Chu Yun woke up the next day feeling invigorated, and determine to corner either the Queen Consort or the Third Princess, and get some direct answers out of the two of them.
Unfortunately, the proved easier said than done.
His first attempt was thwarted when he and Xiao Ziyi went to the guest rooms to propose a lunch outside, on account of the fine weather, and the Queen Consort informed them with a chagrined expression that the Third Princess had fallen ill, and as such wouldn't be able to join them, and she would rather stay behind to look after her.
"Nothing serious, it must have been something she ate," she said with a dismissive smile.
"Did you believe that?" He asked Xiao Ziyi as soon as they had walked a few paces away from the door the Queen Consort had unceremoniously closed in their face.
"Does it matter? We can't force our way in just because they might be lying."
Chu Yun agreed, but they had other options. "There is someone that can."
---
Minutes later, they watched from the cover of a sliver of open doorway in a nearby office, as Hua Nanyi approached the room with a platter filled with medicine, and some mild food appropriate for someone experiencing an upset stomach.
From his vantage point Chu Yun could see the indecision on the Queen's face, but after a moment of hesitation she allowed Hua Nanyi inside.
The victory was shortlived, however, as moments later Hua Nanyi walked out with an empty platter and a scowl. She made a beeline for his and Xiao Ziyi's hiding place, and slammed the door shut on her way in.
"She didn't let me stay," she said, stating the obvious.
"Did you see something out of the ordinary?" Chu Yun asked.
Hua Nanyi's eyes drifted over him before travelling towards Xiao Ziyi. "Nothing of note, except I saw the Third Princess without her veil. She's an unparalleled beauty."
Her words were pointed but Chu Yun didn't think she was speaking out of jealousy.
"I feel sorry for her, being dragged all the way here to be talked about behind her back, and used for information."
---
In the mid of it all, at least Hua Nanyi was still allowed inside the Queen's and Third Princess's rooms on account of personally delivering medicine and food on Xiao Zai's and Chu Yun's behalf -- they had to be good hosts, and as good guests, the Queen and the Princess had to accept their hospitality.
"Nothing again," she said, meeting with Chu Yun to inform him of her latest foray into the guest quarters.
Chu Yun couldn't get over the idea that they were buying time. He told this to Hua Nanyi, who pointed out the obvious, "yes, but which one? Or is it both of them?"
He had no answer for her. And from what she'd seen, she couldn't make up her mind either. While the Queen Consort hovered constantly, the Third Princess did look genuinely sick, and was always in her bed whenever Hua Nanyi visited.
It seemed they had reached a stalemate when a few days later Hua Nanyi returned with a small slip of paper clutched between her fingers.
"She slipped this under the tray just as I was leaving," she said, handing Chu Yun the message.
It was short and to the point. 'My mother enjoys chrysanthemum tea.'
"What does she mean by that?" Hua Nanyi asked reading over Chu Yun's shoulder.
"It means that she's suggesting we deliver some chrysanthemum tea the next time you visit, possibly with something in it to ensure her mother sleeps soundly and deeply."
They did so the very next day.
Chu Yun told Hua Nanyi to stay hidden near the guest quarters, and wait for the Third Princess to leave the room, and then escort her right to him and Xiao Zai.
It was nightfall when a knock sounded outside the door of the private study he'd told Hua Nanyi to meet them at.
The Third Princess bowed deeply the moment she walked in. "This one is indebted to his Majesty and his Royal Highness, it took this long for my mother to trust that the food and drink you were sending us wasn't adulterated."
"And why was that something we needed to do?" Chu Yun asked, referring to the message she had sent them.
The Third Princess sighed deeply, making her veil flutter. "I'm afraid my mother had something to do with my father's condition."