Chapter 363 Major Discovery (First Update)
Gu Jiao had heard from Eunuch Qin that His Majesty and his aunt used to have a very close relationship, but for some reason they gradually drifted apart.
Even Eunuch Qin couldn't pinpoint exactly when it started, but the relationship between the two grew increasingly strained, leaving Princess Ning'an caught in the middle. Later, the Emperor ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager began ruling from behind the curtain, and Consort Jing was banished to a nunnery, completely shattering their relationship.
Seeing Gu Jiao deep in thought, Nan Xiang knew she was thinking about something.
However, she did not inquire further.
She likes Gu Xiaoshun and is willing to become family with him, so she will naturally treat Gu Jiao differently. However, she will not really use the airs of an elder to interfere in Gu Jiao's private affairs.
She listened to what Gu Jiao was willing to say; she didn't ask about things that were inconvenient for her to reveal.
Gu Jiao then asked, "Nan Shi Niang, you just said that this herb is a medicinal guide, which means it needs to be used in conjunction with other medicines?"
“That’s right, this medicine is extremely rare in all six kingdoms. It was originally…” Nan Xiang paused, smiled, and said, “It’s a kind of sleeping potion from the Tang Clan. There are white and black versions. It was initially used to control some disobedient people, but it was later banned by the Tang Clan elders because the methods were too despicable. However, many people in the six kingdoms coveted this formula and stole it from the Tang Clan.”
Tang Clan.
Gu Jiao heard about a new name.
Nan Xiang continued, "However, even with the prescription, it's not so easy to concoct the medicine. As far as I know, there isn't a single doctor or pharmacist in the lower kingdom who can prepare this prescription."
Gu Jiao asked, "Has Madam Nan seen this prescription before?"
Nan Xiang sighed and shook her head: "It's a pity, I've never seen it."
Gu Jiao nodded and asked, "So... white medicine evokes goodwill, while black medicine evokes disgust?"
Nan Xiang said, "That's right."
She had lived two lifetimes and yet she had no idea such a medicine existed; she was truly ignorant.
Gu Jiao became even more interested and asked, "How does this work? How do you ensure you don't mistake the wrong person?"
Nan Xiang smiled gently and said, "As long as you feed them by hand, they generally won't go wrong."
Gu Jiao understood then. If this speculation was true, then Consort Jing had personally fed the Emperor the white medicine, while her aunt had personally fed him the black medicine.
My aunt would never have done something like that to herself. At that time, my aunt had not yet taken precautions against Consort Jing, so she must have been tricked by Consort Jing.
Gu Jiao then asked, "What about the medicinal guide? Are the medicinal guides for black medicine and white medicine the same?"
Nan Xiang smiled and nodded: "The medicinal guides are all the same. Some people are determined and not easily swayed by drugs, so they need a medicinal guide to enhance the effect. Of course, there is another situation, which is that the effect of the drug becomes unstable after a long time, so a medicinal guide is also needed to deepen the effect. The medicinal guide does not need to be taken orally, just let people smell it from time to time."
At this point in the conversation, it's easy to guess who gave the money pouch to Eunuch Wei.
Not to mention, Gu Jiao picked up the money pouch and smelled it; it emitted a strong sandalwood fragrance, undoubtedly sent from the nunnery.
Gu Jiao weighed the money pouch in her hand and said, "Mrs. Nan has a really keen nose. Even with such a strong sandalwood scent, she can still smell the medicinal aroma inside."
Nan Xiang smiled and said, "It's the same principle as how you doctors identify medicinal herbs."
People are always particularly sensitive to things they are familiar with. If it contained aconite and monkshood, I believe this little girl would be able to smell it even through the sandalwood.
Gu Jiao looked at Nan Xiang and said, "Being able to recognize this medicine, it seems that Madam Nan is no ordinary person."
Nan Xiang smiled and said, "Likewise."
This little girl is no pushover; she's hiding a lot of skills that no one knows about.
Both of them are intelligent and tactful, and they keep their private matters to themselves, which is a sign of respect and trust—respect for each other's identities and secrets, while trusting that these secrets will not harm each other's families or themselves.
From Nan Xiang's words, Gu Jiao gained a new understanding of this time and space. It turned out that there was not only a Turkic Khaganate outside the Six Kingdoms, but also a Tang Clan.
The Tang Clan lives in seclusion, severing all ties with the Six Kingdoms. Members of the Tang Clan are forbidden from leaving the Tang Clan for all eternity, nor are they allowed to set foot in the Six Kingdoms.
Of course, what Nan Xiang and Gu Jiao learned the most about was this kind of medicine. Whether it was black medicine or white medicine, there was no specific antidote. The effects of the medicine would only gradually disappear over time, or they might never disappear.
Gu Jiao asked thoughtfully, "What symptoms will appear when the effects of the medicine wear off?"
Nan Xiang shook her head: "I haven't seen the specifics either, but I've heard that there might be a backlash, such as... having nightmares."
What Nan Xiang didn't say was that there might be some mental instability, but after all, she hadn't actually seen it, so it might just be something others were making up.
Gu Jiao began to think seriously. Eunuch Wei did say that the emperor had been having trouble sleeping recently. Could it be related to this?
She looked at the dried flowers on the table and asked, "Can the medicinal catalyst prevent the effects of the medicine from wearing off?"
“Theoretically, it is possible, but—” Nan Xiang touched the dried flowers on the table, “one or two pieces of ordinary medicinal guide are enough. Using so many can only mean that the person who was drugged is in a very unstable condition, and the medicinal guide is no longer effective. Unless, the other party is planning to drug that person again.
"Will it work again next time?" Gu Jiao asked.
Nan Xiang thought about it carefully: "There should be some, but it's hard to say how much there is."
So Consort Jing did indeed go to buy medicine yesterday. She planned to administer the medicine to the Emperor again, because no matter how effective the medicine was, it wouldn't be worse than it is now.
Consort Jing's plan to drug the Emperor by inviting him to the nunnery for a meal last night was likely thwarted by the unfortunate fact that Gu Jiao was also present, leaving Consort Jing with no way to proceed.
But Consort Jing would not give up so easily; Gu Jiao felt that she would find another opportunity to get close to the Emperor.
"I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving now. I'll visit you another day." After sitting for a while longer, Nan Xiang got up to take her leave.
Gu Jiao, along with Gu Xiaoshun, escorted her and Master Lu to the door.
After getting into the carriage, Master Lu sighed, "Wasn't it risky to reveal your identity by talking so much to that girl?"
Nan Xiang said nonchalantly, "What's there to be afraid of? We'll deal with whatever comes our way. Soon she'll be our son's older sister. If she gets into trouble, we can't just stand by and do nothing."
Master Lu held her hand and said earnestly, "It's not that I'm selfish, it's that you're risking yourself again. I don't want something like what happened more than ten years ago to happen again. Royal disputes are for the royal family to handle; don't get involved."
Nan Xiang touched her disfigured face through the veil, smiled, and said, "I understand."
That night, apart from Xiao Jingkong who had been abducted to the palace, the whole family returned. They were all happy for Gu Xiaoshun when they heard that he had recognized Master Lu and Nanxiang as his godparents.
The old chief priest personally cooked a large table of delicious dishes to celebrate Gu Xiaoshun's good fortune.
Gu Xiaoshun felt quite embarrassed. He was still completely confused. How did he become his master and mistress's son?
Gu Yan looked at the food piled high in his bowl and said seriously, "See? I wasn't wrong. Your master's wife has taken a liking to you."
Gu Xiaoshun: "..."
Is that what you mean by "you've taken a liking to"?
After the meal, Yu Ya'er cleared the dishes and chopsticks to the backyard, and everyone went about their own business.
Gu Yan went to help Xiao Jingkong walk the chickens. They were supposed to walk them before dinner, but he procrastinated and didn't leave until it was dark.
Gu Xiaoshun went to work on his wood, Xiao Liulang returned to his study, and Gu Jiao watered the vegetable garden in the front yard.
Madam Yao walked over: "Jiaojiao."
"Hmm?" Gu Jiao looked at Yao Shi while watering the plants.
Holding a box in her hands, Yao looked somewhat nervous and apprehensive: "Jiaojiao, come here for a moment."
"Okay." Gu Jiao put down the kettle and went to the stone table. Yao Shi had already sat down on a stone bench, so Gu Jiao sat down next to her.
Yao placed the box she was holding on the table and gently pushed it in front of Gu Jiao.
"What is this?" Gu Jiao asked curiously.
Yao's eyes gleamed expectantly: "Open it and take a look."
Gu Jiao raised her hand and opened the box, discovering that it was filled with exquisite jewelry of superb quality.
“This is…” Gu Jiao did not understand Yao’s intention.
Yao composed herself, mustered her courage, and took Gu Jiao's hand, saying, "It's for you."
"Why?" Gu Jiao asked.
Today isn't a special day, so why give her so much jewelry?
Madam Yao lowered her head and squeezed the handkerchief, saying, "I've wanted to give it to you for a long time, but I was worried you wouldn't accept it."
These are not particularly expensive pieces of jewelry. Although they are of good quality, they were all gifts from her grandmother before her marriage, and many years have passed since then, so the styles are all outdated.
She wasn't really living in poverty; it's just that the jewelry she bought outside wasn't as meaningful as the ones her grandmother gave her.
She felt it was meaningful, but she didn't know if her daughter would like it too.
Furthermore, aside from making a few clothes for her daughter each month, her daughter refused all money or other valuables.
Gu Jiao didn't say anything.
Thinking she was going to refuse, Yao quickly said, "No, they're not worth much! They're all old jewelry!"
If this isn't valuable, then what is?
Gu Jiao wasn't very familiar with ancient styles, but she recognized gold. A box of pure gold jewelry, if sold, could buy a small house in the capital.
Gu Jiao hummed in agreement: "It's very old..."
Yao: "It's not very old!"
Oh dear, what is she saying?
If it's too valuable, I'm worried she won't accept it; if it's too inexpensive, the gift won't seem substantial enough.
Yao had never been so conflicted and distressed before.
Gu Jiao smiled and said, "It looks good. I like it very much."
So... he's agreed to accept it?
Yao's eyes lit up, and the anxiety that had been hanging over her all night finally subsided.
She couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
Rather than worrying that her daughter would reject the gifts she gave her, she was more concerned that her daughter would reject her kindness.
Gu Jiao returned to the east room and took out the jewelry from the box one by one to admire it.
As a visitor from another world, she genuinely liked these pieces of jewelry; they were all antiques.
As she was admiring the view, Xiao Liulang stopped at the door.
Gu Jiao keenly sensed the breathing outside the door, turned her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling: "Husband."
The habitual address, devoid of any romantic connotations, almost made Xiao Liulang lose his breath.
Xiao Liulang clutched his chest, his gaze sweeping over the jewelry on the table, before covering his right hand with his wide sleeve.
"What did you take?" Gu Jiao still noticed it with her sharp eyes.
"It's nothing," Xiao Liulang said. "I still have books to read."
He said that, then turned and left.
Gu Jiao put down the hairpin in her hand, took a few steps forward, and grabbed Xiao Liulang's sleeve: "What did you take? Let me see."
Xiao Liulang said calmly, "It's nothing."
Gu Jiao didn't believe him and reached out to grab his right hand, which was hidden under his wide sleeve.
Even if he wanted to hide, how could he possibly be a match for Gu Jiao?
Gu Jiao quickly took the red string from his hand.
This is a hand-woven red rope with a few small jade stones strung on it. The quality of the jade stones isn't particularly good, but the exquisite craftsmanship of the red rope makes it stand out.
"Is it a gift for me?" Gu Jiao asked.
Now that we've already got it, there's no point in denying it.
Xiao Liulang gave a vague "hmm".
He saw an old woman weaving this on his way home from the Hanlin Academy. The moment that bright red color caught his eye, he almost immediately thought of her.
I didn't think too much about it at the time; I just thought it would look good on her.
But after buying it and bringing it home, I discovered that she had so many expensive pieces of jewelry, while my meager bracelet looked so pathetic...
Gu Jiao handed him the red string along with her left wrist: "Help me put it on."
Xiao Liulang's eyelashes trembled. He took the rope, and his fingertips accidentally touched hers. A tingling sensation ran from his fingertips straight to his heart.
He put the red string on her slender wrist.
Her fair wrists, as smooth as jade, were accentuated by the vibrant red, making them incredibly alluring.
(End of this chapter)
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