章 153: Medicine
The crescent moon must have already known by now.
The uproar caused by Xuan Er's decision to represent both Lan and Feng in battle spread across Lan Kingdom like wildfire. Even he found it surprising. With the combined intelligence of Xuan Er and Crescent Moon, not even Xuanyuan Hao, with all his military might, could pose a significant threat to them.
Xuan Er had been away from Lan for years, and while his reputation spread far and wide, many ministers in Lan Kingdom harbored resentment. Should he seize this opportunity to prove his worth, the people of Lan would surely praise him. As the Crown Prince of Lan, if he were to personally lead the troops into battle, it would greatly boost morale. Crescent Moon, however, remained firmly opposed. While her concerns were valid, Xuan Er's capabilities were such that even if he left with the army, he would never allow chaos to break out in Lan.
"How could this be?"
Yun Qing Hen stared at Jun Pin Yu, muttering to himself, a dull ache spreading through his heart, his mind a tangled mess. His face grew pale.
Yun Qing Hen clenched his fist, the news from Jun Pin Yu too difficult to accept. How would the princess, alone in Lan without His Highness by her side, face this situation? The princess's feelings for His Highness were no less profound than his devotion to her. Over the past decade, following His Highness, he had seen the sorrow etched in His Highness's heart whenever the princess was mentioned, and at times, he had harbored resentment toward her. That is, until he witnessed the princess's rage when she severely punished Liu Xin You. The fury and hatred she displayed were uncontainable. What kind of woman could drive such a generous-hearted princess to this extent? Only then did he realize the suffering the princess had endured. She was only four when she left, still so young.
The princess cared for His Highness as deeply as she did for Lan Wang. If it weren't for her feelings, she would never have left Feng and her beloved behind to marry into Lan. Neither she nor His Highness harbored such grand ambitions, and if not for Lan Wang, with her abilities, it wouldn't have been difficult for her to secure peace for Feng's people during these turbulent times.
The princess was torn between the one she loved most and the one closest to her. How could she ever make such a choice? Why, for someone like her, was happiness so elusive?
"She chose Feng Jiu Lan."
Jun Pin Yu let out a soft chuckle, his gaze shifting to Feng Jiu Lan, lying quietly on the bed.
"How do you know?"
"This time, Crescent Moon is leading the expedition on behalf of both Lan and Feng. All affairs of Lan rest solely on her shoulders."
Perhaps, this was her way of atoning for the guilt and regret in her heart.
"How could that be? If the princess knew, how could she let His Highness become like this? He wasn't feeling well a few days ago, but he was still fine."
"Lan Wang knew about this before Crescent Moon married into Lan."
"What do you mean?"
Yun Qing Hen shook his head, unwilling to continue. "Impossible, I trust that Lan Wang isn't that kind of person."
Yun Qing Hen's expression was resolute. "I trust the princess's judgment."
If Lan Wang were that kind of man, the princess would never have chosen him. With Lan Wang's wisdom, he surely understood how much His Highness meant to her. If anything were to happen to His Highness, and the princess discovered his involvement, she would never forgive him. He wouldn't dare risk such a thing.
"Who can truly know the depths of a man's heart?"
"Lan Wang may be shrewd, but his feelings for the princess are genuine."
Yun Qing Hen's words carried a hidden meaning as he gazed steadily at Jun Pin Yu. "You're fond of the princess, aren't you?"
His tone was certain.
Jun Pin Yu smiled faintly, lowering his gaze to the teacup in his hand. The pain in his eyes was too profound for others to understand. He said nothing, but the bitter smile on his lips spoke volumes.
If it weren't for love, he wouldn't have been so heartbroken when she fell from the cliff, feeling as though life itself had lost its meaning. It was because of love that, upon seeing her white robes atop the city walls of Ye Cheng, his heart had raced, even though he knew they would soon be enemies. She would never know how much it pained him when she returned the jade bracelet to him. Shattering it into pieces was his way of acknowledging that, apart from her, no other woman could ever leave such a lasting impression on his heart.
"Commander Yun, we each have our responsibilities, many of which are beyond our control. I deeply regret my actions toward Crescent Moon, and I sincerely hope she finds happiness."
This was all he wished for now. His greatest hope was that she would never come to hate him. But perhaps, that hope was already lost.
"You serve Xuanyuan Hao. You nearly brought the princess to her death last time. Why should I trust you?"
Jun Pin Yu placed the teacup down, pointing to Feng Jiu Lan on the bed. "If even I can't save your lord, no one else stands a chance."
"You mean you can heal him?"
Yun Qing Hen's face lit up with hope. Regardless of who he served, if he could restore His Highness's health, then the princess could rest easy. Even if he demanded the entire kingdom of Feng as payment, the princess would agree without hesitation.
"Commander Yun, between Lan Yi Xuan and your lord, who do you think would bring Crescent Moon more happiness?"
"What are you talking about? How can you ask which of them would make her happier? Both of them are important to her. She could never be truly happy without either of them."
Yun Qing Hen's face grew stern, his mood souring even further due to Jun Pin Yu's question.
If the princess could only stay by one man's side, Yun Qing Hen would undoubtedly prefer it be His Highness. After all, His Highness's world revolved solely around her. Without her, he wouldn't survive. Lan Wang, however, was different. Though he would certainly suffer without her, he would still go on. But if the princess were with Lan Wang, perhaps she would be happier.
His Highness's frail health always worried Yun Qing Hen. Who knew how long he could stay with the princess? It pained him to think about it, and surely, the princess felt the same. In front of His Highness, she always put on a brave face, hiding her sorrows and even her playful moments were filled with caution. It broke his heart. But in front of Lan Wang, though their relationship was full of teasing and banter, she could truly be herself. Lan Wang's wisdom and care would ensure her safety, even if she did nothing. She would undoubtedly find happiness by his side.
"What exactly have you done to His Highness? Why has he been so lethargic lately, drifting in and out of consciousness all day?"
"I can't tell you that."
"Fine, fine, fine!"
Yun Qinghen stood up. "If you won't tell me, I'll go to the princess and inform her right now."
Resolute in his stance, Yun Qinghen could no longer bear to watch the prince waste away, growing frailer each day. The indecision and unease gnawed at him, leaving him deeply distressed.
"I'll tell you."
Jun Pinyu rose from his seat, watching as Yun Qinghen headed for the door. "If you let Xuan Yue know now, it will only bring her more heartache and nothing else."
Yun Qinghen, still facing away, spoke coldly, "Say what you have to say. I'm listening."
"Your prince has always been weak, and each time he falls ill, it's uncertain if he'll survive. Now that Xuan Yue has chosen him, if Feng Jiulan were to meet with another misfortune, how could she possibly bear it alone?"
Yun Qinghen longed to question Jun Pinyu further but refrained. Having cared for Feng Jiulan for so many years, he knew better than anyone the toll that illness had taken on him. His body had been utterly ravaged by the disease, leaving him a hollow shell.
"I made everything clear to Feng Jiulan."
"How could you tell him such a thing?"
Yun Qinghen spun around, furious. For the princess, the prince would surely die.
Jun Pinyu, however, remained calm and indifferent. "If I hadn't told him everything, he wouldn't have let me stay here, nor would he have followed my instructions. Moreover, he understands that if he truly dies, even if Xuan Yue were to end up with Lan Yixuan, she would never be happy. He's even convinced the people Xuan Yue planted around him. You should know how determined your prince is."
As he spoke, Jun Pinyu stood and turned his back to Yun Qinghen. "Your prince will be fine. You know how strong-willed he is. For Xuan Yue, he has endured time and again. This time will be no different. Until I finish creating the medicine, he won't allow anything to happen to himself."
Jun Pinyu looked at the pale Feng Jiulan lying on the bed, his expression filled with certainty.
The bond between royal siblings was truly moving, and it was a pity.
"Is it the antidote?"
Yun Qinghen stepped closer, gripping Jun Pinyu's hand tightly. "Is it the antidote to the love poison?"
Though he had never personally witnessed Liu Xinyou's skills, someone as clever as the princess could be subdued by her. Could Jun Pinyu undo the poison she had inflicted? He could, right? After all, he was the renowned healer of the martial world.
"It's the medicine that will make Xuan Yue happy."
What kind of medicine could make the princess happy?
Jun Pinyu approached the bed and gently touched Feng Jiulan's forehead. "The fever has subsided."
He sat down by the bed, wiping the sweat from Feng Jiulan's face with a towel. "Feng Jiulan, for Xuan Yue's sake, you can't let anything happen to you. I'll have the medicine ready soon."
He believed Feng Jiulan would pull through.
"Your prince is drenched in sweat, Commander Yun. Change him into clean clothes so he can rest more comfortably."
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