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

Thirteen's heart tightened, and he casually wiped away the fine sweat that had appeared on his forehead.

She looked up and met Pei Nanyue's watery eyes, which subtly revealed a hint of aggression and danger.

Thirteen remained silent for a long while, then hesitated before speaking.

"you……"

Suddenly, Pei Nanyue chuckled and said, "Does Mr. Thirteen really think that my Pei family are the kind of people who would betray their benefactors after using them?"

She was only deliberately deceiving Thirteen to test his abilities. Unexpectedly, Thirteen proved to be just as his sister had said—extremely naive and easily fooled.

That's right, only someone like that can play with their own sister.

Pei Nanyue walked over and sat down opposite Thirteen, seemingly unconcerned that the filthy environment had stained her clothes. She moved the box on the table forward and explained.

"These are a small token of our appreciation from the Pei family. We have prepared some medicinal herbs for you to heal your injuries."

Thirteen was about to refuse when Pei Nanyue interrupted her, saying, "Sir, you saved my sister's life at Fengya Zhai before, so we're even now."

Her gaze toward Thirteen, though earnest, was devoid of warmth.

She told the truth that, just as she had discussed with her father in the study yesterday, she had found an excuse that would not be enough to make Thirteen refuse.

After all, the Pei family was known for repaying kindness. This medicine was also a way of repaying the debt of gratitude that Thirteen had shown them. From now on, Thirteen's life or death would no longer be their concern.

Upon hearing Pei Nanyue's words, Thirteen secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied...

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Pei. The Zhou family also sent me some medicine, but my broken leg isn't serious. However, I would like to ask you, how is Miss Pei's injury?"

Right now, what Thirteen is most concerned about is Pei Suisui. If she hadn't come to inform him and take her out of the city, she wouldn't have been captured by the Fourth Princess.

The atmosphere froze for a moment. Pei Nanyue lowered her eyes, staring at the food Hao Jing had brought on the table, and slowly shook her head.

"She hasn't woken up since Young Master Zhou brought her back, but the Emperor has sent the imperial physician, so I think there shouldn't be any problems."

Her expression was aloof, and she always wore a faint smile, which made it impossible for anyone to see any flaws in her demeanor.

"Actually, the injury to the second young lady of the Pei family is all my fault. If I hadn't been absent, the fourth princess would never have tied her up."

She lowered her head, unsure how to explain herself.

“Mr. Thirteen, this matter has nothing to do with you.”

Pei Nanyue's words made her raise her head again, looking at her with a puzzled expression. But instead, she saw the murderous intent in Pei Nanyue's eyes, which was not as playful as when she threatened her earlier.

"That fourth princess is the daughter of Consort An, while my Pei family..."

Of course they are mortal enemies!

In that situation, even without Thirteen, it's hard to guarantee that Duan Yuyan wouldn't take action against Pei Suisui.

Pushing someone off a cliff usually means certain death. And everyone present was from her princess's household.

In the end, there will be no witnesses to prove that Duan Yuyan ordered her subordinates to attack Pei Suisui.

In this way, Pei Xiangbao might become despondent due to excessive longing for his daughter, leading to the downfall of the Pei family. In that case, the An family could be considered to own half of Nanyang.

To become truly second only to the emperor, above all others.

Thirteen also sensed that Pei Nanyue hadn't finished speaking, and said hesitantly.

"I am unable to help this time because of the Third Prince's matter. I have arranged with Haojing to have him examine the Second Miss's illness."

After all, she didn't trust the imperial physicians in the palace.

Pei Nanyue nodded slightly at her.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Thirteen. I think if my sister wakes up, she will ask me to bring these medicinal herbs. I hope you won't have to worry too much. Taking care of yourself is the most important thing right now."

Pei Nanyue's words seemed to be a hint to her, and Thirteen was slightly taken aback, not quite understanding.

"You mean..."

"Sir, who do you think poisoned the Third Prince for the past eight years?"

"Shouldn't they be enemies of the Third Prince?"

Thirteen looked at Pei Nanyue. Although she had also cured the Third Prince of the remaining poison in his body, his body had long been eroded by the toxins, so his health was not as good as that of an ordinary person.

However, only she and the Third Prince knew about this. In fact, the Third Prince even had to rely on the medicine she constantly prepared to alleviate his pain.

Pei Nanyue suddenly chuckled, as if she had heard a very strange joke.

What nonsense about hostility, it's all a joke.

If it weren't for the emperor's will, how could the Pei family stand on equal footing with the An family in the court?

How could they have fought for so many years and both sides have emerged virtually unscathed?

It's just that the emperor's scales are so ingeniously made!

Pei Nanyue got up and walked to the window to look at the sunlight outside. More than half of April had passed, but she couldn't feel any warmth at all.

After pondering for a long time, she slowly turned around. At this moment, her face suddenly turned cold, and the coldness in her eyes was like a sharpened silver blade, ready to take a life at any moment.

"Sir, you may be new to the capital and unaware of some of the old stories from the time of the late emperor."

"Old stories?"

Thirteen watched as the sunlight fell upon Pei Nanyue, making her appear as gentle and beautiful as a goddess descended from heaven. However, the matter she spoke of sounded far more complicated.

Hao Jing, who was standing outside the cell, overheard Pei Nan Yue's words and his expression became somewhat flustered.

He had heard about it before; Xie Qiao had mentioned something about the emperor when he was still the former prince.

At that time, Duan Yuan's status was lower than that of the current Second Prince, and there were even five princes and four imperial sisters ahead of him.

As the eighth prince, he was rumored to have plotted to kill the previous five princes in order to obtain the position of crown prince.

Pei Nanyue said softly

"His Majesty has used the influence of the An and Pei families to get what he wants, so how could he allow others to follow in his footsteps?"

"What old road?"

Thirteen listened to Pei Nanyue's words with only a vague understanding, as if she were hearing a foreign language. She had only done a simple investigation into the Third Prince's eight-year poisoning and didn't know much more.

The Third Prince, Duan Yuchuan, had been poisoned for eight years. Logically speaking, his biggest competitors were the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.

The Crown Prince was raised by Consort Ning, who was also favored because of her status as the younger sister of the Khan of the Western Regions. The Third Prince posed no immediate threat to him.

The second prince was taken to the border and spent five years with General Weiyuan, but he never managed to extend his influence into the capital.

In this way, no one in Nanyang, the capital city, would have any reason to harm Duan Yuchuan.

"Could it be that, like the murderer of Lord Qin, he is a southern barbarian?"

Thirteen boldly speculated, because she had also heard from Shen Mu about the struggles between the Southern Barbarians, Nanyang, and the Western Regions.

"Sir, you jest. Although the Southern Barbarians are cunning, their influence cannot reach the Nanyang royal family of yesteryear." After all, before Duan Yuan pursued immortality, his abilities were undeniable.

"Then who else could it be?" Thirteen frowned slightly. Even after thinking for a long time, he couldn't think of anyone else who could have poisoned the Third Prince.

"Of course, it's the current emperor of Nanyang."