Chapter 62

The ministers of Prince Ze’s faction immediately panicked. “Imperial Physician Shan, do you have any antidote on you? Hurry and take His Highness to the Imperial Medical Academy!”

Imperial Physician Shan froze. Why would he carry antidotes around for no reason? But knowing how serious the matter was, he quickly ordered his men to carry the prince away.

Yun Yaoyao raised an eyebrow.

This trap had been specially set for that flashy peacock. How could she possibly let him get away so easily?

Yun Yaoyao strode forward and blocked the imperial physician’s path. She roughly pried open Tushan Ze’s eyelids, putting on a solemn expression as she declared, “Prince Ze has been poisoned by Laughing Half-Step Madness. Put him down at once! Whatever you do, don’t move him even half a step!”

With a face majestic enough to command all beneath the heavens and a voice full of authority, she left no room for doubt. Though everyone found the name Laughing Half-Step Madness rather bizarre, no one questioned her.

Yun Yaoyao barked, “Imperial Physician Shan, what are you waiting for? Examine Prince Ze!”

Tushan Ze, who had his eyes tightly shut, was so furious he nearly ground his teeth to pieces.

Damn that Tu Shanjin! How sinister could he be?

What the hell was Laughing Half-Step Madness? This woman clearly just wanted to make him go mad!

Tushan Ze stubbornly placed both hands over his waist. No matter how Imperial Physician Shan tried to pry them away, he could not move them.

No matter. Yaoyao would take care of it.

She swept her right hand across the table, knocking a wine jug to the floor. It fell straight toward Tushan Ze’s crotch.

A devastating low blow!

“Ugh!”

Tushan Ze was in so much pain that his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

Imperial Physician Shan reacted swiftly, grabbing Prince Ze’s right wrist and carefully taking his pulse.

Before long, his brows drew together. Then he let out a sigh of relief.

“Your Majesty, Prince Ze has not been poisoned. His pulse is steady. He most likely vomited blood because he was overcome with anger earlier.”

The members of Prince Ze’s faction had just breathed a sigh of relief when Imperial Physician Shan continued, “However… Prince Ze has been affected as well.”

The hearts they had only just lowered instantly leapt back into their throats.

Du Guanliu hurriedly asked, “Imperial Physician Shan, what do you mean?”

Imperial Physician Shan sighed and explained, “Just like Lord Du, he has the pulse of a man who will never father children.”

Whoosh!

The members of Prince Ze’s faction were dumbfounded.

Prince Ze had only two daughters and no male heir. The sex of Consort Yan’s unborn child was still unknown. Even if it truly was a son, there would still be only one heir—and what if something happened to him before he grew up?

Ah… What were they supposed to do now?

Du ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍Guanliu was stunned as well.

It seemed Prince Ze was no longer worth supporting. If they wanted to raise a future emperor, their only option was to send a daughter into the imperial palace.

His eyes gleamed as he stared at the imposing ruler, already making plans for what came next.

Meanwhile, Tushan Ze, the object of everyone’s sympathy and regret, lay motionless on the spot with his eyes shut, continuing to pretend to be unconscious.

How could he possibly have the face to wake up in a situation like this?

Damn Yun Liang!

Damn Tu Shanjin!

For today’s humiliation, he would repay them tenfold in the future!

*

Inside Yunning Palace, Imperial Physician Shan carefully took Tushan Jin’s pulse.

“Your Highness, your pulse is steady and smooth. Compared with two months ago, your condition has improved considerably.”

Imperial Physician Shan picked up his brush and wrote out a new prescription. “From now on, you only need to take the medicine once every three days, with the dosage reduced by half. Continue for three months, and your old ailments will be fully treated.”

Tushan Jin accepted the prescription and asked calmly, “Imperial Physician Shan, aside from the coldness in my body, is there anything else wrong with me?”

Imperial Physician Shan smiled and shook his head. “No. Your Highness is now in good health, and even your complexion has improved considerably.”

“Are you experiencing any discomfort? Some illnesses do not show up in the pulse. You may tell me your specific symptoms.”

Tushan Jin hesitated for a moment before saying, “I have a friend… Recently, he often experiences a rapid heartbeat, and his emotions are affected as well.”

Imperial Physician Shan paused. “Does he become irritable and short-tempered, with feelings of anxiety?”

“No. He feels calm and at ease, and even becomes happy and expectant.”

Imperial Physician Shan: ?

That sounded strangely familiar. He seemed to have read about it in one of Mr. Prosperity’s storybooks.

The imperial physician cautiously asked, “Well… Does he sometimes think of the other person involuntarily, unable to control his own thoughts? Is it most severe before he goes to sleep?”

Tushan Jin nodded. “That is what my friend says.”

Imperial Physician Shan became even more certain. “Does he feel delighted and excited whenever he sees that person, miss them whenever they are apart, and even think of them while doing other things?”

Tushan Jin nodded again. “That is also what my friend says.”

Imperial Physician Shan stroked his beard and revealed a knowing smile. “Your Highness, you have contracted lovesickness!”

Tushan Jin’s lowered eyes trembled.

Lovesickness?

He, a ruler of the world, had actually fallen ill with lovesickness?

Even in his shock, Tushan Jin refused to admit it. “It is my friend.”

“Yes, yes, of course. It is your friend who has fallen ill with lovesickness!” Imperial Physician Shan chuckled merrily.

“He has only one cure: the person he loves. First, he must bravely express his feelings to that person. Second, he should spend more time with them. And finally, their relationship must progress to the next stage.”

Heh-heh. His hint should have been obvious enough. The imperial palace was so empty—His Highness really ought to have a few princes and princesses with His Majesty~

“Progress to the next stage…” Tushan Jin carefully considered those words.

Imperial Physician Shan’s gaze was far too eager and gossipy for him to bear, so Tushan Jin waved a hand and dismissed him.

After a long while, Tushan Jin finally accepted the truth.

He had fallen ill with lovesickness, and the object of his longing was not a person, but…

A Book of Life and Death?!

At that moment, the person being longed for, Yun Yaoyao, was standing inside Xiwang Palace, letting out a long sigh.

She had come to this soul-chilling place once again.

As soon as she pushed open the door, the mad empress dowager saw her and cried out passionately, “Jin’er!” Then she rushed over, intending to slap her across the face.

“He was the one who fell in love with me first! He promised to love me and protect me for the rest of our lives, but after I had fallen completely, he heartlessly and coldly walked away. He never came to see me again!”

“Jin’er, he has fallen in love with a man, and you are so beautiful. Go and beg him to come see Mother, all right?”

Yun Yaoyao caught the woman’s hand. The woman shrank back, afraid that the other would twist it again, and a trace of grievance surfaced in her eyes.

“Jin’er, why have you suddenly stopped obeying me? Haven’t you always listened to Mother?”

Hearing that self-righteous statement, an indescribable anger rose in Yun Yaoyao’s heart. Her expression turned cold as she stared into the woman’s eyes and said, word by word:

“I listened because I cared about you. Don’t mistake that care for a license to hurt others.”

“When I twist your hand, you know it hurts, and you feel afraid. Do you think the wounds you inflicted on me since childhood didn’t hurt? Do you think I wasn’t afraid?”

“The one who is favored will always act without fear of consequences. But once that favor has been completely exhausted, you will truly have nothing left!”

The woman stood frozen, staring at Yun Yaoyao without blinking. Her eyes held grievance and fear, as well as confusion and helplessness.

At that moment, the palace maid hurried forward and led the woman back to her room.

In the pavilion, Huyan Mu had just finished feeding the koi. He stared directly at the newcomer, his narrow, alluring eyes curving into a smile.

“Your Majesty, I’ve been waiting for you for quite some time.”

Yun Yaoyao came before Huyan Mu and sat down.

Before coming here, she had thought long and hard, recalling all the countless stories about yandere characters she had read.

What was the only way to tame a yandere?

It had to be using love to change them.

She certainly could not provide romantic love.

So she would use the blade of family affection instead.

Thinking of this, Yun Yaoyao revealed a benevolent smile, imagining the person before her as her own rebellious son going through adolescence.

“Last night, the Duke of Zhou appeared in My dream and told Me that you and I were father and son in our previous lives. In this life, you came to the Yanchi Imperial Palace as a hostage prince so that we could continue our father-and-son bond.

“Son, just tell me what you want to eat or what you want to play with today. Don’t hold back.”

“Your father will satisfy all your wishes.”