Moonlit Silver

In his previous life, Mo Yanzhou killed Ling Jingchu at the last moment.

After being rescued, A Yao ended up in the Third Prince's residence by a twist of fate. The Third Prince secretly liked her, but at the same time felt that A Yao's identity was despicable.

So he repeatedly sent Ayao to other people's beds.

Later, when A Yao became pregnant, Mo Yanzhou tormented her like a madman. In the end, during an assassination attempt, he made A Yao take a fatal arrow for his concubine.

Before his death, Ling Jingchu risked being killed to lead A Yao out of the Third Prince's residence and bury her in Jiangnan.

After that, Ling Jingchu was targeted by Mo Yanzhou.

Her back started to feel cold.

"I'm fine."

Despite the noise around her, she still heard Ling Jingchu's low voice.

Looking up, one could see large beads of sweat dripping from Ling Jingchu's forehead. His alluring peach blossom eyes were narrowed, and his brows were furrowed, creating a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

She paused, and the person behind her suddenly pulled her up: "Get out, get out, I'll draw his sword!"

Dr. Li was called back halfway through his journey.

She was pulled to the outer room by Qing Shuang, and it took her a long time to come to her senses.

"Miss, your face is bleeding!"

Qing Shuang hurriedly found the medicine box and applied it to her before feeling a little relieved.

Jiang's parents also rushed over in a panic, and their voices trembled when they saw her disheveled appearance.

"What happened to Ayun? Where is she hurt?"

Ruan Qingshang put his arm around her shoulder and examined her carefully. When he saw the marks on her face, he felt a pang of heartache: "You just got back and this is such a scary thing. Your face is all scratched. I'll have Dr. Li prescribe a couple of prescriptions later. Please make sure there are no scars!"

Jiang Yunshu didn't feel much pain; the short blade only grazed her face. Compared to the pain on her face, she felt that the fear in her heart was more painful.

The night was deep, and it seemed as if an invisible, gaping maw was gleefully devouring her bit by bit.

She suddenly felt a tightness in her chest and an itch in her throat.

He coughed lightly and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Miss!"

"Ah Yun!"

Before her were her mother and father's panicked expressions. In her confusion, Qing Shuang called out to Doctor Li.

She's fine.

The words were on the tip of his tongue but he couldn't say them; instead, he spat out another mouthful of blood.

Her body went limp, and before she could say anything, she fainted.

——

When she woke up again, Jiang Yunshu was lying in her own bed.

"Miss, you're awake. Quickly drink this medicine."

"Mother, you're finally awake!"

Ayao's eyes were full of exhaustion, as if she hadn't slept all night. Qingshuang's eyes were red, and she avoided eye contact.

With Qing Shuang's help, she sat up and looked at the dark medicine in the bowl, understanding most of the situation.

"Ayao," she turned to look at Ayao, forcing a smile, "Mother wants some pastries, could you go and get them for me?"

Ayao nodded emphatically twice, her big, watery eyes looking at her reluctantly, before quickly leaving the room.

She only spoke slowly when she could no longer hear A-Yao's footsteps.

"Do my parents know I've been poisoned?"

"Miss, you knew all along?!" Qing Shuang looked at her in disbelief, both angry and heartbroken. "Why didn't you say so sooner? The poison has already invaded your internal organs, and even Physician Li said..."

Qing Shuang choked up and couldn't continue, raising the spoon in her hand to wipe away her tears.

Moonlight Silver is a colorless and odorless slow-acting poison, known only to the Wu tribe, who were wiped out a hundred years ago.

But how could the Wu tribe, whose lineage has been passed down through generations, easily reveal themselves?

She only learned after her death that the old lady of the Marquis's mansion and the mother of the Third Prince were both descendants of the Wu tribe.

How could they possibly give her the antidote?

"It's not that I don't want to tell them, but there's no cure for Manyueyin. My parents are getting old, and I don't want them to worry..."

With red eyes, Qing Shuang said in a low voice, "Miss, please don't think like that. Doctor Li said that one of his junior brothers might be worth a try."

She didn't say anything more; she also wanted to survive.

Because of this poison, she died three years later in her previous life.

At that time, the Jiangnan region was severely affected by floods. She came here to help her parents maintain order at home and also helped with charitable giving.

After the flood subsided, a plague broke out.

She unfortunately contracted the virus, and the Marquis's mansion asked her to recuperate in Jiangnan. Not wanting to go back and infect Ayao, she stayed in Jiangnan.

Little did I know that this illness would cause my health to collapse.

He suffered from constant illnesses, both major and minor, and died a few months after returning to the Marquis's residence.

She always thought it was just her poor health, but after her death she learned that she had been poisoned and the poison had already seeped into her internal organs.

She didn't have many years left to live; the plague only brought her death closer.

This medicine is really bitter.

She took a deep breath and slowly calmed herself down.

"How is Ling Jingchu?"

Qing Shuang wiped her eyes: "Young Master Ling woke up yesterday, but his face was pale. He seems to be fine."

"Look at the state you're in, Miss, and you still have time to worry about Young Master Ling..."

How could she not worry? Ling Jingchu was being targeted by the Third Prince, and now it was all thanks to her.

As long as he's not dead.

She had experienced similar weakness in her past life, but back then at the Marquis's residence, the doctors always told her it was due to overwork.

Just as he was about to lie down after taking his medicine, Ayao came in carrying a plate of jujube flower cakes.

"Mom, jujube flower cake, try it, it's so sweet!"

Ayao looked at her with her big, watery eyes, her eyes red and swollen, as if she had been crying.

She took a piece and put it in her mouth, smiling, "It's very sweet. I like the pastries that Ayao brings the most."

Ayao's lips were slightly pursed down, and she lowered her eyes without saying anything more.

She sighed inwardly. Ah Yao had always been like this, keeping all her suffering to herself. Even at such a young age, she had already learned to hide her emotions.

She gently touched Ayao's face, but ultimately said nothing.

"Miss, Young Master Yun Zheng has arrived."

As soon as Qing Shuang finished speaking, Jiang Yunzheng strode in.

Jiang Yunzheng was dressed in dark green, his hair casually falling over his shoulders, and he held a fan in his hand.

He had clear and bright eyes and a handsome appearance.

But there was always a hint of frivolity in his expression.

He's somewhat different from the person I always imagined to be—refined and cheerful.

"Ah Yun, are you alright? I've been at Zuiyue Tower for the past few days and didn't even know you were back."

Drunken Moon Pavilion?!

She could hardly believe that these words came from Jiang Yunzheng's mouth. In her memory, Jiang Yunzheng was just like Ling Jingchu, both old-fashioned.

He was even more terrifying than Ling Jingchu. Not only did he study, but he also made them study together, not allowing them to slack off in the slightest.

He would also lecture the two of them after she and Jiang Shuyue climbed over the wall to go out and play.

They looked down on people who frequented brothels, let alone going there themselves.

Not only her, but Qing Shuang was also stunned.

Only Ayao stared blankly at her, her eyes brimming with doubt.

“Ah Yao, our Ah Yao has grown so much! You’re such a good girl.”

As Jiang Yunzheng approached, the strong scent of perfume emanating from him almost inexplicably assaulted her nostrils.

She coughed, and her chest ached slightly.

Ayao rubbed the tip of her nose, turned her face to the side, raised her sleeve to cover her face, and coughed lightly twice.

Jiang Yunzheng immediately took two steps back, looking somewhat embarrassed: "You haven't had time to change your clothes yet, so you must smell a bit pungent, right?"

"Thank goodness... Achoo!"

The pain was so intense that she clutched her chest, feeling as if her internal organs had shifted out of place.

Jiang Yunzheng stepped back a little and looked at her from a distance: "I'll come see you again tomorrow."

After taking two steps, he turned back, his voice lower.

"Ah Yun, no matter what, your brother Yun Zheng hopes you're happy. It's good that you're back."

She nodded, wanting to say something, but felt she couldn't bring herself to say it.

Jiang Yunzheng left quickly, but the room still retained the lingering smell of perfume and cosmetics.

Her feelings were just as complicated as hers.

What has Jiang Yunzheng gone through in the past few years? How did he become such a strange person?

Someone quickly provided her with an answer.

"Jiang Yunshu, you're not dead, are you!" Before even seeing the person, they could already hear Jiang Shuyue's voice.

When Jiang Shuyue walked in, she paused, her nostrils twitched slightly, and then she coughed.

"Is it Brother Yunzheng?" Jiang Shuyue rubbed her nose.

She asked casually, and Jiang Shuyue sighed deeply and said in a low voice.

"Didn't Brother Yunzheng pass the imperial examination and become a scholar many years ago?"

She nodded at Jiang Shuyue. She knew about this. Jiang Yunzheng was a few years older than them. Long before Ling Jingchu passed the imperial examination, he was a young genius in Jiangnan.

"After that, the government has been suppressing Brother Yunzheng. Now he doesn't have any official position. Those officials look down on us merchants."

"Later, during the imperial examination, Brother Yunzheng was murdered by that group of people. On his way to the examination, he encountered bandits and was intercepted for a month and a half before he could send a message home. By then, it was too late."

"Even though we rushed as fast as we could, we still couldn't make it. After that, Brother Yunzheng changed a bit. Later, somehow, Brother Yunzheng got married to Xu Peier."

Xu Peier?

Seeing her puzzled look, Jiang Shuyue clicked her tongue lightly: "The prefect's daughter, huh? We were admiring the flowers together just now, have you forgotten already?"

She suddenly remembered, not because of admiring the flowers, but purely because of her status as the daughter of the prefect...

Xu Peier was the most arrogant and domineering among them; both sisters had been angered by her before.

Jiang Yunzheng had never had a good impression of her either.

"Xu Peier couldn't stand that Brother Yunzheng didn't come home every day. And Brother Yunzheng, in order to avoid her, went to Zuiyue Tower every day. Over the past few years, this has become common knowledge."

Unable to describe the feeling in her heart, she could only sigh.

"But what happened to you? Ling Jingchu woke up before you did. Didn't your aunt say you weren't hurt anywhere?"

She pursed her lips and glanced at Qing Shuang.

"Dr. Li said that our young lady's condition is due to excessive worry and the fatigue of traveling. There's nothing wrong with her; she just needs to rest."

Jiang Shuyue looked at her and nodded in agreement: "That's right, you look like you're about to be laid out for good."

"Get some rest."

After saying that, he sent Ayao away, took out a storybook wrapped in cloth from behind him, and lifted a corner of it.

Upon seeing the words "Cold-hearted Prince," she felt a surge of lightness in her body and stopped coughing. She glanced furtively at the doorway a few times and lowered her voice.

"You understand me so well!"

The two smiled knowingly, completely unaware of the footsteps outside the door.

It wasn't until the person was right in front of them that Qing Shuang's voice startled the two of them awake.

"Young Master Ling, what brings you here?"

She instinctively tried to hide the storybook under the covers, but Jiang Shuyue was also flustered and lost her grip, causing the storybook to fall out of the blanket with a clatter.

"The Cold-Hearted Prince and His Charming Maid," "The Romantic Scholar Becomes the Prince Consort"...

Jiang Shuyue looked at her in a panic, but she closed her eyes, feeling utterly hopeless.