She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

The sun was gradually setting, the early spring breeze carrying a hint of winter’s chill, and the new green lining both sides of the main road had yet to bloom, leaving only sparse buds swaying on the branches.

A long caravan was traveling on the main road, the sound of wheels grinding against the road surface intertwining with the rhythm of hooves beating the ground, creating a timeless song of travel.

Inside the carriage, Han Lei was leaning against a soft cushion, earnestly reading a book titled ”Poison Guide,” purchased from the system.

After the events of two nights ago, she finally learned how nobles in ancient times resolved issues. Indeed, just like in palace intrigue dramas—at the slightest disagreement, they simply resort to poisoning.

She had been to battlefields, faced enemies head-on amidst fierce gunfire and danger. Yet, secret poisonings were truly unpredictable. Thus, she decided to quickly learn some knowledge about poisons, just in case. With her accelerated learning talent in medicine, she believed she could master it quickly. By then, whether it’s straightforward or treacherous, she’d fear no one.

”Girl, come, drink some more water.” Zhao Zun’s voice was gentle yet firm, as he handed a delicate porcelain cup to Han Lei’s lips.

”More water? I’ve already drunk a lot,” Han Lei frowned, looking at Zhao Zun. ”If I drink more, I’ll have to go to the toilet again!”

Since she took medicine after being poisoned the night before last, Zhao Zun had been urging her to drink more warm water, saying it helps completely flush out the toxins.

Although she was grateful for Zhao Zun’s care and attentiveness, she had drunk quite a bit along the journey these past two days, constantly feeling the urge to relieve herself. The intermittent stops had greatly slowed down the entire caravan’s progression.

She wasn’t afraid of complaints from others in the caravan; she dreaded the feeling of relieving herself in the wilderness. The cold wind on her behind felt chilly, and the bushes scratched her behind painfully.

The most troublesome part was that although Zitan and Jin Ju were there to keep watch, she felt no privacy due to the open surroundings.

”If you need the toilet, just go!” Zhao Zun, holding his cup of tea, said indifferently. It’s just using the toilet, what’s the hassle?

Having spent so much time with Han Lei, he already knew her term ”toilet” meant latrine.

”But, it’s troubling everyone to wait for me repeatedly; it feels so embarrassing!” No matter what Zhao Zun said, Han Lei did not want to drink.

”What do they dare to say?” Zhao Zun had a domineering air, thought for a moment, then put down his tea cup. ”I’ll instruct them to lead the caravan ahead, let Mother and Ling’er rest in Taoyuan County for a day while we take our time and meet them there.”

”Ah?”

Han Lei’s mouth twitched violently. It seemed Zhao Zun insisted on her drinking the water. She wanted to object, but Zhao Zun had already jumped off the carriage.

Seeing Zhao Zun’s determination and his meticulous care, Han Lei gradually understood his earnestness. By the time Zhao Zun returned, she had already obediently drunk two cups of water.

Indeed, in less than half an hour, Han Lei was clamoring for the toilet.

The main caravan had already proceeded to the next post station, leaving Zhao Zun’s carriage, along with two maids and two trusted aides.

Zhao Zun pulled aside the carriage curtain and glanced outside, furrowing his brows.

Here the view was quite open, without cover; yet, there was a dense forest not far away, suitable for a woman’s convenience.

Zhao Zun instructed Ping Chuan to halt the carriage by the roadside. Then he directed the nearby Zitan and Jin Ju, ”We’ll wait here; you two accompany the girl into the woods to relieve herself, but be very careful.”

Han Lei, upon hearing this, blushed slightly. Driven by necessity, she reluctantly nodded and walked into the woods accompanied by the two maids.

In the woods, sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting dappled shadows. Han Lei looked around, feeling uneasy; it seemed as if countless unseen eyes were secretly watching, making her uncomfortable.

”Miss, are you alright?” Zitan asked with concern.

Han Lei forced a faint smile: ”I’m fine, just a bit embarrassed. You both stand guard at the front.”

”Alright!”

The two maids complied, turning around and guarding either side near the trees.

Han Lei, still able to see them, flushed red and moved behind a bush, lifted her long skirt, and prepared to squat down.

Suddenly, a breeze blew by, and some white powder appeared before Han Lei. Before she could react, she felt dizzy, her vision darkened, and she lost consciousness.

Simultaneously, a figure descended from the tree like an apparition, swiftly carried the unconscious Han Lei, and vanished deep into the woods.

After some time, not seeing Han Lei emerge, Zitan and Jin Ju began to call out anxiously, ”Miss, are you ready?”

Their voices echoed through the woods, but no response came. The two maids exchanged worried glances, feeling a surge of unease. They hurried forward to search.

However, upon reaching where Han Lei had relieved herself, she was nowhere to be found. Only a patch of trampled grass remained, along with a lingering subtle fragrance in the air.

”Miss! Miss, where are you?” Zitan and Jin Ju were pale with fright, their voices tinged with tears. They looked around but saw only lush trees and thick foliage, as if every inch of ground was swallowing their hope.

Ultimately, the two maids hopelessly gave up searching and, supporting each other, stumbled back to the carriage.

”Prince! Prince, something terrible has happened! The girl... she’s gone!” Zitan cried out urgently.

Anxiously waiting, Zhao Zun felt his heart clench tightly, as if grasped by an invisible hand.

His face turned ashen, his eyes shot out sharp beams of light: ”What did you say? Han Lei is missing?”

Jin Ju, crying, nodded: ”Yes, Prince, we...we waited for the miss in the woods for a long time, but she didn’t come out. When we went in, she was already gone. Sob sob...”

Zhao Zun pushed down his internal panic, rapidly regained calm, and commanded Xiao Zhengfei and Ping Chuan to immediately arm themselves with weapons and torches, and join him, along with the two maids, to search the woods.

The two maids quickly led Zhao Zun to where Han Lei disappeared, where a patch of ground held traces of aromatic white powder. Zhao Zun crouched down, pinched some powder, brought it near his nose cautiously and sniffed, his mind instantly feeling slightly dizzy; it was definitely a sedative.

Zhao Zun discarded the powder and glanced at the bushes, pressed down and askew. He immediately deduced that Han Lei was drugged and kidnapped.

”Damn it!”

Zhao Zun cursed, stood up. The five of them fanned out and began searching carefully, afraid to miss even the slightest clue. Their calls wove through the dense forest like a net, trying to capture the elusive missing figure.

Yet, as time passed, the sun had set, and although they searched extensively with torches through the forest, Han Lei’s whereabouts were still elusive.

Night was falling, Zhao Zun felt increasingly heavy-hearted. He knew that in the vast forest, a solitary woman being drugged would have almost no chance of defending herself.

However, he thought again, no blood traces were found in the woods, indicating Han Lei wasn’t harmed within. She may have already been taken away. But why would the perpetrators drug and abduct Han Lei...?