“The Ming Sect is a prestigious and righteous sect, not some criminal gang!” The indignant cry came from the young woman in the courtyard, her eyes wide with fury.
I leaned in close to her and said with mock gravity, “This ‘prestigious and righteous’ label—that’s just something you gave yourselves, isn’t it? When the Ming Sect was first established, did you apply for a permit from the relevant government departments? Did you obtain state approval? Do you have an official business license? Do you pay taxes regularly?”
She stared at me, utterly speechless. I shook my head with a look of feigned regret. “None of the above? Then from a legal perspective, you are an unregistered, illegal organization. In essence, you’re no different from a criminal gang.”
Master Rong Qin let out a soft cough, interrupting my impromptu lecture on legal compliance.
She didn’t scold me for calling her sect a gang; I suspected that in her heart, any lingering affection for them had long since withered. She simply addressed them with cold composure. “Go back and tell your Sect Leader that I will be leaving this place soon. I intend to visit a few friends and perhaps travel beyond the pass. I won’t return for at least two years. If she manages to live that long, I will certainly pay her a visit.”
“Beyond the pass?” My eyes lit up at those words. Images of the endless green steppes immediately flooded my mind. I quickly tugged on my master’s sleeve. “Do you mean the Linxi Grasslands?”
Master Rong Qin glanced at me. “What are you plotting now?”
I grinned. “Oh, nothing much. I just thought it would be so lonely and dull for you to travel all by yourself! Wouldn’t it be much more interesting to have someone to talk to, someone to go shopping with, someone to play the zither for you, and someone to serve you tea? Besides, I can… cook! I can make scrambled eggs, and…”
Master Rong Qin didn’t seem particularly swayed by my sales pitch. She looked at me thoughtfully and said, “The first person I intend to visit is the Poison Fairy, Feng Xiuxiu. She is the grand ancestor of all things related to toxins and their antidotes. If you truly intend to become a constable, she is someone you must meet.”
I practically jumped for joy. “Does that mean you agree?”
Seeing her nod with a faint smile, I turned and bolted toward the gate. My master’s voice trailed after me, calling out instructions: “No jewelry, no maids, and no looking for trouble!”
I agreed to everything, of course.
When I arrived home in high spirits, my father had just returned from the imperial court. I rushed to tell him about my plan to travel with my master, but to my surprise, he simply lowered his head and walked into the courtyard without saying a word.
My heart sank. I had already decided that if they didn't agree, I would slip away under the cover of night—with my current skills, even Auntie Fu wouldn't be able to catch me. But I truly wanted their blessing. Only with their consent could I set out with a clear conscience.
Lost in thought, I followed my father all the way to the rear courtyard, arriving at the residence of the First Wife, Madame Zhang. I stopped at the threshold, unsure if I should follow him inside.
“Come in,” my father said, without looking back.
When we entered Madame Zhang’s room, I was surprised to find my own mother there as well. The room was bustling with people surrounding Wuxiu. My sister’s hair was styled in a formal updo adorned with numerous ornaments, making her look like a beautiful porcelain doll. She stood in the center of the room with her arms held out, frozen in place, while two seamstresses specially brought in for the occasion checked her dress for alterations.
Seeing us enter, Madame Zhang hurriedly said, “Wuxiu, don’t move!” Then she turned to explain to my father, “The eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s manor is a close friend of Wuxiu’s. Her birthday is next month, and the invitation has already arrived. Wuxiu must attend. We’re just fitting her dress now.” She then turned her gaze to me. “You must go as well. Have the seamstress take your measurements in a moment. I don’t know what you’re so busy with lately that you’re never home. If we don’t start now, your dress won't be ready in time.”
Watching Wuxiu standing there like a statue, a wave of inexplicable dread washed over me. I hadn't even married into a noble house yet, and was this the life that awaited me? I looked up and met my father’s deep, searching gaze. He gave me a brief look before turning his eyes back to Wuxiu, his expression momentarily vacant. I noticed his hands clenched into fists behind his back.
One of the seamstresses approached us, bowing to my father before pulling out a soft measuring tape to take my size. Even though she was just an ordinary woman with no martial arts training, I instinctively took a step back.
My mother came over and took my hand, her voice tinged with mild reproach. “You are the future young consort of the Prince Jing Manor, yet you still run around like a wild child all day. You’re a grown woman now; why don’t you have even half of Wuxiu’s grace? Many noble ladies will be at the Prime Minister’s banquet. If you remain this careless, you’ll bring shame to the Prince Jing Manor…”
As she spoke, the seamstress reached out toward me. I wanted to pull away but didn't dare use force against my mother. Just as I was caught in that awkward struggle, I heard my father speak.
“Let go of Chao’er. You all should… look after Xiu’er first.”
Everyone in the room froze.
As if he had finally made a difficult decision, my father reached out and pulled me to his side. His grip was firm, as if he were trying to transfer his strength to me through that touch, calming the panic in my heart.
The women in the room looked at each other in confusion. Madame Zhang and my mother exchanged a glance, and Madame Zhang said with a hint of dissatisfaction, “Master, we know you dote on Chao’er, but she is no longer a child. If she doesn't start learning etiquette now…”
My father ignored them, leading me out by the hand. I stole a glance back; Madame Zhang and my mother looked helpless and worried, but Wuxiu was watching me cautiously, her gaze a complex mix of surprise and envy.
My father took me to sit on the rockery again. Looking down at the pond filled with water lilies and the sprawling garden, I had a sudden sense of déjà vu, remembering a similar scene from years ago.
He gazed silently into the distance. Looking at his steady eyes, I realized he had changed a lot over the last few years. The high-spirited energy he’d had when we first arrived in the capital had vanished, his sharp edges quietly smoothed away. He didn't smile as much as he used to. I leaned gently against him, a sudden pang of sadness hitting me.
My father stroked my braid and asked softly, “Chao’er, have you thought about what kind of life you want to lead?”
I nodded.
He gave me a handsome smile. “Tell me about it, then.”
I felt that this was as good a time as any to lay my cards on the table. Summoning my courage, I said, “I can’t become like Wuxiu, and I don’t want to. I don’t want to marry into the Prince Jing Manor and be a young consort. I want to master martial arts and join the Ministry of Justice as a constable. That way, I’ll have my own salary and won’t have to depend on anyone else to support me.”
My father didn't seem surprised by my answer at all. I wondered if Luo Jin had mentioned something to him. I looked up at him, and he was looking down at me. “I always thought Baofu and Auntie Fu were top-tier experts in the martial world. But Auntie Fu says your skills have already surpassed hers. That means I don't really have to worry about your safety anymore.”
He smiled, but his eyes were suddenly tinged with a touch of melancholy. “When I was young, I also dreamed of being a wandering hero. But in the end, I followed my family’s wishes and entered the civil service.” He shook his head and laughed. “Of all my children, your temperament is the most like mine. However, as a father, I am truly conflicted. I feel like I’m gambling with your future. If I indulge you now and you end up missing your chance with the Prince Jing Manor…”
I hugged his arm, overcome with joy. “Does that mean you’re letting me go with my master?”
He gave a helpless laugh. “So be it. At worst, your old man will just support you for the rest of your life.”
His words made my heart soar. I jumped up and gave him a resounding kiss on the cheek.
“Write home as soon as you reach a new place,” he instructed with an indulgent look. “And tell me everything you see and hear in detail… consider it fulfilling my own wishes on my behalf.”
***
The first place Master Rong Qin and I visited was the Yuyang River.
Seeing the largest river in the Kingdom of Yantian with my own eyes left me breathless with excitement. It was unlike the Yangtze, the Songhua, or any other river I had ever seen. Its vast surface held a powerful current, yet framed by the endless reeds along its banks, it possessed an indescribable, delicate charm.
Master Rong Qin took me by boat from the Yuyang docks. After about half a month of travel, we arrived at Pulin, the largest city on the lower reaches of the river. Pulin was the kingdom’s primary rice producer and a major hub for silk. Thanks to its extensive water transport network, Pulin’s silks were even exported as far as the distant island nation of Nanwan.
In the picturesque outskirts of Pulin, near a primeval forest, lay a mysterious valley that the locals spoke of with dread: the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons. That was where the Poison Fairy, Feng Xiuxiu, lived.
It was early morning when we entered the valley. Although autumn had already arrived in the capital, it was still mid-summer here. The mountains were covered in nameless flowers and plants, looking like a spread of fine brocade under the bright sun. Even the air was thick with a sweet floral fragrance.
“Don’t touch anything that looks like a common weed,” my master warned me seriously. “It could be the deadliest poison in the world, or some rare antidote the Poison Fairy scavenged from who-knows-where.” I followed her cautiously along a narrow path. But for some reason, the further we walked, the dizzier I felt. It suddenly occurred to me—could this sweet fragrance have an effect similar to poppies or anesthetic?
Within the sea of flowers, several figures slowly appeared.
Before we even reached them, we heard a woman’s angry voice: “What is there to be afraid of? Do you think I can’t save you? How can you be my disciple if you’re such a coward?”
I peeked out from behind my master. A middle-aged woman in light-colored robes was trying to force a teenage boy to eat something. The boy was deathly pale, seemingly paralyzed by fear.
Master Rong Qin wore a helpless smile, as if she were well-acquainted with such scenes.
“This Green Hibiscus… didn't Master say that eating it would rot my intestines and kill me within fifteen minutes?” The boy trembled and took another step back.
The Poison Fairy frowned, her face full of disdain. “If you don’t taste it yourself, how will you ever know exactly what the symptoms are when the poison takes effect?”
My heart stirred. In the ancient legends of my world, didn't Shennong taste a hundred herbs? Her logic actually made sense. I turned to look at Master Rong Qin, who gave me a knowing, half-smile. She had brought me here specifically to study pharmacology under the Poison Fairy…
With that thought, I gritted my teeth and stepped forward. “Let me try it.”
The Poison Fairy didn't seem at all surprised by the sudden appearance of two more people in her valley. She calmly held out a vibrant green plant and said, “Look closely, girl. The leaves of the Green Hibiscus have a layer of fuzz that retracts after the sun goes down. There’s another variety called the Black Hibiscus; its leaves are a darker shade but have no fuzz. The Black Hibiscus blooms in spring with tiny yellow flowers and smells like tea. It’s non-toxic. Understand?”
I nodded to show I understood. She tore off a leaf and held it to my lips. After a moment’s hesitation, I opened my mouth and swallowed it.
The Poison Fairy watched me intently. “Remember the dosage; I gave you one whole leaf. What are your reactions?”
“It’s slippery, tastes a bit sweet, and my mouth feels cool after swallowing…” Just as I said that, a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I clutched my stomach. “It hurts… from my stomach down to my lower belly…”
Master Rong Qin stepped forward and scooped me up in her arms. Seeing the look of concern on her face, I suddenly felt that the pain was worth it—she had never held me like this before.
The Poison Fairy pulled a pill from her robes and popped it into my mouth. “When Green Hibiscus poison takes effect, there is no abnormality from the throat to the stomach, but the area from the stomach to the lower abdomen feels like it’s burning away. That is the most distinct difference between it and other poisons.”
This was a vivid lesson indeed. I wondered if she taught like this every day. If so, I probably wouldn't last long. But there was no denying that a lesson like this would never be forgotten.
The pain in my stomach began to fade, replaced by a sense of total exhaustion. I drifted off to sleep in Master Rong Qin’s arms. I vaguely heard the Poison Fairy’s voice: “This is her first time smelling the White Shade fragrance; she was using her internal energy to resist it earlier. Now that the Green Hibiscus has worn her out, the effects of the White Shade are taking over. She’ll be fine after a nap. I must say, I quite like this disciple of yours. Why don’t you give her to me instead…”
And so, my first day of studies in the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons passed in a deep slumber.
In the days that followed, I gradually discovered that the Poison Fairy, Feng Xiuxiu, was not just a martial artist skilled in toxins, but also a remarkable physician and scholar. While most doctors of this era relied on the traditional four methods of diagnosis—observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking—Feng Xiuxiu had performed countless dissections to observe the damage poisons caused to the body. Her understanding of human anatomy was unparalleled in this world.
My appreciation for her medical philosophy, combined with my limited knowledge of modern medicine, made me a favorite of hers. Thus, I gained another master. My new master’s lightness skills were on par with Master Rong Qin’s, and she was particularly adept at hidden weapons. Years ago, I had my father forge a set of throwing knives for me, but since Master Rong Qin didn't use hidden weapons, they had remained part of my collection. Under my new master, those sharp blades finally found their purpose.
Master Rong Qin had originally estimated I would stay for six months. I ended up staying for over a year.
She had brought me here in the early autumn of the sixteenth year of the Tianmang era. When she came to fetch me, it was already the early summer of the eighteenth year. By the autumn of this year, I would be fifteen.
On the day we left the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons, I sat atop my horse and looked back at the blooming valley, feeling a pang of reluctance to leave.
Master Rong Qin looked at me with satisfaction. “I’ve heard that Feng Xiuxiu’s disciples usually can’t finish their training in less than three to five years. You truly are an anomaly.” She had just returned from the Eastern Sea; though she looked thinner than before, her spirit was high.
I grumbled, “You tricked me by saying we were going to the Linxi Grasslands, then you dumped me here while you went off to enjoy yourself.”
Master Rong Qin laughed. “To make it up to you, let’s head there right now.”
I was overjoyed. “You have to keep your word!”
Master Rong Qin smiled but didn't answer. I gave the reins a firm tug, and my large black horse let out a long neigh, bolting forward to take the lead.
***
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A Dream of Justice: The First Lady Constable | Chapter 16 | Venturing into the World | Novela.app | Novela.app
