Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

Yun Chu thought about it and realized he was right. If it weren't for the treasure map, Gu Ruoxiao wouldn't have saved her. After all, he was a good person; even if they were just casual acquaintances, he would still help her because of the treasure map. She shouldn't be so delusional. People who lack self-awareness are indeed annoying to others, just like she had been in the past.

Yun Chu was just that kind of person—extremely insecure, even feeling incredibly inferior and lacking confidence in front of the person she liked. She could be incredibly confident in the business world, but utterly subservient in matters of the heart. Forget it, stop thinking about it. Just treat them as ordinary friends, she thought.

About half an hour later, Mo Han returned with a package. She spread the package out in front of Yun Chu and said, "When I went there, the maid was brewing the medicine again. After she finished brewing it, she buried the dregs under the bushes on the east side, and then she took the medicine into the forbidden area of ​​the back mountain."

"The forbidden area in the back mountain? The guards didn't say anything?" Yun Chu frowned.

Mo Han shook his head. "The guards let her in as soon as they saw she was carrying medicine. Perhaps she goes there often?"

Yun Chu didn't answer. She pulled out the hairpin from her hair and carefully examined it in the dregs under the lamplight. Seeing that the silver hairpin hadn't changed color, Mo Han couldn't help but ask, "Is there any poison in this?"

Yun Chu's heart trembled. Just as she expected, how could she not recognize these medicinal herbs? After all, these were things she had unintentionally drunk so many times before. She put down the hairpin, a hint of anger flashing in her eyes, and said, "This is not poison, it is a contraceptive soup, and the dosage is extremely high."

"But there aren't any women in the manor. Could it be maids?" Mo Han asked, puzzled.

"The answer must lie in the back mountain," Yun Chu concluded. But should she get involved? What did the rise and fall of a mountain village have to do with her? If the problem was in the back mountain, then Wang Xiang, who had lived there for so long, must also be involved. Perhaps the robbery that Murong Yu and the others encountered was also related to this. Could Shen Yuezhen and the others be safe? Just because Shen Yuezhen had befriended her without any suspicion, she couldn't just stand by and watch them die. A series of questions swirled in Yun Chu's mind. As she pondered, the matter became increasingly complicated.

Never mind, I'll wait for Gu Ruoxiao to come back and discuss it with him. After all, I have no martial arts skills, and it's difficult to accomplish anything great on my own.

Yun Chu looked outside, and perhaps guessing her young mistress's thoughts, Mo Han said, "When I came in just now, I asked Chi Wu, and he said that Master is still drinking with them in the front yard, and the banquet has not ended."

Yun Chu nodded. She looked around and thankfully, besides a bed, there was also a bamboo couch, just long enough for her to sleep on. "That's good," she thought, "at least it won't be a problem later."

It was already past midnight, and Yun Chu was already feeling drowsy sitting at the table.

A voice came from the gate of the garden, "Madam Xiao, Madam Xiao, Young Master Xiao has drunk too much, please come quickly."

Yun Chu got up and walked to the door. Hong Bo was carrying the drunk Gu Ruoxiao in with Cheng Feng. Hong Bo put Gu Ruoxiao on Yun Chu, and Gu Ruoxiao pressed down on Yun Chu. Yun Chu quickly supported her. Gu Ruoxiao was indeed covered in alcohol. How much had she drunk? Yun Chu couldn't help but frown.

"Everyone was in high spirits today and had a few too many drinks. I hope you'll forgive us, Madam. Please keep an eye on things for now, and I'll send someone to bring some hangover soup shortly," Hongbo said hurriedly, before taking his leave.

While supporting Gu Ruoxiao, Yun Chu looked at Chengfeng and couldn't help but scold, "Is this all your master can drink? Why are you still drinking if you can't handle it?"

Chengfeng silently took a step back and, while doing so, pulled Mohan to close the door.

Helpless, Yun Chu could only help Gu Ruoxiao to the bedside. As soon as he reached the bed, he collapsed and lost consciousness. Yun Chu walked helplessly to the basin, grabbed a towel, wet it, and planned to wipe him down briefly, otherwise he would be covered in a sticky smell of alcohol.

Yun Chu climbed onto the bed and knelt down, leaning over to look at Gu Ruoxiao, who was lying on the bed with her eyes closed.

Yun Chu carefully wiped his face with a towel. His skin was as white as jade, and his eyebrows were long and thick, like distant mountains shrouded in mist, now slightly furrowed, as if there were some unsolved mystery in his dream. His eyes, beneath his brows, were closed, yet they were deep and clear, capable of seeing through everything. Next was his straight and elegant nose, with smooth lines that added a touch of heroism and three-dimensionality to his face. The corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, and his lips were a little red, perhaps because he had been drinking.

Yun Chu was momentarily lost in thought. She looked up and inadvertently met Gu Ruoxiao's eyes, which he had opened at some point. The next second, Yun Chu raised her hand and placed it on Gu Ruoxiao's eyes. She could even feel his long eyelashes brushing against her palm.

Yun Chu got up and covered Gu Ruoxiao's face with a towel. "Wipe yourself when you're awake." After saying that, she sat back down at the table as if she had fled in panic, poured herself a glass of water and drank it, as if to calm her nerves.

Gu Ruoxiao silently curved the corners of her mouth and sat up to wipe her face.

Hongbo's voice came from outside, "Madam Xiao, I've brought some hangover soup."

"Give it to me," said Chiwu, who was guarding outside the door, as he hurriedly took it.

Yun Chu turned to look at Gu Ruoxiao, who had slumped back onto the bed. Yun Chu shook her head. "Bring him in."

The door was pushed open, and Chiwu came in carrying a hangover soup. Hongbo stood outside the door, looking around and calling out, "If you need anything, just let me know."

"Thank you very much, Uncle Hong," Yun Chu returned the greeting.

The door closed again, and Gu Ruoxiao sat up. As he wiped his face, he said, "That Wang Xiang is not simple."

“How come you see?”

“From the moment we entered, someone was secretly monitoring us and Murong Yu. Today, he even drugged Murong Yu’s wine, but I switched it.”

"poison?"

Gu Ruoxiao shook her head. "It should be a drug that triggers acute illness. I feel like he wants them to leave this place."

"You suspect that he is involved in the robbery they encountered?"

Gu Ruoxiao looked at Yun Chu to indicate her agreement.

"Do you know him?" Gu Ruoxiao asked.

Yun Chu shook her head. "I don't know him. I just felt uncomfortable with the way he looked at me."

“Then next time I’m not around, don’t see him alone,” Gu Ruoxiao said.

Yun Chu was silent for a moment, then asked, "Since things didn't go as planned today, will he target Murong Yu and the others? Is Shen Yue really in danger?"

"I don't know, but if Murong Yu can't protect Shen Yuezhen, then I've overestimated him."

"what for?"

"The bead that Shen Yuezhen carries is a poison-avoiding bead, a treasure of a prominent family in the canal transport industry. I was puzzled when I first saw it, but after hearing about his background, I understand. The poison-avoiding bead can ward off all poisons, but unfortunately, it can only ward them off, not cure them," Gu Ruoxiao sighed.

"How did you know?"

Gu Ruoxiao did not answer. He got up and walked to the basin to wash his hands.

Was it because of her poison? For the first time, Yun Chu felt that Gu Ruoxiao had gone too far compared to a simple friend, but she was afraid that she was deceiving herself, and a strange feeling welled up in her heart.