Chapter 17 Scar Removal "Let me serve you, young lady."...
Qi Baitong paused, her tone natural: "Who knows? Maybe she saw you choke and ran away for fear of being punished."
"So timid?" Gu Shanyue asked, puzzled.
"Is the young lady disappointed?" Qi Baitong looked over with his dark eyes, a smile playing on his lips, and said softly, "How about I go and find two more pretty girls to serve you?"
Gu Shanyue suddenly felt a chill behind her ear. She turned around and looked, but there was nothing there. Strange.
Qi Baitong was still waiting for her answer. Seeing that she didn't speak for a long time, he pursed his lips and spoke again, his words coming out rather quickly.
"Let me serve you, young lady. They don't know your preferences as well as I do, and I can do everything they can, and I can do it better than them. What do you think, young lady?"
In the short time it took Gu Shanyue to turn his head, he said a long string of words.
Gu Shanyue was bewildered: "...Okay."
Qi Baitong finally sat down next to Gu Shanyue. He straightened his back, calmly set out the bowls and plates on the small table, threw away the chopsticks that the pink and green-clad boy had taken, and used the chopsticks he had brought to serve Gu Shanyue food and wine.
On stage, Nanxing was still singing, but Qi Baitong was almost constantly introducing each dish and asking Gu Shanyue if she liked it. Once Gu Shanyue started chatting with him, she completely forgot about the opera.
As the melodious singing continued, a hint of sorrow inexplicably crept in.
Gu Shanyue spent most of the day in the small building, and after eating and drinking his fill, it was time for him to go back.
Li Yaoguang was extremely satisfied. She had reunited with Gu Shanyue and even witnessed some gossip about her. Losing only Nanxing was all it took; it was well worth it.
When it was time to part, Li Yaoguang held onto Gu Shanyue's hand tightly, reluctant to let go: "Where are you going?"
“I’ve been staying at the Crown Prince’s residence for the past few days,” Gu Shanyue replied.
"The Crown Prince's residence?" Li Yaoguang's expression turned somewhat strange upon hearing this.
Everyone knows about that past event, and they also know that the Crown Prince grew up by Gu Shanyue's side until he was fifteen years old before being sent back to the palace.
Even though the two were almost ten years apart in age, such rumors about the power of the martial arts world were always accompanied by erotic details.
According to storytellers, the two had long since engaged in a passionate and unparalleled love affair.
Li Yaoguang didn't know much about the inside story either, and at this moment, he couldn't help but think of those rumors.
"Ah Yue, His Highness the Crown Prince is engaged to a woman from the Yu family, and their wedding will be held soon. Are you aware of this?" Li Yaoguang asked cautiously.
“I know,” Gu Shanyue replied without hesitation. “I stayed in Shengjing precisely to see him get married.”
Li Yaoguang's expression shifted, her mind filled with various tragic love stories from storybooks, her thoughts becoming increasingly complicated.
Seeing that Gu Shanyue was unharmed, Li Yaoguang didn't dare to say anything more, but simply hugged Gu Shanyue and patted her back.
Li Yaoguang was slightly shorter and nestled completely into Gu Shanyue's arms.
Gu Shanyue paused for a moment, looked down at her exquisite and gorgeous jewelry, chuckled, and patted her shoulder.
“You’ve grown up a lot. If you ever need anything in the future, you can come to me.”
Li Yaoguang stepped out of her arms, looked up at her, and her eyes were bright.
Is this a promise?
"certainly."
Gu Shanyue never makes promises lightly; she always keeps her word.
Faced with Li Yaoguang, whom his senior sister had protected, Gu Shanyue was naturally willing to make a promise.
"It's a deal then!"
Li Yaoguang extended her little finger and waved it at Gu Shanyue.
Gu Shanyue raised an eyebrow slightly and hooked his little finger around hers.
A promise made is a promise kept.
"good!"
Li Yaoguang's reluctance was dispelled by the promise, and he was excited and invigorated. He walked a long way in the carriage and even leaned out to wave to Gu Shanyue.
I'll come visit you again tomorrow!
Gu Shanyue waved in response.
As the carriage drove away, Gu Shanyue turned and walked towards the Crown Prince's residence.
As dusk falls, streetlights illuminate the streets, casting long shadows. Birds return to their nests, and the bustling city of Shengjing falls into a brief moment of tranquility at the turn of day and night.
Gu Shanyue walked slowly forward, his hands behind his back, stepping on his own shadow.
Qi Baitong walked beside her, looking down at her movements, and asked softly, "Are you happy, young lady?"
He felt he should be happy; he could sense the goodwill Gu Shanyue was showing towards Li Yaoguang.
However, Gu Shanyue's current state did not seem to be purely happy.
"Be happy," Gu Shanyue said, her tone uncertain.
"That means you're unhappy." You wouldn't have this question if you were happy.
"Perhaps."
After walking for a while, Qi Baitong took out an oil paper package from his pocket, opened it with a rustling sound, and a sweet fragrance spread out.
"Want some candy?"
Gu Shanyue casually picked up a piece of candy, tossed it into her mouth, and the sweet taste melted in her mouth.
Turning her head, she saw Qi Baitong staring at her, seemingly looking at something.
Gu Shanyue's lips curled slightly as he looked up at the sky. The sky was not yet completely dark, with a faint moon shadow hanging in the deep blue sky, dotted with a few scattered stars, making it seem somewhat lonely.
A gentle evening breeze caressed people's faces.
Gu Shanyue sighed silently, "I just miss her a little."
What does it feel like to lose someone very important to you?
As time went by, she forgot the initial heart-wrenching feeling, forgot the moments when she woke up crying in the middle of the night, but there was always an empty space in her heart, as if a piece was missing.
It's like losing something very important, but you can't remember what it is.
Of course, one can live, laugh, and have fun.
But memories always surface in countless tiny moments, and in those fleeting instants, she is happy.
But in an instant, she would remember that there was no one left in this world, and the happiness in her memories would vanish like bubbles, leaving only a painful thorn.
There's no bleeding, just pain.
This is something that cannot be solved; once lost, it is lost.
Even if she uses many similar things to recall, imitate, and reminisce about the past, the lost parts can never be filled.
Qi Baitong knew who she was talking about, but he didn't understand this emotion.
There was no one in his life whom he could never forget, and he could not imagine what it would feel like to lose such a person.
Gu Shanyue took a few steps, then suddenly felt something and turned back.
Qi Baitong stood still, her face slightly lowered, her eyes hidden in the shadows beneath her thick, dark eyelashes, revealing only a faint, dim light.
"Paulownia lacquer?"
"I am here."
Qi Baitong raised her face, revealing a smile as gentle as spring water melting, and strode forward.
The two walked back side by side, bathed in the glow of the sunset, quietly, and Gu Shanyue's mood gradually calmed down.
As they passed a street, Qi Baitong glanced inside, and Gu Shanyue noticed: "Are you going to buy something?"
"Hmm..." Qi Baitong hesitated for a moment, then said, "Miss, please go back first. I'll be there soon."
Gu Shanyue agreed and then walked back.
Qi Baitong stood there, watching her back as she walked away, before quickly slipping into the alley.
The alley was sparsely populated, and a faint bitter smell lingered in the air. Qi Baitong moved swiftly and entered a pharmacy.
As dusk fell, the pharmacy was dimly lit before the lights were turned on.
The old man behind the counter was fanning himself as he dispensed medicine. He looked up and saw the tall, imposing man in white standing in front of him. He was startled: "Oh, sir, are you feeling unwell?"
Qi Baitong spoke, her voice low: "Remove the scars."
"What?" The hard-of-hearing old man leaned closer, but didn't hear what he said at all.
"I need medicine to remove scars," Qi Baitong repeated.
The old man heard clearly this time and looked surprised. Usually, it was young women who would buy the scar removal medicine, but he didn't expect a cold-faced man to come and ask for scar removal medicine as well.
"I have scar removal cream here," the old man said, turning around to prepare the medicine. "Is it a new wound or an old scar?"
Qi Baitong said, "We have them all."
"Alright, I'll prepare two kinds for you." The old man lowered his head to grab the medicine, muttering to himself.
After a short while, he weighed out the medicine and handed the three packets to Qi Baitong, explaining, "This one is for internal use, this one is for fresh wounds, and this one is for old scars. It costs a total of six qian of silver..."
Without saying a word, Qi Baitong took out his money and stood in front of the counter without leaving.
The old man stared at him with suspicion. He had a long knife at his waist, and his gloomy and cold face made him look quite intimidating.
"Sir, is there anything else?"
Qi Baitong paused for a moment: "Is this medicine effective?"
"It will work! Don't worry, sir. If it doesn't fade the scars, come find me!" The old man patted his chest and guaranteed.
"Thank you." Qi Baitong nodded, then took the medicine packet and left.
He had many scars on his body, and year after year, the scars covered him layer by layer, but he never cared about them.
Perhaps it was because of Gu Shanyue's casual use of the word "ugly," or perhaps it was because of the handsome young man nestled in Gu Shanyue's arms today, whose hands were fair and clean.
Qi Baitong looked down at her hands. There were white marks on the back and palm of her hands, and a raised scar on the back of her hand.
Gu Shanyue said that scars are ugly.
Qi Baitong walked back in the evening breeze, carrying a medicine bag in her hand, and her heart suddenly warmed.
On the other side, Gu Shanyue staggered back to the courtyard, where the lights were turned on again.
The door to the main room was ajar. Gu Shanyue stepped forward, pushed the door open, and sure enough, it was Li Yuheng.
"My sister is back." He smiled slightly, his lips red and teeth white.
"Why did you come here? Are you cured?" Gu Shanyue sat down in front of him.
"If I'm not well, my sister won't come to see me. I'd better get better soon, and then I'll come to see her myself."
Li Yuheng raised his hand to pour tea for her. The tea was fragrant and steaming. The tea was served to Gu Shanyue, and the surface of the water rippled slightly.
Gu Shanyue retorted, "I just saw you yesterday."
“Yesterday is yesterday, today is today,” Li Yuheng tapped the rim of the glass with his fingertip. “Want to try some?”
Gu Shanyue glanced at the green tea. She had eaten quite a bit at the opera house today, and her stomach was still full. She shook her head and said, "I'm not thirsty."
"I thought my sister would feel uncomfortable staying in Shengjing, but I didn't expect her to be living a more comfortable life than I am. Where did she go to have fun today?"
Li Yuheng chuckled softly, his tone friendly, his eyes slightly narrowed, carrying a hint of inquiry.
"I went to see a play," Gu Shanyue replied briefly.
“Listen to opera? I love listening to opera too,” Li Yuheng said, leaning forward with his elbows on the table, looking at Gu Shanyue. “Sister, take me next time. I want to play with you too.”
“Sure,” Gu Shanyue replied casually, “we’ll talk about it when you have time.”
"Being the crown prince is truly a dull and tasteless job," Li Yuheng sighed, then lay down, his brows furrowed with weariness.
"Your illness isn't fully healed yet; you should rest and recuperate." Gu Shanyue picked up the tea he had poured, took a sip, and found it slightly astringent with a sweet aftertaste.
Li Yuheng rested his head on his arm and laughed, "I want to rest, but some people don't want me to rest. What can I do?"
"Who doesn't want you to rest?" Gu Shanyue asked.
“Who else could it be?” Li Yuheng’s smile was slightly cold. “With Father Emperor and Kaiyang around, how can I sleep peacefully?”
The lamplight flickered gently in the evening breeze, casting shadows on his face and outlining a noble and refined appearance, seemingly gentle and elegant, yet beneath this gentlemanly exterior lay an undeniable undercurrent of darkness.
Gu Shanyue was helpless about his troubles, yet he refused to let her kill these people.
Gu Shanyue could only respond with an "Oh".
Li Yuheng shook his head, reached out and took Gu Shanyue's fingers, slowly holding them in his palm.
"But it's okay, I'll do it eventually."
Gu Shanyue gave another dry "oh".
Li Yuheng laughed: "I came today to deliver the clothes you wore at the palace banquet."
He gestured with his eyes toward the sandalwood box under the table: "Sister, take a look, do you like it?"
Gu Shanyue glanced at it only and said indifferently, "As long as it's wearable, it's fine."
"Look, I carefully selected this for you." Li Yuheng squeezed her fingers.
Gu Shanyue had no choice but to bend down, pick up the box, and place it on the table. When the light shone on it, the fabric of the clothes seemed to flow like broken gold, dreamlike and ethereal.
She lifted the clothes by the collar, shook them open, and Gu Shanyue was stunned after just one glance.
The clothes are beautiful, very beautiful.
The reason she was stunned was that the clothes looked very familiar.
She recognized it at a glance; it was the style her senior sister used to wear in the palace. It was elegant and graceful, with a clean cut that made it easy to move around.
When my senior sister wore this dress and danced with her sword, it was absolutely beautiful.
A note from the author:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
