Nonsense! She’s Not a Bad Woman! - Chapter 65

Yun Heng’s footsteps seemed to carry the wind as he returned to the Tingyu Pavilion. With a loud slam, he shut the door and rested one hand on the frame, feeling an unfamiliar emotion rising within him.

He reached up and touched his earlobe, sensing a sudden, scorching heat.

A few steps later, he stood before the bronze mirror. His fair skin had flushed to a deep red in an instant. Instinctively, he placed his hand on his pulse.

Why was his heart racing so fast?
Why was his face burning as if on fire?

Yun Heng’s mind flashed back to the delicate, captivating girl in the Plum Garden. He pressed a hand to his chest, breathing erratically.

What was happening?
Why did it feel like he couldn’t breathe?

He was sick—terribly sick.

And it was an unprecedented, incurable disease.

Within the mist labyrinth of Apothecary Valley, Lu Jinye had been wandering for three days, yet he still could not find the entrance.

The day he had seen someone abduct Qiao Wanyan, he could have easily stopped it—at first, that had been his plan.

But upon seeing the Four-Leaf Green hidden weapon on the carriage, he instantly realized it belonged to Apothecary Valley. Whoever had taken Qiao Wanyan was clearly from the valley—perhaps even its current master, the world-renowned medical genius, Yun Heng.

He had followed in secret, intending to find the entrance, confront Yun Heng, and obtain the antidote to the Gu poison administered in the arena.

Lu Jinye was confident—no matter who he faced, he could prevail. Even if outnumbered, he could coerce Yun Heng into handing over the antidote.

As long as he found Yun Heng, acquiring the cure would be no problem.

At that time, he could place the sword at Yun Heng’s throat, leave the valley, and take Qiao Wanyan with him.

Not to save her, but to slowly torment her—letting her understand the true meaning of “raising a tiger brings disaster.”

But the biggest problem now was that he had clearly followed the masked man into the valley, yet somehow, he had lost track.

Meanwhile, He Zhiyu was also en route, guided by Yun Yao. With her leading the way, they would reach the valley in almost a straight path.

They should have arrived within three days, but Qiao Yihuan’s residual poison had flared up into a persistent fever, forcing the journey to pause.

In the carriage, Qiao Yihuan frowned as she drank a bowl of dark medicinal soup. Wrapping herself in a blanket, she spoke guiltily.

“It’s all my fault. My body is weak and has slowed everyone down. Your Highness, you should go on ahead without me.”

Her tone was full of guilt and unease. But He Zhiyu, seeing her pale face, could never truly leave her behind.

“Don’t worry. How could I just abandon you?”

Qiao Yihuan clenched the blanket tightly. “But Wanyan has been taken by someone! I can’t stop worrying about her!”

He Zhiyu lowered his gaze. From Yun Yao, he had learned that her brother was the legendary medical genius of Apothecary Valley, Yun Heng. Yun Heng was far from the kind, benevolent healer of ordinary tales.

If Wanyan had been abducted by him, no one could predict what would happen. How could he remain at ease?

Recalling the day he had misunderstood her and caused her grievance, he knew that she, alone and helpless, must be hoping he would come to her aid.

His expression darkened. After a long silence, he spoke.

“Yihuan, what you say makes sense. I will leave Jingyuan and the physicians to take care of you. But Wanyan’s safety cannot be guaranteed. She is not only my lifesaver but also the daughter of a high-ranking official. I cannot neglect her protection.”

Qiao Yihuan’s pupils constricted sharply, her eyes wide with shock at the prince’s words.

What did he mean?
Was he saying he would leave her, fevered and weak, behind to search for Qiao Wanyan?

Almost reflexively, she grabbed his sleeve.

“Your Highness!”

He Zhiyu’s voice was gentle. “Do not worry. I know you are concerned for your sister. I will do everything in my power to find her and bring her safely before you.”

A sour ache bloomed in Qiao Yihuan’s chest.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him.

It was that, in that instant, she realized something crystal clear: she was no longer his one and only.

In the past, he would never leave her side for anyone.
He would never wrong her for anyone.

But now… she was no longer the only one.

If this were the past, even with her body fevered and poisoned, even if Qiao Wanyan’s life were hanging by a thread, he would have stayed, watching over her, never thinking to search for another.

Her prince did not care for every woman equally; only those who entered his heart were treated specially.

She had once been the special one—never fearing any other woman.

Even someone as stunning as Qiao Wanyan, a thousand times more beautiful than her.

Her fingers clenched around his sleeve, only to find empty air as He Zhiyu descended from the carriage. Her hand froze mid-air, a chill creeping into her heart.

That cold… it was enough to drown her in bone-deep ice.

Tears fell one by one. Qiao Yihuan bit her lower lip, leaving faint marks from her teeth, unwilling to release.

Her slender shoulders trembled slightly as she watched He Zhiyu’s departing figure through the window.

He hadn’t even taken the carriage—he rode off on horseback.

So urgent, so anxious…

Liu Yanran, seeing her clutch her chest and weep uncontrollably, felt her own heart ache. She lifted Qiao Yihuan into her arms inside the carriage, gently stroking her back.

“Yihuan, Qiao Wanyan once saved the prince. If she were to die, it would put him in an impossible situation, unable to answer to Minister Qiao. Moreover, the remonstrating officials would surely censure him. The prince has no choice—this is why. You must understand him.”

Liu Yanran, having read countless novels, knew that misunderstandings between the male and female leads were normal.

Though the story hadn’t unfolded exactly as the books predicted, the female lead was still the female lead, and the male lead would inevitably belong to her.

Those in high positions bow for love—they possess everything yet kneel only before the heroine.

Even if the journey has obstacles, those are merely spices to the love story between the leads.

Yihuan didn’t know this. She didn’t know that, no matter the hardships along the way, she would ultimately smile last.

For now, all she could do was comfort herself as best she could.

Having released her tears, Qiao Yihuan felt an immense sense of relief. Gradually, her heart wasn’t as shattered as it had been.

Yes… she was destined to be the crown princess. She needed to be magnanimous, to not appear petty and jealous in front of the prince.

Qiao Wanyan could have the prince’s fleeting pity—let her have it this once.