Chapter 677 Something’s Off Between the Third and Fourth Princes

Chapter 677: Something's Off Between the Third and Fourth Princes

Qing Shuang had already lost consciousness, but her body stubbornly held on, refusing to collapse.

Daxisipo was so furious she immediately cursed, "Fool!"

After that, she didn't waste a second, snatching medicine in a rage from her kit to keep Qing Shuang alive.

Xingxing acted as Daxisipo’s assistant.

The environment in the dilapidated temple wasn’t ideal, so Yu Yonggui and the guards stood watch outside to keep anyone from barging in and disturbing the rescue efforts.

After a quick examination of Qing Shuang’s wounds, Xingxing and Daxisipo applied hemostatic medicine and fed her a life-preserving pill to replenish her energy. Only then did they have her carried onto the carriage.

Yu Yonggui also climbed into the carriage.

Inside, Daxisipo grumbled to Xingxing, "...This is why I hate people from the *jianghu*. This girl is so young, yet her body has more scars than I’ve lived years! Look at her now—after all the effort I put into saving her last time, she goes and gets herself into this state again! I really don’t want to bother with her! Such a damn waste of my herbs!"

Xingxing just nodded along, knowing better than to take Daxisipo’s words seriously.

If Daxisipo truly didn’t want to save her, she would’ve just let her die earlier.

Once they arrived at the Yu residence, Daxisipo took Qing Shuang back to her guest courtyard. After nearly two hours of work, maids carried out basin after basin of bloody water—proof that they had once again pulled her back from the brink of death.

Yu Yonggui, still waiting in the courtyard, winced at the sight of all that blood.

This poor kid—barely recovered from her last injuries, only to suffer such severe wounds again.

Qing Shuang woke up quickly.

Xingxing, who hadn’t left yet, turned to see her awake and attempting to sit up. Alarmed, she hurried over and gently pressed Qing Shuang’s shoulders. "Don’t move! Your wounds were just treated. If you get up now, they might reopen."

Qing Shuang brushed it off at first, croaking a feeble "It’s fine," but this only provoked Daxisipo’s wrath.

Daxisipo, who had been grinding herbs by the window, snapped at those words. "Just thinking about all the rare herbs I wasted on someone who doesn’t even value her own life makes me furious!"

Qing Shuang froze and stayed put, not daring to move or speak.

Daxisipo’s expression was icy and grim.

Xingxing broke the tension with a cough and asked Qing Shuang, "...What happened?"

Qing Shuang winced guiltily, avoiding Daxisipo’s gaze as she whispered hoarsely, "...My enemies. Somehow, they tracked me to the old lady’s home. I killed them all."

She quickly added, "I finished them all off, so they won’t trouble Granny again."

Believing she was about to die, Qing Shuang had forced herself to the outskirts of the city, afraid that dying in Daxisipo’s cottage would cause trouble. She spent her last coins to send a message—tying up loose ends.

That was why, upon waking, her first instinct was to wonder where she was and try to get up.

Daxisipo sneered coldly. "If they dared harass me, a single dose of my powder would’ve sent them straight to the King of Hell. Did you really need to act the hero? With that battered body of yours, you’d do better just looking after yourself! We medics can’t stand reckless idiots!"

As Daxisipo continued her loud scolding, Xingxing quietly slipped out, throwing her cloak on.

Yu Yonggui, still in the courtyard, tugged her cloak straight as she emerged. "Why’d you come out?"

Xingxing pointed back at the room and stuck her tongue out playfully, whispering, "Granny’s yelling in there. No use sticking around."

Yu Yonggui gave an "Oh" and said, "Later, tell Daxi Grandma that the one named Qing Shuang can recuperate at our residence. I’m not petty and won't mind such things. Just one thing..."

Yu Yonggui lowered his voice, "Just make sure Daxi Grandma understands—don’t let my mother find out it was Qing Shuang who injured me."

"Don’t worry, Fourth Brother."

Yu Yonggui gave a hum and yawned, "Alright, it’s been such a busy day. I’m too tired to go out now—I’ll just head back to sleep." With that, he ambled back to his courtyard, hands behind his back.

Only after Yu Yonggui left did Xingxing slowly return to the room.

Daxi Grandma had already finished scolding Qing Shuang and was now sipping tea to soothe her throat, seemingly ready to start another round at any moment.

Seeing Xingxing return, Daxi Grandma set down her teacup, "Did you talk to your fourth brother? About Qing Shuang’s matter..."

Xingxing understood and smiled as she approached, "Daxi Grandma, Fourth Brother brought it up himself—he said Qing Shuang can stay here to recover these days... Just don’t let my second aunt know about what happened between her and Fourth Brother."

Daxi Grandma gave a satisfied hum and, for once, praised Yu Yonggui, "Your fourth brother’s got a big heart."

Xingxing then discussed with Daxi Grandma the idea of moving, since her place had already been discovered.

Daxi Grandma didn’t particularly care where in the mountains she lived—she just preferred secluded places to avoid dealing with people.

"Fine," Daxi Grandma said bluntly. She knew that if she didn’t move, Xingxing would worry endlessly. What was the point of an old woman like her making Xingxing fret over her?

Xingxing grinned and went to massage Daxi Grandma’s shoulders, "Daxi Grandma, tonight I’ll have the kitchen prepare your favorite braised duck strips and three-flavor relish. If Qing Shuang is recuperating here, I’ll also have them make some light restorative soup. I’ll come over to have dinner with you."

Daxi Grandma smiled and agreed with a "Good."

From her bed, Qing Shuang listened enviously before her consciousness gradually blurred, and she fell asleep.

She thought, *How wonderful... If only my own grandmother were this kind.*

...

This year’s New Year’s Eve marked the second year the Yu family had celebrated in the capital.

This time, the Yu family was noticeably larger than the previous year, with three full round tables bustling with relatives.

Granny Wei and Old Man Yu sat at the head of the table, beaming at the sight of their thriving family.

Cen Yueyi brought out Miao Miao, and the whole family passed her around, unwilling to give her up—they adored her so much.

When firecrackers began crackling outside, Granny Wei worried they might frighten Miao Miao and was about to have the wet nurse take her away. But Miao Miao’s big, shining eyes stayed wide awake—not scared in the least.

Though born prematurely, Miao Miao had been deeply cherished by the Yu family and was thriving—so chubby and rosy-cheeked, nobody could tell she was premature.

Even Daxi Grandma, after holding Miao Miao for a while, smiled and gifted her a small golden lock, clearly fond of her.

The whole family was in high spirits.

Granny Wei gazed at the scene of her flourishing descendants, her eyes glistening.

On New Year’s Day, the Empress invited Xingxing and Granny Wei to a palace banquet. The grandmother and granddaughter got dressed in their court robes early and were accompanied to the palace by Yu Yonghuai and Yu Yongliu.

Yu Yonghuai, a civil official, and Yu Yongliu, a military officer, were to attend the court’s New Year’s greetings, while Xingxing and Granny Wei parted ways with them at the palace gates, led by palace maids to the inner quarters.

Along the way, they ran into a few friendly families, shared quick hellos before moving on together.

At the imperial gardens, they bumped into the Marchioness of Mingguang and Lou Ruhui.

Lou Ruhui had recently been enfeoffed as Fushan Township Lady, so it was only natural for her to attend the palace New Year's celebrations.

At the moment, however, Lou Ruhui was standing before the Fourth Prince, who seemed to be speaking with the Marchioness of Mingguang and Lou Ruhui.

When she saw Xingxing and the others approaching, Lou Ruhui, in her finest court robes, lit up. But mindful of palace etiquette, she could only gaze at Xingxing with sparkling eyes.

Xingxing immediately smiled and drifted over casually, only to hear the Fourth Prince conversing with the Marchioness of Mingguang about the Marquis of Mingguang's nephew—who served as a guard captain in the Fourth Prince's palace and had earned his high praise.

Noticing Xingxing's approach, the Fourth Prince's eyes deepened with amusement. "A happy New Year to you, County Princess."

Xingxing and the others curtsied in return. "Your Highness."

The Fourth Prince's gaze then settled on Madam Wei beside Xingxing, his smile widening. "This must be Madam Wei?"

Madam Wei was flustered but pleased. "Fourth Prince."

The Fourth Prince went on to heap praise on Madam Wei for her excellent upbringing of children.

Madam Wei, both honored and delighted—especially since the praise centered on her beloved grandchildren—was grinning from ear to ear.

Just as the group's atmosphere was at its warmest, a voice cut in from the side, "Fourth Brother, what are you all doing here?"

Everyone turned to look.

It was Wei Shiyu.

The ladies promptly curtsied again. "Greetings to the Third Prince."

Wei Shiyu carried himself with princely bearing in public. He raised his hand slightly. "Please rise, ladies."

Only then did the ladies rise.

The Fourth Prince's expression flickered. "Third Brother."

Wei Shiyu smiled. "Fourth Brother, where is Fifth Brother? Aren't the two of you usually inseparable?"

The Fourth Prince answered easily, "...Fifth Brother's cousin from his mother's side of the family has entered the palace. Since I was at leisure, I came for a stroll in the imperial gardens and happened to meet the Marchioness of Mingguang, so we exchanged a few words."

Wei Shiyu nodded. "Have you finished your conversation?"

The Fourth Prince's smile remained unchanged. "We have."

Wei Shiyu said, "If so, let us go together to Her Majesty the Empress."

The Fourth Prince bowed his head slightly. "As you wish, Third Brother."

The brief exchange between the two princes seemed innocuous on the surface, but the ladies present held their breath.

Even Madam Wei, who didn't catch the subtext, could sense the tension in the air.

She glanced at Xingxing, who blinked and gave a barely perceptible head shake.

Madam Wei understood—there was indeed something amiss.

Recalling how the Fourth Prince had repeatedly praised her earlier, she thought with alarm about how near she'd come to saying something inappropriate.

The Empress had always shown great kindness to her family, so naturally, they were the Empress's people through and through.

If there was bad blood between the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince, and the latter had laid it on so thick—just thinking about it now gave her goosebumps.

The group fell silent as they entered Empress Nie's *Zhaoyang Palace*.

In the main hall of Zhaoyang Palace, Empress Nie sat poised, receiving the formal bows from the noblewomen.

After the greetings, Empress Nie, in her benevolence, offered seats to the elder noblewomen.

As an imperially enfeoffed lady, Xingxing naturally also had a seat.

However, shortly after sitting down, she spotted Third Prince Wei Shiyu hiding behind a curtain, peeking out halfway, making faces and beckoning at her.

Only Xingxing's composure kept her from choking on her drink in surprise.

She coughed lightly and took the chance to slip out quietly.

Wei Shiyu scanned Xingxing. "It's been a while. You seem taller."

Xingxing found his tone playfully brother-like. "Why the sudden praise, Third Prince? Speaking of which, did you summon me out for something?"

Wei Shiyu nodded vigorously. "Yes, definitely something."

He glanced around, ensuring no one was nearby, then motioned for Xingxing to come closer and lowered his voice. "Has my Fourth Brother approached you recently?"

Xingxing was completely lost.

Fourth Prince—looking for her?

"No."

Perhaps sensing her confusion, Wei Shiyu hastily added, "I’m not implying anything between you and my Fourth Brother. It’s just that I’ve recently noticed that he…"

He pulled a conflicted face, as if struggling to put it into words.

Xingxing immediately cut him off. "If it’s inconvenient, you don’t have to tell me."

Wei Shiyu gently pushed her hand aside. "No, I will!"

Xingxing: "…"

Wei Shiyu smirked briefly before turning serious again, his voice hushed. "I’m not lying to you. I’ve recently realized that my Fourth Brother isn’t as naïve or straightforward as he appears…"

He rubbed his neck, unsure how to explain. Lately, he’d discovered that his Fourth Brother had been up to unexpected things.

The first was that his Fourth Brother had been secretly investigating matters concerning his Second Brother!

His Second Brother’s affairs were heavily guarded secrets by his father, mother, and even his eldest brother, the Crown Prince. Had it not been for his recent birthday, he wouldn’t have been told anything at all!

That alone showed how sensitive the matter was.

For his Fourth Brother to suddenly start snooping into his Second Brother—how could that not set off alarm bells?

And once he started paying attention, he truly began uncovering things.

For instance, though Empress Nie hadn’t mentioned it, she had started discreetly scouting potential future brides for the princes.

While no engagements would be made immediately, their characters were certainly being assessed.

For Wei Shiyu, Empress Nie was eyeing the daughter of a military official.

Given Wei Shiyu’s young age, Empress Nie was merely observing, planning a long-term evaluation of the girl’s conduct. Yet, just as Wei Shiyu caught wind of this, he coincidentally discovered that his dear Fourth Brother had been secretly getting close to that very same military official’s daughter!