The Marshal’s Wife is Wild
Chapter 143 - 142 Niannian’s Gift

Chapter 143: Chapter 142 Niannian’s Gift

Having boarded the spaceship, Qu Tong took her accustomed seat by the bed without needing Si Yuting’s reminder.

Leaving Qu Tong with a "I’ll call you when we arrive," Si Yuting closed the door behind him as he left.

Qu Tong couldn’t help but sigh, feeling like this small compartment had essentially become her own private resting room, as Yuting probably rarely used it when piloting the spacecraft.

Dressed, Qu Tong lay on the bed and took out her light computer to send a message to Xu An and the others.

Yuting was precise in his actions, so he must have informed the school already.

When she opened her communicator, she saw that Fei Wenxing had just created a group chat, and the others were already chatting away inside.

Long Spear Sticks to Shit, Whoever it Points at Dies: [From now on, our champion team will communicate here.]

Song Ke: [Can you change your name before you talk?]

Cheng Yao: [Exactly, there are three ladies here. Good thing I changed my nickname in advance.]

Fei Wenxing: [Just you with the act.]

Riyue Yuqing: [Hello everyone.]

Fei Wenxing: [Hello, beautiful princess.]

Qu Tong also changed her nickname to her name and sent a message to the group: [The prince and I are heading back first, don’t miss me too much.]

Xu An: [Okay.]

Song Ke: [Jealous.]

He Zhou: [Have a smooth trip.]

Riyue Yuqing: [Prince Consort Sister, we’ll see you again when we get back.]

Cheng Yao: [Sister Tong, are you going to leave us behind? I’m going to miss you to death.]

Fei Wenxing: [Sister Tong, take me with you, how can I live without you!]

Qu Tong: [...]

Qu Tong pursed her lips, not wanting to engage with them, finding that any topic could become weird with Cheng Yao and Fei Wenxing there.

Especially Fei Wenxing, who Qu Tong even suspected had a brain of a different shape than a normal person.

Qu Tong turned off her light computer, resting her hands behind her head, and gazed out the window at the magnificent nebula outside.

It was the first time she would meet the Crown Princess Consort’s precious daughter—what gift should she prepare?

She wasn’t exactly well-versed in worldly affairs and didn’t know what to give to a one-year-old baby.

But since Yuting’s family had been so kind to her, she wanted to take Niannian’s gift seriously and choose something practical.

Qu Tong racked her brains but couldn’t come up with a good idea.

She had to resort to asking Wen You for advice via her light computer, but she rejected all the suggestions Wen You offered.

Finally, Wen You declared herself unable to help and suggested that Qu Tong think back to what she had wanted as a child.

Qu Tong touched her wrist, where the pristine skin faintly concealed a mark shaped like a leaf or a flower.

As a child, huh?

What did she want?

Of course, she wanted to live—such a simple wish.

Those memories were too heavy, and she didn’t want to dwell on them.

However, it did remind her of something that might be useful.

The cool sensation that flowed through her bloodstream, one useful branch among a thousand.

But she wasn’t a physician, not exactly a pharmacist either.

She remembered the formula but wasn’t sure if it would be of any use.

For professional matters, one should seek professional assistance, of course.

Qu Tong threw off the covers and got up from the bed to ask Yuting.

"Your Highness, could you take me to Luyi Star?"

Si Yuting turned around and saw Qu Tong poking her head from behind the door, her eyes glistening as she looked at him, cute and adorable.

"Okay."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Qu Tong flashed Si Yuting a sweet smile before retreating back.

Back in her room, she started to shop for medicinal herbs online, paying extra for transport through portals.

*

As Qu Tong had expected, Si Yuting was busy. After dropping Qu Tong off at Luyi Star, he left.

It was still early morning when they arrived at Luyi Star, and Qu Tong turned on the lights in the courtyard through her optical brain.

As the lights came on, Qu Tong nearly jumped at the sight of the person lying on the old chair in front of her.

"Old Yuan, why are you sleeping out here instead of inside the house?"

Yuan Hewen lifted his eyelids, his voice weak as if he had just woken up: "Disciple, you’re back."

Qu Tong sensed something amiss and looked closely at Yuan Hewen’s complexion.

Indeed, Yuan Hewen’s complexion wasn’t good; under his beard, his lips were cracked and white, and his already sallow, deeply lined face looked even more dim, conveying a sense of fading vitality.

Qu Tong used her spiritual power to sense and discovered that Yuan Hewen’s already shattered and silent Spirit Sea was now showing a slight reaction. However, this spiritual power was very unstable, threatening to erupt at any moment—it was unclear whether this was a good or bad sign.

Qu Tong was somewhat surprised: "Are you trying to repair the Spirit Sea?"

Yuan Hewen was amazed at Qu Tong’s acuteness but didn’t deny it: "Yes."

"Your Spirit Sea is shattered; is this stimulation really doing any good?" Qu Tong expressed her doubt.

She still admired Yuan Hewen—others with a shattered Spirit Sea became fools or turned into ’beasts,’ while he managed to live normally and lucidly for so many years.

Yuan Hewen gave a bitter smile: "Whether it’s useful or not, I still need to try. If this continues, I don’t have many years left anyway."

Qu Tong nodded, understanding. After all, he was once a Potion Grandmaster, and it was worth a try.

Seeing his pained expression, Qu Tong shook her head. If he wanted to lie in the courtyard, let him. It was not her who would catch a cold after all.

When Yuan Hewen saw Qu Tong preparing to return to the house, he inwardly cursed her lack of conscience and weakly called out, "Young girl, wait a moment."

"What is it?" Qu Tong turned back, even managing to yawn slightly.

"Lying in this courtyard makes me feel a bit better. All these plants were grown by you. I know you have your own methods. If you just help me, I will definitely teach you everything I know as if you were my true disciple."

Yuan Hewen spoke almost pleadingly, trying to negotiate.

Qu Tong’s eyes flickered, considering the favor she needed from him, and asked, "Are you sure the way I grow these plants will be useful to you?"

"I’m not certain; I’ve tried all sorts of methods over the years. This is the greatest hope I can see now."

There was a sense of brokenness in Yuan Hewen’s hoarse voice, that feeling of grasping for hope amidst despair, which stirred a bit of compassion in Qu Tong.

"If it has the opposite effect, you’ll have to bear the consequences yourself."

"Don’t worry, I’ve lived a long life; I won’t lose face over this."

"Alright, sign a contract then."

"..."

Yuan Hewen felt like he was about to pass out.

"Young girl, we’re supposed to be helping each other. Why do I have to sign a contract?" Yuan Hewen’s voice was faint but full of vigor.

"This is your volition to teach me all of your knowledge. It’s a fair exchange, lest you carry the title of my master and boldly live off me, and then even retire on my planet."

Yuan Hewen’s head, already in pain, hurt even more, but he stubbornly looked up at Qu Tong: "Young girl, don’t cheat an old man like this. Isn’t half a lifetime of knowledge worth my upkeep for the next few decades? Isn’t it enough if I pay with money?"

Qu Tong pouted regretfully, "That works too, I guess."

"Then hurry up, your master is in agony."

A slight twitch appeared at the corner of Qu Tong’s lips: "Weren’t you fine before I came back?"

"I could have endured it, but you made me so angry. How could it not get worse?"