Chapter 164: Mortifying Moment

Chapter 164: Mortifying Moment

She felt like a fish in water, grasping the concepts effortlessly, as if she had learned them before. She picked up the ideas quickly, almost as if she had a natural talent for understanding the mysteries and wonders of the world.

However, the book was right—everything needed to be tested to determine its truth.

All morning long, Zhou Huanjiu felt as if there were nails on her chair, making it impossible to sit still.

She couldn’t wait to get back and start her experiments.

Jingchu really should have given it to her during the afternoon dismissal, instead of making her so anxious.

But soon, the ambitious Zhou Huanjiu realized that even after dismissal, she couldn’t conduct the experiments—there were no tools.

No beakers...

No glass rods...

No alcohol lamps...

A beaker is just a glass cup, but what kind of glass? She wondered, thinking if a jade-like cup could substitute.

Without alcohol, could she use wine instead?

If not, maybe candles?

Determined Jiu Jiu wasn’t one to shy away from challenges!

After some time, a sharp, piercing explosion echoed from Zhou Huanjiu’s bedchamber in Renshou Hall.

......

Meanwhile, Bei Jingchu, having finished copying the introductory text for Zhou Huanjiu, began to ponder another matter—how to take out the seeds she had exchanged from the store.

The book was at least copied stroke by stroke by her, but taking out the seeds would mean they just appeared out of thin air.

The people here were already superstitious. If she made something appear out of nowhere, they might think she was some kind of monster.

It would be easy to send Changyan Haoyue away, but those two shadow guards on rotation...

Bei Jingchu called out, “Yanchao.”

A figure jumped down from the roof.

Hmm... so where exactly do they hide all day? She never saw them around.

Bei Jingchu tentatively ordered, “You’re not needed here for now, step outside.”

“I cannot, my lady,” the guard replied.

“The master has instructed us to always guard your safety.”

Well, she already knew it wouldn’t work; she just had to try.

Was she going to have to use her ultimate plan?

Bei Jingchu had the chamber pot brought in.

Yanchao retreated, but she always felt something was off.

Years of martial arts training had sharpened her senses, and now she felt a faint, lingering sensation of being watched, no matter how hard she tried to shake it off.

Even back then, Bei Jingchu believed that Father wouldn't deceive her and wouldn't have Yanchao watching her now.

But in her heightened state of tension, the feeling of being watched became even more pronounced.

Bei Jingchu decided to test something.

She feigned losing her balance, stumbling toward the table’s sharp edge.

At this angle, a direct hit would surely be fatal.

The next second, Yanchao darted over and pulled her back.

Bei Jingchu: ......

Her suspicions were confirmed, and it left her feeling utterly disoriented.

So, did that mean she had been under surveillance the whole time?

Thinking about the embarrassing moments she had during such private times, Bei Jingchu wished she could just die.

Everyone has to die eventually, but not like this—social death is real!

She stammered, “W-w-wasn’t I told that you’re supposed to, uh, look away during… you know…?”

Yanchao's voice remained steady, replying calmly, “The Emperor lied to you.”

“......”

“He was afraid you wouldn't be able to get past the mental barrier.”

“......”

“This is a very dangerous time; His Majesty has ordered me to guard you closely.”

“......”

What a tyrant! What a monster!

At this point, she had absolutely no privacy left.

Being a princess is too hard.

When will she ever get to retrieve her seeds?!

She wanted to eat some spicy food.

Also, gravy mashed potatoes, crispy wave-cut potatoes, stir-fried shredded potatoes with vinegar, and roasted sweet potatoes.

Her recipe list hadn't been updated in a long time.

It took three months to cure Xu Lanqi and his sister from the parasitic infection.

......

Gu poison, a deadly and difficult-to-treat illness in the Yue Dynasty, had almost claimed their lives.

After barely surviving, the Xu family spent a large sum to bring them back from the brink of death.

They even petitioned the imperial palace for rare and valuable medicinal herbs.

As soon as Xu Lanqi regained consciousness, he realized he was once again indebted to that heartless tyrant and saw a pile of documents in the Central Secretariat that had accumulated due to his absence.

Xu Lanqi felt that death would be a happier option.

Moreover, he discovered that a widely promoted decree was meant to advocate drinking boiled water because raw water contains parasites and isn't safe to drink.

And the example used for the advocacy happened to be his sister and him.

Xu Lanqi was speechless.

Why bother saving him?

What was the point of saving him when he had already lost all his dignity?

He had hoped to be remembered in history, but instead, he became a laughingstock.

What was worse, Xu Lanqi had no idea that the rumors about him were getting more and more exaggerated.

At first: "Raw water contains parasites and isn't safe to drink. The Central Secretary and Xu Shaoqing almost died because they drank raw water."

As the rumors spread: "Raw water contains parasites. The Central Secretary and Xu Shaoqing died after drinking water with parasites."

And as they spread further: "The Central Secretary and Xu Shaoqing ate parasites and died. How foolish, who eats parasites? How could someone who does something like that hold an official position?"

Posters urging people to boil their water were posted everywhere in the Capital City. Storytellers in the entertainment districts told stories of the two high-ranking officials who suffered because they drank raw water, and well-crafted children's rhymes circulated among the common folk.

Even street vendors in the Capital City started selling boiled water.

"Drinking hot water" became a common catchphrase.

But while the Capital City was the political center of the Yue Dynasty, thriving with life, could the same be said for other places?

It was too far away, out of reach, and hard to monitor.

Bei Jingchu, who had sneaked out of the palace, shook her head. Since she had managed to come out to play, she shouldn’t worry so much.

There was nothing she could do about it right now, so they would take it slow.

She asked the leisurely strolling young man next to her: "Aren't you afraid that Father will blame you for abducting the princess? After all, I sneaked out."

Beiqin replied with righteous indignation: "What do you mean by abducting the princess? It’s clearly that the princess secretly left the palace, and I, having found out, accompanied her for Her Highness’s safety."

"Isn’t this actually a service, not a crime?"