The moon had already risen, and the group had gathered quite a few medicinal herbs.
Yet none of the poisons listed by Gu Qinglu had been found.
Hu Wei, who was leading the team, wiped his face and let out a sigh.
Seeing this, Xiao Xingcang waved a hand.“Send people to scour the apothecaries for what she needs.”
She insisted—there was nothing he could do.
At night, wolves were active in the forest. Xiao Xingcang genuinely feared she might be carried off by a pack.
He looked up.
The deeper they went into the mountains, the denser the canopy became.
It nearly blotted out the stars overhead. Coupled with the darkness, visibility was extremely limited.
After giving his orders, Xiao Xingcang drew his bow and followed Gu Qinglu’s tracks.
They ended beneath an ancient tree.
The footprints vanished there.
He scanned the surroundings. The trail ended cleanly at this spot. Just as he was about to order torches lit, something cool splashed against the back of his hand.
He looked up.
In the next instant, something fell onto his face along with a splash of juice.
Xiao Xingcang crouched and pinched it between his fingers—it was an overripe wild fruit, bitten once and tossed aside.
“Your Highness, we didn’t find the Princess Consort. We only found her basket,” guards reported one after another from the darkness.
Xiao Xingcang straightened, bow in hand, and looked up into the interlaced branches above.“Rest where you are. Light a fire.”
High up on a thick branch, Gu Qinglu lay sprawled comfortably, eating wild fruit and gazing at the stars.
For a fleeting moment, it felt as if she had returned to her childhood in the wild forests of Miao territory.
Back then, that old hag hadn’t treated her like a human being at all.
She’d toss her a dagger, a small pouch of food, a fire striker—and throw her into the forest.
When Gu Qinglu was ten, the old woman must have sensed her own death approaching and trained her without mercy.
Not only did she cast her into the wilderness, she summoned wolves and great beasts with gu arts.
For two full years, Gu Qinglu had no contact with anyone from the tribe. The wolf packs couldn’t kill her.
If she climbed trees, the old woman released venomous snakes and scorpions.
If she hid in caves, the cave entrances were sealed with gu—and wolf cubs were tossed inside for good measure.
The adult wolves of Miao territory surrounded the cave entrances.
Back then, Gu Qinglu thought it would be better to slit her own throat than die under that woman’s torment.
But the old hag threatened her with the lives of her companions.
She said: You were brought back by me when you were three. You are the saintess I cultivated. If you dare to die, I will immediately throw the companions you came with into the alchemy furnace.
Gu Qinglu knew she would show no mercy.
So she lived—for them.
She used gu arts, brute force, blades—killing one wolf after another.
She fought until she stood before the king of the forest. By then, her clothes were long gone—she didn’t even have rags to cover herself.
On the day she emerged from the forest, Miao territory was buried under heavy snow.
She wore only the pelt of a great beast.
The old woman came to greet her and said,“This is how a Miao saintess should be—able to slay beasts controlled by poison and gu, yet capable of cherishing human life. To take the world upon oneself, to love all without selfishness.”
Spring came soon after.
The old woman died.
That same year, Gu Qinglu was supported by the elders and two high priests and placed upon the seat of Saintess.
She’d thought becoming Saintess would bring freedom.
Instead, she couldn’t even go to the latrine without being followed.
Except when she was in seclusion cultivating gu, every word and action was recorded.
Thinking of how she had now completely cut ties with Miao territory, Gu Qinglu felt nothing but delight.
Saintess. Boundless love. Selfless devotion.
Love whoever you want.
Once she cured that bastard Xiao Xingcang and took the silver, she’d roam free.
Suddenly, she smelled thick smoke.
Gu Qinglu’s eyes snapped open.
Below, Xiao Xingcang had ordered a fire lit beneath the great tree—but deliberately kept it from burning too fiercely.
As if on purpose, the smoke grew thicker and thicker.
Frowning, Gu Qinglu rose and climbed down.
When she emerged from the dense branches and descended at monkey-like speed, everyone below stared in shock.
Including Xiao Xingcang, who slowly stood and assessed her.
She slid down the trunk, landing lightly, then leaned against it with her arms folded, lips curved in a half-smile as she looked at him.
Meeting her gaze, he lifted a brow almost imperceptibly.“I thought the Princess Consort had gone back. We searched for ages without seeing you—this prince was quite worried.”
Xiao Xingcang stood with hands clasped behind his back, smiling faintly as he looked at her across the fire.
Gu Qinglu was in a good mood—she’d found what she needed today—and felt like sparring verbally with him.
“Oh? Then it seems my position in Prince Qin’s heart is of utmost importance.”
She knew perfectly well he’d been aware she was in the tree. He’d smoked her out on purpose.
He looked at her and replied calmly,“The Princess Consort is the mistress of Prince Qin’s residence. Of course you’re important.”
That reminded Gu Qinglu of something. She glanced at the people around him.
Xiao Xingcang understood immediately and gestured for them to withdraw.
When they had retreated far enough, she stepped forward. They still stood on opposite sides of the fire.
She looked him up and down.“Add another clause to our agreement: the letter of divorce is to be given together with my medical fee.”
Xiao Xingcang didn’t answer right away. His eyes shifted—he’d found her weak point.
She loved money more than her life.
Resting his hands on his waist, he glanced at her.“Agreed. But before that, I have a question.”
She smoothed her hair at the temple, expression steady.“Ask.”
“Did the Princess Consort once live deep in the mountains—using the sky as a blanket and the earth as a bed? And what use do you have for animal bones?”
Watching how effortlessly she’d climbed the tree, anything less than a decade of experience would be impossible.
Gu Qinglu opened her mouth—then closed it again.
She laughed softly, raising her brow as she looked at him.“First, that’s two questions. Second—no comment.”
“…”
Xiao Xingcang clenched his molars. If you hadn’t saved my life, I’d have hauled out the torture rack already.
“No comment” again—did she only know that one phrase?
Oh right. He’d forgotten.
She was a fool.
If that was the only phrase she knew, he could understand.
Seeing his expression darken, Gu Qinglu immediately recalled the hardships of her childhood to keep from laughing.
They stood there in silence.
After a while, Qi Heng approached, clasped his fists behind Xiao Xingcang, and said,“Your Highness, the tents are set up. Please enter the tent, Your Highness and Princess Consort.”
Gu Qinglu frowned at once and waved him off.“You go. It’s cold—your body… your remaining poison hasn’t cleared yet. You can’t catch a chill.”
Seeing her look, Xiao Xingcang thought: If there weren’t subordinates present, would her next line be that I’m weak?
He nodded, said nothing, and didn’t move.
Behind him, Qi Heng’s eyes darted back and forth between the two.
Wait—hadn’t His Highness been gazing at his wife all affectionately during the day?
How had the atmosphere turned so strange after just a short while apart?
Qi Heng stood there with them for nearly a quarter hour. Only when he had to arrange night patrols did he clasp his fists and withdraw.
When the moon reached its zenith, Gu Qinglu—exhausted from the day—could no longer hold on. Yawning, she turned, sat beneath the tree, leaned against it, and fell asleep.
She was utterly worn out.
By day, she’d expended mental energy communicating with the golden eagle. By dusk, she’d been digging for herbs—and animal remains.
She could fall asleep the moment she closed her eyes.
In the latter half of the night, the wind rose.
Seeing her head bob repeatedly, Xiao Xingcang hesitated—then finally walked over.
He crouched before her. Firelight illuminated half her face; even the dirt smudges couldn’t conceal her delicate features.
Such a face—skin and bone alike—was flawless, like someone from a painting.
After looking at her for a moment, he slipped an arm around her waist and lifted her up.