Chapter 55

  Although Yue Jiao's face was twisted in pain, she still gritted her teeth and said: "She is a girl I picked up from the street. At that time, she and her father were wandering around here. Her father caught a cold and died on the street because he didn't get timely treatment. I took pity on her and brought her home. She has been with me for half a year now, and she's an honest and reliable child."

  Simarui nodded, "Xiao Wu, I recognize you." After finishing, he looked at Xiao Wu and quietly asked, "Has anyone come over during this period of time?"

  Xiao Wu stood there in a daze for quite some time, shook his head and said, "No one has come here before, and no one can get in here either."

  "Who went to buy the medicine?" Sima Rui thought for a moment and asked, "When buying the medicine, did you encounter anyone? For example, someone who actively chatted with you, or deliberately bumped into you, but you didn't know them, and even felt a bit strange about it?"

  Xiao Wu thought for a moment, and after a long time said: "Now that you mention it, Xiao Wu remembers that the other day when I went to buy medicine, I really met someone. At that time, I was taking medicine at the pharmacy, and a woman took the initiative to chat with me. It was windy at the time, and it rained for a while. She even lent an umbrella to use together, and asked Xiao Wu why she went out to buy medicine in such weather. Xiao Wu has an impression of her, and the impression is very deep. When I came back, I specifically mentioned it to Miss, just because that person looks similar to Miss in several ways, especially the eyebrows and eyes, which are almost identical."

  Simarui's face was expressionless, standing still for half a day. He said, "Alright, I know what to do now. I'll go get the antidote for your young lady right away. Yuejiao, you just hold on for another half day."

  Inside the Warm Jade Pavilion, in the beautiful courtyard, it was very quiet, without a sound. Princess Li slept lightly on her bed. Her maid quietly came in and softly said: "Your Highness, the Fourth Prince says he has something to discuss with you, please go outside to talk."

  Yali was stunned for a moment, Mu Rong Feng had already been fine, why did he come looking for her now?

  In the courtyard, Sima Rui stood quietly, hearing Yali's voice coming out, and said coldly without turning his head: "Lihui, it's very comfortable to take a nap at this time. I have something that needs your help, do you have time?"

  Yali was puzzled. "Isn't Murong Feng already cured? I heard it was Hongyu who brought the antidote, why is he suddenly looking for me to help again?"

  "This time, it's necessary for Rui Fei to help Sima Rui rescue another friend." Sima Rui turned his head and glanced at Ya Li, "This friend has a somewhat special identity, so I'll have to trouble Rui Fei to go to the Drunken Flower Pavilion."

  "Drunken Flower Pavilion? Isn't this the largest fireworks venue in the area? It's indeed interesting, but I need to change into men's clothing first, so as not to draw attention." Yalai's eyes lit up upon hearing this, "In Wumeng country, I often disguised myself as a man and secretly followed my older brother to those kinds of places to have fun. Hehe, it was quite enjoyable, and I even learned many things! But, how can I leave the palace?"

  Simarui forced a smile, saying coldly: "As for how to get out of the palace, don't worry about it, I'll take care of it myself. Just save my friend and that's all, please hurry up, her injury is very serious, if we're late, it will worsen her condition."

  Yali smiled and said, "Easy, just wait a moment."

  Rushing to the Moon Jade Pavilion, Yue Jiao had already fainted from pain. The imperial physician stood by, helpless. Sima Rui waved his hand and said, "You can go down now. If there's anything, we'll notify you." He looked at Ya Li and asked, "Do you know what poison she was poisoned with?"

  "I see." Yalai nodded, but said somewhat strangely, "How did the Daxing dynasty get ahold of our Wumeng country's poison? Our two countries have never had any dealings with each other, nor do we trade with one another. Where did this medicine come from? Who is she and why was she poisoned?"

  "She is a dancer here, named Yu Jiao. As for why she was poisoned, I don't know either." Sima Rui said calmly, "Is there any medicine to cure her?"

  Ya Li nodded, but with a somewhat regretful expression, said: "The medicine can cure her, but I'm afraid that after this, she will have a hard time dancing again. This poison was originally used by the Great Xing Dynasty to punish criminals, and it's extremely potent. If there's even a small cut or scratch on the leg, it can seep into the bone and cause the surrounding skin to become infected and painful. Eventually, large chunks of skin will rot away, exposing the bone underneath. Even after healing, there will be unsightly scars left behind, and the skin will shrink. Her current condition is not too serious for me to handle, but... I'm afraid that the process will be very painful, and she may often experience pain in the future, especially when walking for long periods of time. Not to mention dancing."

  Simaruo furrowed his brow, "Is it really so?"

  "It's not certain, mainly because she herself can't get through it. Actually, the pain is only at the beginning, later on it doesn't hurt that much, but because it was so painful at first, it left a deep impression on her brain, so even with slight movement, it hurts and can't be ruled out." Yalish said quietly, "In the Daxing Dynasty, unless one has committed a serious crime, generally this medicine won't be used. Moreover, this medicine is only available in the imperial palace of Wumeng Country, who could have gotten their hands on this medicine? Now I still need to prepare an antidote, but I'm afraid she'll have to endure for some more time, and some medicines will have to be fetched from Wumeng Country, it's really impossible to buy them here."

  "If it hurts so much, how can Miss bear it?" asked Xiao Wu anxiously.

  Yali thought for a moment, "I'll first temporarily give you some pain-relieving medicine, and then think of a way to get the antidote. This is really frustrating, who could have gotten their hands on such a toxic poison? Currently in the Great Xing Dynasty, I'm probably the only one from Wumeng Country, and I'm the only one who can get this kind of medicine, why? It's really strange, although Wumeng Country has private trade with the Great Xing Dynasty, there has never been any exchange of medicinal materials! Now, apart from me, only Sima Qiang and Hongyu, who returned from Wumeng Country, could have gotten their hands on it. The problem is that they don't know this dancing woman either. Such a lowly person, a courtesan, who could have such a deep grudge against her?"

  Simarui expressionlessly said: "I am also thinking."

  Yali shook her head, "Alas, it's really pitiful. If she loves dancing so much and can't dance anymore in the future, how will she face it? And if she can't dance, how will she make a living in this place of vanity? Ah, right, Sima Rui, how did you get to know her? If Murong Feng finds out, he'll definitely not let you off. Haha, interesting, you must be helpless against that Murong Feng. Although she slapped me yesterday, I don't hold a grudge against her. Instead, I admire Murong Xue for having such an outstanding sister. With a sister like that, it's simply too easy to navigate the imperial palace."

  Simarui couldn't help but smile, but didn't say anything.

  "I'll go write the prescription, you send someone to hurry up - cough, I'm really stupid, since sending someone back to Wumeng country, why do I need to make an antidote again? Just let this person find my father or brother and they can get the ready-made antidote. That way it's faster, and making this antidote is extremely difficult too. Little girl, come here, I'll write you a prescription, hurry up and go buy it at the pharmacy and then decoct it for your mistress to drink, that will relieve her pain." Yali wrote a prescription and handed it to Xiaowu.

  Simarui felt a little grateful in his heart, this Yalidi was not bad to the extreme, no wonder Murong Feng said she was pitiful, a woman far away from her hometown, came here to accompany a strange old man for life, and this man also had many wives and concubines, it was really pitiful.