Volume 1 Chapter 24 Essential Medicines for Traveling at Home

  The hangover was severe, I slept for a whole day in bed, tossing and turning, sleeping extremely restlessly, until later, I simply opened my eyes and lay in bed, staring blankly at the mosquito net above.

  Actually, I wanted to ask him last night, does he need to pay so much for someone who doesn't love him at all? But in the end, I held back, what's it got to do with me? I've never quite understood the values of ancient people. Loving someone without expecting anything in return is possible, but how long can this one-sided love last? The concept of "childhood sweethearts" I only saw on TV, but people's understanding and values change as they grow older. He hasn't been with her for seven years, his impression of her is still stuck at the simple little girl she was back then. Seven years, so many things can change in seven years. Can a shadow from a dream in their youth, without understanding, without communication, make him do so much for her, even willing to shorten his life by ten years? I don't understand what kind of emotion this is.

  I'm not someone who has never been in love, I've given up on people and been given up on too. After each relationship ends, I'll have a brief withering, but soon I can regain my vitality. Friends used to mock me, saying that at the end of the day, I just haven't met true love yet. But I think that meeting in the vast ocean of people is fate, and missing out might be a blessing. Being with someone who doesn't love you, who isn't suitable for you, and forcing yourself to stay together - that's what's truly torturous. At the end of the day, I'm just a selfish person, I suppose.

  The door was gently pushed open, and Jin Niang entered with a tray in her hands. I suddenly remembered the appointment we made for last night and couldn't help but smile wryly - drinking too much had gotten me into trouble. Now, those people from Gui Wu Yuan must think I'm deceiving them. But indeed, it was my fault for breaking my promise. Jin Niang's notification to Ling Yi to come find me was also justified, although the past two days with her have been quite pleasant, but after all, her heart is not towards me.

  "Miss, are you awake?" Jin Niang saw me open my eyes and lie on the bed, and walked over to ask softly.

  "Hmm." I sat up and asked her, "What time is it now?"

  "It's time to wash up." Jin Niang handed me a towel from the copper basin at the head of the bed.

  I've roughly figured out this ancient timing method. I stared blankly for a moment before speaking softly, "Ling Yi, has he left?"

  "Yes, the castle owner took the delivery team out early this morning." Jin Niang's tone had a hint of subtle estrangement, unlike her usual self.

  What's wrong with her? I was a bit puzzled and didn't think much of it, so I continued to ask: "What goods did he deliver?"

  Jin Niang was stunned, not making a sound. It wasn't until then that I suddenly realized, yesterday when I saw those white-robed warriors transporting the Fu Rong Gao, today they were probably delivering this very thing, and the castle master himself was escorting it, it seems that this Fu Rong Gao is indeed extremely valuable.

  "What's there to be ashamed of?" I smiled. "Is the imperial ointment not allowed to see the light? In this empty space, it shouldn't be like my world. Producing and selling poison are serious crimes that require careful concealment. Isn't it said to be an imperial tribute?

  Jin Niang shook her head and said, "No. In previous years, the lord of the castle didn't need to go in person to deliver goods. This year is because we received news that someone would ambush the lord on the way. So the lord personally escorted it. This time, all aspects of the delivery were arranged with extreme caution. The whole castle was as if facing a great enemy. Be careful what you say and do."

  It turned out to be like this. My heart moved: "How far is it from the capital?" Ling Yi said he would leave here for seven days. So, it should not be far from the capital. Enough to make a round trip in seven days. If I want to escape in the future, understanding the geographical environment here is the top priority.

  Jin Niang looked at me and said: "From here to Beijing, even with a fast horse and whip, it's still four days of travel."

  "Huh." I was stunned. Could it be that Ling Yi is afraid I'll run away? With such a large group of people, and dragging those goods along, even if we hurry, it's impossible to return within seven days.

  It's no good to continue asking. I can only let Jin Niang go and prepare the bathing water for me. Jin Niang handed me a bowl from the tray and said, "Miss, please drink this hangover soup."

  I stared at her in surprise. Although I'm still feeling weak all over now, my head is no longer spinning and my eyes are not blurry. What's the point of drinking a hangover soup?

  Seeing me remain silent, Jin Niang let out a soft sigh: "The castle master is kind-hearted, and had instructed us to prepare early this morning."

  It's just a hangover, even if it's uncomfortable, I'm the one who's feeling it, why is he so tense? I lightly shook my head and took over the sobering soup to drink, Ling Yi, you really take care of this body very thoroughly.

  Soaking my body in the hot water up to my neck, the warmth that touches my heart and spleen spreads freely in every cell of my body. I comfortably breathe out a mouthful of air, close my eyes and enjoy this temporary relaxation.

  Ru Wei's voice came from outside: "Miss, a red girl from Gui Wu Institute wants to see you."

  My heart skipped a beat, and I hastily got up to fetch the clothes. Just then, Jin Niang's voice came from outside, saying: "Tell her that Miss is taking a bath and cannot receive guests."

  "No!" I hastily intervened: "Please ask her to wait for a moment, I'll be right out."

  Jin Niang lifted the curtain of the inner room and came in, seeing me dressing, she frowned and said: "Miss......"

  "I interrupted her: 'Jin Niang, don't worry, what I wanted to say, I said it last night, why wait until now?'"

  Jin Niang remained silent for a while, listening to Ru Wei's footsteps as she left the house. She didn't stop her again, but shook her head and sighed, "Your hand injury hasn't been treated yet."

  "Let's talk about it when I get back." What kind of injury is this? I hastily finished dressing, casually tied up my slightly damp hair, and rushed to the carriage hall adjacent to the outer courtyard. Hong Gu was already sitting there, and when she saw me, she smiled and stood up, saying: "I'm sorry to disturb your rest, madam."

  I stepped forward with a apologetic expression and pulled her along, saying: "Sister, don't blame me, my younger sister didn't intentionally hide her identity."

  Hong shook my hand and chuckled: "You didn't come to see me, did you? Has your sister's wine worn off yet? When I came over at noon, they said you were still fast asleep."

  Her unaffected and unpretentious personality has won my heart, I smiled and said: "It's not that serious, I just didn't want to get out of bed, let's have a good drink together another day."

  "I just love my sister's straightforward personality, she has been married to the lord of Furuong Fortress for several days now, and only yesterday did I get to see her true face, I really didn't expect the fortress master to hide her so deeply." Hong Gu said with a smile, teasing me.

  I felt a bit embarrassed, but also slightly relieved. Although Hong Gu was a disciple of Ping Yang Zhen Ren, she didn't know about the situation with Gu Qingying's soul flying away. Now I could only pretend nothing was wrong. However, my idea of asking Hong Gu to help me investigate my parents' situation probably had to be abandoned.

  Ru Wei came over to pour tea and then retreated, I pulled Hong Gu to sit down in the hall with me, asking her about her intentions. Hong Gu smiled: "Last night, I saw my sister getting drunk, and the castle owner's face was dark as he took my sister away, so I couldn't put my heart at ease, that's why I came over to take a look."

  As soon as she finished speaking, Hong Jie slightly wrinkled her nose and said curiously: "Sister, what scent are you using? It's very unique."

  "What fragrance?" I was shocked, I had never used any perfume or scented powder before, how could there be a scent.

  Hong saw that I was at a loss, leaned in closer to me and sniffed again, smiling: "Indeed there is a fragrance, very familiar, let me think."

  I was confused, and I quickly raised my arm to sniff it carefully. Indeed, there was a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance that was barely noticeable, coming from somewhere nearby.

  Isn't this the smell of the bruise cream that Jin Niang gave me yesterday? I only applied a little bit, and I just took a bath, why can't the smell go away? Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit my brain, and I understood a bit. I said calmly: "Yesterday, I accidentally bumped into my arm, yeah, it's the smell of this ointment."

  I rolled up my sleeves for Hong Gu to see, and the bruise on my elbow had faded by more than half.

  Hong Gu smiled and said, "I said it was so familiar! I saw it at the Divine Doctor's place a few days ago. At that time, I liked this smell so much that I begged him for a long time, but he refused to give it to me. He said it was an essential ingredient of Ice Muscle Dew, and it was precious."

  "Divine Doctor? Ice Muscle Exposure?" I looked at her in confusion.

  Hong Gu smiled and said, "Isn't the divine doctor Du Naha? He was originally a medical practitioner, but he had his own unique approach to using poison. Later on, people forgot about his original profession and gave him the title of 'Poison God', but he never acknowledged it, always thinking of himself as a doctor."

  "Oh, I see." I nodded my head, recalling what Du Naha said last night. It indeed fits a doctor's identity, but medicine and poison have always been inseparable since ancient times. It's not surprising that he can create his own style in using poison. I asked: "What is Ice Muscle Exposure?"

  Hong Gu deliberately shook her head and looked at me with a hint of reproach, saying: "Isn't it just the stuff you applied to your hand? That's the exclusive prescription of the divine doctor, specializing in treating all kinds of external injuries, with the effect of regenerating skin. Even if it's a deep wound that can be seen to the bone, applying this will make it heal in just a few days. I heard that the materials for this Ice Muscle Dew are extremely rare, and even with gold, you can't buy them. The divine doctor himself only made a very small amount, which shows how much the castle owner cares about his sister."

  I stared at her, thinking it was just an ordinary bruise cream, but unexpectedly it was a must-have for killing and robbing while traveling. She applied some to my bruises, what a waste of good stuff! I thought to myself that I had to go find Jin Niang and get this treasure from her later. But Hong Jie's next sentence gave me a slap in the face.

  "But there's a drawback to this medicine, because one of the key ingredients makes it impossible for it to be colorless and odorless. Anyone who has practiced internal energy within a radius of one mile can detect its presence, so I dare not use it when escaping."

  I feel the smile on my face twitching slightly, no wonder they gave me such good medicine to use, no wonder Jin Niang was so at ease with me, it turns out they wanted to leave a mark on me, afraid I would escape.

  I concealed my discontent and chatted with Hong Gu for a while, as the sky gradually darkened. She stood up to bid farewell, and I escorted her to the door. Turning back, she said to me: "The master of the manor has gone out, and you don't need to confine yourself at home either. Our Rui Wu Yuan is lively every day, if you like it, come over often."

  "Good!" I smiled and agreed: "I'll go over tomorrow to bother you, I still have a few things to ask Old Master Kao."

  Hong Gu smiled and nodded in agreement, then returned alone to the Hui Gui Wu Yuan.

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  It's rising so slowly, thank you everyone!