Sleeve Interaction
The enchanting atmosphere under the corridor was instantly shattered.
Xiao Chengyan and Gu Jinghong's expressions changed simultaneously. They quickly exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and doubt in each other's eyes.
What exactly was discussed inside? What could have caused Xuanru to lose control and smash things?
The two immediately turned around and pushed open the door to the flower hall.
The atmosphere inside the hall was almost frozen.
Xuanru stood there, her body trembling slightly, with shattered teacup fragments at her feet.
Her face was as pale as paper, and her usually bright and cunning eyes were now bloodshot.
"Aru!" Gu Jinghong exclaimed, quickly stepping forward to embrace Xuanru and comfort her.
Tan Xuan seemed to have all his energy drained away in an instant. He staggered back a step and slumped into a chair next to him. His shoulders slumped under his official robes, and he looked old and dejected.
Xiao Chengyan's expression was solemn as he scanned the scene before finally fixing his gaze on Tan Xuan: "Dean Tan, what happened?"
Tan Xuan's eyes were empty, and he said blankly, "Your Highness, this old minister... believes what Xuan Ru said. The pill you saw should be the 'Intestinal-Piercing Evil,' which matches the condition of most people during the Southwest epidemic back then."
Xiao Chengyan stared intently at Tan Xuan. "What happened?"
Tan Xuan's gaze darkened, as if he were looking at Xiao Chengyan, or perhaps looking through Xiao Chengyan to a more distant place, empty and desolate.
"...It is the 'Intestine-Piercing Evil,' and thus one dies from the Intestine-Piercing Evil."
Upon hearing this, Gu Jinghong's gaze fell deeply on Tan Xuan.
But the next moment, her hand was suddenly flung away forcefully.
Suddenly, Xuanru, whom she was holding protectively in her arms, took a step forward excitedly: "You're talking nonsense! My mother has always been skilled in poisons. Even if she encounters poison, it will be neutralized by her body. How could she leave because of 'Intestinal Venom'?!"
Xiao Chengyan also found it hard to believe: "During the epidemic in the southwest, I saw Master Xuan almost every day. At that time, I did not think that Master Xuan was poisoned. She still looked very energetic."
Tan Xuan held his forehead in his hands and shook them repeatedly, saying, "No, no..."
After a moment, he raised his head: "If she has studied poison for so many years, has a strange constitution, wears a thin shirt in winter and a cotton-padded coat in summer... do you really think she can neutralize poison?"
Gu Jinghong's vision blurred, and she saw Xuan Ru about to step forward and argue with Tan Xuan again.
She immediately grabbed Xuanru's wrist: "Aru, let Dean Tan finish speaking first."
Tan Xuan said, "That's right. Ru Shi's body appears 'immune to all poisons' because, through years of experience in poison techniques, she skillfully maintains a balance between the toxins in her body. But... but that 'Intestinal-Piercing Fiend' has disrupted this balance. So..."
Therefore, the toxins that she had been trying so hard to suppress and restrain suddenly burst forth like a flood, attacking her body everywhere.
Tan Xuan's voice trembled, and he spoke somewhat incoherently.
But he still tried to describe clearly that rainy night how Xuanru suddenly appeared outside his door, her breathing unsteady, yet she insisted on entrusting him with an "unimportant old thing".
How did he realize something was amiss after the initial surprise, and force her to stay?
And how did he secretly take her pulse while she slept, only to discover with horror that the complex and dangerous balance of toxins in her body was being violently disrupted by a new poison...
Tan Xuan's voice was filled with the helplessness and despair of a doctor unable to save lives, as well as a pain he had never experienced before, a pain of being emotionally affected by others.
"So it is said that there is a herb called 'Ice Soul Flame Heart Flower' on the snow mountain that might be worth trying. I believed it and immediately set off to find it... The snow on the mountain was very, very deep, and I searched for a very long time but could not find it. When I returned, there was only a letter left in her room. She said that she had recovered and used a new poison to balance the 'Intestinal Piercing Evil'."
At this point, Tan Xuan suddenly laughed, "She even said in her letter that my medical skills were no good, but her poison skills were enough to get her all over the world... She was still so proud, confident, even... insane."
When Tan Xuan uttered the word "madness," tears suddenly welled up and fell one by one. As they fell, his eyes became unusually swollen and red, and his tone was full of regret.
"I should have realized it! I should have realized it sooner!! She didn't want to be a burden to me! She just wanted to leave on her own! She's not crazy, she's the best woman in the world!!"
The flower hall was deathly silent.
Gu Jinghong subconsciously turned to look at Xuan Ru, only to see her slightly raise her chin, slowly blink her eyes, and exude a faint sense of powerlessness and brokenness.
"Ah Hong, my mother said... she's just too tired..."
Then he swayed and staggered, but was finally caught by Gu Jinghong.
Hearing this tragic story, Gu Jinghong felt a pang of sorrow and subconsciously patted Xuanru's back gently.
Suddenly, Gu Jinghong's pupils contracted.
No, it seems I missed some important information.
She pondered for a moment, then looked at Tan Xuan: "Headmaster Tan, you just said that Valley Master Xuan gave you an 'old item'? Is that item still there?"
Tan Xuan nodded: "Of course it's still there."
Gu Jinghong took something out of her sleeve and handed it to Tan Xuan.
"Director Tan, take a look, does that old object have these patterns?"
Xiao Chengyan turned to look at Gu Jinghong, first with a puzzled expression, then with a hint of understanding in his eyes.
Tan Xuan said that Xuanru entrusted him with an "old item".
What kind of old item could make a woman who had lived alone in the Valley of the Medicine Master with her child for several years, stumble to a "long-lost acquaintance" when she knew her time was coming to an end, and insist on handing it over to him?
A strange pattern suddenly flashed in Gu Jinghong's mind, along with the empty box left in the secret room of the Medicine Master Valley.
She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a Pisces symbol, intending to hand it to Tan Xuan.
"Director Tan, does that 'old item' you mentioned earlier have this kind of pattern?"
Seeing this, Xiao Chengyan quickly took the Twin Fish Pivot from Xuan Ru and handed it to Tan Xuan, then turned his head and exchanged a glance with Gu Jinghong.
Gu Jinghong rolled her eyes helplessly.
Tan Xuan didn't notice the little interaction between the two. He took the Pisces Pisces and looked at it carefully, saying, "Yes, yes! There is indeed such a pattern."
Xiao Chengyan took the double fish-shaped ornaments back and returned them to Gu Jinghong.
While doing so, he asked on behalf of Gu Jinghong, "Has Dean Tan kept that item hidden for so many years without ever opening it?"
Tan Xuan said, "That's what was said back then. It's best for me to keep these 'old items' safe. No one, including me, is allowed to look at them without permission. Only if His Highness or her daughter wants to see them can they be opened."
At this point, Tan Xuan's gaze fell on Xuan Ru's eyebrows and eyes again, and he sighed inwardly, "They look so alike, so incredibly alike!"
Gu Jinghong said, "Head of the Academy, please lead the way!"
Tan Xuan said, "Okay."
As the group arrived at the entrance of the Prince's Mansion, a biting wind carrying snowflakes swept towards them.
Gu Jinghong paused, a sense of intuition formed from long-term exposure to danger sending a warning bell ringing in her heart.
Without uttering a word, she naturally fell half a step behind, and under the cover of Xiao Chengyan's wide sleeves, her fingertips gently hooked around his slightly warm wrist.
Xiao Chengyan did not pause. He seemed to casually pull his hand back to his side, but in fact, he had already grasped her cold fingertips with his other hand and used a slight force to bring her half a step closer.
This silent inquiry was conveyed through the touching skin.
Gu Jinghong lightly traced a line with her fingertip across his palm, then tried to pull it back, but he held it even tighter.
He turned his head and lowered his eyes, casting a questioning glance at me.
Gu Jinghong raised her eyes to meet his gaze and shook her head very slightly.
His eyes were sharp and clear.
Xiao Chengyan's eyes flashed, and he instantly understood.
He released his grip, his expression unchanged as he turned to the two men in front of him, his voice calm and even: "Chief Tan, Xuan Ru, please go ahead and wait in the carriage. I have a few words to say to Ah Hong."
"Yes." Tan Xuan and Xuan Ru did as instructed and walked towards the carriage outside the door.
Gu Jinghong then took two steps forward, stood on tiptoe, and whispered a few words to Xiao Chengyan.
Her breath, like the fragrance of plum blossoms, wafted into his ear, tickling him and making his heart flutter. Then, his gaze quickly returned to his own… After Gu Jinghong finished speaking, Xiao Chengyan gave her a meaningful look.
"Long Wind".
Changfeng immediately appeared: "Your Highness."
...
The four of them rode in a carriage from the Prince Jin's mansion and soon arrived at Tan Xuan's residence.
Unlike the ornate carvings and winding paths of many officials' residences in the capital, the Tan family mansion was simple and even exuded a sense of desolation.
Upon entering the mansion, a small medicinal herb garden came into view. Despite the cold winter, several hardy herbs showed their tenacious greenness amidst the snow, and the air was filled with a faint, mixed fragrance of herbs.
The furnishings inside the mansion were extremely simple. The desks, tea tables, and even the corridors were neatly stacked or arranged with various medical books, classics, and manuscripts, with no superfluous luxuries.
A woman in her early thirties, dressed in a simple cotton dress, came out to greet her. Her hair was neatly combed, her clothes were clean and tidy, and her eyes and brows revealed a sense of competence and gentleness.
When she saw Tan Xuan bring back guests, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she immediately adopted proper etiquette.
"Master is back." Her voice was gentle as she bowed to Xiao Chengyan and the others. "This humble woman, Zhuxin, greets Your Highness and all distinguished guests."
Tan Xuan didn't even have time to glance at her before he walked deeper into the mansion with the others.
"Please follow me, everyone."
The group walked through the winding corridors and arrived at the study.
Moving aside the heavy bookshelf reveals a hidden compartment.
Tan Xuan took out a dark-colored ebony box. The box was covered with the marks of time, but the clear groove and double fish pattern in the center fit perfectly with the double fish pivot in Gu Jinghong's hand.
Gu Jinghong handed the Pisces Pivot to Tan Xuan, but Tan Xuan struggled for a long time without being able to fit it into the groove, so he had no choice but to return the box and the Pisces Pivot to Gu Jinghong.
The double fish-shaped pivot was turned in Gu Jinghong's hand, and then she ran her fingers around the edge of the ebony box. With a soft "click," the box lid popped open.
A scent mingled with the aroma of aged ink and a faint hint of herbs wafted through the air; inside the box was a handwritten note.
Tan Xuan carefully took out the note and looked at Xuan Ru, whose expression was extremely calm.
Seeing that Xuanru did not reach out to take it, he handed it to Xiao Chengyan instead.
Xiao Chengyan thought for a moment and then handed the note to Gu Jinghong.
Gu Jinghong was taken aback: "What do you mean, 'I'm looking'?"
Xiao Chengyan said, "Ah Hong, I don't know how to describe this feeling. It's just that you discovered this double fish pivot and have been carrying it with you ever since. You also discovered the box and took it out in the end... It seems that your connection with this manuscript is even deeper."
Gu Jinghong looked at the weak Xuan Ru again and said, "Okay."
Initially, the page contained Xuan Rushi's detailed record of the toxicology of "Intestinal Piercing Evil"... Gu Jinghong read it quickly, his fingertips tracing the lines of text, and whispered, "The record is detailed and consistent with Dean Tan's judgment."
However, as she flipped through the pages, her pace slowed down, and Xiao Chengyan moved closer as well. Both of them noticed the change in the handwriting...
"The method of refining this poison is exquisite, and it is definitely not something that can be done by the folk methods of the Southwest..." Gu Jinghong read this sentence, and subconsciously leaned back, bumping right into Xiao Chengyan's arms.
Then a familiar voice fell beside her ear: "Stand still."
Although his words were cold and indifferent, the indulgence and pampering in his tone were so obvious that even Dean Tan and Xuan Ru, who knew him well, were stunned.
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