Going For a Check-Up

"I thought Grand Tutor had a good impression on the Madam of the General Yang's household?" Lan'er asked, she wondered if in the future they would have to avoid that woman or not.

They had already reached Zhao Xing's living quarters. Hearing this question, she was puzzled, she turned to her servants, who both looked at her with curiosity written all over their faces, Nuo Nuo hadn't said anything but it was clear that Zhao Xing's statement had confused her as well.

"Of course I do."

"Then Grand Tutor mentioned that people are hateful, Grand Tutor referred to…" Lan'er tried to pry out an answer from her mistress.

"Ah...You mean that." She thought about it, this was Madam Yang's taboo she shouldn't broadcast it.

"See you two, in the future we shouldn't like the General, no praises, no help, no good words about him."

Seeing they were even more confused, Zhao Xing added. "No reason, I just don't like him."

As she spoke, a servant came in their direction. "Grand Tutor, the Master asks for you to prepare that you would be leaving with him." He said.

"Oh?"

'We're going out? To where?'

She turned to her maids and smiled.

"Grand Tutor, shouldn't you disguise yourself?" Nuo Nuo asked.

Hearing this, Zhao Xing frowned, she looked at the servant that delivered the message. "Did the Crown Prince say so?"

The servant quickly shook his head, making Zhao Xing look at the two maids with a smug smile.

When she arrived at the gates where Zhang Zhengyang was waiting for her, she noticed a frown on the Crown Prince's face when he spotted her.

"Grand Tutor forgot your disguise?"

Zhao Xing's brows creased, "You didn't mention it to the servant, how am I supposed to know you wanted me to disguise myself?" She protested.

Zhang Zhengyang didn't speak further. "Quickly get in the carriage."

Seeing he didn't force her to return and change, Zhao Xing happily went forward. But her feet halted, with the Crown Prince blocking her way with his outstretched arm.

Zhao Xing: "...?"

Zhang Zhengyang retrieved a veil from a servant standing by. "Wear this."

"Oh" She took it from him.

'Tch, this guy was already prepared and still asked me why I didn't disguise myself.'

"Eh, Zhang Zhengyang, where are we going?" She hadn't had lunch yet, she wondered if they would go to a restaurant to eat delicious food while enjoying the view of the busy streets and beautiful buildings.

"Since you're already here, there's no need to ask." He replied.

"Tch, I could also return, if I want." She mumbled to herself as she put the veil on.

"Um?"

She didn't respond and hurried to the carriage, as Zhang Zhengyang chuckled behind her.

Zhao Xing wasn't familiar with the Capital to start with, now that the carriage took a secluded route, she couldn't even guess where they were going.

They soon arrived a small shop, and the carriage stopped.

'A herbal shop?' Zhao Xing observed the shop from the window.

"Quickly come down." She heard Zhang Zhengyang's voice, when she turned around she discovered she was the only one in the carriage, the Crown Prince and Xiao Chen had already got off the carriage and were waiting for her.

She coughed embarrassedly and quickly came down.

When they entered inside the shop, they weren't many costumers. There were two workers, they seemed to be a couple. The woman attended to the costumers while the man stayed behind the counter, with a bored look on his face. When they both spotted the group of people that entered, they eyes flashed in surprise.

"Excuse me." The woman said to the customer she was attending to as she walked up to them.

"Eh, Young Master is here." She greeted with a warm smile. The man behind the counter also came towards them and greeted alongside his wife.

Zhang Zhengyang nodded and smiled back at them. "We only came to visit the person at the back after that we'll be gone."

The woman nodded and quickly led them towards the backyard as she engaged them in small talk. "Young Master came with Madam today."

Zhao Xing choked and began coughing,

Zhang Zhengyang had a smile on his face that showed he was trying to contain his laughter. Xiao Chen just followed along with a poker face, to him there really wasn't anything wrong with this statement.

Seeing her coughing, the woman worriedly asked, "Is Madam alright? Is it a cold, I have herbs for that…"

"Aunt Wu doesn't need to worry, Madam had indeed caught a cold recently but she's getting better now." Zhang Zhengyang said. Zhao Xing slowly turned to him with a look of terror.

Not only did he not explain that she wasn't his wife, he also cursed her to be sick! But the veil that covered most of her face hid her expression. Making her regret wearing it in the first place.

"Ah, so that's how it is, madam should look after herself, the weather is changing, it's getting colder these days, you should wear more clothes..."

She went on, and Zhang Zhengyang didn't stop her, only nodding to everything she said. Zhao Xing could feel he was really enjoying it, and swore to revenge in her heart. What happened today she wouldn't forget it!

"The old man is in there, he rarely comes out, but he eats well and sleeps well." She reported the state of the person to the Crown Prince.

"Thank you, Aunt Wu."

Aunt Wu smiled before leaving.

Seeing that the woman had already left, Zhao Xing took the opportunity to scold some shameless people. "Zhang Zhengyang, you're really something."

Zhang Zhengyang chuckled. "Madam shouldn't worry, I'll have people prepare your winter clothes earlier on. You should be mindful of your health."

"Zhang. Zheng. Yang!"

Zhang Zhengyang didn't mind her and walked ahead, "Old Man Su!"

The name immediately caught Zhao Xing's attention. 'The poison master? Was this where the Crown Prince kept him?'

With that in mind her eyes began to wander around the courtyard. Though it looked ordinary, it was clean.

"Young Master, I have been waiting for the day you'll show yourself once more, what took you so long?" The old man came out to greet them. He saw the veiled girl behind the Crown Prince and his eyes narrowed. "This should be the little girl I poisoned, am I right?"

Zhao Xing coughed awkwardly then greeted. "Old Man Su."

Old Man Su raised his head and laughed out loud. "You haven't died yet. That means you've been a good girl and have been obediently taking the bitter remedy I prescribed for you."

Zhao Xing refrained herself from rolling her eyes. "Old Man Su likes to joke. Of course I'll take the remedy, who wants to die?"

Old Man Su nodded as if just realizing, "Indeed, but the remedy was supposed to get bitter the longer you take it, I thought by this time you would have found it unbearable. But I tell you, if you refuse to drink it for one day, the consequences would be dire."

Hearing this, the heart of those present all sank.

'How could such a cruel person exist?'

'Luckily, I was brave and took that concoction every day without fail.' Zhao Xing thought to herself.

The Crown Prince on the other hand didn't feel as relieved as Zhao Xing. "This is the reason I brought her here today."

"Oh?"

"You said that the effect of the remedy would last for three months, but she has already spent two months. Meanwhile Old Man Su has yet to provide what we have asked of you, the last time you said you still needed a few more months, doesn't that mean she'll be dead before then?"

Hearing his analysis, Zhao Xing felt her body grow cold.

'It's true, the days passed so quickly I didn't realize it!' If Zhang Zhengyang hadn't brought her here today and said these words, she might wake up one day and end up dying without knowing why.

Old Man Su nodded as he pondered on the matter. "True, but don't worry. I can still extend her life."

Zhao Xing looked at him with horror, 'What does he mean 'extend her life'?'

She had a bad premonition.

"Before the third month is up, I'll give her the antidote, as well as another poison." He said with a smile.

Zhang Zhengyang's face didn't look good when he heard this. Xiao Chen also thought it was a bit absurd, and spoke up in his master's place.

"Old Master Su, if you keep poisoning her like this, aren't you afraid that it might hurt her body?"

Zhao Xing also thought about it. She didn't think too much back then, but she had already been poisoned before she knew it, there was no turning back, and she could only go along with the poison master's conditions.

Since it was due to her carelessness, she thought there was no need to argue with Old Man Su over it. "Since it's like this, then there's really no need to fuss, before three months are up, I'll return, Old Man Su should be ready with the antidote as well as the poison."

Zhang Zhengyang turned to her with creased brows. But she wasn't looking at him at the time and was oblivious.

But Old Man Su had seen this expression. He now knew that Zhao Xing was an important person to the Crown Prince, so he wasn't going to let her go easily. He smiled generously, "Don't worry little girl, I'm always here, just come and find me."

After that they discussed some more and left the place.

"Zhang Zhengyang, you dragged me out here this afternoon, I haven't had lunch yet."

They were on their way home, the air in the carriage was tense, but Zhao Xing was too worried about her empty stomach to notice.

Zhang Zhengyang sighed and asked for them to head to a restaurant.

Hearing this Zhao Xing smiled excitedly.