Su Hua's almond-shaped eyes widened slightly as she listened. She first learned about the Western Rong when she went to the Qin family to deliver crabapples. The Western Rong royal palace regarded crabapples as the national tree and offered five crabapples to Yu the Great every year. The second time she saw the Western Rong people was in the dead-end alley.
Little did they know that the Western Rong were ruled by a woman.
In a country where women ruled, one can imagine how high the status of women was. No wonder someone like Azheng had a completely different personality from the women of Yu the Great. She was free-spirited and unrestrained, drinking and eating heartily, and her heroic spirit was delightful.
However, the Soul-Severing Medicine was originally a medicine used by shamans to treat the former king of the Western Rong. After the former king passed away, the Soul-Severing Medicine remained. This new queen came to pay tribute to Yu the Great and happened to offer it as a tribute. There are too many coincidences in this.
Thinking this to herself, she asked the question.
"As expected, nothing can escape Hua'er's eyes." Xiao Jinhan chuckled, a slight smile playing on his handsome lips. "After Hua'er learned about the Three Insects and Three Flowers, I sent a letter to my maternal grandfather. He has been sending people to search for them all this time. Not only does His Majesty know about it, but the Western Rong may have also heard some rumors. This move is probably intended to make friends."
"I see."
Su Hua instantly understood, and then her almond-shaped eyes flickered slightly, "The reason why the Western Rong offered the Soul Severance as a tribute on Halloween, instead of directly giving it to your maternal grandfather, is it not only to make friends, but also to use it as a bargaining chip?"
“Yes, Hua’er is right.” Xiao Jinhan nodded slightly.
Hua'er is intelligent and quick-witted, so it wasn't too surprising that she guessed the key point immediately.
Upon hearing this, Su Hua's previous joy faded considerably. The old Prince Gong had spent his life on the battlefield, fighting alongside the late emperor for over a decade, and saving the late emperor three times in times of crisis.
Its significance far surpasses that of ordinary princes and dukes.
I'm afraid what the Western Rong king wants to exchange for is no ordinary thing.
She couldn't really figure out what the king of a country wanted. She only hoped that things would go smoothly during the Emperor's birthday celebration so that the Yu family could successfully obtain the Soul-Severing Staff. This was ultimately a better chance of success than searching for a medicinal herb in the Western Rong desert.
Xiao Jinhan tilted his head slightly and glanced at the restaurant window.
The table closest to the window was now empty, and even the two empty wine jugs were gone. He pursed his lips for a moment, then said, “Hua’er, the restaurant is very busy right now. You may have to travel to the city again in the future. I’m thinking of finding you two female guards who know a little about martial arts. When there’s nothing to do, they can serve you tea and water and massage your legs. When there’s something to do, they can run errands for you.”
At this point, she added, "Don't worry, they will never look at or listen to anything they shouldn't see or hear. If you're impatient to see them, you can keep them hidden in the shadows, okay?"
Su Hua's lips twitched slightly.
Sending her a skilled female bodyguard to serve her tea, pour water, and massage her legs? That would be a huge waste of talent.
Upon seeing the worry hidden in the man's eyes, she suddenly understood that this man was probably frightened by what happened at Black Wind Stronghold and wanted to find two people to protect her safety.
However, that considerate yet slightly irritating expression is really touching.
Su Hua smiled and said, "Okay, I'll listen to Zichen."
Actually, her space is perfectly safe, but the whole Su family is there, so if there's someone skilled to protect her, she'll feel a little more at ease outside.
When Xiao Jinhan saw that she agreed immediately, he suddenly felt that his previous hesitation was completely unnecessary, and the smile on his lips deepened.
Hua'er trusted her completely.
The last rays of the setting sun fell from the pear tree, casting long shadows of the two people.
As the sun began to set, Su Hua started to think about going back to the restaurant's restroom to try the jade bowl, but she found that the man seemed to be rambling on and on, and even his face, which was usually so infuriating, seemed a little off.
He raised an eyebrow. "Zichen, is there something you want to tell me?"
Xiao Jinhan pursed her lips, but obediently stretched out her hands.
"My hands are a little sore too."
The man's voice was very soft, mixed with the sound of the wind blowing through the alley. To Su Hua, it was barely audible. Even with her keen senses, she began to doubt whether she had misheard.
But looking down, one could see those long, slender hands with distinct knuckles.
She was certain she hadn't misheard. After a moment of stunned silence, a sudden thought flashed through Su Hua's mind: So, his seemingly nonchalant manner at the beginning was actually due to jealousy?!
But this person is a young girl, and this man is actually jealous of a young girl!
If Yu Feng and Yu Yu, that pair of lovable clowns, heard this, they'd probably laugh themselves silly.
Su Hua looked at the awkward expression on the man's handsome face, trying to suppress her laughter so hard that her shoulders were about to ache. Just as she was about to take his hands and massage them for him, a faint ripping sound came from the courtyard gate. She paused and turned to look outside the courtyard.
But all I could see were a bunch of dusty little figures.
She paused for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject, "It's not very convenient here. How about we do it when I give you acupuncture the day after tomorrow?"
From the first acupuncture treatment, for half an hour every seven days for a month, the day after tomorrow will be the last acupuncture treatment. At that time, the poison in his legs will be expelled and he will be able to walk normally again. After the Soul Break, the poison in his lungs and meridians will be completely eliminated.
Before she could finish speaking, she heard the man agree.
The speed was so fast that one couldn't help but think that he was just waiting for this one sentence.
Su Hua chuckled, turned around and went back to the restaurant, calling Wang Ergou over, "Is there any food left in the kitchen?"
Wang Ergou paused for a moment, then said truthfully, "There are still some food left in the kitchen for the servants, and some pork bones left from making the hot pot broth today, but not much. If you are hungry, young lady, why don't you ask me to tell the kitchen to make some more?"
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