Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Gu Chengrui repeatedly tasted it and stated, âThis is made from the leaves of the Hardy Ice Plant, and its taste is very light. If it wasnât for Yingâerâs sensitive tongue, Iâm sure she wouldnât have discovered it.â
Yang Wanning nodded in agreement. âThatâs true. Iâve been drinking these tea leaves for five or six days and havenât tasted anything unusual.â
âHardy Ice Plant, is it that kind of edible plant?â Zhou Ying asked uncertainly. If that was the case, it meant the merchant had sold them a fake. Otherwise⦠Gu Chengrui shook his head. He had read about this Hardy Ice Plant in a medical book when living in the Mother Goddess Temple. This plant was similar to the snow lotus and grew in the snow.
Therefore, it possessed a cold nature. A womanâs body would stop ovulating if she took even a small amount of it for three months. Even a man could not withstand the side effects of ingesting these, losing his life if he did so for half a year.
Thinking of this, he handed a single leaf to Yang Wanning and said, âTake a good look at this. Donât drink the tea leaves when you return home.
âOver the next two days, find an opportunity to visit our residence. Iâll prepare some pills for you; take them for half a month to recuperate your body.â
Yang Wanning nodded repeatedly and said, âIâll remember it.â
âCousin, can 1 learn some shallow medical skills from you to protect myself?â
âDidnât Auntie send someone to teach you this before?â
âMy mother did teach me to identify some common herbs, but not such a rare herb.â
âSure, you can come over when Iâm free. Learn as much as you can.â Gu Chengrui hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded in agreement.
However, he still warned her, âHowever, you cannot kill with the knowledge 1 teach you. Otherwise, donât blame me for exposing you.â
âI promise you that I will never kill or hurt anyone with that knowledge.â
Gu Chengrui nodded silently to that. He handed her the remaining leaves and said, âLetâs start with this Hardy Ice Plant. Try and pick them out from the actual Pu-er tea leaves. Remember not only the shape but also the taste and color.â
Yang Wanning nodded and took the pile of leaves over to study it with Chun Xi.
Zhou Ying shook her head when she saw this. It was not easy for a woman to survive under such an archaic feudal system.
She had to learn more, too. Otherwise, it would be troublesome if she had her food spiked in the future.
Gu Chengrui saw her solemn face and grabbed her hand with a smile. âWeâll be together forever.â
Zhou Ying smiled and nodded without replying.
For a moment, the carriage fell silent, and soon they arrived at the Imperial Residence of King An.
After the four of them exited the carriage, they asked the gatekeeper to inform the owner of their arrival.
Someone finally came out after a quarter of an hourâan old nanny.
When the old nanny saw them, she bowed and said, âGreetings, Lord Gu, Madam Gu, and Miss Yang. Madam Consort An is waiting in the courtyard.â âSorry to bother Granny Zhang; please lead the way.â Zhou Ying smiled and replied.
After that, the group of people followed her into the house.
After entering, they finally knew why their reception took this long.
It took them about 15 minutes to reach Madam Consort Anâs courtyard, which was in the fourth courtyard from the main entrance.
Just as they entered the courtyard, they saw Princess Mingyu. She came up to them and said, âItâs you two? Please come in.â
After saying that to the two girls, she nodded politely at Gu Chengrui and led them into the house.
After entering the room, they saw Madam Consort An lying on a bed. Zhou Ying was stunned by that and asked, âGreetings, Madam Consort An, you areâ¦?â âSorry for being negligent about your visit. Iâve been suffering from insomnia these few nights, and Iâm so sleepy that I canât open my eyes during the day.â Madam Consort An sat up and greeted them.
She quickly added, âYou guys, take a seat. Iâm fine..â