Gaoshun saw Hui-lan coming down the hall with a basket of clean towels.
He stopped her with just one quiet word.
"Hui-lan."
No loud voice.
No sharp tone.
That's why she straightened up right away.
"Yes, Lord Gaoshun."
"Walk with me."
They turned into a narrow side hall where fewer servants passed. It was quieter here, away from the main rush. Gaoshun stopped, hands folded behind his back, standing straight like always.
"You know," he started, voice calm, "Lord Jinshi asked about Lady Lishu's medicine today."
"Yes," Hui-lan said.
"He heard about it from Lishu's maids," Gaoshun went on. "Not from you."
Hui-lan nodded. "I didn't talk to him myself."
"Good."
The word was simple, but it felt heavy.
"They told him the oil worked," Gaoshun said.
"They told him your name."
Hui-lan's fingers held the basket a little tighter.
"He asked what would happen," Gaoshun continued, "if the pain got worse. If something bad came from the oil."
Hui-lan looked down. "It would have been my fault."
"And mine," Gaoshun said quiet.
"Because you work under me."
They stayed quiet for a moment.
"If the pain had grown," he said,
"if problems started after,
if the oil made things worse instead of better—"
He stopped for a second.
"The palace wouldn't care who meant well. It would only ask who let it happen."
"I understand," Hui-lan said.
"You gave the oil without asking me first."
"Yes."
"You did it because you thought waiting would make her suffer more."
"Yes."
Gaoshun looked at her close.
"You were lucky it worked," he said.
"That doesn't make what you did right. It just means we got away with it this time."
Hui-lan didn't argue. She just nodded.
Then Gaoshun's voice changed a little—still calm, but different.
"You talked to me earlier," he said, "about the girl."
Hui-lan looked up.
"You said she seemed... calmer today."
"Yes," Hui-lan answered slow. "But not in a strange way."
Gaoshun lifted one eyebrow. "Tell me more."
"She still didn't know everything," Hui-lan said.
"She still asked where to help. She still did what I told her."
She stopped for a breath.
"But she wasn't jumping around nervous anymore. She didn't react to every little thing."
Gaoshun waited.
"She moved like she was paying more attention," Hui-lan went on.
"Not like she suddenly knew all the rules—"
She shook her head.
"—but like she had stopped being scared."
That difference was important.
"You didn't say she 'remembered' anything," Gaoshun said.
"No," Hui-lan said fast. "I wouldn't say that."
"Good."
Gaoshun's eyes got a little sharper.
"She acted," Hui-lan added, "like someone who finally knows their place. Not different. Just... more at ease."
Gaoshun thought about that.
"That's not too unusual," he said slow.
"But in a place like this, it gets noticed."
"Yes," Hui-lan said. "That's why I kept it quiet."
"And you will keep it quiet," Gaoshun said.
"I understand."
He turned a bit, showing the talk was almost over.
"One more thing."
"Yes, my lord."
"Don't talk about the girl to Lord Jinshi unless he asks you straight."
"Yes."
"And if he does?"
Hui-lan answered quick. "I'll only say what I saw. Not what I think it means."
Gaoshun nodded once.
"That's enough."
He started to walk away, then stopped.
"Hui-lan."
"Yes, my lord?"
"Next time something feels off," he said low, "come to me first."
"Yes, my lord."
Gaoshun walked on down the hall, toward the small rooms at the end.
Inside, his thoughts kept pushing.
Not loud.
Just steady.
Not about the oil anymore.
Not about the rules.
About a girl who didn't push too far,
who didn't hurry,
who didn't try to get noticed—
and yet changed things just by doing the right thing when others waited.
He stopped in front of the next door.
And stood there quiet.
Waiting.
The hall stayed empty around him.
Light from the windows got softer as the day went on.
Gaoshun didn't move yet.
He had more questions now.
And he wasn't sure he was ready for the answers.
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.