After rushing on the road for a whole day, the several women, who had never traveled far, were somewhat exhausted.
"There seems to be an inn ahead. Let's rest for the night and continue our journey early tomorrow morning," Jun Mo lifted the carriage curtain and said to Mo Yang, who was walking in front.
"Yes, Master."
Su Li saw that the sky had darkened, yet there wasn't a shop in sight for miles around. Just when it seemed there was no way out, an inn appeared ahead.
"Your Highness, there's no need to consider us; making good time on the journey is what matters."
They were going for disaster relief, not sightseeing. If they kept stopping like this, by the time they reached Shuzhong, the disaster situation would likely be even more severe.
Jun Mo said: "It's just that this stretch of road in the north is more difficult. Once we reach Yunshui City, there will be no more snow, and the carriages will travel faster."
The group planned to stop at this inn. As soon as they alighted from the carriage, they were attracted by a cluster of yellow flowers in the courtyard.
It was unknown what kind of flower it was, but it emitted waves of delicate fragrance.
"Unexpectedly, there's a flower lover here."
Looking again, the inn seemed as if it hadn't been inhabited for years, on the verge of collapsing under the snow at any moment.
"Anyone here?" Mo Yang walked ahead and pushed open the inn door.
"Strange, the lights are on, but there's no one."
Just as everyone was surveying the main hall, a trembling voice came.
"Honored guests..."
"Ah!" Zhishu was observing the dim and quiet inn when suddenly a voice came from behind. She jumped up with a cry and instinctively hid behind Mo Yang.
Mo Yang glanced at the woman clutching his sleeve, then looked at the person emerging from a side door.
It was an old woman with white hair, slightly hunched over.
"Are you the innkeeper?" Mo Yang asked.
The old woman said: "Yes, my old man and I are old and frail. We've been running this inn for decades, providing a resting place for traveling merchants, and we manage to get by."
After seeing the person clearly, Zhishu embarrassedly let go of Mo Yang's sleeve and silently returned to her young mistress's side.
Mo Yang handed over an ingot of silver and said: "Prepare a few rooms for us, boil some hot water, and then prepare two tables of food."
The old woman took the silver and smiled: "The second floor is all guest rooms; you can stay wherever you like."
Then she turned and shouted towards the curtain behind her: "Old man, cook some more dishes, quite a few people have arrived."
An old voice came from the kitchen: "Got it, old woman."
Jun Mo and Su Li exchanged a glance and went upstairs.
Siqin and Zhishu deftly moved everything from the carriage into the room.
Sweeping, lighting charcoal, changing beddings and tea sets.
In a short while, a dilapidated small room began to resemble a young lady's boudoir.
"Miss, the room is ready. Would you like to freshen up first or go downstairs for dinner?"
Su Li took out a porcelain bottle and poured two pills into her palm.
"Each of you take one, then quietly give the rest to Prince Jing."
The two maids were stunned but didn't ask why and directly took the pills.
After stowing their luggage, everyone went downstairs.
"The food is here! Please don't mind, honored guests; this is all our humble shop has, but luckily, the old man's cooking isn't bad."
The old woman served the dishes.
Zhishu, seeing her advanced age, felt pity.
"Granny, let me help you serve the dishes."
"Young lady, you're truly kind-hearted." The old woman was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.
Zhishu immediately got up to help her carry the dishes.
Siqin didn't move. She felt that everything about this inn was strange. Moreover, her young mistress had given them pills; she knew that the bottle seemed to contain antidote pills.
Mo Yang frowned; this girl's mind was probably not very sharp.
After the meal, everyone returned to their rooms.
Jun Mo had just finished freshening up. Because charcoal was burning in the room, he was wearing his middle garments, preparing to rest.
"Knock knock knock"
Jun Mo opened the door.
"Not asleep yet?" Jun Mo stepped aside to let her in.
Su Li entered the room, carrying a small case.
"There's another reason I came this time. Your cold ailment, besides being suppressed by medicine, also requires Golden Needle Blood Passage. I've thought it through. Starting from today, for the next half-month, I will perform acupuncture once every night. By the time we return to the capital, it should be mostly better. Then, once we find the medicinal primer, your cold poison will be completely cured."
Jun Mo closed the door and walked over.
He saw her open the small case, inside which were rows of gleaming silver needles.
"I've troubled Li'er."
"Let's begin," Su Li looked at him.
Jun Mo looked down and asked: "How do we begin?"
"Lie down on the bed, roll up your trouser legs."
Jun Mo was taken aback but did as he was told.
Just as Jun Mo was about to lie down, Su Li said: "Actually, there's no need to lie down. You can just lean against the headboard."
Jun Mo: ...
Rolling up his trouser legs, Jun Mo glanced at Su Li unnaturally.
Su Li's expression was serious as she held the silver needle.
Seeing he was ready, she said seriously: "The needling will be a bit painful; you'll have to bear it."
"It's nothing, let's begin."
As needle after needle was inserted, Su Li saw his expression remain unchanged and felt a sense of admiration in her heart.
He could even chat idly with her without his expression changing.
"Did Li'er discover something?"
"The flowers in the courtyard. The snow has covered everything, but there isn't much snow on those flowers. They could only have been placed in the courtyard recently."
Jun Mo looked at her approvingly and said: "Perhaps there's someone who cherishes flowers?"
"That possibility can't be ruled out. But the old woman's face is full of wrinkles. She's very clever; even her hands are well disguised, but her neck is delicate and smooth."
"Li'er observes meticulously."
Su Li continued: "Most importantly, the ingredients in the soup. The soup contained Spanish mackerel. Eating a small amount isn't poisonous, but when combined with the fragrance of the flowers in the courtyard, once a person falls asleep, they will fall into a coma."
"The other party is very clever. They didn't directly put the poison in the soup, knowing that someone among us knows medicine, which would make it easy to detect. Combining two initially non-poisonous things to create poison shows the meticulousness of their planning."
Jun Mo said: "Indeed, she is clever. The substance that can produce poison was in the soup. She deliberately made every dish salty, so our people would naturally drink the soup."
Su Li smiled: "Unfortunately, her calculations were wrong. I wonder whose people these are?"
A layer of sweat appeared on Jun Mo's forehead, his expression no longer as relaxed as before.
Su Li continued to speak, distracting him.
"This poison only takes effect when a person is asleep. I guess they will make their move after midnight."
Jun Mo nodded: "We'll leave a few alive to question then."
Jun Mo's gaze was gentle.
On his sturdy calf, a jade-like hand rested softly.
It was Su Li, who, fearing he might move, had subconsciously placed her hand on his leg.
Against his wheat-colored skin, her hand appeared even more like smooth, fine jade.
Only then did he understand the meaning of 'slender soft jade, like pared spring onions'.
Looking at it, for some reason, the tips of his ears quietly turned red, and he unnaturally averted his gaze.
Su Li continued: "It's unclear whether these people are after you or me. But with such a grand scheme, it's likely you."
Jun Mo felt his mouth a little dry, but it wasn't convenient to move now, so he coughed lightly.
"Mm, it should be this Prince who has implicated Li'er."
Su Li inserted the last needle and let out a breath.
"Alright, remove the needles after two quarters of an hour."
Two quarters of an hour later, Su Li removed the needles.
"You're sweating. Have someone bring water for you to freshen up. I'll return to my room first."
"Li'er, why don't... this Prince go to your room instead?"
Seeing Su Li frozen, Jun Mo immediately explained: "Don't misunderstand. This Prince is just worried the other party might harm you. I can sleep on the floor."
Su Li smiled: "No need. I'm just next door. Besides, Mo Yun is here."
"Mm, sleep peacefully. This Prince will protect you well."
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