Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved

Murong Jiu's mouth fell open in astonishment, "What did you say? Which of my maidservants?"

When she heard the guard's words, her first reaction was to suspect Jun Haoze was trying to frame her. She was no longer under his control, but she did not expect the scheme to come so quickly; she had just returned from the palace not long ago.

She thought it must be either Zhen Zhu or Cai Yun, used by the Crown Prince as a disposable pawn.

However, the guard said in a solemn voice, "It's your maidservant Chun Tao, Princess Consort!"

She shook her head, "Impossible! Chun Tao couldn't possibly do such a thing!"

The guard looked at Jun Yuyan and presented the found poison, "At that time, this maid named Chun Tao was sneaking out through the side door in a secretive manner. We felt it was suspicious, apprehended her, and then found this packet of poison on her."

"This is the poison found in Yang Shan's system."

Jun Yuyan looked down at it, his tone slightly cold, as his gaze fell on Murong Jiu, as if waiting to hear her explanation.

Su Kai quickly rushed to move the medicine that was supposed to be given to Yang Shan further away.

Murong Jiu looked at the steaming bowl of medicine, and then glanced at Yang Shan, who was still unconscious on the bed; she calmed herself down and said to Jun Yuyan,

"If it had been either of my other two maidservants, Zhen Zhu or Cai Yun, carrying poison, I would believe it because they have been bought by the Second Prince. But not Chun Tao; she is loyal to me. Even if poison was found on her, it couldn't possibly be hers."

"You mean to say the other two maidservants hid the poison on Chun Tao's person and persuaded her to go out. And for what reason? To make me suspect you?"

"Yes! If you, Prince, suspect me, then you won't let me treat Yang Shan, which is exactly what the Second Prince wants, isn't it?"

Jun Yuyan's dangerous eyes narrowed, "Oh? It seems that you know it was the Second Prince who harmed Yang Shan. He has even told you such a covert matter. Murong Jiu, your relationship with him is apparently different from what you've told me."

Su Kai pursued gently and persuasively, "What is the Second Prince's purpose in sending you here? If you have unavoidable difficulties, our Brother Yan can help you!"

"Prince, everything I told you before was the truth, not a single lie. There is no longer any connection between the Second Prince and me. Still, I do know his purpose: he poisoned Yang Shan because he has taken a fancy to Yang Shan's younger brother!"

Murong Jiu said gravely, "Yang Shan's younger brother, Yang Chuan, is skilled in martial arts; the Second Prince lacks such a master by his side for protection. If Yang Shan were to die in Prince Ling's Mansion, Yang Chuan would resent you, and in loyalty to the Second Prince, would seek an opportunity to kill you in vengeance."

"What did you say? The Second Prince has taken an interest in Yang Chuan!"

Su Kai's eyes widened in shock, never expecting the Second Prince to scheme so deeply, even aware of Yang Shan's brother, Yang Chuan.

From the moment Murong Jiu mentioned Yang Chuan's name, Jun Yuyan knew she was not lying, which also explained the sudden appearance of a poison-carrying maidservant – the Second Prince didn't want Yang Shan to live.

There were still spies of the Second Prince inside the Prince Mansion, and they had promptly transmitted the news of Murong Jiu treating Yang Shan.

He called over someone, "Come, administer the medicine to Yang Shan."

Murong Jiu breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you, Prince, for your trust."

Jun Yuyan nodded faintly, his thoughts inscrutable.

Su Kai watched his expression, hesitating to speak.

Shortly after the medicine was given, Yang Shan vomited several mouthfuls of black poison blood and regained consciousness.

"Prince…"

He was very weak and tried to sit up, but Murong Jiu pressed him back down.

"Don't move, I'm going to stitch up your wound now. It's too late to prepare the Powder for Anesthesia, so you might need to endure the pain."

"Princess Consort? No, that's not right! The interaction between men and women must not be indiscreet!"

After seeing Murong Jiu's face clearly, Yang Shan struggled even more to get up, causing several silver needles to fall from his acupuncture points, and fresh blood to surge forth.

Murong Jiu's brow furrowed, and she struck the back of Yang Shan's neck. Instantly, the large man slumped back onto the bed, limp.

Su Kai's mouth dropped open before he closed it again, swallowing mouthful after mouthful of saliva.

This woman, she was somewhat fierce.

But what was even more fierce was that he had watched Murong Jiu use a heated knife to unflinchingly scrape away the rotten flesh corrupted by the poison from Yang Shan's wound, and then she swiftly sewed it up with a needle and thread.

She did it with such composure, as if she were sewing clothes.

After she finished, she even nodded in satisfaction, as if she believed her "needlework" was quite good.

Yang Shan had awoken from the pain twice, and both times Murong Jiu knocked him out again.

Once the sewing was finished, she sprinkled some medicinal powder she had brought on the injury, bandaged it with gauze, and then Murong Jiu clapped her hands:

"Alright, when he wakes up, tell him not to move around, and to continue drinking the medicine I gave him for three more days to cleanse the residual poison in his blood. Once the wound is healed, he'll be able to get out of bed and move around. Also, make sure the wound doesn't get wet."

Then she instructed Eunuch Shi to prepare some blood-nourishing medicinal meals for Yang Shan to help him recover, since he had lost a lot of blood and could only recuperate slowly.

Luckily, they had rescued him in time; otherwise, Yang Shan would have bled to death.

In her previous life, it was possible that this was exactly how Yang Shan had died.

The Second Prince had made his brother Yang Chuan believe that it was Jun Yuyan who had killed him, thereby winning over people's hearts and setting up an enemy for Jun Yuyan.

It was likely that in her previous life, Jun Yuyan's early death was partly because he lacked a skilled fighter like Yang Shan by his side.

"Master! Doctor Zhou and Doctor Li from the Marquis Mansion were both ambushed and injured on their way here, and couldn't make it!"

At that moment, another guard rushed over to report.

Murong Jiu suddenly understood; she had thought that there should be a court physician in the Prince Mansion capable of saving people, but it turned out they were intercepted on the way.

The Second Prince was too meticulous and too cruel.

Jun Yuyan's expression turned grim.

He had only returned to the capital from the Frontier Pass over a month ago and had already faced several assassination attempts and traps. His father, the Emperor, had been unwell recently, and he didn't want to make a big fuss over the situation.

His younger brother was becoming increasingly presumptuous.

He might be disabled, but he wasn't dead!

Su Kai felt the heavy atmosphere emanating from him, rubbing the folding fan in his hands, and thought to himself that the Second Prince was really in for it this time.

Although Brother Yan was low-profile, he was by no means a pushover; otherwise, why would he be called the War God of Great Yan Nation?

"Do you need my help in treating them?"

Murong Jiu asked, referring to the two court physicians.

Jun Yuyan looked at her and said, "No need, thank you for saving Yang Shan today. You can go back and rest."

She nodded, took a few steps with her medicine box on her back, then suddenly turned around, "Prince, my maid Chun Tao..."

"The guard will send her back to you unharmed."

Upon hearing this, Murong Jiu let out a sigh of relief, smiled in thanks, and walked away with a light step.

As soon as she left, Su Kai eagerly turned to Jun Yuyan and said:

"Brother Yan, this Murong Jiu is too strange, as if she has become a completely different person! A few days ago, we saw her at the restaurant talking to the Second Prince shyly, her eyes filled with affection. Now when she mentions the Second Prince, there's a cold hatred in her eyes. Can someone change so much in just a few days?"