RPAGF Chapter 449 An County
Chapter 449 An County
Chapter 449
Ye Yunzhou couldn't fail to see the suspicion in her eyes, but the truth was just as she thought: he was deliberately deceiving her. Facing Luo Shuiyao's slightly scrutinizing gaze, he didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt. He had been prepared long before coming here, and now, no matter what, it didn't matter. As he thought this, he suddenly unbuckled his belt with his free hand.
Luo Shuiyao frowned upon seeing this, turned her head slightly, and said in a panicked tone, "Why are you taking off your clothes?"
Ye Yunzhou undid his belt with alacrity, not even pausing for a moment at Luo Shuiyao's voice. In a few seconds, he had ripped his coat open, revealing his firm chest and toned abdomen.
Seeing Luo Shuiyao turned her head away, unwilling to look at him, she whispered, "If you can't tell me anything from taking my pulse, why don't you take a look at me? I'm poisoned."
The word "poisoned" exploded in Luo Shuiyao's mind like thunder. She suddenly looked up at Ye Yunzhou. Only when she saw the coin-sized black mark on his chest did she understand why he had ripped open his shirt. After a brief hesitation, she stepped forward and sat beside Ye Yunzhou, leaning slightly forward, her gaze fixed on the purple patch, examining it closely. But after a long glance, she still couldn't discern any clues.
She subconsciously raised her eyes, but happened to meet Ye Yunzhou's gaze as he looked down at her.
Luo Shuiyao's cheeks flushed. She hurriedly pursed her lips and quickly lowered her head, her voice tentative: "Can I touch... you?"
Ye Yunzhou's Adam's apple rolled, and his voice was low: "Of course."
Luo Shuiyao suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and gently placed her fingers on his chest. The black mark was as dark as ink, and with the naked eye, nothing unusual could be seen. But as soon as her fingertips touched it, she noticed something unusual—the surface was not as smooth as it appeared, and under her fingertips she could feel faintly raised veins.
Because the mark was located on the left side of her chest, the moment her palm touched it, the burning warmth of her body, mixed with the gentle rise and fall of her heartbeat, spread through her skin. As Ye Yunzhou's breathing rose and fell, the raised green veins became more and more obvious, giving her an eerie illusion—as if something alive was slowly swimming beneath her skin.
She slowly withdrew her hand, sat up straight, and locked her eyes with him: "Do you feel any discomfort in your body?" Ye Yunzhou shook his head lightly, his expression slightly tired: "I just feel weak all over."
He paused, as if hesitating, and then continued after a moment, "And my internal energy has been completely lost. Now I'm no different from an ordinary man. There's nothing special about me."
"Internal energy?" Luo Shuiyao murmured again, her eyes unconsciously falling on Ye Yunzhou's half-open collar. The strange black mark formed a sharp contrast with his muscular chest.
She bit her lower lip, her mind filled with scenes from martial arts novels of leaping over rooftops and walls, defeating enemies from a distance. "Does this internal energy really exist? How does it operate within the human body? Can it really be used to strike a bull from a distance, or shatter rocks with bare hands?"
Seeing the inquiring light in her eyes, Ye Yunzhou smiled faintly on his pale face: "If internal energy really has such miraculous effects, how could I have ended up like this?"
He raised his hand and pressed it against the mark on his chest, his fingertips trembling slightly. "So-called internal energy is nothing more than a warrior concentrating Qi and blood within the meridians through breathing and regulating their breath. Over time, it can strengthen the body and increase the power of the moves, but..."
His voice suddenly became hoarse. "Ever since I was poisoned, every time I practiced my Qi, it felt like thousands of needles were running through my meridians. Now my Dantian is completely empty, and I can't even perform the most basic Qinggong."
Luo Shuiyao subconsciously moved closer, staring at the black mark. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration came to her mind - the description of the strange poison in the medical book was somewhat similar to the symptoms before her. "You said this poison will destroy the meridians,"
She spoke anxiously, her fingertips unconsciously touching the edge of the mark. "Could it be that by blocking the flow of Qi and blood, your internal energy is dissipating? If we can find a medicine or method to dredge the meridians, we might be able to cure this poison!"
Ye Yunzhou couldn't laugh. The touch of her fingertips caused his chest muscles to tense instantly, and an itch crawled through his skin into his heart. He took a deep breath and said with difficulty, "Maybe it will work. But now, with my current physical condition, if you drive me away..."
He paused, a look of vigilance flashing in his eyes, "Those who are chasing me are still haunting me. If I'm discovered, I'm afraid I won't be able to resist."
He stared at Luo Shuiyao, his voice low and hoarse, "So, when we get to the next city, do you still want to say goodbye to me?
Luo Shuiyao wasn't fooled by his words. Instead, she stared at him thoughtfully, her eyes sharp as an eagle's. "Where are your subordinates? Don't you even have anyone around to look after you?"
She paused, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the hem of her skirt. "Why don't you tell me how to contact them? Once you do, you'll have someone to protect you, and you'll be able to find a doctor proficient in detoxification as soon as possible. Isn't that better than following me?"
Ye Yunzhou's expression darkened, as if troubled. "They've separated from me, and the people chasing me have already cracked our method of transmitting information. If I easily spread the news, I'm afraid they'll know my whereabouts before my subordinates do. Then, won't I be trapped like a turtle in a jar?"
Luo Shuiyao was even more surprised, feeling something was amiss. In the original novel, Ye Yunzhou was practically unbeatable, and he was given so much attention that she had initially assumed he would be the male protagonist. But later in the novel, she realized the author had merely used Ye Yunzhou as a "target," serving both to motivate the male protagonist and to provide a backup for the female protagonist.
Because of this, in her heart, Ye Yunzhou was extremely powerful, almost invincible. Furthermore, he was deeply loved by Emperor Yuan Zhen, and no ordinary person dared to provoke him even if they wanted to. Who could have caused him to fall so badly? Thinking about this, Luo Shuiyao asked directly, "Then could you please tell me, who is your enemy?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Yunzhou's expression froze, and his entire aura instantly turned cold. He was silent for a long time, his Adam's apple rolling violently, and his voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth: "It's the Third Prince."
"The Third Prince?!" Luo Shuiyao exclaimed in surprise, her eyes filled with disbelief, her voice rising a few notches unconsciously. "Didn't they say the Third Prince had already burned himself to death in his palace? How could this be..."
Her voice abruptly stopped, her fingertips unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes. Countless questions exploded in her mind. Could the imperial edict personally issued by Emperor Yuanzhen and the credible rumors of his self-immolation be just a deception?
"It is indeed as you thought. The Third Prince is not dead, but has fled Kyoto."
Ye Yunzhou looked solemn and sighed slightly, "I am following the order of His Majesty to bring him back."
He shifted his body, his brows furrowed slightly, a sense of shame and embarrassment etched in his lips. "It's just that I hadn't anticipated the Third Prince would have assassins with him, each of them incredibly powerful. I was careless and fell into their trap. Not only did I get separated from my subordinates, I was also poisoned and lost my internal energy."
The original novel was nothing more than a story of palace intrigue, with scant attention paid to the princes. Luo Shuiyao racked her brains, only to recall the text mentioning that the Third Prince and the heroine had met by chance and fallen in love at first sight. However, due to the heroine's humble origins, her mother, Concubine Cheng, firmly opposed the idea and only agreed to let her become a concubine. The heroine, with her proud character, decisively refused, but this very strength only intensified the Third Prince's obsession, and it was through the Third Prince's introduction that the heroine met the hero.
These descriptions were far too brief, and Luo Shuiyao could only recall fragments after pondering them. But she vaguely remembered the book's description of the Third Prince's background—that Concubine Cheng's maternal family held immense power, so vast that even His Majesty was wary. With that in mind, Ye Yunzhou's fall at the hands of the Third Prince made sense. After all, facing a complex web of power and desperate assassins, even the most powerful can inevitably suffer setbacks.
Although she was already 70% convinced, Luo Shuiyao still had doubts. She stared at Ye Yunzhou with a sharp gaze and asked, "Then how did you know which inn and room I was in? And why did you suddenly disappear and appear in this desolate place?"
Ye Yunzhou suppressed the coldness in his eyes and softened his voice unconsciously: "At first, I didn't know where you were. At that time, I was cornered by pursuers and had no choice but to hide in that inn."
He paused, his Adam's apple rolling slightly, "I just happened to hear a familiar voice, and based on some clues, I was able to roughly guess your location."
At this point, a wry smile played at the corners of his brow, a smile filled with helplessness and self-mockery at his own predicament. "As for my sudden disappearance..." He paused, his voice unconsciously lowered. "I was really afraid of causing you trouble. I wanted to lie low in the inn's shadows and wait for the right opportunity to show up."
His tone suddenly changed, his expression suddenly becoming serious. "Who would have thought we'd be pursued by pursuers? If I continue to be by your side, it will inevitably arouse suspicion, and will only put you in danger. After weighing the pros and cons, I can only take the risk and flee Baihua County alone."
He lowered his eyes, his thick lashes casting shadows that completely obscured the complex expression in them. "But the toxicity struck so suddenly that I couldn't prevent it."
His voice was hoarse and tired. "I didn't make it long enough to meet you. I ran out of energy and fainted on the way. When I woke up again..."
He raised his head and his eyes fell on Luo Shuiyao, "I see you again."
After he finished speaking, he looked directly into Luo Shuiyao's eyes, his gaze frank and firm: "I know this experience sounds absurd, but if I wanted to lie to you, why would I put myself in danger?"
Luo Shuiyao was originally filled with doubts as she listened to Ye Yunzhou's account of this series of coincidences. But his last words were like a heavy hammer, shattering her doubts.
If you think about it carefully, it is true.
Ye Yunzhou was the sharpest blade in His Majesty's wield. Normally, everyone treated him with respect, but only out of fear of his strength. If he truly weakened to this point, those who secretly hated him would surely seize the opportunity to attack him. Given Ye Yunzhou's temperament and behavior, how could he deliberately place himself in such danger? Exposing his weakness would serve him no good.
Luo Shuiyao didn't think she had the charm to make Ye Yunzhou pretend to be so weak. She suppressed the possibility that had just risen in her heart and nodded gently: "If it's really as you said, leaving you alone is indeed dangerous."
She lowered her eyes and thought for a while, her eyelashes casting tiny shadows under her eyes. Finally, she made up her mind and looked directly at Ye Yunzhou: "Then you can come with me. It's not too late to leave after your subordinates contact you."
Ye Yunzhou's eyes were slightly warm, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He bowed and said, "Okay, then I would like to thank Yaoyao for taking me in. I will repay you for saving my life one day." Although his voice was still a little weak, it could not hide the solemnity in his tone.
Luo Shuiyao waved her hand, her expression calm: "No need for that. The box of treasures you gave me before is just a reward. Besides, I'm also curious about how to cure this poison, so just treat you as my new 'patient'." She blinked and deliberately spoke lightly, trying to dilute the slightly heavy atmosphere.
He said it lightly, but the demarcation in his tone was clear. Ye Yunzhou couldn't help but laugh at this, a smile shrouded in a hidden cunning. They had already crossed the line between them, and she was the only one who naively believed she could truly distance herself from him. From deliberately poisoning herself to this self-torture tactic, he had calculated every step precisely—making this encounter from accidental to inevitable, dragging her unknowingly into his predicament.
His fingertips unconsciously stroked the medicine bottle hidden in his sleeve, the key to controlling the onset of the poison. He lowered his eyes to hide the calculating glint in them. This play had to continue. When the time came, with this friendship of shared hardship as the foundation, the bond of life and death, he didn't believe Luo Shuiyao would be able to easily withdraw.
Luo Shuiyao had no idea that the most absurd speculation she had dismissed from the outset actually concealed Ye Yunzhou's true intentions. With the misunderstanding temporarily resolved, their relationship became much more relaxed than before. She subconsciously put the matter of the two books out of her mind, bent down to pick up the plain handkerchief that had fallen at her feet, gently dusted it off, and returned to her embroidery, concentrating on her stitches.
Silver needles fluttered gracefully between his fingertips, creating snow-white rabbit ears on the plain silk, the fuzzy stitches evoking a certain agility. Ye Yunzhou reclined on the carriage's cushions, his eyes lightly closed as if dozing. His previously carelessly spread, dark-colored robes were slowly gathered up, adding a touch of laziness to his unruly demeanor. His pale complexion made him appear even more frail, but only the slight curl of his lips betrayed his true feelings.
The carriage churned slightly as it rolled over gravel. Within this swaying rhythm, the sound of shallow breathing echoed beside him, again and again, like some hidden drumbeat, inadvertently hitting his heart, causing ripples in his calm heart, and even the calm demeanor he had carefully maintained seemed to be cracking.
A moment later, the sound of voices mixed with the rumbling of wheels entered the carriage. Luo Shuiyao paused with the silver needle in her hand and looked up at the closed curtains.
The sound of conversation outside became clearer and clearer. She gently lifted a corner of the carriage curtain. In the twilight, the city gate was already in sight. The words "An County" on the top of the city wall could be vaguely seen.
The wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs with a crisp sound. Luo Shuiyao put down the embroidered handkerchief in her hand, pulled the curtains open a little, and glanced at the taverns on the street. Because it was late at night, there were not many vendors and pedestrians on the street. Compared to Baihua County, it seemed much quieter.