As soon as the words fell, a figure abruptly appeared in the dilapidated small room.
The newcomer wore plain grayish-white robes, with an utterly ordinary face—the kind that would instantly blend into a crowd—but their eyes, distinctively black and white, were exceptionally lively.
Kneeling on one knee before the straw mat, they said, “Young Master, this subordinate has arrived late.”
The man lying on the straw mat snorted coldly, “Why not wait until I’m dead? Then you could just roll up the straw mat and conveniently collect the corpse.”
Hearing his master’s words, Shen Shi trembled, burying his head even lower.
“Young Master’s criticism is justified. Besides our people, two other forces were tracking Young Master’s whereabouts—one from His Majesty’s side, the other from Prince Cheng’s. Additionally, the cipher Young Master left behind was damaged, which delayed us.”
The cipher was damaged? Wei Rong smiled without warmth. “The usual training has been too lenient.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Shi felt aches creeping through his bones and muscles.
He truly wanted to cry out in injustice! Not only was the cipher left by Your Excellency damaged, but its scent was also masked by the stench of pungent salted fish.
Shen Shi couldn’t understand why there were so many foul-smelling salted fish around this shabby little hut.
Prince Cheng’s men hadn’t found them, and even their own people had nearly failed.
Wei Rong was now moved to a small courtyard in a bustling market in the western suburbs. Though it was a lively area, the courtyard was largely shaded by two massive persimmon trees, their lush branches blocking out most of the noise from the market.
In a room on the second floor of the courtyard, Wei Rong had washed up and changed out of his tattered, blood-stained clothes.
It was while bathing that he saw, reflected in the water, a circle of dark red residue around his mouth.
No wonder that fool Shen Shi had been looking at him strangely.
After his bath, Wei Rong’s long hair was still damp. He wore a moon-white silk robe, a bandage wrapped around his chest. The robe hung loosely, and he had casually thrown on a crow-blue crane cloak over it. The dampness from his ink-black hair slightly soaked the cloak, deepening its color.
“Hey, hey, hey! You brat, be gentle! My old bones are about to fall apart!!!”
Shouts came from outside the room. Soon after, a young man in black brocade clothes leaped nimbly through the open window, carrying a white-haired old man.
“Master, Elder He has been brought.”
He Zhixian’s feet touched the ground, but his legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the floor. “Aiyo~ my old back~ Zi Shi, you youngster…”
As he spoke, he supported his back and stood up. Seeing Wei Rong awake reclining on the soft couch, his hand froze mid-motion.
“You’re actually conscious?!!!”
The old man stared as if he had encountered some rare species, his backache and weak legs forgotten. He looked Wei Rong up and down in astonishment.
Wei Rong lifted his eyelids indifferently. “If you had been any slower, you could have prepared for the funeral feast.”
Hearing this, He Zhixian’s heart skipped a beat. He wiped the expression from his face and hurriedly began taking Wei Rong’s pulse.
The Thousand-Thread Bone Serpent Poison was no joking matter.
In the room, aside from Wei Rong, everyone else held their breath, watching Elder He intently as he felt the pulse.
He Zhixian’s brows furrowed and relaxed intermittently, making Shen Shi’s heart pound wildly beside him.
“You…”
After a long while, Elder He finally uttered a single word.
Shen Shi nearly choked when He Zhixian stopped after uttering just one word. “Elder He, how is the young master’s condition? Please don’t speak with such agonizing pauses!”
The impatient Shen Shi was truly frantic with worry.
He Zhixian withdrew his hand, seemingly ignoring Shen Shi’s words as he frowned deeply and muttered to himself, “How is this possible? Did I misdiagnose? It shouldn’t be…”
Unconvinced, he checked the pulse again.
“This is indeed the Thousand-Thread Bone Serpent Poison, no mistake… but something’s not right…”
These cryptic remarks sparked a realization in Wei Rong, who spoke up, “The serpent poison flared up once, around Mao hour today.”
He Zhixian jerked his head up at Wei Rong’s words. “It flared up? It certainly should have, but your current condition shows no signs of a recent episode. The poison in your system has been suppressed, even partially neutralized. This is utterly impossible! Could this not be the Thousand-Thread Bone Serpent Poison after all?”
Wei Rong recalled the bitter taste in his mouth during the poison’s flare-up and the suspicious dark-red stains around his lips, resembling juice from some kind of fruit.
“After being poisoned, did you encounter anyone? Or consume anything unusual?” He Zhixian couldn’t help but ask.
Wei Rong rubbed his fingertips as he described the kitten he’d seen and the bitter juice he’d tasted while semi-conscious.
After his account, the room’s occupants wore expressions of bewildered astonishment – all except the composed Wei Rong.
Shen Shi quietly leaned toward Zi Shi and whispered, “Has the poison damaged the young master’s mind? A kitten saved him? Has that cat become a spirit…”
“My poisoning didn’t affect my hearing.”
Wei Rong’s remark made Shen Shi immediately sit bolt upright.
He Zhixian collected himself. Though the explanation sounded fantastical, the serpent poison in Wei Rong’s body had indeed been suppressed from spreading. Otherwise, they would be looking at a puddle of blood by now – such was the vicious nature of the Thousand-Thread Bone Serpent Poison.
“Dark-red juice? Young Wei, do you remember what the fruit looked like?”
Wei Rong shook his head and wearily pointed toward the side chamber. “The dark-red stains on my clothes – they came from that fruit.”
The moment he finished speaking, He Zhixian whooshed away so fast he left an afterimage, dashing toward the side chamber.
Shen Shi stared in stunned silence. Since when could Elder He move so swiftly?
Zi Shi produced a secret missive. “Master, a confidential letter from His Majesty.”
Wei Rong gave it a dismissive glance without accepting it.
“Tell His Majesty that until this serpent poison is fully cured, I won’t return. He can proceed with whatever plans he has without bothering me.”
For years, Wei Rong had strategized daily for his cousin – every step since being brought back from Chen Kingdom. Fortunately, his cousin possessed some intelligence and capability, eventually ascending the throne with Wei Rong’s assistance. Yet within two months of coronation, he’d already grown complacent. This negligence had nearly cost Wei Rong his life – as if his cousin’s brains had been eaten by dogs!
Wei Guogong Manor
Upon receiving news that her son had survived, Song Jinhe’s taut nerves finally relaxed. Having knelt in the ancestral hall all night, her face pale, she swayed unsteadily.
Jin Momo hurriedly supported her, beaming with joy. “Madam, the young master has overcome disaster! You should rise and rest now~”
Song Jinhe steadied herself but did not rise immediately. Instead, she piously kowtowed three times with deep reverence before the memorial tablet. Supported by Jin Momo as she stood up, her gaze gradually turned cold as she instructed, “The news of the young master’s safety must remain known only to the two of us. Do not spread it—there are still watchful eyes within the Guogong Residence.”
Jin Momo wiped the joy from her face, adopting a solemn expression. “This old servant understands.”