Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

Those long, narrow phoenix eyes were deep and sharp, like knives, making people feel uneasy.

Shen Ningzhu lowered her head to avoid his gaze and curtsied, "Your Highness, what brings you here?"

Upon hearing this, the other person's expression turned even uglier.

"May I ask what business I have with you, Shen Ningzhu? Have you forgotten your place?"

"Instead of taking care of his own duties, he spends all his time attending to a servant girl. On this sweltering day, when I return, there isn't even anyone to serve me tea."

Shen Ningzhu, is this how you perform your duties?

Shen Ningzhu concealed her intense disgust.

"What is my identity? Tell me!"

"What's wrong with me? The servant you speak of is the kindest person in the world to me. She would even give her life for me. You reap what you sow, shouldn't I be good to her?"

"Also, if you're thirsty, can't you pour yourself a glass of water? The teapot is right on the table. You're not disabled; do you really need someone to serve you?"

Besides, is Shen Ningzhu the only person in the Crown Prince's residence? Can't she drink the water poured by others?

That scoundrel of a man is seriously ill.

How could a living person let themselves die of thirst? What's with the fuss?

But you came back quite early today?

Could it be that he was stood up by the beauty and was upset, so he tried to cause her trouble?

That scumbag man, he's really despicable.

For a moment, Jiang Xuanyan was caught off guard by the scolding.

I knew Shen Ningzhu had a sharp tongue, but this was the first time she'd used it on him.

"How dare you! Do you know who you're talking to?"

Furthermore, "Isn't it only natural for people to give their lives for their masters?"

Everything she had was originally given to them by their master, including her life.

The idea of ​​exchanging hearts for hearts is utterly laughable.

In his view, winning people's hearts was unnecessary; those who disobeyed could simply be killed, and there was no need for such trouble.

Shen Ningzhu suppressed the turmoil of emotions in her eyes, sniffed, and looked up with a sorrowful expression.

"I only ever see the new bride laughing, but never hear the old bride crying? Who can say that His Highness has simply grown tired of me?"

"That's right. I am of lowly status and of humble appearance. I deserve to be treated like a dog and chased around."

"If Your Highness doesn't like me, I'll just leave. Why go to such lengths to torment and humiliate me?"

After saying that, she covered her mouth, cried, and ran out of the study.

Jiang Xuanyan stood there, stunned.

This woman, he only said one sentence, but she went on and on. Not only did she turn the tables on him, but she also pinned baseless accusations on him.

It was unbearably hot outside, and all he wanted was a cup of tea. Was he wrong?

Jiang Yi appeared in front of him without him even noticing.

"Your Highness, I noticed that Consort Shen seemed to be crying very sadly when she left."

Jiang Xuan Yan's sinister gaze swept over him. "You mean, what I just said went too far?"

Jiang Yi wanted to nod, but still said,

"Your subordinate wouldn't dare. It's just that I feel that, after all, the young lady is a girl, and we, as men, should always give way to her. Don't you think so?"

She looked up and met Jiang Xuan Yan's cold gaze.

Jiang Yi shuddered involuntarily and quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "I have something to attend to and must take my leave now."

After saying that, he quickly slipped away.

The room remained silent for a long time. For the first time, Jiang Xuanyan looked confused, and a sense of unease crept into his heart as he reflected on whether he had really gone too far.

……

"Someone, go and fetch the imperial physician."

Not long after, the Crown Prince's physician arrived at the study.

"This old minister greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings."

"Well, no need for formalities. How are the preparations for the antidote going?"

The imperial physician reported, "Your Highness, the other ingredients for the last dose of medicine have been prepared. Tonight, we only need to use the thousand-year-old snow lotus from the storeroom as a medicinal guide."

"After decocting and taking it, and supplemented with the art of balancing Yin and Yang, you and the young lady will be completely cured."

Jiang Xuanyan breathed a sigh of relief.

After a while, he continued, "Remember, this matter must not be leaked to anyone, including Shen Ningzhu. Don't let her know."

Shen Ningzhu ran halfway, but then felt it would be a waste to keep running like this, so she turned back.

Since she was leaving anyway, she figured she might as well squeeze as much money as possible out of that scoundrel before she left.

To my surprise, I heard this as soon as I got to the door.

What is that scoundrel hiding from her?

Just then, the physician's voice came.

"Forgive my bluntness, but why did you keep it from the young master?"

"Are you worried that she might be heartbroken if she can't conceive in the future? If so, Your Highness is overthinking it."

Shen Ningzhu was poisoned for a very short time, only half a month.

Upon discovering the poison, His Highness the Crown Prince immediately ordered people to devise an antidote while sacrificing his own health by intentionally transferring some of the poison into his own body.

Therefore, the bone-corroding poison did not damage Shen Ningzhu's fundamental health, and she will not have difficulty conceiving in the future.

Jiang Xuan Yan said, "Who said I'm worried about her? I'm just afraid she'll pester me and it'll be a nuisance."

"Besides, what does it matter to me whether she hinders my ability to have children?"

"Given her lowly status, she is not worthy of having my offspring. Even if she were to become pregnant by chance, I would not hesitate to give her a bowl of safflower soup and watch her drink it with my own eyes."

"No need to say more, just do as instructed."

The physician's lips twitched slightly, and finally he sighed and left the study.

When he looked up, he saw Shen Ningzhu, whose face was deathly pale.

The physician paused, looked back at the study, then at Shen Ningzhu, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes.

In the end, he simply shook his head and strode away.

Shen Ningzhu slowly clenched her fist.

Fine, fine, you scoundrel. Since you're such a scoundrel, then she won't hold back anymore.

……

Around dinner time, the air became humid.

A cool breeze swept through the originally stuffy courtyard, and before an incense stick could burn, a strong wind began to blow, and sporadic raindrops suddenly began to fall.

After Jiang Xuanyan finished his dinner and washed up, he spent an hour reading a book, but Shen Ningzhu still hadn't returned.

He frowned in displeasure.

"Someone is coming."

"Your Highness, what is it?"

Jiang Xuanyan coldly asked, "Where has Shen Ningzhu run off to again? What time is it? Why hasn't she returned yet?"

At this hour, I would normally be fast asleep like a pig.

He only said a few words to her during the day, why is she throwing such a tantrum? He hasn't even punished her for her disrespect yet, and she's already acting all high and mighty.

Jiang Yi:......

"Well, it's probably because of the rain. It's inconvenient to go back and forth, so let's just rest in the abandoned courtyard."

Jiang Xuanyan realized that tonight was the most crucial time and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes. Otherwise, it would be a long time before he could prepare all those prescriptions again.

So he gave the order.

"Have someone prepare a sedan chair to carry the person back."

Jiang Yi: "Your Highness, the rain is heavy and the roads are slippery. The sedan bearers' visibility will be affected, and I'm afraid it's not safe!"

"I was being nosy. I will send someone to the abandoned courtyard to invite the young master immediately."

I'm really fed up with this father. He glares at me with those icy eyes all the time, looking like a ferocious monster who would eat human flesh and blood.