A wisp of winter chill seeped in through the crack in the window, and Jiang Bai felt as if it could freeze his very bones.

She wrapped herself in the blanket, but after a while, the chill still spread from her body uncontrollably.

She blinked her long, frozen eyelashes, and a few strands of frost fell onto the quilt, which she watched as it slowly became covered in frost.

"how so?"

She couldn't help but murmur, until she felt like she was turning into an ice cube.

She struggled, and the ice shattered. Opening her eyes, she saw a beautiful face.

"I was thinking that if you didn't wake up soon, I would kick you out. Don't just occupy my princess's bed without paying. It's really annoying."

Jiang Bai stared at the person speaking in front of him, stunned for a full moment before he came to his senses.

She looked down at her body; there was no chilling coldness there.

Was what I just had all a dream? But I can still feel the chill.

"Is this the princess's residence?"

The princess raised her chin, quite proudly: "Of course, I was just passing by when I saw you collapsed by the roadside, so I helped you. You don't need to be grateful."

Jiang Bai twitched his lips: "Princess saved me, it's only right that I'm grateful to you."

Although the man was still arrogant, he didn't confront her directly from the start, which made her feel a little uncomfortable.

The princess was unaware of her current opinion, but was quite interested in the poison in her body.

Have you felt anything wrong with your body these past few days?

Seeing her smiling face, Jiang Bai couldn't figure out what she meant, so he just mumbled, "I was sick a few days ago, and I haven't been feeling well these past few days."

"Oh? Is that so? Have you encountered anything unusual?"

"I went back to the village." Jiang Bai was taken aback. What did she mean by that?

Why are you asking me this? Have you discovered something?

Seeing her bewildered and ignorant look, the princess raised her eyebrows and smiled with a hint of schadenfreude: "You must be incredibly curious right now. Fine, I'll be merciful and tell you today that you've been poisoned."

Jiang Bai tightened her grip on the blanket. She already knew she was poisoned, so she wasn't surprised to hear this. But what surprised her was how the princess knew about the poison that even the imperial physician couldn't diagnose.

She tentatively asked, "Does the princess know the antidote?"

The princess shrugged: "This poison is called Yingxiao, and there is no antidote."

Jiang Bai's face turned pale. How could there be no cure?

While she was still in shock, the princess pondered for a moment and then said, "If you really want a solution, there is one. There is a man in the Southern Dynasty who specializes in curing all kinds of rare poisons. Everyone calls him Master Fu. You can go and try to find him."

A pale blue tinge appeared on Jiang Bai's face again. Couldn't she just say it in one sentence?

The princess seemed to know what she was thinking, and changed the subject again: "However, that old man Fu has a strange temperament. He won't treat just anyone who asks for his help. It depends on whether he wants to treat you or not. As for you, you can only hope that you can survive."

However, Jiang Bai didn't care whether the person was willing or not; at least there was a glimmer of hope.

Thinking of this, she threw off the covers and got out of bed, bowing slightly to the princess: "Thank you, Princess, for saving me this time and for telling me how to detoxify. I will remember your kindness and will not bother you any longer today."

"Hmm, alright, then this princess will send someone to escort you back."

"There's no need to trouble the princess. I can go back by myself." Jiang Bai declined her offer and left the princess's residence alone.

——————————————————————————————————-

In the Zhao residence, Zhao Yi sat in the main hall with a gloomy face, and the servants around him dared not breathe loudly.

Jiang Bai hasn't returned for more than three hours. She clearly promised him she would get some rest, but now he's vanished without a trace.

The coachman said she stopped the carriage on the street and got off alone, without asking him to follow.

Zhao Yi had already searched the streets three times, but he still couldn't find her.

"Someone, go out and search again." He glanced at the two maids standing beside him, closed his eyes, and ordered them to go out and search for the person again.

The two maids hurriedly ran out the door, but after only a short while, one of them quickly ran back.

"Master, the lady is back and has arrived at the door."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi immediately got up and walked towards the door.

As soon as Jiang Bai entered the room, he saw his anxious expression: "What's wrong?"

Zhao Yi pulled her aside and looked her up and down. He saw that she was unharmed, but her complexion was rather pale.

"Where did you go today? You've just recovered from a serious illness and you're already out causing trouble. You don't even take good care of your health."

He poked her forehead with his fingertip, his teeth clenched.

A mischievous little devil who always makes people worry.

Jiang Bai touched his forehead, which was slightly sore from being poked, and earnestly replied, "It's just that I haven't been out shopping for a long time. I wandered into a teahouse, listened to the storyteller, got tired of talking, and fell asleep in a corner. I forgot to come back for a while."

Zhao Yi was skeptical, and pointed to her lips: "Your lips are all white."

"Dry."

You don't look very energetic.

"I haven't had enough sleep yet."

"Oh, then you still need to rest well. I'll go with you when we go out from now on." He sensed something was wrong with her, but she clearly didn't want to tell him, so he could only let it go for the time being.

Jiang Bai gave him a perfunctory reply and then turned and went back to his room.

Zhao Yi thought she still wanted to rest, so he went to the kitchen and ordered some nourishing medicinal food.

After returning to her room, Jiang Bai began packing her things. She didn't know when the poison in her body would flare up again, and if Zhao Yi caught her, things would be very bad. Therefore, she planned to go to the Southern Dynasty as soon as possible to find Elder Fu and seek an antidote.

She didn't have many things, mainly some clothes; she could arrange the dry food on the street later.

After she finished tidying up, Zhao Yi knocked on the door and came in.

Seeing her packing her luggage, he asked in surprise, "Why are you packing your luggage?"

Jiang Bai gave the reason he had already thought of: "I feel there's something fishy about the villagers' poisoning, and I want to go back and take another look."

"No, I've already had someone investigate that matter, and we'll have the results soon," Zhao Yi refused outright.

Jiang Bai was firm in his decision: "I'd better go there in person to be sure. There are some things I need to verify myself."

Once she makes a decision, it's hard for anyone to change it. Zhao Yi knows her personality; he can't persuade her otherwise, but he can't let her go back either.

"Then I'll go back with you."

"No, you still need to keep an eye on peace and happiness, how can you come with me to run around?"

After Jiang Bai refused, she realized that his gaze was filled with confusion and slight anger.

He was worried about her, but she didn't care about her health at all.

Jiang Bai was taken aback, then belatedly realized that he had been too arbitrary and had not considered Jiang Bai's feelings.

She sighed softly, took a step forward, and gently hugged him.

"Zhao Yi, I know you're worried about me. I didn't consider your feelings before. I'll tell you my reasons now, and please believe me."