Lingxi and He Yu were staring at each other for a long time.
He Yu smiled lightly.
His lips were about to answer her but he suddenly pulled her close to himself and turned around switching their positions.
A long tiny silver needle flew out of nowhere and pierced his neck. Lingxi was startled.
He Yu's hand touched the spot the needle had pierced. He gently removed it.
He Yu and Lingxi looked at where the needle came from. A man in black who was standing at a distance disappeared.
Lingxi quickly checked on He Yu, "are you okay?"
"I'm fine", he assured her.
Lingxi looked in the man's direction and both of them immediately followed after him till they got to a secluded area.
She looked around but the man was nowhere to be found. As they both looked around, Lingxi noticed the needle in He Yu's hand and looked at it.
Her eyes flickered, "it's poisoned"
Her words had not even completed before He Yu suddenly spewed out blood. He held his chest trying to breathe.
Lingxi quickly supported him, "He Yu, are you okay?"
He Yu did not respond as he tried to adjust his breathing.
Lingxi decided to prioritize He Yu's health, "Let's go see a physician"
A sword fast approached her but Lingxi was too focused on He Yu to notice. He Yu immediately pulled her behind him and held the sword.
Blood dripped from his head. Lingxi watched the scene. The picture was as vivid as what she remembered.
He Yu did not waste any time. He directly kicked the attacker and drew the sword from his grip. Eight men jumped downwards from the roof and all rushed towards him.
He Yu dodged one of the attacks and the fight escalated.
Lingxi wanted to help but she decided to observe He Yu's sword technique.
His feet were light and barely touching the ground as he fought. His footwork was quite unique. It felt random at first but it was precise and quick. He slipped past the blades like smoke, stepping in patterns that defied balance.
His sword movements were swift and precise, wasting no time.
His martial arts felt way too familiar to Lingxi and she understood that He Yu was no ordinary easygoing frail Grand Prince. The He Yu she was seeing now was different. He easily took down the assassins.
A sword approached Lingxi about to attack her. He Yu noticed and immediately released his sword. His sword flew towards the assassin and struck his chest. He fell.
With all men down, He Yu breathing became increasingly rapid. He shared one long look with Lingxi before falling to the ground and losing consciousness.
Lingxi stood still. Even though she had some doubts before, seeing He Yu martial skill, all was clear.
She was a hundred percent sure that the 'deceptive fox' she had met in the past was him.
She took a step closer wanting to go help him but another assassin jumped down and landed in front of her.
Lingxi did not hesitate. Before he could attack, she kicked behind his knee causing him to fall on his knees. She did not give him time to respond. She twisted his own arm around his neck, stepped on a sword making it fly up and caught it.
She then placed the sword on his neck, "who sent you?"
Xin Lan rushed towards Lingxi, "Eunuch Go", she said but those two words were enough for Lingxi to understand what she meant.
"He sure has gotten bold, hasn't he?" Lingxi looked at the man kneeling before her.
She pressed the sword closer to his neck.
His hair stood and he immediately reacted, "I was merely ordered to attack you. I don't know anything", he said as he tried to maintain a steady voice.
"No. You do know something", Lingxi said and for the first time in a long time, a sinister smile appeared on her lips.
Xin Lan directly knocked him unconscious before turning to Lingxi, "What are your orders?"
"Let him go for now. It's still too early to respond to him. I will address him later in the day", Lingxi responded.
Her gaze landed on He Yu, "Hurry and prepare a carriage. He Yu's life is in danger. We have to rush him back to the palace", she ordered.
Xin Lan bowed and rushed off.
Lingxi rushed to He Yu's side and lifted him up. She checked his pulse. She could barely feel any. She looked at the needle and she knew for sure that they were after her.
Her eyes were filled with so much worry that she had never had before, "He Yu... you must not die on me"
[Channing Palace]
Lingxi watched as Xu Yicheng examined He Yu.
Xu Yicheng, as He Yu's personal physician, knew He Yu's condition best.
Xin Lan had already passed a message to Mo Qinshan and Xiuyan that something urgent had come up and they decided to go back to Channing Palace.
As for Xu Yicheng, he had come to Channing Palace for the routine examinations of He Yu's health at the end of every month as usual.
Due to the festivities, he brought his sister along to the capital to celebrate the New Year. Chi Yun had to find and inform him of He Yu's condition.
Meanwhile, He Yu who had lost consciousness had suddenly become very hot. This was abnormal as He Yu was usually cold due to the poison in his body.
"How is he?" Lingxi asked worried.
Xu Yicheng turned to her, "do you have the needle he as poisoned with?"
Lingxi handed it to him.
He studied it, "this contains a heat toxin", he paused for before continuing, "The poison in His Highness's body has a cold toxin. However, both poisons contradict each other. So right now, two poisons are conflicting in his body", Xu Yicheng explained.
Of course, Lingxi knew all that.
"Is there any way to save him?" she asked.
"His condition is tricky...however, I have a method that can save him", he said.
His tone made Lingxi realize that the method was not particularly friendly.
He Yu's ruffled breaths drew both their attentions back to him. Lingxi rushed to his side and sat next to him.
She felt his temperature, "he's burning up"
"Lingxi....." she heard him call.
"Here", Lingxi answered holding his hand, "I'm here"
"Lingxi...." He Yu called again.
Lingxi looked at Xu Yicheng, "what is the method?" she asked.
"His Highness's condition worsened and he has now been poisoned again. To save him, I'll use acupuncture to force out the heat toxin. However, this method is very dangerous as there are two different poisons in him. If anything goes wrong, he'll die", Xu Yicheng answered.
There was a long pause. Chi Yun who was emotional could not keep his emotions in check any longer and stepped out.
For the first time in a long time, Lingxi felt her eyes moisten.
She held He Yu's finger tighter, "and if you succeed?" she asked Xu Yicheng.
"If all goes well, His Highness will be saved but... his lifespan will be shortened", Xu Yicheng answered.
Lingxi caressed He Yu's hand. She wanted to speak but surprisingly found her throat parched and unable to bring out any sound.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Forcing the words out of her mouth, she said, "save him, no matter the cost"
Xu Yicheng bowed slightly accepting her command.
*****
Lingxi watched as Xu Yicheng used acupuncture on He Yu.
It had already been six hours since she stood there watching.
Despite the words of Xin Xie and Xin Lan, she refused to leave.
It was past the hour of Mao when Xin Xie came into the room, "Eunuch Go is here with an edict"
Lingxi's expression changed on hearing the name 'Eunuch Go'. However, she regained her composure and gave a glance to He Yu before leaving the room to the main hall.
She had Xin Lan stay behind to watch He Yu and took Chi Yun with her instead while Xin Xie was sent to deliver a message to He Rui.
"Why is he delivering an edict so early?" Lingxi wondered what he was up to.
The sun had barely risen and the sky was still a bit dim.
"Your Highness", Eunuch Go bowed.
He had two other eunuchs behind him. Lingxi walked up to him disgusted by his pretentious smile.
"This is the first time I've seen an edict delivered so early in the morning", Lingxi commented.
"I hope Your Highness will forgive me for my intrusion", he said, "His Majesty was very pleased with the incense you gifted him and recalled he had not yet compensated you for the injustice you suffered in the hands of Concubine Yu. So he immediately asked me to send you a gift as well. Your Highness, please receive the edict"
Lingxi curtsied while Chi Yun knelt as the edict was read:
"Grand Consort Jiuyuan has demonstrated wisdom, courage, and unwavering loyalty to the Imperial House.
From this day forth, We bestow upon her the Golden Qilin Token.
Wherever this token is presented, palace gates shall open, officials shall render assistance according to the law, and none shall obstruct her lawful duties.
In urgent matters, she may report directly to the throne.
Those who defy the decree shall answer directly to the Throne", he read the edict aloud.
Lingxi accepted the edict and he handed her the token.
"I thank His Majesty for His grace", she said accepting the token.
Eunuch Go bowed, "I shall take my leave now"
He turned and was about leaving with the other eunuchs when he felt something sharp on his neck. He turned back slowly.
Lingxi had taken out Chi Yun's sword and placed it on his neck.