The moment Lin Xiangyin saw Jiang Yourning wake up, she hugged her and began crying even louder.
"Waaah, Ningning, it was my fault for failing to protect you and letting you suffer."
"Mother, this wasn't your fault. Those villains were just too brazen."
Jiang Yourning used her sleeve to wipe the outer corner of Lin Xiangyin's left eye as well.
Good, now the grime is evenly spread. Mother loves looking beautiful so much. With her makeup ruined, I should be able to coax her into leaving, right?
"I don't know which wretch who deserves a thousand cuts dared to kidnap my daughter.
Don't worry, Ningning. I'll avenge you!"
"Mother, leave that to the authorities. I'm sure they'll see justice done for me.
Please stop crying and go wash up. My clothes are so dirty that they've smeared your makeup."
Lin Xiangyin's crying stopped at once, and she forcibly held back the tears that had been about to spill out a moment later.
"My makeup is smeared?"
"Uh-huh."
"Then get some rest, sweetheart. I'll bring lunch over to see you later."
Lin Xiangyin immediately stood up, her tone returning to normal.
"Mother, I'm a little tired and want to get some proper rest. Please don't make a wasted trip over with lunch."
Jiang Yourning spoke weakly once more.
Lin Xiangyin nodded, her eyes full of tenderness, and quickly suppressed the redness in them.
"All right, all right. Whatever you want."
"Rong'er, you live close to Ningning, so thank you for keeping an extra eye on your younger sister."
Lin Xiangyin turned her gaze to Jiang Wanrong.
Jiang Wanrong glanced at Lin Xiangyin, then quickly turned away, clutching her sleeves tightly and struggling not to laugh.
"Don't worry, Mother. I'll take good care of Ningning."
Once Lin Xiangyin left, Jiang Yourning couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief.
Just as I thought. I really am a little genius. Thank goodness Mother never breaks character. The goddess of tender hearts always cares about her looks.
Jiang Wanrong nodded thoughtfully.
Thanks to her younger sister, she seemed to understand their parents a little better now.
"Ningning, are you still feeling unwell anywhere?"
Jiang Wanrong looked at Jiang Yourning with concern in her eyes.
"Don't worry, Sister. I don't dwell on things. I'll be fine after some sleep."
Jiang Yourning obediently curved her lips into a smile.
A trace of anger appeared in Jiang Wanrong's eyes.
"I wonder whether your kidnapping had anything to do with the Duke's Estate. Father went to court early this morning and asked His Majesty to order a search of the Duke's Estate, but they found nothing."
"I've made everyone worry."
Speaking of the Duke's Estate makes me angry. I barely got a look at the stuff before I nearly got bitten by dogs.
If I hadn't accidentally run into that damned block of ice, I would've been back ages ago.
At the thought of all the points she had lost, Jiang Yourning's heart ached bitterly.
A damned block of ice? So her younger sister hadn't actually been kidnapped?
Who could this person be, daring to tie up her younger sister?
Jiang Wanrong's eyes flickered, a flash of killing intent passing through them.
Still, she had learned most of what she wanted to know. She looked at Jiang Yourning again and spoke with a gentle smile.
"You've suffered, so get some proper rest first. If you feel unwell anywhere, have Chun Tao come fetch me.
I probably haven't told you yet, but I know how to make poisons, so naturally I can take your pulse as well."
"You're so amazing, Sister! Got it. Thank you!"
Jiang Yourning's eyes immediately lit up, and her gaze held a little more admiration as she looked at Jiang Wanrong.
You're being modest, Sister. A woman who could cure the empress dowager's headaches by fighting poison with poison and earn her exclusive favor while she was alive? Calling you the greatest poison master under heaven wouldn't be an exaggeration.
In the entire Yu Kingdom, only that so-called divine physician could even give you a run for your money, okay?
Praised so warmly by her younger sister, Jiang Wanrong's face flushed slightly, and warmth filled her heart.
Far too many people in this world looked down on the art of poison, their faces changing color at its mere mention.
She had never imagined her younger sister would think this way.
"Mm."
After Jiang Wanrong left, Jiang Yourning immediately sat up.
With no one else around, it was finally her turn. Chun Tao instantly flung herself toward Jiang Yourning, her eyes brimming with tears.
"My lady..."
"Stop, stop, stop! No wailing!"
To keep her head from exploding, Jiang Yourning stopped her in time.
"Oh, all right. My lady, you're so fierce today!"
Chun Tao held her tears back again and couldn't help giving Jiang Yourning a resentful look as she pouted.
Jiang Yourning decided to ignore Chun Tao's pitiful expression.
"All right, all right. Your young lady wants a bath and a change of clothes. Change everything on my bed afterward, too. All this filth is making me miserable."
"The hot water and fresh clothes are already prepared, my lady. Go bathe and change now, and I'll fetch fresh bedding for you."
Chun Tao looked at Jiang Yourning with tear-filled eyes once more, but she didn't dare wail.
Her poor young lady. She normally loved being clean so much. This time, she truly had suffered.
"Good girl. No crying! I'll treat you to something delicious this afternoon."
Hearing that Chun Tao had everything ready, Jiang Yourning promptly scrambled upright and went to bathe.
To make the effect convincing, she had bought those filthy clothes from an old woman who sold pork.
That smell really had been sour enough to make her reel.
Only after the water had been changed a full three times, and she felt she smelled lovely again, did Jiang Yourning climb out of the tub.
When she lay back down on the bed, Jiang Yourning suddenly thought of something and asked Chun Tao:
"Has there been any news these past two days about a prince in the palace suddenly dropping dead?"
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