Before I knew it, half a month had passed, and I could already faintly make sounds.

I’d never seen someone so handsome yet with such a terrible temper.

I listlessly ground the herbs, feeling like my arms were about to fall off.

And just my luck, Yuwen Zhao would come to check on me from time to time, increasing my workload if he caught me slacking.

Xiao Ju, picking herbs beside me, said nonchalantly, “Master has never taken in a woman before, you’re lucky enough. Today’s your last acupuncture session, just bear with it for now.”

I just snorted. So what if he’s talented? A man like him has no pity for women.

When the time came, Xiao Ju led me into the room. I took off my clothes, exposing my back. A gentle breeze blew in, and I couldn’t help but pat my slightly flushed cheeks before lying face down on the bed.

That scent, like pine and cypress, wafted over again. I knew Yuwen Zhao had arrived.

Facing a strange man with my back bare is extremely shameful for a woman, but I’d already died twice, so there was nothing left to worry about.

Yuwen Zhao’s hand was incredibly steady. The moment the first needle went in, I started trembling. The pain of detoxification grew more intense with each session, but I knew that after this time, the remaining poison would be gone, and I still held a faint hope in my heart.

After all, if one could live, no one wanted to be a mute.

Yuwen Zhao paused. “This pain is extremely hard to bear,” he said, “you… can cry out.”

I shook my head, gritting my teeth and enduring. By the last needle, I was drenched in sweat, as if I’d been pulled from water.

I spat out a mouthful of black blood, and finally, I could make sounds. Yuwen Zhao placed a cloth over my back.

He sighed. “Do you know? Lan Nianhua’s Phoenix destiny is real.”

Is that true? I always thought it was just Madam’s way of raising Lan Nianhua’s status.

A faint realization dawned on me, and I suddenly understood. I spoke in a hoarse voice, “You like her? So you want her to trade for Qin Yiheng’s emperorship…”

He looked at the guqin hanging on the wall, as if lost in distant memories.

I looked at Yuwen Zhao. For the first time, I felt he wasn’t as carefree as he appeared.

Looking at his furrowed brow, I actually wanted to smooth it away for him.

After a moment, he chuckled softly. “No, I just wanted to see her. A Phoenix destiny means she can only marry an emperor. This is the will of Heaven, an unchangeable fate.”

He turned his head, returning to his usual self. He reached out and patted my head. “I never thought I’d come across such a stubborn little girl like you,” he said. “As for guqin skills, you’re far behind her.”

“That day, I didn’t perform well,” I said seriously.

“You’re quite the competitive little girl,” Yuwen Zhao said, not taking it seriously.

I insisted on playing the guqin for him.

Before I knew it, half a month had passed, and I was finally able to make faint sounds with my voice.

I had never met anyone so strikingly handsome yet possessed of such a foul temper.

I ground the medicinal herbs listlessly, feeling as though my arms were about to fall off.

To make matters worse, Yuwen Zhao would come to check on me from time to time; if he caught me slacking, he would increase my workload.

Xiaoju, who was sorting herbs beside me, said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, “Master has never taken in a woman before. You’re lucky enough as it is. Today is the last acupuncture session, so just bear with it for now.”

I huffed but said nothing. So what if he was talented? A man like him clearly had no sense of tenderness toward the fairer sex.

When the time came, Xiaoju led me into the room. I removed my outer garment to reveal my back. As a light breeze blew in, I couldn’t help but pat my slightly flushed cheeks before lying face down on the bed.

That scent, reminiscent of pine and cypress, wafted toward me again. I knew Yuwen Zhao had arrived.

Exposing one’s bare back to a strange man would be deeply shameful for any woman, but having already died twice, I had nothing left to be cautious about.

Yuwen Zhao’s hands were incredibly steady. I began to tremble the moment the first needle went in. The pain of expelling the poison grew more intense with each session, but knowing that the residual toxins would vanish after this final time, I felt a faint sense of anticipation.

After all, as long as there is a chance to live, no one wants to remain a mute.

Yuwen Zhao paused for a moment. “This pain is extremely difficult to endure. You… can cry out if you need to.”

I shook my head, gritting my teeth to persevere. By the time the last needle was placed, I was drenched in sweat, looking as though I had been fished out of a river.

After spitting out a mouthful of black blood, I could finally find my voice. Yuwen Zhao draped my clothes over my back.

He sighed. “Do you know? Lan Nianhua’s Phoenix destiny is real.”

It was real? I had always thought it was just a ploy used by the First Lady to raise Lan Nianhua’s status.

Sensing something, a realization dawned on me. “You like her?” I spoke, my voice raspy. “That’s why you’re using her to trade for Qin Yiheng’s throne…”

He looked at the zither hanging on the wall, appearing as though he had fallen into a distant memory.

Looking at Yuwen Zhao, it was the first time I felt he wasn’t as carefree as he portrayed himself to be.

Seeing his furrowed brow, I actually felt an urge to smooth it away for him.

After a long silence, he gave a soft chuckle. “No, I just wanted to see her. A Phoenix destiny can only marry an Emperor. This is the way of heaven, a fate that cannot be changed.”

He turned his head, returning to his usual self, and reached out to pat my head. “I didn’t expect to encounter such a stubborn little girl like you. In terms of zither skills, you’re far behind her.”

I said earnestly, “I just didn’t perform well that day.”

“The little girl even has a competitive streak.” Yuwen Zhao didn’t take it seriously.

I insisted on playing the zither for him.

After several months, the narrator starts to feel more confident. The encounter with the mysterious figure, the narrator’s encounter with the herbalist, and the presence of the herbalist’s daughter all contribute to this growth.

=== CHAPTER_START_11_CONTINUED ===
The narrator’s journey is marked by a gradual realization and a growing determination. The interactions with various characters and the narrator’s own reflections play a crucial role in shaping their perspective.