She wondered if she could produce such handwriting if she grew a few years older.
But she soon shook her head, thinking that it was probably impossible to surpass her father’s writing.
"My cousin is truly remarkable," Lin Qianqing praised. "Grandmother says everyone in our family is exceptional, and it really is true. My cousin has a rare talent."
Yue Rujing detested this pair of cousins who loved to sing each other’s praises, snorted, and instructed the craftsmen to make some extra compartments for storing medicine bottles.
Meanwhile, Gu Youyou followed Jin Ziyuan to an inconspicuous and quiet alley across the street.
"How come you are in Beijing?" Gu Youyou asked in surprise once they were alone.
"I have something to ask you," Jin Ziyuan said.
Gu Youyou’s expression became serious as she waited for him to ask.
"Last time, on the outskirts of Lingnan’s snow mountain... were you picking Snow Lotuses?"
It was obvious, Gu Youyou nodded.
"Did you also pick that half-bloomed pink Snow Lotus at the mountain top?"
"Hm??" Gu Youyou thought for a moment and then understood what he meant.
Jin Ziyuan said he was looking for something in Lingnan and had encountered them on that snow mountain; it must be the pink Snow Lotus from the mountaintop he was talking about.
Gu Youyou had not seen this pink Snow Lotus before, which must be a rare treasure of great use to him.
Gu Youyou shook her head and said, "No, your appearance caused an avalanche. We didn’t go to the mountaintop."
As she said this, Gu Youyou suddenly paused.
They had not gone to the mountaintop that day, but that didn’t mean Jin Zijin hadn’t gone alone afterward.
Jin Zijin had mentioned that the place full of Snow Lotuses was very secretive, discovered accidentally by him and Yue Rujing. Others wouldn’t know of it.
Gu Youyou herself had not gone again, and Jin Ziyuan hadn’t found it, so it seemed likely that the pink Snow Lotus had been taken by Jin Zijin.
"Is that item very important to you?" Gu Youyou asked.
If it was really important, perhaps she could inquire with Jin Zijin.
A treasure, after all, is only valuable when used properly.
"Very important." Jin Ziyuan also guessed that the millennia-old Heart-Cooling Snow Lotus might have fallen into Jin Zijin’s hands. He said, "It’s very important to both you and me, it might be the key for us to return to normal."
"That important?" Gu Youyou raised an eyebrow. Such an important item, yet Jin Zijin had not mentioned it to her.
She nodded slightly and said, "I’ll ask him, but there’s no guarantee that he really has it."
"Okay!" A hint of melancholy and disappointment flashed across Jin Ziyuan’s face.
"Then I’ll be leaving. I’ll still be here in three days... waiting for you."
"All right, be careful!" Gu Youyou didn’t say much else and turned to leave the alley.
At the mouth of the alley, she ran into a grand procession of carriages and horses.
Ordinary people all stepped aside to make way for the carriages. Jin Ziyuan, who came out of the alley, also stood beside Gu Youyou.
The carriage was unbelievably luxurious, much larger than those of ordinary households, drawn by three horses, with four well-dressed maids following closely before and behind, and knife-bearing guards protecting it. As it passed by, it left a trail of refined fragrance in its wake.
Gu Youyou murmured in a low voice as she gazed at the luxurious procession, "I wonder whose carriage that is. It’s so impressive."
Gu Youyou was entirely focused on the grand carriages and horses, completely unaware of the tightly clenched fist and icy eyes of Jin Ziyuan at her side.
The common folk nearby whispered among themselves, "That must be the family of the fifth prince; don’t know which of his wives it is."
Someone else added, "With such grandeur, it has to be the princess consort."
"The princess consort wouldn’t have such grandeur; it must be Madam Ru."