Wow.
Gu Zhizhuo’s phoenix eyes sparkled. She remembered that in her previous life, such a rumor had only appeared half a year later.
It seemed to have been when she was leaving the capital in shackles that she first heard people talking about it in the streets and alleys. Within just a few months, the rumor had spread throughout the entire Da Qi, and several strange events and omens had occurred at the time.
With her curiosity piqued, Gu Zhizhuo asked, “What else?”
“There was purple qi1紫气 is an auspicious omen in Daoism—often signaling the birth or arrival of someone with a heavenly mandate. lingering over Taiqing Temple for a long time, and many believers witnessed it. It’s said that Qingping Zhenren was originally about to end his seclusion, but because of this divination, he revealed heavenly secrets and immediately coughed up a mouthful of blood on the spot. After that, he postponed leaving seclusion and continued attuning himself to the will of Heaven.”
Gu Zhizhuo lightly tapped her fingers on the table. Interesting. They even knew what divination Qingping Zhenren had performed during his seclusion—and that he had coughed up blood afterward. Everyone recounted it as if they had witnessed it themselves.
“These past few days, even more people have been going to Taiqing Temple.”
After finishing speaking, Qiongfang swallowed nervously. She couldn’t help but recall what she’d heard at Chonghua Palace during the Qianqiu Festival. Could there really be such a thing as a fated blessed woman?
She gazed at her Young Miss with eager eyes. Gu Zhizhuo smiled wordlessly, lifted the medicine, and drank it all in one gulp.
There were three doses of medicine in total, and this bowl was the last one.
Her medical skills really were excellent! Gu Zhizhuo thought happily, savoring a candied plum in her mouth.
Qingmei nimbly brought over a plate of peach blossom pastries and a plate of pine nut pastries.
“Young Miss, Second Young Miss and Third Young Miss came by earlier. Seeing that you were still resting, Second Young Miss left two kinds of pastries she made herself for you to try. Third Young Miss left a storybook—it’s the most popular one in the Capital right now.”
Second Uncle died in battle at the Northern Border ten years ago, leaving behind Second Aunt and the siblings Gu Zhiwei and Gu Yique. Third Uncle is still alive, but he lost both legs at the Northern Border last year. As for Third Cousin Gu Zhinan, she belongs to the third branch of the family.
“Nanny Zhu from the Old Madam’s quarters has also come by several times.”
“I told her you had a high fever, but Nanny Zhu acted as if she were deaf and insisted you go to the Old Madam’s quarters. I ignored her.”
Qingmei thought that this woman surnamed Zhu must have something wrong with her head—anyone could tell with a single glance whether the Young Miss truly had a fever, yet she kept insisting that the Young Miss was only pretending.
And Old Madam Gu was the Young Miss’s own grandmother, after all—how could a grandmother allow a servant to behave so disrespectfully and arrogantly?
Ah, the Eastern Depot was still better—at least they kept the hierarchy clear.
Gu Zhizhuo nodded and asked curiously, “Where’s the storybook Third Little Sister brought? Bring it here for me to take a look.”
She picked up a piece of peach blossom pastry and took a gentle bite. The crust was layered and flaky, and the filling carried a delicate, sweet aroma of peach blossoms. With that bite, the fragrant sweetness spread across her lips and teeth.
“Delicious!”
Gu Zhizhuo squinted her eyes in satisfaction.
It had been such a long, long time since she last tasted the peach blossom pastries made by Second Little Sister herself.
She sipped some tea to moisten her mouth, then took another piece.
“Young Miss,” Qiongfang said, “Third Young Miss said you would definitely like it!”
Qiongfang brought over the storybook Gu Zhinan had left behind. When Gu Zhizhuo glanced at the cover, The Tale of Picking Flowers, she nearly spat out her tea.
She exclaimed gleefully, “Who told Third Little Sister that I like reading this? Clearly, it’s Cousin Danling who loves it.”
Qiongfang exposed her immediately: “I saw it with my own eyes—last time, you and the Fifth Princess were huddled together reading Waiting for the Lord’s Return.”
Gu Zhizhuo laughed so hard she nearly toppled over.
Hearing Qiongfang say that, she suddenly remembered—there had been a period when her stepmother, Madam Ji, would always have people send her storybooks, all the usual tales about scholars and maidens, love at first sight, destined lovers, and so on.
Once, when they went out on a spring outing, they even happened to run into a young scholar selling calligraphy and paintings. What was it that Ruihuang said at the time? Something about how a storybook had a similar plot—some young lady from a wealthy family accidentally bought the artwork of a destitute scholar, which then led to a perfect marriage. Ruihuang had even egged her on to imitate the story, telling her to use a hairpin to buy calligraphy and paintings from the scholar.
She must have only been eleven or twelve at the time; thankfully she hadn’t been that stupid.
Qiongfang added, “You even agreed with the Fifth Princess to watch the newly appointed Jinshi2Successful candidates who passed the highest level in the imperial exam parade through the streets to see whether the Tanhualang3Third-ranked scholar in the imperial exam is really as handsome and extraordinary as the storybooks claim.”
How embarrassing! Gu Zhizhuo covered her face.
She brushed the pastry crumbs off her hands, tossed the storybook to Qiongfang, cleared her throat, and quickly changed the subject: “Alright, alright—come on, accompany your Young Miss out.”
Today was the day of her scheduled follow-up appointment with Xie Yingchen.
Going out, huh! Qingfang nodded. If her Young Miss said they’re going out, then out they’ll go.
“Young Miss, I will go have someone prepare the carriage.”
“No need—we’ll go on horseback.”
Qingmei blinked. Over the past two days, she had more or less figured it out—Qiongfang was truly big-hearted. For example, when she herself later rose in rank and took charge of the courtyard, Qiongfang hadn’t cared in the slightest. She simply stayed by Eldest Young Miss Gu’s side, and if the Young Miss pointed east, she would never go west.
Qiongfang helped her put on the veil, then shook the small bronze bell on the table. Xuezhong and Chunxin, who had been waiting outside, promptly entered.
The two maids helped her change clothes, and Qiongfang then styled her hair into a double maiden bun.
Before leaving, Gu Zhizhuo didn’t forget to take along the black bow that hung in her study.
It was a spring day, the sun shone brilliantly, and a gentle, warm breeze brushed her face. Gu Zhizhuo squinted her eyes in contentment.
She went to the stables to fetch her horse. The moment she opened the stable door, Jade Lion dashed toward her in excitement.
Gu Zhizhuo lost her balance for a moment and staggered from the bump. Jade Lion nudged her with its head, acting coquettishly as it begged for treats.
She quickly pulled out some malt candy from her pouch.
There was no need for a rein. After finishing the malt candy, Jade Lion trotted happily behind her, bouncing with every step. No matter how Qingmei looked at it, it simply didn’t resemble a proper horse at all.
Leaving through the side gate, Gu Zhizhuo headed straight for Zhuque Street.
Baiji Hall was located on Zhuque Street.
“Young Miss.”
As soon as she dismounted, a cheerful young servant came out to lead Jade Lion and Qiongfang’s horses away to be settled, and the shopkeeper also came forward to welcome her inside.
The shopkeeper of Baiji Hall was surnamed Su. He was a bondservant born into the Wang family, and both his parents were prominent stewards in the household.
As soon as she entered Baiji Hall, Gu Zhizhuo couldn’t wait to ask, “Shopkeeper Su, has anyone come looking for me these past few days?”
“No one, Young Miss. You instructed me before, and I’ve kept it in mind.”
Alright then. Gu Zhizhuo walked further inside.
Shopkeeper Su added, “Young Miss, the silver needles you requested have been made.”
“Really?” Gu Zhizhuo exclaimed in surprise. “So fast!”
For a physician, silver needles were like one’s own hands and feet. After being reborn, not having a set of silver needles with her always made her feel a little uneasy.
Gu Zhizhuo specialized in using fine needles—the kind as thin as a strand of hair—which were different from ordinary silver needles. Baiji Hall didn’t have any readily available.
Last time, she had asked Shopkeeper Su to find a craftsman to forge a set for her.
Her face lit up with joy, and she said, “Let me take a look.”
Shopkeeper Su, smiling pleasantly, retrieved a needle pouch from inside and presented it to her.
Opening the needle pouch, Gu Zhizhuo took out a needle from inside.
She gently ran her fingers over the needle’s shaft, and with a light flick, the silver needle let out a clear, crisp hum.
She felt greatly reassured, as if with it at her side, she could determine life and death.
Not bad.
She nodded in praise and said, “Thank you for your hard work, Shopkeeper Su.”
“How could this be worthy of you saying ‘thank you for your hard work,’” Shopkeeper Su said as he personally served her tea and water. When he had a moment, he added, “Blacksmith Wang’s youngest son came down with a severe febrile convulsion early this year—he was nearly gone. Su Zhan saved him with a Zi Xue Pill, and the blacksmith brought his son over specially to thank him again and again. So this time, the moment I went to him, he forged the needles you wanted overnight.”
Su Zhan was Shopkeeper Su’s son. When he was still young, he was freed from servant status and sent to follow Chen Baishu as a medicine boy to study medicine. After completing his apprenticeship, he became a physician at Baiji Hall.
Gu Zhizhuo took a sip of tea and casually asked, “Where is Su Zhan?”
Today, only an elderly physician with graying hair was on duty at Baiji Hall.
“He went to the Lin family’s medicine shop. They’ve just acquired a new batch of northern glehnia root, so Su Zhan went to see how well it was processed. If it’s good, he’ll buy some back,” After saying that, Shopkeeper Su added, “The Lin family is skilled in medicinal processing. The northern glehnia root they process can be considered top-grade.”
Gu Zhizhuo’s mind stirred. “I remember Su Zhan is skilled in treating children’s illnesses, isn’t he?”
Shopkeeper Su’s smile grew even wider. “Yes, yes, you remember everything, Young Miss.”
Gu Zhizhuo smiled and said, “When he comes back, tell him to try using a gold cauldron and silver ladle the next time he makes the Zi Xue Pill.”
Shopkeeper Su repeated, “A gold cauldron and silver ladle?”
She nodded.
The Zi Xue Pill was an ancient formula, but nowadays the versions used by various households tend to be pale in color and only moderately effective.
In her previous life, she had accidentally discovered that using a golden pot and a silver ladle made the Zi Xue Pill a deeper purple, more in line with the description in the ancient formula “purple in color, resembling frost and snow.” Only then could it be considered a true Zi Xue Pill4紫雪丹 (Zǐ Xuě Dān) = Purple Snow Pill, with its medicinal effect more than doubled.
Shopkeeper Su didn’t doubt her at all: “When Su Zhan comes back, I’ll have him give it a try.”
As they talked, Gu Zhizhuo took a seat in the inner room, waiting in complete boredom.
“Young Miss.”
Seeing her boredom, Qiongfang offered a silly idea: “I brought along the storybook Third Young Miss gave you. Would you like to read it?”
Gu Zhizhuo wanted to say “no,” but once the words reached her lips, she couldn’t resist saying “Sure.”
She took the storybook Qiongfang handed over and flipped through it with interest. Whenever she came across something amusing, she even covered her face with the book and laughed.
Qiongfang looked puzzled.
In the past, whenever Young Miss read storybooks, she would end up teary-eyed, growing sentimental and melancholy. How come she’s reading so happily now?
“Young Miss, what does it say?” She asked, extremely curious.
“A scholar happened to meet a young lady from a prominent family. They fell in love at first sight and secretly pledged themselves to each other. The young lady then gave him all her personal savings so he could go to the Capital to take the imperial examination.”
“And then?”
“The scholar became the top scorer in the imperial examination, was granted a marriage at the Golden Throne Hall, and was appointed as a prince consort.”
Qiongfang asked anxiously, “Then what about the young lady from the prominent family?”
“Ah, the young lady from the prominent family…” Gu Zhizhuo closed the storybook and said with perfect seriousness, “She went and stabbed the scholar to death.”
Qiongfang’s eyes widened, and her entire face seemed to say just one word: Ah???
Qingmei almost burst out laughing.
The Young Miss just loved to tease people. This kind of storybook was probably about Ehuang and Nüying sharing a husband—who knew what kind of poor, pedantic scholar had imagined it.
The brass bell at the door jingled.
Someone came in.
Could it be Young Master?
Gu Zhizhuo hurriedly hid the storybook behind her back.
![The Return of The Lord God[quick wear]](https://i2.wp.com/knoxt.space/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/007S8ZIlly1ghl04hyuxyj30hs0owwgu.jpg?resize=85,105 "The Return of The Lord God[quick wear]")
IonAnthos On PCMWF Chapter 131