The two of them each tried several more times, but the results were always the same.

The potions Lan Yu made had absolutely no effect. Meanwhile, Mu Nanyan could toss a few medicinal ingredients into a pot at random, give them a simple boil, and turn them into wondrous medicine.

Lan Yu tried again and again, even copying Mu Nanyan down to the smallest detail, but she still failed.

With every attempt and every failure, Lan Yu’s self-esteem shattered a little more.

But Mu Nanyan’s movements were completely casual, and she could still make that wondrous medicine every single time.

After more than ten tries, Lan Yu gave up. She’d tasted so much of the medicine she was about to throw up. It was amazing, sure, but the taste was truly awful.

Calling it hard to swallow wouldn’t be an exaggeration. They were all poisonous substances, after all. Honestly, Lan Yu was pretty relieved that the failed batches had lost their toxicity.

Otherwise, all those poisons would’ve been enough to kill her little frame outright.

“I give up, Your Majesty… This wondrous medicine really isn’t something just anyone can replicate.”

After all, this was wondrous medicine that had even gotten her teacher so excited. How could it possibly be easy to replicate? It only made sense that wondrous medicine could be made by extraordinary people, right?

“Wait, don’t give up! I really haven’t been holding anything back. I even told you how fast to breathe while making the medicine… Maybe you can’t replicate it because…”

Mu Nanyan stumbled over her words too. She really had taught the girl everything she could. But if this little thing couldn’t replicate what she made, what was she supposed to do?

“N-no, I’m not blaming you, Your Majesty. It’s probably just because I’m too stupid.”

Lan Yu lowered her head, her lips pursed slightly. She looked at the mess all over the floor and the medicinal ingredients that had been boiled black. Disappointment was written all over her face.

“Don’t sell yourself short. There’s no harm in trying a few more times.”

Mu Nanyan gently patted Lan Yu on the head. Seeing how flustered she was, Mu Nanyan didn’t know how to comfort her.

She looked at her own hands. All she’d done was casually grab some ingredients and toss them into a pot to boil. How come she could do it, but this girl couldn’t?

“Um! Your Majesty! I know this is rude to ask, but… would you take me as your apprentice?”

“I-I can do anything! I may be a little on the frail side, but I can do the laundry, cook, and clean. On summer nights, I can fan you to keep you cool and chase away the mosquitoes. On winter nights, I can even warm your bed ahead of time…”

“In short, please take me in! I want to learn how to make medicine from you.”

Lan Yu was so worked up, she was practically ready to kowtow to the Empress.

Faced with this sudden request to become her apprentice, Mu Nanyan stood there, dumbfounded.

Gan Mei, standing nearby, was also startled by the sudden turn of events. For one thing, Lan Yu already had a teacher—the renowned imperial physician of the Demon Clan, no less.

But then there was all that stuff she’d just mentioned: doing the laundry, cooking, cleaning… a-and warming her bed. Wasn’t she deliberately trying to make me, Gan Mei, look bad?

If you’re going to do all those chores, what’s left for me, the maid, to do?

The Demon Emperor had given her orders: while keeping an eye on Mu Nanyan, she was also to take good care of her daily needs and keep her safe.

Gan Mei wasn’t too keen on the idea—especially the part about warming her bed. She wasn’t sure why those words caught her attention so much, but… only Gan Mei, the Demon Clan’s number-one maid, could warm the Empress’s bed!

“Miss Lan Yu, don’t you already have a teacher? Wouldn’t it be a little inappropriate to take Her Majesty as your teacher too?”

Before Mu Nanyan could say a word, Gan Mei spoke up first.

For some reason, Mu Nanyan thought she heard a hint of jealousy in Gan Mei’s voice.

What was with this weird atmosphere?

“It’s fine! Before I came here, my teacher told me that if I couldn’t learn it, I should just cling to Her Majesty’s coattails.”

“Is that really something an imperial physician would say?” Gan Mei’s mouth twitched.

“Mm-hmm! My teacher said it herself. Those were her exact words!”

Is this girl a little too straightforward…? Mu Nanyan grumbled to herself.