Chapter 393: Obtaining the New Medicine

He Jinghui continued to ask for clues, "You said you pushed her away, so what did she do to you then?"

"What specific actions? What did she say? What was distinctive about her voice?"

Mu Nan Zhao showed no expression, "I don't know."

"You don't know?!" He Jinghui said incredulously.

With your memory and observational skills, even if you couldn't recall what happened after returning to the prince's mansion...

"It's impossible for you to forget everything that happened in the South Pavilion."

Upon hearing "what happened after returning to the prince's mansion," a vein in Mu Nan Zhao's temple twitched violently.

He said irritably, "Is it necessary for this prince to pay attention to her?"

He Jinghui fell silent for a moment, then said, "That's also true."

"Besides Boss Gu, I haven't seen you give any other young lady a second look."

"Moreover, showing up at that moment, it's either a trap or a seductive woman; not looking was the right move."

Mu Nan Zhao picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, wrote down a few names, and handed them to He Jinghui.

"Check based on this."

He Jinghui had already screened the guest list for that day; after looking it over, he nodded and said:

"The biggest suspects can only be these few."

"It just depends on this person's goal—whether they merely want to marry off their daughter to you, to secure an alliance."

"Or whether there are other, more complicated calculations..."

He Jinghui folded the paper, stood up, and said with a smile, "This matter isn't actually hard to get to the bottom of,"

"I and the people from the Regent Prince's office are enough."

"For the next couple days, rest well at home; Gu Xixi said your inner fire is too strong, so you need to eat more yin-nourishing, qi-boosting foods."

"I've already told the kitchen to make sure they prepare it carefully."

Before Mu Nan Zhao could glare at him, He Jinghui had already anticipated it and leapt out of the doorway.

Two more days passed.

At Jade Bamboo Courtyard, everyone helped Gu Xixi pack her belongings.

The two bundles Gu Xixi brought with her have increased to six.

Inside, besides the clothes Gu Xixi bought in the capital, there are gifts and local specialties for friends and family.

Plus two bundles full of items that He Jinglan specially added.

Gu Xixi looked at the row of bundles not yet packed and felt troubled, "This is really too much, isn't it?"

"This one, and these—we don't need them."

He Jinglan, however, insisted, "No."

"New clothes and shoes for Aunt Zhang, Old Jiang, and Shitou; the needles and thread Aunt Zhang usually uses, matched to the latest colors now in the capital; several packages of medicinal herbs for Old Jiang; Shitou's Four Treasures of the Study and copybook toys. You say, who could we leave out of these?"

"Plus several kinds of candied fruit, two jars of pastries, ten packets of mixed candy—all flavors you can only get from a few old shops in the capital. Since you've come to the capital, when folks back home ask, you ought to bring something out for everyone to try."

Gu Xixi was speechless and could only watch as He Jinglan directed the packing.

Lv Jing folded her clothes, pursed her lips and smiled, "Although there's a lot of stuff, there's no need to worry."

"We have a carriage, after all; it was empty on the way here, so we can just load more on the way back."

Gu Xixi saw Zi Yan place a rectangular brocade box into a bundle.

"Wait, this hairpin isn't mine; don't mix it up."

Zi Yan smiled and glanced at He Jinglan.

He Jinglan said, "No mistake, it's yours."

The box contained the gold filigree flat-square pin with liuli step-dangle that Gu Xixi wore at the flower-viewing banquet.

This item is extremely prestigious; Gu Xixi had assumed it was just a loan from He Jinglan's collection.

Gu Xixi said sternly, "Don't joke; this hairpin could buy two shops in Dongshi."

"You're willing to give it away, but I couldn't possibly accept it."

Saying that, she was about to take the box out.

He Jinglan blocked her hand while chuckling lightly, "Look at her, she's getting worked up."

"If you ever truly become the mistress of the household, who knows how you'd manage everyone's finances?"

Gu Xixi was utterly baffled, and she also noticed that not only He Jinglan was smiling oddly; Zi Yan, Lu La, and the others were also pursing their lips and smiling as they looked at her.

Lv Jing looked around in confusion and asked with a smile, "What are you ladies laughing at?"

"Tell us anything funny, too."

Everyone laughed even more heartily.

Or He Jinglan said, "Xixi understands me, and I understand Xixi."

"You think, I know you won't accept it, yet I insist on giving you something so showy but insubstantial?"

Gu Xixi frowned slightly, thought it over again, and then understood.

She looked questioningly at He Jinglan.

He Jinglan smiled and nodded.

Gu Xixi gazed at the box in silence for a moment, then stopped mentioning taking it out.

Lv Jing blinked, as if she had understood something.

She didn't press further, and continued packing her luggage.

"They're all boxes; just slip this one in the middle."

In the customs of the Great Undertaking Dynasty, a man's first gift of a hairpin to the woman he admires carries special significance, which can also be interpreted as confessing his feelings.

Originally, the Top Scholar's apricot blossom was another kind of hairpin.

Inside the house it was lively, and a maid from outside came to deliver a message.

He Jinglan put down her belongings and went out.

After returning, she laughed and said, "My brother says Boss Gu will return to his hometown the day after tomorrow, just as he heads south to inspect the dam; regrettably unable to see him off at the long pavilion, so he wants to move the gathering forward a day, setting the banquet for tomorrow at the Hall of Assembled Worthies."

"Before parting, let's all have a lively time together."

The crowd cheered, and Gu Xixi also smiled.

The bundles have been packed; everyone went to prepare for tomorrow's outing, leaving He Jinglan and Gu Xixi to speak alone.

"The matter of him being drugged has already been settled."

"It's nothing more than the usual power struggles and scheming."

"My brother only said a few words, and I didn't ask for details."

"But the thing you wanted, I actually have."

He Jinglan took out a small bottle from her sleeve; besides the wooden stopper, its mouth was also sealed with wax.

"This is the evidence my brother gathered; it is said to be a secret medicine from the southwest."

"It takes effect upon skin contact, so inside the bottle is a wax pill with the medicine sealed within—a double safeguard."

Gu Xixi is not a physician; earlier she could not determine what medicine Mu Nan Zhao had been given.

So she wondered what the formula was, and how potent its effects were.

Gu Xixi put the medicine bottle into her satchel, saying, "Going back to ask my master to look at it; perhaps we can make an appropriate antidote."

He Jinglan laughed, "For someone?"

Gu Xixi did not deny it.

Although this medicine is rare, it can attract bees and butterflies like Mu Nan Zhao does; who knows, it might happen again someday.

The next day, a banquet was held at the Hall of Assembled Worthies, attended only by the closest friends.

Jiang Mingyuan, An Qinghe, and Lv Jing were all on the invitation list.

The atmosphere at the table was very lively.

An Qinghe and Gu Xixi discussed the many things to be done upon returning to Xi Bei.

Jiang Mingyuan said he had been ordered to return to Xi Bei to take up an official post; on his way home, accompanied by Lv Jing, it just so happened that the four of them would travel together.

He Jinglan participated enthusiastically, describing in detail how business at Sweet Rain Residence had been thriving recently and what plans she had for the future.

Lv Jing looked full of anticipation, asking everyone about the situation in Xi Bei.

Only the Regent Prince sat there, emitting a cold aura.

He Jinghui furtively jabbed Mu Nan Zhao, "You should at least smile; don't just sit there drinking alone."

"Since that night, you still haven't said a word to Boss Gu, have you?"

"She's leaving early tomorrow; don't you want to say something to her?"

Mu Nan Zhao coldly glanced at the opposite side.

"I don't know what An Qinghe just said that made Gu Xixi double over with laughter, while Jiang Mingyuan beside her smiled and watched her."

"Whether I say it or not, does it still matter?"