Chapter 17: Antidote

Si Qingyu now had a new problem. She still wasn’t clear about the type of poison and had no way to concoct an antidote.

She continuously flipped through the medical books given to her by her foster mother, carefully reading each entry about poisoning symptoms before starting to peruse the next book.

Luo Jinhua paced back and forth in front of her, looking anxious and uneasy. “Doctor Si, have you found it?”

Si Qingyu frowned. She glanced at Luo Jinhua and said indifferently, “Lord Luo, please go out and appease the townspeople first.” Don’t pace back and forth in front of her.

Luo Jinhua hurriedly nodded and walked out.

Si Qingyu continued to flip through the medical books, her mind churning with thoughts. Who on earth wanted to drive these townspeople to their deaths? Where did they get these poisons? She had never seen this kind of poisoning before. It must be an extremely rare poison.

She rubbed her sore eyes. Was there really no way?

At this moment, Luo Jinhua walked in again. Seeing Si Qingyu’s condition, she couldn’t bear it. “Doctor Si, you should rest for a while first. Your body is not made of iron.”

Si Qingyu looked at Luo Jinhua, slightly exhausted. “Lord Luo, have you found any clues about the poisoner?”

Luo Jinhua shook her head. “Our Qianluo Town has always been kind and friendly to outsiders. How could we have attracted such a vicious person?”

“…Then what about the people inside your town?”

Luo Jinhua shook her head even more firmly. “It’s impossible to be someone from within the town! The townspeople all get along harmoniously and warmly. How could anyone do such a thing? Besides, what benefit would this bring them?”

Si Qingyu raised her eyes, her gaze indifferent as she looked at her. “Lord Luo, I’m not doubting how your townspeople are under your management. I just think that you should still investigate thoroughly. After all, this concerns their lives.”

Luo Jinhua felt that her earlier reaction had been a bit excessive. Seeing Si Qingyu’s cold demeanor, she felt a little embarrassed. She mumbled, “Sorry, Doctor Si…”

“It’s fine.” Si Qingyu shook her head lightly. “My lord, please go out first and let me search alone.” She continued flipping through the medical books.

Luo Jinhua nodded. “I’ll go out and question the townspeople.” After all, she couldn’t control any fish that slipped through the net.

Si Qingyu held the well water under her nose and took a light sniff. Indeed, there was no unusual smell. What kind of poison was this? She suddenly remembered something, turned around, and took out an exquisite small bottle from her medical bag. She opened the lid and dripped a drop into the well water, then quietly waited to see if there were any changes.

After waiting for two hours, during which Si Qingyu fell into a light sleep due to fatigue and drowsiness, she rested her head on her fist with her eyes closed. Meanwhile, the well water in the cup gradually changed, turning an extremely light purple that was invisible to the naked eye. One wouldn’t notice it without careful observation.

Si Qingyu slowly opened her eyes and stared at the cup. She picked up the cup again and took a light sniff under her nose. There was an extremely faint, almost imperceptible fragrance.

Her entire body relaxed, and she showed the first smile in days. Finally, there was a result.

Si Qingyu got up to find Luo Jinhua.

……

“Doctor Si, you know what the poison is?!” Luo Jinhua looked at Si Qingyu with ecstatic joy.

Si Qingyu nodded. Fortunately, the antidote wasn’t too difficult to concoct, and she happened to have the crucial ingredient. “Where is Lord Luo’s kitchen? I’ll go brew the medicine.”

“This way! Doctor Si, follow me!” Luo Jinhua excitedly led the way. As expected of Doctor Si, they were saved!

After arriving at the kitchen, Si Qingyu prepared the medicinal ingredients one by one, including a stalk of Bailing grass that she had picked outside the town. This was the main ingredient. Si Qingyu put the medicinal ingredients into the medicine pot and began brewing. It would take an hour to brew.

Luo Jinhua stood beside her, feeling helpless. She also wanted to help. “Doctor Si, is there anything I can do to help?”

Si Qingyu was busy and didn’t turn her head to look at her. “Lord Luo, gather the townspeople together and ask them if they have all drunk from the well in the past few days. The medicine will be ready in an hour.”

Luo Jinhua hurriedly nodded in agreement and walked out of the kitchen.

After brewing the medicine, Si Qingyu divided it into more than a dozen small bowls, then added more ingredients and continued brewing. The medicine was then carried out by the yamen’s people to be administered to the townspeople.

At this time, Si Qingyu’s face was pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes. After finishing brewing the last portion of the medicine, she finally couldn’t hold on and collapsed. The last thing she heard was Luo Jinhua’s panicked shouts.

………

The Capital

Luo Shaoxuan, who was drinking tea in the Plum Blossom Pavilion, suddenly felt his heart constrict. His hand holding the teacup trembled, and the teacup shattered on the ground. He covered his chest with his hand, his face looking strange as he took a deep breath.

The servant boy standing nearby hurriedly came over to clean up the shards and cautiously looked at Luo Shaoxuan. “Young Master, are you alright?”

Luo Shaoxuan covered his chest, his brows slightly furrowed, and waved his hand at him. The servant boy retreated.

Luo Shaoxuan took a moment to recover and finally returned to normal. Just now, it felt as if something had tugged at his chest, causing a dull pain and unease. He murmured, “Could something have happened to Ziliang…” At the thought of this, he couldn’t sit still. All reason disappeared. He just wanted to be by her side, right now, immediately!

He stood up and hurriedly walked out of the pavilion, only to see Mu Yueshi standing outside. He frowned coldly. “Why didn’t anyone announce Sister Shi’s arrival? Are they all dead?”

He glanced coldly at the servant boys waiting outside the pavilion.

The servant boys lowered their heads and trembled, not daring to speak.

Mu Yueshi looked at him intently, her tone gentle. “Xuan’er, don’t be angry. I told them not to announce my arrival.”

Luo Shaoxuan gave a cold laugh. “Remember whose servants you are and who your master is! You can’t listen to just any Tom, Dick, or Harry. If you don’t want to work anymore, I can send you to a good place!” It was full of threats, and all the servant boys nodded in terrified agreement.

His words directly insulted Mu Yueshi, recklessly disregarding her face.

Mu Yueshi’s face darkened, and she looked at him gloomily.

Only now did Luo Shaoxuan pay attention to her, his eyes impatient. “I don’t know what Sister Shi is looking for me for?”

“I want to have a good talk with Xuan’er, is that alright?” Mu Yueshi directly ignored his impatient attitude.

Luo Shaoxuan stood there, the earlier unease slowly calming down. His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her. “Oh? I wonder what Sister Shi wants to talk about?”

“Let’s sit in the pavilion and talk. I want to drink the tea brewed by Xuan’er.” Mu Yueshi’s tone carried a hint of ambiguity.

Luo Shaoxuan couldn’t help but press the tip of his tongue against the back of his teeth. The corner of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing an extremely charming smile. “Alright, since Sister Shi wants to drink it.” His eyes were deep and enchanting, yet full of danger.

Mu Yueshi looked at his face obsessively, feeling as if she was about to drown in that smile, already forgetting her purpose.

By the time Mu Yueshi reacted, Luo Shaoxuan had already entered the pavilion. She followed him in and sat across from him, her eyes never leaving his every move.

She looked at Luo Shaoxuan’s unfathomable face and seemed to say inadvertently, “I heard that Xuan’er left the Luo Residence some days ago to go to his hometown?”

“Mm.” Luo Shaoxuan nodded expressionlessly.

“I wonder what Xuan’er went there for?” She thought that as long as he could find an excuse that satisfied her, she would no longer pursue the matter.

Luo Shaoxuan raised his eyes, looking at her with a mocking gaze, as if looking at a joke.

She felt as if he had seen through her thoughts, as if looking at a huge joke. She clenched her fists tightly, her face looking gloomy and unsightly.

Luo Shaoxuan savored her colorful expressions, his lips curling up slightly as he slowly said, “I… went there to see the person I love. My body and heart have long belonged to her.” At the end, there was even a hint of tenderness.

Mu Yueshi’s face was clouded with gloom, and she looked at him heavily. “Do you remember that you are my betrothed husband who has not yet entered my household?”

“Husband? Sister Shi, don’t talk nonsense. I have never agreed to any marriage.” Luo Shaoxuan boredly fiddled with his black hair, completely in a different atmosphere from her.

“You…” Mu Yueshi felt that she had been humiliated. She stood up angrily, looking down at his nonchalant attitude. “Marriage is decided by parents. I have already agreed with the head of the Luo family to marry you. Just you wait!” With that, she left without paying attention to him, rushing out.

Luo Shaoxuan watched her leave with a faint smile on his lips, but his eyes were cold.

Mu Yueshi walked along the path, her face gloomy. As soon as she reached the entrance of the Luo Residence, a woman blocked her way. The woman bowed to her respectfully and said, “Greetings, Sister Shi. Our head of household invites you over for a gathering.”

Mu Yueshi glanced at her sideways. She wanted to see her? She nodded to the woman, “Lead the way.”

“Please follow me.” The woman gestured for her to follow and led the way in front.

They walked past corridors and small paths, arriving in front of a study. At this time, the head of the Luo family had already stood up and greeted her with a smile, “Greetings, Sister Shi. Please come inside.”

Mu Yueshi looked at her indifferently and walked in. She didn’t waste words, “I don’t know what the head of the Luo family wants to see me for?”

The head of the Luo family poured her a cup of tea and spoke directly, “It is naturally about the marriage between Sister Shi and Xuan’er.”

Mu Yueshi looked at her with slightly narrowed eyes, “Oh?”

“I believe Sister Shi likes Xuan’er and sincerely wants to marry him, right?”

“Of course.” Mu Yueshi took a sip of tea.

Seeing that success was imminent, the head of the Luo family smiled with satisfaction, “Then why not move the engagement forward and set the wedding directly for next month?”

The motion of drinking tea paused. Mu Yueshi looked at her, “This…”

She was naturally willing, but on Xuan’er’s side…

The head of the Luo family seemed to sense her concerns and chuckled with a kind and benevolent appearance, “Sister Shi need not worry about Xuan’er’s side. I am his mother and also the head of the household. Everything will naturally be decided by me.”

Mu Yueshi finally showed a hint of a smile, “Then it is naturally good. Once I marry Xuan’er, I will definitely not let him down.” Even if he had someone in his heart, what did it matter? After he married her, he would still have to serve her. Such a beauty should rightfully belong to her.

The head of the Luo family laughed heartily and cupped her hands towards Mu Yueshi, “On behalf of Xuan’er, I thank Sister Shi. It is Xuan’er’s great fortune to be able to marry Sister Shi!”

The two of them drank tea and chatted with false pretenses, not noticing the servant boy eavesdropping outside the door.

The servant boy left before Mu Yueshi departed, heading towards Luo Shaoxuan’s courtyard.