Medicine for the Black Mirage Leopard

Fangsu had now returned back with the Life's Persimmon and it had also ripened during the journey back which would increase the effectiveness of the medicine. Fangsu went to a nearby clothing shop to buy a veiled hat to his her ash grey hair. However, the small number of people was amazed by the beautiful sheen and silky of the ash grey hair which perfectly framed a beautiful face that was slightly tanned with a light sprinkle of freckles that was barely noticeable and pinkish petal-like lips. This person with unimaginable beauty was a goddess as if this person was personally sculpted but Nuwa herself. But, Fangsu hid behind the veiled hat after buying the hat and quickly left.

Riding through the bustling streets on Tian, Fangsu managed to manoeuvre through the crowds of people. Reaching the crowded Flower Fragrance and the startling was that there was an entire waiting line for people to enter the packed store. An employee who had sunken expression as they were scanning the long line of customers saw Fangsu and their expression brightened exponentially, "Little Boss! Let me take your horse!" The employee took the reins from Fangsu's hand, quickly taking the horse into the backyard while another employee leads Fangsu into the busy store. The customers who were stuck in the long line was in awe at the person who entered the shop easily and the employees were very respectful to the person. Having easy access to the store and having the employees serving the person showed the person was of high regard within the store.

Fangsu was lead into the store by an employee who was making a path for her to enter the stairway to the upper floors. Nodding in appreciation, Fangsu dismisses the employee to continue working. Walking up the long stairway, Fangsu entered the upper floor which was used for the nobility and influential people. The floor was also swamped with many people which would cause problems in the future with the flow of customers. "Little Boss! You have returned!" Bao Ming rushed over to Fangsu taking her by the hand, dragging her into the office, "Your grandpa wants you!" Rushing out the door to continue to serve the hoard of customers in the shop.

Fangsu entered the study where her grandpa was working on the documents for accounting, "You wanted me?" Closing the door to muffle the loud noises from the customers in the store.

Fangsu's grandpa smiled having not seen Fangsu in the past few days due to the Empress's 'request' which was more of a demand rather than a request, "You washed out the dye," The beautiful natural hair colour was always hidden and it was quite a pleasant surprise to see it again, "Your hair is very beautiful, I wish you could show your hair more often." There was an evident sadness in her grandpa's eyes which made Fangsu have complicated feelings about her hair. Taking a lock of hair in her hand, Fangsu stare at her hair colour but instead of being depressed. Smiling at her natural hair colour as she remembered her sisters always said her hair colour was something to be proud of. This reaction was the opposite of what he thought Fangsu would have reacted which surprised him.

Fangsu took a stick of dye from one of the shelves of the study and placed it into her bag, "Grandpa what did you want to talk to me about?" Fangsu's dye was still in the prototype and the only problem was that this type of product was very hard to create and it the dye wouldn't last any longer than 2 weeks before it became crusty. It didn't help that this wasn't Fangsu's expertise.

Her grandpa placed the brush down, "You know that you have caught the attention of people in the royal court because of the Empress," Rummaging through the drawers of the study desk. Pausing at the handle of the drawer, Fangsu's grandpa clenched his fist knowing that the entire court now knows of the Chen family's return. Fangsu's grandpa pulled out a small white jade tablet that faintly glowed in his hand, "This is jade tablet holds all the Chen Family secret techniques from a martial art, plant cultivation but the most important techniques are the spirit arts." Walking towards Fangsu with the tablet in hand. Her grandpa took Fangsu's hand and placed the jade tablet in her hand which glow much more brightly in her hands than in her grandpa's. It immediately begins to dim to the same level of brightness when Fangsu's grandpa held the tablet. Fangsu immediately felt dizzy and faintly to the ground, but her grandpa caught her before hitting the ground. Carrying her granddaughter to a separate room in the study was a small bedroom that was installed during the renovations.

After being placed on the pillowy soft bed, Fangsu's grandpa released a sigh as he stared at her face. Gently caressing the silky ash grey hair, Fangsu's grandpa held the jade tablet with complicated feelings as people from his generation were few but there would always be people wanting to take the spirit arts. Even though the Chen family is well known for their cultivation of plants and profound amount of knowledge of botany. Only people of his generation and pervious generation knew that the Chen family was well known for the Spirit Arts and its ability to command spirits. All the members of the Chen family have varying degrees of abilities to immerse themselves in the spirit realm. Member with ash grey eyes can see in the spirit realm. It was a common tradition for a member of the Chen family to be accompanied by a Qilin to protect them from malicious spirits. Fangsu's family had been very strong senses for the spiritual realm but had very different abilities. Fangsu's mother had the ability to travel to the afterlife, Fangsu's eldest sister had always been able to sense a spirit's presence from many li away and Liansu even thought had the weakest sense for the spiritual realm was able to sense the people who were possessed by spirits, "Mother... Jie Jie... Mei Mei," Fangsu began mumbling in her sleep as tears fell down, wetting the pillows. Fangsu's grandpa wiped away the tears with his sleeve.

Closing the window from the winds and untying the curtain to cover the room in darkness, "Rest well, child." He closed the door and placed a soundproof barrier around the room to create a silent environment for Fangsu.

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Fangsu woke up from the pillowy bed, yawning. Her body felt incredibly light and refreshed, opening the window to allow fresh air to circulate throughout the room. The harsh rays of sunlight beamed on Fangsu's face, causing Fangsu to flinch as her eye adjusted to bright light. Later discovering that she slept throughout the entire day yesterday. Da Fu entered the room with a fresh set of clothes, "Young Miss, a warm bath has already been drawn and your bag has been packed already." Dragging Fangsu to the tub of warm water, Da Fu helped Fangsu with applying the dark dye into her hair and dress into attire that was easy to manoeuvre in. After the refreshing bath, the scent of food wafted through the air, "Your grandpa has already bought breakfast to eat," Da Fu dished some of the food onto a plate and placed in on the table in front of Fangsu. Information of powerful secret techniques overwhelmed her mind, Fangsu remained dazed after receiving the information.

After Fangsu ate breakfast, mounting atop Tian's back to travelling to the Imperial Palace. Once again, Fangsu walked up the Imperial stairs to reach the big door of the dreary Imperial Palace to continuing on working on the cure for the Empress's mount. As Fangsu was walking through the corridors, two little figure ran toward Fangsu hugging her, "Prince Li Mo! Princess Biyu!" Fangsu smiled happily, their adorable smiles brighten her day effortlessly.

Both Li Mo and Biyu pouted have been addressed by their royal title which they didn't like, "Big Sister! You don't have to call us by our royal title," Li Mo pursued his lip as he smiled. Biyu nodded her head cutely, her double bun followed suit with her hair movement.

Fangsu crouch to their level, patting both their head, "When I finish work for today I will make you something to eat," Grinning widely are the twin's reaction as they both jumped in excitement at the mention of yummy food, "In the afternoon, let's meet at the Dowager's palace," Fangsu smiled before going to the caretaker facility. Once she entered the facility the people in the caretaker unit were respectful to Fangsu because of her unfeeling voice that scared the caretakers. Seeing that the number of caretakers decreased, Fangsu was surprised.

Fangsu met up with Wu Song who had collected the Dew of the Death Willow. The head caretaker was happy to see the two ingredients and it was given to an Alchemist to synthesis the ingredients and create the medicine for the Black Mirage Leopard, "Where did you get the Life's Persimmon?" The Alchemist asked excited as he finished making the medicine and gave the finished product to the head caretaker, "Many people have always wanted to get Life's Persimmon but the travel is so long that the fruit perished during the trip back," The alchemist was excitedly beamed at the head caretaker.

The head caretaker shook his head, "Sorry, but that information is classified." Knowing that Fangsu would not be willing to reveal such important and valuable information about the source of Life's Persimmon. The alchemist pouted unhappily and left the caretaker facility unit. The head caretaker handed the medicine to Fangsu who was surprised, "You were the main contributor for the medicine it is only right that you do it." Fangsu was smiles looking at the medicine.

Turning to Wu Song's direction and taking his hand, "You are much more suited for finishing this task," Placing the medicine ball in Wu Song. Fangsu told Wu Song in crushing the medicine and cut the meat in a way that it would open like a book and smear the medicine in between the cut. Entering the enclosure once again, and the Black Mirage Leopard weakly laid on a rock.

Wu Song left the meat on the ground for the Leopard to eat, "I need to do some documenting," Exiting from the enclosure to do other administering work that came with being in the role of a caretaker. The Leopard looked at the meat with hunger but it was too weak and tired to move.

Seeing how desperately hungry the Leopard wanted to eat, Fangsu grabbed the pieces of meat with her hand carefully approaching the leopard. Placing the meat in front of the Leopard, which swiped at Fangsu scratching her arm and it began profusely bleeding but Fangsu didn't care, "Eat." Those simple words made the Leopard slowly eat the meat. After the Leopard ate the meat, it slowly gained back some energy returned back in the Leopard's eyes. Cautiously, Fangsu patted the remaining soft fur of the Leopard humming a short melody. The leopard reacted positively to the song, purring as Fangsu patted the patchy remain of its fur but the fur will return after some intensive care and nourishment. The Leopard nudged Fangsu's arm, licking the wound as a means to apologise.

After the Leopard had finished its meal, Fangsu returned back into the caretaker of the unit and go to the Dowager's Palace. As Fangsu walked into the Dowager's Palace she was immediately greeted by the servants which Fangsu paid her respects to. The plum blossoms were in still in full bloom even after its optimal period, signalling the nearing of the end of the winter season. "Your Majesty! Lady Meng!" Fangsu bowed.

The Empress Dowager smiled "Fangsu! You're hurt!" as she saw the blood-stained sleeve on Fangsu's arm. Lady Meng immediately went to grab some ointment and bandages. Lady Meng stared at the nasty gash on Fangsu's arm and there was a big chance it would leave a scar.

Lady Meng cleaned the wound, rub the ointment and bandaged the wound properly, "Fangsu! You have to be careful! What if you get an infection from the cut?" Lady Meng got some medicine for her to drink to help with the healing process, "You already have frail health! You need to care about yourself more!" Lady Meng scolded Fangsu gently which caused Fangsu to meekly nod.

Two sets of footsteps came running into the Dowager's palace, "Big Sister!" Li Mo and Biyu came running into Fangsu's arm which caused Fangsu to fall backwards on the ground, "What are you going to make today?" The two children were excited about the food.

Fangsu laughed as she turned to the Empress Dowager, "Can I have permission to use the kitchen?" The Empress Dowager nodded as a gesture towards a servant to lead Fangsu into the Dowager's personal kitchen. Seeing the massive kitchen that was stocked with all sorts of expensive ingredient was impressive, "Can I ask if I can use the Char Siu?" Fangsu pointed to the plate of Char Siu. The personal chef nodded. Fangsu set aside the plate of Char Siu for later.

In a pot, Fangsu adds water and sugar together to get a sugar-water mixture. Letting it cool at the side. In a small bowl, Fangsu added yeast and water together to set aside for 10 minutes. In another bowl, rice flour and water was mixed together until combined. Then add the cold sugar water mixture into the rice flour mixture and then add the yeast liquid. Fangsu allowed the mixture to ferment for 2 hours until there were bubbles on the surface. Fangsu poured the fermented mixture into an oiled steam basket. Fangsu steamed the mixture for 15-20 minutes until it became a fluffy rice cake. Fangsu placed the cake on a plate with two sauce dishes with honey and jam. On a tray, Fangsu placed the cake with the sauces and Char Siu.

Fangsu cane walking out of the kitchen to see the Empress Dowager, Lady Meng and the twins eating lunch with the same man that she met at the Winter Banquet. Once Li Mo and Biyu saw Fangsu coming out of the kitchen they stopped eating their lunch and ran to Fangsu, clinging on her clothes, "Big Sister! You came out!" They pulled Fangsu clothes to the table filled with dishes. They took a bowl and filled it with rice, lovingly placed all sort of side dishes into her bowl. Both the Dowager and Lady Meng smiled at the cute scene of two little children wanting to feed the older girl.

Lady Meng smiled, "Fangsu, I want you to meet my grandson Zhao Hui," introducing the man who was peacefully eating his meal was interrupted while his mouth was full. He was the weird person who has given her the talisman, "Zhao Hui! Mind your manners in front of Fangsu!" Lady Meng slapped her grandson on the arm, who immediately flinched at the impact.

Fangsu laughed at the pair, "Lady Meng, no need for manners," Fangsu wiped Li Mo and Biyu's mouth from lunch, "The rice cake is ready to eat if you want some," Fangsu turned to the young man who was surprised at Fangsu's behaviour. Fangsu gave Li Mo, Biyu, The Dowager, Lady Meng and Zhao Hui a slice of the fluffy rice cake.

The Empress Dowager was surprised when Fangsu ate the Char Siu with the sweet rice cake, "You are eating the rice cake with Char Siu?" The Dowager was interested and decided to try herself. Seeing that the odd pairing was indeed very delicious, it was a good savoury alternative for the sweet rice cake. Everyone decided to eat the same way and were surprised to find it delicious.

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Author Announcement:

Hi to everyone who reads this. I wanted to say that I'm sorry my updating schedule hasn't been consistent lately. That is mainly due to school work and to be honest, laziness. I will try to keep updating every week on either a Friday, Saturday or a Sunday. Again I'm sorry for my inconsistent schedule