Drawing the firewood from beneath the cauldron

Blue Enchantress—this was a flower found only in the far north of Southern Qi, blooming around the Ghost Festival on the seventh day of the seventh month. Fiercely predatory, it would cover entire mountainsides on the day of its blossoming, devouring other plants for sustenance and producing blue fruits, the latter of which were lethally poisonous.

Gu Fei lay curled up on the bed with her eyes closed, brow furrowed, her face pale as snow, drenched in sweat, her expression one of acute suffering. Her black hair, smooth as silk, was wetted in strands by perspiration, some clinging to her porcelain skin, while the rest spilled across the pillow like vibrant blooming crabapple blossoms—utterly exquisite, burning with the fire of life.

Her white inner garment had been stripped off and thrown onto the floor, forming an ambiguous, languid heap. She wore only a lotus-pink undershirt and delicate undergarments hanging from her slender waist. The intense itching and pain brought on by the poison made her feel as if she had been doused in water. The room’s lamplight glimmered hazily, its warm glow reflecting off her sweat-sheened skin, imbuing her with the singular, virginal fragrance of a young woman’s body—like a mysterious night-blooming flower, its hidden scent endlessly alluring.

You Hu’s eyes flickered, depths as dark as unmixed ink in clear water, silent and intimidating. He placed his hand on Gu Fei’s pulse, watching as the blue tendrils of poison receded like tidewater from her body, finally fading from her fingernails and lips.

He reached out, his elegant fingers brushing aside her damp hair from her forehead, then carefully pried the corner of the quilt from her mouth. His warm, uncalloused fingertips moved gently within her parted lips, gliding over her petite teeth as he retrieved the quilt, inevitably touching her soft, cotton-candy-like tongue. Under his touch, her tongue was docile and yielding, offering no resistance to his gentle teasing.

When the quilt was fully extracted, You Hu paused, his fingers lingering in her mouth before sliding along the curve of her lips, caressing them back and forth.

“Do you truly not care? Or are you simply so trusting?” he murmured, his other hand straightening her, brushing her hair from her face. Leaning close, he studied her intently—from her elegant brows to her dazzling eyes, her delicate nose, her consistently pale, powdery lips, so different from the vivid red often seen in other women. Her face always bore gentle hues, like cherry blossoms—never the scarlet of fire, even at their brightest.

His focus was so intense, he didn’t notice the slight tremble of her fingers as she abruptly opened her eyes.

Her eyes, with irises larger than most, were strikingly clear, like the finest ink that never fades, no matter the storms endured. You Hu hadn’t expected Gu Fei to awaken so quickly; his face was mere inches from hers, startled into stillness.

Her brows knit together. Though the poison had left her weak, her gaze remained sharp. She stared at You Hu coldly. “Get out!” she commanded.

Though she’d felt unbearable itching and pain deep in her bones, wishing she could cut herself open with a knife, Gu Fei—who had once endured the excruciating punishment of flesh being shaved from her leg—could still resist doing herself harm. Throughout, her mind remained clear; she knew exactly what You Hu had done to her and, in that time, came to understand Gu Min’s intentions.

You Hu let out a quiet laugh, withdrawing a little. He pulled a thin blanket over her, wrapping her up except for her head, placed a soft pillow behind her, and stepped out of the room, instructing Old Ma to attend to her.

Left alone at last, Gu Fei relaxed completely. For her, only solitude brought a sense of safety and reality.

Her limbs felt weak, her body limp and sticky with sweat, but Gu Fei seemed unaware. Leaning back against the pillow, her gaze flicked over her discarded inner garment on the floor, then quickly moved away.

Where others might have found despair in such pain, Gu Fei, tasting agony, became like a phoenix rising from the fire, able to observe her own struggles with cold detachment and ponder everything.

Just moments ago, she’d considered herself in Gu Min’s place. Clearly intent on killing her, he chose a convoluted method. If he sought the ink formula, he’d already gotten it from the Mo family. She was now seen as a fallen illegitimate daughter—many would be eager to kick her while she was down.

She’d only learned tonight that You Hu was the enigmatic Doctor Nine, so that was an unpredictable factor. If You Hu weren’t Doctor Nine or she didn’t know it, then with the Southern Qi northern poison in her veins, surviving the night would prompt her to seek out the Linglong Pavilion—whether for help or to find Doctor Nine, her first priority would be to do whatever it took to save her life.

That was precisely the outcome Gu Min wanted. Moreover, Gu Zhong knew she had ties to the Linglong Pavilion; she had never avoided going there in the past.

To detoxify, she’d have to rely on the Pavilion to find the antidote.

When this realization dawned, her mind cleared as if lit by bright sunlight. The barbarian tribes were uncivilized and cruel; she was certain Gu Min had suffered greatly at Duogula’s hands. For Duogula to travel alone with Gu Min to Dayin, unafraid of the Gu family or Gu Min turning on her, she must be holding something over him—a threat substantial enough to keep him in check.

Given her poisoning, she could boldly deduce that Gu Min was also poisoned.

Hence, his roundabout schemes were meant to prompt her to seek an antidote, so he could benefit. Any move he made, Duogula would surely notice.

When Old Ma entered, she heard Gu Fei’s cold, mocking laughter. She brought a large basin of hot water to the bedside, moved the lamp closer, and said, “Gu Fei, are you all right? Let me help you up and wipe you down, lest you catch a chill.”

Gu Fei agreed. Feeling a bit stronger, she sat up herself, letting Old Ma wipe her down, then had her hair roughly pinned up.

Once tidied, Gu Fei looked lazy and relaxed. She had Old Ma carry her to the wheelchair, then wheeled herself out of the room. As expected, she found You Hu under the eaves, arms crossed, leaning against a pillar, gazing at the bright moon in the dark sky.

Hearing the commotion, he turned to see Gu Fei’s serene, water-like features. She’d thrown on a robe, her hair messily pinned, stray strands framing her face. Seeing Gu Fei like this, You Hu couldn’t help recalling how he’d stripped off her clothes earlier, her obedient demeanor stirring his heart.

His brow twitched imperceptibly, and he quickly concealed the flicker in his phoenix-like eyes. “That’s the Blue Enchantress, a flower the people of Southern Qi loathe,” he said.

He then explained the flower’s poison, concluding, “The antidote is neither easy nor difficult to find.”

Gu Fei remained silent, listening intently.

“The poison was concocted by the barbarians, who excel at such things. Each has their own methods, so every poison is unique. That’s the challenge. Fortunately, Duogula won’t be leaving the Gu family anytime soon, and she’s immune to this poison, so we can use her to develop an antidote. That’s the easier part.”

When discussing medicine and toxins, You Hu’s handsome face shone with confidence; this was his expertise.

“This poison should not be cured yet,” Gu Fei mused after a moment, rubbing the armrest, her gaze calculating. “Gu Min wants to use me as his weapon—I want to see who ends up using whom.”

Hearing this, You Hu knew she had her own plans. “It’s fine to wait, but if Duogula leaves or dies, there’ll be no way to cure you.”

“Miss, perhaps I should secretly obtain the antidote from the barbarian now,” Old Ma suggested.

Gu Fei considered—it was too risky to gamble with her life, and not worth it. “In that case, why not subdue Duogula directly? I’ll cut off Gu Min’s escape route.”

You Hu lowered his hand, utterly unconcerned. “No problem. She likes poisons? I’ll fight poison with poison.”

The plan settled, Gu Fei reviewed everything from start to finish. “Later, light all the lanterns in this courtyard. At dawn, prepare a carriage to take me to the Linglong Pavilion. Release word that whoever finds Doctor Nine will be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver.”

Hearing this, You Hu instantly understood her intentions. She was setting a trap for Gu Min—first giving him hope, then snatching it away, crushing him from within. That was the most agonizing defeat.

He laughed, rubbing his lips with his thumb in amusement. “A hundred taels—so that’s what I’m worth in your eyes? Perhaps I should reveal myself and claim the reward.”

Gu Fei shot him a glare. With everything settled, exhaustion overwhelmed her—her earlier ordeal had drained her, and now her head felt heavy with sleepiness.

“Miss, let me help you rest,” Old Ma said gently, pushing Gu Fei back to her room, settling her in bed, drawing the sky-blue mosquito net, and quietly leaving.

You Hu hadn’t left yet. Without turning, he said, “Let’s do it now—bring back a vial of blood from the barbarian, and then—”

“If she dares make me her manservant, losing a finger is a small price to pay,” You Hu’s voice was now low and cold, carrying the chill of a thousand winters, utterly different from the gentle tone he’d used with Gu Fei. “Take the Heartbreaker with you.”

Old Ma looked up in surprise, then replied, “Yes, Young Master.”

You Hu waved her off to hurry, but as his hand dropped, he suddenly remembered it had caressed someone’s enticing lips and tongue. He paused, his lips curving into a rakish smile, glanced at Gu Fei’s door, and laughed silently.