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

"You bet. Don't talk about me, you should stay away from her in the future too."

Thirteen pursed her lips; in truth, she wasn't a coward.

While on Cangqiong Mountain, she often bickered and argued with her third senior brother, stole the fox raised by her sixth senior sister to catch the hen raised by her second senior sister, stole the love letter from her eighth senior sister and read it to her eldest senior brother, and even mixed poison into the rabbit raised by her seventh senior brother.

She did a lot of bad things, and she was punished a lot. But her senior brothers and sisters doted on her, always picking her up hard and putting her down gently.

But once she was in the human world, she still understood the principle that one must bow one's head when under someone's roof.

As soon as the two returned to the banquet table, they saw a surging crowd around them. Suddenly, a cry of surprise interrupted Thirteen's train of thought.

"Young Master Zhou has arrived!"

Looking through the morning light, a man who seemed like an immortal stepping out of a painting was walking towards the banquet. His fiery red robe was dazzling, and the sunlight fell on his handsome, slightly roguish face, adding a touch of allure to his phoenix eyes. He walked in with a smile, his every move exuding pride and elegance.

Thirteen frowned as he looked at the man in the red robe. The man's clothes were too flashy, like a fiery red moth.

"Who is that? Didn't they say they didn't invite any men from prominent families today?" Thirteen nudged Pei Suisui, who was standing to the side, with his elbow.

Who are you talking about?

Pei Suisui followed the direction of Thirteen's gaze, and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.

He wondered to himself, "Why did this guy come to the palace today?"

"That's Zhou Jinghuai, the third young master of the Zhou family, an illegitimate son raised in Jiangnan."

"illegitimate child?"

"Yes, he had only been back in the capital for a short time when he started causing trouble everywhere. It is said that people in the court often impeached his father because of this, so his father found him a sinecure in the hopes that he would calm down."

Pei Suisui was always very knowledgeable about things in the capital.

Just then, Pei Suisui noticed Zhou Jinghuai looking at the two of them with great interest, so she quickly pulled Thirteen away.

"In short, you should stay away from him. I heard that he beat up General Liu's son a while ago, and the boy couldn't get out of bed for more than half a month."

Thirteen looked up and saw Pei Suisui with a disdainful expression. Even the Fourth Princess wouldn't elicit such a reaction from her, so Zhou Jinghuai's personality must have reached the point where everyone hates him.

Zhou Jinghuai had just chosen the most conspicuous spot in the garden to sit down when he realized he had actually seen that person's appearance in the boy next to Pei Suisui. This startled him.

"Zhou Jinghuai? What brings you here?"

Duan Yuchuan, who had just paid his respects to his father, stepped into the garden and saw Zhou Jinghuai dressed like a peacock.

"Can't I come?"

Zhou Jinghuai's clear, bright eyes flickered slightly, and he raised an eyebrow at Duan Yuchuan, seemingly unintentionally, which excited the noble ladies surrounding him even more. Duan Yuchuan, however, ignored his narcissistic behavior.

"What I mean is that Mother Consort did not invite any men from noble families today. Aren't you afraid of being scolded when you get back for being so presumptuous?"

Duan Yuchuan wasn't too surprised, he just sighed softly. Although he hadn't left the manor for a long time, there were people in the manor who reported to him about things outside the manor every day.

He had heard of Zhou Jinghuai before. He just didn't expect that since it was his mother's spring banquet for him today and no men from noble families were invited, he would show up uninvited.

"You get used to being scolded so much. Besides, weren't there other men at Consort An's spring banquet?"

Zhou Jinghuai snorted coldly and glanced at Thirteen.

Duan Yuchuan followed his gaze and saw Thirteen and Pei Suisui chatting happily in the pavilion, and his heart softened.

"What do you know? That's the legendary physician Thirteen who cured my illness! I brought him here today to take my mother's pulse."

"Really? Then let me see it another day."

Zhou Jinghuai observed the green-clad youth in the pavilion with great interest, his deep eyes gleaming with a dreamy light. From the youth's every smile and gesture, he became increasingly certain that the boy had a close connection with the person he was searching for.

"You'd better leave now, or my mother will see you and complain about you again!"

Duan Yuchuan dismissed the guests and then headed towards the pavilion.

"Thirteen, I've been looking for you for so long. Your mother is waiting for you."

Thirteen heard someone call her, turned around and saw Duan Yuchuan. She quickly got up and gently patted Pei Suisui's shoulder.

"We'll talk again when I get back."

"Okay! I'll wait for you here!"

Pei Suisui happened to see Duan Yuchuan and nodded to him.

Thirteen followed behind Duan Yuchuan and walked out of the garden.

Zhou Jinghuai became increasingly interested in the young man beside the Third Prince. He composed himself, ignoring the noble ladies around him who were trying to strike up a conversation, and lowered his head in deep thought.

As soon as Thirteen stepped into the hall, he saw that the hall had red pillars and carved beams, glazed tiles, and gold bricks paving the floor. In the very center of the hall stood a throne.

Consort An sat regally on her throne. Today, she wore a pale yellow dress with gold thread and auspicious clouds embroidered on the cuffs and collar, exuding elegance and extraordinary grace.

Duan Yuchuan led Thirteen to the throne, and Thirteen hurriedly bowed.

"This humble subject kowtows to Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine! May Your Highness remain forever young and forever win the Emperor's favor!"

Consort An was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained her composure. She had been in the palace for over twenty years, and this was the first time she had ever heard such a gesture of respect.

"No need for formalities. Raise your head and let me see you."

"Yes." Upon hearing this, Thirteen raised her head. Her face was modeled after her true form, and it was exquisitely beautiful. She smiled, and her eyes seemed to have shimmering water in them, clear and bottomless.

She hadn't expected that the woman seated there had an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and a face as beautiful as a lotus flower, with not even fine lines at the corners of her eyes. She didn't look like a woman who had given birth to the third prince and the fourth princess at all; every gesture she made exuded majesty and nobility.

Consort An smiled wryly, her eyes seemingly revealing admiration.

"Are you the Thirteenth Master who cured my son?"

"It is Your Highness who is too kind."

Thirteen hurriedly lowered his head and said respectfully.

"I had heard from my son's letter that the Thirteenth Master's medical skills were superb. I never imagined that he was still a young man. Meeting him today, I can see that he is indeed full of vigor and has great potential at a young age."

"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness!" Thirteen, with her head down, secretly swallowed, wondering if it was the Fourth Princess who had just come to complain about her.

In fact, Thirteen didn't know that the Fourth Princess hadn't come to pay her respects at all. It was just that Consort An had specially sent someone to thoroughly investigate her background before she entered the palace.

Orphaned and destitute, she was taken in by a traveling doctor who taught her some skills. Her master then went on another journey.

Thinking of this, Consort An's eyes flashed with shrewdness. The thirteenth prince, with his impeccable background, was someone she could use. So she looked at Duan Yuchuan beside her and said...

"Chuan'er, please greet the people outside for your mother. I have something to say to this Mr. Thirteen."

"Mother?" Duan Yuchuan was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. He hadn't expected his mother to keep Thirteen alone to speak.

Thirteen's heart skipped a beat. Could it really be aimed at her? She cast a pleading look at Duan Yuchuan, hoping he would take her away. However, although Duan Yuchuan caught her gaze out of the corner of his eye, he dared not offend his mother.

"Then I shall take my leave!"

Ignoring Thirteen's pleas for help, he quickly bowed and withdrew, choosing his mother over the other.

As Consort An watched Duan Yuchuan leave, she lowered her eyes and saw Thirteen struggling there. A sharp glint flashed in her almond-shaped eyes.

"Thirteenth Master, I have a favor to ask of you."