Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Love Gu?
Ling Xun was troubled by this for a while, but gradually he let it go.
Never mind, it's not a big deal.
It's probably because I've never had it before that I'm so attached to it for a while. I'll probably get used to it over time.
"Okay, I understand," he replied.
Ling Xun was born beautiful. Not only did he have feminine features, but his skin was also better than that of many pampered noble ladies. It was fair and translucent, surpassing even the finest jade.
Therefore, his ears turning red was particularly noticeable. Bai Xuerou noticed it at a glance, and after a slight pause, a smile flashed in her eyes. Her fingertips paused slightly, and she wanted to tease him a little more, but she gave up and slowly withdrew them, instead patting his shoulder.
Her younger brothers from her maternal family considered themselves adults by the age of seven or eight and didn't like having their heads patted; Ling Xun was probably the same.
"That's good." Bai Xuerou withdrew her hand.
In the time it took to exchange a few words, Bai Xuerou's maids had already deftly hung up the windproof curtains and lit the charcoal stove.
Before long, the originally chilly pavilion gradually became warm.
The maid poured hot tea, and Bai Xuerou gestured to serve it to Ling Xun first.
"Have a sip to warm yourself up first," she instructed.
Ling Xun did as instructed. The tea was still hot, but not scalding. After taking a sip, he immediately felt warm.
He didn't realize until he relaxed that his body was already quite stiff from the cold.
Ling Xun slowly took two more sips, then looked up at Bai Xue Rou. He saw her holding the tea, her fingertips white with a hint of pink, which unexpectedly reminded him of a lotus flower in summer.
It was a very rare variety, specially sourced from the south. It was a white lotus with only a touch of pink at the tips of the petals, which gradually faded and spread out, making it extremely beautiful.
Ling Xun glanced at it appreciatively, then followed Bai Xuerou's gaze. Outside the pavilion, the ancient pine trees, still green in winter, were covered with a thick layer of snow after the previous night. The combination of emerald green and snowy white was exceptionally picturesque.
He suddenly realized that she had come here to see the ancient pine tree.
It wasn't for him.
Thinking of this, Ling Xun couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly.
I don't know whether to call him paranoid or overconfident. Why would Bai Xue Rou come here for him on a snowy winter day?
He breathed a sigh of relief, but ultimately felt a little regretful.
At this moment, Ling Xun really wanted someone who would come specifically for him.
Unfortunately, he had little connection with his parents and few friends. After much consideration, the person he could talk to the most was Bai Xuerou.
In this way, it is inevitable that some delusional thoughts will arise.
As the two were talking, they suddenly heard someone hurrying in from not far away. The sound of footsteps on the snow was muffled and should have been inaudible, but the person kept shouting.
"Rokuro-kun, Rokuro-kun——"
Bai Xuerou raised her eyes to signal, and immediately a maid went out and announced that the person was there.
Soon, the person came running over, stumbling and crawling. She was an old woman who looked somewhat familiar, as if she were someone from Aunt Ge's side.
"Sixth Master, please go back quickly! Auntie, Auntie is in trouble!" The old woman knelt down with a thud and cried out in a pitiful voice.
Bai Xuerou immediately stood up.
“Sister-in-law, I…” Ling Xun was the same. After standing up, he did not forget to say goodbye to Bai Xuerou, but was interrupted by her, “I will go with you.”
Logically and emotionally, since she heard it, she couldn't pretend not to know; she should go and see.
Ling Xun pursed his lips, said "okay," and then added, "thank you for your trouble."
"Don't be so polite now. Let's go," Bai Xuerou said.
As they spoke, the two walked together toward Xiefang Courtyard.
To get to Xiefang Courtyard from the garden, you have to pass through the central courtyard first, and then head west.
"You go first, I'll follow behind." Seeing the old woman's urgent reaction, Bai Xuerou was worried that Ling Xun would miss it, so she simply said after a few steps.
Ling Xun agreed, and his figure quickly disappeared into the wind and snow.
Before we knew it, the snow had fallen heavily again.
When Bai Xuerou arrived at Xiefang Courtyard with her umbrella, she found that the Prince of Zhenbei was also there, and Ling Zheng was waiting outside. She and Ling Zheng exchanged a glance, and then she saw the Prince of Zhenbei sitting in front of the bed holding Aunt Ge's hand.
"Third Sister-in-law." Ling Xun stood beside the Prince of Zhenbei, but immediately noticed the newcomer. He turned around and called out, his eyes showing a hint of helplessness.
Having also practiced the art of Gu poison, he could clearly sense that Aunt Ge's life force was almost gone, like a candle flickering in the wind, which could be extinguished at any moment.
Bai Xuerou smiled slightly at him, hoping to offer him some comfort.
"Father, Aunt," she called out.
The Prince of Zhenbei remained silent, his eyes fixed on Concubine Ge on the bed. Concubine Ge's gaze, however, had already followed Ling Xun's turn to Bai Xuerou.
How long has it been since she'd seen that expression on Abao's face?
rely.
Ah Bao is dependent on Bai Xue Rou.
This discovery inevitably left her, as a mother, with mixed feelings, but she also knew that she had no one to blame but herself; all the causes and effects were because of her.
She knew about Bai Xuerou's interactions with Ling Xun over the past six months. This girl was a good person, gentle and kind, and her kindness towards Ling Xun was genuine, as if she were taking care of a little brother.
If she can continue like this, Abao should be able to live a happier life in the future.
"Third Sister." Aunt Ge spoke softly, as if the wind and snow outside would dissipate in a gust of wind. Her voice was also a little hoarse and strained, but the room was so quiet that everyone heard her.
“Auntie, I’m here.” Bai Xuerou stepped forward and looked at Auntie Ge with concern.
The Prince of Zhenbei then turned around and glanced at Bai Xuerou, who respectfully lowered her eyes.
Aunt Ge broke free from the Prince of Zhenbei's hand and reached out to Bai Xuerou.
Bai Xuerou hesitated slightly, then stepped forward and took her hand.
As she approached, Aunt Ge's weak, half-open eyes twitched slightly.
Something inside her stirred—
It was a backup plan she had left on that poison before.
The poison the mysterious man wanted was quite complex. The primary requirement was that it be difficult to detect, preferably one that had been planted little by little over many years, but that would take effect extremely quickly once triggered.
After much deliberation, she created one.
The poison has three layers. The first layer can be used for many years without any poison or other effects. If you want the poison to take effect, you need to combine it with the second layer. If you want to accelerate the effect even more quickly, you need to add the third layer.
The third type is highly toxic in itself, but if it is combined with the first two, it will neutralize them and leave no trace.
These three measures are sufficient to meet the other party's needs.
When making the medicine, she deliberately tampered with it. It was fine on its own, but if someone touched the three kinds of medicine in a short period of time, the Gu worms would be able to detect it as soon as she encountered them.
For example, right now.
The little guy's reaction was very subtle; you could only feel it if you got extremely close. This suggests that Bai Xuerou didn't make direct contact, but rather had contact with someone who had touched her before.
In the same prefecture, she didn't sense it from either the Prince of Zhenbei or Ling Zheng, only from Bai Xuerou, which was definitely not a coincidence.
Although the nature of the relationship is unknown, the fact that there is a relationship already indicates something.
Bai Xuerou was unaware that she had given herself away. She only noticed that the other person's hand was tightening, but Aunt Ge was too weak. Even with the force, it only added to her feelings.
She reached out and took Aunt Ge's hand with her other hand, looking at the person in front of her with concern.
"Auntie," she called out.
"You're a good person. You've been the best to Abao all these years," Aunt Ge said weakly, her words coming out in fits and starts.
These were all true words; she could tell that Bai Xuerou was a good person. She might have had other reasons for getting close to A Bao, but her kindness towards him was genuine.
“It’s what I should do,” Bai Xuerou said gently.
Aunt Ge smiled. Even her own parents couldn't do this, so how could Bai Xuerou, who was just a sister-in-law, have any obligation to do it?
"From now on... Ah Bao... I'll trouble you to take good care of him." Aunt Ge continued, stubbornly looking at Bai Xue Rou, and asked, "Is that alright?"
Bai Xuerou was slightly taken aback, not expecting Aunt Ge to entrust her with her orphan, and was at a loss for what to do.
She subconsciously looked at the Prince of Zhenbei beside her, only to see that in the dim light of the room, the powerful man had a gloomy expression and looked at Aunt Ge with a pained yet somewhat annoyed gaze.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she dared not look any longer.
“Auntie, you’re overthinking it. Father is here too,” Bai Xuerou said.
Taking care of Ling Xun wasn't too much trouble, and she was willing to do it anyway, which fulfilled her promise to Aunt Ge.
Although Aunt Ge didn't know that the person was her, Bai Xuerou didn't want to break her promise.
With the Prince of Zhenbei present, Bai Xuerou remained silent, worried that agreeing rashly would anger him.
Aunt Ge looked at the Prince of Zhenbei.
"Your Highness is very busy, I'm afraid you won't have time." She murmured, her expression calm, and looked directly at the man before her as she asked, "Your Highness, after I leave, would you please trouble Third Mistress to take care of Abao?"
Without realizing it, her speech became more fluent.
But the reason behind this made everyone in the room feel a chill in their hearts.
This is clearly a sign of a final burst of energy before death.
The Prince of Zhenbei's expression softened slightly.
Although he was cold-hearted, he did have feelings for Aunt Ge, but Aunt Ge was unwilling to back down and had been defying him all these years.
Although her words were not very respectful, they also conveyed a sense of weakness.
And she's almost dead...
He felt a slight pang in his heart, closed his eyes, and thought of Ge Lan from the first time they met.
She was dressed in Miao ethnic clothing, with a bright and spirited appearance, yet her eyes were pure as she looked at him with undisguised affection.
"Alright." The Prince of Zhenbei opened his eyes and responded.
Aunt Ge was already fed up with him. Seeing that he agreed, she didn't want to look at him for long and instead looked directly at Bai Xuerou.
Since the Prince of Zhenbei had agreed, Bai Xuerou naturally did not hesitate and immediately agreed.
"I will certainly do my best to take care of my sixth brother." She was always meticulous and never spoke too definitively, only saying she would do her best without making any guarantees.
Aunt Ge understood her meaning and couldn't help but smile slightly.
Having grown accustomed to the flattery and cunning of the people from the Central Plains, Bai Xuerou's behavior actually reassured her.
"Abao." She looked at Ling Xun again and stretched out her other hand.
“Mother.” Ling Xun moved closer and grasped her hand.
Aunt Ge looked at her son with a smile, her expression showing a gentleness rarely seen in recent years.
"I'm not a good mother, I've made you suffer. From now on, study hard, practice martial arts, live your life happily."
Ling Xun looked at his birth mother with sadness in his eyes, obediently agreeing, but his heart was completely unmoved.
Why say all this now? Is it true that a dying man's words are always kind? He no longer cares.
Aunt Ge's smile widened, and her breathing became increasingly rapid.
She held Bai Xuerou in one hand and Ling Xun in the other. Miao people were secretive about using Gu poison, let alone physical contact.
In an instant, she achieved her goal.
Ling Xun noticed this and his eyes narrowed slightly.
A love potion?!
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