Chapter 7: I Give You My Word

Looking into Qiao Qingyun’s beautiful eyes, there was indeed not a hint of guilt, but rather an abundance of confidence, which made Yuan Zaichun’s lips curl coldly.

“Save him, and I promise you the position of Crown Princess.”

“Alright! You should have said so earlier.” Hearing her goal was achieved, Qiao Qingyun quickly sat on the ground, unconcerned about the dirt or the luxury of her clothes, and began her work without delay.

“Your Highness…”

With a single needle, the unconscious man in black was awakened. Only then did Qiao Qingyun see his blood-covered face, impossible to distinguish.

“Shut up. Speaking now is tantamount to courting death.” Qiao Qingyun’s sharp words made the man visibly annoyed, but he was powerless. When he saw Qiao Qingyun applying needles to him, he finally understood…

So she was a physician?

In no time, Qiao Qingyun sealed every important acupoint on the man in black, gathering the poison in his arm.

“What kind of poison is this, do you know?”

“I’m not sure. I only heard them say… Heartbreak Powder…”

“Heartbreak Powder?” Qiao Qingyun nearly fainted. “They use this poison for hidden weapons? Their minds must be warped.”

Warped?

Yuan Zaichun frowned; something about her words felt off.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Qiao Qingyun deftly retrieved the antidote for Heartbreak Powder from her medical space, seized the man’s jaw, and forced it down his throat.

“Mm…”

The man in black on the ground was startled by Qiao Qingyun’s actions, never expecting her to do this. Yet after drinking it, his body indeed felt much better.

He watched as Qiao Qingyun applied another layer of antidote to his arm, and soon the silver needles were removed, finally allowing him to breathe easily.

“It’s done. You won’t die now. For the time being, avoid risks, strenuous activity, and further poisoning. There will be residual effects, which will take a week to clear from your body.”

Qiao Qingyun looked wistfully at her blackened, purple-tinted silver needles, then turned to Yuan Zaichun and asked, “Your Highness, do you have any good wine? This humble woman—no, your concubine—needs it to soak the needles.”

Concubine!

At those words, the man in black felt his throat turn sour again.

He had heard, while unconscious, Qiao Qingyun forcing Yuan Zaichun to marry her, but he hadn’t thought it would actually happen!

Unbelievable, their master would sacrifice himself for his sake?

The man in black was deeply moved, while Yuan Zaichun frowned at Qiao Qingyun. “This sort of thing can be left to the maids.”

“Yes.” Qiao Qingyun replied, then turned to leave.

“Come back.”

“Does Your Highness have other matters?” The woman paused, took a few steps back, and turned to ask.

Yuan Zaichun glanced at her, his expression still grim. “Why insist on being Crown Princess?”

“For self-preservation. Please don’t misunderstand, Your Highness. Even if you wish to take ten or twenty more wives, your concubine would not hinder you, but wholeheartedly support you. I only hope Your Highness will protect me.”

Qiao Qingyun called herself “concubine” so readily, to the point that even Yuan Zaichun hadn’t expected it to come to this.

But what needed to be said had to be said.

The man’s brows knitted, his face stern, even tinged with a hint of murderous intent. “Except for the status, don’t even think of anything else.”

“Yes, your concubine understands.”

After all, this man had someone he loved. Though they lived close by, there was no real connection. As long as she could survive, that was enough!

When Qiao Qingyun emerged, Qingluo hurried to greet her, her face full of worry. “Miss Qiao, did His Highness trouble you?”

“No, it was I who troubled your prince.” Qiao Qingyun forced a bitter smile and returned to Bamboo Pavilion with her maid.

When everyone had dispersed, the man in black wiped the blood from his face and knelt before Yun Zaichun. “Your subordinate greets Your Highness. It’s all my fault for implicating you.”

“Enough, stand up.” The man pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling quite annoyed. Qiao Qingyun’s aggressive manner had been unexpected—he had underestimated her audacity.

“No, Your Highness, to save your subordinate, you went so far as to marry that woman. I am immeasurably grateful!”

The more he spoke, the more exaggerated it became, which only made Yun Zaichun feel even more irritable.

Watching Liufu continue to kowtow, he waved his hand. “I said it’s fine. Get up. How did you become so careless this time? If my men had discovered you later, you’d never have made it back.”

Yun Zaichun wasn’t trying to frighten Liufu; it was simply that, based on his men’s reports, he could tell how perilous it had been.

If not for their quick wits, they might have been separated forever.

With the topic turning serious, Liufu became solemn and nodded. “Yes, I understand. But at the time, I sensed nothing unusual, and saw no one inside when I entered. I believe I must have fallen into a trap.”

A trap?

Yuan Zaichun’s expression darkened—there must be a traitor among his own.

But these were all his people, most of whom had been with him for two or three years. Liufu had been at his side since childhood—how could it be?

“Don’t let this spread. Act as though nothing happened. No matter who asks, say nothing.”

“Yes.” Liufu turned and left, gazing at the glaring sunlight as if reborn.

“Deputy Commander Liu, you’re finally out.” The steward had waited outside for some time, anticipating Liufu’s emergence.

“Steward, let me ask, that woman who just left—what is her name? What’s her status?”

The steward was stunned, looked inside, then pondered for a moment. “She’s a woman brought back by the prince, placed in Bamboo Pavilion. I believe Miss Qiao just saved you.”

Indeed, she forced Yuan Zaichun to marry her!

At this moment, Liufu felt nothing but deep resentment towards Qiao Qingyun. He despised women like her the most—nobodies who pretended to be aloof.

“Alright, I understand.” Liufu went to his room to change clothes, then made his way to Bamboo Pavilion.

He wanted to see what kind of woman dared to act so recklessly.

Knock, knock, knock.

The repeated knocking roused all of Qiao Qingyun’s morning irritability. If not for the need to be cautious here, she would have given him a dose of medicine.

After a long moment, Qiao Qingyun exhaled and calmly asked, “Who is it?”

“Miss, it’s Deputy Commander Liu. He said he wishes to thank you.”

“Let him in.”

Qiao Qingyun sat by the tea table, rubbing her temples, her movements charmingly delicate, like a porcelain doll.

“Deputy Commander Liu?”

The woman looked up at him, shook her head, “I don’t recall ever doing you a favor.”

Liufu was taken aback, then quickly cupped his fists. “Thank you, Miss Qiao, for curing the poison in my body. I am here to express my gratitude.”