Chapter 240: The Antidote

After Su Wan and Gu Huaizhi returned to the palace, she went to the Imperial Pharmacy to prepare antidote pills and medicine for illnesses like typhoid.

Since the pills were urgently needed, Su Wan found a way to quickly dry them.

She prepared a thousand taels of silver notes and several sets of warm clothing, packing everything neatly into two large bundles.

Su Wan handed the bundles to Qi Sixteenth, instructing him to deliver them to the Siyi Pavilion.

At this time, it was the fifth watch of the night, and the sky was still dark and heavy.

Qi Sixteenth carried the bundles and departed.

Su Wan yawned, and returned to the Yaoguang Hall.

A single oil lamp was lit in the inner chamber. Gu Huaizhi was leaning against the headboard, fast asleep, with a book resting on his chest.

Su Wan walked over quietly and noticed that the bedding had been changed. Thinking about the absurdity of the day, her cheeks flushed.

The two of them had already expressed their feelings for each other. The most intimate things they’d done were sharing the same bed and that kiss before their parting.

This time, when they met, his original intention had only been to check if she was hurt, but in the end, he had lost control.

It was his way of punishing her.

Su Wan gently took the book from his hands and set it aside. She pulled up the quilt to cover his chest. Just as she was about to stand up, he grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.

“You’re back.” 

Gu Huaizhi said, his voice carrying the husky tone of someone who had just woken up.

Su Wan lifted her head, meeting his dark, intense gaze. Her body seemed to ignite with heat.

Before, having never experienced such feelings, the two of them cuddling on the bed hadn’t stirred anything else. Instead, it had left her heart feeling sweet.

But after tasting that overwhelming, life-altering sensation, even a single glance from him made her feel strange all over. His scorching palm pressed against her back through the thin fabric, and her body seemed to melt, turning soft as if she had no strength left.

“Were you waiting for me?” Su Wan stared at his face, following her heart as she leaned in to kiss the corner of his lips. Her fingers gently traced his eyelids. “You traveled such a long way to get here; you haven’t rested properly, have you? You even have dark circles under your eyes.”

Gu Huaizhi held her hand, his fingertips brushing lightly against hers. “Waiting for you to be with me.”

Su Wan’s heart lifted with joy. She leaned in again, capturing his lips, planting soft, delicate kisses one after another.

Gu Huaizhi remained still, his gaze deep and restrained as he looked at her.

Su Wan blushed under his stare and bit her moist lips. “Go to sleep.”

Gu Huaizhi pulled her into his arms and laid down with her. “You’ve had a tiring day. Get a good night’s sleep, and don’t try anything reckless.”

“Uh…” Su Wan buried her face in his chest, pretending not to understand.

By the time Su Wan woke up the next day, it was nearly noon.

The space beside her was already empty. Gu Huaizhi had gotten up long ago.

After getting herself ready, Su Wan planned to find Ji Xuan and Qi Min to discuss the matter of leaving Xiliang.

As she stepped out of the inner chamber, she saw Qi Sixteenth waiting at the door.

“They’ve left?”

Qi Sixteenth replied, “They departed an hour ago.”

He handed a piece of paper to Su Wan. “This is something Jiu Ge asked me to give you. She said it’s her gift in return.”

Su Wan took it, curiosity piqued, and unfolded the neatly folded xuan paper. She discovered that it was a prescription for medicinal herbs, though it differed somewhat from the pharmacology she had studied.

Thoughts swirling, Su Wan held the xuan paper and went directly to find Qi Min.

Qi Min had just finished dealing with the aftermath of the palace coup. Qu Yuanxiao and Wei Xinglu’s faction had been entirely eradicated.

She was about to meet the Empress Dowager when she saw Su Wan approaching. Her gaze was complicated as she looked at Su Wan. “Zhao’er.”

Su Wan felt a bit awkward as well, unsure of how to respond. Instead, she simply handed over the xuan paper in her hand. “Do you know what this is?”

Qi Min glanced at it and her expression turned grave. “This is a healing prescription from the Zhu You technique.”

Su Wan was startled. “Is it for treating your amnesia?”

“Where did you get this?”

“Jiu Ge gave it to me,” Su Wan replied, furrowing her brows. How did Jiu Ge come to possess such a thing?