"What?"
Gu Yi was bewildered.
Bang!
The door was kicked open, and Granny Lan, accompanied by two rough-looking, fierce old women, stormed in.
"Miss Gu, our Empress says your first step of the prescription is very effective, but... you still need to come with us. Miss Gu, please!"
As she spoke, she glanced at Lu Zhu and Gu Yi, then added, "Miss Gu, our Empress also said that her sleeping quarters are not a place for any stray cats or dogs to enter and exit as they please. So... Guards! Arrest these two people by Miss Gu's side and throw them into the imperial prison!"
The two old women obeyed, stepping forward. One held Gu Yi, and the other grabbed Lu Zhu. Lu Zhu wanted to resist, but she saw Gu Qianying give her a look. Understanding, she withdrew her hand and allowed the old women to grab her.
Gu Qianying's eyes flashed with a cold glint. "Granny Lan, your Empress's way of welcoming guests is quite unique. I, this young lady, will certainly remember it."
Granny Lan, not wanting to waste any more words with Gu Qianying, stated directly, "Miss Gu, rest assured, as long as you can cure our Empress, these two by your side will be safe and sound."
After uttering these perfunctory words, Granny Lan sent people to imprison both Lu Zhu and Gu Yi separately, their alleged crime being petty theft.
Meanwhile,
Gu Qianying followed Granny Lan to the sleeping quarters of the Empress of Xia.
Upon seeing the Empress of Xia again, it was evident that her complexion had improved considerably. However, her smooth, fair skin was covered in red rashes. They were neither painful nor itchy, but they were unsightly.
"What is this? How dare Gu Qianying harm me!"
She slammed her slender fingers onto the table, throwing the teacup in front of her to the ground. It shattered into pieces, and tea splashed everywhere.
The maids serving in the room quickly knelt down.
The Empress of Xia glared at Gu Qianying, wishing she could flay her alive.
She knew all along that Gu Qianying, that wretch, would be cunning, but she never expected this "cunning" to be used against her.
When administering the medicine, she had specifically had the prescription given to her by Gu Qianying reviewed by Imperial Physician Wang. Even Imperial Physician Wang had said that the prescription was brilliant and would surely cure her unspeakable ailment. The prescription itself showed no flaws. Only then did she send people to fetch the medicine in secret.
Who would have thought that after taking the medicine, her condition had indeed lessened, but her entire body was covered in red rashes.
Gu Qianying walked past Granny Lan, skirted the area where the teacup had fallen, turned, and approached the table. She casually picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup of tea. Holding the teacup, she took a sip before speaking, "Your Majesty, you worry too much. I am now in your hands. If I were to harm you, wouldn't that be digging my own grave? It's just that the medicine I had you take, while fast-acting, has very severe side effects. However, Your Majesty, didn't you want a more effective treatment?"
Saying this, Gu Qianying put down the teacup and looked at the Empress of Xia. "Oh, if Your Majesty desires a less effective treatment, one that requires slower diagnosis and treatment, that is also possible. However, in that case, Your Majesty would have to endure a few more days of hardship."
"So, you're saying my illness is already cured? If that's the case, Guards! Beat Gu Qianying to death with sticks!"
Since the illness was cured, what use was keeping this wretch?
As for the red rashes on her body, the imperial physicians attending her could surely treat them. They were just ordinary red rashes.
Several old women stepped forward and surrounded Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying, seemingly unconcerned, suddenly smiled. "Your Majesty, why the hurry? Although your illness has temporarily improved, if you want to eradicate it completely and prevent it from recurring, you will need a period of careful recuperation. During this recuperation, all the food and medicinal soups you consume must be prepared by me personally. Otherwise, your illness will never be cured. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can try consuming some food now and see if what I say is true."
The Empress of Xia naturally did not believe her words. She had someone bring her the osmanthus pudding she usually loved. Under the service of her personal maid, she consumed a small portion.
At first, she felt nothing. However, after about half an incense stick's time, she felt an unbearable itch all over her body, as if she were being bitten by thousands of ants.
Given the presence of many maids serving in the room, she could not make any unsightly movements. She could only clench her handkerchief, enduring the urge to scratch until her skin broke.
At the same time, the red rashes on her body spread from her entire body to her face, covering it completely. She was almost driven mad.
"Ah..."
A timid maid, frightened, let out a scream.
The Empress of Xia kicked the screaming maid to the ground and ordered her to be dragged out and beheaded.
Afterward, the Empress of Xia approached Gu Qianying, glaring at her. "How many days will it take to completely cure my illness?"
"Five days. If you follow my instructions, after five days, you will be fully recovered and will never relapse. Furthermore, no red rashes will remain on your body."
"Good, five days. Then I will give you five days, Gu Qianying. If you dare to deceive me, I will kill both of the people you brought with you!"
Five days is five days. She would endure it. After five days, when her illness was completely cured, Gu Qianying's death would be sealed.
"But... I suddenly feel weak all over and sleepy. I haven't eaten or slept well these past two days, and my mind is simply not working. Your Majesty, you might as well kill me. I won't treat your illness anymore."
Saying this, Gu Qianying put down her teacup and got up to leave.
The old women blocked her path, preventing her from leaving.
This attitude almost drove the Empress of Xia mad.
"Gu Qianying, stop! Aren't you afraid I'll kill the people you brought?"
Gu Qianying did not turn back, only saying, "They are just a servant and a bookworm. If Your Majesty wishes to kill them, then kill them. I am about to die, so why should I care about anything else?"
"Gu Qianying... you...!"
The Empress of Xia was choked with rage.
From being threatened to gaining the upper hand, Gu Qianying had done it in just one move.
All warfare is based on deception. Whoever cares more loses. The Empress of Xia, naturally, cared more about her own life and appearance than Gu Qianying did.
After this incident, Gu Yi and Lu Zhu were transferred from the imperial prison to the Xin Zhe Ku, becoming rough laborers as palace maids and eunuchs. Although their lives were harder, they had freedom of movement and were not starved or thirsty.
In the quiet of the night, Lu Zhu could still discreetly search for traces of her young lady, which was much more convenient.
Like them, Gu Qianying could move freely within the Xia palace, but no matter where she went, she was followed by several tails.
Her range of movement was also limited to the palace. Any medicinal herbs or ingredients she needed would be prepared by her subordinates.
However, fortunately, after spending these few days exploring various parts of the Xia palace, she had finally gathered some information about the object she was seeking: the location of the Yi Ling Pearl.
This item was not in the sleeping quarters of the Empress of Xia, nor was it on her person.
Instead, it had been placed by the Empress of Xia in a palace that had never been entered before: Zhongyang Palace.
Zhongyang Palace was heavily guarded. To enter, one would first have to deal with the guards outside the palace.
In the dead of night, Gu Qianying drugged the two old women guarding her room, changed into her night-blooming clothes, and slipped out through the window, darting through the darkness.
Outside Zhongyang Palace,
The guards had just completed their shift change. The two guards who were replaced were elite soldiers with excellent combat skills.
Not far away, a dark figure landed on the roof of the opposite building. When she arrived, she had deliberately moved with extreme lightness, but she was still detected by the two guards on duty.
"Who?"
One of the guards lightly leaped towards the direction where the dark figure had appeared. When he caught up, he discovered that the person captured was merely a straw effigy that bore a striking resemblance to a human figure.
He discarded it, muttering curses, and quickly turned around, rushing back immediately.
On another side of Zhongyang Palace, a guard lay on the ground, unconscious. The main gate of Zhongyang Palace had already been pushed open.
Seeing this, the guard, without bothering to check if his companion was dead, hurried back to fetch reinforcements.
After drugging the guard, Gu Qianying pushed open the door and entered Zhongyang Palace. Before she could even approach the main hall, countless arrows were shot at her simultaneously from all directions.
Gu Qianying's cold eyes narrowed. She raised her palm, gathering her internal energy into it, and with a flick of her sleeve...