Poisonous Goddess: I'm just lazing around in the mortal realm.

The atmosphere between the two froze for a moment, and Thirteen quickly suppressed the panic in his heart and said...

"Your Highness, you are joking. I am just a wandering doctor. How could I have such great skills?"

Although she possessed centuries of medical expertise, it was unlikely she would directly act as a fertility goddess. Under those circumstances, she simply informed Consort An that if she wished to conceive again, it wouldn't be too difficult.

After all, she had no intention of getting involved in the struggles of the mortal world.

Duan Yuchuan stared intently at Thirteen, his eyes deep and unfathomable, his face devoid of any emotion except for a cold smile.

He seemed to be expecting a certain expression from Thirteen, but it didn't appear on her face.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Never mind, I was just kidding."

Duan Yuchuan suddenly reverted to his previous lazy demeanor, completely shedding his earlier seriousness, as if he hadn't been the one threatening her with his words.

Thirteen composed himself, inwardly cursing Duan Yuchuan, that old fox.

"Your Highness flatters me. The matter of offspring has always been arranged by Heaven. I am but a commoner and dare not speak presumptuously about royal affairs."

"You dare say this to my mother?" Duan Yuchuan clearly didn't believe her and deliberately provoked her.

"I wouldn't dare, after all, it was you who recommended me. If something were to happen to me, wouldn't that be a burden to His Highness the Third Prince?" Thirteen forced a smile, but in his heart he cursed Duan Yuchuan countless times.

"I think you're quite bold." Duan Yuchuan's tone carried a hint of unintentional coldness.

Thirteen's breath hitched, and he quickly shook his head, feigning panic, saying, "I wouldn't dare."

"Don't worry, I won't throw you into the Embroidered Uniform Guard's dungeon."

Duan Yuchuan glanced at her indifferently, his eyes showing no unusual expression, just as he always did when he was with her, peaceful and approachable.

Thirteen watched as Duan Yuchuan's slender fingers rested on the lid of the pale white porcelain cup, constantly brushing away the tea foam without drinking it.

"Then the Third Prince didn't come all this way just to tease me, did he?"

"I'm almost fully recovered, and my mother has asked my father to grant me a marriage. I owe everything I have today to you." As soon as Duan Yuchuan finished speaking, two servants carried a box of silver into the courtyard.

"This was a gift from His Highness the Third Prince?" Thirteen glanced at the silver beside him indifferently, seemingly uninterested.

"Yes, since Father Emperor bestowed this courtyard upon you, I should prepare a small gift in gratitude for you, shouldn't I?"

"Thank you, Third Prince!" Thirteen bowed and expressed his gratitude.

"It's getting late, so I'll be going now."

Duan Yuchuan got up, put the teacup he had been holding back into Thirteen's hand, and walked out of the courtyard on his own.

Thirteen stared blankly at the teacup in her hand, realizing that the Third Prince had never trusted her.

As the sun sets in the west, its rays fall softly on her profile.

Coming to her senses, she walked to the small tree and poured out all the tea.

What's the point of saying all that to her? She's just here to complete the mission of killing Chongming.

Once the deal was done, she left; Shi Wanyan had no interest in anything else.

"Thirteen."

Pei Suisui smiled, her light blue dress swaying in the sunset as she rushed into her courtyard.

Thirteen turned around at the sound, saw that she was running in a hurry, and then went back into the house to fetch a pot of water.

"How did you come?"

Have you heard about the major events that have occurred in the court these past two days?

Thirteen watched as Pei Suisui naturally took the water she poured and drank it all in one gulp, her gaze slightly narrowed, and she sighed.

"You mean the Crown Prince was confined to his quarters for three months?"

"Of course not that."

Pei Suisui raised an eyebrow, her eyes suddenly lighting up as she impatiently explained, "I mean, Consort An requested His Majesty to grant the Third Prince a marriage."

Thirteen paused, holding the kettle; it seemed Duan Yuchuan was telling the truth.

"Really? Which family's girl did you choose?"

She noticed Pei Suisui's face gradually flushing red and wondered if it really was the Pei family.

But then she remembered what Pei Zhiheng had said outside the Imperial Study a few days ago. Could it be that he had really agreed to the marriage between the Third Prince and Pei Suisui?

"not yet."

Pei Suisui's cheeks were flushed, and her hand holding the teacup unconsciously rubbed the rim of the cup. Her lips opened and closed, but no sound came out.

Thirteen pretended not to notice her shyness, and simply took the teacup from her hand and placed it aside. "Is that so? Then I'll ask the Third Prince later."

Why would you go ask him?

Pei Suisui panicked, glaring at her with her almond-shaped eyes. Seeing Thirteen's knowing look, she realized that Thirteen was deliberately teasing her. She quickly lowered her head again, fiddling with the hem of her clothes.

"Consort An specifically sent someone to deliver a message, saying... saying that..."

"What do you mean? Is it the daughter of Imperial Censor An? Or the daughter of Minister Xu?" Thirteen continued to tease her deliberately.

"Thirteen, you..." Pei Sui Sui angrily punched her, but the force was really weak and powerless.

Seeing that the little girl's ears had turned red from her teasing, Thirteen stopped laughing and decided not to tease her anymore. "So what exactly did Consort An say? The second young lady of the Pei family?"

Pei Suisui turned to look at her, and suddenly the corners of her lips curved into a bright smile as she said, "You mean you specifically mentioned my name in front of His Majesty."

Thirteen paused for a moment, then feigned a happy expression and said, "That's a good thing."

"What do you mean?" Pei Suisui saw that Thirteen was lying on the bamboo chair, so she ran to another chair and sat down.

"That means Consort An must be very satisfied with you." Thirteen didn't want to shatter the girl's dream at this moment, only thinking that if Pei Zhiheng really nodded, perhaps this marriage between two people who were in love would be settled.

"Then...would the Third Prince be willing to marry me?" Pei Suisui could not hide her disappointment. She recalled how the Third Prince had been somewhat indifferent to her at the Spring Banquet.

Although she and the Third Prince were childhood sweethearts, his personality became unpredictable after he fell ill more than ten years ago. For the first five years, he even locked himself in his room and refused to see anyone.

It wasn't until later that she was occasionally allowed to visit the Third Prince.

Upon hearing this, Thirteen sat up. "What are you thinking about? Aren't you and the Third Prince childhood sweethearts? Why doesn't he want to marry you?"

“I…” Pei Suisui couldn’t say it. Although she had never hidden her love for the Third Prince, she could sense that the Third Prince’s feelings for her were not as deep as her own.

Or perhaps, he simply regarded her as his younger sister.

"This is a marriage bestowed by His Majesty. No matter the outcome, I believe that His Highness still has feelings for you." Thirteen patted her head affectionately. Although she didn't think much of Duan Yuchuan's behavior, if it was someone Pei Suisui liked, perhaps it was worth a try.

Pei Suisui looked up at Thirteen. Bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, the boy's face was exquisitely handsome, captivating Pei Suisui. She unconsciously blurted out…

"Thirteen, if only you were a girl."

Pei Suisui felt from the bottom of her heart that Thirteen understood her thoughts better than her sister. She could also understand why her father did not allow her to associate with the Third Prince often, including the fact that her sister had been restricting her from going out at will.

Her father, Pei Zhiheng, was a powerful minister in Nanyang, second only to the emperor.

The man she loved, Duan Yuchuan, was a prince who had no chance of becoming crown prince.

If not for the Emperor's decree, how could a high-ranking official so easily arrange a marriage with a prince?

When everyone else doubted her, only Thirteen stood by her side and supported her.

However, Pei Suisui was unaware that her remark was actually the truth.

Thirteen's eyebrows twitched as she listened to Pei Suisui's sigh. She had a feeling something was about to happen. Seeing that it was getting late, she quickly got up and led Pei Suisui out of the courtyard.

"It's getting late, you should go back."