Exile at the start? The princess is no ordinary woman.

But she couldn't just stand by and watch her little lamb get sick, so she started examining it from a medical perspective. Whether it's treating people or sheep, it's still medicine.

"What's wrong, Nan Nan?"

Gu Nanzhi didn't see anything wrong, but fortunately, her gaze fell on a leaf in the hay, which helped her determine the problem with the sheep.

"The sheep got poisoned after eating the poisonous leaves,"

Gu Nanzhi found castor bean leaves in the fodder. This shouldn't be the case. We've been feeding them these for so long without any problems. Why did Uncle Li, Zhou Cai, and Cang Ling suddenly pick these leaves and feed them to the sheep?

Luckily, there weren't many pieces left, so it seems only these two got to eat them...

"Madam, Master, what has happened?"

Hearing the commotion, Cang Ling also came to the outside of the sheepfold.

"Cangling, please help clear out all this fodder; there are poisonous leaves in it,"

Gu Nanzhi gave the order, then went through the corridor back to her room, took out some herbs from her spatial storage, and handed them to Bai Zang.

"Take it to boil water."

"Yes, Master"

Now everyone knew that something had happened to some of their sheep. These people, who had never worried about such trivial matters before, were now anxious about just two sheep.

Granny Xu and He Xin'er were somewhat alarmed. Today, Steward Li had asked them to cut grass to feed the sheep, but how come the sheep were poisoned?

they......

Gu Nanzhi didn't rush to ask. Instead, she busied herself having Bai Zang brew the medicine, and then directed Cang Ling and the others to administer it to the two poisoned sheep. Only after observing that the sheep had stopped rolling around in pain did she feel relieved.

Fortunately, he didn't eat much, so he could still be saved; otherwise, he wouldn't have survived.

Even though it's a sheep, it's still part of the family, and we rely on it for milk. It would be such a waste if it died...

The sheep were saved.

Gu Nanzhi then took out castor bean leaves and showed them to everyone.

"This is called castor bean leaf. The seeds and leaves of this plant are all poisonous. It will poison both humans and animals if they eat it. Uncle Li, Zhou Cai, please be careful in the future."

The group carefully memorized the creature's appearance, determined to avoid it next time. Butler Li didn't deny that they hadn't prepared the fodder today, but humbly noted it down.

"Yes, Madam, I understand."

Gu Nanzhi was simply reminding everyone not to accidentally eat it in the future.

But who would have thought that at this moment, Granny Xu and He Xin'er would take the initiative to stand up and admit it?

“Your Highness, the fodder today was prepared by this old servant and Xin’er. This old servant and Xin’er have never done this before and did not know that these leaves were poisonous. Please punish us, Your Highness and Your Highness.”

"Please punish me, Your Highness and Princess,"

Gu Nanzhi: ? ? ? ? ? ?

What's going on? She's already being punished? She didn't say anything, wasn't she just giving everyone a heads-up?

The others remained silent.

Gu Nanzhi looked at Jun Yanchen and asked, "What's wrong with your people?"

Jun Yanchen indeed didn't even glance at the people from that place.

Helpless, Gu Nanzhi could only speak up.

"It's okay, just remember next time,"

"Thank you, Your Highness and Your Highness."

"Thank you, Your Highness and Your Highness."

The two thanked him and stood up.

Gu Nanzhi really couldn't understand these two; they were utterly inexplicable. She was too lazy to bother with them.

At this moment, Jun Yanchen spoke up, but he addressed Huai Xu directly.

"Huai Xu, we will depart tomorrow,"

Huai Xu was filled with bitterness, but he had nowhere to confide in. He had made a grave mistake by coming here. All he could do was bow and pay his respects to Jun Yanchen.

"Yes, Master,"

"Your Majesty..."

Granny Xu and He Xin'er were also shocked and quickly tried to beg for mercy. They wanted to stay; they had clearly said they would leave the day after tomorrow, so why were they suddenly leaving tomorrow?

Then they had no chance to fight for it. They didn't do it on purpose; they genuinely didn't know, and that's why...

Besides, they were just two sheep...

Just as they were about to plead for mercy, Gu Nanzhi also spoke up.

"Hey, wait, wait! What's the rush? Why don't you leave the day after tomorrow?"

Gu Nanzhi had no idea what had happened while she was away; she had only just said she was leaving the day after tomorrow, so why was she suddenly leaving tomorrow?

Jun Yanchen was surprised that Gu Nanzhi would also organize such an event.

"Nan Nan, what's wrong? Do you need to see him?"

"It's alright. I'm just planning to make a delicious dish tomorrow. Since Huai Xu is already here, he can taste it before leaving. What do you think?"

We'll have to get a share of the money from Huai Xu eventually, since the previous agreement was already signed. We need to make sure people get to eat hot pot once in a while, because they won't be able to eat it if they go out.

The dish was to be prepared and Huai Xu was to be tasted. Although Jun Yanchen felt somewhat uncomfortable, he still agreed.

"Okay, the day after tomorrow,"

Do you agree?

As expected, it's the lady's words that carry weight; from now on, he'll have to follow her lead.

"Thank you, Madam Xie. Thank you, Master."

Just as Huai Xu was feeling fortunate and admiring his mistress, he inexplicably felt that his master's gaze seemed a little cold. Impossible, it must be his imagination, since his master had already agreed.

Neither Granny Xu nor He Xin'er expected that a single sentence from Gu Nanzhi, and such a seemingly insignificant one at that, would change Jun Yanchen's decision.

This is unprecedented. Jun Yanchen has never changed his mind about what he said because of others; he always keeps his word...

The two were forced to reassess Gu Nanzhi's influence on Jun Yanchen, and at the same time changed their strategy, hoping that staying might allow them to gain a breakthrough from Gu Nanzhi...

"Uncle Li, Xia He, is dinner ready?"

The matter is resolved; it's time to eat.

During the meal, He Xin'er felt resentful again. It was one thing for a country bumpkin not to serve the prince, but to expect him to serve her food—she had no manners whatsoever...

After dinner, Gu Nanzhi called for Butler Li.

"Uncle Li, tomorrow take Shuyi to Sun's butcher shop in the East Market to pick up some things. I've ordered some fresh beef, and also take this recipe to the pharmacy and buy everything on it, buy a lot."

Nowadays, spices like cinnamon and star anise are considered medicinal herbs, so you can only buy them from pharmacies.

"Yes, ma'am"

Butler Li didn't know what those things were for, but he just had to do as his wife instructed.

------

The next day, when it was almost time, Steward Li and Ren Shuyi set off in the carriage, as Gu Nanzhi had instructed, and with Ren Shuyi leading the way.

After successfully obtaining the various cuts of beef that Gu Nanzhi had ordered from Sun's butcher shop the day before,

Butler Li didn't know how Madam intended to cook these things. Neither did he nor Ren Shuyi.

The two could only obediently follow instructions and take the necessary items back; they would find out later.

Gu Nanzhi didn't do much when she woke up that morning. Thinking it was almost time, she instructed Zhou Cai to prepare containers and other things so they could hold their things when they returned.

"Miss, we're back. We've brought everything you requested."