"I’m sorry, Yuyu didn’t mean to do it!" she said, her voice barely forming a choked sob.
Though young, she had come to understand a thing or two.
She knew she’d done wrong today.
For a moment, the room fell silent, as Chu Lilan began to cry.
Although Yuyu hadn’t done it on purpose, and knew she was at fault, Chu Xinkai’s sight would never be restored.
Whether his other eye would ever see again was uncertain.
A life of splendor and honor came to an abrupt end, and what lay ahead for him, nobody knew.
Mrs. Dai was also in tears, stepping forward to pick up Yuyu, taking off her shoes, "Good girl Yuyu, go lie down on the bed and stay with your brother!"
Yun Jinnian dared not sleep, fearing an emergency might arise.
Chu Lilan had already fallen asleep on the chaise longue, with Chu Lixiu and Wa Shuyuan huddled together; Chu Lixiu was drowsy, while Wa Shuyuan was wide awake.
Yun Jinnian leaned on one hand with his eyes closed.
Chu Yu, Chu Xinhuan, and Chu Xinkai sat on one side, all silent.
The air was tense with anger.
While the Prince of Loyalty and his Princess did not remain by the bedside, they sent people to inquire several times.
Yuyu, being just a child, slept soundly.
Mrs. Dai wiped her tears in secret.
Chu Xinkai let out a groan, began to struggle, and called out for his wet nurse in distress.
"Princess Yijia!" Mrs. Dai exclaimed in shock.
Yun Jinnian suddenly woke up, quickly washed his face with cold water to become alert, then swiftly washed and dried his hands with warm water.
He returned to the bedside to feel Chu Xinkai’s pulse, "The poison has started to act, it’s just the beginning. Leave two people here to help, everyone else go outside, and also, carry Yuyu out!"
The onset of Chu Xinkai’s poisoning was indeed a frightening sight.
Chu Xinkai carried Yuyu to the room next door.
Chu Lixiu, Chu Lilan, and Wa Shuyuan also left the room.
"Hemei, silver needles!"
She quickly grabbed the silver needles and applied them to Chu Xinkai.
But she had underestimated the potency of the poison, and Chu Xinkai’s body convulsed uncontrollably.
"Strip him of his clothes, hold him down, don’t let him thrash about!"
Chu Yu and Chu Xinhuan immediately let go and swiftly stripped the clothes from Chu Xinkai’s body.
Mrs. Dai was also there to hold Chu Xinkai steady.
Yun Jinnian moved quickly and steadily with the needles, though several times she started out right, but Chu Xinkai’s struggling caused her to miss.
"I said, hold him down firmly. If you go easy on him because you’re worried about hurting him, you’re actually doing him harm!" Yun Jinnian said sternly, sweat beading on her forehead.
She didn’t want a vibrant life to end on her watch.
Hearing this, Chu Xinhuan glanced at Mrs. Dai and said solemnly, "You go next door to look after Yuyu, let my second brother come help!"
"My lord..." Mrs. Dai exclaimed.
This was her child; how could she not be heartbroken?
Chu Xinhuan didn’t speak, but people stationed outside immediately went to call Chu Xinkai.
Meanwhile, Chu Xinkai’s painful cries grew louder, begging for his wet nurse, calling out for his mother and grandmother to comfort him.
He was in a lot of pain.
Incredibly uncomfortable!
The three men held him down tightly as Yun Jinnian administered the needles.
The Prince of Loyalty and his Princess hurried over but were kept outside; listening to the cries from inside the room, they too were deeply distressed.
About half an hour later, Chu Xinkai lay exhausted and limp on the bed.
Yun Jinnian put away the needles and let out a breath of relief, "We’ve managed to get through the first hurdle; he’s likely to develop a fever soon!"
She took out a pill from a bottle, "Hemei, dissolve this in water and give it to him to drink!"
Yun Jinnian didn’t need to worry about the trivialities of getting dressed.
She went aside to change her damp undergarments.
"Is Princess Yijia very nervous?" Wa Shuyuan asked softly.