Zuo Meier smiled slightly, unable to hide her smugness. After glancing at Chen Yu, she drifted away.
Although Imperial Physician Wen was filled with self-reproach, he dared not say more. He could only bow and leave hastily on horseback.
"Sigh... Poor Chen Yu, let's go to Youming Pavilion first."
"Madam, you mustn't."
Turning around, Liu Yao'er, dressed in a crimson robe, slowly approached, supported by Lan'er and Hong'er. After bowing to Madam Bai, she explained her purpose in a soft, gentle voice, "Madam, I have already sent a physician to Youming Pavilion to check on them. Rong Mama and Cuizhu have not shown any signs of infection. If there are no abnormalities in two days, they can be released. Therefore, I urge you to reconsider and not to confine Madam and Cuiwei to Youming Pavilion, lest they infect Rong Mama and Cuizhu..."
Before Liu Yao'er could finish speaking, Madam Bai nodded repeatedly in agreement, "Yao'er is absolutely right, let's do it this way."
Shen Yu felt uneasy. She knew that Liu Yao'er was ruthless and inhuman, and hated her to the core. How could she possibly care about her servant? There must be a trap.
------
Chenyu and Cuiwei were locked in Tingyuxuan.
Unwilling to sit idly by and wait for death, she used acupuncture to wake Cuiwei, sat on the edge of the bed, and helped Cuiwei feed the medicine.
Cuiwei was terrified. She quickly took the small bowl, drank the medicine, and anxiously asked, "Miss, is there an antidote?"
Shen Yu shook her head. "This is painkiller. They've already taken all the medicinal herbs from inside and outside the capital. I'm afraid... we're doomed."
“Young lady, we can go to the Mu family for help.”
Chen Yu shook her head, tears falling like beads from a broken string.
Master Mu accompanied Bai Yehua on his campaign, where he was used as a pawn to coerce Shen Yu. Of the Mu family's young masters, only Mu Nanfeng served as a palace guard; the rest ran shops, and none could rival the Gao and Zuo families. Furthermore, the Empress favored the Zuo family, given their imperial connections; involving the Mu family in this was hardly a wise move!
"Why not escape? Perhaps we can go to Jiangnan, or even further afield, to find the antidote." With that, she rummaged through her belongings to gather travel expenses.
Clang! Clang! Clang...
Just then, there was a rapid knocking sound at the door, as if someone was banging on it.
She rushed to the front gate, the sound of her pounding on it deafening. How dare someone disrespect the matriarch of the household? Enraged, she kicked the gate and shouted, "How dare you! What is the meaning of this in broad daylight?"
The banging on the door stopped, and the guard hurriedly backed away and replied, "Madam, Lady Liu has ordered that, to ensure the safety of the Bai family's more than two hundred members, the doors of Tingyuxuan be sealed. The Old Madam has instructed that food be delivered through the crack in the door." After speaking, the guard pushed two plates through the crack in the door below.
Although Chen Yu was starving, she had no appetite and turned to run towards the small door.
"Clang..." There were also people outside the small door.
In utter despair, she staggered back to her room. The banging on the door stopped, and there was an unusual commotion outside. Could it be that someone had come to rescue her?
She hurried forward to listen.
"Get out of the way! This is Consort Yu of the Yan Prince's Mansion. We have come to visit Madam Bai."
"No! We sealed off Tingyu Pavilion on the orders of Lady Liu and in accordance with the Empress's decree."
Heh! Shen Yu couldn't help but smile bitterly. So the Empress wanted to kill her simply because she hadn't married Prince Yan? The Empress kept saying she treated the people well, but in reality, she was a petty, ruthless, and vicious woman!
"Sister Fish, Sister Fish..."
Hearing Hongyu call out, she was afraid of infecting Hongyu, so she didn't dare to get close to the door crack and replied from a distance, "Hongyu, I'm in the yard."
“Sister Yu, Hongyu only learned after leaving the Zuo family that you have contracted an infectious disease and that the antidote has been stolen. Just now, Hongyu went to the palace to ask the Emperor for medicine, but the Emperor was discussing countermeasures with his ministers because of the sudden attack by Japanese pirates on the southeast coast. So Hongyu came to inform you first and will go to the palace later to wait for the Emperor and ask for the medicine for you.”
"Thank you for your concern."
Overwhelmed with resentment, Shen Yu burst into tears. She feared the Emperor was too busy with state affairs and would leave the matter to the Empress; in that case, she would still face certain death!
Four hours had passed, and it was already midnight. There had been footsteps outside just moments before, but now it was suddenly quiet. Chen Yu and Cui Wei tiptoed to the small door.
Why is it unusually quiet outside?
The two split up to spy on the situation outside the main gate and the side gate, and surprisingly, there was no one guarding them.
Chen Yu sensed something was wrong and pulled Cui Wei towards the bamboo forest, saying in a panic, "The situation is bad... I'm afraid Liu Yao'er is trying to kill us under the cover of night!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... Countless torches swept overhead, and in an instant, the house burst into flames. It was autumn, and the garden was full of withered grass and dried flowers; the yard had also become a sea of fire.
Chen Yu and Cui Wei were astonished and continued running towards the bamboo forest.
In fact, Liu Yao'er stopped Madam Bai from imprisoning them in Youmingxuan in order to burn down Tingyuxuan and kill them to silence them!
The two hurriedly crossed the bamboo forest and ran towards the dog hole.
"Girl, the dog hole is blocked, you can't push it open."
Chen Yu shoved Cui Wei aside and reached out to check, but the dog hole was already blocked by a large rock. She quickly sat down and kicked it with her feet, but to no avail. Seeing the bamboo forest behind her on fire, she was frantic and tears streamed down her face. "No, we can't die. I can't lose to Liu Yao'er."
After saying that, she pulled Cuiwei to look for other ways out. They came to the water vat in the corner of the wall, climbed onto the vat, stood on the edge of the vat, and tried to climb over the wall to get out. However... at some point, a thorny bush half a zhang high had been added to the top of the wall. Looking around, the thorny bush had already started to burn, and the fire spread over in an instant.
Oh my god! It's still a dead end!
Because both of them were infected with the disease, they quickly lost their strength and felt their consciousness becoming blurred. They felt the burning of the raging fire, and she pulled Cuiwei into the water vat.
"Quick! Break down the wall and rescue Miss Chenyu!"
That voice... is it Yu Lang? Am I dreaming?
"Fish, fish..."
Shen Yu felt herself being held in someone's arms. She squinted and saw that handsome face. In the firelight, his beautiful peach blossom eyes were glistening with tears, and his scarlet thin lips kept moving.
She only felt water droplets falling on her cheeks, but could not hear any sound. She raised her hand and grabbed an arm, which was warm and strong, and this feeling made her feel at ease.
But... she was so tired that her eyelids were too heavy to lift. She leaned her head against the white dress and peacefully closed her eyes.
------
Inside the Ziji Hall, the Emperor and his ministers were still discussing the matter of resisting the Japanese pirates. Three hours had passed, and the discussion was still ongoing.
Hongyu paced anxiously outside the door, rubbing her hands together, her brows furrowed, and her eyes fixed on the door of the Ziji Palace.
Ring ring...
The clear, ringing sound means Jade has arrived.
Cuiwei leaned close to her and whispered, "Consort Yu, Tingyu Pavilion is on fire. Young Master Liu and Young Master Mu have gone to put out the fire. Prince Yan has ordered you to return quickly and not meddle in other people's business, lest you get burned."
Hongyu was furious. Before leaving, she had advised Prince Yan to volunteer to lead troops to attack the Japanese pirates along the southeast coast in order to gain the emperor's attention and impress the court officials. However, Prince Yan not only refused, but also advised her not to associate with Chenyu, lest she offend the crown prince.
At this moment, the Crown Prince smiled faintly and strode over, nodding to Hongyu. "Is Consort Yu seeking medicine for Chenyu? I have recovered after taking the medicine, and the Prince's residence still has some medicinal herbs that I may give to Consort Yu."
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