Chapter 245: Young Man

When Su Wan returned to the palace, her clothes were soaked through, and she was shivering all over from the cold.

After soaking in a hot bath and drinking a bowl of ginger soup, she finally managed to expel the chill from her body.

“Sit down,” Gu Huaizhi instructed, gesturing for Su Wan to sit before the bronze mirror. He took a large towel and began drying her long hair. “Why didn’t you call me to go with you to Baima Temple today?”

Su Wan gazed at his face reflected in the bronze mirror. His features were gentle, though his slightly pursed lips revealed his dissatisfaction with her leaving the palace without permission.

She curved her lips into a smile, her fingers tracing the outline of his brows and eyes on the mirror. “You were busy. Besides, it wasn’t anything important, so I didn’t call you.”

Gu Huaizhi’s brows furrowed, but before he could speak, she softly added, “I’m cautious. The medicine I carry can knock out a few oxen, let alone two people. We were fortunate to encounter the Prince of Changxing. He was injured, and I treated his wounds, it was my way of repaying the fare for the carriage ride.”

“Prince Changxing?” Gu Huaizhi paused in his actions, falling into deep thought.

Back when he was investigating Qi Min, he had briefly looked into several key officials of Xiliang.

Prince Changxing was one of them.

He originally came from Great Zhou, where he lost his wife and children. He was rescued by a merchant family from Xiliang, the Liu family, and brought back to Xiliang.

Lady Liu was a widow; she lost her husband just a year into their marriage and had lived alone ever since, until she met Prince Changxing.

Her father held a low opinion of Prince Changxing, suspecting him of coveting the Liu family’s wealth. He offered him the position of manager in one of their shops, but the prince declined. Instead, he joined the military, and within just two or three years, he was granted the title of prince.

Currently, Lady Liu’s mother is from Great Zhou, which is precisely why the Liu family has business dealings with Great Zhou. After Prince Changxing received his title, Lady Liu’s entire family moved into the prince’s residence.

“Wanwan…”

The tone of his voice made Su Wan suddenly turn around and wrap her arms around his waist. In a coquettish voice, she said, “You need to trust me a bit more. I’m not as fragile as you think.”

“Madam Qi wasn’t weak either.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt, nor do I wish for us to be separated for more than a decade because of some accident.” Gu Huaizhi held a deep sense of reverence for the unpredictability of this world. Ji Xuan was strong, and Madam Qi was no less capable, yet in the end, they were still separated, unable to reunite with their own flesh and blood.

Everyone said his father was a skilled fighter, incredibly strong, capable of taking down a wild boar with a single punch. Yet even such a man met his end at the jaws of a wild beast, leaving no remains behind.

“Your identity brings countless dangers around you. Be cautious,” Gu Huaizhi urged earnestly with a grave tone.

“I understand.” Su Wan knelt upright and planted a light kiss on the corner of his lips. Smiling sweetly, she said, “There won’t be a next time.”

Gu Huaizhi’s expression remained stern as he turned her back around and pressed her down onto the stool. “Don’t be reckless.”

Su Wan bit her lip to stifle a laugh. Being watched over like this felt quite nice, it made her feel cared for.

Gu Huaizhi fetched a peach wood comb, gently smoothing her long hair before carefully drying it with the towel. Then, he scooped her up by the waist and placed her on the soft couch draped with fur, pulling the blanket over her.

A palace maid brought in the evening meal.

Gu Huaizhi ladled a bowl of hot chicken soup for her and then served her another bowl of rice.

After they finished eating together, Su Wan handed him a prescription. “Have someone gather these herbs.”

She yawned, wrapped herself in the blanket, and leaned back on the soft couch. Sleepily, she murmured, “I’ll rest for a bit first.”

Gu Huaizhi glanced up. The hall was warm, and she was dressed only in a simple white inner garment. She lay lazily on the soft couch, with the blanket draped loosely around her waist. Her lips were a vibrant red, her jet-black hair cascading softly over the couch, and the collar of her garment was slightly loose, revealing a hint of snow-white skin. A stray lock of hair rested against her chest, disappearing into the exposed skin, stirring endless thoughts.

She seemed completely unaware, one foot slipping out from under the blanket and resting on his thigh.

He pulled the blanket up over her chest and quietly left the inner hall.

Mo Yuan reported, “The Prince of Changxing returned to the capital ahead of schedule and was attacked on the way.”

Gu Huaizhi nodded. He had already heard about it from Su Wan.

“It seems that someone in Xiliang cannot tolerate Prince Changxing,” Mo Yuan speculated. “Could it be remnants of the feudal lords?”

“That’s possible,” Gu Huaizhi replied indifferently. “Xiliang and Great Zhou are connected through marriage. As long as Xiliang’s court officials do not harbor treasonous intentions, there’s no need to intervene.”

Mo Yuan nodded. “Understood.”

“Gather the herbs for this prescription,” Gu Huaizhi instructed, handing him the list.

Mo Yuan took the prescription and left.

For the past few days, Su Wan had been personally decocting medicine for Qi Min.

Whenever she had free time, Su Wan stayed by Qi Min’s side, observing her closely.

But there were no signs of her regaining her memory.

Today was the fourth day, and also the last.

After watching Qi Min finish her medicine, Su Wan took the bowl and set it down, nervously staring at her, wanting to ask how she felt.

Ever since Qi Min started taking the medicine, Ji Xuan hadn’t appeared during the day, only showing up by her side after she had fallen asleep.

Qi Min naturally noticed this but pretended not to know.

Closing her eyes, Qi Min rubbed her temples. “I had a dream last night.”

“What kind of dream?” Su Wan asked.

“I dreamed of some scenes…” Qi Min opened her eyes and gazed at the canopy above, her thoughts gradually drifting. “They were about Yunzhong City and Ji Xuan. I’m not sure if they actually happened or if it’s just that I’ve been too desperate to uncover the past these days, overthinking and imagining things in my dreams.”

Su Wan furrowed her brows tightly. Could it be that the prescription wasn’t effective?

“Don’t stress yourself. Let things take their natural course; there’s no need to force yourself to remember. If this prescription doesn’t work, I’ll think of another solution,” Su Wan said thoughtfully, already planning to seek out the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager had remained silent all this time, likely waiting for her to take the initiative to visit, so she could negotiate on her own terms.

Su Wan didn’t want to be passive, so before going to see the Empress Dowager, she needed to take some actions of her own.

Qi Min nodded.

“Get some rest,” Su Wan said, noticing the dimming light in her eyes and her drowsy expression. She stepped out as the light shifted in the room.

With a loud bang, the door closed behind her.

Qi Min couldn’t resist her drowsiness and fell into a deep sleep.

The imperial study was unusually quiet that morning. Sunlight streamed through the window lattices, spreading across the neatly arranged desks. Inside, princes, princesses, and their companions sat attentively, while the Grand Tutor’s clear and steady voice echoed as he read aloud.

The oldest among them was just over ten years old, while the youngest were seven or eight.

Qi Min had accompanied her father to the capital. While he went to have an audience with the emperor, she followed a palace maid to the Imperial Garden. Bored, she wandered to the imperial study.

At the time, she was only eight years old. Leaning against the window, she curiously peeked inside and happened to see a young boy sitting by the window.

With sword-like brows and bright, sharp eyes, he appeared just over ten years old. He was dressed in a black brocade robe, which made his cold and stern features even more solemn. Unlike the others who were attentively listening to the lecture, he was holding a dagger, carving a piece of wood. Beside him were the rough shapes of his previous carvings.

Qi Min recognized the object—it was a repeating crossbow.

She was surprised that this handsome boy, who had grown up in the imperial palace, would be interested in weapons.

“I have a repeating crossbow. I can give you one. It’s very powerful,” Qi Min said. However, the boy didn’t even lift his eyelids, treating her words as if they were nothing but noise. Undeterred, she took off her own wrist-mounted mini crossbow and slid it through the window onto his desk. “Here, take this first.”

The boy grabbed the wrist crossbow and shoved it back into her arms without even sparing her a glance. Despite his lack of acknowledgment, Qi Min could feel his disdain.