The suffocating sense of impending death made Lan Qingqing fear Gu Qianying. She struggled to breathe, her cheeks flushing red. "You... let go... of me, please... you..."
Gu Qianying loosened her grip, and Lan Qingqing collapsed onto the ground.
"You were originally dead, but this Princess Consort is kind-hearted. Not only did I save your life, but I also granted your wish and helped you get a beautiful face."
As she spoke, Gu Qianying snapped her fingers outwards.
Duan Xifeng entered with a bronze mirror, handed it to Gu Qianying, and stood obediently behind her.
Gu Qianying glanced at him, her gaze falling on his right eye, which was bruised from a punch. She immediately understood that some people just needed a good beating.
She handed the bronze mirror to Lan Qingqing. Upon receiving it and seeing her reflection, Lan Qingqing was shocked. "This... how did I become like this? I..."
"The former Lan Qingqing is dead. From today onwards, you are Meng Qier, a pitiable woman who fled to the capital to find her relatives."
Hearing this, Lan Qingqing looked sharply at Gu Qianying. "You... what do you mean by that?"
"This Princess Consort's meaning is very simple. You are not Lan Qingqing; you are Meng Qier, and also this Princess Consort's informant. Of course, if you are unwilling, it is also acceptable. You can choose between committing suicide or being killed by this Princess Consort on the spot. However, if you wish to be reborn, regain your freedom, and even regain wealth and status, you must do as this Princess Consort says."
Gu Qianying stepped forward. Lan Qingqing, terrified, retreated several steps. Although she detested Gu Qianying, having been given a new life, she chose self-preservation in the face of Gu Qianying's formidable martial arts skills. "I... I am willing."
Gu Qianying curved her lips into a smile. "Very good! Oh, I forgot to tell you, while I was having you saved, fearing that Miss Meng Qier might not cooperate, I specifically made you ingest a slow-acting poison I specially prepared before you woke up. You will need to collect an antidote from me every five days to alleviate the severe pain."
"Gu Qianying! You..." Lan Qingqing's eyes widened, her hatred no longer concealed.
Beside them, Duan Xifeng solicitously brought Gu Qianying a chair and then quickly offered her warm tea.
Such a vicious woman, he dared not provoke her!
Gu Qianying, unconcerned with Lan Qingqing's reaction, left after achieving her objective. Before leaving, she shared drinks with Old Man Bai and Duan Xifeng. The three sat at the same table, holding wine jars, drinking heartily.
"Good disciple, you must take good care of yourself. Your master is still waiting to drink the celebratory wine for your child's full moon!"
Old Man Bai, holding a wine jar, staggered towards Gu Qianying.
Duan Xifeng lay sprawled on the grass nearby, shouting loudly, "Nephew-disciple, this uncle-master doesn't want to drink your child's full moon wine. This uncle-master wants to be your child's godfather in the future. Is that acceptable?" Before anyone could respond, he muttered to himself, "Hahaha, godfather is good! My good child, godfather will find you a little girl for a marriage..."
Gu Qianying, who had drunk half a jar of wine and remained sober, looked at Duan Xifeng lying on the ground and Old Man Bai swaying before her. A genuine smile bloomed on her lips. "Alright."
She helped Old Man Bai back to his room, tucked him in, and then came out to drape a dark cloak over Duan Xifeng before leaving.
She walked alone to the outskirts, into a dense forest, where a figure had been following her.
Her eyes flashed coldly. She stopped, without turning her head, and spoke in a chilling voice, "You've been following for so long, why don't you show yourself? Physician Du!"
As she turned,
Du Chun, dressed in white robes, emerged from the shade of the trees. He was still in white, with white hair and a detached gaze. The only difference was that his arms were empty; the pet he had newly acquired that day was no longer there.
"Gu Qianying, what is your purpose in approaching A'Mo?"
"Heh!" Gu Qianying chuckled. "Physician Du, what makes you say that?"
Du Chun's appearance here made it clear that his actions that day were intentional. Du Chun had figured it out afterward, yet she was pretending to be oblivious.
"Gu Qianying, on that day, you deliberately lured me to kill you, and you deliberately let A'Mo be injured by me. Your purpose was to make me leave the Ninth Prince's manor, leave A'Mo. Is that true or not?"
Du Chun stepped forward, drawing his long sword and pointing it at Gu Qianying, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
Gu Qianying's expression was calm. She remained composed, unfazed by the sword pointed at her head.
"Physician Du is truly humorous." She continued to deny it.
*Swish!*
The sword was drawn, its tip about to pierce Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying did not dodge. She raised her hand, her two fingers clamping onto the sword tip. With a clang, the sword snapped into two halves and fell to the ground.
Du Chun's pupils contracted sharply.
*Puff!*
He coughed up blood, his face instantly turning pale. His body swayed, about to fall, when a hand quickly reached out and supported him, and then felt for his pulse.
"You've been poisoned?"
Du Chun looked up, his face ashen. "You don't need to worry about me." He then shook off Gu Qianying's hand.
Gu Qianying chuckled. "I didn't expect the highly skilled Physician Du to be poisoned by others. How ironic!"
Her tone was laced with mockery.
"Laugh if you want to. Once you're done laughing, hurry up and leave. I won't kill you today, but I will take your life another day! Humph!"
Gu Qianying ignored Du Chun and walked directly in front of him, her voice clear and cold. "Another day requires there to be another day. What you've ingested is Arrow Tree Poison. This is a plot device; it seals the throat upon contact with blood. The fact that you've lasted this long is already a miracle."
She placed her jade hand on his shoulder, forcefully making him sit cross-legged. Gu Qianying sat behind Du Chun, placing her palms on his back. She gathered all the internal energy in her dantian and channeled it into her palms. An invisible, potent force opened the meridians and organs within Du Chun's body, and a warm current flowed through him.
In just a moment, steam rose from Gu Qianying's head, and beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. Her face also paled slightly.
"Gu Qianying, you don't need to be so kind. I won't be grateful to you!"
Du Chun never expected Gu Qianying to use her profound internal energy to help him expel the poison.
Although he said this, Gu Qianying's actions touched the softest part of his heart.
"Shut up! So much nonsense!"
Gu Qianying needed to concentrate fully and could not afford any distraction.
*Puff!*
A pool of black blood was expelled.
Du Chun clutched his chest, his complexion seeming to have eased considerably, no longer ashen white.
He turned his head. The person behind him slumped softly to the ground.
"Gu Qianying!"
Just as she was about to fall, Du Chun suddenly caught her.
He lowered his head, looking at the woman in his arms who had become somewhat weak from saving him.
Du Chun felt an even greater stir in his heart, an anomaly within him, as if his heart, which had turned to ash, had been reignited.
He lifted Gu Qianying, leaped lightly, and disappeared into the forest.
The next day,
Gu Qianying slowly awoke. The first thing she saw was a very familiar canopy, an ancient bed. She sat up abruptly. This was... the Ninth Prince's manor, Mingyue Pavilion!
"You're awake!"
A cold voice sounded in her ear...