Gaoshun did not go back to his own rooms after leaving Jinshi.
He turned the other way.
Down hallways that were quieter, less busy.
Away from the main parts where important people walked.
His face stayed calm, like always. Hands behind his back. To anyone passing by, he looked the same as ever—the man who kept order in the Inner Palace without ever shouting.
But inside his head, thoughts kept spinning.
Hui-lan should have told me before she used the oil.
But she wouldn't have done it unless she felt sure it was safe.
That sureness worried him.
He could still hear Hui-lan's voice from earlier—quick, low, eyes worried.
She had come to him right after the morning rush.
"The girl made it," Hui-lan had said. "She heard the call about Lady Lishu's pain. She didn't panic. She just went to the herb shelf, mixed the oil fast, and gave it to me. Told me exactly how to use it. Like she had done it many times before."
The girl.
Gaoshun's jaw got a little tight.
He had brought her into the palace himself, only a few days ago.
No real story about where she came from.
No family name he could check.
She had seemed lost. Confused. Like someone who fell into the wrong place.
Strange, yes.
But not dangerous.
At least, that's what he thought then.
Now...
Now she moved like she belonged here.
That bothered him more than the fact she knew how to make medicine.
Anyone could learn recipes from books or watching others.
Anyone could copy good manners if they tried.
But feeling like you fit in the palace?
That took time.
Or something else.
Hui-lan had said it clear: the girl walked the halls without looking nervous. She knew when to step aside, when to stay quiet, when to speak. Like the palace walls had taught her the rules overnight.
Like she wasn't afraid of them anymore.
Gaoshun walked slower now.
And she did all this without anyone really noticing.
She didn't ask for praise.
She didn't try to show off.
She just... did what needed doing.
Not like someone rebelling.
Like it came natural.
His footsteps sounded soft on the wood floor as he got closer to the small rooms where the girl stayed.
Who are you, really? he asked in his head.
Where did you come from before I found you?
Question after question piled up.
How did she know to use a simple scented oil instead of something stronger?
Why did everything feel a little different when she was around—like the air itself changed?
And why did the palace—this place that pushed away anything new or strange—let her stay without trouble?
Gaoshun breathed out slow.
A touch of anger brushed his thoughts, but it didn't stay.
This wasn't real anger.
It was duty.
Responsibility.
I brought her here, he reminded himself.
If she causes problems, it's on me to fix them.
If she's more than she seems, I have to find out.
He stopped right outside the door to her quarters.
The sliding door was closed.
Everything looked normal.
Quiet.
Nothing wrong on the outside.
But Gaoshun felt like he was standing in front of something already in motion.
Something that had started moving the moment he brought her inside the walls.
Whether he was ready or not.
He lifted his hand...
But he didn't knock.
Not yet.
First, he needed to choose the right question.
And decide if he really wanted to hear the answer.
The hallway stayed quiet around him.
Sunlight faded slowly through the windows.
And Gaoshun stood there a little longer, carrying the weight of knowing he might have brought something big into the palace...
without understanding what it was.
Disclaimer
This work is a fan-made story inspired by The Apothecary Diaries. The world, its canon characters, and original setting belong to their creators.
Moon, her journey, and all new scenes written here are entirely my own creations. This story is shared purely for love of the universe and for personal enjoyment. No copyright infringement is intended.