The long night finally gave way to dawn.
Yi Shangyun finally opened her eyes slowly and struggled to sit up on the bed.
Her injuries ached, but she glanced at them and bravely tried to bear the pain. Her head felt heavy and sore that she reached out and rubbed it.
Suddenly, he found himself sitting on an unfamiliar bed. The bed, made of sturdy, dark purple sandalwood, had a glossy sheen and felt heavy. Its exquisite and ornate carvings gave it a luxurious and grand appearance.
The embroidered silk curtains were of the finest quality, with exquisitely designed patterns, and the bedding was incredibly soft and comfortable—something most ordinary people could only dream of...
Just as she was racking her brains trying to figure it out, Granny Zhang came in carrying washing utensils. As soon as she entered, she greeted everyone with a big smile and said, "Miss is finally awake."
"Old man, may I ask where this is? How did I end up here? Last night I wasn't..." Yi Shangyun hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.
“Please call me Granny Zhang, young lady. Last night, there was a torrential downpour, and you were injured and caught a cold. It was His Highness who brought you back.”
While busy wetting the towel in her hand, Granny Zhang answered her.
"Your Highness? Where is this?" Yi Shangyun asked in surprise.
"This is the Qin Prince's residence, and our Highness is naturally the Qin Prince of Western Qin."
"What?! The Qin Prince's Mansion? The residence of Prince Xuanyuan Han of Qin?" Yi Shangyun raised an eyebrow and exclaimed loudly, almost standing up from the bed.
"Shh, young lady, you mustn't do that. His Highness Prince Qin's name is not something anyone can just call out," Zhang Mama said cautiously, shushing her as she handed her a towel to wipe Yi Shangyun's face.
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun immediately fell silent, revealing a flustered and helpless expression, and carefully took the towel.
"Granny Zhang, my daughter is much better now. Thank you for your meticulous care. However, I have some very important matters to attend to. Would you mind taking me to thank His Highness Prince Qin in person before I can leave to attend to my business?"
Yi Shangyun clearly remembered that her top-quality Dendrobium officinale was still nowhere to be found.
Today is the second day since her agreement with Emperor Jing. If she still can't deliver the goods by tomorrow, she'll really lose her head. She values her life and doesn't want to die young.
"Miss, please get up and have breakfast first, then this old servant will take you there," said Granny Zhang with concern.
After saying that, Zhang Mama quickly brought Yi Shangyun's clothes, which had already been washed and dried. After having a sumptuous breakfast in the room, she led the way and took Yi Shangyun toward Xuan Yuanhan's Chenghua Palace.
As soon as they reached the corridor in front of the hall, Cheng Liang, the deputy general guarding outside the hall, saw them and came over to offer his greetings.
"Miss is awake. Does Miss still feel unwell anywhere?" Seeing that Yi Shangyun was staring at him with unfamiliar eyes, he realized that he had not yet introduced himself, so he hurriedly explained.
"Oh, I am the deputy general of His Highness the King of Qin. You may call me Cheng Liang."
Yi Shangyun then realized what was happening and bowed, saying, "General Cheng, I am grateful for your help last night, General and His Highness Prince Qin. I have come here specifically to express my gratitude and take my leave, as I have important business to attend to. I hope you will inform me."
“Miss, our Highness has to attend court every morning. He has already left for the palace,” Cheng Liang said.
Seeing the disappointed look in Yi Shangyun's eyes, Cheng Liang continued, "However, His Highness instructed me to tell you not to express your gratitude. His Highness and I just happened to be passing by and happened to meet you, so you don't need to worry about it."
As Cheng Liang spoke, he glanced sideways at the window of Chenghua Palace. His master hadn't slept all night and was currently watching and listening to everything happening outside from the window of Chenghua Palace.
"It's such an unfortunate coincidence. I'll take my leave now and visit you another day to express my gratitude," Yi Shangyun said somewhat dejectedly.
“Does Miss still want to go to Hundred Herbs Valley? I happen to have something to do there as well. How about I accompany you?” His master had called him over early this morning to give him instructions. He only needed to take care of this one thing today, Cheng Liang said.
Yi Shangyun thought that having more people might mean having more options, and perhaps relying on the power of the Prince of Qin's mansion could sometimes bring her some convenience.
Now that her time was running out, and she didn't have time to think about whether it was appropriate to use the name of the Prince's Mansion, she blurted out, "Then I'll have to trouble you, General."
"You're too kind, young lady."
After saying that, the two of them went out together, mounted their horses, and headed towards Baicao Valley, located in the northeast corner of the Western Qin Kingdom.
At this moment, Xuan Yuanhan, who had been watching from inside the window of Chenghua Palace, only walked out of Chenghua Palace alone after the two had gone far away. He then walked through the corridor to Lin Yuexuan's own bedroom.
When he came in, Granny Zhang was tidying up the bed.
Suddenly sensing someone behind her, Zhang Mama turned around and saw that the Prince of Qin had already entered. She hurriedly bowed, but Xuan Yuanhan gestured for her to step back with his usually cold but bloodshot eyes.
The room was silent. He sat on the edge of the couch with his tired, red eyes, staring at the spot on the rosewood bed where Yun had lain for a long time before getting up.
After shedding her perpetually cold expression, she rose, gently closed the door, removed her long white robe, and paced to the couch. She sat down again, took a deep breath, and slowly lay down. But as soon as she lay down, her mind was filled with images of the clouds on her robe...
He didn't know how much time had passed, but utterly exhausted, he finally closed his eyes.
Yi Shangyun and Cheng Liang rode swiftly past the entrance of Baicaotang in the market.
Yi Junhao, who was in the lobby on the first floor, was laughing heartily at the guests, unaware of what had happened to make him so happy. His laughter was so unrestrained.
Suddenly seeing a familiar figure, he immediately abandoned the customer and rushed out the door, nearly bumping into a patient who had come to ask for medicine.
When he chased after her, he only saw the last glimpse of Yi Shangyun's beautiful figure on the street corner.
"Thank goodness, you're alright."
Yi Junhao stared at the only figure standing there, a worried expression on his face, and muttered to himself.
"Judging from the girl's anxious demeanor and the direction she's heading, could it be that she's going to..." Yi Junhao immediately realized, and quickly mounted his horse and galloped off to follow.
He had clearly guessed that Yi Shangyun was going to Shennong Herbs Valley again.
"Last night's rock climbing attempt failed, and the girl got caught in the rain and injured herself. She only rested for one night, and she went up the mountain again at dawn today. Just how urgent is her situation?" The Third Young Master said as he hurriedly urged his horse forward.
Soon, Yi Shangyun and Cheng Liang arrived at the entrance of Shennong Herbs Valley.
But to their surprise, two women dressed in exquisite apricot-colored embroidered dresses were standing at the entrance.
"Could it be that we were discovered last night and Baicao Valley has strengthened its defenses?" Yi Shangyun said, exchanging a guilty glance with Cheng Liang before dismounting and walking towards the two women.
"Are you Yi Shangyun, young lady?" one of the slightly taller women asked with a hint of disdain as they approached.
"May I ask how you know my daughter's name?" Yi Shangyun asked, puzzled.
“Miss, there’s no need to ask any more questions. Since you’ve come here seeking medicine, please follow me into the valley. But this young master…” the woman said, glancing at Cheng Liang with a hint of disdain in her voice.
Yi Shangyun also looked at Cheng Liang, only to see Cheng Liang slowly take out a magnificent bronze token with the words "Qin Prince's Mansion" engraved on it. Yi Shangyun immediately showed a look of awe upon seeing it.
So Cheng Liang said, "You two brats, you don't even respect the Prince of Qin's mansion. Be careful, or I, the general, will raze this valley to the ground one day."
"Hmph, what arrogance. However, the Valley Master has decreed that only one person named Yi Shangyun may enter the valley today." The two women looked at the token with disdain. Clearly, they didn't take the Western Qin court or even the Western Qin royal family seriously at all.
At this moment, Cheng Liang's eyes blazed with fury. He quickly withdrew the copper token from his left hand and reached down with his right hand to draw the sword at his waist. Yi Shangyun, quick-witted and agile, immediately stepped forward and reached out to stop him, saying, "General Cheng, don't be impulsive."
Early in the morning, his master had instructed him to stay close to Yi Shangyun in Baicao Valley to ensure her safety, but now he was being turned away by two young girls.
"Fine then," Cheng Liang thought to himself, lowering his head and gritting his teeth. "They don't even give face to the Prince of Qin's mansion. Are they tired of living?"
"General Cheng, rest assured. Since they dared to bring me into the valley in front of the Prince of Qin's mansion, they probably won't do anything to me. General, you can just wait outside with peace of mind."
Yi Shangyun deliberately raised her voice when she said this, so that the two women beside her could hear her as well. She nodded to Cheng Liang to reassure him.
"In that case, I will wait for you here. Be careful, young lady, and come back quickly."
Although Cheng Liang calmly said this to Yi Shangyun, he was still angry and annoyed but helpless. Everyone knew that the poisonous barrier of Shennong Hundred Herbs Valley was no joke. If you entered the valley without taking the antidote first, you would definitely not return.
Having persuaded Cheng Liang, Yi Shangyun walked towards the two women alone.
As the three of them turned around, another woman handed a small purple pill to Yi Shangyun, saying, "Please take this without worry, young lady. It will protect you from the poisonous barrier of Hundred Herbs Valley."
Yi Shangyun quickly swallowed the purple pill before heading towards the entrance of the valley together.
Yi Shangyun could no longer contain her joy and was eager to see the true face of the number one medicine valley in the Western Qin Kingdom. As she thought about it, her feet became lighter and she consciously quickened her pace.
As soon as she stepped through the entrance, Yi Shangyun was stunned.
"Wow, what's going on here?"
......
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