TLDPCRM 35: Rootless Flower (Patreon)

Chapter 35: Rootless Flower

November 30, 2022 Author: Yao Qiqi

Concubine Ying extended her wrist in cooperation and looked at Gu Yunru, saying, "This concubine doesn't even know your name yet."

"Gu Yunru, Your Highness can call me Yunru."

"Yunru, that's a good name. I heard that you're a guest in the palace today since you're attending the practice ceremony for the Crown Princess?"

"Yes, sort of. I find these banquets rather dull, and instead of sitting there like a log, I prefer to walk around. And that's how I stumbled upon Your Highness's Chuxiu Palace."

concubine Ying found Gu Yunru's words very affable. No one had spoken to her like this in a long time.

While chatting with concubine Ying, Gu Yunru had already finished examining her pulse and discovered that the cause of her weakness was due to poisoning. This type of poison was chronic and posed a threat to her body, causing her to have weak qi and making it unsuitable for her to conceive.

"How am I doing? I heard that your family has been practicing medicine for generations, so you should know something about it, right?"

concubine Ying looked at Gu Yunru expectantly, but Gu Yunru's expression was hard to describe.

"What's the matter? Why don't you just say it? You're teasing our mistress."

Lu Yun urged from behind, and Gu Yunru pursed her lips. She hated being rushed. She turned to Ying concubine with a gentle expression and asked, "May I ask what medicines you have been taking recently, and which imperial physician prescribed them?"

"Recently, it was Imperial Physician Hu who came to see me. He had been working in the Qianxi Palace before, and it was Empress Shu who asked him to take care of me."

Gu Yunru nodded understandingly. This Physician Hu must have been the problem.

"I wonder if the medicine residue is still there. Could you please bring me the leftover medicine residue that Her Highness has been taking in the past few days?" Gu Yunru instructed Lu Yun, who reluctantly went out and brought back the medicine residue.

"Here you are, this is the medicine residue left over from Her Majesty in the past few days," Lv Yun said.

Gu Yunru took the jar and sniffed it. The smell was very pungent and unpleasant.

"There are Lianqiao, Kuzi, Baixiangzi, Banxia and Zhizi Gan in here. They are all mild medicinal herbs, but when mixed together, they can easily make people weak in qi, and they always feel slow in breathing and uncomfortable in the chest," Gu Yunru explained.

When concubine Ying heard this, her face turned pale. "You know, these days, my chest tightness and shortness of breath have been getting worse and worse. I've been taking Physician Hu's medicine all the time, since the last time..."

She stopped talking halfway, but Lv Yun urged her, "You don't know that woman from the Laundry department, she actually wanted to harm our mistress. She sprinkled some powder on the clothes to attract poisonous insects, and all those insects came. The concubine was scared for several days and couldn't eat anything."

Gu Yunru knew they were talking about Bi Luo, and she came here today to plead for Bi Luo. Bi Luo would definitely not do such a despicable thing, but no one was there to testify for her.

"Miss Gu, Lu Yun seems a bit too excited," Gu Yunru felt that Lu Yun's excitement was unusual, but it could also be seen as an expression of protecting her master.

"Miss Gu, please don't take offense. This girl Lu Yun speaks her mind and can't keep secrets. This palace never expected that Bi Luo would harm me like this."

At this point, concubine Ying coughed weakly. Gu Yunru paused and said to Ying concubine, "Your Majesty, there may be a misunderstanding in this matter."

"Misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding can there be? This palace was not unkind to her in the past, but I never expected her to harm me like this."

After saying this, she touched her chest and the resentment in her eyes dissipated somewhat.

Lu Yun quickly walked up and stroked concubine Ying's back. She said unkindly to Gu Yunru, "Are you here today to plead for Bi Luo?"

Gu Yunru couldn't help but feel surprised. Did she show it so clearly? However, there are indeed many doubts and misunderstandings that have not been resolved in this matter.

"Your Highness, please listen to what this commoner has to say. When Bi Luo was tidying your clothes, others also had the opportunity to poison them. Your Highness must not ignore the true culprit and let them go free."

concubine Ying wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and, upon hearing Gu Yunru's words, slowly raised her watery eyes. She said weakly, "It seems that you really came to plead for Bi Luo. Whether Bi Luo is innocent or guilty is no longer important."

"Then please let her go, Your Highness. Noble Consort has always wanted Bi Luo to confess, but Bi Luo does not know how to use medicine, nor has anyone found anything in her room."

Gu Yunru looked at concubine Ying's expression, which did not change at all.

Lu Yun immediately retorted, "What do you mean? This rootless flower was brought by the empress from beyond the border."

"Lu Yun, calm down and let me explain. The fragrance of this rootless flower can soothe one's restless and tense mood, but using it too much can make one feel dizzy and weak. Additionally, the her highness sometimes drinks medicine that can cause hallucinations, although her condition is not yet that serious."

"Are you saying whatever you want? What gives you the right to draw such conclusions?"

Lu Yun was angry, seemingly biased against Gu Yunru from the first glance.

"Lu Yun, don't be impolite. Go outside and wait," said concubine Ying, knowing that Lu Yun was impatient and didn't like strangers approaching her. So, she simply sent her to stand outside the door.

Lu Yun snorted twice and went to stand outside the door. Gu Yunru shrugged and came to concubine Ying, saying, "Your Highness, please be careful of the medicine prescribed by Physician Hu in the palace. Also, let Lu Yun carefully examine the brewed medicine. For the time being, you should stop drinking it."

"But why would the noble consort treat me like this?"

Empress Ying asked in confusion. Seeing her like this, Gu Yunru couldn't help but feel sorry for her. No wonder the emperor loved her so much. Unfortunately, coming to the intricate harem and experiencing such scheming and jealousy was truly exhausting.

"Jealousy among women in the harem is common, and since the emperor favors you so much, it's inevitable that others will become jealous. Your Highness must be careful in the palace."

concubine Ying nodded gratefully, saying, "I understand. Thank you for your kind advice."

"I know, I will speak to the Concubine Shu about it," said the concubine Ying

As expected, concubine Ying was understanding. Gu Yunru raised her eyebrows and then sniffed the fragrance in the room.

"What's wrong, Miss Gu?" asked Empress Ying, noticing that Gu Yunru seemed to be searching for something in the room. Soon, she discovered something crucial.

"May I ask, what is this?" asked Gu Yunru.

"This is a rare flower from our northern frontier, the Rootless Flower. When soaked in water, it emits a refreshing fragrance," replied Empress Ying.

"I never knew such a flower existed in the world," exclaimed Gu Yunru, amazed by the Rootless Flower in the pot. She couldn't help but express her admiration.

"concubine Ying, there is something I want to say, but I'm not sure if I should," said Gu Yunru, sensing the unusual atmosphere in the room. She thought it was best to tell concubine Ying the truth so she could be mentally prepared.

"Just say it. I won't blame you," concubine Ying said kindly.

concubine Ying was a kind and approachable person, which made Gu Yunru feel incredibly comfortable.

"To be honest, from the moment I walked in, I felt that something was wrong with the room. I think the problem lies with the Rootless Flower," Gu Yunru revealed.