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

The others were already used to it, because the lady had thrown something similar into the fire while they rested the night before, saying it would repel insects and snakes.

Moreover, I slept very well last night after resting in the wild, and I didn't get bitten by any insects.

Having a wife who understands pharmacology has made their life in exile much more comfortable. Last night, they were not bitten by insects, but they saw that other people had been bitten and had red and swollen faces.

However, while the group was relieved, they were unaware that Gu Nanzhi had added something extra tonight, something they didn't understand and therefore couldn't tell.

After all this was done, the entire camp was quiet, with only faint snores that could be heard.

Gu Nanzhi closed her eyes as well. Sleep, everyone, sleep. She still had things to do!

As she drifted off to sleep, Gu Nanzhi noticed a slight movement coming from Jun Yanchen's direction not far away, but they were speaking so softly that she couldn't hear them.

However, she wasn't particularly curious about it; after all, it was their secret, and it was best not to pry.

Besides, she should hurry up and get some sleep first; she still has her own secrets to carry out in the middle of the night.

"Master, you used your internal energy today, which triggered the poisoning prematurely. I will send a signal to Bai Zang to have the medicine delivered as soon as possible. Also, we need to expedite the delivery to Doctor He."

"No need," Jun Yanchen rejected Cang Ling's suggestion, his gaze falling on Gu Nanzhi not far away, as if he were deep in thought.

"Cang Ling, what do you think of the medicine Nan Nan gave us?"

Cang Ling was preoccupied with his master's safety. Seeing that his suggestion had been rejected, he was about to continue persuading his master when he unexpectedly heard the name 'Nan Nan' once again.

Madam? Medicine?

At this moment, Cang Ling focused on the medicine first, recalling the medicine his mistress had given them and the medicine used to treat their wounds. Logically, the injuries on his and his master's backs were quite severe.

However, thanks to the medicine given by the lady and the timely application of the powder she provided to his back, scabs had already formed on his back within just two days.

That medicine is even better than the wound medicine of Bai Zang and Doctor He... Cang Ling thought to herself, then seemed to have made a connection to something, and looked up at her master with a hint of uncertainty, "Master, what do you mean?"

"Um"

Jun Yanchen seemed to confirm Cang Ling's suspicions: his life was nearing its end, and the relapses would become increasingly frequent. Previously, he could only barely suppress the symptoms temporarily thanks to the medicine developed by He Mobai and Bai Zang.

However, the effect eventually wore off, but they never gave up over the years. Now they have found another method that can suppress the toxins in the body, and may even be able to detoxify them.

However, the required medicinal herbs are indeed very difficult to find, and He Mobai is currently on his way to find them.

However, as the countdown began, the reactions triggered by each episode of poisoning became increasingly severe. But this time, after waking up from the coma, his body felt a long-lost sense of relaxation, as if he had finally had a good night's sleep after a long period of suffering.

But there are still aftereffects of the poisoning. However, after taking that pill, I felt a little lighter all over. Was it a coincidence?

"After waking up today, my body feels unusually light and refreshed."

These few simple words sounded like a soliloquy, filled with a deep sense of powerlessness, and even a hint of self-abandonment.

These few simple words brought tears to the eyes of even the most stoic and unyielding man like Cang Ling. His master shouldn't be like this.

But why......

"Cang Ling, Nan Nan asked me if I wanted to live, and she's willing to help me. What do you think?"

Cang Ling's eyes showed surprise once again. What did the lady mean by that?

"Master, does Madam mean that she can cure your poison?"

Is that what she meant? Recalling her words, "Do you want to live? If you want to live, you can find her," and "Don't underestimate her," Jun Yanchen wasn't sure, nor did he know whether he should believe her.

The Nan Nan he had met these past two days was different from the Nan Nan who lived on the estate. He couldn't understand Nan Nan, but those jewel-like eyes, even though they had lost the innocence of childhood, still confirmed to him that this was the Nan Nan from his memory.

Jun Yanchen stared motionlessly at Gu Nanzhi, watching the small figure silently.

Nan Nan, I won't mistake you, but... Nan Nan, should I believe you? Could it be a coincidence?

Cangling awaited her master's reply, and after a long while, she finally received a brief reply: "Perhaps."

However, these two words still stirred up Cang Ling's thoughts and caused her some inner turmoil. In the past two days, the lady had indeed changed and hadn't done anything detrimental to them.

But after all, it's only been two days. Can he really trust her? He also clearly remembered that there was no news about the lady having any knowledge of pharmacology.

Moreover, what even the renowned physician He and Bai Zang couldn't accomplish over the years, the lady who grew up on the estate...

Cang Ling dared not have any expectations, but because neither Doctor He nor Bai Zang had been able to do it over the years, she also had a slight desire to try, just in case.

This involves the safety of his master, and there can be no room for error. If it were him, he wouldn't need to be so cautious, but his master... no, he must be careful.

"Master, the information we received earlier indicates that the Lady did not have the opportunity to access pharmacology, which is already suspicious. We must be cautious. Please allow me to send a signal to Bai Zang."

However, Jun Yanchen rejected the suggestion once again. He naturally understood what Cang Ling meant, and that's why he was also caught in a dilemma.

What has your real life been like all these years, Nan Nan?

Cang Ling was worried, but she had to obey her master's arrangements. She suppressed her desire to contact Bai Zang, and fell silent as she watched her master staring at the madam.

Cang Ling also returned to the point about how his master addressed his wife. He still couldn't understand whether his master had made a mistake.

After much hesitation, he decided to ask the question that was on his mind.

"My lord, if I may be so bold, is the lady the person depicted in your painting?"

The painting, unseen by Cang Ling in the darkness, seemed to soften the gaze of his master, Jun Yanchen, as he mentioned it.

"Yes, it's her."

Jun Yanchen was convinced it was her; he would never forget those eyes.

Although she had some suspicions, the confirmation from her master still surprised Cang Ling, and for a moment she even had other thoughts. Could this be a coincidence?

"My lord, how can you be so sure? Isn't the 'lan' in your painting the same as the 'lan' in 'orchid'? Madam, she..."

Although Cang Ling's words were incomplete, Jun Yanchen understood what he meant. Thinking of this, Jun Yanchen felt a pang of regret. If it weren't for his carelessness in misinterpreting the meaning, he wouldn't have wasted so many years searching for her.

But then she lost her memory, and she knew she didn't have long to live.

"I always thought it was an orchid, but little did I know I'd been looking in the wrong direction all along."

These words provided an explanation, and Cang Ling understood the meaning. No wonder they hadn't been able to find the person their master was looking for all these years, even with their intelligence network. It turned out that they had gone astray because of a difference of just one word.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.