Meanwhile, on the other side of the valley, another pair of eyes were taking in everything that was happening before them...
This person was none other than Yi Junhao, the master of Shennong Hundred Herbs Valley. Even in the pitch-black rainy night, his three thousand black hairs were still half-tied up with a silver hair crown, with two strands of flowing black hair hanging down by his temples. His exquisite face had a pair of bewitching peach blossom eyes that were very charming. He stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a wide hooded black cloak.
Even on such a rainy night, he exuded a carefree and unrestrained air, frowning as he gazed in the direction the three had departed.
Ever since he overheard Yi Shangyun's conversation with Manager Xue at Baicaotang during the day, he knew that Yi Shangyun would definitely come to Baicaogu again, given his temperament, and he had been waiting for him there for a long time.
The rain was getting heavier and heavier, and he was about to head back when he realized she had actually come to climb the mountain in such terrible weather.
"What exactly happened to the girl?" Yi Junhao asked softly, his brows furrowed.
"Third Young Master, Miss Yi has already left. Let's go back too."
A maid in a dark purple cloak held a bamboo-framed oil-paper umbrella for him and said worriedly, but Yi Junhao obviously didn't hear her and continued his thoughts.
He was just a step too late; he almost rushed out. Unexpectedly, two other people appeared before him. Who were these two? Their demeanor and martial arts skills were quite extraordinary.
"At least the girl is alright." He squinted his peach blossom eyes and finally muttered to himself. The maid saw that he was not moving and raised her voice to speak.
"Third Young Master, the rain is getting heavier. Miss Yi has already left. Let's go back."
Yi Junhao finally came to his senses, smiled at her, and the two of them turned and left in a hurry.
Inside the Prince of Qin's residence.
"Cheng Liang, summon the imperial physician!" Xuan Yuanhan ordered hastily as soon as he arrived at the door, carrying Yi Shangyun straight to his bedchamber. Cheng Liang strode towards the imperial physician's office.
Upon hearing that His Highness had personally brought back a woman, the entire Prince Qin's residence was immediately abuzz with excitement, and the news spread like wildfire.
"I heard that His Highness personally carried a young lady into the palace through the main gate."
"Go away, what do you know? That girl rode back on the same horse as His Highness."
"Hasn't our prince always been averse to women?"
"Doesn't Your Highness have a severe case of mysophobia?"
"Has our usually aloof master changed his ways?"
"Is the Prince of Qin's mansion going to have a female master?"
"If the Prince of Qin's mansion has a mistress, will we soon be out of single life too?"
......
The servants gathered together, chattering amongst themselves, each saying something in unison. Everyone assumed that the King of Qin must have been captivated by a stunningly beautiful woman.
At this moment, Yi Shangyun was carried to his bed by Xuan Yuanhan once again. Yi Shangyun was unconscious with his eyes closed, and Xuan Yuanhan was sitting by the bed with an anxious expression on his face, watching over him.
"Your Highness, the young lady has only caught a cold from being wet in the rain and exposed to the wind. The abrasions on her body are just minor skin injuries, so there is no need to worry too much."
After examining Xuan Yuanhan in detail, the imperial physician reported to him and then left to prepare the medicine. Xuan Yuanhan remained cold and did not respond, his eyes fixed on Yi Shangyun's every move.
After a long while, she finally spoke up, "Call Zhang Mama over to apply medicine to her wound and change her into clean clothes."
Xuanyuan Han gave an order to his deputy, Cheng Liang. His gaze never left Yi Shangyun, his eyes filled with heartache and pity, mixed with an expression that even he himself couldn't quite decipher.
Only the two of them remained in the bedchamber; one was awake, and the other was unconscious.
Only then did he get closer and see that her clothes were torn when she fell off the cliff, revealing numerous wounds that were still oozing blood. He immediately frowned and picked up a dry towel to gently wipe the raindrops from her forehead, completely unaware that he himself was also soaking wet.
"Wei Mingxuan, Wei Mingxuan, come back, come back..." Yi Shangyun suddenly murmured, but his eyes remained tightly closed.
Yes, she was clearly delirious due to a cold and fever.
"Wei Mingxuan, is the name you called out while you were unconscious important to you?" Xuan Yuanhan suddenly stopped and withdrew the towel he was holding.
Just then, Vice General Cheng Liang, accompanied by Granny Zhang, entered carrying medicine and clean clothes.
As soon as Zhang Mama saw Xuanyuan Han, she bowed and said, "Your Highness, let this old servant take care of the young lady."
Cheng Liang also approached and respectfully bowed, but he happened to hear Yi Shangyun's name still murmuring, and he also saw the strange expression on his master's face.
Cheng Liang is an orphan. He was adopted and taught by Prince Qin, Xuan Yuanhan, from a young age. His master is his benefactor, his mentor, and his closest relative, and will always be so.
He knew that although his master appeared cold to outsiders, he actually bore the heaviest responsibility in the world. On the battlefield, his master was always the first to charge into battle, fighting against hundreds of enemies to protect Western Qin.
The holes and scars covering my master's body are testaments to his countless battles against death. If such a master is cold-hearted, then what warmth is left in this world?
But right now, his master clearly has feelings for this woman, and he can often secretly catch a rare, warm smile on his master's face.
Now, is this woman delirious from a fever, calling out another man's name in front of her master who is currently in a feverish state? Cheng Liang was puzzled.
Xuanyuan Han finally stood up and instructed Zhang Mama, "Take good care of her."
Granny Zhang nodded and bowed, accepting the order. "Your Highness, rest assured."
Xuanyuan Han then turned back for one last look at Yi Shangyun, who was still unconscious on his bed, before finally leaving with peace of mind.
Zhang Mama was the only maid in the Prince of Qin's mansion. She had always served the deceased Dowager Consort in the mansion. After the Dowager Consort passed away, the Prince saw that she was old and had no children or relatives and nowhere to live, so he kept her in the mansion. She had watched the Prince grow up from childhood.
His Highness is naturally noble yet cold-hearted. Aside from the Dowager Consort, I've never seen him show such concern for any other woman. Wait, even when the Dowager Consort was unwell, I've never seen His Highness so worried. Could it be...?
"Deputy General Cheng, is it possible that His Highness's feelings for this girl are truly as these servants in the manor say, and that this time he really..."
Granny Zhang asked Cheng Liang. Cheng Liang gave her a mysterious look with a smirk before chasing after her to serve her.
Zhang Mama realized it herself, and couldn't help but feel a little smug.
She hurried to the bedside, eager to see the pretty girl that His Highness had chosen. At first glance, she saw that the girl had delicate features and a fairly tall and graceful figure, but she was a bit thin and frail. It would be better if she were a little plumper.
"With Zhang Mama here, Your Highness can rest assured and leave things to her," Zhang Mama muttered to herself, and a whole bunch of nourishing soup recipes immediately popped into her mind.
How could such a pretty and delicate girl be dressed like this? Granny Zhang looked on with suspicion. She quickly and efficiently dried Yi Shangyun's body, treated her wounds, changed her into a clean and comfortable set of clothes, and then reached out and removed Yi Shangyun's veil.
"Hey, what happened?"
Granny Zhang was clearly startled by the birthmark near Yun's eye on the girl's clothes, and her face showed a look of astonishment. Did His Highness know about this girl's birthmark? she wondered to herself.
She quickly fed Yi Shangyun the medicine and then Zhang Mama tucked her in before leaving. Suddenly, she paused, then quickly went out to get a new veil and carefully helped Yi Shangyun put it on. She thought to herself that a young lady likes to be pretty and would certainly not want anyone to see the birthmark on her face.
Only after taking care of everything did he feel at ease picking up the clothes that Yi Shangyun had changed out of and leaving the house.
At this moment, Xuan Yuanhan, having bathed and changed into a white brocade robe, was already sitting at the desk in Chenghua Hall. He finished dealing with the secret letter on the desk and handed it over to his deputy, Cheng Liang.
"Your Highness, should I inquire about this Wei Mingxuan?" Cheng Liang asked with concern after thinking for a long time.
"Meddlesome!" Xuan Yuanhan immediately looked up and gave him a sharp look. In the end, he silently accepted the confidential document, shut up, and helplessly withdrew.
Only then did Xuanyuan Han reveal a weary and gloomy expression, his head bowed and his hands clasped on the table. Perhaps this weariness was more a reflection of loss—the name Wei Mingxuan that Yi Shangyun had murmured in his unconscious state.
Who exactly is Wei Mingxuan? He's so important to her that she keeps calling his name even when her life is in danger.
Xuan Yuanhan was clearly bothered by the name. Since he was so important to her, why would he allow her to do such dangerous things alone time and time again? Why didn't he protect her properly?
"Come back? What does that mean? Does it mean Wei Mingxuan left her?" Xuan Yuanhan muttered to himself, lost in thought, when a hint of anger flashed across his face, making him look frightening.
The heavy rain outside had long since turned into a drizzle. Xuan Yuanhan got up and went to the window, gazing at the lights of the palace in the dark rainy night, as if trying to find some warmth to ease his cold mood.
But then he saw raindrops falling from the flowers in the courtyard, wetting the blossoms on the branches, turning the fallen petals into mud. This mirrored his current mood, which ultimately morphed into a soft, helpless sigh.
The Qin Prince's Mansion, this rainy night was bustling with excitement, yet also kept everyone awake...
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