Chapter 16: Poisoning

The head of the Li family sat in the study, listening to the investigator’s report.

Si Qingyu was currently treating patients in Qianluo Town, where it was reported that a strange illness had recently killed many people. If Tianyang were to be told, with his stubborn temper, he would surely insist on going with her. How troublesome that would be!

The head of the Li family was worried about how to break the news to Tianyang…

At this moment, Li Tianyang walked in, asking with a bit of anticipation, “Mother, have you found out? Where is she?” The head of the Li family secretly glanced at him and coughed lightly, “Doctor Si went to the capital.”

The capital? What for?

Li Tianyang was puzzled, “What is she doing in the capital?”

“Perhaps she went to meet a friend or to purchase medicinal ingredients. How could I inquire into such details?” The head of the Li family waved her hand at him, feigning impatience.

Li Tianyang was not easily fooled. He looked at the head of the Li family suspiciously, “Mother, you wouldn’t lie to me, would you?” The head of the Li family’s heart skipped a beat. This rascal was too clever. She glared at him, pretending to be serious, “You doubt me, your own mother? What reason would I have to deceive you about such matters? I’m very busy. Ask your questions and leave quickly.” She waved her hand, shooing him away.

Li Tianyang left the study half-convinced and half-doubting. Why would she go to the capital? If it was only to purchase medicinal ingredients, why would the fool at the medical hall not know?

Li Tianyang’s face darkened slightly. Who on earth was lying to him?

………

Marquis Residence, Capital City

In a study of the marquis residence, Mu Yueshi was looking at the documents her mother had given her, her face gloomy as she listened to the servant’s report.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of murkiness in them, “You’re saying that the reason Xuan’er was away from the residence was that he went back to his hometown?”

“Yes,” a woman kneeling on the ground respectfully replied.

“Have you found out why?” Without a reason, why would Xuan’er go to such a remote place without bringing any servants?

“Uh…” The woman glanced at her timidly, unsure whether to speak or not.

Mu Yueshi looked at her with displeasure, “Speak.”

The woman was so frightened that she trembled and hurriedly said, “Young Master Luo went there to find Doctor Si!”

Doctor Si?

“The Si Qingyu who previously opened a medical hall in the capital?” Of course she had heard of her, a young prodigy with exceptional medical skills and an extraordinary appearance. Later, she heard that she had moved her medical hall out of the capital. At that time, she thought she was foolish. After all, where else would be better to open a medical hall than in the capital?

“Yes!”

“Did Xuan’er go to see her because he was ill?” She had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

Indeed…

“…No, Young Master Luo went to find Doctor Si on purpose…” the woman said cautiously, “It is said that Young Master Luo and Doctor Si are old acquaintances…”

“Shut up!” Mu Yueshi’s gloomy face interrupted her.

The woman shivered all over, kneeling on the ground with her head bowed, not daring to breathe.

Old acquaintances? If they were merely old acquaintances, why would he go to such great lengths?

Mu Yueshi’s hand holding the book tightened until it turned white, her eyes sinister. What a Si Qingyu! And Xuan’er, she had treated him so well!

He was her betrothed husband. By doing this, where was he placing her, his fiancée?

Mu Yueshi suddenly swept her hand across the desk, knocking everything to the floor. At this moment, Mu Yueshi no longer had the gentle and elegant demeanor she usually displayed in front of others. Her eyes were filled with gloom, “Is she still in her hometown now?”

“…No, Doctor Si has gone to Qianluo Town. A strange disease has broken out there.” The woman didn’t react in time to who “she” was referring to and broke out in a cold sweat for being two seconds slow.

Mu Yueshi glanced at her coldly, as if seeing through her hesitation. Her voice was chilling, “Find someone to keep an eye on her. Don’t let her have a chance to leave Qianluo Town.” The implication was more than clear.

The person kneeling on the ground stiffened. Was this an order to take Doctor Si’s life? But… assassinating a doctor was a serious crime! If someone were to find out…

Mu Yueshi glanced at her coldly, seeming to sense her hesitation. Her voice was eerie, “What? You dare not follow my orders?”

“No, no, I wouldn’t dare. I will pass on the instructions right away!” Saying this, she was about to stand up.

“Wait.”

The motion of standing up stiffened. She kept her head bowed, waiting for further instructions.

Mu Yueshi looked at the documents in her hand coldly, “Remember to tell them to do it cleanly. Don’t let anyone find evidence against us.” If someone were to find out, it would be very unfavorable to her.

The woman accepted the order and left.

Mu Yueshi looked at the desk with a cold face, her heart filled with pent-up frustration with nowhere to vent. She suddenly stood up and left the study, preparing to find a concubine to take her anger out on.

………

Far away in Qianluo Town, Si Qingyu was entirely unaware of these matters. At this moment, she was quite anxious because she had been studying this disease for two days and still couldn’t figure out exactly what it was.

Seeing more and more townspeople succumbing to this disease and dying one after another, she felt somewhat powerless.

She gently rubbed her temples with her fingers. She had barely closed her eyes in the past two days, and every muscle in her body radiated fatigue and drowsiness.

Luo Jinhua watched Si Qingyu from the side. She could feel that she was doing her best, even if she was powerless to save lives. She was grateful to her, “Doctor Si, why don’t you rest for a bit? You’ve been tired enough these past two days.”

Si Qingyu shook her head slightly, indicating that it wasn’t necessary. The symptoms she had examined over the past two days flashed through her mind. She furrowed her brows deeply, feeling as if she had forgotten something… She closed her eyes, carefully recalling the situation of the past two days.

Those infected with the disease would experience thirst, irritability, weakness in the limbs, and finally cough up blood before slowly fading away…

Coughing up blood… At one point, Si Qingyu thought it might be poisoning, but when she examined their various body parts, there were no signs of poisoning. If it was poisoning, how could it spread like this?

Si Qingyu calmed her mind and pondered which step she had missed in her examination.

She remembered her foster mother once telling her: Ayu, there are some poisons in this world that are truly colorless and odorless. Once poisoned, it is difficult for people to detect. However, with such poisons, once ingested, the navel area will definitely turn slightly black.

The navel!

She had actually forgotten about this! She looked up at Luo Jinhua and said, “Lord Luo, could you please go with me to the quadrangle again?”

Luo Jinhua was slightly stunned, not understanding why she had suddenly become so excited, but still nodded and went with her.

When they arrived at the courtyard, Si Qingyu directly lifted the patient’s clothes. Indeed, the navel had turned black. Si Qingyu checked another patient and found the same blackening of the navel.

Si Qingyu frowned. It was indeed poisoning! Who had administered the poison? And from where? How had it spread to so many people?

A possible location for the poisoning flashed through her mind. She couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

Si Qingyu asked Luo Jinhua somewhat urgently, “Where does your daily drinking water come from?”

Luo Jinhua’s eyes were dazed, not understanding what she meant. Weren’t they treating the disease? Why was she asking about drinking water now? But she still answered honestly, “The drinking water is all drawn from the well at the end of the town…”

“Take me there!” Si Qingyu urged before she could finish speaking.

“Oh, alright. Please follow me.” Although Luo Jinhua didn’t understand what Si Qingyu wanted to do, she still cooperated with her.

Luo Jinhua led Si Qingyu all the way to the well at the end of the town. The well mouth was a full meter wide.

Without a word, Si Qingyu directly threw the bucket into the well and drew a bucket of water. She placed a silver needle into the water, and the needle immediately turned black.

Luo Jinhua, who had been watching her in a daze, turned pale with shock upon seeing this. She pointed with trembling fingers and quivering lips, “This… the well water is poisoned!?”

Si Qingyu looked at the silver needle and nodded silently.

“Who… who could be so vicious as to poison the well water!” Luo Jinhua was furious and also terrified. Her entire body trembled slightly.

“Lord Luo, please instruct the townspeople not to drink the water for now.”

Luo Jinhua, her face pale, nodded hurriedly, “Yes, yes. I’ll go tell each household right away.” Saying this, without regard for Si Qingyu, she turned and ran urgently towards the yamen.

Si Qingyu looked at the silver needle in her hand, her face solemn.