"You're late, sister-in-law!"
Yan Xiao exclaimed in a loud but very elegant voice.
"I'm sorry. Someone was following us, so we had to take a shortcut,"
Replied . She smiled and then approached Yan Xiao.
The second prince frowned. It seemed that his sister-in-law's problem was really complicated. Would there be a civil war or something?
"Someone was following you? Who?"
"We don't know either. Forget about that problem for now. Now, help me check the items I'm carrying. Is there anything strange, like poison or anything?"
"Hm, alright. Give them to me. I'll check them."
Yunxi turned to Sumi, then nodded his head as a signal to hand the items over to Yan Xiao.
Yan Xiao took out the items carried by Yunxi one by one and began to examine them carefully.
"By the way, this museum is usually always crowded with visitors, why is it so quiet today?"
Yunxi asked, of course to Yan Xiao.
"What do you think? Why is it so quiet?"
"What...? Did you do it?"
"Of course, the Second Prince came to visit the museum, who would dare to disturb him. I was a little worried that you would be kicked out by my personal servant if you forced your way in. Fortunately, you entered through the shortcut."
"Even though I took the shortcut, I still passed through the front door. No one forbade me from entering!"
Yunxi said...
"Hahaha, I'm just joking, sister-in-law. Of course, I already told my servants that you would come to see me."
"Hmn! That's good. By the way, stop calling me sister-in-law. I will be relinquishing my status as a concubine soon."
Yan Xiao, who was focused on checking Yunxi's belongings for possible poison, suddenly stopped.
"What? Why? If I'm not mistaken, I heard that you are crazy about Yan Ling and are even willing to die for him. Is that just gossip?"
"Let's just say that's the case. Besides, I have a new purpose in life, Love... To me, that word is just nonsense. A kind of superstition?"
"Hahaha, something must have happened. Do you mind if I ask you to tell me about it? Who knows, I might be able to give you some good advice."
"No need, it's my personal problem. I can solve it myself. I only need your help with my father and the traitor in the Golden Star clan. The problem between me and your old brother is completely unimportant now."
"alright. I won't force you then."
Yan Xiao continued with his inspection.
A few moments later.
"I've checked everything, but there's nothing suspicious. None of the food contains poison or harmful substances that cause prolonged illness. However, from your father's clothes, I seem to smell a tainted aura."
"What? A tainted aura?"
"I can't be sure. It seems I must examine your father directly. But if my guess is correct, the contaminated aura is similar to the black magic of Souyi's tribe, a mysterious tribe that studied demon cultivation. That is why the tribe was exterminated and their souls were sealed under the power of the Ancient God who protects this empire."
"But if they are extinct, why is someone still using their magic?"
"As I said, I can't be sure yet. That's just my guess. Therefore, I have to come and check on your father myself to find out if it's true or not."
Yunxi bowed her head, her feelings now filled with fear.
Seeing this, Yan Xiao said,
"Don't worry, if your father is still functioning normally, it means that the magic can still be removed. Black magic is very dangerous when it mixes with the blood and energy of the person it attacks. It will suppress that person's soul and even destroy it. So, my conclusion is that it is still very possible for your father to be freed from the magic. Just relax and leave it to me!"
Yan Xiao said proudly. Yunxi smiled at him and replied,
"I don't know why you want to help me, but I am truly grateful, and I will keep my promise to you as we agreed."
"Ahhh, relax, I'm not a calculating person. I'm doing this, perhaps because I feel the same way."
"The same way?"
"Yes, the desire to destroy those who betray others."
Yan Xiao said in a soft voice, but it sounded very emotional to Yunxi's ears. However, Yunxu did not comment. Let it be, if Yan Xiao is willing, he will tell Yunxi himself. At least, they are friends now, aren't they?
Although his memories of Yan Xiao in his previous life were completely unclear, not even a trace remained, Yunxi was confident that Yan Xiao would not do anything evil to him or his family.
"All right, so when can you come to check on my father?"
"When will you return to the palace?"
"I have permission to stay at my father's house for five days. So there are still four days left."
"All right, I'll come tomorrow. As for the time, I'll send you a message as usual."
"All right, but... Are you coming to check on my father as the second prince? Won't that cause a stir in the palace?"
Yunxi asked, and Yan Xiao nodded in agreement.
"In that case, I'll come as someone else. After all, I'm quite skilled at disguising myself, so you can just introduce me as a young physician from the Lou Yan family."
"Mm! I understand. In that case, I'll leave now. See you tomorrow."
"Yes, see you!" Yunxi left the Zhi-jin museum with Sumi, taking the same route they had taken when they arrived.
Meanwhile, Yan Xiao watched Yunxi's back until she disappeared behind the door.
That handsome young man then smiled slightly.
"Yunxi, do your best to live your life."
He then disappeared from there as fast as lightning. Along with his 'made-up' servants and guards, because all of that was just magic.
Yunxi had just stepped down from the palanquin that had brought her there when she saw the palace guards standing in front of her house.
Yunxi rushed inside in a panic.
No!
It couldn't be that her father had been arrested by the royal family at this time, could it? She still remembered that her father had been accused of staging a coup shortly after she gave birth. Meanwhile, she was currently only about eight weeks pregnant.
Yunxi ran towards the banquet hall of Wang's residence. Her eyes scanned each of the palace guards standing in front of her, all the way to the door of the banquet hall.
Sumi was so panicked that Yunxi almost fell several times.
"Ma'am, don't run, I beg you, you're pregnant, ma'am!"
Sumi exclaimed anxiously, but Yunxi ignored her personal servant's warning. All she could think about was her father and her younger sister, Wang-shu.
"Father!!!"
Yunxi opened the banquet hall door so hard that everyone inside was startled.
"Child, why are you running like that!" Wang Yibo stood up and approached Yunxi in a panic.
"Father, Father, Father..."
"Father is here, don't make Father worry, tell me why you are running around in such a panic? What's wrong?"
Yunxi breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her father was fine. She then realised that Yan Ling was there, staring at her coldly.
'What's going on? Why is the Crown Prince here?' Yunxi wondered, her heart pounding.
"Father, is something wrong? Why is His Highness the Crown Prince here? Is he... is he..."
'Here to arrest you?' Yunxi could only continue the sentence in her heart.
"What do you mean??? His Highness the Crown Prince came to visit. He is following you!"
"Wh-what?" Yunxi was naturally shocked. She suddenly looked at Yan Ling, who was casually sipping his tea.
"Enough, enough... Come sit down... Where have you been? His Highness the Crown Prince arrived at our house a long time ago, but you weren't even home!"
Wang Yibo reprimanded his eldest daughter.
"I'm sorry, I went to the market to look around. I... felt a little bored, so I went out to get some fresh air."
"Mmmm, His Highness the Crown Prince, on behalf of my daughter, I apologise."
"It's alright, Father. I understand."
Hearing his Son-in-law's answer, Wang Yibo smiled and felt relieved.
To be honest, he didn't really like Yan Ling. Not only was he known for being cold and cruel, but he also knew that his daughter was not treated well by him and his concubine, Liu Qinmei.
Of course, he had successfully interrogated Sumi while Yunxi was still asleep. However, his daughter loved this man very much, so Wang Yibo could not do anything about it.
The most important thing was that whenever Yunxi needed a place to rest peacefully and quietly, the door to this house would always be open to her.
"All right, then let the servants prepare a room for His Highness the Crown Prince to rest, after that let's talk again after dinner later."
Said Wang Yibo, Yunxi, who heard this, immediately protested.
"What? What do you mean, Father? His Highness the Crown Prince is very busy with his duties at the palace, how could he possibly spend the night here. Don't do this, Father. We will be troubling His Highness the Crown Prince. Let him go home. Father, you mustn't keep him like this."
"B-but it's not Father..."
"Father, next time he will surely be able to make time, but right now he must be very busy, isn't that right, Your Highness the Crown Prince?"
Yunxi looked at Yan Ling, who remained unmoved. Realising this, Yunxi became a little flustered. Just as she was about to say something else, Yan Ling suddenly said,
"I never said I was busy. I have also asked His Majesty the Emperor for permission to visit my father-in-law, so, my wife, you shouldn't worry too much."
Seeing Yan Ling's calm face, Yunxi could only force a smile.
Wang Yibo, even though he knew the situation between the couple, felt that he had no right to interfere too much, unless Yunxi herself asked for his help. Wang Yibo just watched silently as his daughter and son-in-law interacted awkwardly.
Yunxi returned to her room dejectedly. Meanwhile, Yan Ling was still accompanying his father, chatting. She made up an excuse so she could return to her room.
Tomorrow, Yan Xiao would come to check on her father, but Yan Ling was here. Even though he was in disguise, Yan Ling might recognise his younger brother, right?
Moreover, Yan Xiao's physique was quite rare, tall and slender, unlike Yan Ling who was tall and muscular. Yan Xiao did not seem to be very muscular, more like a man with a tall, elegant frame and a soft aura like silk.
"Auntie Mu, are you outside?"
"Yes, Madam..."
"Come in. I have something to discuss."
Yunxi opened the door and let Sumi enter.
After delivering a few messages, Sumi left the room and immediately departed. It seemed that Yunxi had given her an important task.
"Besides, why did he suddenly come to visit? In the past, he looked down on my family. In my previous life, he never even greeted my father. As far as I can remember, he never came to this house either. Now, suddenly visiting, there must be something!"
Yunxi muttered softly, feeling very dizzy because of this complicated problem. Yunxi decided to soak in warm water so that her mind would be clearer and her heart calmer. She asked the servant outside her room to prepare warm water with her favourite floral fragrance.
A few moments later,
Yunxi took off all her clothes and got into the flower water.
"Haaahhhh, it feels so good. Soaking like this in the midst of complicated thoughts is indeed the best solution!"
The woman closed her eyes as she enjoyed the warmth and fragrance that filled the room.
She seemed to have fallen asleep, until she felt the waves of the bath water hitting her face.
There was a slight movement that shook the water container.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Yan Ling standing in front of her, bare-chested!
"You!!! What are you doing here!!!"
Yunxi almost screamed in shock. She stood up without realising that her body was completely naked, without a single thread of clothing.
"Are you teasing me?"
"Wh-What???"
As soon as she realised, Yunxi immediately covered her chest and slid back into the water, submerging her body up to her neck.
"W-why did you come in here without permission! Have you no shame!!" Yunxi exclaimed angrily. Her face was red with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
"What's wrong with that? I need to take a bath too."
"Then ask the servant to prepare it for you! Why do you have to soak here!"
"Do you know, that's called wasteful. Besides, I'm your husband, bathing together between husband and wife is not a shameful thing."
"Husband and wife, my ass! Don't say strange things to me! Tell me, what exactly is your plan?"
Yunxi asked again angrily. This time her voice was not as loud as before. She tried to control her t
one so that it would not be heard from outside.
"What do you mean? Shouldn't I be the one asking what you're planning?"
Yan Ling replied casually, but his expression was clearly not relaxed.
Yunxi was confused, so she asked,
"What??"