As dusk settled, Wang Xiuxiu stood in the back garden of Prince Jing's mansion, the white porcelain vase in her hand gleaming coldly in the moonlight.
The imperial physician's words still echoed in her ears: "This medicine can only temporarily suppress the poison; there is no complete antidote. I'm afraid the young master..."
Wang Xiuxiu gripped the porcelain bottle tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Zhou Yun'an's sinister face flashed before her eyes, and the meaningful smile he gave as he left sent chills down her spine.
"Tomorrow at noon, Qingfeng Teahouse in the south of the city. Latecomers will not be waited for."
\"sister.\"
Nan Wei's voice came from behind her. Wang Xiuxiu hurriedly hid the porcelain bottle in her sleeve and turned around with a calm expression.
"How is Yu Nian?"
Nan Wei frowned. "The situation is stable for now, but the antidote..."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of this. You're the only one in the family who knows about poisons, so please keep an eye on the young master for your sister."
Since Zhou Yun'an left behind half a bottle of antidote, he must have some ulterior motive. Knowing it was a trap, Wang Xiuxiu also planned to meet him.
Back in her room, Wang Xiuxiu took out the short sword she had hidden under the bed.
The next morning, Wang Xiuxiu changed into a simple dress and went to the South City Teahouse alone.
The teahouse is built along the river, and bamboo curtains hang in the private rooms on the second floor, through which one can vaguely see people moving about.
She pushed open the door and entered. Zhou Yun'an was sitting by the window, playing with a folding fan in his hand. When he saw her come in, a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
"Miss Xiuxiu is indeed punctual." He slowly poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of her. "Please sit down."
Wang Xiuxiu didn't touch the cup of tea, only coldly asking, "Where's the antidote?"
Zhou Yun'an chuckled softly, took out a brocade pouch from his robes, and placed it on the table: "The antidote is here, but..."
He suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist. "I want more than just you to come see me."
Wang Xiuxiu struggled but couldn't break free. She said coldly, "Let go!"
"Don't rush." Zhou Yun'an leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her neck. "It's a rare treat to see each other; we should catch up."
"Zhou Yun'an!" Wang Xiuxiu suppressed her anger, "I have nothing to reminisce about with you. What exactly do you want by poisoning the Crown Prince?"
"You, of course I want you."
\"What's the meaning?\"
Wang Xiuxiu was stunned.
"Leave the Prince Jing's residence and come with me." A glint of madness flashed in Zhou Yun'an's eyes. "What Lu Jingze can give you, I can give you. What he can't give, I can also give you."
"You're crazy!"
Before coming, Wang Xiuxiu had anticipated his intentions. What a madman who wanted to restore his country wanted was obvious.
But at this moment, I only feel humiliated.
"Don't rush to refuse," Zhou Yun'an said calmly, taking out a brocade pouch from his robes. Inside were several red pills. "This is a three-day supply. If you want the complete antidote, you'll have to exchange yourself for it."
Wang Xiuxiu stared intently at him, her hand clenching the pills Nan Wei had given her from her sleeve.
She suddenly sneered: "Young Master Zhou, aren't you afraid the Prince will settle accounts with you after he returns to the capital, given your scheming?"
Zhou Yun'an dismissed it: "Lu Jingze is ostensibly on a military inspection tour outside the capital, but in reality, he has already gone to Fengzhou to quell the rebellion. By the time he returns, the prince will have already been poisoned."
"I wonder what Lu Jingze's expression will be when he comes back and sees his son's corpse?"
Wang Xiuxiu placed her hand on the short sword, but she knew she couldn't act rashly at this moment.
Just as the stalemate was at hand, the door to the private room was suddenly kicked open, and Nan Wei rushed in with four guards from the Prince's mansion.
"Zhou Yun'an, you can't escape!" Nan Wei shouted sharply.
Zhou Yun'an's expression changed drastically. He suddenly overturned the tea table towards everyone, grabbed the brocade pouch in the chaos, and jumped out of the window.
Wang Xiuxiu wanted to give chase, but Nan Wei stopped her: "Don't chase after them, there's an ambush outside!"
Sure enough, the sounds of fighting came from outside the window, followed by Zhou Yun'an's triumphant laughter: "Wang Xiuxiu, remember what I said! See you at the usual place in three days, or else..."
The sound gradually faded into the distance.
Wang Xiuxiu slumped back into her chair: "Why are you here?"
Nan Wei lowered her head: "Sister, you didn't look well this morning, and considering what you said last night, I was worried about you, so I borrowed someone from the Princess..."
After an unknown amount of time, a guard suddenly cried out from downstairs, "Your Highness! The Crown Prince's condition has changed!"
The two exchanged a glance, then hastily returned to the Prince's residence without giving it much thought. Along the way...
Lu Yunian's face was ashen, and his breathing was weak.
Wang Xiuxiu immediately took out an antidote and handed it to Nan Wei. After checking it, Nan Wei gave it to him, and after a while, the child's complexion gradually regained its color.
"It won't last more than a few days," Nan Wei said worriedly.
Unbeknownst to them, a dark cloud obscured the moon outside the window, plunging the palace into deeper darkness.
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