The answer is correct. But Xiao Chengyu clearly remembered that she had only eaten half a piece of red bean paste that day because of an upset stomach.
She was shocked, but remained outwardly calm, saying only, "Yes, I love lotus seed paste with salted egg yolk the most."
That night, she secretly summoned the army doctor to inquire about the details of the arrow poison. The doctor said, "The poison used to coat the arrowheads is called 'Forget-Me-Not,' a secret medicine of the Northern Barbarians. Those who are poisoned will experience confusion, fragmented memories, and even... a drastic change in temperament."
"Is it curable?"
The military doctor shook his head: "There is no cure for this poison. But if it is no longer stimulated, it may slowly recover."
Xiao Chengyu's heart sank to the bottom. It turned out that his unusual behavior these past few days was all due to the poison. That fake jade pendant was probably also an act of delusion during the poison's onset.
She returned to her tent and looked at Qi Mingxuan sleeping peacefully on the bed, her heart filled with unspeakable sorrow. Gently stroking his thin cheek, she murmured, "No matter what you become, I will never abandon you."
As if sensing her touch, Qi Mingxuan suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and gentle: "Your Highness..." His voice returned to its usual warm tone.
"You're awake?" Xiao Chengyu asked in surprise. "Do you feel unwell anywhere?"
Qi Mingxuan shook his head slightly and took her hand: "Did I just... talk nonsense again?" His eyes were filled with guilt, "I am sometimes lucid and sometimes confused, and I always have some absurd dreams..."
Xiao Chengyu said gently, "It's alright. Just take good care of yourself."
Qi Mingxuan stared at her, then suddenly said, "I dreamt that I... used a fake jade pendant to deceive Your Highness. How absurd..." He smiled bitterly, "Even if I were despicable, I would never do such a thing."
Xiao Chengyu was shocked. It turned out that he still had memories when the poison took effect!
“Your Highness…” his voice trembled slightly, “If I… can never recover and become mentally unstable… would Your Highness…”
“No, I won’t,” Xiao Chengyu interrupted him, saying firmly, “Even if you stay like this forever, I will still protect you.”
Qi Mingxuan's eyes glistened with tears as he gently pulled her into his arms: "With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for..."
However, the tenderness lasted only a moment before his gaze suddenly changed, and his tone became obstinate: "But since Your Highness has agreed to the marriage, there can be no going back! The marriage must take place upon returning to the capital! Immediately!"
Xiao Chengyu sighed inwardly and gently comforted her, "Alright, whatever you say."
She secretly increased her manpower to search for Gu Zhili, hoping to find the antidote. At the same time, she wrote to the capital, explaining the situation and requesting that an imperial physician be sent.
During this period, Xiao Chengrui and Ashina Yun's wedding took place first. Although the battlefield wedding was simple, it was exceptionally touching. Seeing his second brother and sister-in-law's happy appearance, Xiao Chengyu felt both joy and sorrow.
On the eve of her return to the capital, Qi Mingxuan's poison worsened, and he broke into her tent, trapping her in a corner: "Why is Your Highness delaying the marriage? Do you despise me?"
Xiao Chengyu calmly said, "Mingxuan, you've been poisoned. It's me, Yu'er."
Qi Mingxuan's eyes glazed over for a moment, then sharpened again: "Yu'er... my Yu'er..." He suddenly lowered his head to kiss her.
Xiao Chengyu turned his head away and calmly said, "Mingxuan, you once said that those you cherish should be treated with courtesy. Is this your idea of cherishing someone?"
Qi Mingxuan was struck dumb, staggered backward, clutched his head and roared in pain: "Your Majesty, I have offended you again..." He even tried to bang his head against the wall!
Xiao Chengyu hurriedly grabbed him: "Mingxuan! Look at me! It's me, Yu'er!"
Their eyes met, and the madness in his eyes faded, replaced by pain and self-reproach: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty is unworthy of me..."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Xiao Chengyu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "When you shielded me from the arrow, did you ever think about whether you were worthy of it?"
She helped him sit down and patiently comforted him until he fell into a deep sleep.
Looking at his restless sleeping face, Xiao Chengyu felt as if her heart was being torn apart. She knew she had to find an antidote as soon as possible.
Heaven rewards the diligent. Three days later, the soldiers who were pursuing Gu Zhili brought good news: he was trapped at Black Wind Cliff!
Xiao Chengyu personally led the team there. Black Wind Cliff was a treacherous terrain, and Gu Zhili stubbornly resisted, shouting, "Your Highness! Want the antidote? You'll have to come and get it yourself!"
Despite the generals' attempts to dissuade her, Xiao Chengyu declared, "If anything happens to me, kill me without hesitation!" With that, she resolutely stepped forward.
Gu Zhili sneered, "What a deeply affectionate princess! It's a pity that there's no antidote for the 'Forget-Me-Not' poison in Qi Mingxuan's body!"
Xiao Chengyu's heart sank, but he remained calm and said, "If that's the case, what use are you?" With that, he suddenly pulled out his hairpin and stabbed at her!
Caught off guard by her sudden attack, Gu Zhili hastily parried. Just then, an arrow shot from the shadows, striking him squarely in the throat!
Xiao Chengyu turned around and saw that Qi Mingxuan had arrived at some point and was still in the posture of shooting an arrow, his eyes clear and sharp: "I said that I would protect Your Highness."
Upon hearing the news after regaining consciousness, he immediately led his troops to provide assistance.
Gu Zhili collapsed, lifeless, a small bottle rolling out of his arms. The army doctor examined it and exclaimed with delight, "It's the antidote! He lied to His Highness!"
Qi Mingxuan took the antidote and fell into a deep sleep. When he woke up again, his eyes had regained their former clarity.
"Your Highness..." He looked at Xiao Chengyu, who was waiting by the bedside, and said apologetically, "Your Highness has suffered these past few days."
Xiao Chengyu wept with joy: "You're better...you're really better..."
Qi Mingxuan gently wiped away her tears: "I remember everything. The absurdity I displayed when the poison took effect, the offense I committed against Your Highness..." His expression was filled with guilt, "I am ashamed..."
Xiao Chengyu covered his lips: "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been poisoned." She took out the fake jade pendant, "I'll keep this one."
Qi Mingxuan took the jade pendant and smiled bitterly: "I actually did such a thing..." He then tried to destroy it.
Xiao Chengyu stopped him, saying, "Keep it. It reminds us... to cherish the people in front of us."
Their eyes met, filled with tender affection. Having faced life and death together, their feelings for each other had only grown stronger.
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