Chapter 37 A Fairy from Another World: She is His One and Only Rare Treasure
Gu Shanyue nodded: "And Xi Feng, we can take him back."
Qi Baitong asked hesitantly, "Go where?"
Gu Shanyue asked curiously, "What else could you do? Go find the Valley Master and find a way to completely remove the needle-piercing Gu from your body."
The Valley Master of Wanhua Die Valley possesses unparalleled medical skills; if anyone in this world could cure Gu poison, it could only be him.
If even he is helpless, then this curse cannot be cured at all.
Gu Shanyue spoke as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world, as if traveling thousands of miles for him was the most common thing in the world.
Qi Baitong understood. He wasn't unaware, but he just couldn't believe that Gu Shanyue would consider so much for him, even going so far as to take him away from Shengjing to seek medical treatment.
Even the needle-threading gu, which no one could cure, seemed to her to be just a minor matter to be resolved.
Qi Baitong's eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, like stars shining in the dark night, but when he opened his mouth, he didn't know what to say.
Gu Shanyue patted his shoulder: "You get some rest, I'm going to find Yu'er."
No sooner had she finished speaking than footsteps sounded outside the courtyard. Li Yuheng's voice preceded her arrival: "Sister, are you looking for me?"
He pushed open the door and walked in with a smile. Qi Baitong struggled to get up and bow, but Gu Shanyue pressed her back down: "Rest peacefully."
"Yes, Lord Qi, your poisoning is just beginning to heal. You should rest in bed and recuperate. There's no need for formalities."
Li Yuheng spoke politely, and even leaned over to tuck the blanket around Qi Baitong.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Even while lying in bed, Qi Baitong nodded and crossed her arms.
"Why thank me? If you want to thank someone, thank your sister. I was attending a banquet at the Imperial Uncle's residence today, and my sister actually barged in for you, almost getting into a fight with the guards of the Prince of Pingliao's residence."
Li Yuheng's tone was both reproachful and affectionate, while Gu Shanyue shrugged nonchalantly: "Let them do it, why would I be afraid of them?"
“I know my sister is not afraid, but the guards of the Prince of Pingliao are different from the good-for-nothings in Shengjing. They are all from the battlefield. I am only afraid that swords have no eyes.”
When asked about the good-for-nothing, Li Yuheng seemed unconcerned, glancing at Qi Baitong with a smile.
Qi Baitong simply lowered her face slightly, without any reaction.
"Lord Qi?"
Qi Baitong: "Your subordinate is here."
“I never expected my sister to think so highly of you,” Li Yuheng walked to the bedside, a slight smile playing on his lips, his voice gentle, but his eyes filled with a condescending arrogance. “Is Lord Qi feeling quite pleased with himself?”
"Your subordinate dares not."
Qi Baitong was calm and reserved, seemingly unmoved by anything Li Yuheng said.
Seeing that he was still in such a sullen state, Li Yuheng felt a little better.
Gu Shanyue took a sip of tea, and as he finally stopped talking, she said, "It's just in time that you've come. I have something to discuss with you."
“Sister finally remembers me,” Li Yuheng turned around, walked up to Gu Shanyue, and smiled. “I thought that with Lord Qi around, you had completely forgotten about me.”
"What is this? I have something important to tell you," Gu Shanyue said seriously. "If this needle-threading gu is not cured, it will probably endanger my life sooner or later. I plan to take Qi Baitong to Wanhua Die Valley tomorrow and ask the Valley Master for help."
After he finished speaking, there was silence.
The smile on Li Yuheng's face was like that on a porcelain statue, cold and devoid of warmth. After a long while, he finally spoke: "Sister, why are you taking him to the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers and Butterflies?"
Gu Shanyue scratched his head, wondering why everyone kept asking such obvious questions.
"Of course, we need to remove the Gu worms and detoxify him."
What else can we do? Go for a spring outing?
"So that's how it is."
Li Yuheng drew out his voice, turned around and glanced at Qi Baitong, his eyes filled with chilling anger.
He was too complacent. This Qi Baitong seemed obedient and dared not overstep her bounds, but in private, she had somehow seduced and coaxed Gu Shanyue, even managing to get her to agree to take him to the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers and Butterflies.
Do you think he's dead?
Gu Shanyue asked, "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Sister, that's great, I believe that with the Valley Master's help, Lord Qi will definitely be cured of all his ailments, and might even live to be ninety-nine."
Li Yuheng turned around and chuckled, his laughter filled with sarcasm.
Since he had no objections, Gu Shanyue nodded: "Alright, then I'll set off tomorrow."
“But,” Li Yuheng grabbed Gu Shanyue’s hand, his face full of disappointment, “my sister promised me that she would stay in Shengjing until after my wedding, have you forgotten?”
Gu Shanyue scratched his head, knowing he was in the wrong: "I haven't forgotten. Your wedding isn't time yet. I'll try to go and come back as soon as possible so as not to delay the ceremony."
“But,” Li Yuheng shook her hand, “you promised not only to attend the ceremony, but to stay with me before my wedding.”
He had so many "buts," leaving Gu Shanyue speechless; she had indeed promised.
Gu Shanyue always kept her word and was a woman of her word. Once she made a promise, she never went back on it, especially since the person in front of her was Li Yuheng.
"But the white lacquer paulownia..."
Gu Shanyue hesitated, looking at Qi Baitong lying quietly on the bed. He lowered his eyes, as if the conversation had nothing to do with him, and just sat quietly in the corner like an inanimate object.
"Which secret guard in the Inner Guard Division doesn't have Gu worms in his body? Lord Qi's body has been poisoned by Gu for a long time, and he's gotten through all these years. Lord Qi has been taking antidote every month, so why would he be short of a moment to save his life?"
Li Yuheng spoke with great conviction, his eyes fixed on Gu Shanyue with a look of grievance and pleading.
"But if you miss my marriage, when will you get another chance? Sister, you've only given me three chances to make a promise to you. Are you going to break your vow after making the first one?"
Gu Shanyue was at a loss for words and had no response.
She didn't speak, and Li Yuheng didn't speak either. He frowned slightly, held her hand, and looked at her pitifully.
Just like back in Zhuoguang Mountain, when he was little, he held Gu Shanyue's hand.
They had relied on each other for ten years, and Li Yuheng knew exactly how to get her to give in, while Gu Shanyue also felt a great deal of pity for him.
Gu Shanyue sighed deeply and looked at the bed: "Qi Baitong..."
Qi Baitong pursed his thin lips, lowered his brows and eyes: "Your Highness's matter is more important."
He hadn't held out much hope anyway; between him and Li Yuheng, how could Gu Shanyue possibly choose him?
He didn't want to make things difficult for her at all, and he didn't want to break her principles and make her break her promise because of him.
He should have interrupted earlier; he should have stated directly that he didn't need to go to the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers and Butterflies.
But for some reason, perhaps it was that tiny bit of hope deep in his heart that popped up—what if, what if Gu Shanyue would choose him?
At that moment, he realized that there was no "what if".
Gu Shanyue would choose Li Yuheng, and this was always the case.
"Alright then, I'll stay for now and we'll talk about it after the ceremony," Gu Shanyue conceded.
"My sister is the best to me. I knew you would always side with me!"
Li Yuheng's tone carried a childlike innocence, with a hidden smile of victory in his eyes.
Time and again, facts have proven that he is the only one who can replace Gu Shanyue.
The more Gu Shanyue made concessions and compromises for him, the more satisfied he felt.
Gu Shanyue belongs to him, and only to him; no one can take him away.
He was the only concern in the heart of the carefree swordsman.
He was Gu Shanyue's only one.
Li Yuheng was so happy that his smile seemed genuine.
"Sister, I ate some local specialties from Liaodong, pastries and smoked meat, at the Imperial Uncle's residence today. I brought some back with me. Would you like to try some?"
He looked at her excitedly and happily, and Gu Shanyue did not reject him.
Li Yuheng held Gu Shanyue's hand as they walked away, their laughter still faintly audible.
Qi Baitong, who had been keeping her eyes down, looked up and gazed at the two figures with their backs to the camera.
They walked side by side, holding hands and very close to each other.
He quietly turned his head to look, and continued looking until he could no longer see it.
Xi Feng, who had been invisible, jumped out and looked in the direction he was looking: "What are you looking at? Everyone's disappeared."
Qi Baitong withdrew his gaze and remained silent.
He didn't know what he was looking at; he was just thinking about when he could hold her hand and walk forward side by side with her.
But he also clearly realized that he was just a substitute, a trivial addition and supplement to Gu Shanyue's life.
He has already received enough.
That's why his heart became increasingly dissatisfied and resentful.
Since we've already given him so much, why can't we give him a little more?
He greedily craved to see him just one more time, to show him a little more favor.
More, and even more...
Gu Shanyue accompanied Li Yuheng back. Li Yuheng led her to sit down and personally poured her tea. A table was filled with various local specialties from Liaodong.
"Sister, try this. It's a pastry made from wild mushrooms."
Li Yuheng brought the pastry to Gu Shanyue's lips. Gu Shanyue took a bite and found it a bit dry.
"So, do you like it?"
Gu Shanyue's assessment: "So-so."
"These are candied dates, pitted. Would you like to try some?"
Li Yuheng picked up a stringy candied date with his chopsticks. Gu Shanyue's face scrunched up before she even put it in her mouth. As soon as she tasted it, it was indeed sweet and cloying.
"It is too sweet."
"This is dried meat, it's spicy, do you like it?"
"My cheeks hurt from chewing so much."
"And what about those local specialties, the red mountain fruit? Would you like to try them?"
"Ugh, sour..."
Gu Shanyue ate many novel things; some tasted alright, but most didn't suit his taste.
Li Yuheng was inexplicably in high spirits and kept urging her to eat more.
She had been busy all day and was indeed hungry, but faced with a pile of snacks, she had no appetite and ate rather perfunctorily.
Seeing her like this, Li Yuheng was even happier.
He hoped that Gu Shanyue would like nothing, care about nothing, and live like a hermit in this world.
A hermit who only cares about him.
Too many people betray others because of their interests, power, or status, or because they are forced to do so.
Only Gu Shanyue was different from everyone else. She looked down on everything in the imperial city, and no one could make her betray them. Nothing could move her.
She was so pure; he was all she could see.
In his youth, he had also harbored resentment: why his mother died young, why he was poisoned, and why his fate was so unfortunate...
Later, he came to understand that his unfortunate fate destined him to become a legendary emperor, and even though he was poisoned, he was still able to suppress the Third Prince, who was known for his bravery.
Although his mother died young, she left him with Gu Shanyue.
She was his one and only priceless treasure, a rare gem.
What are you laughing at?
Gu Shanyue wiped his mouth, having tasted sweet, spicy, dry, and sticky foods, his mouth was filled with a mixture of flavors.
"It's nothing. If you don't like any of them, sister, here are some pearls from Liaodong. Would you like them?"
Li Yuheng flipped his hand and produced a huge pearl from somewhere, its light faint and shimmering.
Gu Shanyue blinked: "Quite pretty."
Li Yuheng asked with a smile, "How would you like to wear it, sister? I'll have someone make the jewelry and send it over."
“Wearing it is too cumbersome, I won’t wear it.” Gu Shanyue shook her head again.
"Then you can take it and enjoy it, sister."
The pearl landed in Gu Shanyue's palm, spun around once, and was quite heavy.
Gu Shanyue casually tossed the priceless pearl to her hand; it felt warm and smooth to the touch. She raised an eyebrow and said, "Thanks."
"Why are you thanking me? Even if my sister wants this Crown Prince's residence, I'll give it to her without hesitation." Li Yuheng smiled, his cute tiger teeth showing, and he didn't sound glib at all when he said such things.
"Tch," Gu Shanyue scoffed, "Alright, if there's nothing else, I'm leaving."
Li Yuheng looked concerned and said considerately, "Sister must be exhausted after Lord Qi's commotion today. Go back and get some rest."
Gu Shanyue left, clutching the plump, round pearl, then turned back upon hearing this: "He didn't cause any trouble."
Li Yuheng's expression froze for a moment, and before he could speak again, Gu Shanyue had already turned out the door.
His smile faded, his eyes darkened, and his brows furrowed more and more. Gu Shanyue cared more about Qi Baitong than he had imagined, and Qi Baitong was clearly not being honest.
Gu Shanyue has never cared about material possessions, nor about anyone else except him. Yet today, he broke into the Liaodong Prince's banquet for Qi Baitong, forcing him to produce the antidote, and even considered taking Qi Baitong to the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers and Butterflies.
Thinking of this, Li Yuheng inevitably recalled the time when Gu Shanyue broke into the palace and took him away, then took him to the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers and Butterflies to ask the Valley Master for an antidote... Those were the most beautiful and carefree times of his life.
Qi Baitong's life was worthless; he died, so be it. How could he be compared to him, or even be worthy of going to the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers and Butterflies?
Li Yuheng's face was fierce, and he felt a tightness in his chest, which made him cough a few times while pressing his chest.
If Qi Baitong dares to harbor any designs on Gu Shanyue, he must pay the price; he has no forgiving nature.
Gu Shanyue returned to the courtyard under the moonlight. The door of the west room was wide open, and Xi Feng was hurrying past with medicine. As soon as he saw Gu Shanyue, he immediately started complaining.
"Is Qi Baitong crazy? He refuses to lie down and insists on getting up to cook. You need to do something about him!"
"Cooking?" Gu Shanyue was stunned.
Does he really enjoy cooking that much? He's physically weak, yet he still insists on doing it.
As they were talking, Qi Baitong came over with the last dish. The dining table in the main room was neatly arranged with four dishes and a soup, steaming hot.
In the short time Gu Shanyue was away, he didn't waste a moment and quickly prepared a table of dishes.
"Ah Yue is back, let's eat."
Qi Baitong put down the bowls and chopsticks, looked up and called to her. In the candlelight, his face and lips were pale, but his eyes were dark and bright as he looked at her expectantly.
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