The rest of the Doctorâs words went unsaid, but Lady Ji and her family understood. If the poison wasnât identified in time and an antidote found, Ji Youran would soon be meeting the King of Hell.
"What are we going to do?" Lady Ji was exceedingly worried and urgently asked Ji Youyuan, "Eldest, donât you have any ideas?"
Ji Youyuan shook his head. "Mother, please stay calm. Iâve already informed Suisui about Second Brotherâs condition; sheâll be back from the Palace soon. Once sheâs back, Second Brother should be able to receive the antidote."
"Suisui is coming back?" Lady Ji was thrilled to hear that Xiaosuisui would be back. "Wait, when did you speak to her?" But once her initial excitement faded, suspicion seeped in.
"Just now. Didnât you see me napping for a while?"
It was then that Lady Ji remembered her precious granddaughterâs Dream Realm.
"But can she leave the Palace alone? With your Seventh and Eighth Brothers not around, whoâs going to pick her up?" Xiaosuisui leaving the Palace would be safest with Ji Youyuan picking her up, but Ji Youyuan was reluctant to leave his dangerously poisoned brother alone.
"I definitely canât leave. So, Iâve asked Suisui to speak to the Emperor about arranging a team from the Inner Guard to escort her from the Palace."
Upon hearing these words, Huo XingâEr stood up and said, "Iâll meet her halfway. She should be leaving the Palace now."
Lady Ji vetoed the idea. "You canât. Your brother might wake up and start asking for his wife. Without you around, nobody can soothe him!"
At her words, Huo XingâEr couldnât help but purse her lips, her expression turning sour.
That damn Ji Youran!
Even though heâd lost his memory, heâd clung to her ever since he learned she was his wife, following her around like a puppy!
Zhu Xiuxiu spoke up, "Then Iâll go pick up Suisui. The only ones who pose a threat to Suisui right now are those old monks from Qixia Temple. The Empress Dowager is at Qixia Temple right now, and tomorrow Abbot Liao Kong is supposed to conduct a religious ceremony there, so they shouldnât be able to cause any trouble today."
The Ji family members agreed with Zhu Xiuxiu, especially Ji Youyuan. He had considered this when he instructed Suisui in the Dream Realm to leave the Palace on her own. Currently, apart from Liao Kong and the Abbot of Qixia Temple, no one else had the power to take Suisui away.
Ji Youyuanâs plan seemed solid. However, he hadnât anticipated one thing: the National Masterâs visit to Qixia Temple earlier that day had already stirred the hornetâs nest. Danger was now drawing closer to Xiaosuisui.
Ji Youyuan said, "Sorry to trouble you, Third Sister-in-law. Your lightness skill is good. If you leave now, you should be able to meet Suisui on the way."
Zhu Xiuxiu nodded. "Then Iâm off." And she set off.
ăMeanwhile, with Xiaosuisuiă
The Inner Guard escort moved forward. Suddenly, Xiaosuisui, who was sitting in the sedan chair, peeked out from behind the curtain.
"Whatâs wrong?" Princess Ata asked, her expression solemn.
"I keep feeling like someone is watching me from a distance."
"You feel it too?" During her time in Nanjiang, Princess Ata had survived by relying on her extremely sharp intuition; it was indispensable, and she was always on high alert.
"You feel it too?" Xiaosuisui, surprised, stared at her with wide, sparkling eyes.
Princess Ata then pulled an ornate silver hairpin from her hair and handed it to Suisui. "Keep this. See this protrusion here? If youâre in danger, push it towards your enemy. Thereâs a silver needle inside."
Xiaosuisui understood immediately.
This contraption is just like the bracelet on my wrist!
"You have a hidden weapon like this too! I have one as well. See? My Sixth Uncle made this for me, and it also has a needle inside."
"Wow! Thatâs really nice! I canât believe I didnât think of making a bracelet like this. It can hold a lot and is so convenient. Can I borrow it to take a look? Iâll get one made when I return to Nanjiang."
Xiaosuisui thought for a moment and replied, "You donât need to go to all that trouble. When you see my Sixth Uncle, just ask him. He can teach you how to make one yourself."
Princess Ataâs eyes widened. "Really? Would your Sixth Uncle teach me?"
Xiaosuisui, still a child, often saw things simply. So, she tilted her head and responded, "Why wouldnât he?"
Princess Ata was left speechless.
The procession suddenly halted. Princess Ata asked, "Why have we stopped? Have we arrived at the Ji Mansion already?"
No one outside responded, but they heard someone scolding loudly, "Which monk are you? Leave immediately!"
A monk?
Xiaosuisui immediately grew nervous. Her first thought was of Liao Kong from Qixia Temple!
"Whatâs wrong? Why are you so nervous?" Princess Ata, surprised at Suisuiâs anxiety, thought,
Monks blocking the road are usually just begging for alms.
She pulled out two silver taels from her pocket, lifted the curtain, and observed the large monk standing before their procession.
"Hey! Give this to that large monk!" Princess Ata handed the silver to a nearby bodyguard.
The guard accepted the silver, walked towards the large monk, and offered him the money. "Here! This is a gift from Princess Ata!"
The large monk didnât accept the silver. Instead, he placed his hands together in a prayer gesture, his gaze fixed on Xiaosuisui in her sedan chair.
"AmitÄbha! My dear disciple, your master has come to fetch you!"
Disciple?
Princess Ata unconsciously turned to Xiaosuisui.
Xiaosuisuiâs face was stern, her little brow furrowed. She peeked out from behind the curtain and demanded, "It really is you, old baldy! I never agreed to be your disciple, so stop calling me that! My Eldest Uncle said he wonât let me shave my head and become a monk!"
Hearing Xiaosuisuiâs words, Princess Ata was startled. She tried to clarify, "Boys who renounce worldly life are called monks. Girls who do so are called nuns!"
Xiaosuisui didnât quite understand but instinctively reached up to protect her hair. "I donât care! I just donât want to be bald. Itâs too ugly!"
Seeing her little actions, Princess Ata couldnât help but chuckle. "Donât worry, as long as Iâm here, no one can shave your head."
Then, she addressed the large monk blocking their path, "Youâre quite a bold monk! To even think of taking the Eldest Princess of Great Han as your disciple."
"AmitÄbha. Female benefactor, before the Buddha, all living beings are equal. Even if she is the Eldest Princess of Great Han, she is still merely a mortal. To be able to serve the Buddha is a blessing and a merit for her!"
Princess Ata was taken aback.
She didnât know much about Buddhism, but it seemed completely unrealistic to expect the Eldest Princess of Great Han to become a nun.
"If you want the Eldest Princess of Great Han to become a nun and shave her head, have you asked the Emperor of Great Han for his consent?"
Upon hearing this, Liao Kongâs eyes narrowed slightly. "The Eldest Princess has a profound affinity with the Buddha. As long as her heart is devoted to the path of Buddhism and she willingly serves the Buddha, then even the Emperor of Great Han himself would be powerless to change it!"