Chi Wan was actually a little surprised that Yu Jiuzhou would take the initiative to ask about her schedule.
She wasn’t surprised that Yu Jiuzhou knew her plans in advance; the entire Princess’s Residence was under Yu Jiuzhou’s control. The fact that her predecessor had succeeded was a stroke of incredible luck.
Chi Wan assumed Yu Jiuzhou might be worried about her health, so she said, “Your Highness need not worry. This servant will return to the residence tonight. During the day, as long as Your Highness applies the suppression patch properly, it will be fine for Imperial Physician Liu to come and check your pulse.”
Yu Jiuzhou glanced at her. Who was worried about whether she returned or not? “I just wanted to tell you that no matter what you do outside, I will not clean up your messes.”
She wondered if Chi Wan would still dare to sever ties with the Marquis of Huai’an’s family knowing this.
Chi Wan was unconcerned. At present, she had no value that would warrant Yu Jiuzhou doing anything for her. Besides, the other woman was already itching to kill her.
The first thing in Yu Jiuzhou’s eyes whenever she saw her was an ill-concealed killing intent. Chi Wan didn’t think Yu Jiuzhou was incapable of hiding it; she simply wanted Chi Wan to know that her life and death were not her own to decide.
This indirectly indicated that Yu Jiuzhou wouldn’t kill her in the short term, or at least not without a reason.
“Yes, Your Highness is right. This servant will not cause any trouble for Your Highness either.”
Chi Wan smiled and bowed, then suddenly remembered something. “Your Highness’s suppression patch needs to be changed. This servant will help you change it before leaving.”
Yu Jiuzhou was speechless. As Chi Wan changed the patch, her fingers brushed against the area beside her glands. Yu Jiuzhou felt both disgusted and uncomfortable.
Sometimes, she really wanted to chop off Chi Wan’s hands. Even though her movements were exceedingly gentle and not the least bit presumptuous, the suppression patch was applied to the glands, which was an inherently intimate act.
Sensing Yu Jiuzhou’s displeasure, Chun Gui quickly stepped forward. “Perhaps the Fuma could teach me how to apply it, and I can do it for Her Highness.”
Chi Wan hid the smile in her eyes and feigned hesitation. “Hmm… I suppose that’s possible.”
Yu Jiuzhou was bewildered. Then why did Chi Wan change the dressing for her last night?
In Chi Wan’s view, this was merely serving Yu Jiuzhou. She subconsciously thought that since they were both women, it was just helping to apply a medicinal patch, especially since it was only near the cervical spine.
Lacking any concept of the ABO world, Chi Wan’s mind was as pure as clear water. But Yu Jiuzhou was different. Hearing that someone else could do it, her glare was sharp enough to kill Chi Wan. She hadn’t asked, assuming only Chi Wan could do it. The thought made her feel aggrieved all over again.
After teaching Chun Gui how to apply the patch, Chi Wan had an idea. When the suppression patches were mass-produced in the future, they could print an instruction manual on the outer packaging. It wouldn’t be too difficult; they could carve it into a stamp and print it directly.
This world already had printing technology, even movable type. As long as she explained her idea, it should be easy to implement.
However, she never expected that this idea would be immediately rejected. The artist said it would be an obscene drawing. If it were wrapped around the medicine, no one would buy it. Even if someone did, they would do so in secret.
Of course, that was a matter for later, and it would give Chi Wan a deeper understanding of the many taboos in this ABO world.
What Chi Wan didn’t know was that after she left Yongning Courtyard, the bedchamber fell silent for a long time.
Chun Gui dared not speak, afraid that one wrong word would make Her Highness decide to kill the Fuma immediately.
After a moment of calm, Yu Jiuzhou spoke in a cold voice, “Give that ugly horse of hers some croton beans.”
“Ah?”
Chun Gui immediately understood. Her Highness wanted her to give croton beans to the horse the Fuma was going to ride. Halfway there, the horse would collapse from diarrhea, and the Fuma would have to walk to Qingyuan County.
She dared not disobey Her Highness’s command. Chun Gui relayed the order to Xia Qu outside. Xia Qu’s eyes lit up, and she immediately vaulted over a wall and left.
To save time, Xia Qu didn’t even use the main gate. Seeing the strange looks from the guards of the Princess’s Residence, she snapped, “What are you looking at?”
Xia Qu took a shortcut to the stables and said to a stable hand feeding the horses, “Bring some croton beans.”
“Huh? General Xia, what are you planning to do?” The stable hand was baffled. Why would she want croton beans?
The stables did have some croton beans. When a horse had indigestion, they would use certain methods to ensure its health, but it was generally not used in large amounts.
Xia Qu put on a fierce expression. “Just bring them. Why all the questions?”
The stable hand quickly forced a smile. “Yes, yes. May I ask, General Xia, is this a dose to cause diarrhea, or a lethal one?”
“Diarrhea, of course.” Xia Qu disliked Chi Wan, but there was no need to kill a horse or have Chi Wan thrown to her death over it.
“Feed it to the Fuma’s horse. Remember, just enough to make it collapse from exhaustion.”
The stable hand didn’t understand, but he hurried to get the croton beans and fed them to the weakest horse in the stable.
When Chi Wan arrived, Xia Qu was hiding nearby, snickering.
Knowing he had done something wrong, the stable hand quickly led the horse out and approached her solicitously. “Fuma, this is your horse.”
It sounded a bit strange. What was even stranger was that the last time she saw this stable hand, he had looked at her with disdain. Why had he suddenly become a different person?
Chi Wan gave the stable hand a puzzled look and took the reins. “Thank you.”
“I am not worthy of the Fuma’s thanks,” the stable hand said, bowing hastily.
How very odd. The sisters Chen Yuan and Chen Jin, who were following her, exchanged a look but tacitly said nothing.
Chi Wan found it inexplicable, but Chen Yuan took the horse from her. “Fuma, allow this subordinate to lead it.”
Chen Yuan was accompanying her today. Both Chen sisters were skilled in martial arts, and they had been sent by Yu Jiuzhou to keep an eye on her. One managed her inner household, while the other followed her when she went out.
Chi Wan didn’t mind having two spies by her side. From what little she knew, the two sisters were very capable.
But no matter how capable they were, they couldn’t stop a horse from having diarrhea.
From the moment they left the Princess’s Residence, Chi Wan’s horse was relieving itself. By the time they were out of the city, it couldn’t hold on any longer.
Its hooves gave way, and it knelt on the ground. Fortunately, Chi Wan reacted quickly, flipping over and landing steadily on her feet.
Chen Yuan quickly dismounted her donkey and rushed over. “Fuma, are you alright?”
Chen Yuan was inwardly astonished. She hadn’t expected the Fuma to be so agile. Weren’t the rumors that the Fuma was an ignorant good-for-nothing? Whether it was her medical skills or her martial prowess, neither seemed to fit that description.
Chi Wan was unaware that her image was gradually changing. She just shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Now she faced two choices: return to the Princess’s Residence, which would take a shichen on foot, or walk to Qingyuan County, which would take a shichen and a half.
Chi Wan glanced at Chen Yuan’s donkey. Perhaps…
“Chi Wan, Chi Wan!”
Hearing someone call her name, Chi Wan turned to see that it was that little fatty, Lin Zhiyi. She couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Zhiyi, weren’t you grounded at home?”
Today, the little fatty was dressed in a sky-blue, ornate robe that looked very expensive, and the fur trim on his clothes screamed wealth.
In comparison, Chi Wan was much more low-key, dressed in plain clothes like an ordinary scholar. Aside from a fur-lined outer coat and a thick enough cloak, which showed she came from a well-off family, she didn’t look particularly rich.
Lin Zhiyi waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t mention it. Get in, I have something to tell you.”
What could they possibly have to talk about that he would wait for her at the city gate so early in the morning?
“I have to go to Qingyuan County. You can just tell me here.”
“Then get in, I’ll give you a ride.” Lin Zhiyi seemed to have something urgent to discuss with her.
“This…” Chi Wan looked at her weakened horse, then at Lin Zhiyi’s luxurious carriage.
“Hurry up and get in. I’ll have someone lead your horse back to the city,” Lin Zhiyi said with a wave of his hand. He then added, “This horse of yours is old and weak. I’ll have someone prepare a good one for you and bring it to you in Qingyuan County later.”
Chi Wan cupped her hands in thanks. She could always find a way to repay the favor later.
Lin Zhiyi’s luxurious carriage was like a deluxe motorhome, with a soft couch and a table inside—a mobile room.
Chi Wan marveled that the Lin family, as imperial merchants, truly knew how to live in style.
After settling in, Chi Wan looked at the little fatty who was eagerly pouring her tea. “Alright, tell me. What’s the matter?”
“I went to the Princess’s Residence to find you first. They said you had just left for Qingyuan County, so I was heading there to find you. I didn’t expect to see you just outside the city.”
Lin Zhiyi was also surprised that his carriage had managed to overtake her party on horseback.
It wasn’t like Chi Wan wanted it this way. Who could have known the horse would collapse from diarrhea midway?
If she knew this was Yu Jiuzhou’s doing, she would probably be even more exasperated. Who would have thought that the dignified Grand Princess could be so… childish?
Yu Jiuzhou had simply wanted to play a prank on Chi Wan, to make her take a fall and suffer a little. She had no idea Chi Wan was so skilled.
If she had known, she might have had Xia Qu and a few others dress up as bandits and give Chi Wan a beating on the road.
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