When the members of the Northern Yin delegation saw Yun Qingran like this, they all looked at each other. Princess Rongchang was known for her sharp tongue and her ability to insult everyone and everything. Instead of using her words to curse the stupid city-guarding general's eighteen generations of ancestors, why was she acting so weak-kneed?
Seeing Yun Qingran's obsequious demeanor, the general guarding the city of Nan Chu smiled contemptuously, then rubbed his index finger and thumb together, "You can go in, but you'll have to..."
The general guarding the city of Southern Chu blatantly demanded money from the Northern Yin marriage delegation, enraging the delegation members. They were furious; the groom's family was expected to humble themselves before marrying off their daughter, and they had never seen the groom's family ask the bride's family for money!
This is disrespecting Bei Yin and trying to intimidate them!
No wonder Nangong Ye went ahead to the city first, saying he wanted to prepare lodging and food first; it turns out he had this plan in mind.
That damn Yun Xiyue, she's made us all so angry!
Everyone looked at Yun Qingran, hoping she could give this general guarding the city of Nan Chu a good talking-to and deflate Nan Chu's arrogance!
Unexpectedly, Yun Qingran said to everyone, "Quickly pool your money and buy tea for the general."
The entire Northern Yin delegation collapsed to the ground!
"What's wrong with Princess Rongchang? Why is she so spineless?"
"Perhaps she has some plans, who knows?"
"Yes, yes, maybe there's a backup plan. Let's pool our money!"
...
A short while later, he opened the box and collected five hundred taels of silver to give to the city's garrison general.
"Go in." The general guarding the city of Nan Chu waved his hand, his tone dismissive of Bei Yin.
The Northern Yin delegation, carrying a bellyful of anger, entered the city.
Yun Qingran lay on the bed, her heart filled with worry. If she wasn't mistaken, Jing Hongying must have used her disguise to find someone to replace her. She had to escape from here as soon as possible and rush back to the Northern Yin wedding delegation, otherwise something might go wrong.
That old bastard Jinghongying is such a scoundrel; he actually came up with this kind of trick.
After lying down for a while, Yun Qingran got up and decided to go out to see if there were any loopholes in the Demon Valley that would allow her to escape.
Once inside the courtyard, she began to wander around aimlessly. After a while, she realized that there was no way she could escape.
There were guards every three steps, sentries every five steps, and many more hidden sentries. Moreover, the terrain was winding and circuitous; if you weren't 100% familiar with the roads, you simply couldn't escape.
What to do? Yun Qingran's brain started working at lightning speed. Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in her head, and she thought of a plan. However, this plan required some things.
Just as she was figuring out how to collect these things, she smelled a medicinal fragrance.
Someone is making medicine! There are fellow practitioners among them.
Yun Qingran followed the scent of herbs and soon arrived at a thatched hut.
In front of this thatched cottage is a small courtyard enclosed by a fence, where many medicinal herbs are planted. These include datura, beggar-ticks, black nightshade, sedum sarmentosum, lantern grass, dayflower, polygala tenuifolia, sophora flavescens, milk thistle, motherwort, scutellaria baicalensis, platycodon grandiflorus, belamcanda chinensis, saposhnikovia divaricata…
These herbs are growing very well; they must have been carefully tended.
The aroma of the medicine was coming from inside the house.
After mustering her courage, Yun Qingran walked into the courtyard, came to the door of the thatched house, and leaned closer, saying, "Hello."
No one answered!
"Hello!" Yun Qingran called out again.
Still no response!
"you……"
"Shut up, stop shouting." A short, hunched old man dressed in tattered clothes came out aggressively and shouted at Yun Qingran.
Yun Qingran closed her open mouth.
"Which elder are you a disciple of? Do you know the rules of this valley? You can't come here." The old man glared at Yun Qingran, he was very angry.
He hated being disturbed, especially when he was making medicine.
"I am the Third Elder's disciple. I'm sorry, I'm new here and don't know the rules of the valley," Yun Qingran quickly apologized.
Judging from the aroma, she didn't recognize the medicine the old man was making. She was quite interested in it, and since a thief never leaves empty-handed, she wondered if she could sneak the prescription with her when she left.
"What are you doing here? Get out." The old man turned to leave.
Just then, the aroma of medicine gradually became mixed with a burnt smell, and the burnt smell grew stronger and stronger.
"Oh no, my Marrow Cleansing Pill!" The old man slapped his thigh and ran quickly into the house.
Yun Qingran quickly followed and came to a stove with the old man.
The old man opened the furnace, and inside was a pill, but the pill had turned black.
"You pay me back! You pay me back for the pills!" The old man turned around, clenched his fists, and glared angrily at Yun Qingran, shouting loudly.
This little old man looks thin and small, but I didn't expect him to have such a strong voice. His voice is almost deafening her!
"I'll pay you back, I'll pay you back," Yun Qingran quickly said.
Hearing her words, the old man scoffed, "Do you know how to refine medicine? Do you know how difficult it is to refine the Marrow Cleansing Pill? How arrogant!"
“Who says I can’t make medicine? I can.” Yun Qingran looked intently at the old man and said firmly.
"At your age, don't brag about refining medicine. You've disturbed my refining of the Marrow Cleansing Pill. You'll be punished, at least a hundred lashes, until your flesh is pulverized." The old man crossed his arms, glaring at her with a smug look.
Hearing the old man's words, Yun Qingran shuddered. A hundred lashes could indeed turn her entire body into minced meat.
“I can help you refine a new Marrow Cleansing Pill,” Yun Qingran said, looking at the old man.
This old man occupies such a large area by himself; judging from his demeanor, he's no ordinary follower. If he were to go and complain to Jinghongying, it might disrupt my plans. I should keep him calm for now.
"Do you know what you're saying? What do you think the Marrow Cleansing Pill is? It's one of the most difficult pills to refine." The old man chuckled.
"What will you do if I manage to refine it?" Yun Qingran asked haughtily, slightly raising her chin.
Medicine making is one of the most important courses in Yun's Traditional Chinese Medicine. She could make medicine even before she could play with mud.
Refining medicine is difficult because the amount of medicinal materials used and the precision of the heat are crucial; one wrong move and the pill will be ruined.
However, after practicing for so many years, her alchemy skills had already reached a high level. She might not be very confident in making pills like the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill, which were only found in ancient books, but she could easily make ordinary pills.
"If you succeed in refining it, you'll be my great-aunt from now on." The old man looked at Yun Qingran with disdain.
"Okay." Yun Qingran smiled slightly and agreed.
"If you can't refine it, don't blame me for throwing you into the Abyss of Demons." The old man looked at her, smiling sinisterly, as if he could already see her being thrown into the Abyss of Demons.
"What is the Abyss of Demons?" Yun Qingran asked curiously, wondering if the Abyss of Demons might be the way out.
"It's an unfathomable abyss that emits the cries of demons." The old man deliberately lowered his voice, his terrifying tone startling Yun Qingran.
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