Knowing the Warmth of Southern Tea (GL) - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

It was the darkest hour, yet also the moment just before the arrival of dawn. Rongrong had always believed that the darkest part of the night was midnight; only now did she understand it was the interval right before the light appears.

However, once the first ray of sunlight graces the earth, all darkness vanishes completely.

Rongrong’s current pregnancy felt as though it weren’t happening at all; she displayed none of the typical symptoms a pregnant woman should have. Years ago, when she was pregnant with Xingyue, she hadn’t even realized it for the first three months. Her belly didn’t swell, and she felt no nausea. It wasn’t until the seventh month that she finally began to show. This time, although her belly was already showing, she still lacked that “feeling” of being pregnant. As a physician, Rongrong had treated dozens, if not hundreds, of expectant mothers, yet she lacked many of the common conditions. She considered this a form of luck.

Sitting by the window, Rongrong waited quietly for the daybreak and for them to reach their destination—Qingzhou. Though she was weary, she could not let herself fall asleep.

Rongrong was not the only one awake; Nan Nuan had also spent the night sitting by the candlelight. As the wax in the room burned out, the person Rongrong had been waiting for finally arrived.

“Is the Madam awake? We are nearly there. Nan Nuan has come specifically to wake you.” Rongrong had indeed anticipated this arrival.

“Come in, Miss Nan.” Nan Nuan pushed the door open. Seeing the scene inside, she realized Rongrong had been waiting for her. She hesitated no longer, her heart gaining a sense of confidence.

“Madam, you already expected my visit. I shall skip the pleasantries then. Please, remove the Love Gu from my body.” Nan Nuan stated her intent directly. She had her own cards to play and believed Rongrong would not refuse.

“I can remove the poison for you, but you must agree to one condition,” Rongrong said, matching her directness. This actually put Nan Nuan at ease; as long as there was a condition, there was room for negotiation.

Rongrong knew that there was actually no Love Gu at all, but she had lied to Nan Nuan anyway. Though it felt somewhat despicable, the human heart is naturally biased.

“Please, speak your mind, Madam. I value my life quite highly.” Nan Nuan found a stool and sat down, pouring some cold tea from the pot. It was evident the owner of the room was not a tea lover. To Nan Nuan, this tea looked like it had been prepared since they boarded and hadn’t been touched.

“I hope that after the poison is removed, you will keep Wen Cha by your side and not harm her. She is still just a child, ignorant of many things. I hope you will show her much forgiveness. However, if Wen Cha wishes to leave, you must not stop her.” Rongrong laid out her terms. Between Wen Cha and Nan Nuan, Wen Cha would always be the one to get hurt. Rongrong respected Wen Cha and would not interfere with her decisions or dampen her feelings; however, a mother always pities her own child. If possible, she hoped Wen Cha would remain unharmed.

“That is all?” Nan Nuan had been prepared for the Physician Immortal to demand an exorbitant price; she hadn’t expected it to be about Wen Cha. In truth, Nan Nuan didn’t care about the request because it didn’t strictly have to be fulfilled. Furthermore, Nan Nuan had a low opinion of this “Physician Immortal,” viewing her as a mere fraud seeking fame.

“Yes, that is all. There are words I shouldn’t say, but I must say them anyway. Wen Cha is my Senior Sister’s daughter and is related to me. Please believe that she did not approach you with ill intent. Her feelings for you are genuine.” Rongrong shared her true thoughts. She still held a sliver of hope for Nan Nuan. She knew that the Love Gu was meant for two people. Since Nan Nuan was one side, the other must be Wen Cha. However, Wen Cha was born with toxins in her body; a blessing in disguise, as ordinary toxins had little effect on her. This caused the Gu insect in Wen Cha’s blood to fall directly into a slumber. If one insect sleeps, the other sleeps as well. Therefore, the feelings between Wen Cha and Nan Nuan had nothing to do with the Love Gu at all. Rongrong kept this to herself, and Wen Cha had no idea her blood had such an effect…

“I do not quite understand what you mean, Madam. Regardless, I agree to your terms.” Nan Nuan answered evasively, avoiding the topic of Wen Cha’s feelings. Affection for me? I suspect she feels more fear than love.

“Very well then.” Rongrong felt relieved of a great worry, hoping the two girls would face fewer hardships. She could not foresee the future; had she known what was to come, she certainly would have intervened to prevent Wen Cha from falling too deep.

“However, the timing of the detoxification shall be determined by me.”

“Fine.”

Rongrong did not refuse Nan Nuan’s addendum.

What Rongrong didn’t know was that Wen Cha had told several lies during her initial confession. The first was that Wen Cha had run away after leaving a letter; she hadn’t come to the Central Plains with her mother’s blessing.

When Wen Cha’s mother, Wen Wan, saw the letter, she was shaken. Indeed, even after decades, the past remains impossible to truly leave behind. Wen Wan knew her daughter longed for the life of the martial arts world and the splendor of the Central Plains, but she never imagined the timid girl would run away.

Wen Wan was born into the nobility, raised in the martial arts world, swept into the vortex of imperial conspiracies, and eventually settled into a life of simplicity. When she left the Central Plains, she never intended to return. But now, she had to. Perhaps returning wasn’t just for Wen Cha, but also for the sake of seeing that person one last time. Some people cannot be forgotten simply by leaving.

When Wen Wan left her sect, she and her junior sister Rongrong had sworn an oath. Wen Wan swore she would only kill and never heal. If she broke it, she would face heaven’s wrath. Rongrong swore she would only heal and never kill.

Wen Wan had been prophesied to have a fate that cursed her parents. She was sent to a village as a child and eventually entered the martial arts world by chance, becoming the Master’s disciple and Rongrong’s senior. In the beginning, it was Wen Wan who had picked up the young Rongrong; she practically raised her and even taught her medicine. Later, both were expelled by their Master and took their respective oaths.

Perhaps, from that moment, everything was destined.

Wen Wan and Rongrong walked two different paths. Wen Wan returned to the Capital, appearing as an unloved noble lady by day while taking assassination contracts by night. The Capital was the most prosperous place, and thus the place with the most shadows. Yet, Wen Wan never lost her conscience; she only killed corrupt officials. To her, it was only right.

She had planned to wait a few years for her body to succumb to illness so she could leave the Capital and find her junior sister. But, due to her destiny, she was forced to marry the Crown Prince. This was calculated by Grandmaster Qingyuan of the Qinglong Temple.

Wen Wan was not of the imperial family and was never told the specific details of this destiny. But because of it, she formed a disastrous bond with the current Emperor. Later on, she became the sharpest sword in the Crown Prince’s hand…