Nangong Xuanning was quite surprised to see Gu Qianying appear.
Gu Qianying swept past her and entered the medicine shop first, "The first trial of the Poison Doctor Saint Hall's entrance exam requires the stocking of potent medicinal herbs. Since Your Highness the Princess is here to find them, this humble subject's objective is undoubtedly the same."
"You, stop right there! I was here first. All the herbs here, I'm buying them all. You, you, you, get out!"
Nangong Xuanning quickened her pace. As Gu Qianying entered the shop, she pushed aside Lu Zhu and went around Gu Qianying from behind, blocking her path.
At this moment, the shop owner emerged. Upon seeing Nangong Xuanning and Gu Qianying, he greeted them with a smile, "Two young sirs, what medicine do you wish to buy?"
Nangong Xuanning had her maid, also disguised as a man, take out two gold ingots and toss them to the shop owner. She then said, "Pack up all the herbs you have here for this... this young sir. Understand? All of them!"
The shop owner's eyes lit up at this, his smile stretching from ear to ear, "Certainly, certainly, young sir is most generous. I'll pack them up for you immediately."
All the medicinal herbs in the shop were swept clean by Nangong Xuanning. The shop owner could only apologize to Gu Qianying, "This young sir, I am truly sorry, but we have no more herbs to sell."
"It's fine, this young sir can go elsewhere."
Gu Qianying calmly led the furious Lu Zhu away to another place.
On the way, Gu Qianying sensed something unusual around her. She stopped by a stall selling ancient mirrors and, looking through one, saw several "tails" following them.
The corners of her lips curled. So, she and her two companions were being followed.
Today, not only Lu Zhu was with her, but also Hu Biao, clad in a black robe and carrying a long sword.
In the past few days, Gu Qianying had almost completely healed the scar on Hu Biao's face, and the stubble on his cheeks had also reduced significantly, making him appear much more spirited.
Hu Biao was a master of martial arts. With him accompanying her, Gu Qianying had nothing to fear. Even without Hu Biao, her own martial arts skills were sufficient for self-preservation.
A moment later, the trio arrived at another medicine shop. Just as they stepped inside, Nangong Xuanning once again blocked Gu Qianying's path. Just as before, she bought all the herbs in the shop and informed the owner that from this day forward, all his medicinal supplies were reserved for her.
The shop owner was overjoyed, almost fainting from happiness. Facing Gu Qianying and her companions, he could only offer his apologies.
This continued for several more shops. After half a day of searching, Gu Qianying hadn't managed to buy even a single herb.
Lu Zhu, who had been accompanying Gu Qianying, was furious. She glared at Nangong Xuanning's back and muttered, "Hmph, how detestable, utterly shameless!"
Gu Qianying suddenly stopped. After glancing at the "tails" that had been quietly following them, she turned back and instructed Lu Zhu, "It's meaningless to curse behind someone's back. If you're truly angry, a direct punch is the most satisfying way to vent."
Lu Zhu was stunned, "Ah, wh-what, a punch?"
Gu Qianying nodded calmly, "Yes, a punch. Let's fight."
"Fight... fight who?"
Gu Qianying pointed at Nangong Xuanning, who was still looking at her provocatively, without speaking.
Lu Zhu was frightened and whispered to Gu Qianying, "Miss... she is Your Highness the Princess. Disrespecting the Princess is... a grave offense."
Hearing this, Gu Qianying's expression remained unchanged. She looked at Hu Biao, who was following behind her, "Can you recognize that young sir as the current Princess?"
Hu Biao shook his head, "This subordinate cannot."
Gu Qianying smiled and reached out to pinch Lu Zhu's chubby cheek, "Did you hear that?"
Lu Zhu's eyes suddenly brightened, "This servant understands!" She then rolled up her sleeves, "Young sir, just watch!"
With that, Lu Zhu, like a wild horse with its reins broken, lunged at Nangong Xuanning.
"You are simply too detestable, ahaha, have you no shame!"
Lu Zhu possessed considerable strength. As she grappled with Nangong Xuanning, she landed several slaps on Nangong Xuanning's face.
Nangong Xuanning was dazed by Lu Zhu's assault and took a while to react.
Pinned beneath Lu Zhu, she kicked her legs desperately, struggling, "Ahhh, you lunatic, you lowly servant, how dare you hit me! You don't want to live!"
The maid following Nangong Xuanning stared in disbelief.
When she finally reacted, she began to cry in fear, "Help! Help! This lowly servant is trying to kill someone!"
Nangong Xuanning had secretly left the palace today. Her usual bodyguards had not accompanied her. She only had a maid named Zi Lan, who knew no martial arts, had little strength, and only knew how to cry.
Zi Lan wailed from the side, watching her princess being beaten and disheveled by Lu Zhu, but she didn't know how to intervene.
Lu Zhu pulled Nangong Xuanning's hair into a mess. Although angry, she wasn't foolish. She only directed her punches at Nangong Xuanning's body, not daring to harm her beautiful face.
After the beating, Lu Zhu quickly got up and ran back to Zi Lan, hands on her hips, glaring at her, "Cry, cry, what are you crying for? It was you and your mistress who bullied my young sir first, and you're still crying here, hmph!"
With that, Lu Zhu kicked Zi Lan twice in the stomach.
Zi Lan cried out in pain.
Gu Qianying, who was watching from the side, cast a sidelong glance at the "tails" lurking in the crowd, stirring restlessly.
Then, she shouted to Lu Zhu, who was thoroughly enjoying the fight, "Don't hold back, hit harder, with all your might, understand?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhu no longer held back.
After kicking Zi Lan twice, she returned and landed several more punches on Nangong Xuanning.
Although Nangong Xuanning lacked Lu Zhu's strength, she had some basic martial arts training. When Lu Zhu lunged at her again, Nangong Xuanning skillfully dodged and drew the long whip coiled around her waist to fight back.
Lu Zhu was struck hard by the whip flung by Nangong Xuanning, injuring her back.
Seeing this, Gu Qianying's delicate brows furrowed, and she raised her hand slightly, about to intervene.
Hu Biao stepped forward and spoke in a voice only they could hear, "Miss, please do not act. Allow this subordinate to handle it! This subordinate will also deal with those few tails following us."
Gu Qianying withdrew her hand and said softly, "No need. Although their target is me, I notice they seem to be deliberately avoiding Nangong Xuanning. It seems they recognize Nangong Xuanning's identity and dare not harm her. In that case, why not..."
"Miss means..."
"Play along with their plan!"
Hu Biao understood Gu Qianying's intention and smiled, "Miss, this plan is brilliant!"
Gu Qianying also smiled, "Yes. Lu Zhu was injured by others. Go and help her get revenge. Remember, do not leave any visible wounds, after all, she is a princess, very precious!"
"Miss, this subordinate understands what to do."
Hu Biao, being trained in martial arts, knew how to strike without hitting the face and how to inflict pain for hours without leaving external marks.
After Hu Biao made his move, Nangong Xuanning cried out in agony.
At this time, more onlookers began to gather in the crowd.
The assassins in black, hidden among the crowd, heard Nangong Xuanning's pained cries and decided to split into two groups. A few would be responsible for sending Nangong Xuanning back, while others would continue to follow Gu Qianying and her companions, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Suddenly, a young man collecting night soil on the road, pushing a dung cart, rushed towards the crowd from not far away.
"Make way, make way, quickly move aside!"
"Ah, it's so smelly, quickly get away!"
The crowd was dense, and the assassins who were about to make their move were scattered.
At this moment, Gu Qianying quickly ran to Nangong Xuanning's side, grabbed her hand, and pulled her towards a corner.
Lu Zhu was still struggling in the crowd.
Seeing her young lady disappear in the blink of an eye, she anxiously shouted, "Miss, Miss... Miss, wait for me, Miss..."
Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed her and covered her mouth, "Be quiet, follow me!"
Lu Zhu's eyes widened, staring in shock at the person who had slung her over his shoulder like a bundle.
"Brother Hu Biao, wh-what are you doing? Put me down quickly, Miss is lost, go find Miss quickly."
Hu Biao ignored Lu Zhu and continued to carry her forward.
Lu Zhu beat against Hu Biao. Seeing that he was still running with her on his shoulder and had no intention of putting her down, she became annoyed, "You big idiot, put me down quickly, or I'll bite you, believe me, I bite hard, my teeth are very..."
Hu Biao, hearing her impatience, casually tapped her neck twice.
Lu Zhu immediately lost her voice, only able to glare at Hu Biao with her eyes.
Meanwhile.
The five or six assassins who had squeezed out of the crowd saw Gu Qianying pulling Nangong Xuanning and disappearing. They quickly pursued.
"Chase!"
"Yes!"
"Gu Qianying, release me at once, I will tear you limb from limb!"
As they ran, Nangong Xuanning cried out in pain while cursing Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying casually picked up a piece of rotten vegetable leaf that a vendor had casually discarded on the ground and stuffed it into Nangong Xuanning's mouth, "Be quiet!"