Su Mingyu had just let out a startled cry when she quickly covered her own mouth tightly.
She only felt a warm current pass by her back, and the previous dull pain gradually subsided.
Seeing her furrowed brows relax, Gu Ruobai withdrew his hand. "Apply this medicine for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, then have someone wipe it off with warm water for you. When it's used up, send someone to my mansion to get more."
Su Mingyu pursed her lips and felt around. Sure enough, the tightness on her back was gone.
She looked up and saw Gu Ruobai's handsome face, cold yet full of fortitude.
In the sunlight, his tough outline softened a bit, making him incredibly good - looking and captivating.
Su Mingyu was momentarily dazed. By the time she came to her senses, Gu Ruobai had already put down the medicine jar and wheeled his wheelchair to the door.
Su Mingyu pouted and buried her head in the pillow. "Don't expect me to see you off."
Seeing the girl being so awkward, Gu Ruobai curled his lips and closed the door. Then he was led out of the Su Mansion by his guards.
...
Perhaps Gu Ruobai's medicine was especially effective. The terrifying wounds on Su Mingyu's back healed within a few days.
As for Su Yueyue, for some unknown reason, her wounds not only failed to heal for a long time but even showed signs of rotting and turning red.
Moreover, some young lady retold the incident between Su Yueyue and Wang Chuanjun at the King Yu's birthday party in great detail and with embellishments.
Wang Chuanjun was described as a passionate and good - hearted man.
And Su Yueyue became a heartless woman who was desperate to marry into the royal family.
All of a sudden, men and women in the entire capital city united in their dislike of this second young lady of the Su family.
So much so that all the herbal medicine farmers who knew they were selling to the second young lady of the Su family all raised the prices of their medicinal herbs without prior agreement.
Hearing Zhizhu talking with such enthusiasm that her eyes seemed to glow green, Su Mingyu shook her head helplessly.
"Don't always go around inquiring about things in the main courtyard. Otherwise, people might say that it's you who's been causing Su Yueyue's wounds not to heal."
Zhizhu pouted indifferently. "I've never been to the main courtyard, and I've never touched anything in the pharmacy. There's no way they can blame it on me."
However, Zhizhu looked at Su Mingyu, who was dressed in men's clothing, suspiciously. "Miss, why are you dressed like this? Where are you going?"
Su Mingyu gave a mysterious smile. "I'm going to send a thank - you gift. You stay in the yard obediently and don't wander around."
Watching Su Mingyu's brisk back, Zhizhu frowned tightly. "Miss... has she ever owed anyone a favor?"
...
Inside the Prince Ruixian's Mansion.
Mu Yi stared at the small figure in front of him in astonishment.
And at his master opposite her, who was smiling triumphantly.
When had he ever seen his master smile so heartily?
Who on earth was this Su Mingyu?
Su Mingyu casually threw a stack of blueprints in front of Gu Ruobai and got straight to the point. "You should be able to understand these. I'm giving them to you as compensation for the medicine."
Gu Ruobai pretended to be confused. "What would a useless person like me do with so many weapon blueprints?"
He lifted the teacup and took a small sip, then said slowly, "Moreover, no one has ever even seen the things drawn on these, let alone built them."
Su Mingyu knew he would say this.
She wasn't angry. "About a month ago, I sent something to be made at the 'Yiyang Iron Shop' in the east of the city. It should have been ready in half a month, but the shopkeeper didn't inform me to pick it up until recently."
As she spoke, Su Mingyu took out a long - handled object from behind and opened it in front of Gu Ruobai. "I threatened the shopkeeper a little, and he told me everything."
She touched the smooth barrel of the blunderbuss and didn't hold back.
Her eyes suddenly turned sharp. With a quick glance from the corner of her eye, she lifted her hand and pulled the trigger of the blunderbuss.
With a "bang", the bird on the tree in the inner courtyard was accurately shot down by Su Mingyu.
Su Mingyu neatly put away the blunderbuss, squinted her eyes, and smiled. "I think Prince Ruixian will like it, right?"
Raising an eyebrow, Su Mingyu sat with her legs crossed opposite Gu Ruobai. "I'm willing to tell you about these blueprints and the manufacturing methods."
Gu Ruobai was stunned at first, then grinned and burst into laughter.
He had been right.
As soon as his informant discovered this thing in 'Yiyang', he had a hunch that it was no ordinary item.
So when he learned that it was sent by a young girl, he went to the Su Mansion on the pretext of investigating a case.
Although he had prepared himself for the girl to be extraordinary.
He was still somewhat amazed when he saw the thin girl use just a few words to outmaneuver Su Yueyue.
That was why he later took the risk of being discovered to deliver the medicine to her.
Gu Ruobai just didn't expect that this girl was so sensitive and decisive.
She just gave away such an important thing so readily and so calmly.
Curling his lips, a glint of interest flashed in the depths of Gu Ruobai's dark eyes. "One should not bite the hand that feeds. So, what are your conditions?"
Su Mingyu squinted and smiled. "Protect me."
"I don't think those people in the Su Mansion have the ability to threaten you."
Su Mingyu rolled her eyes mentally. Didn't he see that she had been beaten up so badly by Wang Manwen and Su Yueyue? How could it not be a threat?
But Su Mingyu was too lazy to explain to him. "If you know about this thing, others can too, especially when I need to use it in the future."
Her fingers tapped the barrel of the blunderbuss, making dull sounds.
Su Mingyu looked up seriously at Gu Ruobai. "Its appearance can change the world. There must be many people who want it."
"So, you need a backer who can help you hide and prevent you from being discovered and exploited?" Gu Ruobai's words were more of a statement than a question.
He looked up at Su Mingyu. "Why did you choose me? Everyone in the capital knows that I'm a cripple with useless legs."
Su Mingyu made a fist and, under Gu Ruobai's puzzled gaze, directly knocked on his knee.
Gu Ruobai's leg, which was supposed to be disabled and immobile, kicked out in an arc the moment Su Mingyu knocked on it.
Su Mingyu squinted, smiling like a sly fox. "This is called the knee - jerk reflex. A person with leg problems as severe as yours would never have such a reaction."