“I went to the Zhenbei Prince’s Mansion before, and then Wushang and I went to check on Princess Muchen’s condition. We found that she was only suffering from a sleeping Gu, and we just needed to use some medicine to lure the Gu out. But why did you have to go to so many places?”
"You don't know. In order to control himself, Jue Shi once thought about leaving this place, so I had to follow in his footsteps to many places. And, to be honest, Jue Shi didn't know that Princess Muchen said what you said. He probably listened to those quack doctors and went around looking for those medicinal herbs. Sigh, there's no way around it, when Jue Shi gets stupid, he can be quite irrational." Bei Gongminhao tried his best to make up this excuse to make Nan Xuzong more convinced.
Nan Xuzong narrowed his dark eyes and looked at Ji Wushang, who then said, "It's all my fault, I've dragged you all into this."
“I briefly examined Princess Mu Chen’s injuries before. She wasn’t afflicted with any sleeping poison at that time. It seems that someone placed the sleeping poison in her body a few days after we left, and then Jue Shi thought she couldn’t wake up,” Nan Xu Cong said, just so that Ji Wu Shang wouldn’t blame himself.
"That's probably it, so Jue Shi was desperate and grasped at straws! Oh well, it's good that you're back now, isn't it? But Xu Cong, I need to ask you for a favor." Bei Gong Min Hao put down his chopsticks and looked at him with piercing eyes.
"you say."
"I've already asked Doctor Cui to take a look at Jue Shi's situation. He said he needs your help. See what we can do!" Bei Gong Minhao said at this moment. "As for Mu Chen, Doctor Cui has prepared medicine for her, and she's much better now. I estimate that she'll definitely wake up in time."
Upon hearing the name Doctor Cui, Ji Wushang immediately asked, "Master, where is Master?"
Bei Gongminhao looked at her for a long while, then said, "When did you become Doctor Cui's apprentice?" How come he didn't know? How come no one told him?
"Well, it was a very, very long time ago!" Ji Wushang smiled. "How is he doing?"
"Very good." Beigong Minhao nodded and smiled. Her eyes were so beautiful, clear and pure, that he couldn't take his eyes off them.
Ji Wushang smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze to Nan Xuzong. "I actually want to see my master." With Doctor Cui's help, everything would be foolproof!
“Okay,” Nan Xuzong nodded, “I’ll take you to see him when I have time. It’s not too far. If you’re really eager to see him, I’ll have Gong Shu escort you.” Actually, Doctor Cui had already come to see her last night, but Nan Xuzong didn’t plan to tell her about what happened last night.
Bei Gongminhao, Doctor Cui, and Gong Shu will keep it a secret for me. Anyway, I'm already better, and telling them will only make Ji Wushang worry more.
“I will go to the Prince of Zhenbei’s residence, I’ll see what time it is,” Nan Xuzong said.
"Very good." Beigong Minhao smiled, then ate quite a bit more food and wine. "You all need to start eating quickly, or the food will get cold."
"Okay." Nan Xuzong picked up some food to eat, while glancing at Ji Wushang out of the corner of his eye. Ji Wushang had also started eating, his expression natural.
But wasn't her expression a little too natural? Suddenly, this thought popped into Nan Xuzong's mind.
Beigong Minhao poured the wine again, "Come on, drink this glass of wine."
Nan Xuzong frowned. "You seem to have drunk quite a bit, haven't you?"
"What are you afraid of? I said I'm happy today. Are you going to spoil my mood?" Beigong Minhao asked instead.
Nan Xuzong couldn't find any other words to describe it.
"Okay." Finally, he squeezed out a single word, then picked up his wine glass. Ji Wushang also raised his glass, "Since you're happy, be happy! I'll drink too."
Nan Xuzong looked at Ji Wushang, but in his heart he was thinking about how many cups she had already drunk.
Bei Gongminhao looked at Ji Wushang with gentle eyes, disregarding Nan Xuzong's presence. He smiled at Ji Wushang, then gently touched her wine glass before touching Nan Xuzong's. His gaze returned to Ji Wushang's eyes, and he smiled before drinking his wine.
Ji Wushang felt nothing but a sigh, and with a hint of apology, he finished the wine.
Nan Xuzong looked at them, his heart filled with mixed feelings. One was the woman he loved most, and the other was his closest friend and brother. However, he knew from the beginning that Beigong Minhao was still obsessed with Ji Wushang. Yes, he was jealous and worried that Beigong Minhao would steal his Wushang away. But he also knew that Ji Wushang's heart had always belonged to him, and Beigong Minhao could not take it away.
She felt trapped in a vicious cycle. She didn't want him to be good to Ji Wushang, but sometimes she couldn't bring herself to drive him away. He was the person she trusted most; she could share everything with him, but she couldn't share Ji Wushang with him.
However, his love for Ji Wushang was only a deep-seated care, which was precisely what put his mind at ease.
But what if one day he's not like that? What if all he wants is everything from Ji Wushang?
Nan Xuzong's mind was in turmoil.
She only wanted to possess everything about Ji Wushang, and Beigong Minhao couldn't share her with her either!
"I'm full." Ji Wushang put down her chopsticks. Nan Xuzong had been watching her the whole time. Sigh, this man, she was sure he would keep a close eye on her from now on, but she just liked his possessiveness.
However, one must also have one's own space, and well, there is such a space!
Beigong Minhao put down his chopsticks. "You guys go first! I'd like to stay here a little longer, since there's nothing else going on at the manor."
"Okay, then." Nan Xuzong checked and confirmed before walking away with Ji Wushang.
Bei Gongminhao stared at the wine glass in front of him, unable to resist watching them leave—or rather, watching Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang felt that gaze too, but he absolutely couldn't turn back, he couldn't. Why couldn't he let go of everything and find a woman he loved to live his life with? Ji Wushang was tormented by this question. If he were to personally choose a beautiful and virtuous wife for him, would he be willing to marry her?
Only after the person was out of sight, had gone downstairs, left the September Pavilion, boarded a carriage, and watched until the carriage had driven far away, did Bei Gong Minhao return to his seat. He smiled and raised his wine cup, "Wu Shang, bottoms up."
There was no response from anyone in the air.
A few seconds later, he drank the wine.
Then he picked up the wine glass that Ji Wushang had originally held and brought it to his lips, where it seemed as if her scent and warmth still lingered. He gently placed it on his lips and kissed the lip print.
The wine glass is empty.
He gave a wry smile, his face full of bitterness, helplessness, torment, pain, and entanglement, and his hand still trembled slightly as he put it down.
The wind blew in through the window.
He shook his head, filled his own glass, and then filled Ji Wushang's glass as well.
"Who would have thought that a coward could be so affectionate!" Suddenly, an arrogant voice interrupted all of Beigong Minhao's thoughts!
☆、210 Let's do an experiment!
Beigong Minhao immediately stood up and looked at the person coming from behind him, "Yiyun Shangcheng!"
A hint of disdain flashed across Yiyun Shangcheng's lips. Was he still the same Yiyun Shangcheng as before? No, he was now the King of the Western Regions, admired by thousands, not the former Prince Yiyun Shangcheng of the Western Regions! In the past, he could indeed stand on equal footing with him and address him by his first name, but things were different now!
I am no longer the person I used to be. Everything changes!
"Hmph, do you even deserve to address me by my name?" Yi Yun Shangcheng said coldly, not forgetting the purpose of her visit!
"Heh!" Bei Gongminhao sneered, "Yes, I still forgot that you are now the high and mighty King of the Western Regions. You even thought of killing me before! How ridiculous of me to still remember our past life-and-death friendship!"
Yiyun Shangcheng was somewhat stunned by his words, but she did not want to bring up the past. Compared to this coward, she was much more courageous!
"I have no time to reminisce with you!" Yiyun Shangcheng said coldly.
"Then why did you come? I thought an old friend had come to visit, and we were going to drink and chat together!" Bei Gongminhao smiled, then sat back down and took a small sip of the wine he had just poured. "This wine is Hundred Flowers Brew, it tastes quite good."
Yiyun Shangcheng instantly moved in front of him and sat in the chair where Ji Wushang had been sitting. He picked up the wine glass in front of him, a wicked smile appearing on his lips, and played with the wine glass in his hand. "You are really boring. You won't admit that you are a coward. It's really speechless!"
"You! Yiyun Shangcheng, don't be so self-righteous!" Beigong Minhao roared, "You did such a despicable thing, making Jueshi work for you. Isn't that the act of a coward? If you want to do what you want, you can do it yourself. Using him makes you a coward and a bastard!"
"Hmph!" Yi Yun Shangcheng snorted coldly, "Since you brought this up, then hand over all the medicinal herbs. If you don't, you can decide for yourself whether to let Bei Gong Jueshi suffer to death or let him become a great demon and kill all of you. You can choose."
"You're hopeless! Tell me, what are you doing this for? Are you only happy when everyone despises you and is hostile to you?" Beigong Minhao tried his best to speak to him calmly, but found that he couldn't help but get agitated.
What I hate is that I can't confront him head-on at this critical juncture; I can only use roundabout tactics to deal with him now.
Yiyun Shangcheng looked at him with disdain. "I, the King, am determined to betray the world. What? Is that not allowed? Who are you? Enough with the nonsense, hand over the medicinal herbs to cure Nan Xuzong's legs!" He slammed his hand on the table, which toppled over and shattered into pieces!
Looking at the unpredictable man before him, Bei Gongminhao knew he wouldn't give up until he achieved his goal. But he couldn't give him the medicinal herbs; how would he explain it to Ji Wushang? Although he didn't want Ji Wushang to heal Nan Xuzong's legs, he still couldn't give him these herbs!
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm leaving." Beigong Minhao finished his drink and walked out.
At this moment, Yi Yun Shangcheng's eyes flashed with a cold light. He nimbly stood in front of Bei Gong Minhao in an instant. Bei Gong Minhao was surprised. He was so fast!
"You're thinking of healing Nan Xuzong's legs so he can win this duel, aren't you? You've been working for Nan Xuzong all along, haven't you thought about how he'd have to sacrifice Ji Wushang if he were to stand up? Can you bear to do that? Can you just watch Ji Wushang's blood turn into medicine!" Yi Yun Shangcheng's eyes were bloodshot as she grabbed Bei Gong Minhao's collar. "Don't you still love Ji Wushang? What, you can bear it, you can bear it!"
"I'm such a heartless bastard!" Bei Gongminhao flung away the large hand gripping his collar. "I am heartless! I can bear to watch her bleed!" Bei Gongminhao cursed. "She knelt before me, begging me to help her, and I can bear it? I feel so good seeing her kneeling! She kneels to heaven, to earth, to her parents, and now she kneels to me! I can bear it! I'm happy to see her kneeling! Are you satisfied now?"
Yiyun Shangcheng paused for a few seconds, but immediately said, "Then you should stop her even more! Why, why help her? Here, give me the medicinal herbs, I'll take care of them. I'll kill Nan Xuzong, I'll take her back to the Western Regions, and put her in that ancient castle, so she can stay there for the rest of her life!"
"You're a madman!" Bei Gongminhao pointed at his nose and said coldly, baring his teeth. "You never understand her, you're so self-righteous, a madman, a madman!"
"I'm a madman! Since you won't help me, I'll kill you and make sure no one knows the whereabouts of the medicinal herbs!" Yi Yun Shangcheng stepped forward. "If you won't give them to me, then let those herbs remain a secret forever. Take them with you to your coffin!" His face was ferocious and hateful. He grabbed Bei Gong Minhao's neck with one hand and squeezed hard. "Minhao, I'll buy you a top-quality coffin! You wait for me down there. We'll still be sworn brothers!"
“She already knows where the medicinal herbs are…” Beigong Minhao forced out these words.
Yi Yun Shangcheng's eyes darkened. He slammed Bei Gong Minhao to the ground and punched him hard in the chest. Instantly, Bei Gong Minhao spat out blood!
"You coward, you bastard!" Yiyun Shangcheng cursed, "You actually helped her! I know you're all a bunch of traitors. She just wants to help Nan Xuzong stand up and fight me, doesn't she? She only cares about that bastard Nan Xuzong, doesn't she? I'll go and kill them right now! Everything she cares about, I will destroy it all!"
Beigong Minhao snorted coldly, trying to get up while supporting himself, but due to his serious injuries, he fell to the ground again.
Yiyun Shangcheng turned to leave, but then stopped, squatted down, and coldly glanced at Beigong Minhao, who was groaning in pain on the ground. "Minhao, shall we do an experiment?"
"What experiment?" Beigong Minhao asked subconsciously.
A bloodcurdling scream echoed for a long time in the September Tower...
A cool breeze blew in from outside, and Ji Wushang opened his eyes, only to realize that he had slept for a little while longer in Nan Xuzong's arms. Perhaps it was because of the wine he had drunk, but he had slept soundly.
When Nan Xuzong saw that she had woken up, he asked with concern, "Are you very tired?"
"No, it's just a bit chilly, so I woke up." Ji Wushang looked outside. It should be springtime, much warmer, so why is it so cold?
Nan Xuzong hugged her even tighter, transferring his warmth to her, and then took the cloak that was lying to the side and covered her with it. "Is this much better?"
"Hmm, it's much warmer now," Ji Wushang said dependently. "I don't know why, but I feel so sleepy. If there's nothing to do, I'll just fall asleep..." Ji Wushang said in a softer and softer voice.
Nan Xuzong held her wrist, the icy feeling stimulating his senses. His heart skipped a beat as he felt her faint pulse. After a long while, it only beat once. He could even feel that her blood was frozen, and then slowly flowing out.
A hint of panic flashed in his eyes, and he immediately lowered his head to look at Ji Wushang, "Wushang, Wushang."
"Hmm?" Ji Wushang opened his eyes. "Cong, what's wrong?"
"Don't sleep, okay? Stay with me, talk to me. I want to talk to you," Nan Xuzong said, pulling her up and holding her in his arms. "I have so much to tell you, will you talk to me?"
"Okay." Ji Wushang nodded. "I'm still feeling the effects of the alcohol, hehe, my head is a little heavy."
"It's alright, don't sleep, or you won't be able to sleep tonight!" Nan Xuzong coaxed her. He could feel her body moving towards a state of hibernation and coldness, and he was terrified. What if she remained asleep forever? He didn't want that! He had to stimulate all her senses, arouse all her interest, and keep her busy. Otherwise, if she really became idle, then slowly…
Nan Xuzong's heart clenched suddenly, and he clutched his chest with one hand.
Just then, Ji Wushang opened his eyes. He thought to himself that he absolutely had to be on his guard when he spoke to him, otherwise he would be disrespecting him!
But then she saw Nan Xuzong's face contort, and Ji Wushang was terrified. She immediately grabbed his head and cried out, "What's wrong? Cong, Cong! Don't scare me, look at me, I, I won't sleep anymore!"
"Uh... I was just kidding, haha, see, you got fooled, didn't you?" Nan Xuzong caught his breath, smiled, and playfully hugged Ji Wushang, pulling her into his arms. "I was just kidding, look how worried you were about me!"
"You, you! Nan Xuzong, you bastard!" Ji Wushang said coquettishly, punching him in the chest with her small fist. "You scared me to death, boohoo!"
"It's alright... Stop hitting me, okay? You'll hurt your hand." Nan Xuzong smiled and held her hand, then secretly channeled some internal energy into her to warm her body. "I won't lie to you anymore, is that alright?"
"Don't lie to me!" Ji Wushang scolded angrily, hugging him and looking up at him. "If you dare to lie to me, I will definitely find a way to punish you!"
"Really?" Nan Xuzong's lips curled up as he looked at her confident expression. "I'm looking forward to it!"
"You are not allowed to have any expectations!" Ji Wushang sneered. "You are not allowed to have any expectations, and you are not allowed to lie to me!"
"Alright, hehe!" Nan Xuzong chuckled twice, feeling her body warm up a bit, before withdrawing his inner energy and regulating his breathing. The heartache he felt just now was from feeling her; she was his heart! He knew his own body!