Chapter 19: The Poison That Can Heal

“Aren’t you going to give me a glass of water?” Linglong cried out, her face twisted in distress.

Qin Daofei couldn’t help but laugh at her contorted features. After pouring her some water, he said coldly, “I thought you were truly tough, not afraid of hardship.”

“I’m scared, how could I not be? I’m scared to death!”

No sooner had Linglong finished speaking than Qin Daofei shoved a preserved fruit into her mouth. The sweet, fragrant taste instantly filled her senses.

“Qin Daofei, why would a man like you carry preserved fruit around, isn’t that—” Linglong didn’t have time to finish before her words were swallowed by Qin Daofei’s lips.

To make matters worse, he actually fought with her for the preserved fruit in her mouth.

Honestly, if even an uncle could endure this, an aunt certainly couldn’t!

Linglong didn’t bother to chew and swallowed the fruit whole, only to have it lodge in her throat. It took her a long moment of choking before she could finally breathe again.

Cough, cough, cough!

“Qin Daofei, if you want to kill me, just say it outright, you—” Linglong gasped for breath and immediately accused him.

Qin Daofei gave a wicked smile, gently stroking her chin. “Well? How does it feel to be on the edge of ecstasy and death?”

“I’d—”

“Want to go again?” Qin Daofei raised an eyebrow.

Linglong swallowed nervously, curled into a ball, and muttered resentfully, “Beast!”

Qin Daofei ignored her and instead stood to tidy his sleeves. “Lie down and behave. I’ll be back soon.”

After he left, Linglong called toward the ceiling, “Come out!”

At that moment, a masked woman in black leapt down from the beam, revealing only a pair of beautiful, icy eyes.

“Every time, you make me watch half-finished spring scenes,” the woman’s tone was even colder than her gaze.

“Do you know who planted the poison?” Linglong glanced sideways at her, disregarding her complaint.

“I didn’t see, but it was indeed genuine Twin Lives Balm,” the woman replied coolly.

“And yours?” Linglong asked.

The woman rolled her eyes, her voice like a chill from the grave. “Crane’s Red Crown!”

Pfft!

“You owe me a mouthful of old blood!” Linglong, furious, tried to get up and fight.

The woman drew a sharp dagger from her boot and toyed with it. “The poison I gave you neutralizes the residual toxins in your body.”

“I was already well, and you still poisoned me!” At the sight of the dagger, Linglong instantly sprawled back on the couch, feigning death.

The woman’s eyes narrowed in amusement, but her tone remained frosty. “If I didn’t really poison you, how else could I watch the spring scene?”

“He checked my pulse just now!” Linglong’s voice suddenly grew cold.

“So what?” the woman replied.

“Nothing. Now get lost, looking at you gives me a headache.” Linglong wrapped herself tightly in her quilt, refusing to acknowledge the woman.

With a final icy glare, the woman melted back into the shadows of the beams, vanishing without a trace.

No sooner had the woman in black left than Hua’er entered with a basin of water. She wrung out a handkerchief and gently wiped the blood from Linglong’s lips. “Miss, shall we go to the imperial physician?”

“No need. Qin Daofei has already gone to fetch a doctor. He should be back soon.” Just as Linglong finished speaking, a young man in white, ethereal as an immortal, arrived at her bedside together with Qin Daofei.

Qin Daofei stepped forward, took the handkerchief from Hua’er, and calmly wiped Linglong’s hands clean of blood. Then, handing her wrist to the man in white, he said, “Take her pulse.”

“I’m telling you now—I don’t check for pregnancy pulses!” Qin Daofei’s friend, for all his celestial looks, was just as irreverent as he.

Qin Daofei shot him a look, covered Linglong’s wrist with a silk cloth, and said coldly, “Too much nonsense does you no good.”

While taking Linglong’s pulse, the man grumbled, “I’m a divine physician—can’t you speak to me with the respect I deserve?”

“Hua’er, go light some incense and burn some spirit money for this gentleman as payment,” Linglong said blandly.

The man in white glared. “Try me, and I’ll make you mute!”

“Feel free to try,” Qin Daofei replied, his tone mild but his eyes cold. For all his ethereal appearance, the man in white felt a chill run down his spine as memories of past, unexpected misfortunes flashed through his mind.

He chose to yield to this greater power.

After the examination, the man in white said, “It isn’t Twin Lives Balm. The poison was skillfully administered—Miss Feng not only suffered no harm, but has actually expelled previous toxins from her body.”

Heh.

“Is that so? Perhaps Heaven pitied me for once,” Linglong replied with an airy smile. “But tell me, Ghost Doctor, do you know what poison it was?”

Ghost Doctor? Night Li Shang!

“So your mind isn’t addled after all—still recognize me as Night Li Shang?” he drawled.

Linglong had never been afraid of people trying to intimidate or tease her.

“If my mind weren’t addled, I wouldn’t have come back here to court death… Am I right, Master Qin?” She cocked her head at Qin Daofei.

Qin Daofei gazed at her steadily, then asked Night Li Shang, “Does she need any medication?”

“How about two ounces of Harmony Powder?” Night Li Shang said, feigning seriousness.

Qin Daofei said nothing.

Linglong gritted her teeth. “So Master Night only fears Master Qin, not knowing that I, Feng Linglong, am aware of the treasures hidden in your Lu Yuxuan?”

“You two really are a pair—birds of a feather!” Night Li Shang glared, then left without bothering to collect his fee.

“I’ll see him out,” Qin Daofei said quietly.

“Do see him out properly, Master Qin,” Linglong replied with meaning.

Qin Daofei gave her a glance, then strode out.

Night Li Shang waited in the corridor, not having gone far.

“What do you think?” Qin Daofei’s brows creased in a frown as he stood to Night Li Shang’s left, hands clasped behind his back.

Night Li Shang gave the closed door a glance and said, “Though it wasn’t Twin Lives Balm, the symptoms were nearly identical. Yet, coincidentally, this poison perfectly neutralized the toxins in her body. Whoever used Twin Lives Balm on her either didn’t know she was already poisoned, or…”

He didn’t finish, but the implication was clear.

Qin Daofei pondered for a moment, then said, “Go see my mother. Is it the same poison she suffers from?”

They proceeded to Songbai Residence. After examining Lady Xiangyu’s pulse, Night Li Shang said, “This is genuine Twin Lives Balm—fortunately, the dose was not heavy.”

He left a prescription and then prepared to depart.

At the door, Night Li Shang, for once, spoke solemnly: “If Feng Linglong can survive the trials she’s faced, she is certainly not simple. Are you sure you want her by your side?”

“No matter her motives, so long as my own are clear,” Qin Daofei replied, his calm gaze drifting toward Linglong Pavilion.

Night Li Shang patted Qin Daofei’s shoulder and departed quietly.

Back in Linglong Pavilion.

Qin Daofei entered to find Linglong lively again, sitting at her desk fiddling with an abacus. Seeing him, she tucked the abacus into her sleeve and said evenly, “I admit, I switched the poison. I knew someone would use Twin Lives Balm and blame me, so I swapped it in advance.”

Qin Daofei nodded slightly, accepting her explanation.

This left Linglong more puzzled by his intentions. Her story was riddled with holes—any intelligent man could deduce she was hiding something. Yet Qin Daofei, a man known for his meticulous mind, chose to believe her.

Heh.

Qin Daofei, you’re truly…

More and more interesting!

“Since you’re not fully recovered, rest well. I’ll handle the matter of the poison,” Qin Daofei said, then left.

Hua’er, completely at a loss, scratched her head. “Miss, why can’t I understand what you and the young master are doing?”

“Who’s your young master? Stop making up relatives!” Linglong bristled like a cat, nearly scratching Hua’er in irritation.

Hua’er watched her quietly, more convinced than ever that her lady was somehow different now—but in what way, she couldn’t say.

Linglong knew Hua’er wanted to ask questions, but she truly wasn’t in the mood to talk. She closed her eyes, exhausted, and drifted into a deep sleep.

After leaving Linglong’s room, Qin Daofei ordered Tang Li to set a table and two chairs with tea in the front courtyard. He prepared the tea and waited at the door.

Tang Li asked, “Master, who are you waiting for?”

“He’s here,” Qin Daofei replied with a faint smile, rising unhurriedly to straighten his sleeves and gaze calmly at Wang Liushu, who was hurrying toward them.

Wang Liushu rushed in, grabbing Qin Daofei’s arm. “My elder sister was poisoned? How is she? Has the poison been cured? Was the culprit caught?”

“Uncle, why not have a cup of tea first?” Qin Daofei gestured politely.

Wang Liushu knew that though Qin Daofei was young, he was prudent and ruthless. His calm demeanor meant he already had the situation under control.

Qin Daofei personally served him tea, then spoke in a low voice. “Uncle, I have never asked anything of you, but today I must ask you to heed my advice...”

They talked for a long time. After hearing Qin Daofei out, Wang Liushu rose with a grave expression. “You know your mother’s temperament well. I can only try to persuade her—whether it works or not…”

“Thank you, Uncle!” Qin Daofei said, then let Wang Liushu go to Songbai Residence on his own.