A strange woman appeared in the palace hall.
The suspicious nature that Gu Hanxun had developed over the years didn't flare up at this moment.
On the contrary.
At the sight of her.
He inexplicably felt at ease.
"You're here."
Even though it was only their second meeting, they seemed like old friends.
"How's your injury?"
"Much better."
Ever since Zhao Shuning entered the hall, she had always sensed a faint smell of medicine lingering.
Out of an alchemist's alertness, she immediately began to pay attention to its source.
The closer she got to Gu Hanxun, the more distinct the smell became.
Zhao Shuning leaned towards Gu Hanxun.
She stopped when she was only an inch away from his lips.
Gu Hanxun froze on the spot, his hands tightly gripping the wheelchair he was sitting on.
Zhao Shuning took a light sniff.
Then, as if suddenly enlightened, she withdrew.
It was only then that Gu Hanxun's heart settled down.
"Don't take this pill anymore in the future. The cost outweighs the gain."
"Hmm?"
"I'll prepare medicine for you from now on."
Gu Hanxun's eyes took on a meaningful look.
"Do you know what pill I'm taking?"
"Not only do I know what pill you're taking, but I also know what poison you've been poisoned with. The queen consort wants to harm you without even caring about your identity as a prince of the Cangwu Kingdom. She's so blatant. Don't you hate her?"
"She's my mother. As her son, I can only respect and love her. How dare I talk about 'hate'?"
Zhao Shuning straightened up.
She looked into Gu Hanxun's eyes.
Gu Hanxun felt as if this girl could see right through him.
"What? Am I wrong?"
"It's not that you're wrong. I'm just a stranger to you now, so it's natural for you to be cautious."
Gu Hanxun's expression improved a lot.
"You mean to say that I'm lying to you?"
"Whether Prince Er has lied to me or not is unimportant. Anyway, don't forget what you promised me that day in the Chenhuang Hall."
Gu Hanxun's face suddenly became extremely serious.
"Is it true or false what you said, that there's a chance for my legs to recover?"
"I have a 30% chance of success."
"That's enough."
Gu Hanxun let out a sigh of relief.
He looked at Zhao Shuning and said, "Do you know? Over the years, you're the first person to tell me that there's still hope for my legs to stand up. Even a 30% chance is enough."
"What if I'm just joking with you?"
"Would you joke with me?"
Gu Hanxun looked up at Zhao Shuning seriously.
Zhao Shuning thought it was really funny.
This man could tell the lie about respecting the queen consort without batting an eyelid just a moment ago, but in the next instant, he could look at her with such a serious expression.
Moreover, with this question of his, Zhao Shuning didn't know how to make up lies to him.
She turned around.
Avoiding Gu Hanxun's gaze.
"I have no reason to lie to you."
Gu Hanxun smiled.
That laugh made Zhao Shuning wonder if there was some other meaning hidden in her serious words.
"I, Gu Hanxun, am very glad to meet you."
Zhao Shuning turned back.
"I know you're Gu Hanxun."
"But I don't know your name."
"You can just call me Ningning."
Ningning?
It was a very common and simple name.
"Come here for a moment."
Zhao Shuning walked over. Gu Hanxun reached out his hand and was about to lift the veil on Zhao Shuning's face.
"What are you doing?"
Gu Hanxun was in a great mood and laughed, "Actually, you don't need to be so on guard against me. I've basically guessed who you are."
Zhao Shuning naturally didn't believe him.
"Then Prince Er might as well tell me."
"The laundry department."
Zhao Shuning's heart skipped a beat and she took a step back.
"Did I guess right?"
Zhao Shuning looked up at Gu Hanxun.
"You're joking with me?"
"Just like you joked with Miss Jin this afternoon, right?"
"You were there at that time?"
Zhao Shuning shook her head regretfully. She had been so smart for so long, but how could she have made such a mistake?
"Since I know who you are, you don't need to talk to me through a veil anymore."
Zhao Shuning took off her veil.
Her fair and extremely beautiful face was revealed.
"It's a pity." It was a pity about that peach blossom mark.
Zhao Shuning didn't really care.
"What a pity. I think this peach blossom is in full bloom and looks the most beautiful at this time."
Gu Hanxun put aside his pride.
He said to Zhao Shuning, "Speak."
"Speak about what?"
"Why did you take the risk of offending the queen consort to help me at the memorial ceremony?"
Zhao Shuning said, "It's just a matter of mutual benefit."
"I can probably guess what you want."
Zhao Shuning became interested. She hadn't said anything, so how did he know?
"Then tell me and see what it is that I want."
Gu Hanxun looked into Zhao Shuning's eyes and said, "Do you really want me to say it?"
"Why can't I say it?"
Gu Hanxun let out a soft laugh.
She was really an unusual woman.
"You want to become the imperial concubine of my Chengxun Hall, right?"
Zhao Shuning was stunned.
What? Where did she go wrong in her behavior before that made Gu Hanxun think this way about her?
Seeing Zhao Shuning's surprised expression, Gu Hanxun also frowned slightly and said, "Did I say something wrong?"
Zhao Shuning came back to her senses.
Looking at Gu Hanxun, she laughed and said, "Prince Er, you're good-looking, but you're not my type."
Hearing the woman's blatant rejection, it would be a lie to say that Gu Hanxun wasn't shocked.
Not long after.
He lowered his head and looked at his legs and said, "Is it because of them?"
Zhao Shuning naturally understood what Gu Hanxun meant and quickly said, "Of course not. I've said that there's a possibility of curing your legs."
"If the status and power of the imperial concubine can't attract you, then I really can't think of anything else here that you might want."
Zhao Shuning lowered her eyes.
"I want to know if your teacher is Ye Feng of the Qianji Kill."
Gu Hanxun raised his eyes.
"Are you also from the Qianji Kill?"
"I'm not."
"Then why?"
"Prince Er, everyone has their own secrets. We don't need to explain everything to each other so clearly. You just need to know that as long as you don't harm me, I'll never take action against you."
Looking at the woman clearly drawing a line with him like this, Gu Hanxun didn't know whether he should be happy or sad.
"You really see things clearly."
"Prince Er, I want to know how Ye Feng disappeared and where he went."
"How can you be so sure that I know?"
Zhao Shuning turned the teacup beside her in a different direction.
"Because, Prince Er, you're not an ordinary person."
He had the ability to rival a seven - realm spiritual pharmacist, and he had cultivated to such a level even with his disabled legs. At the memorial ceremony, he could have erupted and used his power to make the queen consort pay the price, but he didn't.
A seven - realm spiritual pharmacist who could endure such humiliation couldn't be an ordinary person.
"Oh?"
"If I'm not mistaken, you're a seven - realm spiritual pharmacist, right?"
Gu Hanxun looked up in astonishment. At this moment, his eyes were filled with caution.