After going back and forth between the rear courtyard and the main courtyard for half a month, Gu Qinglu had grown thoroughly familiar with the routes.
Stepping through the archway, she immediately spotted many soldiers in light armor standing in the spacious courtyard.
From the center of the group came the clash of blades.
No need to guess—Gu Qinglu knew it had to be Xiao Xingcang sparring with someone.
Hearing footsteps behind them, the crowd turned, parting to make a path.
They clasped their fists in unison toward her.
“Princess Consort.”
Gu Qinglu inclined her head slightly, her gaze drifting toward the figures in combat.
The two men wielded their sabers with fluid ease, evenly matched in skill.
Suddenly, the youth in the slate-colored fitted outfit glanced her way.
In the next instant, he withdrew from the exchange and flung the long saber in his hand.
Xiao Xingcang realized what was happening and tried to stop it—but it was already too late.
The blade flew straight toward the slender figure standing at the archway.
The moment Gu Qinglu caught that look, she had already reacted. As the saber left his hand, she pivoted her steps sideways, evading it perfectly.
Clang.
The blade struck the ground.
Everyone present looked at her—then turned to stare at the one who had thrown the weapon.
For a moment, the courtyard fell into dead silence.
“How dare you!”The nanny’s sharp rebuke rang out as she carried a tray, breaking the stillness.
Gu Qinglu smiled at her, unconcerned, raising a hand to placate her.
“It’s all right, Nanny.”
The young man, seeing how effortlessly she had dodged, sneered.
“Well now—if it isn’t the little fool. Come begging for sweets again?”
The words had barely fallen when a low, stern reprimand sounded beside him.
“Watch your mouth.”
At the same time, the youth froze.
Glancing at the person next to him, he hurried forward with an ingratiating smile.
“Sister-in-law—my apologies, my apologies. I didn’t realize it was you.”
Gu Qinglu wore a faint smile.
When he clasped his fists to salute her, she extended her hand from within her sleeves and lightly supported his wrist.
“It’s fine. No need for formalities.”
Even though the apology reeked of insincerity, she still maintained perfect courtesy.
She also knew that anyone able to spar with Xiao Xingcang in his own courtyard could not be of low status.
That didn’t stop her from tampering with him, though—no one would notice.
If she didn’t teach him a lesson, she would hardly deserve her title as Saintess who once ruled three Miao tribes.
When he woke up later, he would surely wail to the heavens.
Throughout it all, Xiao Xingcang watched her in silence.
She was smiling, magnanimous on the surface—but he clearly saw the flash of smug delight and excitement in her bright eyes.
Under the high autumn sun, she was dazzling.
Dressed in a peach-colored ruqun, a streak of jade-green silk draped over her shoulders and looped around her arms.
Her hair was arranged in a drifting-cloud style, adorned with kingfisher ornaments. With lifted chin, bright eyes, and crimson lips, her beauty outshone spring itself.
Now that smile only made her all the more striking.
Her appearance could truly be called one in ten thousand.
Once the pleasantries ended, the woman walked over.
Seeing the tray of needle rolls carried by the nanny behind her, Xiao Xingcang frowned.
Every two days lately she came to needle him—just the sight of that kit made him uneasy.
As she walked, Gu Qinglu sized up the man standing tall like a pine.
His features were resolute and handsome, his entire bearing radiating an invisible pressure.
Long legs, broad shoulders, narrow waist—clad in dark blue fitted attire, he exuded the deep, restrained aura unique to seasoned warriors.
If not for the lingering thinness in his face and the incomplete return of color, one would never guess he had been tormented by gu poison for two whole years.
She liked strong people—those who endured immense suffering yet remained powerful.
Had he not continued training in martial arts while poisoned, he might have died long ago.
“Let’s go inside. Time to clear the remaining poison.”
She withdrew her gaze and gestured toward the tray.
Xiao Xingcang looked down at her, waved the others away, and followed her indoors.
After sparring, he was sweaty and needed to wash.
When he emerged from the bathing room, he saw her sitting quietly in a round-backed chair, flipping through a military manual he had casually left on the table.
Drying his hair, he walked over, his voice unconsciously softening.
“Can you understand it?”
A shadow fell before her. Gu Qinglu looked up and chuckled.
“No. Just flipping through it at random. Sit.”
She closed the book, put it back, and dragged a chair over to the couch.
Xiao Xingcang flicked her a glance.She clearly understood it—yet still pretended otherwise.
Gu Qinglu drew out a floating needle and caught his arm in one hand.
It was growing more solid by the day.
She couldn’t help but glance at it a few extra times.
“You’re recovering well—but don’t rush it.”
She took the opportunity to give his arm a squeeze.
The muscles were even and firm, perfectly matched with his bronzed skin.
His long, well-defined fingers were elegant too.
Not just a handsome face—everything about him was impressive.
Seeing that the needle she held was thicker than the ones used before, Xiao Xingcang’s breathing quickened involuntarily.
His body tensed too much for her to work.
She abruptly raised her hand and smacked his bare chest.
“Relax.”
The next instant, her wrist was caught in his broad hand.
Frowning, she looked at him in confusion and blinked.
“You’ve been needled before—what are you afraid of? Hurry up. I still have to refine medicine for you tonight. I don’t have time to waste.”
Xiao Xingcang had been needled before—but always while unconscious.
Her needles were thick and long, and she even twisted them once inserted.
It hurt—right through his chest.
He released her hand, took a deep breath, and forced himself to relax.
“Not sleeping tonight?” he asked.
“None of your business.”Her eyes never lifted as one hand pressed a point on his chest while the other guided the needle.
Fine.
A pointless question.
Remembering their agreement, Xiao Xingcang shut his mouth.
The floating needle traveled from his chest down to his left arm, then to his wrist.
Afterward, they waited.
Gu Qinglu propped her chin on her hand, eyes closed, indulging in thoughts of her carefree future wandering the martial world.
Imagining the many handsome young men she might encounter on her journey south to Jiangnan, her lips curved into a smile.
Xiao Xingcang didn’t know what she was thinking—but that smile definitely boded no good.
For some reason, the corner of his mouth twitched upward as well.
Realizing it, he immediately suppressed the smile.
Laughing with a fool—what nonsense.
Judging the timing, Gu Qinglu refocused.
She flicked the needle embedded in his wrist, withdrew it, and placed a belly leech onto the bead of blood that welled up.
Sensing blood, the creature wriggled twice, then latched on and began to suck.
Gradually, it visibly swelled.
Her hands moved swiftly again, flicking the remaining floating needles.
In the next instant, a black line appeared beneath the skin of his arm, clearly visible.
Gu Qinglu’s movements were practiced and precise, her expression utterly focused.
Her crimson lips were pressed together—one could sense her intense dedication to healing.
Xiao Xingcang watched her quietly, his deep obsidian eyes filled with probing curiosity.
Curiosity aside, no matter how he investigated, he could find nothing.
Overnight, she had transformed—from a fool with the mind of a three-year-old into a woman of extraordinary medical skill.
He had gone to war at fourteen and lived to twenty-two, witnessing countless strange events in the world.
Yet even so, her sudden change was something he had never encountered before.
Gu Qinglu kept her eyes on the blood-sucking leech, unaware of his scrutiny.
Before long, it was round and bloated, fully fed.
She took it from him and swiftly placed it back into a delicate porcelain bottle on the tray.