Volume One, Chapter Eight: Two Poisons

"Have you eaten your fill?" Liang Jiang asked with a smile in his eyes.

He silently glanced at the empty plates on the table. Even the two small dishes of plain radish were cleaned out without a hint of fussiness.

"Yes," Wen Shiyan replied, crunching a piece of fried sugar crisp, though the taste was rather ordinary.

She hadn’t forgotten her predicament. "Does Third Prince truly have no suspicion of me at all?"

Liang Jiang raised an eyebrow. "Ayan, you’re quite perceptive. It seems that if I don’t explain today, you won’t be able to get past this hurdle."

He slightly suppressed his usual casual demeanor and spoke seriously. "Hammerstone sent people to investigate overnight. Out of the ten dishes on our table, eight were found to be problematic. Luckily, we only ate the drunken chicken. As for the wine, since both you and I drank it, the poison must have been applied to the cups. The culprit has already been caught."

He lowered his gaze. "Ayan, it’s fortunate you’re unharmed."

Wen Shiyan felt as if an invisible rope was tightening around her chest. She hadn’t expected matters to be so coincidental.

"Was it an assassin?" she asked.

Liang Jiang nodded. "Yes, someone bribed the servants at Eight Treasures Vegetarian. Who exactly, we still don’t know."

In this vast capital city, there were countless people who wished him harm.

To dare to attack so openly, the culprit was likely either his so-called loyal brother or his ‘benevolent’ mother.

Wen Shiyan pressed further, "Did the assassin confess?"

Given his interrogation skills, it would be hard to miss any suspicious details.

Liang Jiang sighed in resignation at her concern. "No, he committed suicide on the spot before he could confess."

Though the assassin was dead, the poison in the food was not the same as the one inside him. Both were lethal, but the latter was far more insidious.

Thinking of this, a flicker of sharpness flashed across his eyes.

Wen Shiyan breathed a sigh of relief. "Knowing someone wants to kill you, won’t you be more cautious going forward?"

She was fishing for clues to see how he planned to protect himself.

"Assassins are everywhere, but none of them are capable," Liang Jiang smirked disdainfully. Then, as if reminded of something, he said, "On the contrary, you almost got caught up in this."

Wen Shiyan nodded reluctantly.

"Very well, from today on, you’ll stay by my side for the time being," he decided for her without asking. "To prevent anyone from harming you."

He was also worried someone might use her as leverage.

"No," Wen Shiyan refused without hesitation.

If there was one regret from her past life, it was not having studied the medical arts she longed for at the finest hospital in the world.

Since she could remember, she had watched her mother suffer monthly from the affliction known as Gui Shui.

Though she could not fully understand the pain even now, her mother’s frailty was like a thorn that wandered in her heart.

She still remembered when she was little, holding her mother’s hand with a firm promise:

"When I grow up, I will learn medicine well. Other doctors can’t cure Gui Shui pain, but I will. I will help all women in the world drive away the pain demons so that Mother can be healthy every day."

But her mother never lived to see her grow up.

Liang Jiang looked puzzled. "Why is that?"

"I took on the task of cleaning the Medical Archives. I have to go back and tidy up, so the books won’t get eaten by bookworms," Wen Shiyan explained casually.

With so many medical texts, there had to be useful records among them.

Liang Jiang stood up, amber-colored medicine dripping from his body, revealing his strong, firm chest and abdomen.

He tested his movements, having soaked for several hours; the residual poison was nearly cleared.

"The Medical Archives have nine floors, cleaned only once every few years. How long will it take you alone? Are those old men giving you a hard time?"

Wen Shiyan shook her head. "I volunteered. This is my first year at the Imperial Medical Institute. If I perform well, I might qualify to help set the exam questions for the spring hall test."

She would not let any opportunity slip to highlight the difficulties and prejudices women faced in seeking medical care.

The traditions were deeply entrenched and needed to be broken bit by bit.

Though Liang Jiang didn’t fully agree, since she was determined, he wouldn’t openly oppose her and risk upsetting her.

"Then I’ll have my men escort you into the palace. At night, you can return with the Wang family's carriage," he said, bending to look at her. "You wouldn’t want to reject your brother’s kindness, would you?"

Wen Shiyan averted her gaze, refusing to look at his mischievous expression. "You should put your clothes back on first."

Between two ‘big men’, the atmosphere seemed to have turned awkwardly intimate.

"Almost forgot, Ayan, your skin is as thin as paper," Liang Jiang said cheerfully, ruffling her hair. "I was reckless last night; I should thank you for stopping me."

He spoke, then recalled the things on the bed, his breath heating up.

Damn it, what if he had angered her again…

Wen Shiyan thought the same and blushed, though it was from anger.

Was he deliberately humiliating her?

Just wait, she’d kill him one day!

"I’m already grateful Third Prince doesn’t blame me for hurting you," she said, taking the excuse he offered.

Liang Jiang turned away, grabbing a clean undergarment from the rack to put on. "Ayan is always so polite."

His words sounded polite but carried a faint distance.

Between them, it was as if an invisible wall always stood. Just when he thought he had made a breach, it would inexplicably seal back up.

That day she said, once she received her salary, she would treat him to drinks. He had been happy, thinking the clouds were clearing and the moon shining.

But when yesterday came, their relationship seemed to return to square one—or perhaps even farther back.

No matter. He had plenty of patience; he could take it slow.

As long as his Ayan stayed by his side, that was enough.

"Today you have the day off. Ayan, would you like to see the cold plum blossoms on the mountain?"

Snow had fallen at midnight, and the sun shone brightly by day.

If they set off now to the cold plum forest at the foot of Lingping Mountain, they could arrive by noon. The melting snow dotted with plum blossoms would surely be breathtaking.

Wen Shiyan lowered her eyes to ponder briefly, then agreed.

It was not the right time for rash actions. Liang Jiang was already on alert.

Impulsiveness would only lead to the same tragic end as her past life—death without dignity. Now was the time to lie low patiently by his side.

Before departure, Shang An was coaxed into wearing a newly bought winter coat.

She was naturally striking and handsome, with sharp and dignified features. Wearing a jade-green, gold-threaded silk robe with wide sleeves and a dark blue, dragon-scale rabbit fur cloak, she looked supremely noble.

Liang Jiang boarded the carriage first and extended his hand to her.

She took it and settled inside, immediately clutching a warm hot water bottle.

Outside the carriage, the wind chimes jingled softly.

Soon, the carriage left the city.

Drawing back the curtain, the bustling cityscape faded into a flat forest road.

Leaving the noise behind, the air grew fresh and unburdened.

Leaning against her side with eyes closed, Liang Jiang swayed with the carriage’s movement, several times almost resting his head on her shoulder.

Wen Shiyan slipped to the opposite seat. "Third Prince, you look tired. Shall we head back?"

No sooner had she spoken than Liang Jiang sat up straight, crossing his long legs and propping his chin on his elbow, eyes clear and alert.

He showed no sign of sleepiness.

Wen Shiyan was speechless, barely restraining an eye roll, when the carriage suddenly halted, nearly throwing her forward.

Quick as lightning, Liang Jiang caught her.

Before they could ask what had happened, shouting and cursing came from outside.