Xiao Huayong left the palace in high spirits but returned fuming. The moment Tianyuan saw Xiao Huayong's icy expression, he instinctively shrank his neck.
Even while trying to minimize his presence, he couldn't escape the fact that he was a trusted confidant. As Xiao Huayong brushed past him, he tossed out a remark: "You look particularly ugly today."
Tianyuan: ...
The more Xiao Huayong thought about it, the angrier and more frustrated he became.
Knowing in his heart that she held no affection for him was one thing, but having it so cruelly confirmed was another.
What made it worse was that he currently had no standing to confront her, leaving him to stew in his own anger while she remained completely unaware!
"Tianyuan, go make me a bowl of wontons!" Xiao Huayong felt that only a bowl of wontons could quell the fury burning inside him.
"As you command." Tianyuan felt as if he'd been granted a pardon and swiftly withdrew.
Not only did Tianyuan have the Eastern Palace kitchen prepare wontons, but he also lit the Cold-Warding Incense sent by Shen Xihe. The delicate fragrance slowly permeated the air, gradually calming Xiao Huayong's turbulent emotions. By the time the steaming bowl of wontons arrived, his anger had significantly subsided.
Though his face remained stern, after a few mouthfuls of the tender, savory wontons, Xiao Huayong's expression finally softened. Eating quietly, he suddenly chuckled wryly: "Why can't I control myself when I already know the truth?"
He had always prided himself on his steadfastness, and in recent years had reached a point where he could remain unflinching even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. Almost nothing and no one could sway his emotions anymore. Yet since meeting Shen Xihe, he had truly experienced what it meant to have all his joys and sorrows tied to one person.
"The hearts of others may be controlled, one's own heart may be restrained, but a heart given to another becomes impossible to govern." With a soft sigh, Xiao Huayong buried himself in eating his wontons, finding some comfort in a full stomach.
Though he had reasoned with himself and managed to find some peace, Xiao Huayong remained visibly dispirited and downcast.
When Tianyuan heard that Shen Xihe had arrived, his eyes instantly sparkled with excitement. He hurried over to where Xiao Huayong was half-reclining in an armchair and reported: "Your Highness, the Princess has entered the palace. She sent word that she will visit you shortly."
"Really?" Xiao Huayong perked up immediately, starting to rise before catching himself and sinking back lazily into his chair. With feigned indifference, he said, "Well, if she's coming, she's coming."
Tianyuan: ...
He couldn't quite understand why His Highness, whose neck was clearly angled toward the door, insisted on deliberately looking in the opposite direction.
"Your Highness, do you not wish to see the Princess?" Tianyuan asked, pretending not to understand.
"When did I ever say I didn't want to see Youyou?" Xiao Huayong shot Tianyuan an annoyed glare.
"My mistake, Your Highness. I'll go prepare some refreshments immediately." Tianyuan offered an ingratiating smile.
"Throw away that twin-fish patterned crabapple blossom tea set." Xiao Huayong suddenly remembered the tea set he'd seen yesterday at Princess Ruyang's manor. He had no idea how Xiao Wenxi had learned he owned such a set, but she had managed to create an exact replica.
"As you command." Tianyuan acknowledged and was about to leave when Xiao Huayong abruptly changed his mind: "Use that tea set today!"
Tianyuan: "...As you command."
Just as Tianyuan stepped outside, he heard Xiao Huayong order again: "Change to a different set."
Tianyuan stood outside the door without responding. He figured this tea set must be the reason His Highness felt such conflicting emotions toward the Princess—wanting to use it to provoke her, yet knowing it wouldn't work and would only upset himself instead, hence this back-and-forth struggle.
After a moment's thought, Tianyuan suggested: "Your Highness, on my several visits to the Princess Manor, I've noticed the Princess always drinks infused beverages. She probably doesn't care for tea. Why don't we serve her infused drinks instead?""Alright, go prepare some light beverages, nothing too sweet or greasy." Xiao Huayong finally made up his mind.
He went to change his clothes, and while adjusting his sleeves, he noticed the wound on the back of his hand. He immediately fetched his supplies and carefully concealed the injury, leaving the damage to his fingernail untreated.
Shen Xihe arrived at the Eastern Palace only after paying her respects to the Empress Dowager. Her visit today wasn't for probing but to understand Xiao Huayong's physical condition, bringing Sui Axi into the palace with her.
The moment Xiao Huayong saw Sui Axi, he knew Shen Xihe's purpose for coming.
Shen Xihe didn't beat around the bush: "Your Highness, I recently learned that you've been afflicted with a Unique Poison since childhood that remains unresolved. A Xi is a talent I've recently recruited, skilled in crafting poisons,
so I brought him to see you. We don't presume to solve your urgent matter, but hope that an extra pair of eyes might help."How could I refuse such concern from the princess?"" Xiao Huayong was genuinely pleased that she cared about his health, yet worried she might despise him upon learning the truth. With a anxious heart, he still extended his hand.
Shen Xihe noticed no wound on the back of his hand, but his fingernail was severely injured, torn off and not yet regrown: "How did Your Highness injure your finger?"
"A careless scratch." Xiao Huayong glanced at it and replied nonchalantly.
Unwilling to elaborate, Shen Xihe didn't press further.
Sui Axi took Xiao Huayong's pulse, his brow furrowing deeper as he did. He then examined Xiao Huayong's pupils, pricked his finger with a needle to release two drops of blood for careful analysis, and finally spoke hesitantly: "Your Highness has been treated by a master, the toxin is extremely well-controlled."
"I've been poisoned for eleven years. This poison is particularly peculiar. Back then, a physician detoxified me, thinking the poison was completely eradicated, but it recurred three months later, and every time since has been the same." Xiao Huayong explained.
"Princess, forgive A Xi's ignorance, but I've never heard of such a poison."" Sui Axi shook his head.
An inexhaustible poison—Shen Xihe was hearing of it for the first time too: "Is it a poison or a curse?""Only a live Gu could regenerate within the body, right?"
"It's not a curse."" Sui Axi stated firmly. "It must be that the true antidote hasn't been found. After this poison is suppressed, the pulse appears normal, misleading physicians into believing recovery has occurred, while a slight residue of the toxin remains in the body. Over time, it can revive and cause trouble due to certain triggers."
Pausing, Sui Axi added: "This humble one detects that the toxin in Your Highness's body surges towards the Jingming and Taiyang acupoints. Does Your Highness have any visual impairment?"
Xiao Huayong raised an eyebrow to look at Sui Axi, then turned his gaze to Shen Xihe, saying: "I cannot distinguish colors."
"This is due to the poison's flare-up, but with the assistance of a Sacred Healer by Your Highness's side, you've managed to see. Your Highness should take careful care." Sui Axi said, glancing at Shen Xihe with some hesitation.
Shen Xihe then urged: "Speak your mind directly."
"This subordinate currently has no clue about the poison in Your Highness's body, but I have a method that might help Your Highness see without impairment." Sui Axi whispered. "I only have fifty percent confidence, and while this method is harmless to ordinary people, for Your Highness... since the nature of the Unique Poison is unknown, I cannot guarantee it won't stimulate the internal toxin."
Treating the eyes involves stimulating the damaged meridians and acupoints around them. Xiao Huayong's inability to distinguish colors isn't because his eyes are poisoned—the poison remains in his body—but because the toxin's surge damaged the eye meridians. Repairing these meridians should restore normal function."What method?" Tianyuan asked in surprise.
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