C19 Going There

Upon seeing him, she was taken aback.

The man sitting at the west end of the couch was none other than the brute who had overpowered her that day.

Ruan Qingge's eyes widened as she stared intently at Xiao Rongjuan, so much so that she didn't even hear the maid's prompt to bow.

Feeling the intense, scorching gaze mixed with disdain, Xiao Rongjuan paused with his teacup in hand and met Ruan Qingge's eyes.

For a moment, the air between them seemed to freeze.

Cold sweat trickled down Ruan Qingge's forehead as she cursed silently.

What was he doing here? Would he recognize her? No, no... she had put a lot of effort into her disguise today; even her own mother wouldn't recognize her.

Xiao Rongjuan glanced at the small figure seated below him, and with a crash, the hot tea slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor. The scalding liquid splashed onto Ruan Qingge's leg, making her wince in pain and glare at him.

"Foolish creature," Xiao Rongjuan muttered impatiently. "Aren't you going to treat the Grand Imperial Concubine? If you're all talk and no substance, I'll charge you with disrespect, and you'll leave here crawling."

The chill in his words sent another wave of cold sweat down Ruan Qingge's back, but she also felt a sense of relief.

It seems this person didn't recognize me!

Speaking so harshly, truly a weirdo!

She stepped forward to check Grand Imperial Concubine Hui's pulse, her eyes catching a glimpse of her face, and for a moment, she was struck by her beauty, marveling silently. Such a beautiful person in this world—no wonder she has a rather handsome son.

As soon as Ruan Qingge started checking the pulse, she immediately focused, her expression turning serious. She took her time, her face growing more solemn, as if lost in thought.

"How is it?" Xiao Rongjuan finally couldn't wait any longer and asked.

"Grand Imperial Concubine, when you were younger, were you... poisoned?"

After hesitating for a while, Ruan Qingge finally voiced her suspicion.

Grand Imperial Concubine Hui, who had been calm, was taken aback by the question. She paused for a moment before slowly nodding, "Yes, I was indeed poisoned in the past."

"Mother, when did this happen? Why didn't I know?" Xiao Rongjuan was shocked to hear this.

"Back then, the late emperor favored me, which caused jealousy and resentment in the palace. After you were born, I was pregnant again, but a villain poisoned me, leading to a miscarriage, and I couldn't have children after that. Such schemes were common in the palace; what was the point of telling you?"

Recalling the past, Grand Imperial Concubine Hui seemed a bit distant, yet her expression showed no anger, as if she were merely recounting an ordinary story. Sharing such palace secrets with Ruan Qingge made her even more reflective.

"I'm afraid that's precisely why the lingering poison in your body has become so severe over the years, Grand Imperial Concubine. If it's not cleared soon, it could pose a serious threat to your life. The poison you've been afflicted with, if I'm not mistaken, is called Soul Severing Powder, a highly potent toxin. I'll need to perform acupuncture on you for three days, using Jade Purity Powder as a catalyst, to first cleanse the toxins and then treat other ailments to ensure a full recovery."

Ruan Qingge spoke slowly, then hesitated, "However, to prepare Jade Purity Powder, I need a rare ingredient. It requires the scent gland of a large Spiritual Cat from the Celestial Snow Mountain to complete the formula."

"What is this Spiritual Cat scent?" Xiao Rongjuan asked, prompting Ruan Qingge to shiver slightly before explaining, "The scent from the gland of the Spiritual Cat has remarkable properties for promoting circulation and energy flow. When added to the medicine, it can also expel toxins. But the Spiritual Cat is elusive and difficult to capture, so it might take some effort."

"I've never heard of such a thing. Are you sure you're not just making this up?" Xiao Rongjuan's glance was sharp, his skepticism and intensity making it hard to breathe.

Having witnessed him strangle a maid the first time they met, and now being intimidated again, this man was as terrifying as a living nightmare!

"Just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. If you're doubtful, why not take a trip to the Celestial Snow Mountain yourself and catch one to see if it's real?"

Ruan Qingge, though often timid, was known for her sharp tongue. Remembering how this person had wrongfully accused her, nearly getting her arrested as a murderer, she couldn't help but respond with hostility.

Xiao Rongjuan hadn't expected her to speak to him like that. For some reason, looking at her felt strangely familiar.

"Well, if that's the case, why don't you come along with me?" he said with a smirk.