"It was a wild boar that Da Niu and I hunted in the mountains," Li Xi explained with a smile.

She pointed to the pig's stomach, "This stuff is delicious when stewed with pheasant."

At this moment, Grandpa Gu also came out of the house. When he saw the wild boar in Li Xi's hand, a look of surprise appeared on his face. "This is a wild boar?"

Grandpa Gu looked at the wild boar in Li Xi's hand with some disbelief. You know, wild boars are very ferocious, and ordinary people wouldn't dare to provoke them, let alone hunt them.

Li Xi smiled and nodded, "Yes, Da Niu and I encountered it on the mountain, and it took a lot of effort to kill it. We'll have a good meal today, and the rest will be made into cured meat. The weather is perfect today."

As soon as they finished speaking, the two of them rolled up their sleeves without hesitation and got to work.

Chicken stuffed in pork belly was a dish that Li Xi loved in her previous life.

After cleaning the pig's stomach and stuffing it with chicken, Li Xi carefully added the limited amount of seasonings to the stew pot.

The fire simmered slowly, and the aroma gradually spread, immersing the entire kitchen in a mouthwatering fragrance.

Meng Zhelan was also drawn by the aroma. She smiled and said, "Your skills are truly hidden. It seems I'm having a really good day."

"Hey, I just had this idea on a whim. Here, have a taste." Li Xi scooped a bowl and handed it to her.

Meng Zhelan took the bowl, blew on it gently, and then took a small sip.

Her eyes immediately lit up. "This is so delicious! The soup is rich but not greasy, with a fresh and delicious taste that leaves you wanting more. Your sudden inspiration has really given me a real treat."

Grandpa Gu, who was making cured meat in the courtyard, was also drawn in and praised the dish highly.

“Uncle Gu, after Gu Cheng wakes up, you might as well let him try this pork tripe and chicken soup. It will be very beneficial to his health.” Meng Zhelan also gave him some dietary supplement recipes.

This was the first time she had encountered such a case, which ignited her deep-seated thirst for knowledge.

If she can successfully cure him and make him no different from ordinary people, it will greatly promote her progress in the medical field.

He hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Doctor Meng, Young Master Li, I am truly grateful for your generous help. However, I am currently short of funds. I plan to go and dig up some more herbs to exchange for silver, and I will certainly repay your kindness then."

Meng Zhelan smiled slightly and said, "There's no need for that. It's our duty as doctors to save lives and heal the wounded. You don't need to worry about money. Besides, if we can cure Gu Cheng, that would be great for me as well."

She inadvertently glanced at a flowerpot in the yard, and the plant inside made her pause in surprise. Wasn't this the Cold Grass herb? This was a rare and precious medicinal herb that was hard to come by.

"Uncle Gu, where did you get this herb?" She ran to the flowerpot, stopped, and carefully examined the herb.

Old Gu thought carefully, "Oh, I must have picked them when I went to pick purple tobacco. They were all growing together, and I kept them because they looked nice."

Unwittingly, her gaze fell on a potted plant in the corner of the yard, and she froze instantly.

This seemingly ordinary plant is actually an extremely rare herb called Cold Grass, a treasure that is priceless in the medicinal herb market.

"Uncle Gu, where did this herb come from?" She walked quickly to the flowerpot and observed the herb intently.

He thought for a moment and replied, "Oh, I remember now, I must have found them by chance when I went to pick purple tobacco last time. Because they grow together with purple tobacco and look very pretty, I brought them back with me."

"Uncle Gu, if possible, could you lend me this herb? I'll cover all the treatments Gu Cheng needs from now on," Meng Zhelan asked him sincerely.

"Dr. Meng, feel free to take it if you want. There are plenty of this kind of herb there. I'll take you to see it another day. It's so kind of you to be able to help you." Old Master Gu was just wondering how to repay them.

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhelan's eyes lit up, and she immediately arranged a time to meet with Old Master Gu the next day. Afterwards, the two rode back.

Meng Zhelan carefully held the pot of herbs, afraid that it would be damaged in the slightest.

They rode their horses at a slow pace, afraid that the bumps would damage the herbs, and finally returned safely to the inn before nightfall.

"Lan'er, what's so special about this herb?" Li Xi asked Meng Zhelan, full of curiosity.

"Once I've refined it into medicine, I'll tell you about its wonders." Meng Zhelan smiled slightly, her expression full of mystery.

Rewrite 1:

At the same time, Prince An also led a group of men, disguised as a merchant caravan, and arrived at Huangshi Town.

Following the Emperor Emeritus's instructions, they went directly to the Yunlai Inn. As soon as they stepped into the inn, Prince An's gaze fell on Meng Zhelan and the others who were having a meal.

Li Xi was the first to notice his arrival. Just as she was about to step forward to greet him, she saw him blink gently.

So she improvised and said, "Young Master An, you've finally arrived! We've been waiting for you for so long. Please, please sit down and rest for a while."

At the same time, Meng Zhelan also saw him and nodded slightly in greeting.

"Doctor Meng, I never expected to meet you here. What a wonderful coincidence!" Prince An's words revealed a hint of jealousy.

He couldn't help but wonder if Meng Zhelan and Li Xi had an unusual relationship, since they were often inseparable and traveled together.

Neither Meng Zhelan nor Li Xi understood the implied meaning, because their minds were not on that at all. "Young Master An, you flatter me."

Neither Meng Zhelan nor Li Xi noticed the hidden meaning in Prince An's words, because their minds were not on that.

She smiled calmly and replied, "Young Master An is joking."

Li Xi echoed her sentiments without delving into the matter. Both remained polite and courteous.

After the three of them had eaten their fill, they returned to the study in the courtyard.

"Is Your Highness Prince An here today for the matter of the opium paste?" Li Xi asked him directly.

Prince An glanced sideways, his eyes sweeping over Meng Zhelan, then nodded and replied, "Indeed, His Majesty has entrusted this matter entirely to me."

His tone carried a hint of detachment, as if he was deliberately keeping his distance.

Meng Zhelan quietly observed his reaction from the side, a hint of doubt rising in her heart, but she chose to remain silent and did not break the silence.

Li Xi didn't care about his attitude; she just wanted to resolve the matter as soon as possible.

Yuncheng

Qin Xiaolin and Feng Monian waited quietly while their men meticulously explored the hidden tunnel beneath the antique shop.

He left no corner unchecked, no crevice unexamined, to ensure he had complete control over the tunnel's layout.