The woman who had been lying on the ground, clutching her swollen belly and groaning in pain, instinctively sat up and hurried forward. Her movements were slow due to her inconvenience.
Zi Yin immediately shouted again, "Ah, it's not just one, but many! So scary!"
"Don't come any closer, ahhh!" Hearing there were many rats, the pregnant woman forgot her act and immediately changed from crawling to scrambling away.
As she ran, she accidentally dropped the soft pillow she had disguised as a "fetus" in her belly.
Everyone with Nangong Xuan Ning was stunned.
Only Gu Qian Ying appeared as if she had expected this.
"Ah? So that person was faking it?" Nangong Xuan Ning looked shocked.
The others were all the same.
The pregnant woman's disguise had been revealed, and she immediately resumed normal behavior.
"How did Miss Gu see that I was not a woman about to give birth?"
Her identity was revealed by Gu Qian Ying, and she had noticed something amiss without even checking her pulse. This was undoubtedly a victory for Gu Qian Ying.
However, she was very curious and particularly wanted to know where her flaw lay.
"The cinnabar mark on your arm, though modified and hidden, is a real thing. No matter how well it's hidden, it will eventually be discovered."
"So that's how it is." The woman was suddenly enlightened, then she smiled at Gu Qian Ying, "Congratulations, Miss Gu. First win in the second round, ten points."
Beside them, Zi Jin and Zi Yin quickly congratulated Gu Qian Ying, "Congratulations, Eldest Miss."
At this moment, Feng Qing Ban and the other two also congratulated Gu Qian Ying, emphasizing how amazing Gu Qian Ying was.
Gu Qian Ying had won ten points in the first round. Nangong Xuan Ning was happy for her in her heart, but she said sourly, "It's just ten points in the first round! What's there to be happy about? You know, to be the final victor of this second round, you need to achieve a score of one hundred points. So you're still a long way off!"
Nangong Xuan Ning walked past Gu Qian Ying and gave her an impolite glare.
Gu Qian Ying paid no mind to Nangong Xuan Ning's attitude and calmly replied, "Mm, so I will work hard. Your Highness, don't be jealous."
With that, Gu Qian Ying walked forward.
Gu Qian Ying's words made Nangong Xuan Ning stomp her feet in anger. She chased after her, "Gu Qian Ying, what ability do you have that makes this princess jealous of you, hmph!"
"I can attract your Ninth Imperial Uncle's attention. This ability is enough for you to be jealous of."
"Gu Qian Ying, you, you, you..."
Mentioning Nangong Mo made Nangong Xuan Ning fly into a rage, but her "bursting anger" was never directed at Gu Qian Ying. Instead, she scolded Feng Qing Ban and the other two fiercely.
Along the way, Feng Qing Ban and the other two had very unpleasant expressions.
A moment later, the six of them arrived at a deserted, but seemingly cleaned, thatched hut to rest.
The six people sat around a table.
Six teacups were placed on the table.
Steam rose from the teacups, emitting a delicate fragrance.
Seeing this, Gu Qian Ying's eyes flickered slightly.
"I'm so thirsty," Nangong Xuan Ning said as she picked up the teacup in front of her to drink, but Gu Qian Ying snatched it from her hand.
"Gu Qian Ying, what are you doing?"
Nangong Xuan Ning was stunned for a moment.
Gu Qian Ying casually tossed an exquisite water pouch into Nangong Xuan Ning's arms, "If you're thirsty, drink this. Don't touch anything here carelessly."
Nangong Xuan Ning glared at Gu Qian Ying and said, "Tch, are you going to say this tea is poisoned again? Heh, why is it always you who decides? If you say it's poisoned, it's poisoned; if it's not, it's not?"
As she said this, Nangong Xuan Ning wore a disdainful smile, but she still unceremoniously opened the water pouch and took a large gulp of water.
Seeing this, the others who were about to drink the tea also put down their teacups, enduring their thirst, and began to ask Gu Qian Ying why she suspected the tea was poisoned.
Of course, Zi Jin and Zi Yin maintained a golden silence. Even though they were also in doubt, they would never ask too many questions.
After a short rest, the six of them left together. As they departed, no one noticed the pair of eyes hiding in a nearby corner, watching them silently, which then disappeared with their departure.
Just as Gu Qian Ying and the other five were discussing their next route, they suddenly encountered a middle-aged uncle chopping wood on the way.
The uncle was dressed in tattered cloth, with a regular face, thick eyebrows, large eyes, a stout build, and dark skin, clearly a farmer who had been chopping wood for a living for years.
The group saw him and found nothing unusual. As they passed by him, they paid him no particular attention.
However, Gu Qian Ying suddenly stopped and turned around, walking towards the farmer who was chopping wood.
Seeing this, Nangong Xuan Ning was startled, "Gu Qian Ying, what are you doing now?"
Gu Qian Ying ignored her and approached the wood-chopping uncle, looking at him, "Uncle, may I ask how long you have been working here?"
The uncle stopped his work, turned around, and smiled in response, "Miss, I have been working here for about two hours. May I ask what you mean by asking this?"
"Two hours, and you're not even out of breath, Uncle. Your health is quite good."
"Miss, you jest. Though I am old, my old arms and legs are still strong. Besides, I do this daily, so I don't find it particularly difficult or tiring."
"Oh, so if you work like this all day, you must have plenty of energy at night and not know what fatigue is, right?"
"This... Ha..." The middle-aged uncle hesitated, his expression a little unnatural.
While the middle-aged uncle was lost in thought, Gu Qian Ying placed her hand on his wrist, took his pulse, and then said:
"However, it is not so. After sunset, I become like a frost-beaten eggplant, weak all over, my spirits are not good, and most importantly, I am unable to enjoy marital bliss with my wife. But when it comes to daytime, you are like a person who is fine, not only that, but even healthier than others your age.
And with your condition, if you told anyone that something was wrong with your body, no one would believe you, would they?"
At this point, the wood-chopping uncle froze.
Just then, Nangong Xuan Ning walked over, "Gu Qian Ying, what nonsense are you talking about? This uncle doesn't look sick at all. You..."
Before she could finish her words, the wood-chopping uncle cupped his hands towards Gu Qian Ying and exclaimed, "This young lady must have excellent medical skills. Please treat me."
Everyone was stunned again.
Nangong Xuan Ning's words came to an abrupt halt.
Who would have thought that a strong man would be a patient?
Gu Qian Ying smiled faintly, "Although I have diagnosed your illness, the one who can treat it is not me, but her."
Gu Qian Ying pointed at Nangong Xuan Ning.
Everyone followed her gaze.
Nangong Xuan Ning was dumbfounded.
"Me? This princess? How could this princess treat him?"
"Of course you can, you're just too modest."
Gu Qian Ying leaned forward and whispered a few words into Nangong Xuan Ning's ear.
Following Gu Qian Ying's words, Nangong Xuan Ning's expression changed slightly.
A moment later.
Nangong Xuan Ning turned to everyone, "Turn around, everyone."
Gu Qian Ying was the first to comply.
The others followed.
After everyone had turned around,
Nangong Xuan Ning poked the stunned face of the wood-chopping uncle, "Hey, uncle, stop looking. Come on, let's begin?"
The uncle was bewildered, "Begin what?"
"Take off your clothes, what else!"
"Ah?"
The uncle was scared stiff, not knowing how to react.
"What 'ah', hurry up and take them off!"
"Ai yi, so slow. Come, come, I'll help you."
*Rip!*
The sound of clothes being torn reached their ears.
Among the crowd, Feng Qing Ban was a little curious and wanted to know what Nangong Xuan Ning was doing. She turned her head to peek, and upon seeing it, her eyes widened suddenly.