Chapter 18

Song Yushu said he could solve anything, and Cheng Nanyu believed him.

So when she stood outside the courtyard, watching Song Yushu walk out of the house and hand her a white porcelain bottle, she felt at that moment that her elder brother was indeed reliable.

“Dealing with such people, talking nicely is useless.”

It was a delicate white porcelain bottle with a small plum blossom painted on it. Cheng Nanyu shook it gently, feeling the liquid sloshing inside. At that moment, she felt as if she had let go of all her burdens. This small bottle of antidote could not only cure her father’s poison but also soothe her own troubled heart.

“Brother, I…”

She held the white porcelain bottle tightly, looking down and then up again, wanting to say something but holding back. Song Yushu smiled at her, took her hand, and led her out of the Floating Cloud Pavilion. She heard a rustling sound behind her and turned to look, but before she could see clearly, Song Yushu quickly closed the courtyard door.

“Fox Song, if you have the guts, don’t come back again—”

The door closed just as Master Jiarong’s voice came through. He seemed very angry, with a hint of rage in his tone. Cheng Nanyu had been standing outside all this time, only hearing Master Jiarong say that the antidote for the mist lotus grass was very precious and that he was unwilling to give it up. She knew nothing of what happened afterward. But now, Master Jiarong seemed like a wronged wife?

“What’s wrong with Master Jiarong?”

Puzzled, she wanted to look back, but Song Yushu, seeing her movement, pulled her along even faster without a word.

Master Jiarong’s courtyard was a turn from the front temple and through a small peach blossom forest. Holding hands, they walked a distance, and soon they saw Cheng Lingdong and… Yu Zhi waiting, not far away.

Cheng Lingdong stood under the peach blossom tree, thinking about Yu Zhi behind her and looking at the two people walking hand in hand. She sighed inwardly.

Some things, after all, are not easily changed.

“Lingdong!”

Cheng Nanyu, having obtained the antidote, was very happy to see Cheng Lingdong. She immediately let go of Song Yushu’s hand and ran towards her. Cheng Lingdong, seeing her approach, hid her earlier expression and smiled.

Song Yushu looked down at his hand and frowned.

“Did you see Master Jiarong?”

Cheng Lingdong stepped forward, holding Cheng Nanyu’s hand, glancing slightly at Song Yushu, who was staring at them, feeling a bit smug.

“Yes! Lingdong, I…”

She seemed hesitant to speak, and Cheng Lingdong smiled knowingly, aware of what Cheng Nanyu was thinking. The matter of General Fang being poisoned was well known by now, but this silly girl still thought she was the only one who knew.

But she didn’t say anything, letting this silly girl speak for herself.

“Princess Changping, stop pretending. It’s really meaningless.”

Cheng Lingdong intended to guide Cheng Nanyu to speak up herself, but before the girl could open her mouth, Song Yushu bluntly exposed her pretense, causing Cheng Nanyu to stop and look over.

“Princess Changping, living in the palace, did you really hear nothing at all?”

He truly didn’t hold back at all. Cheng Lingdong, unafraid, smiled slightly and held Cheng Nanyu’s hand as she looked at him, then slowly spoke.

“So what if I know? So what if I don’t?”

Song Yushu glanced at the hands they were holding, his expression growing colder.

“County Princess, Your Highness.”

(T/N: before this i translate this into commandery princess but i think title is soo long and decided to change it into county princess…but somehow i might stick to the chinese title which is Junzhu….which i find more accurate…mmmm…)

Yu Zhi, standing behind, seemed to sense the slight tension between the two and spoke up to break the awkwardness. Cheng Lingdong frowned upon hearing Yu Zhi’s voice. This big fool had insisted on staying close, claiming it was unsafe and refusing to leave despite her efforts to send him away.

“General Yu, what brings you to Beichan Temple with such leisure?”

Song Yushu walked over from behind, expressionless. Cheng Nanyu was used to his indifferent attitude towards outsiders and didn’t think much of it. However, Yu Zhi, seeing Song Yushu’s lukewarm expression, wondered if he had offended the prince in some way. But who had offended whom was unclear.

“Nothing much; I just heard the peach blossoms at Beichan Temple are quite lovely, so I came to take a look.”

Song Yushu nodded slightly. He didn’t care at all why Yu Zhi was here. His gaze swept past Cheng Nanyu as he reached out and poked her arm.

“Aren’t you going to give him the antidote? Or do you plan to deliver it yourself?”

His tone was somewhat irritable. Having spent some time with him, Cheng Nanyu recognized it immediately. She couldn’t be bothered to guess what had upset him this time.

“The emperor has ordered General Yu not to leave the city. If he forces his way out now, he will certainly be convicted by the emperor.”

Most people in the capital knew that Yu Zhi had returned, but no one knew why, nor did they know that the emperor had forbidden him from leaving the city. The emperor was sure to have someone watching him. If Yu Zhi stepped outside the city, he would be arrested and definitely charged with disobedience.

Cheng Lingdong glanced at the young girl in front of her, her heart sinking. She knew what was going to happen next and also knew what Cheng Nanyu was thinking.

“Therefore, someone not under the emperor’s scrutiny must deliver it.”

Cheng Nanyu was stunned by her words, seemingly not understanding, and looked at Cheng Lingdong in confusion.

“Why can’t the antidote be delivered directly to the palace?”

She asked while looking at Cheng Lingdong, who felt a headache coming on. How was she supposed to explain things that were yet to unfold?

“Sister, not everyone can be trusted.”

Song Yushu squinted at Cheng Lingdong as if seeing through her. Cheng Lingdong felt a bit guilty under his gaze but didn’t avoid it, instead meeting his eyes and wanting to hear how he would explain this matter.

“Indeed, County Princess. The emperor’s current stance is unclear, and it’s uncertain what his plans are. It would be better to find someone trustworthy to deliver it.”

Cheng Nanyu always thought the emperor and the empress dowager treated her well, but this incident had made her rethink. Seeing everyone disagree with her idea of giving the antidote to the emperor, a bold idea began to form in her mind…

She let go of Cheng Lingdong’s hand, took a step forward, turned around, and looked at them with determination in her eyes.

“If General Yu cannot leave the city, then I will deliver it myself!”