Chapter 616: The Might of the Scarlet Python (1)

The sound of horses' hooves echoed as dozens of steeds raced down the broad avenue, resembling fast-moving dark clouds in the night sky.

Mo Yan and Xiao Ruiyuan were surrounded by fifty royal guards as they sped toward the capital. The four beasts, with their senses far keener than humans', coordinated perfectly. The fluffy white beast led the way, ready to alert those behind at any sign of trouble, while the scarlet python stayed at the rear to guard against ambushes.

The golden beast carrying Mo Yan tried to slow its pace to match Xiao Ruiyuan's mount, but its overwhelming presence spurred all the horses to move faster than usual.

Thus, in less than half an hour, they were only fifty miles from the capital.

It was either their imposing appearance or the golden beast's intimidating aura that kept the journey smooth; they didn't encounter a single rabbit, let alone any trouble.

Seeing that they would reach the capital in another half hour, Mo Yan relaxed slightly. She turned to Xiao Ruiyuan, who was riding beside her, and said, "Brother Xiao, time is tight. When we reach the South Gate, we'll split up. You go to Jing Mountain Villa for the scarlet python's gallbladder, and I'll head to Liuyang Village for the black lingze and ginseng. We'll meet back at the South Gate."

"No!" Xiao Ruiyuan frowned, refusing without hesitation, "It's not safe for you to go into the mountains alone. I'll go with you!"

Mo Yan's eye twitched, glancing at the fifty guards around them. Were they not considered people?

"Brother Xiao, with the five beasts, you don't need to worry! Besides, the terrain in the mountains is complicated, and it's even harder to navigate at night. It would be faster if the golden beast carried me in to get the black lingze."

The black lingze was in her space, and even if she had to put on an act of going into the mountains, it had to look convincing. With so many people following, she'd need to find a way to send them away, which would be a waste of time.

Xiao Ruiyuan was about to agree, finding her reasoning sound, when suddenly a warning roar came from the scarlet python behind them. He immediately reined in his horse and turned to look back, his gaze sharp.

The other guards also stopped, their faces tense beneath their black masks. The rear guards quickly dismounted, crouching down to listen to the ground. After a moment, one stood up and saluted Xiao Ruiyuan, saying, "General Xiao, five miles away, a group of people is heading our way. Their numbers are unclear."

Xiao Ruiyuan's brow furrowed as he spoke in a deep voice, "Time is of the essence; ignore them! If anyone dares to interfere... kill without mercy!" His words were filled with a chilling killing intent.

The guards straightened, responding in unison, "Yes!"

If the approaching group was merely passing by, that was fine. But if they were sent by some prince or official to hinder their return to the capital, they couldn't afford to get entangled. Everyone knew that the Crown Prince's condition couldn't tolerate any delay!

The group continued onward, the golden beast urging the horses to their utmost speed. Fortunately, these were top-quality steeds, with exceptional stamina and endurance. Though the fast pace was taxing, it wasn't beyond their limits.

The golden beast increased its speed, and Mo Yan squinted at the swiftly receding shadows of trees along the road. The sound of hooves had faded, replaced by the rush of wind in her ears.

As dust kicked up by the horses still hung in the air, the pursuing group quickly closed the distance. These newcomers were not masked, each looking fierce and exuding a bandit-like air, as if they specialized in robbery and plunder.

 Chapter 1464: Meng Han Has Seen Him

As she was about to reach the study, An Ning quickened her pace. However, she stumbled and fell when she ascended the steps of the corridor.

Seeing this, Ying Xi hurried over to her and anxiously asked, "Miss Ah Ning, are you alright?"

An Ning lowered her head, rubbed her knee, and smiled at Ying Xi, "I'm fine, it's just an old problem."

An Ning used to suffer from malnutrition, and she would often trip and fall. However, after eating well and living comfortably, such incidents had become rare. But for a child, bumps and falls were inevitable, especially when climbing difficult paths in the mountains while following old Doctor Zhao to collect medicinal herbs.

Every time this happened, An Ning would jokingly refer to it as her "old problem."

Fortunately, with her past experiences, An Ning slightly adjusted her posture upon falling, so there was no major harm done. Her clothes were a bit dirty, but she patted them off and stood up.

Ying Xi was relieved to see that An Ning was fine, but he still asked, "Shall I carry you? Are you here to see Miss?"

"Yes, I forgot to take my bundle with me."

As the two of them conversed, Ying Xi was about to lift An Ning, her back facing the entrance to the courtyard, which meant he didn't see a figure swiftly running towards the study.

Accompanied by the voice saying, "Ah Ning—I heard that you've come back—," the figure had already rushed into the study.

Both Meng Yunzheng and Shu Yu were stunned, looking surprised at the intruder.

The study was Shu Yu's private space, and generally, no family member would disturb her when they knew she was busy. Even the young An Ning or rebellious third son knew not to disturb Shu Yu unless it was something really important.

That's why An Ning could enter without any obstruction from Ying Xi, who stood at the entrance.

However, none of them expected an exception like Meng Han.

Meng Han saw that the study's door was open and no one was guarding it, so she boldly entered.

Meng Yunzheng's expression immediately turned serious, not only because of Meng Han's intrusion but also because she was a member of the Meng family, and her behavior was quite inappropriate.

Even Shu Yu's face lost its smile at this moment, and her expression tightened.

However, Meng Han seemed to not notice them at all and instead had her gaze fixed on the portraits on the desk, surprised as she spoke, "Isn't this Master Jiang? Cousin, Sister Shu Yu, do you know him? Why do you have his portrait?"

As she spoke, Shu Yu discreetly collected the two scrolls she was holding.

Meng Han approached and carefully examined the portraits on the table, nodding with certainty, "Indeed, this is Master Jiang. Cousin, Sister Shu Yu, have you met him before? Why would you have his portraits?"

Meng Yunzheng put down the half-drawn brush and looked up at her, asking, "Where did you see Master Jiang, and in what circumstances?"

His expression was slightly serious, and Meng Han became nervous, feeling that her answer was significant.

"I, I saw him at home."

Chapter 1463: Jiang Kuanyu and the Black Market Gang

Shu Yu slapped her forehead, "I forgot to take the bundle with me."

The bundle that An Ning brought contained not only the three portraits but also her daily necessities and clothes, and it was still here.

"Oh well, I'll send it to her later."

After An Ning left, Shu Yu sat back in her chair and started discussing seriously with Meng Yunzheng.

"Barring any unexpected twists, it's highly likely that Jiang Kuanyu is the one who poisoned Tan Cheng. I didn't think about it before, but now that I recall it, it does seem a bit unreasonable. Jiang Kuanyu managed his own business so well, so why would he buy that estate and hundreds of acres of land, spend five years without increasing the output, and only sell it last year?"

Now, Shu Yu realized that Jiang Kuanyu didn't care much about the grain output or putting effort into managing the land and planting suitable crops. He hadn't acted because the estate was conveniently close to the black market, making it easy for him to come and go and also serving as a kind of outpost.

Meng Yunzheng nodded, "Also, he sold the estate to you at the end of May. At that time, the black market in Jiangyuan County was already in the limelight due to the mirror incident, and they were preparing to abandon the market here."

Hearing him mention the mirror, Shu Yu felt a little guilty and lowered her head.

Oh no, why did it involve the mirror again? It has nothing to do with her.

She coughed lightly, "It's quite strange indeed. The black market belongs to the Second Prince, yet they sold the mirror to the Third Princess. Aren't they asking for trouble?"

Meng Yunzheng smiled, "Perhaps the Second Prince didn't expect that the seemingly unrelated mirror would be used by the Third Prince to create rumors in the struggle for the throne, attracting a large number of people to the black market in Jiangyuan County, which eventually forced him to withdraw."

Shu Yu sighed, "..."

"In fact, I think it's not just because of the mirror. The most crucial factor is the destruction of the Shu family in Dong'an City, and the County Magistrate of Jiangyuan County is also related to the Xiao family, which is the family of the Third Princess, right?"

Meng Yunzheng looked at her suspiciously but nodded, "Indeed."

Shu Yu changed the topic, "Both Jiang Kuanyu and the black market left Dong'an City at around the same time. If our assumptions are correct, Tan Cheng might have seen a key figure of the Second Prince's faction during that trip up the mountain. To be safe, Jiang Kuanyu poisoned him."

"Yes, but now we don't know where Jiang Kuanyu has gone, otherwise we might be able to find out a lot of things from him."

Shu Yu touched her chin, "Tomorrow, I'll pay another visit to the Tan family and have a good talk with Tan Cheng. Let's see if we can find more clues."

"Alright." Meng Yunzheng nodded, "I'll draw two portraits of Jiang Kuanyu. I'll send them to Qi Lie for him to investigate, using both methods."

"Good." Shu Yu immediately took out pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, placing them in front of Meng Yunzheng and asking him to draw.

Meng Yunzheng's painting skills were better than Tan Cheng's, and Shu Yu had also seen Jiang Kuanyu, so with a little touch-up, the portrait looked even more like him than Tan Cheng's version.

"With this, it will be easier to find him," Shu Yu said.

Meng Yunzheng smiled and continued drawing the second portrait.

The two of them remained in the study, unaware that after An Ning returned to her room and discovered she forgot her bundle, she rushed back at lightning speed.

  Chapter 615: Ruthlessness (3)

Even though the thousand-year ginseng and black ganoderma were in the space, could she take them out in front of everyone? Clearly, she couldn't. She couldn't risk exposing the space to save someone, and besides, she did need to go home to prevent her family from worrying.

The Ghost Doctor's eyes lit up and he hurriedly told Emperor Hui'an, "Your Majesty, fresh black ganoderma is best for medicine. It's best if Miss Mo retrieves it now. The scarlet python's gallbladder is also stored in the ice cellar at Jing Mountain Villa and needs to be fetched immediately. The Prince can't hold on much longer!"

Emperor Huian's expression tensed as he was about to order someone to depart immediately. Xiao Ruiyuan stepped forward, requesting to accompany Mo Yan back to the capital to fetch the three main ingredients.

Emperor Huian agreed without hesitation, and to be cautious, he also arranged for fifty elite royal guards to accompany them for protection.

Chu Heng was gravely ill and near death. Although Emperor Huian had strictly forbidden news from spreading, other princes and officials staying at the palace couldn't miss the activity in the side hall. 

No one had come to "visit" Chu Heng or console Emperor Huian; they were merely waiting for the right moment. Emperor Huian knew this better than anyone and would not allow anyone to ruin important matters at this critical juncture.

Yan Junyu watched the two people standing side by side, wanting to go with them, but his concern for Chu Heng held him back. He could only suppress the thought and urged them to be careful.

There were less than five hours until dawn. Even with fast horses, a round trip would take at least two hours. Gathering the black lingze deep in the mountains and fetching the scarlet python's gallbladder from Jing Mountain Villa would each take at least an hour and a half, so they would have to split into two groups. If everything went smoothly, the timing would just be enough, but any interference could throw everything into uncertainty!

Knowing time was tight, Emperor Huian gave the fifty guards a strict order. If they couldn't ensure Xiao Ruiyuan and Mo Yan's safe return with the black lingze and thousand-year ginseng within five hours, they didn't need to come back alive!

Mo Yan and Xiao Ruiyuan left the palace together. Mo Yan quickly went to Xiao Ruiyuan's tent and gave a brief explanation to the five beasts.

The golden beast bent its legs without hesitation, allowing Mo Yan to mount. Amid the astonished cries of the others, it sped to the agreed meeting point outside the palace like a gust of wind, with the other four beasts following behind.

Among the five beasts, none could match the golden beast's speed and endurance!

Soon, Xiao Ruiyuan came galloping on horseback. Neither of them spoke as they headed towards Phoenix Mountain, followed by the fifty guards sent by Emperor Huian who were already waiting at the foot of the mountain.

In a sleeping chamber on the north side of the palace, Prince Heng, with his hands and face covered, sat on the bed with a feverish gleam in his eyes. As half a stick of incense burned away without any news from the side hall, he grew increasingly anxious.

At that moment, a servant hurried in with a young maid. Before the servant could speak, Prince Heng impatiently asked the maid, "What's the situation there? Speak quickly!"

The maid looked up with a fawning smile, "Your Highness, this servant couldn't get close to the side hall and didn't find out much!" Seeing Prince Heng's face darken, she hastily added, "But I saw General Xiao about to escort that lady away when Young Lord Yan arrived and spoke to him. Then, General Xiao and Young Lord Yan left quickly! That lady stood there for a while and then went to the side hall. Shortly after, Eunuch Liang personally led her in. Not long after, General Xiao and that lady came out, one riding a horse and the other on the golden beast, and they hurried towards the mountain. They seemed to be in a rush!"

After speaking, the maid nervously glanced at Prince Heng. Seeing his displeased expression, she felt a chill.

She was just a lowly maid in the palace, and except for the autumn hunt every three years, there were no noble masters around. She had finally caught a chance to be noticed by Prince Heng and hoped he would take her back to the city, even if just as a maid doing rough work in his mansion, which was better than staying in the palace with no prospects.

Prince Heng's thoughts were entirely on the side hall, not paying any attention to the maid's hopes. Suddenly, he stood up, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes...

  Chapter 614: Ruthlessness (2)

Knowing the urgency of the situation, Mo Yan didn't ask any questions and almost ran to keep from being pulled down by Eunuch Liang. As soon as she stepped into Chu Heng's bedchamber, four pairs of eyes simultaneously fixed on her.

Xiao Ruiyuan was the first to step forward. His dark eyes carried a glimmer of hope, though his deep voice was cautious. "Yan'er, do you really have a way to save the Crown Prince?"

At this moment, Emperor Hui'an also approached, his bloodshot eyes staring intently at Mo Yan, solemnly promising, "If you can save my Crown Prince, I will grant you any request!"

As the ruler of a nation, for Emperor Huian to make such a promise in a desperate bid to save his son showed just how deeply he loved Chu Heng. Yan Junyu and Ghost Doctor, though silent, looked at Mo Yan with eyes full of hope.

Placing all their hopes on a young girl wasn't a reckless decision for the four of them. Emperor Huian had learned that Mo Yan had unintentionally found both the black lingzhi and the hundred-year-old red snake gall within a year. This led him to have Eunuch Liang bring her in immediately. Finding one of the three main ingredients was already a stroke of great luck, but Mo Yan had found two, which was almost miraculous. As the emperor, he believed in the elusive concept of fate more than common folk. In matters concerning his most beloved child, he would grasp at any chance, hoping that Mo Yan's fortune could save Chu Heng.

Xiao Ruiyuan and Yan Junyu's trust in Mo Yan was based on their understanding of her. They knew she wasn't one to speak rashly. If she claimed to have a solution, they believed she truly did.

Under such intense scrutiny, even Mo Yan, with her strong mental fortitude, felt immense pressure. She resisted the urge to take deep breaths and spoke to Emperor Hui'an, "Your Majesty, I am not skilled in medicine and cannot cure the Crown Prince."

Xiao Ruiyuan's heart tightened upon hearing this, and he quickly glanced at Emperor Hui'an, who looked ready to explode. Just as he was about to plead, Mo Yan's next words brought relief.

"I have often heard Bug brother Xiao mention that the Crown Prince's illness requires a thousand-year-old ginseng. So, I frequently went into the mountains to search. Just two days ago, I found one. I don't know if it will help the Crown Prince." Mo Yan pretended not to notice Emperor Huian's changing expression and spoke with a look of relief.

She wasn't trying to toy with Emperor Huian's emotions; she genuinely didn't know if the ginseng would help the Crown Prince, who was at death's door. Therefore, she couldn't make absolute promises. If it didn't work, she would have tried her best, and Emperor Huian wouldn't blame her if the Crown Prince didn't survive.

Emperor Huian didn't expect such a sudden twist and felt a surge of emotions, his face turning red. Eunuch Liang quickly stepped up, skillfully patting the emperor's back. Soon, Emperor Huian's complexion returned to normal.

Before the emperor could ask where the ginseng was, Ghost Doctor impatiently inquired, "Young lady, are you certain it's a thousand-year-old ginseng? Where is it now?"

Mo Yan shook her head. "I can't be sure it's a thousand-year-old ginseng. I didn't dare to have it verified for fear of attracting trouble. However, its appearance is much better than the previous ginseng of over nine hundred years. It's at my home, along with the black lingzhi. If it's needed, I'll have to return home to retrieve both the black lingzhi and the ginseng."

 Chapter 1462: Jiang Kuanyu is Not in the City

The young girl grew angrier as she spoke, "No, I have to tell Xiaoya to stay away from Jiang Kuanyu from now on. She can't see him as a good person anymore. I..."

She paused midway, shook her head, and sighed, "Forget it, Jiang Kuanyu has already left Dong'an City. Xiaoya probably won't see him again."

Shu Yu was about to ask An Ning to take a rest when she heard her last sentence and was taken aback, "Ah Ning, what did you just say? Jiang Kuanyu has left Dong'an City?"

An Ning nodded, "Yes, master Tan said he left, or else the Tan family's patriarch would have gone to confront him."

Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng exchanged glances, their expressions becoming slightly serious. Shu Yu asked, "Do you know when he left and where he went?"

"Master Tan said he left in July last year. At that time, after Jiang Family's patriarch had an accident and passed away, Jiang Kuanyu was in low spirits for a long time. Later, he packed up and sold several shops in Dong'an City. Before leaving, Jiang Kuanyu visited young master Tan and claimed that he wanted to return to his hometown to run a business, fulfilling Jiang's patriarch's last wish to return to his roots and repay his hometown."

Although Jiang's patriarch had a thriving business in Dong'an City, his ancestral home was not actually here. It was just a fortuitous event that led him to settle down in the capital.

When Jiang's patriarch passed away, he suddenly missed his childhood home and relatives, wanting to return to his roots, which was only natural. In order to fulfill this wish, Jiang Kuanyu resolutely sold all his businesses here and took his family back to his hometown to start anew, which seemed reasonable.

Even though some people might criticize him for being foolish, there were others who praised him as a dutiful son with great courage.

As for the Tan family, they couldn't quite understand Jiang Kuanyu's decision.

However, at that time, Tan Cheng had already been poisoned for a year, and his health was not good. The Master and Madam Tan were preoccupied with finding doctors for Tan Cheng after attending Jiang's patriarch's funeral. Therefore, they didn't notice when Jiang Kuanyu sold off his properties.

By the time they found out, it was too late to dissuade him.

In the end, they bid farewell to each other, wishing each other well, and went their separate ways.

Shu Yu furrowed her brows, "So Jiang Kuanyu consolidated all his assets and left in July last year? Ah Ning, did Young Master Tan say where Jiang Kuanyu's hometown is?"

"He didn't mention it."

"Besides that, did Tan say anything else?"

An Ning spoke, "Just that much."

Shu Yu asked a few more questions, but An Ning had already shared everything she knew, and she didn't have any more information.

Shu Yu gave up and saw An Ning blink her eyes, tears of exhaustion forming at the corners of her eyes. She suddenly realized that the young girl had rushed back from the capital and must be very tired.

She gently touched An Ning's head, "I understand now. Thank you for coming over and telling me this crucial information. You've helped me a lot. You must be tired after your journey, so go back to the courtyard and rest. We can talk later."

"Okay."

An Ning was particularly happy to have been able to help her big sister, so she waved at Shu Yu and said, "Then, I'll go."

Shu Yu watched her bounce away and hurriedly called out, "Take it easy."

But the young girl had already disappeared from sight.

Shu Yu shook her head, withdrew her gaze, and noticed that Meng Yunzheng was pointing at the bundle on the table.

 Chapter 1461: Anning Doesn't Understand

Shu Yu thought for a moment and asked An Ning, "When Young Master Tan came down from the hill, did he ask Jiang Kuanyu what was up there and why someone was guarding it?"

"Yes, Jiang Kuanyu told Young Master Tan that it was a black market, and he understood," An Ning said, looking puzzled. "But I don't quite understand, Second Sister. What is a black market? What do they do there? Is it something shady and problematic?"

Shu Yu replied, "..."

Well, the young girl is still too young, and some things she might not grasp even if she hears about them.

She carefully chose her words and said, "A black market is a place for underground transactions, where illegal goods are bought and sold. Strictly speaking, it's against the law."

An Ning's eyes widened in surprise, "Against the law? No wonder Jiang Kuanyu was so nervous and didn't let Young Master Tan go up."

She seemed to have an epiphany and then became anxious, "Oh no, Second Sister, the black market is so close to our estate and Sunflower Village. What if something happens, or what if criminals from the black market come to cause trouble?"

Shu Yu almost choked. Criminals in the black market now??

She quickly reassured the worried young girl, "Don't worry, the black market was shut down and sold off last year. There's not a single person there now, let alone criminals."

An Ning looked puzzled, "Shut down?"

"Yes, it probably couldn't sustain its operations," Shu Yu said ambiguously. After a moment, she spoke seriously to An Ning, "Although the black market here is closed, there are still such markets in other places. If you ever hear about or come across them, stay far away, okay?"

An Ning nodded emphatically, "Of course, what if there are murderers inside?"

Shu Yu sighed inwardly.

Since An Ning now understood what the black market was all about, her attention returned to the scroll on the table. After thinking earnestly for a while, she straightened up and said confidently, "Second Sister, in that case, the culprit must be Jiang Kuanyu, right? The black market is illegal, and he knows the address so well; he might be involved with them."

She emphatically nodded her head, eagerly looking at Shu Yu.

Shu Yu's mouth twitched. Many people know the address of the black market, especially those with connections, wealth, and backgrounds in Dong'an City or the surrounding counties.

It's not surprising for Jiang Kuanyu, who comes from a prominent family and is only four kilometers away from the black market.

It's probably because Young Master Tan is completely devoted to studying the classics and doesn't understand these matters, that he almost stumbled into the mountain unknowingly.

But Master Tan should be aware of it, that's why when Tan Cheng asked about the place, Jiang Kuanyu didn't hide it from him.

However, An Ning's suspicion wasn't entirely baseless. Among the three paintings in front of them, Jiang Kuanyu seemed to be the most suspicious.

She lowered her head and faced An Ning's expectant gaze, smiling gently, "You're right, your reasoning makes sense."

An Ning got confirmation and became more excited, "I came up with that myself. My brain is working fast now."

She then became indignant, "How can Jiang Kuanyu be so bad? He and Young Master Tan are good friends, yet he poisoned him. I used to think he was a good person because he helped

 Chapter 613: Ruthlessness (1)

After hearing Yan Junyu's words, Emperor Huian's eyes suddenly brightened, and he looked excitedly at Ghost Doctor. "Junyu is right. Even if a ginseng of over nine hundred years can't completely cure Heng'er's poison, it should at least save his life, right?"

For many years, not only Xiao Ruiyuan and others had been tirelessly searching for the black lingzhi, thousand-year-old ginseng, and hundred-year-old red snake gall, but Emperor Huian himself had never given up the search. Yet, despite countless efforts and expenses over more than two decades, they had found nothing.

After finding the hundred-year-old red snake gall and locating the black lingzhi, Emperor Huian had concentrated all resources on finding the thousand-year-old ginseng. Almost every famous mountain and river in the entire Chu Kingdom had been searched, and many other precious medicinal herbs had been found, but the whereabouts of the thousand-year-old ginseng remained elusive.

They thought they still had three months and might find it in time, but he never imagined that his son's poison would flare up early and with such intensity, nearly taking his life!

Now, hearing that a ginseng of over nine hundred years had been found, and that it might save his son, who had one foot in the grave, how could he not be excited?

Xiao Ruiyuan also stared intently at Ghost Doctor, hoping against hope for a miracle, even though he knew deep down that the ginseng might not be enough.

However, Ghost Doctor's next words cruelly shattered their hopes. "The viciousness of the Heart-Eating Poison isn't in causing instant death, but in being incurable! Whether it's the black lingzhi or the hundred-year-old red snake gall, these ingredients are extremely rare. I only knew of their existence from an ancient text. That's why the Heart-Eating Poison is called the 'absolute poison'; the person who created it likely didn't know there was a cure! But to cure His Highness, all three main ingredients are indispensable, and they must be of the highest quality. A thousand-year-old ginseng must be exactly that; anything less will only accelerate the poison's effects!"

If it weren't for this, Ghost Doctor wouldn't have left behind the nine-hundred-year-old ginseng. The swing from despair to hope and back to despair was a cruelty hard to bear. The hearts of Xiao Ruiyuan, Yan Junyu, and Emperor Huian felt as if they had been lifted high only to be slammed down, the pain overwhelming.

Even though they had once anticipated this day, the discovery of the hundred-year-old red snake gall and the black lingzhi had reignited their hopes. Who could have foreseen that the most easily found ingredient, the thousand-year-old ginseng, would remain elusive?

The room fell into a suffocating silence, the air heavy with an invisible tension, as if a string were about to snap, with unknown consequences looming.

The four of them stared unblinkingly at the motionless Chu Heng on the bed, not even hearing the faint noises from outside the side hall.

Soon, Chief Eunuch Liang entered silently, noting the heavy atmosphere and the grim faces around him. His heart sank; could the Crown Prince already be...

Seeing the silver needles still in the Crown Prince's chest, Eunuch Liang let out a long breath of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his brow.

Recalling the words of the young lady outside, Eunuch Liang hesitated. Looking at the Crown Prince's lifeless face, he bit his lip and finally broke the oppressive silence. "Your Majesty, this servant has urgent news!"

...

Waiting anxiously at the entrance of the side hall, Mo Yan saw Eunuch Liang come out. She hurried to meet him, but before she could speak, he grabbed her sleeve and rushed her inside, urgently saying, "Miss Mo, please come quickly; there may not be much time left!"

 Chapter 612: Beast Token and Critical Condition (2)

With the situation resolved and the evening drawing near, Mo Yan decided to take her leave and return home with the five beasts, concerned that her family might worry. Knowing the capabilities of the five beasts, Emperor Huian didn't insist on her staying, simply stating that the tokens for the beasts would be made and delivered to Liuyang Village upon their return to the capital.

Xiao Ruiyuan, however, was uneasy and, after requesting permission from the Emperor, insisted on escorting Mo Yan home. Mo Yan firmly refused, saying, "Given the day's events, the hunting grounds must be in chaos. As the head of the guards, you have too many responsibilities to leave easily."

Xiao Ruiyuan didn't respond verbally, but his determined gaze spoke volumes.

Mo Yan, feeling a headache coming on, added, "With the five beasts, you don't need to worry, Brother Xiao! Besides, the Emperor will return to the capital tomorrow and will surely be busy. You won't get proper rest if you come and go."

Xiao Ruiyuan looked at her, feeling both glad for her concern and slightly melancholic at being refused. They hadn't seen each other in a long time, and he wondered if she really didn't want to spend more time with him. With a heavy heart, he turned and walked past her, fearing he might blurt out his frustrations if he stayed any longer.

Unaware of his thoughts, Mo Yan would have protested her innocence if she knew. Though their relationship hadn't been openly acknowledged, today's events made their feelings clear to anyone who saw. Despite potential complications, they couldn't hide their relationship any longer, and future meetings wouldn't require so much caution.

Watching Xiao Ruiyuan stride away quickly, Mo Yan felt a mix of surprise and helplessness. Was this sulking figure really the same General Xiao, known for his stern demeanor that could scare children?

As she walked slowly behind, Xiao Ruiyuan's frustration grew, prompting him to quicken his pace. But realizing that his anger over such a small matter was childish, he slowed down again.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached from behind. Yan Junyu brushed past Mo Yan and stopped in front of Xiao Ruiyuan, his stunning face unusually grim.

Yan Junyu whispered something in Xiao Ruiyuan's ear, causing his expression to change drastically, showing shock and deep sorrow.

Mo Yan, unable to understand the situation, watched as Xiao Ruiyuan hurried over, handing her a small metal tube with a string attached. His voice, heavy with sadness, instructed, "Yan'er, I can't escort you tonight. Please be careful. If you're in danger, pull the string."

Mo Yan gripped the metal tube tightly and nodded solemnly. "I'll be careful. If you have urgent matters, go quickly, Brother Xiao!"

Xiao Ruiyuan patted her head and gave her a deep look before quickly leaving with Yan Junyu.

As they disappeared around the corner, Mo Yan frowned, recalling the sickly appearance of Crown Prince Chu Heng. Could it be that the Crown Prince's condition had worsened?

Startled by her own thought, Mo Yan tried to remain calm, increasingly convinced that something grave must have happened to cause such distress in normally composed individuals.

Deciding not to go home, she hurried after them.

For the public, the Crown Prince was crucial to the stability of her beloved. Privately, as her beloved's brother, Chu Heng's well-being was closely tied to his. And it was thanks to the Crown Prince's help that she had escaped danger. For both public and personal reasons, she couldn't ignore the situation.

She wondered if the thousand-year-old ginseng and black lingzhi in her space could still be of use.

Mo Yan ran quickly, with the eunuch guide struggling to keep up, shouting anxiously, "Miss, you can't go in there!"

Ignoring him, Mo Yan picked up her pace, turning a corner and vanishing from the eunuch's sight.

Xiao Ruiyuan reached Chu Heng's room in the side hall just before Yan Junyu. The metallic smell of blood filled the air as he entered, making his heart sink.

Chu Heng lay on the bed, shirtless, with several shining silver needles embedded in his chest. His eyes were closed, his face pale and bluish. If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, he would have appeared lifeless.

The pillow and sheets were stained with dark red blood, a shocking amount, all from the Crown Prince's earlier bout of poisoning.

"Hang in there, Heng'er. Father is here with you. You must hold on," Emperor Huian, looking ten years older, sat by the bed, holding Chu Heng's hand tightly, fearing to let go.

Ghost Doctor finished the last needle, then checked Chu Heng's pulse, his expression growing graver with the intermittent weak pulse.

Seeing this, Xiao Ruiyuan's usually cold eyes filled with despair. The fearless general, known for his bravery, found himself unable to ask the crucial question.

Emperor Huian, turning his gaze from Chu Heng to the Ghost Doctor, looked like a worried father, his eyes filled with hope for his critically ill son. "How is he?"

Ghost Doctor shook his head slowly, barely able to meet the Emperor's eyes. "The Heart-Eating Poison has reached His Highness's heart. He won't last... he won't make it through the night..."

Emperor Huian trembled, remaining silent for a long time.

Xiao Ruiyuan's last hope faded, staring blankly at the unconscious Chu Heng, blood seeping from his previously injured palm.

Yan Junyu, entering the room just then, overheard the Ghost Doctor's words. Struggling with his grief, he asked, "Wasn't a nine-hundred-year-old ginseng found? Even if it's not a full thousand years, its potency should be close. Can't it temporarily sustain my cousin's life?"

 Chapter 1460: Unexpectedly, It's Jiang Kuanyu

"You've seen him before?"

Ah Ning nodded, "He looks somewhat familiar."

As Ah Ning spoke, the scroll was fully opened, revealing the portrait on the paper.

At that moment, Shu Yu narrowed her eyes suddenly and blurted out, "Jiang Kuan Yu??"

"You know him?" Ah Ning asked.

Before Shu Yu could answer, Meng Yunzheng realized, "Isn't he the gentleman who sold the estates and the hundreds of mu of land to you?"

Shu Yu nodded, "Yes, that's him."

Ah Ning also remembered, "Oh, it's him. He came to our house the last time to visit Xiaoya'er, right?"

She had thought so; the portrait seemed a bit familiar to her.

When Xiaoya'er's grandfather was murdered, and she herself was injured and wouldn't talk, Ah Ning was the one who accompanied her and talked to her, eventually helping her recover.

At that time, Jiang Kuan Yu had just sold the estate and the land to Shu Yu, but he was still the owner. So, he came with Shu Yu to handle Old Man Cui's funeral matters and followed her to the county government office.

Ah Ning had seen him only once and didn't know his name.

But when Meng Yunzheng mentioned the previous owner of the estate, she remembered.

Shu Yu's expression turned serious as she looked at the portrait on the scroll and asked with a furrowed brow, "What's the relationship between Jiang Kuan Yu and Young Master Tan?"

"They are good friends," Ah Ning quickly replied. "Young Master Tan said that although Jiang Kuan Yu is about five or six years older than him, the two families have a good relationship, so they are also good friends."

Jiang and Tan families both resided in the city, and they didn't have much business rivalry.

However, unlike Young Master Tan, Jiang Kuan Yu didn't pursue the imperial examination. Instead, he seriously managed his business, and his business was quite prosperous.

Two years ago, when Young Master Tan was under a lot of pressure while preparing for the exam, Jiang Kuan Yu had specially come to visit him and took him to the estate to relax.

Ah Ning tilted her head and asked, "Second Sister, could it be that the estate was the one he sold to you?"

"Perhaps," Shu Yu wasn't certain. After all, given Jiang's family wealth, there might be more than one estate. She raised her gaze and asked, "What did Jiang Kuan Yu do? Why did Young Master Tan suspect him?"

"Um... Young Master Tan said that when he went to the estate to relax, he saw a nearby hill and wanted to climb it." As Ah Ning spoke, she was sure that the estate was the one her Second Sister had bought, as there was indeed a hill nearby.

However, she didn't know if there was anything peculiar about that hill, but Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng's expressions changed simultaneously—because that hill was a black market.

"Then what happened?" Shu Yu asked.

Ah Ning continued, "Young Master Tan went to the hill himself, but Jiang Kuan Yu wasn't there at that time. While he was climbing halfway, he noticed someone guarding it and preventing him from going up. Young Master Tan had to come back disappointed. After he came down the hill, he ran into Jiang Kuan Yu looking quite nervous."

"Quietly, Young Master Tan told Jiang Kuan Yu that there was something wrong with the hill; someone was guarding it, and there were two people on the hill who seemed extraordinary. Jiang Kuan Yu's face didn't look right at that moment, and he pulled Young Master Tan back. But later, he seemed to return to normal. The next day, when he saw Young Master Tan off to take the exam, he wished him good luck."

As Ah Ning spoke, her eyes sparkled, "Second Sister, is there really something wrong on that hill?"

Chapter 1459: Three Portraits Brought by Ah Ning

Ah Ning quickly opened the first scroll, "This person is Young Master Tan's cousin from his maternal side. It is said that his family fell on hard times, and although he was also studying, he lived in the town. Two years ago, he came to the capital to take the imperial examination and temporarily stayed at the Tan family's residence."

Shu Yu looked at the portrait on the scroll and had to admit that Young Master Tan's artistic skills were quite good.

The depiction of the figure on the scroll was vivid, with clear contours, and the eyes bore some resemblance to Young Master Tan. However, the expression was consistently tense, giving the impression that he was not easy to get along with.

Ah Ning said, "During the time he stayed with the Tan family, everything seemed fine. However, one day, Young Master Tan noticed his anxious behavior. After a few more inquiries, Young Master Tan discovered that his cousin had stolen a gold bracelet from Madam Tan while paying respects to her."

"Second Sister, do you think Young Master Tan should consider if he saw something he shouldn't have, and someone silenced him? Young Master Tan said he wasn't sure if it was relevant, but he didn't believe his cousin would kill him just for this."

After all, Young Master Tan kept this incident secret, returned the bracelet himself, and treated it as if it never happened.

The cousin was probably doing such a thing for the first time and felt very ashamed. The next day, he found an excuse to move out, and after taking the examination, he returned home even before the results were out, indicating that he probably didn't pass.

After Ah Ning finished, she looked at Shu Yu, "Second Sister, do you think it could be him?"

Shu Yu shook her head, "The likelihood is low."

Meng Yunzheng also added, "Since Young Master Tan resorted to stealing a bracelet, it's apparent that he was in dire need of money. However, whether using poison or bribing some servants from the Tan family, both options require a considerable amount of money. It seems unlikely that he would go to such extremes just to prevent Young Master Tan from revealing his theft."

Ah Ning blinked her eyes. Since both Second Sister and Brother-in-law said it was unlikely, she set that scroll aside.

She then opened the second one, revealing the portrait of a middle-aged man.

However, the art style seemed different from the previous one, rough and not quite resembling a person.

Shu Yu's mouth twitched, "Did Young Master Tan not draw this one?"

Ah Ning grinned, "Right, because Young Master Tan only saw this person twice, so he didn't have a deep impression of him. It has been two years since the incident, and he couldn't remember the details. So, he asked someone else to get a clear look at this person and draw the portrait based on that."

Ah Ning continued, "This person is a martial arts master from a martial arts school two streets away from the Tan family. Two years ago, when Young Master Tan was tired from studying, he took a walk and passed by the alley behind that martial arts school. There, he saw this master beating someone up. Young Master Tan called out, and the master glared at him fiercely before leaving. Strangely, the person who got beaten didn't thank Young Master Tan and hurriedly left the alley too."

"After that, Young Master Tan saw this master once more, and he recognized him too. The master gave him another fierce glare before disappearing. Young Master Tan hasn't seen him since."

Shu Yu carefully examined the man's features and didn't comment yet, then she looked at the last scroll, "What about the third one?"

Ah Ning opened the third scroll while saying, "The third one is a young gentleman, but, Second Sister, I feel like I've seen this gentleman somewhere."

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 Chapter 611: Beast Token and Critical Condition (1)

Emperor Huian's sudden change in attitude surprised even Xiao Ruiyuan, but it was ultimately a relief. The heavy weight that had been hanging over them for so long was finally lifted. Seeing Mo Yan deep in thought, seemingly considering her reward, he wasn't worried she would ask for anything excessive.

Mo Yan indeed didn't want anything extravagant. She was satisfied with her current life and didn't desire any significant changes. Even if she did want something, she preferred to earn it through her own efforts rather than receiving it as an unexpected gift, which might come with unforeseen consequences.

However, there was something she had long wanted to address but had never found a way to solve. For a sovereign, it would be a matter of a single word, making it an excellent request for a reward!

With this thought, Mo Yan's expression lightened. She respectfully addressed Emperor Hui'an, "It was a great fortune for me to be able to rescue the princes and lords, but the true saviors were the five beasts I brought with me. Although they are very close to me, they have always been kept hidden to avoid causing alarm. I humbly request that Your Majesty grant them an official status, so they too can feel Your Majesty's kindness and benevolence."

Emperor Huian was momentarily stunned, thinking he might have misunderstood. He couldn't help but ask for confirmation, "You wish for your reward to be the official recognition of the five beasts?"

Mo Yan nodded seriously, "Yes, Your Majesty. This is my only request. I hope Your Majesty can grant it."

Emperor Huian, surprised but seeing her sincerity, offered a serious reminder, "Young lady, you only get one chance. Make sure you are certain about your choice!"

"I am very sure. Please, Your Majesty, grant my request!" Mo Yan smiled calmly, showing no hesitation.

Seeing her resolve, Emperor Huian looked at her intently, gaining a bit more respect for this young woman who knew her place. "Very well. I will issue a decree to create a token for each of the five beasts. As long as they have this token, no one can harm them. However, the beasts must not harm anyone without cause. If they endanger the people, I will not only have them executed but also punish you severely for failing to control them."

Mo Yan's eyes lit up, and she solemnly promised, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will strictly control the five beasts and ensure they do not harm anyone. If they do, I will take full responsibility for any consequences."

Emperor Huian nodded slightly, indicating his acceptance of her promise.

The thought of the five beasts being able to freely come and go from her home without needing to sneak around made Mo Yan very happy. The beasts—Xiao Hua, Da Bai, and Mao Tuan—were already part of the family and wouldn't leave. The golden beast, healed in the "cheat" time space of the dimension, showed no signs of returning to the mountains. The red python, though still living in its cave in the mountains, visited her daily. With the tokens, they wouldn't have to sneak around anymore.

As for the concern about the beasts harming people or livestock, Mo Yan wasn't worried. The five beasts, having been raised by her, had no interest in ordinary livestock, and those that had gained intelligence wouldn't attack humans without reason. They had never attacked anyone unprovoked during the time she had raised them.

Xiao Ruiyuan, noticing the bright light in her eyes, couldn't help but feel his mood lift as well. The tight line of his lips relaxed into a rare smile, and a warm glow filled his usually cold eyes.

Emperor Huian, observing from his elevated position, took note of the scene. His eyes, though seasoned with age and experience, flashed with a thoughtful glint before quickly returning to their usual sharpness.

 Chapter 610: Rewards (4)

By this time, it was already the hour of You (around 5-7 PM), right at dinnertime. Xiao Ruiyuan ordered three dishes and a soup along with a serving of rice from the kitchen, and also had two large basins of raw meat brought in. 

Mo Yan didn't hold back; after distributing the food to the five beasts, she began eating. The food tasted quite good, and she was extremely hungry, so she ate much faster than usual. Her table manners, retained from her previous life, still appeared refined.

Xiao Ruiyuan had little appetite and hadn't touched the rice before him. Seeing the woman across from him eating so heartily, he awkwardly picked up his chopsticks to serve her some food, clearly an unfamiliar gesture for him.

Mo Yan quickly finished a bowl of rice and was about to serve herself another when a large hand reached out and took the bowl from her. Watching him scoop the rice, she was momentarily stunned, and a faint blush crept up her cheeks. A strange, sweet feeling welled up in her heart, like it was filled with honey.

Xiao Ruiyuan served her half a bowl of rice, seemingly concerned she might misunderstand. He explained in a low voice, "You've gone hungry all day; it's not good for your stomach to eat too much at night."

Mo Yan lowered her head to hide the unusual expression on her face, silently finishing the bowl of rice. Xiao Ruiyuan noticed her flushed cheeks, assuming it was from the warmth of eating, without suspecting it was due to happiness.

By then, the sun had set, and the sky was painted with brilliant hues of the sunset, casting a fiery glow over the hunting grounds. As the two walked out of the tent, they gazed at the sunset, both feeling unexpectedly calm.

Just as they were about to head to the imperial palace to check on things, a young eunuch hurried over. After bowing, he said, "Lord Xiao, Miss Mo, His Majesty requests your presence!"

Hearing this, the two exchanged worried glances. The young eunuch quickly added, "As I was leaving, I happened to encounter His Highness the Crown Prince. He asked me to convey that the situation has been resolved and that you both needn't worry."

Xiao Ruiyuan visibly relaxed upon hearing this, knowing that those he cared about would be fine. Mo Yan also let out a long sigh of relief. As long as the accusation of a "beast attack" wasn't pinned on her, she and her family's safety would be assured.

Without further ado, they followed the young eunuch to the palace. Yan Junyu was no longer at the palace gate, likely accompanying Chu Heng in a side hall. After being announced by the guards at the palace gate, another young eunuch came out to lead them inside.

Emperor Huian, not yet having eaten, looked much better than before. Seeing the two enter, he waved away their bows and directly addressed Mo Yan, "I won't pursue the matter of you intruding into the hunting grounds! You saved my sons and have done a great service to the royal family. I should reward you. Tell me, what do you want as a reward?"

Mo Yan was stunned by his words. She had thought it fortunate enough to escape unscathed, but to have Emperor Mao Tuan change his tone so quickly, not only not blaming her but also offering her a reward, felt like a stroke of unexpected luck. It was as if she expected a stone to fall from the sky, only to find herself hit by a pastry instead.

She had intruded into the hunting grounds to save the person she liked, and saving the princes and other royals was merely a coincidence. As for the reward, she hadn't really thought about it. However, it was clear that openly refusing such an offer from a sovereign would be seen as disrespectful.

 Chapter 1458: It's Physical Education Class, Not a Practical Class

In the next moment, Shu Yu frowned again, "But what can we do with that piece of land? I can't grow sunflowers there."

The sunflowers preferred sunlight, but that piece of land was too close to the hill, so it was shaded.

That's why Shu Yu decided to find another location instead of directly buying the nearby fields when she wanted to expand the sunflower field.

Meng Yunzheng had also thought about this issue. He said, "I'll have Uncle come over and take a look. If we can't grow crops, we can plant fruit trees or vegetables. Didn't you say that scholars need strong bodies? We can add physical education classes for them. I think it's a good idea. Once that land is developed, we can let the students grow vegetables and fruit trees, be self-sufficient, and even provide extra food for the kitchen, reducing the need to buy."

Shu Yu replied, "I think it's an excellent idea. This way, the students can experience the hardships of farming and avoid wasting food. It might even inspire them to write more realistic and inspired articles, don't you think?"

Meng Yunzheng smiled, "I agree. Now..."

Before he could finish speaking, they heard Ah Ning's voice from outside, "Second Sister, Second Sister, I'm back."

Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng exchanged glances and looked towards the door.

The study's door was open, and Ah Ning stood outside, looking at Shu Yu with bright eyes. She ran inside happily.

When she saw Meng Yunzheng, she paused for a moment and then became even happier, "Brother Meng."

"Ah Ning, you're back? Where's your master?" Meng Yunzheng asked.

"Master went to find Brother-in-law to discuss opening a medical clinic," Ah Ning climbed onto a chair and sat down obediently, swinging her legs.

She still had a bundle on her shoulder, looking quite comical.

Shu Yu found it amusing and took the bundle from her, "Did you come to find your Second Sister as soon as you entered the house? You didn't even put down the bundle."

Seeing the sweat on the little girl's forehead, she quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped it for her, then poured a glass of water and handed it over.

"On such a hot day, why are you running so fast?" Shu Yu asked.

Ah Ning took a few sips from the glass, let out a contented sigh, and said, "I have something important to tell you, Second Sister, so I hurried over."

"Something important?" Shu Yu's first thought was about finding the culprit behind the Tan family's incident.

Sure enough, Ah Ning said, "Second Sister, after you left, Young Master Tan started thinking along the lines you suggested. He didn't dare to think too hard, so it took him several days to remember some things he thought might be useful."

Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng straightened their backs simultaneously, and Shu Yu said, "Here, have some more water. Let's talk slowly. So, which suspects did Young Master Tan come up with?"

Ah Ning took a couple more sips of water, then got off the chair and opened the bundle she brought.

Shu Yu watched her actions with curiosity, and then Ah Ning took out several scrolls from the bundle.

"What are these?" Shu Yu asked.

"Hehe, Master knows you're concerned, so he used an excuse to coax Young Master Tan into drawing the suspects he suspects," Ah Ning said.

Chapter 1457: Meng Yunzheng Wants to Recruit Master Wen

Old Doctor Zhao and Ah Ning arrived home after noon. They heard that Zhao Xi was discussing the opening of the medical clinic with Doctor Xu, so they immediately headed there, leaving Ah Ning to enter the house alone.

Before leaving, Old Doctor Zhao said, "Regarding the Tan family's matter, you can explain it to your second sister. Master believes you can clarify it." After saying that, he went excitedly to meet someone, planning to share his opinions on collaborating with his disciples to open the clinic.

Although he didn't have much experience, he held significant influence.

Ah Ning stood at the door, watching the departing carriage, sighing with worry, and then walked around the gate with her small bundle.

At this moment, Shu Yu was in the study, discussing the affairs of the academy with Meng Yunzheng.

Although the black market estate purchased by Meng Yunzheng had not been completely renovated and the ownership had not been transferred from Master Miao, they were slowly preparing for it.

For instance, the establishment of the academy and the recruitment situation.

A large academy couldn't be built from scratch with just Meng Yunzheng as the head and teacher.

The first person he considered was Master Wen.

Master Wen already had a good reputation in the county, and he had discussions with Meng Yunzheng about academics, and they got along very well, becoming quite familiar.

Master Wen's character was also good, so Meng Yunzheng wanted to recruit him.

In addition, there were some learned scholars who didn't like the constraints of officialdom. Meng Yunzheng also had a few candidates in mind, but such people were scattered all over the country, and with Meng Yunzheng's current status as a scholar, he wasn't qualified enough.

He needed to pass the imperial examination to have a more substantial bargaining power.

This matter was not urgent; he first wanted to get Master Wen on board and then establish the enlightenment class.

He came to find Shu Yu today to discuss an idea with her.

"Are you saying we should buy the land from the hilltop to the middle of our sunflower field?"

The estate was not far from the hilltop, but the middle area covered a distance of four li. Even if the sunflower field occupied two li in the middle of the estate and the hilltop, there were still two li of land.

Although some parts of this land were unused, it did have owners, and there were many of them.

If Meng Yunzheng wanted to buy it, he would have to persuade each household one by one.

It was like a modern-day redevelopment project, requiring a substantial amount of money and potentially running into difficulties with some stubborn landowners.

To make matters more complicated, Shu Yu's workshop wasn't far from that area. Anyone with a bit of intelligence would know that the area would undoubtedly develop in the future, causing the land value to rise.

Shu Yu rubbed her forehead, feeling like she was lifting a stone and dropping it on her foot because the rising land value was of her doing.

Meng Yunzheng chuckled, "I'll handle these matters. Sometimes, it doesn't necessarily require money. Offering certain benefits can achieve the same purpose."

"It seems like you have thought this through? But why do you want to buy that land?"

"For tranquility."

Shu Yu questioned with a 'hmm.'

Meng Yunzheng explained, "We both have our plans; I want to expand the academy, and you want to expand the workshop and sunflower field. Unfortunately, these two are situated in the same area. That piece of land in the middle will definitely attract potential buyers in the future. Since it's not suitable for growing crops, it's highly likely they will build houses there. When that happens, the area will become crowded, and it won't be beneficial for either of us."

Shu Yu nodded, "Indeed."