Chapter 37: A call, the young general remembers a kindness (2/2)

“Hurry and rise. Didn’t you thank me that day already?” Han Yunxi smiled.

“That was that day. Today this humble official’s come to formally thank you. This humble official has nothing to repay with you except to pledge his assistance if esteemed wangfei should ever need me.” Mu Qingwu was very earnest with his bright eyes and level gaze.

He was like a little boy, only much bigger, and his sincerity was very cute.

Han Yunxi nodded her head. “All right, I’ll remember.” As she spoke, she took out the life and death waiver to face Gu Beiyue. “Imperial Physician Gu, I think I should pay my respects and thank you too!”

See the waiver, Imperial Physician Gu was surprised at first, before rushing to stop Han Yunxi from bowing. “Esteemed wangfei, you cannot!” Gu Beiyue was in earnest as well, his eyebrows scrunching together. Seeing this, Han Yunxi almost wanted to use her hands to smooth them out. A warm man like him shouldn’t have such frowning eyebrows.

“Really, thank you,” Han Yunxi offered up the life and death waiver with both hands, completely sincere. In this matter, Gu Beiyue was the only one who’d helped her without any motives.

Seeing those black words on that white paper, Gu Beiyue only said lightly, “Esteemed wangfei can destroy this for me instead. Actually, I came because…”

Before he could finish, Han Yunxi could already guess his thoughts. “That poison was something I could tell by smell.”

In the prisons, she had agreed to tell Gu Beiyue how she could figure out poisons with nothing on hand, if Mu Qingwu ever woke up. Han Yunxi didn’t want to lie, but if she told Gu Beiyue about the existence of the detoxification system, he’d probably never understand it in his life. This was her only recourse.

And yet these words were greeted by a familiar voice. “You sniffed it out? What a formidable nose you have, sister-in-law.”

This voice…Murong Wanru.

She walked in with deliberate steps, wearing a light yellow robe on her delicate-looking body–especially that tiny waist that looked like it could be held in one arm. Her figure was rather riveting, her cheeks even more so. Murong Wanru was born as a servant girl. Even though she was adopted by Grand Concubine Yi, she had no titles of her own. When she saw Gu Beiyue and the young general, she still had to bow, her movements as lithe as a swallow. It made people feel like wanting to help her back up.

And look, Mu Qingwu was already harboring protective feelings for the girl. “Murong Wanru is being over courteous, hurry and rise.”

Murong Wanru softly nodded her head before finally straightening to sit beside Han Yunxi. She kept her eyes lowered. “Sister-in-law, you still blame me, don’t you? I’ve already beseeched you three times, you should at least give me a chance to explain.”

Eh?!

These unfathomable words left Han Yunxi at a loss.

“Could it be that Miss Murong had some hidden trouble that prevented her from seeking out Grand Concubine Yi that night?” Gu Beiyue opened his mouth.

Only then did Han Yunxi remember. She’d never relied on Murong Wanru to save her. It was already good enough if the girl didn’t try to hit her while she was down, so if Murong Wanru hadn’t brought this up, she really would have forgotten.

Besides, the three times Murong Wanru looked for her recently was to drink tea or window-shop. She’d never even brought up apologizing, all right?!

What was she doing now, apologizing to her in this place? Wasn’t it just to put on a show for Gu Beiyue and Mu Qingwu? It was probably to protect her image. After all, if Gu Beiyue told this to anyone else, her reputation might be ruined.

Murong Wanru sucked in a breath, looking helpless. “Imperial Physician Gu, Wanru really didn’t arrange things well. Wanru is ashamed! Don’t you know, I’ve been trying to explain myself to sister-in-law these few days, but she shut her doors against me as soon as she came back.”

After she finished, Murong Wanru rose and personally poured a cup of tea, which she offered with both hands to Han Yunxi. “Sister-in-law, I know you’re not a petty person. It’s just that what happened was too serious. But I really didn’t mean it. Drink some tea and give me a chance to explain, won’t you?”

Why did it sound more and more like she was cursing her for being petty?

If you’re going to explain, then just explain! What’s with this superfluous speech?

Han Yunxi didn’t accept the tea, but spoke coldly. “The one who asked for your help was Imperial Physician Gu, not I. You should explain things to him.”

What ferocious words!

Murong Wanru was stunned for a bit, but quickly recovered her composure to face Gu Beiyue. “Imperial Physician Gu, I was going to explain to you. But, sister-in-law’s ignored me for so many days that I need to ask for her forgiveness first.”

Han Yunxi was about to throw up. Does she really need to kick someone else down to recover her own image?

So you’re that obsessed with your reputation, huh? She’d ruin it completely for her today.

“Then you should hurry up and explain,” Han Yunxi was frosty.

“After Imperial Physician Gu left that night, I was so anxious. I ran out of the house immediately, but fainted before I reached the city gates.” As she spoke, Murong Wanru kept her head pitifully lowered, her voice seemingly choked with sobs. “Sister-in-law, you know that my body isn’t well. Whenever I get anxious, I tend to faint. I did come back, but I told Little Sixth[3] to ride a fast horse and report the news. Who knew that the wicked servant didn’t go at all, but was hiding behind the door to sleep…sister-in-law, wouldn’t you say…sister-in-law, it’s all my fault!”

A mocking lilt rose to Han Yunxi’s lips as she asked, “When did you find out Little Sixth never went to find mufei?”

-o-

[1] well water didn’t touch the river water (井水不犯河水) – jingshui bu fan heshui, also known as ‘I’ll mind my own business, you mind yours.’

[2] Chen Xiang (沉香) – literally agalloch eaglewood (agarwood), but her name can also mean ‘descending fragrance.’

[3] Little Sixth (小六子) – xiao liuzi, a servant in the Duke of Qin’s household.