THIP Chapter 57

Back in her room, Mu Liuyin regretted not holding back and revealing the truth about the poison.

As expected, though Prince Qi’s demeanor was completely different from his, when faced with that same face, she couldn’t keep her composure.

Since she had already exposed the fact that she recognized what kind of poison it was, Mu Liuyin took out the sheet of paper covered in medicinal names she had written the night before. She decided she’d speak to Mu Qingzhi tomorrow and begin treatment.

She let out a quiet sigh. Maybe it was for the best—this way, she could finish the mission earlier.

The next morning after breakfast, Mu Liuyin said to Mu Qingzhi, “I have something I wish to discuss with Your Highness.”

Mu Qingzhi’s expression didn’t change, but in her heart, she already understood what Mu Liuyin wanted.

She allowed Mu Liuyin to push her into the room alone, then opened a hidden chamber.

The chamber was empty, save for a single table, a few chairs, and a candlestick atop the table. There was nothing else inside.

“Please speak, Physician Shi,” Mu Qingzhi said softly.

“Although I don’t know why a prince of Great Chu like you would be unaware of this poison,” Mu Liuyin said frankly, “now that you trusted what I said yesterday, you must have guessed what kind of poison it is.”

Mu Qingzhi remained silent.

“I’ve had an interest in medicine since childhood. And since medicine and poison go hand in hand, I naturally have some knowledge of toxins,” Mu Liuyin explained calmly. “A few years ago, I chanced upon an ancient medical text. It listed many rare poisons, including the very one afflicting you. It was marked as a royal-exclusive toxin of Great Chu—and labeled incurable.”

“I’ve always been curious,” Mu Liuyin continued with a faint smile. “So I spent several years researching a supposed antidote to this ‘incurable’ poison. This is my first time seeing a real case, so naturally, I want to study it more closely.”

She took a folded sheet from her sleeve and said, “This is the antidote formula I’ve developed. It includes both oral and topical treatments. Since the poison affected your legs and it’s been over a year, the treatment must be combined with a special massage technique.”

Mu Qingzhi listened with a calm expression, but her fingers had unconsciously tightened around the armrest of her wheelchair.

The royal poison of Great Chu was said to be colorless and tasteless. Although Mu Qingzhi had heard of it from her father, she never knew the exact nature of its toxicity. That was why—even though she had once suspected her royal sister—she couldn’t bring herself to believe that the one who had always cared for her deeply could do such a thing.

But now, after everything Mu Liuyin had said, all of Mu Qingzhi’s previous thoughts seemed like self-deception.

Her voice was hoarse as she finally asked, “Then… will my legs be able to stand again?”

“Two years, at most,” Mu Liuyin replied.

Mu Qingzhi looked deeply at the young physician, whose tone was full of confidence, and said in a low, raspy voice, “Physician Shi… aren’t you afraid I might suspect you?”

That you’re saying this just to sow discord between me and my royal sister?

“No matter what, at least right now, Your Highness believes me,” Mu Liuyin said with a small smile. “Besides, the prescription is right here. You’re free to show it to any physician you trust. And… I am very interested in this poison.”

“Then,” Mu Qingzhi said, “I hope you won’t let me down, Physician Shi.”

Late at night, the air was damp with dew, and the dim candlelight cast soft shadows over Mu Qingzhi’s calm face as she sat in her wheelchair.

A figure dressed entirely in black suddenly appeared and knelt before her on one knee—it was the shadow guard she had sent to reinvestigate Mu Liuyin’s identity.

“Your Highness,” the shadow guard reported, “Shi Wuyin is indeed from the Medicine Valley of the martial world, and has a strong reputation. Those who were treated by him for difficult illnesses say his skills are unparalleled.”

He paused, then added, “The only discrepancy from the previous investigation is this—there’s a rumor that Shi Wuyin’s father, the former head of the Medicine Valley, may have had a romantic entanglement with a certain emperor. Some of Shi Wuyin’s habits are also reminiscent of those from the Moon Dynasty.”

Mu Qingzhi’s eyes darkened slightly. She slowly repeated the words: “Moon Dynasty…”

Her voice grew colder as she said to the shadow guard, “Focus your investigation on the royal clan of the Moon Dynasty.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The shadow guard disappeared into the darkness once more.

“Moon Dynasty… Shi Wuyin…” Mu Qingzhi murmured. “If you truly are from the Moon Dynasty, then what is your purpose?”

Moonlight poured into the room. Mu Qingzhi lowered her gaze and slowly moved herself onto the bed.

Outside, a maid entered and extinguished the candles.

The next day, Mu Qingzhi allowed Mu Liuyin to begin treatment.

Mu Liuyin blinked, somewhat uncertain. “You’ve made up your mind, Your Highness?”

Mu Qingzhi chuckled lightly. “Of course, I trust you, Physician Shi.”

After all, you’re the only person who’s ever claimed you can heal these crippled legs. And even if you can’t… what could be worse than this?

Somehow, when Mu Qingzhi said “Physician Shi,” it sounded completely different than when others said it. Her voice was like a stream—gentle and smooth, with a slight hook at the end that tugged at the ear.

A faint blush crept up Mu Liuyin’s ears, but she kept her composure. “Pardon me.”

She crouched down and reached for the sash at Mu Qingzhi’s waist.

Mu Qingzhi was caught off guard. She hadn’t expected Shi Wuyin to undress her himself. In this country, men were reserved and modest—no man would undress a woman he wasn’t intimately involved with.

When Mu Liuyin’s hand touched her waist sash, Mu Qingzhi caught her wrist and said, “I’ll do it myself.”

For some reason, Mu Liuyin thought her voice sounded a little hoarse.

Since she wanted to do it herself, Mu Liuyin didn’t insist. Still, Mu Qingzhi had grabbed her hand a bit tightly. When Mu Liuyin tried to move, Mu Qingzhi immediately let go.

Mu Liuyin stepped out to wait, while Mu Qingzhi, watching her retreating figure, felt the still waters of her heart ripple ever so slightly.

A few seconds later, she slowly and awkwardly removed her inner pants. The warmth of Mu Liuyin’s touch still lingered in her palm, and the back of her ears—usually unseen by others—had turned a deep red.

When Mu Qingzhi called for her, Mu Liuyin returned.

She took out the ointment from her medical kit and gently applied it to Mu Qingzhi’s legs, channeling soft internal energy into her palms. With practiced massage techniques, she worked the medicine into the skin.

As a gentle warmth spread across her legs, Mu Qingzhi felt something she hadn’t felt in over a year—sensation.

Even with her usually stoic demeanor, she couldn’t suppress the joy in her heart.

After all, to go from a general who once fought on the battlefield to a cripple bound to a wheelchair… no matter how strong her will, it was never going to be easy to accept.

“Physician Shi…” Mu Qingzhi couldn’t help but call out to the young man who had given her legs a feeling again after all this time.

“Hmm?” Mu Liuyin answered as he continued the massage. “You can feel something?”

Mu Qingzhi hummed in response, then asked, “Have you studied martial arts?”

“Some healing techniques require internal force,” Mu Liuyin replied. “So I’ve learned a few inner cultivation methods. How do you feel now?”

Looking at the young man’s side profile, a few strands of hair falling over his face, Mu Qingzhi gave a faint smile. “It feels good.”

“Then this method should be working.” Finishing the massage, Mu Liuyin pulled a thin blanket over her legs and smiled slightly.

Probably from the strain of using too much internal energy, a sheen of sweat had formed on his forehead, and his voice carried a hint of exhaustion. “You should rest a while, Your Highness. I’m a bit tired myself.”

“All right.” The voice from the bed was warm and gentle.

Mu Liuyin returned to her room and fell asleep almost the moment she lay down.

Back in her own room, Mu Qingzhi, who was supposed to be resting, was examining the antidote formula Mu Liuyin had given her. She’d already had it reviewed by an old physician she trusted. Though the man couldn’t confirm whether it would truly counteract the poison in her body, he did say it was harmless.

Combined with the massage treatment that day, Mu Qingzhi was almost certain that Mu Liuyin had real confidence in curing her.

Still… was it just as he said—he was only treating her because he was interested in the poison?

Mu Qingzhi slowly closed her eyes.

Two months passed in a blur. During that time, Mu Liuyin massaged Mu Qingzhi’s legs every other day, and the detoxifying decoction was administered daily without fail.

Mu Yinglan had visited two or three times as well. Although she saw Mu Liuyin treating Mu Qingzhi, she showed no concern that he might succeed.

After all, this poison had been thoroughly tested—no doctor had ever come close to creating a cure.

Shi Wuyin was just a young man. Despite his reputation in the martial world as a miracle doctor, Mu Yinglan hadn’t taken him seriously.

What she didn’t know was that—though full recovery was still far off—Mu Qingzhi’s legs had already begun to regain the faintest traces of sensation.