Outside the capital.
In a small room, a small figure began to prepare various herbs.
They were placed in a pot and brewed.
Old Yin stood behind, watching Gu Xiaofeng's every move.
"Gu Xiaofeng, the making of poisons must never be taken lightly. After today's poison is prepared, you will be the first to take it. If there is any mistake, your antidote will be useless, do you understand?" Old Yin warned sternly.
Sweat beaded on Gu Xiaofeng's forehead. "Yes, Master, your disciple understands."
"Also, remember what your master has told you. After some days, when you have learned your skills and return to the capital, you must find a way to poison a woman named Yun Shu. This is how you will avenge Miss Yun, do you understand?" Old Yin continued to instruct.
As soon as he finished speaking, he couldn't help but cough twice.
Looking at the small figure, though he felt a pang of reluctance, not wanting a child to be filled with hatred, he was bound by the Regent's orders. Since it was the Regent's command, he had to carry it out, even with a heavy heart.
This was Gu Xiaofeng's fate.
Gu Xiaofeng gritted his teeth and nodded. "Yes, Xiaofeng remembers."
"Good, continue brewing the medicine," Old Yin nodded with satisfaction.
In fact, Gu Xiaofeng had an extraordinary talent for medicine and poison-making, the most talented he had ever seen!
With just a word, Gu Xiaofeng understood everything.
He could even extrapolate and come up with his own ideas.
He was already showing signs of surpassing his master.
Such talent was simply astonishing!
Of course, a child with such incredible talent could easily become a tool for others.
He kept this talent a secret, not mentioning it to the Regent or Miss Yun.
"Master, I've been having dreams lately, I don't know why. In my dreams, there are always two children my age, playing with me. Sometimes I see them happy, and sometimes I see them sad." Gu Xiaofeng didn't know why, but he'd been having this recurring dream for years.
For some reason, he had been dreaming this dream every day for the past two days.
Old Yin heard this and didn't think much of it. "It's just a dream."
Perhaps it was just a child who spent all his time studying poisons and had no opportunity to play with other children, hence the dream.
Gu Xiaofeng nodded hesitantly.
Was it really just a dream?
...
At the same time.
Yun Xiaojing and Zhan Xiaoli, who had already fallen asleep, both had dreams.
In their dreams, a little boy appeared.
He was the same age as them.
They both felt that the little boy seemed very unhappy.
Unhappy every day.
They wanted to hug him.
But the vision was shrouded in mist.
They tried to run towards him, but the little boy disappeared again.
Yun Xiaojing sat up with a fright.
Coincidentally, Zhan Xiaoli in another room also sat up.
They were both somewhat confused.
Why would a little boy appear in their dreams?
A little boy their age?
Unable to figure it out, Yun Xiaojing and Zhan Xiaoli lay back down to sleep.
...
In the dead of night.
A figure reappeared at the Night King's mansion.
Her slender form, wrapped in black night-blooming clothes, was exceptionally alluring.
The woman's lightness skills were superb.
She landed effortlessly on the wall.
Just as she was about to leap down, she was suddenly grabbed.
As Yun Shu struggled to break free, she saw a pair of cold, piercing eyes.
"You again!"
This was the second time she had encountered this person while sneaking into the Night King's mansion!
Were all the hidden guards in the Night King's mansion this formidable?
The mere thought sent a slight shiver down her spine.
Zhan Tianye was surprised when he saw Yun Shu.
It was the same person who had broken into the Night King's mansion the previous two times!
For some reason, her voice and her eyes looked strangely familiar.
"Who are you?" he asked sternly.
Yun Shu was furious. Having failed to see Zhan Xiaoli twice already, she was brimming with anger. "Didn't I tell you, I'm your great-aunt!"
Zhan Tianye's eyes darkened.
He launched a fierce and decisive attack towards Yun Shu.
After a few exchanges, they were evenly matched.
Zhan Tianye narrowed his dark eyes, looking at Yun Shu with surprise.
Who exactly was this woman?
Yun Shu did not wish to prolong the fight. Since tonight was not the night, she would try again tomorrow.
It was enough to know that this person was unfathomably skilled after a few exchanges.
She retreated several steps and leaped into the air.
Like a wisp of cloud and smoke, she vanished from sight.
Zhan Tianye gazed at the quiet night ahead, a figure appearing in his cold, dark eyes.
A figure that made him frown whenever he thought of it.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he had remembered her face.
And, unusually, he did not feel any dislike.
The woman just now had eyes that bore some resemblance to Yun Shu's.
Could it be...
Yun Shu?
The thought arose and then vanished.
Impossible.
...
Yun Shu returned to the General's mansion in a huff.
Jing Heng, seeing Yun Shu return so quickly, was surprised.
"Did the mistress see Zhan Xiaoli?"
"No, I was blocked by the same person again. That person's martial arts are unfathomably profound, with no discernible depth. I never expected that scoundrel to have such formidable hidden guards!" Yun Shu's voice was still tinged with anger.
"Blocked again? Next time, I'll go with the mistress, and I'll hold him off," Jing Heng immediately offered.
Yun Shu shook her head. "We don't know how many hidden guards like him are in the Night King's mansion. If we confront them rashly, we might lose our lives. Let me think of a way to get in to see Zhan Xiaoli without alerting anyone."
As she pondered, Yun Shu's eyes lit up.
"Why did I forget about using poison?"
Yun Shu suddenly had an epiphany. "I'll go again tomorrow. If I encounter this person again, I'll seize the opportunity to use poison!"
"The mistress is brilliant!" Jing Heng immediately praised.
Yun Shu drank a cup of cooled tea, her anger now gone. After drinking the cool tea, she became even more clear-headed. "It's late, go rest. We'll think about tomorrow's matters tomorrow."
"Yes."
After Jing Heng went to rest, Yun Shu lay on her bed.
After drinking the tea, she felt completely awake.
After several encounters with Zhan Tianye, and considering her attempts to sneak into the Night King's mansion, she realized that taking Zhan Xiaoli away without being discovered by Zhan Tianye would be quite difficult.
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
As she thought, drowsiness overtook her.
Half-asleep, half-awake.
Scenes flickered before her eyes.
Amidst clouds and mist.
Three children were playing happily by a lake.
Judging by their figures, one was Yun Xiaojing, one was Zhan Xiaoli, and the third's face was indistinct, yet somewhat familiar.
However, the more she looked, the more she felt an innate sense of closeness.
Yun Shu wanted to get a better look at the child's face. She took a step forward, and the scene suddenly changed.
It transformed into an endless night.
She suddenly opened her eyes.
She frowned slightly.
Why was she having such a strange dream?
Yawning, she rolled over and continued to sleep.
...
The next day.
A group of people arrived at the General's mansion.
As several individuals disembarked from the carriage, the doorman of the General's mansion's expression changed.