“I know you’re upset about Mother’s death,”
Song Qingchao pulled out of his embrace, lowering her head to compose herself.
“Don’t worry, I will find Mother’s body.”
She took a breath. “Xiao Guo told me she searched everywhere, both the mass grave and the manor, and couldn’t find it. Please give me some more time.”
She was about to explain further when she was suddenly interrupted.
“Have you searched the imperial palace?”
Song Qingchao looked up in surprise. “The imperial palace? That’s unlikely…”
She hadn’t even considered this place.
The imperial family wouldn’t do something as treasonous as hiding a body…
She only worried someone held a grudge against Mother, and even in death, they wouldn’t spare her body for further torment.
But Song Qingmu stated with certainty, “It must be in the imperial palace.”
Although Song Qingchao found it puzzling, she nodded nonetheless.
Mumu wouldn't lie to her.
“Alright, I’ll send people to look then.”
Song Qingmu asked doubtfully, “We are on this exile journey, our servants and wealth are all gone. How will Eldest Sister search?”
Song Qingchao coughed twice. “I’ll explain that to you later.”
She sat up straight, her tone serious. “The Fu Rong pastries you eat every day were made by wet nurse Su, following Mother’s instructions. Mother would never harm you, so the problem must lie with wet nurse Su.”
Song Qingmu knitted his brows. “Wet nurse Su passed away a year ago. Since then, Mother made them herself.”
“Is there a possibility…” Song Qingchao bit her lip. “…that the poison was applied to the mold?”
Medicine and poison were closely related.
Her medical skills were merely superficial.
But she understood poison. While she could barely distinguish the taste of medicines, she understood methods of poisoning.
It was precisely because of this that, as a woman, she alone could use the spirits of tens of thousands of enemy soldiers as sacrifices to guard the last line of defense at the border.
“Mumu, let me ask you, after wet nurse Su passed, did your martial arts improve or decline?”
Song Qingmu nodded in silence. “It did. It declined first, then rose.”
“Mmm.” Song Qingchao slapped her palm. “Is there a fixed person who cleans the molds?”
“Yes, Su Yingying, she’s wet nurse Su’s niece.”
Song Qingchao smiled. “Su Yingying? I’ve noted that.”
Mumu’s martial arts declining first indicated that Su Yingying likely didn’t understand the dosage at the beginning and, fearing exposure, later reduced the amount of poison.
Who did this Su Yingying belong to…
“Eldest Sister, let’s discuss this matter later.”
Song Qingmu frowned and pushed the two steamed buns back into her hands. “Eat. We have to get on the road.”
Song Qingchao looked at the two steamed buns in her hands, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
This young man still hadn’t forgotten about this.
“I’m talking about serious matters.”
“Mmm, it won’t delay,” Song Qingmu’s expression was slightly stiff. “They’ll get cold and won’t taste good.”
She looked up at his eyes, which were swollen like peaches, and couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What are you laughing at?” Song Qingmu turned his head away unnaturally.
He swallowed. “I’m discussing serious matters with you.”
Song Qingchao chuckled and replied, “Mmm, it won’t delay.”
“Eldest Sister, don’t push it.”
Song Qingmu’s cool, hoarse voice, tinged with a sob, paired with his cold expression, was inexplicably amusing.
Song Qingchao smiled and reached out to pinch his cheek. “Fortunately, this face wasn’t harmed.”
“Stop messing around, I’m alright now.”
Song Qingchao lowered her head to take a bite, then secretly glanced at Song Qingmu.
Song Qingmu awkwardly reached up to fidget with his reddened earlobe. “Eldest Sister, why do you keep looking at me?”
Song Qingchao, biting the steamed bun, laughed so hard she choked.
Startled, Song Qingmu quickly patted her back.
Her hand holding the steamed bun rested on Song Qingmu’s arm. “So my little brother isn’t a block of wood after all.”
Song Qingmu instantly stopped, embarrassed. “If Eldest Sister doesn’t like hearing it, I won’t say it.”
“No, no, no.” Song Qingchao immediately became serious. “You acting like this is quite…”
She pondered for a long time, waiting for Song Qingmu to lean towards her curiously, before finally uttering the word “cute.”
This made his earlobes turn even redder.
Song Qingchao decided not to tease him further.
It was best to stop while she was ahead, especially since they had to travel soon.
Her stomach was indeed quite hungry.
“Mumu, I need to be honest with you.”
Her sudden serious tone startled Song Qingmu, who sat up straighter, returning to his usual icy demeanor.
He didn’t care who had poisoned him.
He was struggling to protect himself, and Eldest Sister was all he had left.
Song Qingchao glanced around, then used her wide sleeve to cover her hand, signaling Song Qingmu to lean in.
Song Qingmu, blushing, was hesitant to approach.
Song Qingchao unceremoniously pulled him closer. Once her palm was completely covered,
she willed it, and a steaming meat bun appeared in her palm.
The aroma of scallions and pork, rich and enticing, instantly assailed their taste buds.
Song Qingmu’s eyes widened.
After a moment, he looked up at Song Qingchao with a peculiar expression.
“Eldest Sister, where did you get this bun?” he asked, frowning. “Bai Youan is not a good person, and the leader looks like a monkey. You must not humble yourself for food.”
Song Qingchao: …
She was somewhat at a loss.
Mumu was speaking more and more these days…
“What are you thinking?” she playfully punched Song Qingmu. “This bun is mine. I have a space within me.”
She then explained the rules of the space she had discovered, little by little, to Song Qingmu.
As she spoke, she watched Song Qingmu’s expression, worried he wouldn’t accept it.
But thankfully, Song Qingmu didn’t say much in the end.
Instead, he silently urged her to eat the meat bun quickly.
When Song Qingchao took a bite of the bun, she was so touched she felt like crying.
Mumu was really too cute now.
She also took one out for Song Qingmu to eat.
Song Qingmu held the bun for a long time before taking a bite.
“Is it delicious?”
Her eyes sparkled as she scrutinized Song Qingmu’s face for any expression.
Song Qingmu nodded, his voice choked. “Delicious.”
“Oh dear.” Song Qingchao panicked and quickly wiped his cheek with her sleeve. “No, why are you crying?”
Song Qingmu swallowed the bun and frowned. “Eldest Sister, you’ve worked hard.”
Song Qingmu was about to ask more when they were suddenly interrupted by a loud noise.
A rather stout official, holding a gong, stood in the middle, striking it and shouting, “Move out.”
Song Qingchao smiled and lifted Song Qingmu’s arm, helping him to stand.
“Slowly, I’ll tell you everything on the way.”
“Okay.”
Song Qingmu’s legs were weak, and most of his weight pressed against Song Qingchao.
Song Qingchao herself was frail.
After supporting each other for a few steps, they could no longer continue.
Song Qingchao regretted not extorting a few items from Bai Youan.
She suddenly remembered that bottle of medicine, took it out from her space, and tucked it into her clothes. Her body immediately regained its strength.
“Eldest Sister, I can.”
Song Qingmu tried to pull his hand away, but Song Qingchao pressed it down.
“Don’t be difficult.” She swayed her feet, her ankle chains clanging. “With such heavy things, how can you walk without strength now?”
“But, your body…”
“It’s fine,” she replied indifferently, her gaze actively searching for Bai Youan.
She hadn’t told Song Qingmu the whole truth.
Especially the fact that Bai Youan was her only antidote, she dared not mention it.
“Let’s go, we can’t fall too far behind the group. Someone is watching us, so be careful.”