For a time, Feng Wushuang was truly the center of attention, with numerous matchmakers knocking on his door, all from prominent families eager to marry off their legitimate or illegitimate daughters to him.
Mrs. Feng had long since been instructed by Feng Wushuang that he had someone in mind and did not wish to marry so early.
Over the years, Mrs. Feng had grown accustomed to abiding by Feng Wushuang's decisions. Therefore, whenever matchmakers visited, she would decline to see them, citing ill health as the reason.
Feng Wushuang, when socializing outside, was also very tactful. No matter what anyone said, he never loosened his lips to agree to a marriage.
The person he wanted to propose to, Yun Jinnian, had never even discussed the prospect of betrothal with him. On the surface, Feng Wushuang appeared calm, but inside, he was desperately anxious.
On several occasions, while dining with Yun Qi, others would drop hints now and then, but Yun Qi never mentioned it outright.
Feng Wushuang thought there might be two possibilities: either Yun Qi was too protective of his daughter, or Yun Qi didn't have the final say in the matter.
He thus abandoned the idea of initiating the proposal through Yun Qi and decided to start with Mrs. Han instead.
Mid-October in Nanjiang was still quite warm, but on the Tian Mountain, snow had already begun to fall, making the mountain roads difficult to traverse.
Chu Yu and Yuwen Ya had already led several expeditions into the snowy mountains and had yet to find the Snow Lotus of Tian Mountain.
Before long, it was the middle of November.
Madam Qian and the others didn't voice their concerns, but they were indeed very anxious, especially since Yun Jinnian spent all his time reading and researching herbs.
Seeing Yun Jinnian had also invited several physicians over to learn and discuss with them, they didn't dare to say much.
When Chu Yu and his party returned once again, it was said they had lost twenty-one men and still hadn't found the Snow Lotus of Tian Mountain.
Chu Yu, alone, shut himself in a room drinking sullenly, while Yun Jinnian had someone prepare a sobering soup and carried it into Chu Yu's room.
"Get out!"
Not lifting his head, Chu Yu mistook the visitor for Yuwen Ya.
But smelling the faint, elegant fragrance, he knew it was Yun Jinnian. He lifted his gaze to her and asked, "Why have you come?"
Yun Jinnian placed the sobering soup on the table, "I brought you sobering soup!"
"I'm not drunk!" Chu Yu said, sitting up straight.
"I know you're not drunk, but you've had quite a few jars of wine. It's not good for your health. Drink the sobering soup first, I have something to discuss with you," Yun Jinnian urged, lifting the lid for Chu Yu to drink.
If it were anyone else, Chu Yu would have certainly thrown them out, but this was Yun Jinnian, and he couldn't.
He grudgingly gulped down the sobering soup and then asked seriously, "What do you need to discuss?"
"Let me accompany you into the mountains. When it comes to herbs, my nose is more sensitive than most. Perhaps I could be of help!"
"The mountains are dangerous!"
Without a second thought, Chu Yu refused.
"Even if it's dangerous, I am not afraid. Your Highness, I'm not a sheltered delicate flower. Besides, once we find the Snow Lotus of Tian Mountain, I still need to go into the mountains to cultivate them. Why not let me get used to it first? The sooner we find the Snow Lotus of Tian Mountain, the sooner we can cultivate the Blood Lotus, and the greater the chance for Prince Yanjun to survive. I didn't dare to tell the Prince or Your Highness, but Prince Yanjun's hearing has deteriorated significantly recently!"
"But..."
Thinking of Prince Yanjun, Chu Yu found he couldn't bring himself to utter a refusal.
"There are no 'buts'. There's also Madam Qian and the others. With such a group of highly skilled martial artists at our disposal, it would be a shame not to make use of them," Yun Jinnian spoke with conviction.
Chu Yu actually began to laugh, "They were sent by the Emperor!"
"I'm aware of that, but no one said the poison afflicting the Emperor doesn't require the Blood Lotus. We're working our hardest, not just for Prince Yanjun, but for the Emperor as well!"
Chu Yu fell into contemplation, hesitating whether to bring Yun Jinnian into the mountains or not...