Tong Aning and Xue Lin walked side by side on the palace road. The two had come out of Palace of Compassion and Tranquility without exchanging a single word.
All I could see were red walls, and there was still a long way to go; I couldn't just stay silent forever.
Tong Aning turned her head and looked at Xue Lin. Xue Lin noticed that Tong Aning's gaze had stopped. Tong Aning asked, "Why did you just say that you were grateful to the Empress Dowager for granting your wish?"
Tong Aning's clear eyes were fixed on Xue Lin, almost overwhelming Xue Lin.
Xue Lin forced himself to remain calm and said, "Grandmother probably didn't have good intentions in tying us up together. I deliberately provoked her, hoping she would lose more than she gained."
Tong Aning was stunned by Xue Lin's words. She murmured, "Trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead?"
Xue Lin's eyes flickered. "Is there a problem with that statement?"
Tong Aning smiled and continued walking forward. "No, it's just that it doesn't feel quite right coming from you."
[ Heir Xue doesn't seem like the type to say such things.]
Xue Lin paused, then asked, "What does Miss Tong think I should say?"
Tong Aning thought about it carefully, "Dignified, aloof, indifferent."
Xue Lin paused, realizing that he didn't have a good image with Tong Aning.
The arranged marriage turned out to be nothing more than a misunderstanding.
Tong Aning is such a good person; he shouldn't have any unrealistic expectations just because she's good.
Xue Lin changed the subject, saying, "You don't need to worry about the Empress Dowager's decree; it's completely invalid."
Tong Aning stopped again and asked, "Why doesn't it count?"
Xue Lin met Tong Aning's gaze. "What did you say?"
The voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something, and carried a hint of disbelief.
Tong Aning belatedly realized what she had said, her face flushing slightly. Tong Aning awkwardly touched her face and mumbled, "What I meant was, she wasn't exactly playing matchmaker."
Xue Lin's mind went blank for a moment; Tong Aning meant...
Tong Aning had already walked quite a distance when she turned around and found Xue Lin still standing there.
Tong Aning's eyes curved into crescents. "Don't you like grasshoppers? I'll make you some later."
It shouldn't be this good.
Fate shouldn't have been so kind to him.
But Xue Lin clenched his fist, Tong Aning's smile was like the warm sun in March, gentle and comforting. Xue Lin was unwilling to give up.
With his tongue pressed against his teeth, Xue Lin said, "Okay."
They had agreed, but the Marquis's residence was thrown into chaos.
Su Zhouyue immediately stood up, "A marriage decree?"
Tong Aning, who was eating snacks, was quite nonchalant. She nodded, "Yes."
Su Zhouyue never imagined that her Marquis's family would need to maintain relations with the court through an arranged marriage, and that her Aning would become a pawn.
Su Zhouyue's voice trembled slightly, "With whom?"
"The Empress Dowager has bestowed a marriage upon me and Heir Xue."
Xue Lin...
Some details that Su Zhouyue had never noticed before suddenly appeared in her mind: Tong Aning often went to see Xue Lin Xue Lin, and she would bring him some of the good food. She was also Xue Lin's savior...
Tong Aning was stuffing a pastry into her mouth when Su Zhouyue stopped her hand, "Still eating? Why don't you learn to be more mindful?"
Tong Aning: "The snacks... are in my hands."
Su Zhouyue sat down, rubbing her forehead. She looked at Tong Aobai and said, "Say something."
Tong Aobai: "Not only the imperial edict, but also the imperial decree."
Su Zhouyue asked blankly, "What do you mean?"
Tong Aobai said in a low voice, "At that time, both Aning and Xue Lin were in the palace. We can let go of the Empress Dowager's side, but doesn't His Majesty know the gravity of the situation?"
Who else but Tong Aning herself could grant her a marriage?
In other words, both Tong Aning and Xue Lin were willing.
Su Zhouyue was even more furious, "Right under my nose, and I didn't notice anything at all."
Tong Aobai: "How much better am I?"
Su Zhouyue: "..."
Has His Majesty said when the wedding will take place?
"Let's just finalize the engagement first; the actual marriage is up to them."
Su Zhouyue glanced at Tong Aning, who was succumbing to the sweetness of the pastries and drinking tea. She realized that this would probably take some more time, and Su Zhouyue breathed a sigh of relief.
She comforted herself, "As long as Aning likes it, it's fine. Xue Lin seems like a good kid too."
Tong Aobai nodded in agreement.
That was the end of it.
Weiyang Palace.
When the Crown Prince arrived, the Empress dismissed all the palace servants, leaving only her trusted confidants.
The Crown Prince flew into a rage, violently throwing the cup in his hand to the ground, shattering it. His eyes were bloodshot as he said, "What does Father mean? By betrothing Tong Aning to Xue Lin, isn't that tantamount to handing over the Marquis's power to him?"
When he sent Lin Yu to talk to Tong Aobai, Tong Aobai was determined to remain neutral.
What a hypocritical and treacherous noble household!
What a shrewd and unassuming Xue Lin!
The Empress frowned, her expression displeased, and said, "Look at yourself now, how do you resemble a crown prince?"
What's the difference between him and a madman on the street?
These words struck a nerve with the Crown Prince. "Yes, I am not fit to be the heir apparent. Xue Lin is the more suitable one. In any case, Father Emperor intends to give the great empire of Great Xia to his good nephew."
The Empress roared, "Crown Prince!"
The Crown Prince gave a sinister smile. "Mother, it's no use scolding me. Aren't you worried? Ever since Father Emperor allowed Xue Lin to study in the Eastern Palace, have I really been as good as Xue Lin in Father Emperor's heart?"
The Empress said sternly, "It's your own fault for being so useless and willful; who else can you blame?"
The crown prince was too lazy to even speak; all that remained in his heart was disappointment.
He is the emperor and empress's child, so why are they only criticizing him? Hasn't he tried hard enough?
In short, it was all his fault; he was unworthy and incapable of shouldering great responsibilities.
"If Your Majesty is not satisfied with your son, then please change the Crown Prince."
"You..."
The crown prince turned and left.
The old woman said worriedly, "Your Highness, His Highness..."
The Empress was truly heartbroken by the Crown Prince's last words. She gritted her teeth and said, "Ignore him. He'll learn from his mistakes!"
The old woman sighed.
*
Xue Ruyun rolled up the medical book in her hand and slapped Tong Aning.
Tong Aning covered her forehead and said coquettishly, "Master."
"Who told you not to concentrate? Now that you're an official of the imperial court, you already have less time to study medicine than before, and you still don't cherish it."
"Yes, yes, it's my fault."
After digesting what she had learned that day, Tong Aning suddenly looked at Xue Ruyun and blinked.
Xue Ruyun: "... What's wrong?"
Tong Aning, resting her chin on her hand, asked, "Master, should I call you aunt from now on?"
Xue Ruyun: "..."
Before she could decide how to respond, a voice called out "Auntie" from behind her.
Xue Ruyun: "..."
Xue Ruyun glanced at Xue Lin behind her, then at Tong Aning, and said impatiently, "Coo coo coo coo, are you two pigeons?"
Tong Aning laughed heartily, "I'll make pigeon soup for Master tomorrow?"
Xue Ruyun: "..."
Xue Ruyun looked at Xue Lin and said irritably, "You're here to pick up Aning?"
Xue Lin said, "There is a patient in the Jingzhao Prefecture who is quite difficult to treat."
Okay, I understand.
Xue Ruyun was tidying up her medicine kit, while Tong Aning helped her.
When the group arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture, Cen Yu led Xue Ruyun into the inner room.
Xue Ruyun took the pulse of the person lying on the bed. She frowned and said, "She suffered a sudden attack of blood and qi to the heart, and in addition, she was poisoned. The poison was a slow-acting poison, but it has invaded her lungs and internal organs at this time."
Cen Yu asked with a stern face, "Is there any hope of saving him?"
"If we had waited any longer, it would have been too late to save her. I need to administer acupuncture. You all go out now, Aning, stay here."
Cen Yu and Xue Lin left.
Xue Ruyun said, " Aning, hand me the silver needles."
"Yes, Master."
"This acupuncture technique is different from any other acupuncture technique I've taught you before. Watch carefully and learn diligently."
Tong Aning's expression turned serious. "Okay."
After Xue Ruyun inserted three needles, the man crawled to the bedside and vomited blood.
Tong Aning took out a handkerchief and wiped her face.
Nan Huai said weakly, "Thank you."
Nan Huai struggled to sit up and was about to get out of bed.
Xue Ruyun pressed her down. "You need to rest in bed."
Nan Huai smiled bitterly, "I also want to rest in bed, but my husband just passed away, my mother-in-law is already in poor health, and everything is waiting for me to take care of. I really can't rest."
Xue Ruyun was silent for a moment, then said, "I will prescribe a medicine for you."
Thank you for your help.
Tong Aning went to the outer room and asked Xue Lin, "Her husband was murdered?"
Xue Lin replied, "Yes."
Sichen added, "I heard that the two went out on business but encountered bandits. Her husband was hacked to death by the bandits while protecting her."
[This is so tragic.]
Tong Aning felt a little emotional, but--
[ Xixi, why do you say her husband isn't dead at all?]
Nan Huai, inside the room, looked up, completely taken aback.
[Dead, yet not dead.]
Tong Aning was completely confused. "[What does this mean, Xixi? Please explain clearly.]"
[Her husband was slashed by bandits, but the wounds were superficial and not fatal. The reason he was in this state was because he had taken a drug that made him appear dead.]
Tong Aning was shocked, Nan Huai was also stunned.
She held her husband in her arms, helplessly feeling him slowly lose his breath, all because of the fake death drug?
Nan Huai felt excruciating pain in his heart.
Why did he take the drug to fake his death?
Their business was failing, and they wanted to slip away and leave everything to Nan Huai.
[Uh, so once Nan Huai saves the business, will he come back to life?]
That's for sure.
That scumbag!
[Moreover, he died protecting Nan Huai from a knife attack, precisely to exploit Nan Huai's guilt towards him and to gain a good reputation. His mother-in-law was just waiting to manipulate Nan Huai.]
[A family of beasts.]
That means this scumbag isn't dead yet.
Nan Huai clenched her fists. It seemed that the poison in her body was also related to her husband.
Nan Huai knelt before Cen Yu and said firmly, " Lord Cen, I will not sue."
Cen Yu: "You're really not going to sue?"
"Yes, I just want my husband to be laid to rest as soon as possible."
Wasn't he faking his death?
She made him truly dead.