Chu Qinghuang put away the book and a wicked smile curved the corners of her lips. Retrieving the medicinal herbs she had dug up yesterday from her dimensional space, she began to sort through them. Itching Powder and Diarrhea Powder were simple to make, and their ingredients were easy to find; in no time at all, she had gathered everything she needed from her bamboo back-basket.
Opening the book and taking out the necessary tools, Chu Qinghuang proceeded step by step. It took her a full half-hour to produce a single batch of Itching Powder. Looking at the white powder before her, Chu Qinghuang smiled with a beaming, crafty expression as she scooped the medicine into a small vial, then set to work making the Diarrhea Powder.
The Diarrhea Powder was slightly more difficult to make, requiring two failed attempts before she finally got it right. Clutching the two medicine vials in her palm, Chu Qinghuang wore a cunning smile as she thought to herself: I can't take your dog's life just yet, but collecting a bit of interest beforehand will keep your days from being too comfortable. Running into this grand aunt of yours is your misfortune.
Chu Qinghuang followed the direction in which they had departed the previous night. Given the late hour and the fact that they were encumbered by the pretentious Chu Nanxi, Chu Qinghuang was certain they wouldn't have gone far.
Sure enough, she had not walked even half an hour before she heard the sound of their voices. Chu Qinghuang looked up at the sky; it was already broad daylight, yet they had only just gotten out of bed after pitching tents the night before. She clicked her tongue in mockery, muttering to herself: Tsk tsk, truly the young lords and ladies of a noble clan, bringing servants along to wait on them even when out on a trial.
Watching from a distance, Chu Qinghuang saw Chu Nanxi emerge from one of the tents, attended by a maid as she headed toward a nearby pool to wash up. Chu Qinghuang curled her lip in disdain and stealthily followed Chu Nanxi to the edge of the pool.
Hiding behind a thick tree trunk, Chu Qinghuang tested the wind direction. Excellent—even the wind was on her side today. She retrieved the Itching Powder from her dimensional space and scattered it toward Chu Nanxi with the breeze.
The simpler the medicine, the faster it took effect. Chu Qinghuang waited less than a quarter of an hour before the powder began to work its magic. Fortunately, Chu Nanxi placed great importance on her appearance, lingering by the pool to groom herself for quite a while; otherwise, she wouldn't have absorbed nearly so much of the powder.
"Hupo, why is my face itching a bit? My body's itching too—come see if I've broken out in a rash."
Chu Nanxi's maid, Hupo, stepped closer to inspect her mistress's face, then her eyes widened in shock. "Oh, Miss, you've broken out in a lot of red rashes on your face! Look, you have them on your arms too. Could the water here be unclean? We should quickly rinse off with the water we brought."
"A rash, really? Oh dear, my face—what am I going to do?" Panicking, Chu Nanxi peered repeatedly at the pool's surface. The clear water reflected red spots dotting her face, and she was on the verge of tears. What if the pool water in this forest had something unclean in it and ruined her face? How could she stay by Prince Duan's side in the future?
At that moment, Chu Nanxi was worrying not only about her appearance but also about her future status and position. After all, the exalted Prince Duan could hardly want a disfigured wife.
"Hupo, I didn't bring my Qiankun pouch when I came over. Hurry back and get the water we brought, and a clean change of clothes—oh, just bring the whole Qiankun pouch over here, make haste!"
"Yes, Miss."
Hupo hurried off, running back the way they came. Chu Qinghuang, hiding behind the tree, watched Chu Nanxi with a stealthy gaze and a wicked smile playing on her lips. *Little thing, I'm just collecting a bit of interest for now—I'll let you keep your head for a while longer.*
Chu Qinghuang slipped away quietly. Not long after she left, Hupo returned carrying a pale moon-white sachet. She hastily pulled a waterskin from the Qiankun pouch to rinse Chu Nanxi's face and entire body, but even after using up every drop of water in the pouch, the rashes on her skin refused to fade. It itched unbearably, yet she dared not scratch for fear of breaking the skin and leaving scars.
Chu Nanxi then took out an anti-itch ointment and applied it all over her body, hoping for some effect, but it ultimately left her disappointed. Not only did it fail to relieve the itch, but the itching grew worse by the moment. With no other choice, she endured the discomfort, put on her clothes and a veil hat, and returned to their campsite.
Seeing Chu Nanxi return in a veil hat, Prince Duan stepped forward to ask, "Nanxi, what happened?"
"Brother Ying, I went to wash up by the pool, and I don't know what I picked up—my whole body is itching terribly, and I've broken out in red rashes."
Prince Duan frowned. "Yet none of the rest of us who washed over there had any issues. Shall I have someone escort you back to the Main City?"
"No, I... I just applied some medicine, it should... it should get better very soon." Chu Nanxi had finally gotten this chance to go on a trial alongside Prince Duan, and she had no intention of being sent back just like that.
"Very well. Let me know if you feel truly uncomfortable."
"Okay."
After exchanging a few words, Prince Duan walked aside to order the men to pack up their gear. Watching Prince Duan's somewhat indifferent demeanor, Chu Nanxi bit her rosy lower lip. She thought to herself that she couldn't let things continue this way; she had to be irreplaceable in Prince Duan's heart, for only then would her future position remain secure.
After leaving, Chu Qinghuang strolled happily through the forest. The book had stated that once afflicted with the Itching Powder, the itching would last for three days before disappearing on its own, and no amount of ointment applied during that time would do any good.
"Awoo!"
As Chu Qinghuang walked along, a medium-sized wild boar suddenly leaped out and blocked her path. Startled, Chu Qinghuang looked closely and her face lit up. She had just been worrying about what to have for lunch when one delivered itself right to her doorstep. Though a bit large, it would barely pass for a roasted suckling pig.
Chu Qinghuang drew her sword and used the young wild boar to practice the Fenghua Sword technique. Though the results were decent, it still lacked the devastating power of the actual Fenghua Sword. After dispatching the wild boar, Chu Qinghuang stored it in her dimensional space, found a water source, boiled some water, and cleaned it up.
She skewered the wild boar, set up a rack, and placed the carcass over it to roast slowly. Then she took out a book on alchemy from her dimensional space and studied it closely.
After nearly two hours, the wild boar was finally almost done. Chu Qinghuang put away the book, took out some seasonings, sprinkled them over the meat, and roasted it for a little longer. She then pulled out a dagger, carved a piece of hind leg, and placed it on a plate. Taking a bite of the hind leg meat, which sizzled with oil, Chu Qinghuang narrowed her eyes in bliss. "Mmm~ This fresh wild boar is simply delicious, so tender!"
Just as Chu Qinghuang was contentedly eating her roast wild boar, several wolves were strolling leisurely not far away, presumably out foraging. One wolf caught the scent of roasted meat, lifted its head to sniff intently, and then changed direction, heading straight toward Chu Qinghuang.
Meanwhile, Chu Qinghuang was still happily enjoying her meal when she suddenly heard the faint sound of footsteps treading on grass. Narrowing her eyes, she looked up toward the source of the noise and saw several tall stalks of grass swaying and bending over. Chu Qinghuang stored the remaining roast meat in her dimensional space, wiped her hands, and drew her sword to prepare for defense.