Zhao Shuning gazed at the extremely cold and elegant Xuanshuang Flower.
She carefully wrapped it with her spiritual power, plucked it, and then put it into her Qiankun Pouch.
"Sigh—"
She let out a long breath.
Zhao Shuning slowly got up.
Previously, while using her inner energy, her body hadn't maintained a single posture for so long. Now, when she suddenly moved, she almost couldn't catch her breath.
Fortunately, though, she had finally obtained the Xuanshuang Flower.
However, the toxicity that had been barely suppressed by Buran was now quietly creeping back into Zhao Shuning's heart.
Her chest began to feel stuffy again.
Zhao Shuning could sense that because she had transferred the Xuanshuang Flower into her body without permission, the hard - won balance seemed to have been disrupted in an instant.
If this continued,
it was even questionable whether she could live for another month.
Looking at the bed, Gu Hanxun was now slowly regaining his color.
A ninth - rank alchemist was truly extraordinary.
At least at this crucial moment, she could do her best to save Gu Hanxun's life.
"Shadow—"
"Deputy Envoy Qi—"
Zhao Shuning called out a few times towards the door.
Not long after,
Shadow led his men in. Qi Yue wasn't there.
When entering the innermost chamber and seeing Gu Hanxun on the icy jade bed, Shadow was also stunned.
"Your Majesty, he?"
"He still needs some time to recover, but there should be no major problem. Help him out first."
"Thank you, Madam."
Shadow's attitude towards Zhao Shuning suddenly became solemn. He led the guards and knelt in front of Zhao Shuning all at once, full of piety.
Zhao Shuning didn't have the energy to care about their address now. She simply said, "Send Gu Hanxun back to the dragon bed first. It's best to find an imperial physician to examine him."
"Okay."
Shadow stepped forward and carried Gu Hanxun.
Then Zhao Shuning nodded.
The group then left the chamber together.
Due to being too tired, Zhao Shuning also needed to rest for a while, so she didn't leave the Cangwu Kingdom immediately. Coincidentally, there was a noble concubine's couch in Gu Hanxun's bedroom.
Zhao Shuning naturally lay on it,
planning to rest for a while.
Shadow came over.
Zhao Shuning sat up slightly.
Without saying a word, Shadow knelt on both knees.
"Madam, I was rude to you before. Please be magnanimous and don't bother with a small person like me."
"Shadow, I don't have the strength to help you up now. Get up by yourself. Kneeling at every turn doesn't suit you."
"I've only knelt before my master and you."
As he said this, Shadow's eyes even turned red.
Zhao Shuning wondered how much good fortune Gu Hanxun had accumulated in his previous lives to have such a loyal subordinate.
Although she had only been with them for a short time, Zhao Shuning could see Shadow's loyalty to Gu Hanxun.
He was different from Qi Yue. Although Qi Yue obeyed Gu Hanxun, there was still ambition in her heart.
"Madam, was it you who saved the master?"
"It's not really saving. I wanted the Xuanshuang Flower. I just asked him to find it for me. I didn't expect him to risk his life for it."
"Madam, the master is truly in love with you."
"But there's really no fate between him and me."
Shadow got up.
He could see clearly now. If the woman in front of him really had feelings for the master, her every word wouldn't be so distant.
Shadow said, "The master is still unconscious. Madam, you should lie down and rest. If you're bored, I can stand outside the door and talk to you to relieve your fatigue."
Zhao Shuning smiled.
She lay back down.
She was fully conscious but couldn't fall asleep.
Lying down was better than walking around.
"Shadow, does your master have a sweetheart?"
Shadow was stunned outside for a while, then replied, "Madam, are you asking me?"
Zhao Shuning nodded. Then, remembering that Shadow couldn't see, she replied with a yes.
Shadow quickly replied, "Madam, since you left, the master has searched for many women. Many of those women look somewhat like you. He would invite them into the palace, examine them carefully all night, and then send them back intact the next day."
Zhao Shuning asked, "What about Concubine Dowager Xiao? Hasn't she urged Gu Hanxun?"
"The Concubine Dowager has certainly urged him. But Madam, you know the master's temper. He never really listens to the Concubine Dowager. If it weren't for the favor the Concubine Dowager did you by bringing you from the Xinzheku to the Chengxun Hall last time, I'm afraid mother and son wouldn't even say a word to each other now."
Zhao Shuning closed her eyes to rest.
She had a bit of understanding of the mother - son feud between Concubine Dowager Xiao and Gu Hanxun.
Now, she just hoped that Concubine Dowager Xiao could listen to her previous advice and reconcile with Gu Hanxun as soon as possible.
"How old is Gu Hanxun this year?"
"He's thirty - two."
"It's time for him to get married and start a family. Shadow, if you have time in the future, talk to your master about this more. Or, you can take him to see more children. Children are innocent and carefree. He'll surely like them."
Shadow replied, "Madam, actually, the master really likes children. Once, he was drunk. I was with him and heard him say that he always hoped to have a daughter and name her Gu Zhiruo. If it were a boy, he'd let it be."
Zhao Shuning was stunned.
Then she remembered that according to historical records, for eight generations, the Gu royal family had only had single male heirs and no daughters.
She replied, "I'm afraid your master's wish will be in vain. What if he only has sons and no daughters in the future?"
Shadow was stunned for a while, then let out a soft laugh.
Zhao Shuning asked, "What's so funny?"
"At that time, since the master was drunk, maybe I was bold enough to ask him this question."
"Really? What did your master say?"
"The King said that if he really only had sons in the future and there were never any daughters in the Gu family, then starting from the ninth generation, no matter whether it was a boy or a girl, one of the sons would be named Gu Zhiruo."
The ninth generation.
Gu Zhiruo.
Zhao Shuning seemed to think of something and was stunned.
Then she asked, "How did your master come up with the name Zhiruo?"
"I'm not very clear about this. But I once saw two lines of words in the master's room. It said, 'In a room of orchids, undisturbed.' Maybe it's related to this."
"In a room of orchids, undisturbed."
She seemed to have mentioned this to Gu Hanxun once.
It seemed to be fate.
Five hundred years later, there was really a second son in the Gu royal family. That second son had quite a few troubles. Fortunately, she passed by that place at that time and saved him.
Later, she found out that the child was Gu Zhiruo.
It really seemed to be fate. Five hundred years later, she still had such an encounter with Gu Hanxun's descendant.
Zhao Shuning closed her eyes.
"Shadow, don't worry. Your master will surely find a good wife in the future."
Moreover, he would also have his own children.
In the Gu royal family, until the ninth generation, the power was still in the hands of the Gu family.