“Have we come to a proper settlement on the matter regarding the Zhus?”
It was not a good idea to discuss serious matters while having a meal at the table. It was only after they were done with their food and tea that Zuo Qiuyu raised the topic of conversation.
“Yes, I suppose this is it for the time being. The Zhu Family had been divided. The dead had their bodies burnt. It seemed that this is all we can do.”
The rumor that she was the perpetrator would not stand.
Moreover, the governor was unable to provide any concrete evidence even though he had made a trip to the Crown Prince’s Mansion.
In addition, Lin Mengya had sent someone out to spread a different story secretly.
In terms of the ability to weave nonsensical stories, the governor and his men were no match with Lin Mengya and Zuo Qiuyu.
“Oh yes, are you not going to the Pavilion of Herbs tomorrow to register your attendance? How many days will you be staying there? Do Long Tianyu and I follow you there?”
Lin Mengya steered the conversation topic so that it went on to Zuo Qiuyu.
However, Zuo Qiuyu had a sour expression on his face which told of the unhappiness in his heart.
“I may have to stay there for at least half a month. Strangely, they didn’t use to allow outsiders to enter the Pavilion of Herbs before the competition starts. This time, however, they had specially invited you and Long Tianyu. Look, this is the invitation for you two.”
Zuo Qiuyu pulled out two invitations and placed them before Lin Mengya and Long Tianyu.
In contrast with others, the invitation card for the medical skills competition was in a grass-green color.
Even when placed on the table, the invitation cards gave out a strong herbal fragrance.
When they opened the invitation card, the delicate handwriting in calligraphy conveyed an extremely courteous message.
“Interesting. They have invited Prince Yu and me to be the guests of honor. It seems that my title as Princess Yu was more prominent than Princess Anle.”
She conveniently passed on the invitation cards to Long Tianyu.
The two exchanged looks as they could feel something fishy about this.
“Let’s not be too bothered. However, if we’re really going to spend some days in the Pavilion of Herbs, it would mean we have to be vegetarians for that duration. Oh, how much I would miss eating meat!”
Lin Mengya could not be bothered with Zuo Qiuyu’s comment. After all, his diet was usually light and plain compared to the rest.
The reason for his behavior was really that he did not want to stay in the Pavilion of Herbs.
“Are you able to take it, given your health condition?”
Long Tianyu was Lin Mengya’s greatest concern for now.
She inquired with a tender voice while holding on to his hand. It was then that she spotted the red marks on Long Tianyu’s wrist.
“What’s this… Yu An, bring the ointment!”
Long Tianyu smiled at the sight of Lin Mengya’s anxiety. He covered Lin Mengya’s hand with his large palm and did not know whether to cry or laugh.
Was she treating him like he was some kind of weakling?
“I’m alright, don’t be so anxious. These are just some superficial injuries. If not for your attentive care, I would have a broken wrist now.”
Despite Long Tianyu’s effort to comfort Lin Mengya with his low soothing voice, she insisted on applying the ointment on him.
As she carefully ran her fingers along the marks on his wrist, drops of tears fell from her eyes onto his hand.
“Why are you crying, silly girl?”
Long Tianyu put his right arm around Lin Mengya’s slender waist and pulled her into his arms.
Zuo Qiuyu, who was usually sensible and tactful, quickly left quietly with Yu An.
The moon hung high in the night sky. In the spacious main hall, Lin Mengya continued applying ointment on Long Tianyu while tears streamed down her cheeks.
“You didn’t have to go through all these sufferings. If you had gone back to Dajin, you would have been safe and sound.”
As Lin Mengya blamed herself, she was unaware of how brokenhearted Long Tianyu was when he heard her words.
There were words that he could not say out loud now.
Therefore, he could only…
In an overbearing manner, he kissed her on her lips, hoping to convey his heartfelt feelings to her through such intimacy.
Lin Mengya did not struggle to break free from him. Like a child who had committed a mistake, she let Long Tianyu have his way, to taste her goodness.
“All of these were the choices I made. In fact, I’m not as selfless as you thought. Do you know that marrying you is the greatest pleasant surprise in my life, Ya’er?”
Long Tianyu looked into Lin Mengya’s eyes earnestly with his dark eyes filled with tenderness.
They had never been explicit about their feelings for each other since the beginning.
However, Long Tianyu knew clearly that they share the same sentiments about each other.
“Did you just find out? I wonder who the one who was unwilling to marry me was.”
At these words, Lin Mengya burst out laughing. However, there was another statement that got stuck in Long Tianyu’s throat.
It seemed that there was a reason behind how she almost died from being poisoned.
In that instant, there was a slight sense of guilt in his eyes.
“That… Ya’er, actually, actually I was totally aware of how you were being poisoned back then.”
Long Tianyu was ready to bear any consequences for revealing this. He fixed his gaze on Lin Mengya as he feared for the worst. She could be so enraged that she might just up and leave.
Instinctively, he tightened his arms around her. He was afraid that she would begin to hate him.
However, Lin Mengya simply opened her watery eyes wide and looked into his eyes. After a long time, she finally opened her mouth to speak.
“Actually, this is not me to pardon. Although I can empathize with your circumstances at that time, I don’t agree with the way you handled the matter.”
Lin Mengya’s words did not make any sense to Long Tianyu.
Nevertheless, Long Tianyu breathed a sigh of relief when he did not hear the disappointment in her voice.
As long as she did not get angry, he would be willing to anything for her.
His thoughts drifted to another matter in that instant.
He thought he had to keep this secret to the end.
“Let me apply the ointment on you, so you can rest early.”
Lin Mengya, who was also keeping her own secrets, averted her eyes to avoid Long Tianyu’s gaze.
She focused her attention on applying the ointment on Long Tianyu’s wrist while she kept apologizing to him in her heart.
In reality, the present Lin Mengya had already been united as one with the formal Lin Mengya in her remnant memory.
She understood that she was the one and only real Lin Mengya in this world now.
However, she could not help having this strong possessiveness over Long Tianyu.
She was not willing to even share Long Tianyu with the girl who was a remnant of her memory apart from her physical body.
Perhaps this was the romantic love she had never experienced.
On the surface, it might seem that she was not bothered by anything, however, even her formal self would not be allowed to step into this romantic feeling.
Lin Mengya was herself not aware that her feeling towards Long Tianyu was deeper than what she imagined.
“Although this ointment is going to make you feel so painful that you may wish for death, once we enter the Pavilion of Herbs, Elder Chang will personally attend to you. The only concern is that he has a strange temper and the method he uses may be even more extreme.”
Lin Mengya had quietly left the room when Long Tianyu was fast asleep and came to the study to apply her ointment.
Long Tianyu was an extremely disciplined man. It only took a few days for him to overcome the drug addiction.
Nowadays, whenever the effects of the drug came on, he was able to withstand it without being bound by ropes.
After all, he was able to overcome the withdrawal syndromes, although he would be drenched in sweat afterwards.
For this reason, it became increasingly difficult for Lin Mengya to keep the need for her own treatment using the ointment a secret from him.
Fortunately, Long Tianyu did not usually sleep soundly and therefore Lin Mengya had to feed him some kind of sedative. It was only then that she would have the chance to apply her ointment.
“Don’t you forget who my teacher is? Did you think it was such an easy thing for me to pick up those skills from him?”
A pale-looking Lin Mengya rolled her eyes at Zuo Qiuyu, who was overly worried. Then she straightened her clothes, relaxed her body, and laid down on the soft mattress to recuperate.
It was not an easy feat to learn and master the art of needle control under the tutelage of Baili Rui back then.
Moreover, she believed that Baili Rui’s temper was more unpredictable than that of Chang Tianhua.
It was not surprising that talented people were usually unpredictable.
However, Long Tianyu was Lin Mengya’s greatest concern for now.
Given that there were many skilled physicians within the Pavilion of Herbs, it would be difficult to keep Long Tianyu’s health condition a secret.
The greatest challenge for Lin Mengya now was to cover up this fact.
“How about we keep Long Tianyu in the room every day, so that he doesn’t meet anyone?”
After pondering over it, Zuo Qiuyu knew this was not the best idea.
As the saying goes that great winds blow upon high hills. Every move and every word they spoke would attract much attention. Moreover, someone in the Pavilion of Herbs might well be involved in the research and development of the Immortal Powder.
What if news of Long Tianyu being addicted to the drug got leaked? Then, Long Tianyu’s reputation would be utterly ruined.
“No way, it won’t work if we avoid letting him meet other people. Moreover, this time they had intended to invite Long Tianyu as the guest of honor. We would only create cause for gossip if we try to hide. I have to think of a way to cover this up.”
After taking a rest, Lin Mengya finally returned to her bedroom from the study.
Long Tianyu was sleeping soundly on the bed. Lin Mengya tiptoed over and curled up on the bed, making sure that she did not wake Long Tianyu.
His handsome features finally appeared relaxed in his sleep.
Although his face was much thinner than before, it appeared to be more angular and defined.
It was as if Long Tianyu could feel Lin Mengya’s presence. Although he usually fell into a quiet sleep, he instinctively turned and embraced Lin Mengya the moment she went onto the bed.
She snuggled up into his arms and being utterly exhausted, she fell into a deep sleep.
In contrast with the spectacular event a few days ago, those who were qualified to enter the Pavilion of Herbs today were all candidates from powerful families.
Moreover, the most important part of the medical skills competition would begin in half a month’s time.
Although Lin Mengya and her company were not exactly low key, neither were they especially prominent.
Early in the morning, the main gates of the Pavilion of Herbs were opened and every corner of it had been swept clean.
The neatly dressed disciples of the Pavilion of Herbs took turns welcoming the guests at the gates.
Despite belonging to different powerful groups, they seemed to be worthless before these powerful people with authority.
They made sure they behaved respectfully and courteously lest they offend anyone. Nevertheless, they could not help but seem to have a burning fervor in their eyes when they looked into the inner courtyard of the Pavilion of Herbs.
Those who eventually managed to enter the inner courtyard would become the personal disciple of the elders. This would mean that they would get a proper place in the extensive Pavilion of Herbs.
However, it was extremely difficult for them to rise above others.
Talent was one thing, but the most important factors in the Pavilion of Herbs now were the family background and the skill in using artifice.
