Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 285: Chapter 172: Times Have Changed Chapter 285: Chapter 172: Times Have Changed Although he was just an insignificant little eunuch in the Zhou Dynasty harem, at least he was one who waited upon Eunuch Gui himself.

The thoughts of those in power, he understood them to some extent, a little.

For instance, the Emperor did not favor Gu Changsheng, nor did His Highness Prince Mu favor Gu Changsheng…

My wife is slightly unwell…

When big fish fight, the small ones suffer.

With His Highness Prince Mu so blatantly challenging the Emperor, the only one who would suffer was this little eunuch, who was used as a scapegoat!

But under the forceful pressure of Zhou Mu, the little eunuch fell silent.

Thus, whether he was willing or not, he had to play the role of the scapegoat!

“Somebody, send him back to the old man, and by the way, tell him those useless servants have been dealt with by this prince!” The purple robe billowed as Zhou Mu ordered with a cold voice.

The poor little eunuch, despite his smooth-talking skills, found no place to use them and was thus forcefully returned to the Capital City.

Once the matter was settled, Gu Changsheng, showing signs of weariness, intended to tell Zhou Mu to head back to Baili Mountain earlier.

But then a guard came rushing over, whispering something to Zhou Mu.

Gu Changsheng was standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhou Mu, so she faintly heard that it seemed some people had arrived.

“My love, are you tired?” Zhou Mu dismissed the subordinate who had come to report, his expression unchanging, and lifted his hand to gently smooth her slightly wrinkled forehead.

Gu Changsheng shook her head, and grumpily replied, “Tired, I am not, just slightly unwell is all…”

Damn it, she remembered someone was falsely accusing and cursing her to fall ill…

Zhou Mu was taken aback upon hearing this, then he laughed and indulgently rubbed her head, “This prince was merely providing the old man with an excuse to step down without losing face.”

And to convey to the old man his intention to take her as his wife!

Though Gu Changsheng was a bit clueless, she was no fool. Hearing this, she rolled her eyes and pursed her lips, “Are you sure you’re not trying to infuriate him to death? If you ask me, it’s not just his face he’s lost this time, we’ve pretty much undone him completely.”

“Don’t worry, the old man has been the Emperor all his life; what kind of storm has he not seen? This little matter won’t kill him.” Zhou Mu glanced at the sky, it was already past noon, and knowing Gu Changsheng had the habit of resting at this time, he then spoke, “I have some matters to attend to, should I have someone send you back first, or will you wait here for me for a while?”

Gu Changsheng looked at the freshly rebuilt Gu Family Old Residence in front of her and shook her head, “You go ahead with your business. I haven’t been here in a long time; I don’t even know how Yuan Bao has built my lovely mansion.”

Zhou Mu nodded, then pressed a light kiss on her smooth forehead before swiftly withdrawing and spoke casually as if nothing had happened, “Then you have a look around here. If you can’t wait, just take a stroll on the street, I’ll come pick you up after I’m done with my business.”

Caught off guard, Gu Changsheng covered her forehead and glared at him, grinding her teeth, “Hooligan, ruffian!”

Damn it, broad daylight and clear skies, and there were pedestrians secretly glancing over here, yet he dared to kiss her!

Seeing this, Zhou Mu did not argue back. Stealing kisses and hugs wasn’t something a gentleman would do; indeed, being a hooligan suited him!

“This prince is only a rogue towards you, something others couldn’t get even if they begged for it.”

Seeing Gu Changsheng about to pounce on him in anger, Zhou Mu hastily walked out, “This prince has urgent matters to attend to.”

He couldn’t really anger her, as it would make it much harder to steal kisses in the future.

Seeing him about to leave, Gu Changsheng quickly pointed to the purple palanquin parked in the distance, “You should take the carriage. You can’t keep hopping about until your waist injury is fully healed.”

Zhou Mu turned back, “Am I so frail?”

“It’s the doctor’s orders!” Gu Changsheng glared.

Paying heed to her words, Zhou Mu nodded and, from afar, gave a deep bow with utmost seriousness, “I shall heed the orders of my ‘lady’…”

He stressed the word ‘lady’ heavily, emphasizing it with a twist of tender feelings.

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng’s eyebrows shot up, and she stood with her hands on her hips.

The damn Zhou Mu was showing more and more potential to be a 24K pure gold rogue!

His teasing words and actions seemed effortless!

Zhou Mu wouldn’t give her a chance to react; after speaking, he turned his head to Attendant Han Qiu, who had just had his neck wounds treated. A profound look flashed through his eyes before he spoke earnestly, “Protect your lady well. If anything happens to her, you…”

His words were not finished, but the implication lingered.

Attendant Han Qiu, meeting Zhou Mu’s gaze, bowed his head slightly, then raised it again with determination, “The lady will have no mishaps, Han Qiu will not let anything happen to her!”

Zhou Mu gave her one more glance, then nodded, “If so, that’s good.”

Gu Changsheng looked at the silhouette of the purple palanquin leaving with strides and then at Han Qiu with a puzzled face.

Why did she feel that Zhou Mu’s gaze towards Han Qiu was quite intriguing?

“When did you two start having an affair?” she asked with an expression that suggested she had just uncovered an affair, lascivious and cheap, managing to be no less rogue than an old Taoist.

“Just now!” Han Qiu naturally understood what kind of “affair” her lady was talking about.

Gu Changsheng stroked her chin, looking contemplative as she circled Han Qiu twice. “No, that’s not right, I was right beside you two just a moment ago, and I didn’t notice anything amiss?”

“There must be something that you and he know about, but I’m kept in the dark, right?” Gu Changsheng pointed first at Han Qiu and then in the direction Zhou Mu had left.

“Lady, please don’t ask. Even if you do, I won’t tell,” Han Qiu also responded frankly.

Facing such an evident refusal, Gu Changsheng nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders. “One by one you all act so unfathomably mysterious every day; don’t you get tired? To live, it’s better to be simple, huh…”, she scoffed.

Han Qiu followed closely beside Gu Changsheng, maintaining a step’s distance, inseparable as a shadow.

“Han Qiu, there are some things that one cannot dwell on cause and effect. If you really start to, you may lose more; it is important to live in the moment…” Gu Changsheng admired the Suan Ni Beast Stone Weight at her doorway and made a seemingly casual remark.

Han Qiu walked silently behind, a flash of pain and struggle passing through her eyes.

She knew her lady was trying to console her, but some things were easier said than done when it came to letting go.

“Han Qiu, doesn’t our house’s stone weight look majestic and imposing, doesn’t it ooze dominance?” Gu Changsheng patted the Suan Ni Beast Stone Weight, which was half a head taller than herself, with a proud expression. The touch of it was pleasant and irresistible. “That evildoer Zhou Mu really knows how to squander, where did he get such a huge piece of white jade? To place such two massive stone weights made of this material at the entrance, I even worry sometimes–what if one day someone brazen comes along and steals my house-guarding Suan Ni Beast? This is white jade we’re talking about! Tsk tsk…”

Seeing her lady getting excited at the sight of wealth, Han Qiu brought back her wandering thoughts and couldn’t help but remind her, “Lady, this is your home!”

Thinking of guarding against thievery here is completely superfluous!

Gu Changsheng glanced at her, “Of course, I know this is my home. I’m just wondering, is it really good to flaunt wealth so openly?”

Han Qiu glanced at the luminous glazed roof eaves under the sunlight, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly, “Lady, isn’t it a bit late to be contemplating this now?”

Glazed tiles for eaves, jade for the flooring, pavilions and towers in the shade…

The lady had even plundered countless treasures from Prince Mu’s Treasure Pavilion, waiting to decorate the new Gu Residence lavishly once it was built…

Gu Changsheng watched the bustling craftsmen and her home starting to take shape, covered her hand over the vividly carved porch column as she continued forward, “It is indeed a bit late. Consider the renown of my name, Medicine God, which even the Emperor is well aware of. Not to mention the pharmacists from all places competing to ingratiate themselves with me, the wealth of gold and silver I possess is inexhaustible. In essence, I’m a living mountain of gold and silver…”

“I’m afraid even if I intended to hide my wealth, others wouldn’t believe it.”

Attendant Han Qiu followed behind her and nodded in agreement.

Gu Changsheng looked at her new home with its carved beams and painted pillars, and couldn’t help but sigh with infinite emotion.

“Do you know Han Qiu, when I went to Li Mansion after losing my memory and saw just the pair of stone lions at their entrance, I was shocked. At that time, I took Gu Ze and Xiao Cui; we were almost penniless and kicked out, struggling even for daily meals–our plight was so miserable. The old demoness of Li Mansion was so haughty, forcing me to kneel not to mention threatening me with death.”

“Back then I swore that after thirty years a river flows east and another thirty west, I, Gu Changsheng, must live better than her, to make her experience the taste of envy and jealousy!”

“So, she may have stone lions, but I have a pair of Suan Ni Beasts guarding my home. She has the wealth of Li Mansion, whereas I will have palatial splendor, a residence fit for an immortal. Such is my way, if I choose to outdo someone, I’m destined to trample them under my feet…”

What of Li Mansion?

What of being an abandoned wife?

Would I, Gu Changsheng, be any less than others?

Li Mansion discarded me as if I were worthless shoes; Zhou Mu treasures me as precious. What was lost in one place is recouped in another. Who knows, perhaps Li Mansion’s actions allowed me, Gu Changsheng, to flourish?

Being confined to a corner of Li Mansion is what truly would have been the death of me!

Someone like me, Gu Changsheng, should be free to frolic under the vast sky…

Yuan Bao had managed the construction of the Gu Family Old Residence very well, better than Gu Changsheng had expected.

By connecting the original neighboring houses, the Gu Family Old Residence has quite extensive grounds. And Yuan Bao, that sly dog, even dug a small lake inside, the lakebed and the shores paved with five-colored pebbles, which were very pleasing to the eye and comfortable to step on.

Seeing this, Gu Changsheng was thrilled beyond measure, and planned in her heart to add some fish to the lake, so she could fish by the lake at home…

Indeed, it would be a charming delight!

After touring the still under-construction Gu Family Old Residence, Gu Changsheng grew more and more satisfied, nodding continuously without stopping.

Ancient craftsmen were truly remarkable, as the residence designed after the Suzhou Gardens was constructed more perfectly than she could have imagined.

Pavilions nestled among the greenery, carved beams and painted pillars; once completed, with the addition of some exotic flowers and plants, this residence would be even more splendid!

“Suddenly feeling very bright and cheerful!” Walking out of the Gu Family Old Residence, Gu Changsheng spread her arms wide and took a deep breath, then with a wave of her arm declared boisterously, “Han Qiu, come, let’s go shopping and sweep through the streets!”