The rains stops around dawn. Puddles thick with blood covered the complex. As the sun climbs in the sky, a rainbow appears. The events of the night have taken their tool. You start to run a fever and sleep fitfully on the sedan.
Xiu Ying: [Deliriously] Water... Water...
Very quickly a bowl of warm water is delivered to your lips. You finish it and muster your energy to open your eyes.
Xiu Ying: [Slowly opening your eyes] 3rd... Prince?
Yin Zhi: You seem surprised to see me.
Xiu Ying: It's not your job, that's all. My maid should take care of it.
Yin Zhi: [Weakly] There is no one else.
Thinking of Yun Mo, who gave her life to save yours, you get a sudden ache in your chest and the feeling of weakness overcomes you.
Xiu Ying: 3rd Prince... What of 7th Prince and 11th Prince?
Yin Zhi: Both are wounded.
You thought they were dead. On hearing they are merely wounded, you exhale a sign of relief. If any of the princes were to die on this expedition, the Emperor would NOT be pleased.
Xiu Ying: Thank goodness. I feared the worst.
At this moment, a young eunuch hurries into the room.
Little Eunuch: 3rd Prince! 7th Prince is threatening to kill the doctor! Only you can stop him!
7th Prince is known for his bad temper, but he's never done anything like this. It's very strange.
Xiu Ying: [Totally perplexed] What's going on?
Yin Zhi: [Glancing at you] Number 11 will recover from his wounds, but 7 may never walk again.
You're stunned. No wonder 7th Prince wants to kill the doctor. Nobody wants to hear news like that.
Xiu Ying: He'll never get better? What will become of him?
Yin Zhi: That's the doctor's concern, not yours. Rest yourself. We'll return to the capital when you have regained your strength.
Xiu Ying: 3rd Prince... Who sent the assassins? Have you found out?
Yin Zhi: No, not yet. Don't worry yourself. Focus on getting better.
You gaze thoughtfully after Yin Zhi as he withdraws.
Xiu Ying: (Who could it have been? Obviously the princes were the targets, so it must likely connected to the struggle for succession.)
Their faces appear in your mind. They're all so different, but each has a motive and is capable of subterfuge.
Yin Zhen: Which one of us did it, do you think?
A dashing figure standing in the doorway interrupts your reverie.
Xiu Ying: You're like a bad penny.
Yin Zhen: What do you mean by that?
Xiu Ying: [Lying back lazily on the sedan] What are you doing here?
Yin Zhen: Vising the sick, but apparently I'm not welcome... Do you still suspect me?
MC: Yes, with all my heart.
Yin Zhen: Is that right? It doesn't sound like you suspect me. I call foul.
Xiu Ying: [Softly] If it really was you, you would have done the job properly, and not just injured 7th and 11th Princes.
Yin Zhen: You're too kind.
You see he is back to his old-self, confident and relaxed, as if last night never happened. Quite astonishing really.
Xiu Ying: Who do you think did it?
Yin Zhen: Do you really care?
Xiu Ying: Whoever did it killed innocent people and nearly took my life. I want revenge.
Yin Zhen: [Nods] Yes, but... I don't know. They attacked so suddenly in the Plumflower Garden. I came out to find you, but I had to leave 7th Prince and 11th Prince behind...
Xiu Ying: They knew you were in the Plumflower Garden?
Yin Zhen: I see what you're saying, but our presence in the garden was not a secret and easily found out.
Xiu Ying: That may be so, but these assassins seemed very familiar with us...
Yin Zhen: [Regarding you in silence] May I ask you a question... Why don't you suspect Yin Zhi?
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