Ren Yingying didn't get to eat the squid, and spent half the day worrying about it, before Qu Nian finally dragged her home.
Jinse stayed behind for the time being, in case any more people who raise Gu poison came.
Yanran woke up in the evening.
She opened her eyes, somewhat bewildered.
Seeing Cui Xiaoqiu sitting on the edge of the bed, she blinked and asked, "Cui Xiaoqiu, what are you doing in my room? What time is it? How did I fall asleep?"
Why is her mind completely blank?
Cui Xiaoqiu breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, her brain wasn't affected; at least she still recognized herself.
"This is a long story, I'll tell you slowly in a bit. How are you feeling now?"
Yanran reached up and touched the back of her head. "My head hurts a little, like I've been hit with a stick."
Cui Xiaoqiu: "... Is there anything else?"
Yanran: "And, and... ah!"
She sat up abruptly.
Cui Xiaoqiu was extremely nervous. "Yanran, what's wrong? Say something! Don't scare me!"
"Where's the grilled squid? You finished the grilled squid? I only ate one or two skewers! Let's go! It's already dark!"
Oh my god!
Cui Xiaoqiu was both amused and exasperated. She grabbed her hand and said, "Calm down, let me explain."
"Wait a minute. Tell me first, did you save any grilled squid for me?"
Her stomach was growling loudly with hunger.
Cui Xiaoqiu: "... No."
"Cui Xiaoqiu, you should be kind! I've never shared any good food with you before!"
So you ate it all while I was asleep? Humph!
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "I've learned how to make it. I'll cook it for you tomorrow."
They have plenty of time together and can do whatever they want.
"Real?"
"Real."
"That's more like it. We have a deal, so don't make up excuses about being busy tomorrow!"
What was originally an ordinary sentence, when heard by Cui Xiaoqiu, made her nose tingle with emotion.
Fame and fortune are nothing but fleeting illusions.
Life is so short; time should be reserved for loved ones.
Cui Xiaoqiu became even more determined to be a lazy bum!
"I'm not busy, nothing is more important than you," Cui Xiaoqiu said.
Yanran: "??? Cui Xiaoqiu, what's wrong with you? Something's not right!"
Cui Xiaoqiu smiled. "I'll tell you slowly what happened."
"Speak, speak quickly!"
She felt as if she had lost all memory of the day, which was very strange.
Cui Xiaoqiu held her hand tightly. "Remember this, no matter what has happened or what may happen in the future, I will always be by your side."
Yanran: "Oh, Cui Xiaoqiu, what happened to your arm? Why is it bandaged?"
She spotted specks of white cloth inside his wide sleeves.
Yanran is not only sharp-eyed, but also quick-witted.
As she spoke, she had already rolled up Cui Xiaoqiu's sleeve, revealing his bandaged wound.
"It's nothing serious, just a minor injury."
"That won't do either. Who did it? You tell me who did it!" Yanran said angrily, looking like she was about to get up and fight someone.
"You."
"Me?" Yanran thought she had misheard.
How could she?
She herself didn't know!
She herself didn't know?
Could it really be her? What happened in this blank day?
Oh my god!
Is she out of her mind without realizing it?
"Cui Xiaoqiu, tell me honestly, have I gone mad or something?"
Cui Xiaoqiu was both amused and exasperated. "No, you're under a spell."
Although he was very reluctant to Yanran blame herself, he still told Yanran the whole story.
"So, Jinse saved my life?"
"Yes, you could say that."
It's also possible that Jinse saved his and the prince's lives.
He should be thankful that Yanran didn't have a bow and arrows with her at home.
Otherwise, if she had flown to the rooftop and faced off with her bow and arrows, they probably wouldn't have been so lucky.
Yanran remained silent for a long while before finally processing what had happened.
She reached out and fiddled with the tassels on the curtain, saying wistfully, "Cui Xiaoqiu, I almost killed you and my elder brother."
No, we're all fine. Don't assume things didn't happen.
"Hmm." Yanran was still sullen.
It was all her fault for being greedy and playful.
Cui Xiaoqiu, as if she could read her mind, said, "It's not your fault that you're being targeted; it's because the people targeting you are bad people. If they weren't targeting you, they might be targeting the Princess Consort, the Crown Prince's wife... From this perspective, you're helping them avoid danger."
Yanran: Is that still a valid way to put it?
Although something feels off, the logic seems impeccable.
Seeing her expression, Cui Xiaoqiu felt much relieved.
--As long as Yanran doesn't get stuck on things, everything is fine.
No matter what happens, they can face it together.
"The problem now is, we don't know if the Gu worm will activate, or when." Cui Xiaoqiu squeezed her hand. "So, I'm afraid you'll have to suffer."
"Are you going to lock me up?" Yanran asked. "I think it's a good idea."
Besides this method, she couldn't think of any other way to ensure that she wouldn't harm the people around her when things got out of control.
It's fortunate that only my brother and Cui Xiaoqiu sustained minor injuries this time.
Next time, I might not be so lucky.
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "That's not necessary. It's just that I can't let you have access to the weapons..."
Yanran looked around and suddenly realized, "No wonder I felt something was wrong, they've put away all my weapons. It's alright, it's good they're put away..."
However, even if he puts his defenses up, Cui Xiaoqiu still can't beat him.
He especially estimated that they wouldn't be willing to lay a hand on themselves.
No, it's still not safe.
After much deliberation, Yanran said, "For safety reasons, let's lock me up for now."
"That's something I hadn't thought of. Well, that's fine too." Cui Xiaoqiu changed her mind and nodded in agreement.
Locking them up is the best solution.
He'll stay with her.
There's no need to lock him up in jail; he can just draw a circle around himself and confine himself to this courtyard, with plenty of people guarding the outside.
Yanran had no idea what he was thinking. She pushed him away and said, "Alright, it's decided then. You should leave now. Otherwise, I might have an attack and hurt you again."
"I'm not leaving. I'll stay here with you."
"Are you crazy?"
"I've spoken to the Prince, and we're now officially married; he's also promised to let me be with you at all times."
Yanran was dumbfounded.
Is this even possible?
But she was afraid she wouldn't be able to control herself!
However, she simply couldn't resist Cui Xiaoqiu's persistence.
"Alright, while I'm still lucid, find Jinse for me first. I want to ask her a few questions. You go to the kitchen and keep an eye on things, make sure they prepare something good for me; I'm starving."
Cui Xiaoqiu knew that she was deliberately trying to get her away so she could ask Jinse for more details.
He readily agreed.
However, even someone as clever as him couldn't have guessed that Yanran would ask Jinse such a question.