Chapter 103: Upgrade

When she got angry, the maids around her dared not say anything else.

A er na kept them by her side even though she knew they were the Empress's people because among these maids two had martial skill above hers; she didn't refuse to flee, she simply couldn't.

As the Princess of Yuqin Guo, A er na was the key figure in this marriage alliance between Yuqin Guo and Daqi; the Yuqin Guo contingent stalled at the border and never entered Daqi because the Princess sent for the marriage had escaped.

She drugged those maids, slipped out of the marriage party, but after only a few li she was recaptured by the same maids.

Although the maids belonged to the Empress, they had been with A er na since childhood.

A er na's mother Empress was the former Empress of Yuqin Guo; she died shortly after A er na was born, the new Empress ascended, and A er na was taken in and raised by the Grand Empress.

After all, she was a girl, so the Empress did not see her as a thorn in the side, merely assigning a few maids to stay with her.

After years of service, those maids had developed a slight affection for A er na.

When they caught up with her, they did not force her back into the marriage party but followed her incognito into Daqi.

"Princess, when do you plan to go to Jingcheng?"

A er na whispered, "How does the Empress respond?"

"Your Highness, I heard you fled; the Empress is extremely outraged."

"Outrage is outrage; this Princess doesn't want to hear idle chatter, speak something useful."

The maid shook her head, "N-nothing..."

A er na looked at her expression, hooked a finger toward her; the maid stepped to her side, and A er na grabbed her belt and began searching.

She produced a note from her bosom, smiled, and said, "Just say it straight; you insist the Princess search me."

She knew those maids still had some genuine care for her; otherwise they would have destroyed the notes after reading them.

The maids exchanged glances and sighed silently.

"The county princess married to the Marriage Prince was made the Princess and sent for the marriage; the Marriage Prince is my mother's brother. Only that sharp‑tongued, spiteful old Empress could think of such a harmful move; she simply doesn't want my mother's clan to live in peace," A er na shouted angrily. "Damn old Empress, she's the kind of blind‑eyed, heart‑blind father‑emperor that could even look upon me!"

"Princess, lower your voice."

"Why? Why should I lower my voice? I'm no longer in the palace; can't I speak a few words?" A er na gritted her teeth, "My uncle's daughter hasn't even come of age and is being sent for marriage, damn it! They're forcing me to comply."

At that moment, a gasp rose from downstairs; the child who was all bruised and purple just now opened his eyes and wailed loudly.

The old man, holding his grandson, couldn't help but have tears streaming down his face.

"Thank you, Manager Chi, thank you for the life‑saving favor. This old man, I... I am willing to be a beast of burden for you, I will definitely repay your kindness," the old man kept bowing his head, and Chi Nan Yi hurriedly helped him to his feet.

"It's a trivial favor, but the old man must remember: wild vegetables must not be eaten indiscriminately; some poisonous weeds look extremely similar to edible greens, and a single mistake could endanger one's life."

"Remember, remember," the old man wiped the tears from his face. "Honestly, my family wouldn't have ended up like this if not for my son being conscripted and killed on the battlefield, my daughter‑in‑law couldn't bear the blow and died, leaving just this old fool to support them. With nothing to eat, we could only forage wild vegetables, and then..."

Chi Nan Yi, hearing this, felt compassion. She glanced toward the back kitchen and hurried, "What a coincidence, my shop happens to need a woodcutter. You seem still robust; if you're willing, you could deliver firewood for my shop. I'll pay market price, saving us the trouble of buying elsewhere."

"Fine! Fine! No need for market price, just give us both a meal and that's enough."

"How can we let you waste your effort? When winter comes, mountain paths become treacherous, and chopping wood will be even harder."

"Thank you, Manager, thank you, Manager."

At that moment, a voice echoed in her mind: Space upgraded! Crop maturation time halved.

Upgraded again?

Sure enough, accumulating merit does bring many benefits to the space.

She took out a few pills, handed them to the old man, and smiled, "These pills can detoxify. I've mostly cleared the poison from your grandson, but there may be residual toxin; taking these pills for two consecutive days will finish the job."

The old man thanked her profusely, took the pills and left. Chi Nan Yi, just about to go upstairs, was called by the diners downstairs.

"Manager Chi, Manager Chi."

"What's the matter?"

"That pill just now..." they rubbed their hands, laughing, "That thing can cure any poison?"

"It's a detox pill, but it doesn't cure every poison. For ordinary toxins it removes about eighty percent; for extremely potent ones it clears forty to fifty percent. In any case, it can keep you alive."

Everyone's eyes lit up at the words.

This is literally a miracle cure!

"I wonder if there are any more of those pills? I'd like to buy some."

"Me, and I as well, I also want to buy."

The number of people wanting to buy the pills was huge, after all such life‑saving items—who wouldn't want them?

"These pills will be sold at Bai cao tang in a few days, and the price won't be high. If you want to buy them, just go to Bai cao tang."

Everyone felt a surge of joy.

Good that they're for sale.

"These days Bai cao tang is the biggest and best pharmacy in our town, not only selling pills but also a full range of herbs at fair prices," a diner laughed. "When those pills go on sale, I'll be the first to buy."

"Indeed, Bai cao tang is truly good, far better than that Liu ji yao pu across the street."

The crowd kept chatting, and no one noticed a young servant whose face turned ashen as he ran toward Liu ji yao pu.

"Manager! Manager!" Liu Er, panting, ran to Liu ji yao pu.

"What's wrong?" Liu the shopkeeper, looking at the ledger with worry, said, "These days revenue is low and expenses high; even a few old regulars have stopped buying medicine here. If this continues, Liu ji yao pu will collapse."

"Shopkeeper, it's bad news; Bai cao tang has new pills, and the whole town is talking about them."

"New pills?" Liu the shopkeeper frowned, "What new pills?"

"Isn't it that woman surnamed Chi, who sold wind‑cold pills and injury‑healing pills, and now claims to have made a detox pill? I heard clearly; it'll be on sale in a few days. Our wind‑cold and injury herbs aren't selling; they're even growing mold. If the detox pills also can't sell, what will we do?"