She asked, "Have the matters in Beijing been arranged properly?"
Jin Zijin nodded and said, "Yu Jizi, for some reason, has been in seclusion for nearly half a year now, reportedly working on some kind of formation. His chief disciple, Huo Li, seemed to have lost his backbone after Yu Jizi closed his doors, and over the past six months, we’ve eliminated many of their clandestine forces. Moreover, we’ve found the other medicine people and sent them all to Lingnan. If you come back with me now, I can guarantee your safety."
This indeed was good news. Gu Youyou smiled and said, "Great, then I can repay the debt I owe to Lun Yu in these next few days."
"The debt you owe to Lun Yu?" Jin Zijin looked at her with surprise.
"Yes, to get this story, I have to write two stories for Lun Yu, and they have to be even more tragic than this one, tragic enough to make him cry..." Gu Youyou complained nonstop.
Gu Youyou worked overtime to pay off her debt to Lun Yu; it was almost time for her to pack up and return to Beijing.
She sent a message ahead to Beijing, letting them know that she would be bringing some small animals home with her.
Searcy was going to follow Gu Youyou. She was fascinated by Gu Youyou’s unique medical theory and insisted on sticking by her side.
But her identity was somewhat special.
She was the illegitimate daughter of General Lu’s family, but as far as the Lu Family was concerned, she had already died along with her mother, so she wasn’t someone who could easily appear in public.
Gu Youyou then said to her, "How about letting Lun Yu change your appearance? That way you won’t be recognized."
Unexpectedly, Searcy took it lightly, spreading her hands and saying, "What if I’m recognized? There’s no shortage of people who look alike in this world. Just deny it to death, it’s not like they can force me to admit I’m the former Lu Xueying."
Gu Youyou sighed and said, "That’s true, it’s just that I’m afraid... Well, it doesn’t matter, you never care about anything anyway."
Searcy seemed a bit strange today, as if she had something she wanted to say.
This wasn’t like her usual self; that kind of person would say hurtful things without thinking and would never consider anyone else’s feelings. But her demeanor today...?
Gu Youyou said, "Speak if you have something to say, fart if you have to. I know you’re straightforward, and it makes me uncomfortable to see you holding back."
Searcy glared fiercely at Gu Youyou, then took out a bottle from her bosom and handed it to Gu Youyou, saying, "I know you are chill-prone. When the weather is cool in the mornings and evenings, apply this on your exposed skin, and you won’t feel cold."
Gu Youyou looked at the small bottle in her hands and then at Searcy with a shocked expression.
My goodness, could this venomous woman actually be so considerate? Giving her a gift?
Gu Youyou opened the bottle and sniffed. The fragrance was fresh and elegant, very pleasant; she said, "At least you have some conscience. It wasn’t for nothing that I saved you that time."
Searcy snorted and turned her head away, ignoring her.
What Searcy’s mother had taught her was all about harming others and making poison. Her mother had died, and she hadn’t seen much grief from her, probably because she’d never known how to care for others. This ointment was likely the only gift she’d ever given that wasn’t a poison.
She had truly gone to great lengths.
Gu Youyou arrived back in Beijing just in time for the Dragon Boat Festival.
Madam Lin was directing the servants in preparing and decorating the mansion, saying that the eldest prince’s household had lifted its restrictions. The eldest daughter, Lin Qianqing, who had already returned once after getting married, was going to take advantage of the festival to come home. As the only legitimate daughter of the Lin Family and married to the eldest prince, they naturally didn’t dare to be negligent.
"Youyou?" Madam Lin, who was directing the cleaning of the courtyard, was very surprised to see the person alighting from the carriage that stopped in front of her house.