"I'm not tired." Seeing that he had returned so early, Ji Wushang immediately said, "I can finish cooking in a little while!"
"Put it down first, I need to go to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion with you." Nan Xuzong reached out and pressed her needlework down. "Let's go together to see how Princess Muchen is doing."
Ji Wushang frowned. Yes, there had been no news from Beigong Minhao. He didn't think that Yiyun Shangcheng was in any danger. He wondered if Yiyun Muchen of Zhenbei Prince's Mansion had woken up yet.
It wouldn't be appropriate for Nan Xuzong to go alone, given the difference between men and women. If Yi Yun Muchen were unwell, he could check on her. But having him there would prevent gossip.
Ji Wushang put it down. "Wait a moment, I'll go inside and change my clothes."
"I'll wait for you." Nan Xuzong released her hand and let her go inside to change her clothes. But his eyes remained fixed on everything in the courtyard, and sometimes he felt as if he were being watched, a feeling that was both real and unreal.
Ji Wushang quickly changed his clothes and came out. After giving some instructions, he went out with Nan Xuzong.
Sitting in the carriage, Ji Wushang said, "Cong, I brought some gifts and prepared them in the carriage. I don't know if they are enough to show my sincerity."
"That's enough, no need for too much. The Prince and Princess of Zhenbei actually care about me quite a bit. Because Minhao and I have a very good relationship, like brothers, preparing some small gifts is enough. There's no need to worry too much." Nan Xuzong tapped her forehead.
"Okay, that's good." Ji Wushang was relieved.
Upon arriving at the Prince of Zhenbei's residence, Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang immediately sent someone to report to the Prince.
Princess Zhenbei and the steward came out and looked at Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong.
Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, Princess Zhenbei!"
Princess Zhenbei smiled and said, "It's Cong'er and Wushang. No need for formalities, please come in."
"Your Highness, we have prepared some small gifts for you, so we will trouble you, Steward." Nan Xuzong said, looking at the steward standing to the side.
The steward immediately stepped forward and bowed to Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang, saying, "Thank you, Prince Nan and Princess Nan!"
Ji Wushang smiled. This steward was probably in his fifties or sixties. He then said, "Greetings, old steward."
"Yes!" The steward nodded, glancing at Ji Wushang. Seeing her beauty and the tactful way she had spoken, he couldn't help but nod in approval. No wonder the Crown Prince had considered going to her door to marry her! Truly remarkable!
Ji Wushang smiled as he looked at Nan Xuzong, his eyes filled with love.
Princess Zhenbei said, "Come in quickly, don't stand outside."
The butler immediately made a gesture of invitation.
Ji Wushang smiled and nodded, then walked behind Nan Xuzong, and the two pushed the wheelchair forward together. Several guards came forward to help push the wheelchair, and Ji Wushang smiled and walked to the side, keeping the same pace as Nan Xuzong, not overtaking him, as a sign of respect for Nan Xuzong as her husband.
Princess Zhenbei saw this and sighed inwardly. Such a woman was indeed a virtuous and good wife. It was a pity that she had hesitated at the time, and Prince Zhenbei was unable to grant Beigong Minhao's request due to political reasons.
However, Princess Zhenbei could also see that Ji Wushang was deeply in love with Nan Xuzong. If she were to be betrothed to Beigong Minhao, she might not necessarily be happy. After all, she didn't love Minhao and wouldn't give him the care he deserved!
He sighed and shook his head slightly. Now, Minho had no woman by his side to take care of him; this was a serious problem.
After the guards placed Nan Xuzong's wheelchair in the hall, they withdrew.
Only Ji Wushang, Nan Xuzong, and the Princess Consort of Zhenbei remained in the main hall.
Nan Xuzong looked at the Princess Consort of Zhenbei and said, "Your Highness, I heard that Minhao and Jueshi have been away from the manor for many days and have not returned. I don't know what news they have about us. Is this true?"
"It's true, sigh!" The Princess of Zhenbei couldn't help but worry again when someone brought up this matter. "I'm quite worried about those two brothers too!"
Although they are not his biological children, he has taken care of them for so long that he has come to regard them as his own sons!
Ji Wushang asked, "I wonder when the Crown Prince and the Second Prince left the residence?"
“Jue Shi left the manor about ten days ago, and Min Hao left seven days ago. At that time, Min Hao said he was going to find Jue Shi. Alas, how could I have known that they would disappear without a trace!” Princess Zhenbei took out a silk handkerchief from her bosom and secretly wiped away her tears.
Ji Wushang was taken aback. Had he harmed them?
Shouldn't I have asked Beigong Minhao to find those things? Sigh!
“Jue Shi originally said she was going to find medicine to cure Mu Chen, but so many days have passed and there’s still no news. That’s when Min Hao suggested going to find him. The Prince didn’t even stop her. Sigh, so we just let them all go.” Princess Zhenbei sighed, wiped away a tear, and said, “If anything happens to them, how can I explain it to the Prince? I don’t want to live anymore!” She said, tears streaming down her face.
Ji Wushang felt a pang of sadness and stepped forward, "Your Highness, don't worry, they will definitely be alright."
"Sigh, let's hope so! Cong'er, you and Minhao are on good terms, you should know where he might go, right? Why don't you send some people to look for him?" Princess Zhenbei patted Ji Wushang's hand. Having such a daughter-in-law is really good. She comes to his aid immediately when he sees him sad, unlike Yiyun Muchen who has been lying in bed and hasn't woken up yet!
So be it, lying in bed all this time wasn't her choice. As long as Jue Shi likes Princess Mu Chen, that's enough! Sigh! I just hope Princess Mu Chen will treat Jue Shi well!
"Please rest assured, Your Highness, we will definitely send people to find out their whereabouts and will inform you as soon as we have any news."
"That's good." Princess Zhenbei nodded.
Ji Wushang looked at Nan Xuzong, who nodded slightly. Ji Wushang immediately turned to the Princess Consort of Zhenbei, "Princess Consort, I heard that Princess Muchen has been unconscious and has seen many doctors without any effect, is that right?"
"Yes! I don't know what to do either. We'll have to wait until Jue Shi comes back before we can wake her up!"
“I want to see her. I’ve met her a few times, and we’re actually quite close. We were together when the accident happened. But I’m sorry, I couldn’t protect her.” Ji Wushang lowered his head, slightly embarrassed.
Princess Zhenbei nodded. "It's alright. What's done is done, don't blame yourself. If you want to see her, go ahead and see her! I'll have a maid take you, I won't go myself, sigh!" Princess Zhenbei sighed repeatedly.
Knowing that she was upset, Ji Wushang didn't press her further. After nodding to Nan Xuzong, the two bid farewell to the Princess of Zhenbei and were led by a maid to the courtyard of the Northern Palace.
As they passed by the Falling Sound Garden, Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong both stopped in their tracks. Ji Wushang glanced at Nan Xuzong, whose eyes met hers, and a smile played on his lips; they understood each other perfectly.
"Let's go!" Ji Wushang smiled, stepped forward and took Nan Xuzong's hand, which Nan Xuzong held in his palm.
Once inside the courtyard, the maids withdrew, leaving only Ji Wushang, Nan Xuzong, and Yi Yun Muchen, who remained lying on the bed without making any movement.
☆、205 The two of them went to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion together!
At this moment, Yi Yun Muchen's face was completely bloodless. She was dressed in a light blue gauze robe, covered with a brocade quilt, and her hair was loose and disheveled. Anyone who saw her would marvel at the beauty of this sleeping beauty.
Nan Xuzong glanced at Yi Yunmu Chen's face from afar. "It doesn't look like poisoning. Wu Shang, help her up."
"Alright." Ji Wushang stepped forward to help Yi Yun Muchen up from the bed, then leaned her against the side, taking her hand out from under the quilt and placing it on the quilt. Nan Xuzong looked at Yi Yun Muchen's face, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. He rolled out a golden thread, looped it around her wrist, and tightened the thread slightly, beginning to treat her.
Ji Wushang looked at his expression, the golden threads shining brightly. Nan Xuzong channeled his inner strength into his right hand and immediately pressed several acupoints on Yi Yun Muchen's body.
Nan Xuzong pulled the gold thread back, his eyes flickering between light and darkness.
Ji Wushang put Yi Yunmu Chen down, then got off the bed. "How is she?"
"We need to brew some medicine for her. The reason she hasn't woken up is because someone has put a sleeping poison on her. Once she ingests this poison, she will stay asleep and won't wake up. She won't eat or drink, and her life will remain frozen in that moment."
"Is this a poison from the Western Regions? Was it administered by the King of the Western Regions? Is there any way to resolve this?" Ji Wushang asked. "If it is the King of the Western Regions, he is truly ruthless."
“If we lure out the Gu worms, she should wake up,” Nan Xuzong said. He then walked to a desk and wrote several characters. Ji Wushang went over and saw that all the characters were about medicinal herbs.
“After these medicines are boiled into a soup, drinking it will draw out the Gu worms. Once the Gu worms are drawn out, they must be put into wine to get them drunk and die, otherwise they will definitely continue to infiltrate the host and keep the person in a deep sleep.” Nan Xuzong folded the paper. “I’d better tell Minhao or Jueshi about this, otherwise if we rashly treat Princess Muchen, it will definitely cause some unnecessary controversy.”
Ji Wushang nodded.
"The most urgent thing is to find them!" Nan Xuzong looked at Ji Wushang. "Let's go back first!"
"We haven't determined who cast the sleeping spell on Princess Muchen yet," Ji Wushang quickly asked.
"We'll know how things go in three days!" Nan Xuzong looked at Yi Yun Muchen seriously. "Actually, sometimes, staying asleep and unconscious is not a bad option for her."
Ji Wushang listened in silence.
Yi Yunmu Chen was caught in the middle, and he must have been feeling terrible. Perhaps being unconscious was actually the best thing for him.
Ji Wushang walked up to Nan Xuzong and said, "Let's go!"
Upon arriving at the main hall, they learned that the Prince of Zhenbei had already returned from outside and invited Nan Xuzong to his study for a talk. Ji Wushang, on the other hand, was invited by the Princess of Zhenbei and the three princesses to admire the flowers in Luoyin Garden.
In the spring, when all the flowers are in full bloom, Ji Wushang stepped into the Luoyin Garden again, and little did he know that almost a year had passed.
The garden in Luoyin Garden is currently filled with blooming peach blossoms, their pink petals occasionally falling to the ground in the wind, or dancing with it.
As Ji Wushang breathed in the air and smelled the faint fragrance of flowers, all the troubles in his heart seemed to disappear.
Princess Qinlian stepped forward with a smile, "Princess Consort of the Southern Prince, I can tell you really like the fallen flowers here!"
“Yes, I like it very much,” Ji Wushang said with a smile.
"Has the Prince of Nan built a similar Luo Garden for his wife to see?" Princess Qinxiang stepped forward at this moment.
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang felt a little embarrassed. Yes, he hadn't built such a secluded garden for him, but he had taken him there that time, and now he didn't even know what it was or where it was.
Princess Qinlian stared blankly at Ji Wushang's face for a moment, then immediately realized that Princess Qinxiang had just said the wrong thing, "The Prince of Nan must have made another courtyard for his wife. I heard that courtyard is called Moxuan Garden, right? It's very big and beautiful."
Ji Wushang smiled as he came to his senses. "He once took me to a courtyard where there were plum blossoms. The whole courtyard was full of plum blossoms, and I liked it very much."
"I see!" Princess Qinxiang realized she had misspoke when the Princess of Zhenbei nudged her elbow.
Ji Wushang smiled.
"Come sit in the courtyard." Princess Zhenbei stepped forward and led them to a pavilion not far away.
The five people sat in the pavilion, watching the falling blossoms and enjoying the snacks served by the maid. They occasionally glanced at the peach blossoms swaying in the wind, finding it all very pleasant.
The Study of the Prince of Zhenbei.
Nan Xuzong sat opposite the Prince of Zhenbei, who then sorted through his letters and said, "Zong'er, I called you here because I want to talk to you about Minhao and Jueshi."
"Yes." Nan Xuzong nodded. "Please speak freely, Your Highness. I will answer all your questions to the best of my ability."
The Prince of Zhenbei looked at him and recalled what that person had told him that night: that he must stop Nan Xuzong from standing up. Moreover, Minhao and Jueshi had left the manor to find the medicinal herbs he needed.
Also, that woman Ji Wushang, since she has already married Prince Nan, why does she still have any entanglement with Minhao?
"Does Your Highness have some unspeakable secret that you are reluctant to reveal?" Nan Xuzong looked at the Prince of Zhenbei with a slightly cold gaze.
"I just want to ask Prince Nan why you asked Minhao and Jueshi to find medicine for you," Prince Zhenbei finally said after a long silence.
Nan Xuzong was stunned. What was going on? Finding medicine for him? Finding medicine... "It's...it's medicine to heal my legs?" Nan Xuzong was stunned for a long time before he finally uttered a surprised sentence.
The Prince of Zhenbei frowned. Nan Xuzong's expression told him that this medicine was not the one he had asked Minhao and Jueshi to find. Then, did that mean the medicine Minhao and Jueshi found was not the one Nan Xuzong needed, but rather the medicine they had indeed found for Princess Muchen? Was that person lying to him?
What is the purpose? Is it to turn the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion and the Jinnan Marquis's Mansion into enemies?
"Perhaps not. Alas, I only heard it secondhand. Please forgive me, Prince Nan." The Prince of Zhenbei felt extremely apologetic at this moment. Regardless of whether the medicine was for his leg or not, he would have someone investigate thoroughly!
"Your Highness, please explain this clearly, it's very important to me!" Nan Xuzong's face was extremely serious at this moment, looking at the Prince of Zhenbei with a tone that suggested he would not give up until the Prince explained.
The Prince of Zhenbei looked at him and said, "It's like this. When Jueshi left the manor before, he told me that he wanted to find Princess Muchen's medicine. How could I, as his father, refuse him again and again? Besides, you know Jueshi's temper, so I let him leave the manor. Unexpectedly, he didn't return for a long time. When Minhao returned from the training ground, he inquired and finally decided to go out and look for him as well."
A few days ago, I received a letter that rebellions had broken out one after another within my territory! This was rather strange. That evening, while I was reviewing official documents in my study, another letter arrived, inviting me to meet at the "Fenglai Tower" in Shili Slope. There, I met a tall man wearing a straw hat. He told me that Minhao and Jueshi had actually left the manor for medicine to cure my legs.
"I know, Cong'er, you've been sitting in this wheelchair for so long, and it must be hard for you both physically and mentally. But please think about me, this old man. I only have these two sons. If anything were to happen to them, what peace and happiness would I, as their father, have?" The Prince of Zhenbei said, tears streaming down his face, wiping them away with his sleeve.
Nan Xuzong was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered. What he said was indeed the truth. He just hadn't known the content of their conversation at the time!
He meant that Bei Gongminhao and Bei Gongjueshi had left the manor for his medicinal herbs, disregarding their own lives!
"Your Highness, to tell you the truth, I really didn't send them out to find medicine for me. Healing these legs is extremely difficult, and it will require too much sacrifice. I don't want to harm others to satisfy my own selfish desires. Your Highness, rest assured, I have already sent people out to search for Minhao and Jueshi, and I believe we'll have results soon." Nan Xuzong narrowed his eyes. So it was Beigong Minhao who wanted to heal his legs and that's why he went out to search?