After the imperial examinations concluded, Qin Yun returned to the Blue Mountain Academy.
In his dormitory, Qin Yun pondered deeply but found no answers. He then summoned Qing Shan and Hong Fu.
"Master, what are your orders?" Hong Fu asked softly, while Qing Shan stood respectfully with his head bowed.
"What exactly happened last night? Tell me the truth!"
"Master, you already know?" Hong Fu asked curiously. "It was that Young Master Ouyang who told you, wasn't it!"
Qin Yun was bewildered. Had something truly happened that she wasn't aware of? She was asking them precisely because Ouyang Si Qing hadn't told her.
"Recount everything that happened last night!"
Hong Fu then truthfully recounted the events of encountering the black-clothed assassins, including how Ouyang Si Qing had protected her. He had even declared, "If you want to trouble Qin Yun, you'll have to get past me first!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Yun felt a surge of excitement. "Did Ouyang Si Qing really say that?"
"Yes, Master. Young Master Ouyang's friend is indeed someone worth befriending," Hong Fu said with a smile. "Master, don't worry. Young Master Ouyang doesn't know we are your people. He thought it was a chivalrous guest who appeared out of nowhere to save you."
Qin Yun nodded with satisfaction. "Were you able to find out who wanted to harm me?"
"The leader of the black-clothed men said it was Young Master Ming Xia Jing of the Ming Manor!"
Qin Yun touched his chin in thought. Did Ming Xia Jing have the guts? She had humiliated him so thoroughly and swindled a significant amount of money from him not long ago, yet he hadn't resorted to any underhanded tactics against her privately. This time, he not only got what he wanted but also married the beautiful woman he had longed for as a concubine. This was undoubtedly good news for him. During such a joyous period, shouldn't Ming Xia Jing be doting on Qin Yu every day? Where would he find the time to seek revenge on her?
The more Qin Yun thought about it, the more it felt wrong. This incident didn't seem like Ming Xia Jing's doing, or perhaps someone was using Ming Xia Jing's name to target her. No matter how foolish Ming Xia Jing was, he wouldn't openly reveal his name to hire assassins to deal with her. Instead, he would hide his name and identity, operating stealthily and without a trace.
With this realization, Qin Yun had a rough idea of who wanted to harm her. Qin Yu had been lurking outside her courtyard late last night, likely wanting to see if she would even make it back to the manor alive. However, Qin Yu had never imagined that she would have the protection of two masters, Qing Shan and Hong Fu. To take her life, Qin Yu was still too inexperienced! It was a pity for Ming Xia Jing, who was being used by Qin Yu before even getting married.
"Is that all? Did nothing else happen?"
Hong Fu shook his head. "As for what happened afterward, Master should already know."
"Alright, you may go."
"Yes, Master!"
"Qing Shan, wait a moment!" Qin Yun suddenly called out.
Seeing that Qin Yun had something to discuss with Qing Shan, Hong Fu did not linger and vanished with a flicker.
"What are Master's orders?" Qing Shan remained as calm as ever.
Qin Yun took out a pill, identical to the one from before, and offered it to Qing Shan. "Take this."
"Thank you, Master!" Qing Shan took the pill without hesitation and swallowed it. Ever since he had taken the pill from his master last time, the pain in his internal organs had subsided.
"You've been poisoned for too long. These medicines can only alleviate your pain. Your poison… I will find a way to cure it, but the medicinal ingredients are hard to find."
"If Master needs any medicinal ingredients, this servant can go and find them."
Qin Yun stepped forward to examine Qing Shan's pulse and nodded with a smile. "Your physical condition is very good. To resolve the poison, we need a purple snow lotus and withered fruit grass."
Knowing that Qing Shan wouldn't recognize these two herbs, Qin Yun went to the desk, picked up a brush and paper, and drew their likenesses. Soon, Qin Yun handed the drawn images to Qing Shan. "The purple snow lotus grows in extremely cold regions. You will have to go to Hanshan in Jiangjing to find it, though the journey is perilous. As for the withered fruit grass, it can only be found on the mountain peaks of the Southern Desert."
Qing Shan frowned. "My life is not important. The task Master has assigned me is the most important."
Qin Yun smiled. "The mission must be completed, but your life is equally important. If you lose your life, who will work for me? Relying only on Hong Fu is not enough."
Qin Yun then wrote out two prescriptions and handed them to Qing Shan. "Go and procure the medicinal ingredients on these prescriptions."
"Yes, Master!"
"Has the matter of the wine workshop been settled?" Qin Yun asked sternly.
"It has been settled. Since there were many account books, I stored them in the suburban residence."
Qin Yun nodded with satisfaction. "Very good. I will go there when I have time. You procure the medicine for me first."
Qing Shan bowed respectfully and then vanished with a flicker.
Qin Yun stayed in the dormitory for a while longer. Then, remembering Ouyang Si Qing's rescue last night, he left the dormitory and went to Ouyang Si Qing's room next door. The door was open. Inside the room, besides Ouyang Si Qing, was also the little tyrant Xie Jing'an. Just as Qin Yun was about to turn and leave, Xie Jing'an spotted him.
"You've come, why are you leaving?" Xie Jing'an asked, a blade of grass dangling from his lips in a carefree manner.
Qin Yun gritted his teeth but quickly regained his composure. He forced a somewhat strained smile. "Your Second Highness, you are here too!" Qin Yun stepped into the dormitory.
Within a second of entering the room, Ouyang Si Qing immediately blushed and appeared flustered. He thought, why has Qin Yun come in? What does she want at this hour? Unexpectedly, the usually careless Xie Jing'an also noticed Ouyang Si Qing's discomfort.
"Si Qing, why are you blushing?"
"No… I'm not!" Ouyang Si Qing stammered.
"Still saying no, not only are you blushing, but you're also stammering. You weren't like this just now. How come you're like this as soon as Qin Yun enters?" Xie Jing'an looked at Qin Yun inquiringly, then at Ouyang Si Qing. "Are you two hiding something from me?" Xie Jing'an asked curiously.
Qin Yun didn't bother to understand Xie Jing'an and looked at the blushing Ouyang Si Qing. "Thank you for saving me last night, Young Master Ouyang. Qin Yun will never forget your life-saving grace."
Ouyang Si Qing was stunned. Did she just call him Young Master Ouyang? Not Si Qing? Looking at Xie Jing'an in front of him, Ouyang Si Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that because the Second Prince was present, Yun'er called him Young Master Ouyang.
"The situation was urgent last night. I would have done the same for anyone. Young Master Qin, you need not mind."
Is that so? The same for anyone? Then why have you been blushing at me lately? And why do you keep avoiding me?
"Did you encounter assassins last night? Are you two alright?" Xie Jing'an seized the main point and inquired.
"Aren't the two of us fine? Can't Your Second Highness see?" Qin Yun retorted impatiently.
Xie Jing'an frowned. "I'm just concerned about you! Qin Yun, why are you being so sharp-tongued lately? I haven't offended you!"
Haven't I? Does this person have such a bad memory? He always enters her dormitory without knocking. He even climbed into her bed in the middle of the night. A few days ago, when riding horses, he took liberties with her, touching this and that. The day before yesterday, he grabbed her on the street and wouldn't let go, constantly pestering her for information. What's most infuriating is… this person even sent people to investigate her. What a shameless scoundrel!