Chapter 361: Results bear fruit (1/2)

Protect with his life?

Han Yunxi found herself at a momentary loss for words. Gu Beiyue was smiling so warm and gently despite his ruthless promise. Everything he said had sounded cruel to her, and she pondered over their weight before Zhao mama interrupted her thoughts with a chuckle.

“Imperial Physician Gu, aren’t your words a little too heavy? We’re only leaving Lil Thing temporarily in your care. When His Highness and esteemed wangfei returns, Lil Thing will go back to her side, too.” In truth, Zhao mama was reluctant to part with the small creature as well.

Gu Beiyue’s eyes flickered with a helpless smile as he remarked, “Esteemed wangfei and Lil Thing both saved my life. My life thus belongs to them.”

So that was it. Han Yunxi disliked such heavy topics. If she thought back carefully, then all of Gu Beiyue’s injuries were actually her fault. “Alright already, enough with this swearing your life business. Just raise Lil Thing well. I’ll find you for it when I come back,” she said seriously.

Gu Beiyue nodded and grew serious in turn. “Esteemed wangfei, why don’t I write some pestilence prevention prescriptions for you? Maybe they’ll be useful when you go to the disaster areas.”

Was he outright telling Han Yunxi that her medical skills were lacking? Fine, it was true that Han Yunxi hardly understood treating plagues aside from poisonous ones. Even the other physicians of the Imperial Physician Courtyard couldn’t compare to Gu Beiyue. She would be fully prepared with his prescriptions. Pestilence was essentially widespread infectious disease. Areas of famine would naturally have the injured and the dead. Once their numbers added up, it was easy for plague to break out and infect others. Disasters, famines, or wars weren’t as scary as the plague that came in their wake.

Historians had done textual research on the subject. The fall of multiple dynasties came not from war, but the effects of pestilence in its wake that crippled an entire country. Gu Beiyue did a thorough job and gave Han Yunxi a total of 30 different prescriptions that would cover every single type of plague that had once wracked Cloud Realm Continent. When Han Yunxi left, he sent her off to the door with his weak body and gave her a quiet reminded.

“Esteemed wangfei, it’s very probable that the disaster areas will be lacking in medicine as well as grain.”

Han Yunxi’s heart gave a start. She would’ve forgotten this detail without his reminder. If Gu Beiyue wasn’t so hurt, she’d want to take him along too! Fortunately, Long Feiye had contacts in Medicine City, so they wouldn’t be blocked in terms of medicine. Of course, she hoped things wouldn’t be so bad as to lead to pestilence. Otherwise, Long Feiye would just have more troubles on his hands.

After making arrangements for Lil Thing, Han Yunxi paid a visit to General Baili’s estate early next morning. She had no idea how long her trip out of the capital would take, so she had to take care of all her responsibilities before she left. Baili Mingxiang was one of them. Han Yunxi arrived just as the girl was burning incense and steeping tea. She was dressed in snow-white robes, her jet-black hair falling behind her like liquid ink. Sitting in the tea room, she made for a pretty picture, distant and tranquil. Even Han Yunxi’s heart skipped a beat at the sight.

She went to the great hall first to leave her delivery of poisons with General Baili, before retracing her steps to the Baili Mingxiang. As soon as the girl saw her, she grew delighted. Ever since coming back from the Tang Clan in her youth, she’d spent her years in the capital city without a single female friend who came to visit. She quickly put out some hassock cushions and offered her some tender tea leaves.

“Esteemed wangfei, sit.”

“You have an identical habit to His Highness. What kind of tea do you like to drink?” Han Yunxi asked offhandedly.

“Black tea,” Baili Mingxiang replied immediately.

“What a coincidence, His Highness prefers that too,” Han Yunxi remarked.

Baili Mingxiang dearly wanted to continue this topic, but she ultimately chose a different one. “Esteemed wangfei, I heard my father say that His Majesty sent His Highness to the disaster regions?”

“Mhm, I’ll be going with him. That’s why you won’t see me for at least half a year!” Han Yunxi grinned.

Baili Mingxiang gave a start before she hastened to explain, “Esteemed wangfei, Mingxiang never implied that I didn’t want to see you!”

“I’m just joking with you, why so nervous?” Han Yunxi glanced at her. Every time they talked, this girl always used utmost respect. She couldn’t bear such an atmosphere. Baili Mingxiang was probably her only female friend amongst the capital’s noble families. Couldn’t they forget their statuses and have a proper chat once in awhile?

After exchanging a few words, Han Yunxi got down to business. “I made a special trip today to tell you both good news and bad news. Pick, which one do you want to hear first?”

Baili Mingxiang didn’t hesitate. “Good news!”

“Heheh, just like me. Let’s feel happy first!” Han Yunxi smiled. If she heard bad news first, she’d probably be too preoccupied to enjoy the good news. “So I’ve figured out the consequences of completing the Beauty’s Blood.”

Han Yunxi had spent part of her time working overnight in her study. She hadn’t slept much, but she’d finally made progress into the case.

“Does the bad news describe those consequences?” Baili Mingxiang asked anxiously. Knowing the conclusion was good, especially when she knew she wasn’t destined for a long life. But she had no idea how she would die.

Instead of answering her directly, Han Yunxi explained things in a roundabout way. “Actually, Beauty’s Blood is just a type of hypertoxic human blood. Your unique constitution comes from your inability to die from multiple poisons.” Han Yunxi had prescribed her own poisons and looked through countless poison manuals before she came to this conclusion.