Yi Qing thought so too.
Shopkeeper Sun took out a packet of tree bark he had brought and handed it to her. Yi Qing checked it and nodded. "That's right. This is exactly what I need."
"Can the young lady make the antidote for the miasma now?" Shopkeeper Sun looked at her eagerly.
Yi Qing nodded. "Go back and wait. I'll bring the medicine to you in three days."
"Good, good, good." Shopkeeper Sun nodded repeatedly and bowed. "I'll be waiting for the good news, young lady."
Xiao Tian had been listening quietly to their conversation while guiding Baozi in writing. Hearing this, he stood up straight and planned to see Shopkeeper Sun out.
Unexpectedly, Yi Qing said, "I still need to buy some things in the city. If Shopkeeper Sun doesn't mind, could you give me a ride?"
Xiao Tian was stunned and blurted out instinctively, "I'll hire a carriage and accompany you."
Yi Qing said, "It's okay. I'm sure Shopkeeper Sun won't mind, right?"
Shopkeeper Sun quickly said, "It's my honor that the young lady doesn't mind. I'll sit outside with the coachman. Brother Xiao, rest assured. I'll surely send Miss Yi back safely."
Yi Qing said, "On the way, I'll buy some roast goose. You can cook some japonica rice and make do with Baozi for a meal. I'll make Yunying noodles when I come back tonight."
This was the kindest tone she had used to talk to him since she learned that Xiao Jinghan's "death" might be related to him.
The knot in Xiao Tian's heart that had been bothering him for several days instantly loosened a bit. He said, "Come back early."
Yi Qing nodded and left with Shopkeeper Sun.
The carriage rumbled along. Yi Qing leaned against the side wall, pretending to be asleep with her eyes closed, quickly sorting out her thoughts.
Things were going much more smoothly than she had expected. As long as she planned carefully next, she was sure to achieve her goal.
Thinking of this, she suddenly opened her eyes, knocked on the side wall of the carriage, and whispered, "Shopkeeper Sun, I just thought of something extremely important. Please come in and let's discuss it."
Shopkeeper Sun hesitated a bit, but then told the coachman to stop the carriage. He lifted the curtain and bowed. "Forgive my intrusion."
After Yi Qing finished saying what she wanted to say, she said, "I'm not in a hurry for an answer now. After I make the antidote and let Shopkeeper Sun try it, you can then consider whether to agree to my conditions."
Shopkeeper Sun pursed his lips tightly and frowned slightly, as if caught in a dilemma.
Yi Qing looked calm.
That night, after Baozi fell asleep, she sat under the gauze lamp looking at the tree bark, a faint smile playing at the corners of her eyes - unexpectedly, just when she was sleepy, a pillow was delivered. This small piece of tree bark was her greatest reliance at the moment.
"Knock, knock, knock -" There were three soft knocks on the window.
Yi Qing knew who was outside the window. She said lazily, "The door isn't bolted. Come in."
Xiao Tian walked in. Seeing Yi Qing sitting at the desk, he first bent down to add a few pieces of charcoal to the brazier beside her, then moved it a bit further out.
"Don't move my brazier," Yi Qing said immediately.
"Your skirt is almost touching the brazier," Xiao Tian said.
Only then did Yi Qing stop saying anything. She said, "Do you have something to tell me?"
"Is it true that this kind of tree bark can really treat miasma?"
"If I say it's true, do you believe me? Don't you need to wait until Lu Tianxun can stand up before seeing my medical skills?" Yi Qing said coolly.
A look of uneasiness flashed across Xiao Tian's face. He felt a bit guilty being rebuked by her.
Actually, he believed in her, but the emperor had to believe too.
Fortunately, Yi Qing was now more distant from him and wouldn't hold on to things like before. She quickly said, "Did you come to ask me about this?"
"I came to see if you need any help," Xiao Tian said. "Didn't you say you were going to make medicine?"
"I lied to him."
Xiao Tian: "..."
"This is the truth. Treating miasma is very simple. Just boil the tree bark in water and drink it. Although there may be some drawbacks, saving lives is the most important thing," Yi Qing said indifferently. "I pretended to be very mysterious. Otherwise, I couldn't have deceived Shopkeeper Sun out of his money."
"Did you tell me all this on purpose?"
"Yes." Yi Qing didn't act coy and directly nodded to admit. "Shopkeeper Sun can use it to make money, and you can use it to treat the soldiers who defend the country. There's no conflict. Actually, you see, I'm also very patriotic, right?"
Xiao Tian said, "I thank you on behalf of the soldiers on the border."
"Since you're so sincere, I'll tell you how to prevent the spread of miasma. Don't drink unboiled water and properly dispose of excrement..."
Xiao Tian listened very carefully and then picked up a pen to write it all down.
"Okay, that's all. As for the emperor's poison, it's actually not difficult to remove. Here's the prescription." Yi Qing took out a pre - written prescription from the table covered by her arm and handed it to him. "After Lu Tianxun recovers, you can try it."
"You're giving it to me so easily?"
For some reason, Xiao Tian always felt that Yi Qing was acting strangely today.
But he couldn't tell exactly what was strange about her.
"Otherwise? That's the emperor," Yi Qing said. "I'm not so arrogant as to think I can be friends with him. Whatever he wants, I have to offer it with both hands quickly. Xiao Tian, I've managed to survive until now not by being proud. Fight when you can win; kneel when you can't."
Xiao Tian silently put away the prescription and lowered his eyes. "The emperor is a reasonable man. Don't worry. As long as the prescription is genuine, I'll surely protect you and Baozi."
"I'll trust you for now."
Half a month later, Lu Tianxun took his first difficult but life - renewing step without any help.
The next day, Xiao Tian said he was going out to handle some business. Yi Qing knew he was going to the palace to report. She said, "Okay. If you're going to the palace, let a dog smell this handkerchief, then let it walk around the emperor's residence and other places in the palace. You might find something."
As she spoke, she handed him an embroidered handkerchief wrapped in oil paper. "Don't worry too much. This poison takes years to take effect. Sniffing a bit occasionally won't harm you."
Xiao Tian took it.
"Shall we have Yunying noodles for dinner?" Yi Qing smiled.
"Don't go to so much trouble. I may not come back early. You and Baozi eat first. Just heat up the leftovers for me."
"Okay."
Yi Qing held Baozi's hand and saw him off.
Xiao Tian mounted his horse. Looking at the mother and son standing under the eaves looking up at him with smiles, he suddenly felt that perhaps such a life was also yearning.
"Giddyap -" He clamped his legs on the horse's belly, waved his hand, and galloped away.
Yi Qing stroked Baozi's head. "Let's go back inside."
After they went back, Baozi watched as Yi Qing opened the cabinet and took out several pre - prepared bundles. He couldn't help but be surprised and said, "Mom, are we going out?"
"Yes, let's go," Yi Qing said. "I'll explain it to you later."
"But does Uncle Xiao know? Can he find us?"