Chapter 6 Opportunity
Time passed slowly in the residence where Wang Yi was under house arrest. In the first few days, Li Jiancheng would come over frequently, sometimes under the guise of "asking for advice on Taoist magic" or simply asking about her "experiences in Penglai," but in reality, he was trying to subtly extract clues from her about Li Shimin or her true intentions.
Wang Yi handled the situation flawlessly, maintaining her mysterious and aloof "otherworldly" demeanor. Her attitude towards Li Jiancheng was neither respectful nor resistant, merely calm and polite, yet carrying an insurmountable distance. This air, coupled with her ever-clean "celestial robes" and otherworldly beauty, gradually stirred within Li Jiancheng an inexplicable desire to conquer and…covetousness, beyond his initial suspicion.
He began to see her not merely as a suspect in a possible affair with Li Shimin, but as a rare, precious, and highly symbolic "treasure." If he could win over this "fairy of Penglai," it would not only strike a blow against Li Shimin (if she were truly connected to him), but also demonstrate his divine mandate, attracting even immortals from overseas, greatly enhancing his prestige. Moreover, such unparalleled beauty…
Okay, forgive the ancients for not knowing about the modern technology called micro-adjustment. Wang Yi was already good-looking to begin with, and after being manipulated by a scumbag, she spent a lot of money on plastic surgery. Wang Yi's appearance would be enough to outshine Hong Kong and Taiwan actresses at the end of the last century even in modern times. In ancient times, she would be an absolute stunner.
To get back to the point, Li Jiancheng coveted Wang Yi's beauty, but he was not a reckless man. Wang Yi's "Penglai" background and the extraordinary qualities she displayed (even just the fact that she wore Bichen clothing) made him wary, and he dared not use force easily. He chose a more roundabout way—to demonstrate his power and "sincerity."
He sent her even more exquisite clothing and jewelry (which Wang Yi politely declined, saying, "A person of quiet cultivation does not appreciate luxury"), rare books and antiques (which Wang Yi casually glanced at and then set aside), and even hinted that he could grant her a transcendent status and honor. Wang Yi's reaction remained indifferent, neither enthusiastic nor fearful, as if the object of his goodwill was not the Crown Prince, but some ordinary wealthy household.
Li Jiancheng was somewhat annoyed by this unyielding attitude, but it also piqued his interest. He came less frequently, but each time he did, he seemed to stay longer, and his gaze became more aggressive. Wang Yi could feel that increasingly obvious gaze, a mixture of possessiveness and probing. She sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm, treating it as if she were watching a clumsy performance.
Seven or eight days passed, and then Li Jiancheng suddenly stopped appearing. At first, Wang Yi didn't pay much attention, assuming that the Crown Prince was busy with state affairs or had developed a new interest. But the atmosphere in the residence was subtly different. The servants moved more quietly, the guards looked more tense, and occasionally one could hear very low whispers about "headache" and "imperial physician."
Wang Yi's heart skipped a beat. The Li family…headaches? She remembered historical records mentioning that Li Yuan seemed to suffer from headaches in his later years, and Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin also seemed to have similar symptoms. This might be related to family heredity or a common disease at the time (such as rheumatism). Li Jiancheng hadn't come for several days in a row; could it be a relapse of his old ailment?
This might be an opportunity.
Two more days passed, and Li Jiancheng still hadn't arrived. While Wang Yi was "strolling" in the courtyard (his activity was limited to this small courtyard), he "happened" to overhear two servants delivering things talking quietly under the eaves.
"...His Highness the Crown Prince's attack this time was severe. I heard he was in so much pain that he couldn't sleep for several days, and the prescriptions from the Imperial Medical Bureau didn't seem to help much..."
"Shh, keep your voice down! How dare we discuss matters concerning important people?"
The sound quickly subsided, and the two hurried away.
Wang Yi had a plan in mind. That evening, the person responsible for bringing her food was a middle-aged maid with an honest-looking face. Wang Yi stopped her and handed her a small, plain-colored brocade pouch containing two white pills sealed separately with waterproof aluminum foil (actually, they were potent modern nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; the markings on the pills had been carefully scraped off).
“I heard that Your Excellency is unwell and bedridden. This is ‘Heart-Clearing and Pain-Relieving Powder,’ passed down by my sect. It may be of some effect in relieving headaches and dizziness. I have troubled you here, and I have no way to repay you. This medicine may be of some use. You may pass this on to the person in charge, and tell him that it is a gift from me. Whether Your Excellency uses it or not is entirely up to you.” Wang Yi’s tone was calm, and his eyes were clear, as if he were simply giving away an ordinary gift.
The maid was startled and dared not accept it, waving her hands repeatedly, "Madam, this...this servant dares not..."
"It's alright, you just need to deliver the message. If the steward asks, just say that I overheard that your master was unwell, hence this gift. If they don't accept it, or have any doubts, just discard it; it won't cost me anything." Wang Yi placed the brocade pouch on the table, said no more, and turned to sit quietly.
The maid hesitated for a long time, but ultimately dared not conceal the truth. Trembling, she delivered the brocade pouch and her words to the head guard. The head guard, not daring to act on his own, immediately reported the matter up the chain of command, eventually reaching the hands of an official in the Eastern Palace in charge of the matter.
"Pills from Penglai?" The official frowned, staring at the two unusually smooth "pills" he had never seen before. His Highness the Crown Prince was suffering from a severe headache, and the imperial physicians were helpless. Was this unexpected gift of medicine from a woman of unknown origin a coincidence, or did she have ulterior motives? What if it was poison…
He dared not delay and immediately took the brocade pouch and medicine to personally report to the ailing Li Jiancheng.
Li Jiancheng was tormented by a headache, his forehead covered with a cold towel, his face pale. Upon hearing the report, he mustered his strength, picked up the brocade pouch, and poured out the two small white pills. They were smooth and slightly cool to the touch, with no odor.
"She... offered the medicine willingly?" Li Jiancheng's voice was hoarse, his eyes bloodshot as he examined the pills. "She said it was the 'Heart-Clearing and Pain-Relieving Powder' passed down from her sect?"
"Yes, that's what Wang Yi said. He said he heard that Your Highness was unwell and wanted to express his concern."
Li Jiancheng's suspicions deepened. This woman, confined here, wasn't thinking about how to escape or beg for mercy, but instead concerned about his condition? Was she trying to gain his trust by giving first? Or did she truly possess extraordinary abilities? Or perhaps... there was something wrong with the medicine itself?
"What did the imperial physician say?" he asked.
The imperial physician standing nearby immediately bowed: "Your Highness, this medicine has a strange form, neither a decoction nor a pill. I... have never seen it before and dare not presume to judge its properties. To be on the safe side, Your Highness must not take it lightly!"
Li Jiancheng knew he couldn't just take anything. But his headache was excruciating, coming in waves that made it almost impossible for him to think. He looked at the two small pills, and a thought flashed through his mind.
“Find someone to test the drug,” he said coldly. “Someone reliable.”
Soon, a strong and healthy palace guard, who had volunteered (or been forced to volunteer), was brought in. Under the close watch of the imperial physicians and officials, the guard took a pill and swallowed it with warm water. Everyone held their breath, observing his reaction.
A quarter of an hour, then another quarter of an hour... Aside from being a little nervous at first, the guard felt no discomfort; in fact, he was somewhat listless from standing for so long. An hour later, the guard reported that everything was normal and there was nothing unusual.
Li Jiancheng stared at the remaining pill, then at his own still-agonizing state, his mind in turmoil. The fact that the test subject was unharmed at least indicated that the drug wasn't an instantly fatal poison. But Wang Yi… was he really so kind?
"Your Highness, perhaps... this woman truly possesses a miraculous remedy from overseas?" the subordinate cautiously suggested. "Judging from her attire and demeanor, she is indeed extraordinary. Since she has offered the medicine willingly, perhaps we should give it a try? We only need to have the imperial physician closely monitor her..."
The headache returned, almost overwhelming him like a tidal wave. Li Jiancheng gritted his teeth, but ultimately the desire to relieve the pain outweighed his doubts. "Bring the medicine... here."
The remaining pill was carefully presented. Li Jiancheng swallowed it with warm water. The pill seemed to dissolve quickly, carrying a very faint, indescribable bitter taste.
At first, he felt nothing. Just as Li Jiancheng was about to doubt that the medicine was just a placebo, or even a slow poison, and began to regret his actions, about half an hour later, the headache that had lasted for several days and felt like it was about to split open began to gradually weaken and subside, as if gently stroked by an invisible hand! Although it did not completely disappear, the feeling of relief, like returning from hell to earth, made Li Jiancheng breathe a long sigh of relief, and his tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.
"It actually...works?" He found it hard to believe, but his body didn't lie. The irritability and weakness he had been experiencing for days seemed to have lessened somewhat.
"Quick! Go to Xuandu Temple... no, to that other courtyard! Find Wang Yi and ask her if she still has this medicine! Get more of it!" Li Jiancheng ordered urgently, a glint of eagerness in his eyes. This medicine was so effective, far surpassing any prescription from the Imperial Medical Bureau! If it could truly cure or effectively control this stubborn ailment...
The subordinate official received the order and hurriedly went to the villa where Wang Yi was being held under house arrest.
Upon hearing that the Crown Prince had taken the medicine and his pain had subsided, and that he now wanted more "Qingxin Zhentong San" (a traditional Chinese medicine for relieving pain and calming the mind), Wang Yi felt certain that she had made the right move. A perfectly timed expression of "difficulty" appeared on her face.
"This medicine is extremely difficult to refine, requiring unique overseas medicinal herbs and the right timing and location to complete. I don't carry many with me to begin with, and I already gave you everything I had last time," Wang Yi sighed. "If I were to obtain more now, I'm afraid..."
"What medicine does Your Highness need? Or what conditions are required? Please speak frankly! If His Highness recovers, he will certainly not mistreat Your Highness!" the official hurriedly replied.
Wang Yi pondered for a moment and said, "The medicinal herbs are not the key; perhaps we can find substitutes here. However, the method of refining requires a quiet room, a specific time, and a focused mind. I am currently here, and my mind is not at peace, so I am afraid I will not be able to succeed."
The official understood the unspoken meaning—his resentment at being under house arrest and unable to concentrate on "refining medicine." He immediately said, "My lady, rest assured, His Highness only asked you to stay here temporarily and has no ill intentions. If you need a quieter environment or assistance, please don't hesitate to ask! As long as you can refine this medicine for His Highness, everything is negotiable!"
That was exactly what Wang Yi wanted to hear. She didn't immediately ask for freedom or to see Li Shimin; that would be too hasty. She simply needed to loosen the restrictions, gain some room to maneuver, and... a more plausible excuse to contact the outside world.
“In that case,” Wang Yi said slowly, “I can try to refine it here, but it requires an absolutely quiet room where no one will disturb us, and some common medicinal herbs as auxiliary materials. I can write down the list. In addition, no one is allowed to spy on or disturb us during the refining process, otherwise the medicinal properties will be lost and all our efforts will be in vain.”
"No problem! Everything is at your disposal, my lady!" the official readily agreed. What did these conditions matter as long as he could get that miraculous medicine?
Soon, Wang Yi was moved to a quieter, secluded courtyard within the mansion. The gate was guarded, but inside, apart from the servants who regularly delivered meals, there were no longer any guards constantly watching her. She also received some writing materials and so-called "medicinal herbs" (in reality, most of them were just ordinary herbs she casually mentioned, used to deceive others).
After closing the door, Wang Yi took out several more strips of the same painkillers from her small pouch (a modern, multi-functional waist bag with an aged finish and a waterproof inner lining). She carefully removed the pills from the aluminum foil, wrapped them individually in clean paper, and put them back into the brocade pouch. The so-called "refining" was nothing but a pretense.
She knew that the painkiller only treated the symptoms, not the root cause, but it was enough to make Li Jiancheng temporarily dependent on her. This "dependence" was her best protection and bargaining chip at the moment. Li Jiancheng would value her more and more, and be more and more wary of her (because she controlled the source of the medicine), but at the same time, he would have to relax his control over her, at least on the surface.
"The headache is relieved, but this 'heartache'... is likely to worsen." Wang Yi placed the wrapped "medicine" into a small porcelain bottle, a slight smile playing on her lips. The more Li Jiancheng needed this medicine, the less he dared to touch her easily, and the more he would try to keep her by his side, even... bring her under his control.
This, in turn, gave her more time and space to wait, or to create the possibility of contact with another key figure—Li Shimin. The butterfly's wings had already flapped, and a storm was brewing unseen. She, this chess piece, was stirring up an increasingly complex game of chess in her own way.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com