The doctor took the medicinal powder from Song Yihuan's hand, brought it to his nose and smelled it carefully. After a moment of identification, he looked up and said,
"These medicines are not rare. I happen to have them all here. Please wait a moment, miss."
Song Yihuan glanced at the clepsydra in the medical hall.
It was already the tenth quarter of You Hour. Remembering that Song Nanxin had told her to return before Xu Hour, she couldn't help narrowing her eyes.
Tapping her finger on the table, Song Yihuan smiled and said, "I'm not in a hurry. Take your time to get the medicine, doctor."
At the post - house in Xile Town.
Time passed slowly. The cold wind poured in through the window, making Song Nanxin feel even more uncomfortable. As soon as You Hour passed and the first quarter of Xu Hour arrived, the effect of the Youth - Preserving Pill in her body gradually dissipated. An indescribable itching sensation welled up from her heart and slowly spread to her limbs.
Song Nanxin shivered violently. She scrambled to wrap herself in the quilt and got out of bed to close the window. She closed the window tightly, but it did nothing to relieve the cold that seeped from her bones. The itching became more and more obvious. She let out a soft moan of discomfort and couldn't help reaching out to scratch herself all over.
It's so itchy! It's really so itchy! Why has Song Yihuan been gone for so long and still not come back?
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, three "Dong Dong Dong" sounds, which gave Song Nanxin a great fright.
Who is it?!
Like a frightened bird, Song Nanxin shrank into a corner and didn't move after the door was knocked.
When the person outside saw that there was no response from inside, they raised their hand and knocked again. This time, someone spoke: "Sir/Madam, I'm here to deliver your dinner as ordered. If you're not convenient to come out, I'll leave the dinner outside the door. You can get it by yourself."
It turned out to be the waiter.
Song Nanxin let out a sigh of relief. After hearing the waiter's footsteps gradually fade away, she moved forward with difficulty.
She opened the door and sure enough saw a tray outside, on which there were several dishes of food steaming.
Song Nanxin picked up the tray. Her fingers paused when they touched the bottom of the tray.
There was actually a letter stuck under it!
Upon discovering the letter, Song Nanxin's heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously looked outside the door, only to see an empty space with no one in sight.
She quickly closed the door, took the tray back into the room, and carefully removed the letter from under the tray.
She slowly unfolded the letter under the lamp, quickly scanned it, and a look of joy appeared on her face. Her fingers even trembled involuntarily.
Cui Muyuan wasn't dead. He was in the post - house!
Song Nanxin was so excited that her breathing became disordered. After burning the letter to ashes, she lifted her skirt and walked out of the room towards the side - room that Cui Muyuan had mentioned.
As she walked, she warily surveyed her surroundings. After making sure that no one was following her, she raised her hand and knocked on the door.
There were three knocks in response from inside. Song Nanxin's face lit up with joy and she immediately pushed the door open and walked in.
Just as her figure disappeared into the room, a small figure appeared around the corner.
Once inside the room, Song Nanxin saw the familiar figure of Cui Muyuan.
Cui Muyuan was wearing a human - skin mask, looking like a completely different person. At this moment, he was sitting by the window, wrapped in a cloak, covering his lips and coughing.
Hearing the sound, he looked up at Song Nanxin.
He intended to stand up and salute Song Nanxin: "This humble one pays respects to the Princess of the Heir Apparent..."
Before he could finish his words, his body slumped back down, and he covered his chest and coughed violently.
Song Nanxin had originally wanted to question him about why he had disappeared for so long. But seeing his state, she immediately forgot her original intention and stepped forward to support his arm.
"Are you okay?"
After Cui Muyuan calmed down, he looked extremely weak: "This humble one is fine. It's just that I can't stand up to pay my respects to the Princess of the Heir Apparent. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
"At a time like this, why are you still being so formal with me?"
Cui Muyuan stared at Song Nanxin infatuatedly, his eyes full of affection: "This humble one is extremely happy to see the Princess of the Heir Apparent so concerned about me."
After saying this, he started coughing again.
Looking at Cui Muyuan's pale - as - paper face, Song Nanxin felt a twinge of heartache for the first time. She sat down beside Cui Muyuan and asked anxiously, "Are you injured? Let me take a look."
Cui Muyuan let her pull open his clothes. Seeing Song Nanxin's nervous expression, a hint of meaning flashed across his eyes and the corner of his lips twitched slightly.
On his chest, there was a wound that had been pierced through by an arrow. Although it had healed, it still looked shocking.
"What exactly happened?" Song Nanxin pressed, "Didn't I tell you to kill that little bitch Song Yihuan? How come you're the one who got so badly injured instead?"
Cui Muyuan said casually: "I ran into some killers in the mountains. I didn't even have a chance to fight back and was injured by them."
"These damned Beidi people actually colluded with traitors like Prince Dun to plot a rebellion!" Song Nanxin cursed angrily, "Fortunately, these traitors have been captured. Otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble would have arisen."
"Miss Song Si..." Cui Muyuan asked tentatively.
Song Nanxin pouted and said, "That little bitch was lucky. She didn't encounter the surprise attack from the Beidi people. Fuling was taken away by a big snake, which allowed her to survive in the mountains by chance. She even hunted back a lot of prey and won first place in the autumn hunt."
Her tone was full of jealousy.
"Did she come back alone?" Cui Muyuan asked.
"Yes." Song Nanxin said, "Why? Is there something wrong?"
"No. This humble one just thinks that Miss Song Si is really lucky." Cui Muyuan said meaningfully.
"By the way, what exactly happened to you?"
Song Nanxin bit her lower lip and said, "I think now that it's okay not to kill her."
"Hmm?" Cui Muyuan looked at Song Nanxin, "Why has the Princess of the Heir Apparent suddenly changed her mind?"
Song Nanxin said, "She truly regards me as her elder sister. You disappeared in Xingzhou and the real Baishao is dead. No one can do the face - changing technique for us. It was she who taught herself your face - changing technique and managed to deceive the Heir Apparent."
"When you weren't by my side and the effect of the Youth - Preserving Pill was about to wear off, it was also she who stepped forward to deceive the Princess Consort and went to find a doctor for me. It's really rare that she can do so much for me."
"Oh, really?" Cui Muyuan lowered his eyelashes slightly, his eyes full of interest.
Song Yihuan had already known that her good elder sister wanted to kill her. After she returned, not only did she not expose her good elder sister, but she had also kept it a secret until now. Was it repaying kindness for evil, or did she have other motives?
This Fourth Miss of the Marquis Mansion was really interesting. But...
He looked at Song Nanxin in front of him.
Being too smart made her hard to control, which also meant full of uncertainties.
"Since you're okay, I'm relieved. By the way, I've finished the Youth - Preserving Pills you gave me. I'm feeling uncomfortable all over now. Hurry up and give me the remaining pills!"
Song Nanxin said anxiously, and as she spoke, she subconsciously scratched herself.
Seeing her like this, the smile in Cui Muyuan's eyes deepened. He reached into his sleeve and was about to take out something when suddenly his eyes turned cold and he looked towards the door.
"Who's there?"