. "From now on, I will never let you take such risks again."
Jiu Yue sniffled, moved, her eyes shining with the joy of having endured to the end.
"Your Highness." For the first time, she clasped his hand in return, excitement brimming in her voice. "Now that there are no more obstacles in our way... when will we depart for your fiefdom?"
The moment the words left her lips, she clearly saw his expression freeze for a second.
As if jolted by an electric shock, Prince Ping instantly pulled his hand away. Meeting her bewildered gaze, he swiftly masked his reaction with a practiced smile.
Jiu Yue stared at him blankly, her hand still suspended mid-air, as if she hadn’t processed what happened. "...Your Highness?"
"Ah Yue, there’s no need to rush." Prince Ping gave her a reassuring look. "Right now, your recovery is the priority!"
After a brief hesitation, Jiu Yue offered a trusting smile. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
Prince Ping murmured a few more comforting words before making excuses. "I still have matters to attend to. Ah Yue, focus on resting and don’t worry about anything else."
"Alright..." Jiu Yue withdrew her hand, her tone gentle. "Then please go ahead, Your Highness."
Prince Ping exhaled subtly in relief and turned to leave.
Once he was gone, Jiu Yue sprang up in an instant, her smile now laced with mockery.
Tch, guilty conscience, wasn’t it?
Too ashamed to face her, huh?
Didn’t dare to discuss the details of the Mingzhi Mountain assassination attempt, did he?
Jiu Yue scoffed. She had Prince Ping completely figured out.
Had she not coordinated with Sima Qing beforehand and this had been a real assassination attempt, she’d probably be rotting in Tianqi’s prison by now.
From the very beginning, he had only wanted Sima Qing dead.
As long as Sima Qing was dealt a fatal blow, whether the people he sent out survived or not was irrelevant—Prince Ping hadn’t even asked about Wen Shuang’s whereabouts.
What a selfish man, prioritizing nothing but his own interests.
Jiu Yue pursed her lips, meticulously washed her hands, and flopped back onto the bed.
Prince Ping likely wouldn’t bother her for a while now... All that was left was to wait for the right moment.
When Sima Qing was brought back, he was indeed on the brink of death... but that "brink" was as thick as a hemp rope!
Through sheer willpower, he clung to life until the imperial physicians could intervene.
While Qiu Dongfang remained at the prince’s residence guarding Xiao Wuyou, Mo Jin rushed over with various medicinal pills, taking turns with Fu Yu to care for Sima Qing.
Imperial Physician Li had served in the imperial medical bureau for nearly a decade. The last time Sima Qing hovered between life and death years ago, he had been the one in charge then as well.
After examining Sima Qing this time, Imperial Physician Li’s expression turned grave.
Mo Jin and Fu Yu held their breaths, their hearts in their throats.
"Imperial Physician Li..." Mo Jin’s face paled. He was about to drag the old man aside for a private conversation when Sima Qing stopped him.
"I know my own body better than anyone." Sima Qing lifted his gaze lazily, his pale lips tinted slightly from lingering traces of medicine, giving him a faint semblance of vitality. "Speak freely, Imperial Physician Li."
Mo Jin had no choice but to stand obediently to the side, his hands clenched tightly together. He slowed his breathing, only for Imperial Physician Li to drop a bombshell.
"Your Highness’s time is limited."
Mo Jin: "..."
Fu Yu: "..."
Both men stared in shock, but Sima Qing merely asked calmly, "How long do I have?"
Imperial Physician Li silently held up a number.
Mo Jin and Fu Yu stood frozen, unable to process the news.
Sima Qing was momentarily stunned as well. "...I only have five months left?"
"Ah, no." Imperial Physician Li hurriedly corrected. "Five years. With proper care, Your Highness still has a full five years ahead."
Mo Jin & Fu Yu: "..."
What did he mean by "a full five years"? Since when was five years considered long?!
Sima Qing, however, took it in stride.
Five years was enough. He could drag Qi Xiuyuan down with him even if it took his last breath.
"That’s not bad." He raised a brow slightly.
Seeing the Regent’s satisfied expression, Imperial Physician Li found the comforting words he had prepared unnecessary.
Bowing slightly, he said, "The residual poison in Your Highness’s body has resurfaced this time. For the coming period, please ensure you undergo regular medicinal baths and strictly adhere to dietary restrictions."
"As for the external injuries, they require complete rest. It would be best for Your Highness to remain at Mingzhi Mountain for a few months and descend only after autumn arrives."
Sima Qing had already closed his eyes. "Thank you for your efforts, Imperial Physician Li. Mo Jin, see him out."
Mo Jin, his face tense, escorted Imperial Physician Li out.
Fu Yu glanced at his listless lord and quietly withdrew with lowered eyes.
...
The imperial palace.
Upon receiving the same reply, the emperor fell silent.
Years of tempering had turned the once-youthful sovereign into a composed ruler.
Though he had anticipated the cost of this risky gambit from the outset... when the price finally came due, the emperor still found himself momentarily dazed.
To eliminate one Prince Ping was to lose one imperial uncle.
The emperor lowered his gaze. Now, at last, he understood the meaning behind his late father's dying words: "The imperial uncle is trustworthy."
Yet another sleepless night ensued.
