“You must be hungry, right?”
Gu Nian hurriedly put on an ingratiating smile and helped him recline halfway, thoughtfully stuffing a pillow behind his back.
She turned, fetched a low stool, and sat beside the bed. Using a spoon, she skimmed the layer of fat from the soup, scooped up a spoonful, and blew on it.
“I stewed you a black-footed chicken. The thirty-year-old wild ginseng alone cost a hundred taels of silver. My father could never bear to sell it, so it happened to be put to good use nourishing you.”
The young girl smiled as sweetly as a flower and brought the soup, now at just the right temperature, to his lips.
“You need to nourish yourself properly so you can recover quickly.”
Though Xiao Yan was furious, he had to recuperate as quickly as possible. Otherwise, who knew how this woman, with nothing but having children on her mind, would mistreat him?
He opened his mouth and took half a spoonful of chicken soup. After the flavor turned once across his palate, he immediately knew the amount and grade of the ginseng.
He cast her a cool glance and asked sarcastically, “An entire root of wild ginseng?”
At most, there had been one or two strands of root.
Not only had she sullied his body, she even wanted to swindle his silver?
What a black-hearted woman.
Gu Nian did not so much as blush. “Of course. I spared no expense to nourish you.”
Xiao Yan sneered. “When I recover, will two hundred taels be enough to repay you?”
Gu Nian’s almond-shaped eyes curved. “All right! So you have to finish the soup and eat all the meat. That way, none of it will go to waste.”
Where would he get the silver to give her?
A man always needed to save some face, so she would give him all the dignity he wanted.
Besides, he had already given her his body. Naturally, she could not ask him for his silver as well.
“Since you’re counting the silver, fish out that ginseng and let me eat it.”
He enunciated every word. “No waste.”
“Ah?”
Gu Nian was completely stumped.
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. “Could it be that you ate the ginseng and are only giving me the soup?”
Gu Nian: …
How could this man be so sharp?
Gu Nian coaxed him, “Eating the whole root would give you too much internal heat. Eating the chicken and drinking the soup is better for your health. We should save the ginseng and use it to stew several more chickens.”
Xiao Yan sneered.
He could not be bothered to expose her.
Once he had recovered his strength—or once his people came looking for him—he would settle the entire account with this wicked woman!
Xiao Yan’s injuries had damaged his internal organs, and his throat had also been injured by the overbearing aphrodisiac. He could not eat tough meat.
Gu Nian stewed the chicken until it was extremely tender, so tender that it practically melted in the mouth.
Even so, he found eating difficult. Every swallow sent a searing pain through his throat, while all his internal organs felt as though they were burning.
Seeing his discomfort, Gu Nian said gently, “Take it slowly. There’s no rush.”
She was very patient, feeding him one spoonful at a time. After more than an hour, she had actually managed to feed him an entire bowl of chicken soup, little by little, and was exhausted.
Xiao Yan looked as though he had run five li. His forehead was covered in sweat, and he was utterly spent.
Gu Nian used a handkerchief to wipe the soup from the corners of his mouth and the beads of sweat from his brow. In a gentle voice, she said, “Rest for a while. We’ll drink your medicine in half an hour.”
Gu Nian glanced at his greasy, matted hair.
“With your looks, you must at least have been a top courtesan. You used to live a very refined life, didn’t you? Other than the calluses on your palms, the rest of your skin is clearly delicate and carefully tended.”
People who lived refined lives had to wash their hair every day. Looking at his tangled, greasy head of hair, it must feel terribly uncomfortable.
A top courtesan?
Xiao Yan’s face turned livid, and he glared at her viciously.
He drew a deep breath.
Don’t be angry. Don’t be angry.
If he made himself sick with anger, in the end, he would only be benefiting this lecherous woman!
Gu Nian realized that she had said the wrong thing. Why had she brought up top courtesans? Wasn’t that just rubbing salt into his wounds?
She quickly put on a considerate smile. “Tonight, I’ll wash your hair properly and make you feel comfortable enough to sleep well.”
“Fine.”
Though Xiao Yan was angry, his head truly felt awful—so awful that he could not remain calm. And when he could not remain calm, his intelligence declined.
But the moment the word left his mouth, he regretted it.
If he let her wash his hair, would that not give her yet another chance to touch him at close range?
Gu Nian’s brows and eyes curved with delight.
So he wanted his hair washed.
She would give his scalp a good massage while she was at it.
When a person felt comfortable, his mood improved. And when his mood improved, it became easier to cultivate feelings.
Once they had feelings, and he willingly did that sort of thing with her… then surely he would be able to experience the marvelous delights described in those little romance booklets, right?
Vivid scenes from the little romance booklet surfaced in Gu Nian’s mind, and her head exploded with a buzz.
Gu Nian, you’re finished. What are you daydreaming about?
Lust has addled your wits!
Her face burning red with embarrassment, she turned away and hurriedly rose to her feet. “I’m going to prepare your medicine.”
After noon, the sunlight was bright.
The day was unusually quiet, and none of the people looking for trouble had come again.
The Zhao family was probably busy currying favor with the Zhou Family.
Gu Nian moved a chair beneath the eaves and sat there, occupied with making medicinal pills for her beauty.
The blazing sunlight fell warmly upon her. It was the most carefree day she had enjoyed since something had happened to her parents.
While she was busy, Wu Dabao arrived.
Gu Nian smiled. “There are red dates roasting on the stove. Help yourself.”
Wu Dabao had no time to eat. He grabbed a low stool and plopped down beside Gu Nian.
“Big Sister, I found out.”
Gu Nian set down the bronze medicinal mortar in her hand. “That quickly? Well done.”
Praised, Wu Dabao blushed. He proudly patted his little chest. “My little fellows are each like sewer rats. They can sneak wherever they want, and there’s nothing they can’t find out.”
Gu Nian pressed her lips together in a smile, opened the purple-clay jar at her feet, took out a preserved plum, and stuffed it into his mouth.
“Your reward.”
They were made by Mother, and only one small jar remained. The preserved plums were deliciously sour and sweet, and Gu Nian usually could not bear to share them with anyone.
Wu Dabao chewed with great satisfaction as he rattled off everything he had found out in one breath.
Gu Nian was shocked. “He really is the Gongsun family’s Second Young Master?”
“Of course! I was startled too. He’s not someone we can afford to provoke.”
Wu Dabao looked at Gu Nian worriedly.
Gu Nian’s expression turned solemn.
Her guess had been right. He really was from the Gongsun Clan—the family of Zhou Family’s Grand Aunt’s husband, and the leading aristocratic clan in the capital.
The Gongsun Clan was an imperial in-law clan. It had once commanded powerful armies and produced three empresses and two empress dowagers. Its authority had been overwhelming.
The Gongsun family’s Old Master had been the first founding duke, granted the title Duke Su, and had taken a Grand Princess Shang as his principal wife.
His younger sister, Gongsun Ruyue, had been made Princess Hejing and had gone in place of the emperor’s own daughter to the Northwest to marry into Great Yan. She was now the Empress Dowager of Great Yan.
His legitimate eldest daughter had entered the palace and become Empress.
His legitimate eldest son had been granted the title Marquis of Jing’an and had been in charge of the Gongsun Clan for thirty years.
Seventeen years ago, Gongsun Ruyue’s daughter, Princess Murong Xi of Great Yan, returned to Great Yong after her marriage alliance and married the Regent as his Principal Consort.
The Marquis of Jing’an had two legitimate sons. The heir apparent was born to his first wife, while his legitimate second son, Gongsun Yu, was born to his second wife, Zhou Family’s Grand Aunt.
Gongsun Yu was exceptionally outstanding. As a result, Madam Zhou’s position within the Gongsun Clan was extremely secure, and the Zhou Family’s status had risen along with hers, allowing it to dominate Lin’an Prefecture.
This family wielded far too much power. They truly were not people one could afford to provoke.
She did not want to get involved with them.
But if Zhou Baozhu refused to leave her alone, how was she supposed to avoid them?
Gu Nian fell deep in thought.
“I heard that the Gongsun Clan no longer controls military power, and that the Consort of the Prince Regent died ten years ago as well. Empress Gongsun passed away two months ago, and the Crown Prince has disappeared. Is that really true?”
Wu Dabao nodded. “The storytellers tell that story every day, and the common people all love listening to it. It should be true.”
Gu Nian felt the same.
The fact that storytellers dared to recount it publicly proved that the Gongsun Clan’s power was far weaker than before.
But even a starving camel was still bigger than a horse. The Gongsun Clan remained one of the capital’s foremost noble families. Why would the legitimate son of the Gongsun Clan come all the way to little Lin’an in Jiangnan to handle such trivial matters for a maternal cousin?
“It’s fine. I’ve broken off my engagement with Zhao Qian. Zhou Baozhu won’t go so far as to make things difficult for me.”
Gu Nian simply stopped thinking about it. When the boat reached the bridge, there would naturally be a way across. For now, she would deal with the matter in front of her.
Wu Dabao’s face twisted into a knot. “I’m only afraid that Zhao Qian, that rotten man, will be insatiably greedy and refuse to leave you alone. If he angers Miss Zhou, you might get dragged into it too.”
Gu Nian patted him on the shoulder. “Your Big Sister isn’t someone to be trifled with either. If they dare come again, I’ll reward them with a taste of poison.”
Wu Dabao’s eyes lit up. “All right, all right! Big Sister is making poison, isn’t she? I’ll help you grind the medicine.”
As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves and eagerly rubbed his hands together, preparing to help Sister Nian do something wicked.
“Dabao, your father is calling you. Hurry home, and stop making trouble here.”
Aunt Wu came in carrying a basket of eggs. When she saw her son reaching for the bronze medicinal mortar in Gu Nian’s hands, she scolded him angrily and kicked him in the backside.
Wu Dabao let out a howl. “Mother, leave your son a little dignity! Don’t kick my butt in front of Big Sister.”
Aunt Wu laughed and cursed him. “You little rascal. You know what dignity is?”
Wu Dabao ran off, shouting, “Sister Nian, I’ll come fill all your water jars later!”
Aunt Wu turned back and said with a smile, “We happened to have more eggs than we needed, so I brought you some.”
Gu Nian was very grateful and did not refuse. The two families had an excellent relationship and often sent each other things. Besides, her beauty needed eggs to help nourish his body.
“Thank you, Auntie.”
The thought of making some poison for self-defense had suddenly occurred to her, and Gu Nian found that it did seem feasible.
To deal with evil people, one had to be even more evil than they were!
Night fell.
Gu Nian set a large pot of water to boil.
Soon, she would be holding her beauty in her arms while washing his hair. Just thinking about it made her giddy with happiness.
Gu Nian’s face grew hot.
A man this beautiful would make even her unable to resist taking a few extra looks. The wealthy patrons of the pleasure quarters certainly would not let him go easily either.
An idea surfaced in Gu Nian’s mind…
Perhaps she should redeem him?
Maybe that would make him happy.
And it would allow him to break free of those people completely.