"I can't stay here too long. Take good care of yourself."
As she was leaving, Gu Qianying pressed all the silver she had into Meng Shi's hands.
Having some silver in the palace would always be better.
When she left, Gu Qianying learned from Meng Shi where Nangong Xuanning and her daughter, as well as Lan Qingqing and Caixia, were being held.
Nangong Xuanning and her daughter were imprisoned by Nangong Cong in the Imperial Laundry Bureau.
Lan Qingqing and Caixia were confined in the water dungeon.
On her way out, her hands were clenched tightly.
Her eyes were filled with frost.
The Imperial Laundry Bureau! The water dungeon!
Her people had searched for a long time without success.
So, they were imprisoned here.
Damn it!
Nangong Cong deserved to die!
Gu Qianying walked out of the inner hall.
"Physician Duan, how is the Empress Dowager?"
The eunuch saw Gu Qianying emerge and walked over to ask.
"Her symptoms have receded a bit, but she still needs to take herbal medicine for a few more days. I'll come again in a few days."
As she spoke, Gu Qianying handed a prescription to the eunuch.
The eunuch took it, glanced at it, and tore it up immediately. "Alright, you've seen her. My task is complete. Whether that old woman Meng lives or dies has nothing to do with me. The Prince only asked me to go through the motions, as long as that old woman doesn't die."
The eunuch looked at Gu Qianying. "Let's go. The Prince wants you to report back."
Gu Qianying stood still.
Her jade hands, hidden within her sleeves, clenched and unclenched.
Her cold eyes were filled with murderous intent.
These sycophants!
They didn't care about human lives at all!
Meeting Gu Qianying's icy gaze,
The eunuch shivered. "You..."
Before he could finish speaking,
Gu Qianying took a deep breath and suppressed the killing aura emanating from her. "Your Grace, if this illness is not treated, it will be fatal. If something happens to Empress Dowager Meng, our young Emperor might also..." In that case, it would be difficult to explain to the Prince.
"This..."
The eunuch hesitated. Then, he picked up the torn prescription from the ground and handed it to his subordinate. "Go and get the medicine according to this prescription, and have that old woman Meng drink it for a few days."
"Yes."
The subordinate took the prescription and left.
Seeing this, Gu Qianying said nothing more.
She glanced back at the palace gate.
She secretly resolved that after finding Nangong Xuanning and her mother, as well as Caixia and Lan Qingqing, she would definitely return here to bring Meng Shi and her son out safely.
She would also bring a clear sky back for Meng Shi and her son!
When she went to report to Nangong Cong, she deliberately described Meng Shi's condition as very dire.
Hearing this, Nangong Cong, in order to maintain control over the young Emperor and keep him as his "little puppet,"
On this day, he specifically ordered people to send some tonics and daily necessities to Fushou Palace, and instructed the servants to take good care of Meng Shi and her son.
On the way out of the palace,
Gu Qianying encountered Nangong Hong, who was holding a bouquet of freshly picked flowers.
"Ever since I met Miss Duan a few days ago, I have been unable to sleep, consumed by longing. Today, I learned that Miss Duan has entered the palace, so I have been waiting here for you."
"Miss Duan, flowers suit a beauty. This is for you."
"Miss Duan, would you do me the honor of dining with me?"
He offered the flowers in his hand to Gu Qianying.
Nangong Hong was trying to impress Gu Qianying with his scholarly demeanor.
"Of course, I would be delighted to dine with Your Highness."
Gu Qianying smiled and accepted the flowers from Nangong Hong.
Nangong Hong also smiled. "Does Miss Duan have any intention of returning to my manor with me?"
"The palace meals are not to my liking. I have heard that the food at the First Restaurant is excellent. Since Miss Duan wishes to go, why don't we go there to sample it?"
Gu Qianying, using her "Tai Chi" skills, refused to return to Nangong Hong's manor with him.
"The First Restaurant? I've heard their cuisine is exquisite. Since Miss Duan wishes to go, I shall accompany you."
His guards brought a carriage.
"Miss Duan, please."
Nangong Hong lifted the carriage curtain and extended his hand to Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying walked past Nangong Hong and got into the carriage herself.
Nangong Hong looked at Gu Qianying's retreating figure and smiled, "She has spirit. I like that."
Nangong Hong and Gu Qianying shared the same carriage.
On the way, Nangong Hong kept chatting with Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying would sometimes feign conversation with him, and sometimes glance out of the carriage.
Upon arriving at the First Restaurant,
Gu Qianying alighted from the carriage first, with Nangong Hong following closely behind.
As they entered the restaurant and Gu Qianying followed Nangong Hong to a private room on the second floor, she exchanged a glance with the waiter who was serving dishes.
"Try the dishes here. They are indeed very good."
Nangong Hong deliberately sat closer to Gu Qianying and personally served her a bite of food.
Gu Qianying did not touch her chopsticks. Instead, she picked up the wine pot and poured a cup of wine for Nangong Hong.
"Your Highness, the wine here is also excellent. Why don't we have a toast?"
She pushed a cup of wine towards Nangong Hong.
Gu Qianying also deliberately touched Nangong Hong's hand with hers.
Nangong Hong gazed at Gu Qianying dotingly, a smile on his lips. "Good, good, good. A beauty offering wine, of course, I must drink it."
His lecherous eyes were almost glued to Gu Qianying.
He raised his cup and drank it down in one gulp.
Seeing him like this,
Gu Qianying curled her lips, put down the wine she hadn't drunk, and stood up.
Nangong Hong looked at her, a look of confusion on his face. "Miss Duan, where are you going?"
The figure before him seemed to sway and blur.
At this moment, Nangong Hong finally realized something was amiss.
His expression changed drastically. He knocked over all the plates and bowls on the table in front of him.
He propped himself up with one hand, swaying, and pointed at Gu Qianying. "You actually drugged me! You... you woman... you... what are you doing?"
The large Nangong Hong seemed to be affected by the sleeping potion rather slowly.
He lunged forward, attempting to grab Gu Qianying by the neck.
"Swish, swish!"
Two silver needles accurately pierced his neck acupoints.
"Bang!"
Nangong Hong fell heavily to the ground, unconscious.
At this moment, the door of the private room was pushed open from the outside.
A young man in white, Leng, walked in.
"Greetings, Sect Master."
Gu Qianying took Nangong Hong's token from his person and handed it to Leng. "Exchange identities with him. With his token, go to the water dungeon and rescue Lan Qingqing and Caixia tonight."
Leng took the token from Gu Qianying and knelt on one knee to accept the order. "Yes, Sect Master. Your subordinate will go now."
Before Leng left, Gu Qianying asked him to wait for a moment. Then, Gu Qianying took the blood of the่ (gu) poison she had brought from the palace and began to try and concoct a medicine.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Gu Qianying handed two pills to Leng. "If Lan Qingqing and Caixia are both poisoned, have them take these. Those who are poisoned will have sallow complexions, and their wrists will show bulging red veins. You need to examine them to make a determination."
"Yes, your subordinate understands."
Leng memorized Gu Qianying's words carefully.
"Furthermore, ensure they are rescued safely without revealing your identities."
"Yes, your subordinate obeys."
Leng, obeying the order, led a few people away.
Jiaolong A Mu, who was working outside, returned. He walked in and knelt on one knee. "Reporting to the Sect Master, your subordinate has eradicated the 'poisonous insects' from the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall these past few days. The Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall is now under your command. Your subordinate has quietly transferred and settled several doctors with consciences in a separate courtyard."
"Mm, very good. Get up and speak."
Gu Qianying asked Jiaolong A Mu to rise.
A Mu complied and stood up, then continued to report. "Sect Master, upon my return, your subordinate also brought the families of those who were oppressed, dismissed, and killed by Nangong Cong, as per your instructions. They have also been settled in a separate courtyard, awaiting the Sect Master's orders."
Gu Qianying picked up a cup of warm tea from the table. After taking a sip, she looked at A Mu. "Mm, you have done very well. Make arrangements to ensure their safety."
As she spoke, Gu Qianying turned and looked at Nangong Hong, who was slumped over the table. "Tie this person up and place him downstairs. Arrange for a few people to guard him and ensure he doesn't escape."
"Yes, Sect Master."
Jiaolong A Mu walked over and dragged the slumped Nangong Hong out from the table.
After the official business was concluded,
Gu Qianying changed into a different set of clothes in the private room.
She also tore off the human skin mask from her face.
She resumed her previous attire and appearance.
After tidying herself up, she sat on a chair and called in Wei Qing, the waiter from the restaurant.
"Where is that brat Yi Hao?"
She hadn't seen her son since entering the restaurant and was worried.
"Reporting to the Sect Master, the young heir went out with Young Master Luo. Your subordinate does not know where they went."
Wei Qing was also one of her subordinates.
Because he was not skilled in martial arts and was honest, she had left him at the First Restaurant to follow Duan Xifeng.
Duan Xifeng had gone to the Luo manor to rescue Luo Xuefei.
Luo Muchen and her son, young Yi Hao, had stayed at the restaurant.
However... she hadn't seen them when she returned.
"Why weren't they followed? A frail scholar with no martial arts skills and a child, and you let them go out on their own with such ease?"
Gu Qianying's gaze turned cold, her expression showing displeasure.
Wei Qing was startled and immediately knelt forward to explain. "Sect Master, Young Master Luo did not allow other brothers to follow, so your subordinate didn't think much of it. Your subordinate is guilty and begs for punishment."
"Get lost and send people to search for them immediately."
"Yes, Sect Master."
Meng Qing stood up, went out, and gathered a few people to search the streets.
Unsure of the whereabouts of Luo Muchen and her son, Gu Qianying could no longer sit still.
She walked out of the private room.
She was also going to search for them!
As Gu Qianying reached the first floor and headed towards the main entrance of the restaurant,
A figure suddenly walked towards her, blocking her path.
A person dressed in a white robe.
"Qianying..."
Gu Qianying looked up, frowned, and was about to scold the person before her.
But...
The moment she looked up, she was suddenly embraced by the person before her.
The person looked down and kissed her lips.
Gu Qianying froze on the spot, her pupils contracting sharply...