Gu Qinglu left the side hall and headed straight to the wall of the courtyard to work on her task, with the matron following dutifully.
Though she couldn’t be of much help, the matron was happy to stay behind the woman who had saved the prince’s life.
If she was thirsty, the matron would hand her water.
Hungry?
A snack.
And every day she would find some new dish from the kitchen for her to try.
Seeing her crouched by the wall, drawing a dagger, the matron’s heart nearly leapt into her throat:“Consort, you mustn’t!”
Gu Qinglu paused, then turned her head.
Seeing the matron’s pale, frightened face, she said:“If you’re scared, you can leave first. Go deliver the meals to Xiao Xingcang; it won’t be so fast today anyway.”
She knew the matron feared something might happen to her, and that without her, Xiao Xingcang’s poison might never be fully cleared.
No sooner had she spoken than she gripped the sharp dagger in her palm and pulled it sharply—blood spurted.
The matron couldn’t bear to watch further and bent low:“I’ll have someone come stay with the Consort.”
She had observed Gu Qinglu long enough to know that her actions were always unpredictable. In that, she reminded the matron of the prince himself.
Meanwhile, Yuan Ziheng had searched everywhere for Gu Qinglu. Seeing the matron, he hurried to block her path, gesturing frantically.
The matron bent in a respectful bow, unable to understand his frantic gestures. She simply said,“Sir, I am the Consort’s matron, formerly from the Duke’s household. There are a few things I must advise you: First, whether or not the Consort is ‘foolish,’ once she steps into the Prince’s mansion, without a formal divorce from the Prince, she is the lady of the house. Second, the Prince owes his current position entirely to the Consort. I don’t expect you to call her anything, just don’t insult her.”
Yuan Ziheng was frustrated. He had come to apologize to that “fool,” yet now he couldn’t speak.
The matron’s words carried into the side hall, reaching Xiao Xingcang, who felt a complicated mix of emotions.
For the Consort, there was now a place in the Prince’s mansion, one she could claim freely.
If she didn’t want to stay, she could be allowed freedom.
Her “three rules” even mentioned a warhorse.
Xiao Xingcang didn’t think someone with such medical skill would remain confined to the back quarters.
She was only fifteen; her life was long, and she should follow her own path.
Moreover, he had many matters to attend to, and having another person around added risk.
“Matron, tell the Consort where to find him. He should apologize,” he said.
“Yes,” the matron replied, showing a hint of her shoulder at the window before bowing and stepping back.
She led him away, stopping at a distance, bowing once more before retreating.
Yuan Ziheng spotted the girl crouched by the wall playing with the soil. What’s with this special treatment for someone playing in the dirt? he thought.
Gu Qinglu heard his footsteps.
Her hearing had improved, but she couldn’t let herself be distracted. She ignored him completely.
She wanted to test whether, in this new body, she could still summon the golden eagle deep in the forests of Miaojiang using the Heart-Linked Insect.
Buried here was the queen insect she had spent days refining, nourished with her own blood.
When everything was ready, she rose and walked back, passing Yuan Ziheng without a glance.
Yuan Ziheng’s eyes followed her every move. Seeing her leave, he hurried to keep up.
Back in the pharmacy, she efficiently sprinkled herb powder into her palm and wrapped it with gauze.
Xiao Xingcang watched silently, not speaking.
Glancing at a figure standing outside the beaded curtain, he saw Gu Qinglu finishing her work. He quietly said,“Let him endure a bit of pain, or should we give him the antidote? Then let him leave—so he won’t be in the way. What do you think, Consort?”
Gu Qinglu, still wrapping needles, looked up at him:“My tolerance is high. If someone insults me, I can ignore it. But if a knife is aimed at me, I show no mercy.”
Xiao Xingcang’s lips curved slightly. “If there’s a next time, deal with it. This time, I’ll spare him, for my sake. How about that?”
His tone was gentle, far from his usual coldness—like coaxing a child.
Finishing her work, Gu Qinglu sat in the chair, admiring the handsome features before her.
Apart from his slight coldness, he was breathtaking: tall, long-legged, broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, and perfectly proportioned.
“The antidote is there. Take it, and it will work in half an hour.” She sipped tea and leaned back, eyes half-closed.
She was attempting to link with the child eagle insect.
Xiao Xingcang, thinking she was tired, silently left the room, letting Yuan Ziheng fetch the medicine himself.
Half an hour before, he had seen the inscription and had no desire to touch it.
Inside the pharmacy, Yuan Ziheng paused in front of the shelf of porcelain jars, startled.
When he reached the antidote, he caught a glimpse of the inscription through a crack in his vision.
He pointed to himself. Xiao Xingcang nodded and raised an eyebrow.
Yuan Ziheng nearly exploded with frustration. Was that foolish woman playing with him?
Seeing Xiao Xingcang’s expression darken slightly, he had no choice but to take the medicine and fetch water from a maid.
The pharmacy fell silent as he left. Even the maids outside worked quietly, as if they had already learned her temperament.
Xiao Xingcang stood with hands behind his back, curiosity evident as he watched Gu Qinglu sit unmoving in the chair.
At that moment, he realized he was deeply intrigued by her.
Could she, he wondered, summon animals as the matron said? Birds, fish, even his sea-eagle?
Could she be, in addition to a physician, a kind of animal whisperer?
Completely focused, Gu Qinglu had no idea her role had shifted from doctor to quasi-animal tamer.
After nearly a teacup’s worth of time with no success, the smell of food caught her attention. She jumped up and rushed to the dining hall.
Her speed left Xiao Xingcang momentarily stunned. Wasn’t she just resting? How did she move so fast?
Seated at the table, she let the maids wipe her hands, then surveyed the meal, swallowing with anticipation.
Seeing the main dish, she smiled, eyes curving: “Braised pork trotters with chestnuts! Matron, how do you know me so well?”
The matron arranged the bowls and retreated with a kind smile:“Consort works so hard refining medicine. I can’t help, so I just made sure the kitchen prepared your favorites.”
“Thank you, matron. I’ll eat now.” The maids stepped back, and Gu Qinglu picked up her chopsticks.
Having skipped breakfast, she was very hungry.
“The prince is still washing up, and there are guests in the mansion. How shall the Consort handle it?” The matron was subtly encouraging her to take charge of the household.
Glancing at Xiao Xingcang, then at the swollen-faced Yuan Ziheng still not seated, she said, “I’ll eat. Let them eat as they like.”
“….” The matron, Xiao Xingcang, and Yuan Ziheng all looked at her.
Was she being disrespectful?
Yuan Ziheng wondered where she had come from.
She knew no rules, didn’t attend her husband, and yet acted as if she owned the house.
“Sit,” Xiao Xingcang gestured, tucking his robe, and seated himself beside her.
During the meal, Yuan Ziheng couldn’t even open his mouth. Hungry, he watched Gu Qinglu eat with abandon, and his resentment grew.
A mysterious woman had taken the position of the official consort—she had truly gotten lucky and was shameless about it.
“I want to enter the mountains. Can you arrange it?” After finishing her meal and rinsing, she suddenly asked.
Xiao Xingcang opened his mouth, but seeing Yuan Ziheng’s expression and recalling her three rules, he simply said, “Yes, anytime. Wherever you want. We’ll review the maps later.”
Hearing his prompt agreement, Gu Qinglu wasted no words.“The maps don’t matter. Just arrange for the deep forests and wild mountains. If we can go in the next few days, even better.”
With that, she turned and left for the pharmacy.
Xiao Xingcang watched her nimble back disappear, mind racing. Deep forests… that must be the place granted by his late elder brother.