Ji Chenghe breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving news that Wei Rong was still alive. As the shadow guard relayed Wei Rong’s message, a trace of guilt flashed across his refined features.
Every step of his journey had been like walking on blades. Though the Wei Guogong Manor had never involved itself in imperial power struggles, Wei Rong had been forcibly dragged into this mire because of him.
The Late Emperor had been inherently suspicious and took great pleasure in suppressing court officials and noble families. Back when Ji Chenghe was sent away as a hostage, it was because the Emperor feared the influence of the Song and Wei Families behind him.
“Your Majesty, Wei Shizi also said he won’t interfere in matters going forward. He said… to let you handle things as you see fit.”
The shadow guard continued relaying the message, wishing he could bury his head in the ground.
Rather than getting angry upon hearing this, Ji Chenghe’s gaze only grew more determined.
“Spread the news that Wei Shizi has been poisoned with a severe toxin and has disappeared. Inform my Aunt that she must cooperate with me…”
…
Yun Fu had expended tremendous effort to gather most of the ingredients needed for the antidote. She decided to skip the compounding process and directly shove them into that handsome man’s mouth.
While the effects might not be as potent as properly formulated pills, at least it would prevent him from succumbing to the poison.
When she returned to the dilapidated hut clutching a messy bundle of wild fruits and roots, the handsome man inside had vanished.
Staring at the empty little hut, Yun Fu’s jaw went slack, causing the haphazardly tied bundle of medicinal herbs to scatter across the floor.
Wait, where did he go?!!!
Meanwhile, Wei Rong was experiencing his second wave of poison symptoms. Dark green venom patterns began spreading along his neck and arms.
He Zhixian frantically applied acupuncture needles to suppress the serpent poison, his forehead beaded with no less sweat than Wei Rong’s.
Wei Rong noticed this poison episode wasn’t as unbearable as the first, likely because whatever he’d ingested during the initial attack had neutralized some toxicity.
Watching the old man who was nearly turning him into a pincushion, Wei Rong curled his lips. “So all this time, you still haven’t figured out where that dark red liquid… cough came from? The title ‘Healing Saint’ seems rather undeserved.”
Bristling at the challenge to his medical skills but resisting the urge to slap him, He Zhixian roared, “You brat! If you’re so capable, don’t drag me here!”
With that, he roughly shoved a black pill into Wei Rong’s mouth.
The pill was so bitter it nearly contorted Wei Rong’s face, and the next moment, he coughed up a mouthful of blood he’d been suppressing.
“Master He!!! The young master is coughing blood! Do you know what you’re doing?!!”
Shen Shi couldn’t hold back anymore, hopping anxiously nearby.
He Zhixian fumed, his beard practically bristling. Everyone was questioning his medical skills! This was Thousand-Thread Bone Serpent Poison!!! Not some trivial toxin!!!
Throwing his hands up, he plopped angrily into a chair. “Fine then! Since you master and servant know better, you handle it yourselves—”
Back elsewhere, Yun Fu initially considered abandoning the task. After all, he was just a handsome man with a pretty face and nice hands. There were plenty of people more attractive than him… well, actually not that many.
The poison affecting the handsome man had been created by her senior sister. Rumors circulated through the martial world that there was no antidote—though these rumors had originated from her senior sister herself.
This was all to build their reputation and attract wealthy buyers.
Unexpectedly, many such buyers actually came seeking purchases.
While the claim that Thousand-Thread Bone Serpent Poison had no antidote was false, its potent toxicity was very real. Without timely treatment, the victim would gradually corrode from inside out, ultimately dissolving into a puddle of blood—a terrifying way to die.
Yun Fu looked at the half-finished antidote she’d painstakingly gathered. After pawing at it a couple times, she finally picked it up with her mouth.
On Wei Rong’s end, after receiving the emperor’s secret letter, he skimmed through its contents—mostly sentimental drivel expressing concern for his health—before tossing it aside after just a couple of glances. He raised his hand to take the prepared medicinal brew and drank it in one gulp.
Old Man He glanced at the discarded letter and clicked his tongue lightly. “After all, Young Ji is still just a half-grown child. He suffered greatly as a hostage, and now that he’s ascended to the throne, it’s a case of hardship finally giving way to sweetness. Busy balancing the court, he’s become less vigilant about the wolves and tigers around him. Plus, with a cousin like you around, he’s grown a bit too bold in his actions.”
Wei Rong’s expression remained frostily indifferent, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips. He stretched lazily, but his words grew increasingly cutting with each sentence.
“Stupidity is stupidity—don’t use age as an excuse. Back when he came begging for my help, I told him I don’t work with fools. Now, not long after his ascension, I nearly lost my life. If I weren’t so kind-hearted, I’d have already dropped everything and walked away.”
His words were heard clearly by the shadow guards sent by the emperor to protect Wei Shizi. They knew this lord was doing it on purpose—he hadn’t even bothered to lower his voice, as if afraid they might miss a word.
He Zhixian was left speechless. He had originally intended to say a few good words on the young emperor’s behalf but ended up achieving the opposite. Dropping the subject, he changed the topic while applying acupuncture needles, muttering as he worked, “You’re lucky to be alive after surviving the Thousand-Thread Bone Serpent Poison. If this gets out, I’m afraid all those ghost doctors and poison masters in the martial world will come to kidnap you for research. I found some crushed fruit pulp on the clothes you wore when you were poisoned. When I get back, I’ll look through my medical texts—I’ve never seen this kind of fruit in all my years. Strange illnesses pop up every year, but this year seems especially full of them. Chancellor Su’s daughter was found, but a month ago, she accidentally fell into the water and still hasn’t woken up. Chancellor Su sent me a letter asking me to take a look. When I examined her, I found the girl’s pulse quite peculiar—it’s as if she’s just asleep, but she shows no signs of waking.”
By this time, Wei Rong’s head and neck were covered in silver needles. He let the old man’s gossip go in one ear and out the other, even nearly dozing off.
“You know, Su Chengyi’s recovered daughter is truly as lovely as jade and snow, like a porcelain doll. This old man’s heart nearly melted at the sight. Compared to the noble young ladies of Jing An Cheng, she’s completely…”
“Old He, how old are you this year? Don’t you have a considerate wife by your side to share all that chatter? Should I set up a stall for you at the Ten-Thousand Fragrance Pavilion later so you can talk to your heart’s content? When did you become like those street ruffians who love gossiping about others?”
One pointed question after another made He Zhixian immediately clamp his mouth shut.
Staring at this ancestor before him—hair disheveled, face pale, and possibly succumbing to poison at any moment—he swallowed all the retorts bubbling in his chest.
Oh, this mouth of his! How could he forget that when this brat was physically unwell, he’d make everyone else mentally miserable? His current situation was no different from walking straight into a powder keg.
Just as He Zhixian had said, when Wei Rong was physically unwell, those serving him would suffer even more mentally.
Shen Shi emerged from the room with a dejected expression, spotted Zi Shi standing guard at the door like a statue, and directly tossed the tray in his hands toward him.
“Where are Zi Shi, You Shi, and Chen Shi? Have them take shifts with me. The young master isn’t suffering from physical poisoning—it’s clearly his mouth that’s poisoned! The venom from his tongue is far more potent than any serpent’s poison!”
Zi Shi didn’t respond, maintaining a stern expression as he remained alert to any unusual movements around the courtyard, his ears attuned to all directions.
Shen Shi deliberately lowered his voice to grumble, then patted his chest and went to find Elder He.
Inside the room, Wei Rong overheard most of the complaints and let out a cold laugh while flipping through the book in his hands.
Meanwhile, relying on her keen sense of smell, Yun Fu navigated the winding rooftops of the alleyways. After running for nearly the entire day, she finally caught the scent of the handsome man’s current location.
The night had deepened, with scattered stars dotting the sky. The wind was strong that night, repeatedly ruffling the fur on Yun Fu’s body.
In the courtyard, Wei Rong suffered another bout of poisoning. Dark green blood vessels, like living vines, spread wildly across his body, covering his arms, neck, and even reaching his cheeks.
His originally refined, jade-like face now carried a ghostly, sinister aura—both captivating and intimidating, as if one might be pierced by its chilling intensity.
He Zhixian’s expression, once relaxed during the day, was now filled with solemnity and tension.
The shadow guards hidden in the courtyard remained on high alert, listening for any disturbances and keeping a close watch for any messages from inside the house.
The serpent poison had initially been alleviated but was later suppressed by medication. Unexpectedly, it surged violently in the middle of the night, leaving He Zhixian nearly powerless to counter it.
Yun Fu sniffed the complex scents in the air, picking out a faint, elegant fragrance amidst the chaos.
Having lived as a stray cat for over a month, Yun Fu had honed her ability to hear and smell everything around her. She could detect the presence of many people surrounding the courtyard—many hidden in the shadows.
This confirmed that the handsome man was no ordinary person.
Thinking this, Yun Fu glanced down at the bundle of medicinal herbs tied around her waist.
To prevent losing them, she had gone to great lengths to secure the antidote herbs tightly against her belly.
Now, realizing that the strikingly handsome man’s status was as extraordinary as his appearance, Yun Fu began to have second thoughts.
Someone of noble status surely wouldn’t lack for physicians. Muttering to herself internally, she prepared to leave with cat-like steps.
The man was afflicted with Thousand-Thread Bone Serpent Poison—could an ordinary physician even cure it?