Entangled Love GL - Chapter 13

For several days in a row, Duan Min was idle in the garden. She only went to see Yang Yuansi once or twice a day. The prescription was basically stable, with occasional minor changes that could be directly instructed to the person preparing the medicine.

Yang Yuansi showed no improvement. He woke up twice a day, each time for no more than half an hour. Sometimes, he was in better spirits and could speak a few more words; sometimes, he just opened his eyes, frowned, and endured the pain. Yang Yuansi did not inquire about anyone or anything. Now, only the pain was his own; even small movements of his limbs were extremely difficult.

Yang Guan was once again glum and no longer attentive to Duan Min, even suspecting that she was unwilling to put her full effort into saving him: only one or two simple prescriptions for so many days—this so-called rare poison was surely too easy to handle!

Duan Min explained that the most unusual aspect of this poison was that the antidote varied from person to person; without knowing a thousand kinds of antidotes, it was impossible to prescribe this one. However, Yang Guan did not believe her, and Duan Min was too lazy to say more, letting him guess and plot, continuously threatening and enticing her.

Yang Yuansi had been poisoned for nearly a month, and the Pavilion had been secretly investigating for nearly a month, yet they had absolutely no clue who the perpetrator was.

Advisor Xue came up with an idea: let Yang Yuansi feign death as planned to see if they could find any clues. Advisor Xue also specifically considered that the Pavilion Master Yang could not recover quickly, so it would be a good opportunity for him to rest and recuperate in a certain place in a certain county of a certain prefecture during his return home for burial. Young Master Yang could serve his father under the guise of three years of mourning. Miss Duan should also go along to provide care.

Yang Yuansi nodded slightly after hearing him out and agreed. Yang Guan, however, was furious and frantically cursed Xue Yuyi and Yang Mei.

Xue Yuyi smiled faintly, glancing at him sideways, and said, “Young Master truly does not need to vent your anger on the young lady. This was my idea. I first came to inquire about the Pavilion Master’s wishes. I will only go to speak with the young lady after the Pavilion Master agrees.”

Yang Guan naturally did not believe him and continued to curse—other than that, Yang Guan could not do anything else to express his opposition.

Yang Mei, however, only learned about Xue Yuyi’s arrangements the next day from Yue Ting. She only gave one instruction regarding this: replace Duan Min with the maid who had been responsible for preparing the medicine. Everything else was left to Xue Yuyi’s arrangement.

Monks were invited outside to perform the funeral rites, and a continuous stream of mourners came to pay their respects. It was rumored that Young Master Yang Guan was gravely ill from excessive grief, and all affairs were managed by Yang Mei. Everyone knew that Miss Yang Mei had been acting on behalf of Yang Yuansi for the half-month before his death. How could anyone not know who would be in charge of this Pavilion in the future?

Yang Yuansi would soon be traveling south along with his coffin. In these last few days in the capital, he seemed to be in unusually good spirits, and he spoke more than before. Duan Min was quite idle and happy to listen to him tell stories from decades ago. After several such occasions, on the night before their departure, just as he was talking about a few talented young men who were determined to settle the situation in the capital, Yang Yuansi let out a faint sigh and stopped there. After a pause, he looked at Duan Min and said gently, “It’s late. You should go back and rest.”

Duan Min knew he was weary and also knew this was their last meeting. She stood up and smiled, saying, “Pavilion Master Yang, I have a word to repay you for these past few days of stories: There is no poison that cannot be cured. If you persevere for three or five years, you must never give up hope.”

At this time, Yang Guan was under house arrest elsewhere by Xue Yuyi, and the few servants attending them were waiting far outside the door. Duan Min’s voice was soft, like a whisper, and her faint smile was subtle.

Yang Yuansi’s eyes changed; his face seemed suddenly lit by a flame.

Duan Min, seeing that her words had taken effect, was about to leave when she suddenly heard a startled cry and felt her arm tightly gripped: Yang Yuansi actually half-propped himself up and grabbed her fiercely, his expression agitated, urgently saying something.

Duan Min struggled to remain calm, seriously trying to distinguish his words—he was so agitated that he could barely utter coherent speech.

He was practically having a sudden fit of madness!

The people waiting outside rushed in, adding to the confusion with their helplessness.

Yang Yuansi was already weak. After a short fit of madness, he finally collapsed into a coma, one hand still tightly gripping Duan Min’s arm.

The head maid here was named Xian Lan. She quickly approached to help Duan Min pry open his hand, her voice still trembling slightly, “Miss Duan, what is going on? This has never happened before!”

Duan Min rubbed her arm and said calmly, “It’s nothing. He has been overthinking things these past few days, and his mind is temporarily a little disordered. He’ll be fine when he wakes up.”

Xian Lan dared not ask more, lowered her head, and replied with a “Yes,” then added, “Miss Duan, please go back and rest.”

“Come outside with me for a moment.” Duan Min carefully observed her expression.

Xian Lan hesitated and agreed.

“Do you know who Wushuang is?” Yang Yuansi had called out this name many times to Duan Min just now. Duan Min could only distinguish this one name in the end.

Xian Lan, who had just recovered from her shock, looked terrified upon hearing this question, quickly waving her hand and saying, “I don’t know! There is no such person!”

Duan Min was now certain that this person had a great connection with the Pavilion. She didn’t want to make things difficult for Xian Lan anymore, so she said, “Perhaps I misheard.”

Duan Min pretended not to care, but she was actually extremely surprised in her heart. She had heard Duan Youchang mention this name before. If this person had some unspeakable secret—ideally, a major taboo—she wanted to ask Yang Mei directly.

With Yang Yuansi gone from the Pavilion, Duan Min became completely idle.

On the first morning, Yue Ting collected many recreational items, including various kinds of zithers, chess sets, dolls, knots, twelve-sided puzzles, and even children’s toys like rattling balls and mud whistles. Duan Min had never seen many of these things. She looked at each one with interest, but she only looked. Yue Ting realized she wasn’t very interested in any of them and asked with a smile, “Does Miss Duan have any hobbies? Or do you like reading, or embroidery, or painting, or something else? So I can prepare it.”

Duan Min smiled and said, “Then please find me a few medical books.” She was a person who enjoyed idleness and didn’t feel compelled to do anything, but obviously, some people didn’t think so.

Several loquat trees grew in the Joyful Garden. At this time of the year, the trees were laden with large and small green fruits. The early ones would ripen in a few days, and the late ones in at most ten days to half a month. Duan Min’s room was on the second floor. Opening the window, she could reach out and pick many small loquats, green and round, exceptionally pleasing.

Duan Min sat by the window, reading a book for a while, then looking at the loquats for a while, feeling quite content. One day passed quickly like this, and the next day also passed quickly. At noon on the third day, she turned her gaze away from the loquats and found that Yang Mei had arrived.

Duan Min hadn’t seen Yang Mei for many days. Yang Mei seemed to have lost a little weight, but her complexion was good, and her eyes were full of smiles.

Duan Min suddenly thought: She is probably always like this towards people—a pretty girl, who smiles especially well, and is often particularly endearing.

Yang Mei walked closer, waving her hand in front of Duan Min’s eyes, “Hey, looking at me like that makes me nervous!”

Duan Min smiled without speaking. Yang Mei also smiled and asked, “I heard you’ve been sitting here without moving for the past two days. Just thinking about it makes me feel terribly bored. I’m free today. How about I take you out for a walk?”

Duan Min knew she was well-intentioned, so she was even more reluctant to accept the favor. She shook her head with a hint of regret and said, “If you have time, I want to ask you something.” The sunlight was just right, and the breeze was slightly intoxicating. That hint of regret slowly rippled outwards like water. Duan Min was momentarily lost in thought, wondering if she would miss these days in the future—this thought made her hesitate slightly.

Yang Mei didn’t let her hesitate, eagerly asking, “What is it?”

“Has anyone told you that Pavilion Master Yang mistook me for another person on the night before he left?” Duan Min looked up and stared directly at her, “Wushuang. You must know who Wushuang is, right?”

Yang Mei was greatly shocked. Her smile instantly vanished. She stared at Duan Min for a long time before she came to her senses, forcing a relaxed smile, “Wushuang is my mother’s name.” After a pause, she sneered, “So he still remembers her. He has a little conscience after all!”