Chapter 95

The Xuanxiao Cavalry's distinctiveness was too high, and the Red Flood Dragon was also running outside carelessly. As long as one paid attention, it wasn't hard to find out about Qin Shaozong's return to the city.

The people of the Wei Residence must have also heard the news.

Qin Shaozong said to Hu Bao, "Tell Wei Congmu that I'm not free today."

He only said he wasn't free today, without even the polite "come back another day."

Hu Bao was his personal guard. As soon as he heard it, he knew what his superior meant and immediately bowed to take the order to pass the message.

Dai Li knew nothing about the major families in Yuyang. Qin Yanzhou had heard of them. Hearing this, he turned his eyes to look at Qin Shaozong, but could only see the man's expressionless side face.

When they came back, Dai Li and Qin Yanzhou took two separate carriages. Dai Li and Qin Shaozong shared one, and Qin Yanzhou took one by himself.

Now when they go out, it's the same.

There was no intention of avoiding at all. The two carriages came out of the main gate one after another. When they came out, they happened to meet the carriage with the wooden sign of "Wei" hanging on it.

Hearing Hu Bao's message, Wei Congmu was extremely anxious. He tried to ask Hu Bao for a free time, but the latter kept his mouth shut and didn't reveal any information.

Fine, since this is the case, he will come back tomorrow. It's always a good thing that the Marquis of Wu'an returned to Yuyang. With him holding down the fort, a single word from him would definitely make the hateful Cai family not dare to cause trouble again.

It's a pity that Qi Nian hasn't been seen during this period of time, otherwise communicating with his nephew and having him mediate in the middle would get twice the result with half the effort.

As a result, Wei Congmu went out on foot and was about to go back to his residence, but suddenly heard a domestic servant remind him in a low voice that two carriages drove out of the residence.

Carriages?

Those who can ride in carriages are definitely not ordinary figures, let alone coming out of the main gate of the residence.

Could it be...

Wei Congmu quickly lifted the curtain and saw that it was actually Hu Bao driving the carriage, and his guess was instantly verified. He immediately straightened his clothes, got down from the carriage, blocked in front of Hu Bao's carriage, and bowed deeply to him.

Wei Congmu was the Chief Clerk of Yuyang Commandery, so when he opened his mouth, he said, "This humble official congratulates the Lord on the triumphant return of his mighty army. The Lord wins every battle and captures every objective, always successful. I imagine the descent of the Martial Star to the mortal realm would also be of such a heroic posture. After this battle, the bandits large and small in the north are all terrified, scattering and fleeing, not daring to wreak havoc everywhere again. It is the fortune of the people of Ying Commandery to be protected by the Lord."

Although the person blocked the front of the carriage, what he said were words of congratulation, so it was not easy to directly drive him away.

Seeing the curtain move slightly, Wei Congmu quickly moved from the front to the side of the curtain. Sure enough, the next moment the curtain was lifted, revealing that face that showed more and more pressure as time flowed.

"It's just a small matter, not worth mentioning," Qin Shaozong merely said.

Wei Congmu didn't expect the other party to only say this one sentence. By right, the Marquis of Wu'an already knew that he had previously visited the residence, and at this time, he should at least exchange a few pleasantries with him and ask him what he came for.

Seeing that the other party seemed to want to put down the curtain, Wei Congmu had no choice but to get straight to the point: "I wonder when the Lord will be free. This humble official has some important matters and would like to ask for your guidance."

"What matter?" Qin Shaozong asked directly.

Wei Congmu's face twitched. There were people coming and going around, and maybe there were a dozen pairs of ears pricked up. How could that matter be said on the street?

Dai Li was still riding in the carriage provided by the magistrate of Nanyang County. There was only a single row of seats in the carriage, and she sat next to Qin Shaozong.

When he was talking to the person outside the carriage, Dai Li sat quietly. Her person was there, but her thoughts had been wandering for a while. She was thinking about the Green Lotus Sect and seeking medical treatment.

Until—

Qin Shaozong reached over and wrapped Dai Li's hand in his palm. In the cooling autumn, his hands were very warm, like a hot water bottle.

Dai Li returned to her senses for a moment, but she had gotten used to his occasional small movements these days, so she didn't react much.

Qin Shaozong pinched her fingertips.

Dai Li turned her head to look at him, but still didn't react much.

Qin Shaozong rubbed her palm with his rough thumb pad.

The woman's palm was delicate and soft. When that touch, like fine feathers and also like sandpaper, brushed past, Dai Li felt as if she had been touched by an invisible electric current. A tingling itch ran along her arm to her spine, and then up to her head.

As the back of her neck tightened slightly, she suddenly understood what Qin Shaozong meant.

This person wanted her to make a sound.

But Dai Li just didn't want to do what he wanted. If he didn't want to talk to that Wei family member, he could just tell the other party directly. Why use her as a shield?

She wouldn't do it.

Dai Li pulled her hand back, unwilling to let him hold it. Qin Shaozong didn't let go and continued to scratch her palm.

Even while she struggled, his strength was controlled very well. Dai Li always felt that there were fine feathers sweeping her palm, making that itch reach straight to her heart.

Dai Li was angry. How could this person be like this!

Immediately, she used her other hand to grab his fingers and pry them outwards, attempting to make that thick, tiger-paw-like large palm stretch out again.

Dai Li was fully concentrated and didn't notice that as she struggled more and more with him, she was no longer sitting with her back against the soft chair as before. She turned her body slightly and came out of the shielding area where Qin Shaozong used his body as a barrier.

Outside the carriage.

Wei Congmu had made up his mind to tactfully decline and leave this matter until tomorrow. As a result, when he looked up, he suddenly saw a piece of hibiscus-colored clothing.

It was a very gentle and graceful color, widely loved by young ladies. It could not be ruled out that some young gentlemen in the south who posed as lovers of culture also loved it very much. But in the rough north, almost no men would dress like this.

Before Wei Congmu could be surprised, the next moment, half of a lotus-like jade face poked out from behind the black robe.

Skin as white as snow, a little bright red mole between the eyebrows. The beautiful concubine lowered her eyes. Her eyelashes were thick and black, and the arc from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye was extremely smooth and beautiful. When the curve reached the outer corner of the eye, it slightly tilted up, like a beautiful little feather fan.

As if noticing his gaze, she suddenly raised her eyes.

Those eyes were like a pool of clear water. When looking at him, they were cold and clear. It was clear that she didn't carry much emotion, but it made people feel distant, cold, and unapproachable, as if it were a graceful peony growing on a high platform, which could only be looked up to but not touched.

While Wei Congmu was stunned, that half of the jade face had disappeared.

Seeing Wei Congmu stunned, Qin Shaozong frowned, "I'm not free today, and I have to go busy first. Please do as you please, Chief Clerk."

After saying that, the carriage curtain fell, blocking Wei Congmu's gaze. Hu Bao almost simultaneously raised his horsewhip and spurred the horse forward.

Wei Congmu stood blankly on the spot.

The Marquis of Wu'an shared a carriage with a young lady? And knowing that he came to visit and ask for an audience, and even after stating bluntly that he had important matters, he still left him behind and rode away with the young lady.

When did the Marquis of Wu'an become such a person who didn't know the severity of things? Who is that beautiful concubine? When did such a beauty exist in the north...

Perhaps there was a deviation from his past cognition, Wei Congmu felt inexplicably uneasy at this moment.

Inside the carriage.

Dai Li finally pried his hand open. After accidentally making eye contact with Wei Congmu just now, she knew that Qin Shaozong's certain goal might have finally been achieved.

Dai Li glanced at him sideways and said nothing.

Later when going to the Ding family, she still needed to use him, so it was not appropriate to argue with him at this time.

Dai Li didn't speak, but Qin Shaozong took the initiative to say, "The one just now was the Chief Clerk of Yuyang, and also the eldest son of the middle generation of the Wei family. The Qin and Wei families used to be related by marriage. I married the legitimate daughter of the Wei family, but Lady Wei had a weak body and died of illness less than two years after giving birth to a son."

Dai Li was stunned.

This was her first time learning about Qin Shaozong's family background, and it was told to her by the man himself.

Qin Shaozong spoke of the past, "When Lady Wei passed away from illness, the Qin family happened to be in a precarious situation and needed support from outsiders. At that time, the Qin family sought out Lady Wei, promising heavy profits in exchange for their help. The Wei family agreed, but worrying that they would drift apart from the Qin family in the future, they proposed marrying another daughter of the Wei family to me."

Daili's curiosity was piqued. "Did you marry her?"

Although she had only been interacting with Qin Shaozong for a little over half a year, she was absolutely certain that he was an extremely domineering man.

If you wanted this kind of person to bow his head and obediently follow orders, his rebellious nature would likely flare up, and he would deliberately go against you.

On the other hand, it was hard to say. After all, he was a son of the Qin family. With his current status, he would likely become the core focus of the Qin family's cultivation later on.

Enjoying the family's resources meant he also had to bear the corresponding responsibilities. Perhaps he would have agreed to the matter proposed by Lady Wei at that time.

Qin Shaozong sneered, "At that time, there were no unmarried legitimate daughters of marriageable age in the Wei family's main branch, so they wanted to marry off a concubine-born daughter from the main branch to me."

Promising heavy profits was already enough compensation, and adding a marriage alliance... well, that would have been fine too. After all, marrying anyone was still a marriage, and it could just be considered as continuing the good relations between the two clans.

But the result was that they told him there were no legitimate daughters, only a concubine-born one.

It was simply going too far!

His older brother had already passed away by then, and as the second son, he had been promoted to heir. If he married a concubine-born daughter of Lady Wei, how would the other prominent families view the Qin clan?

Looking at his expression, Daili already knew the answer. "It seems you didn't."

"They actually knew it was impossible too; bringing it up was merely a probe," Qin Shaozong said lightly.

If he agreed, the Wei family would naturally be delighted. If he refused, they could take a step back and make a relatively less excessive demand, which, given the situation at the time, he would find hard to reject.

Daili's eyes flickered. Thinking of the important matter the person had just mentioned, and connecting it to Qin Shaozong's attitude, she felt that Qin Changgeng probably already knew about that important matter, but he simply didn't want to handle it.

However...

"Why are you telling me all this?" Daili was baffled.

Qin Shaozong said meaningfully, "My lady will have to know eventually."

Perhaps to make it convenient to treat Qin Yanzhou, the residence Daili moved into was not far from the Ding family's home.

After the two chatted for a few sentences in the carriage, it came to a halt.

They had sent someone ahead to inform them, so the main gates of the Ding manor were currently wide open. Ding Lianxi, who had returned with the convoy today, was standing in front of the gate with his parents and grandfather.

Qin Shaozong stepped out of the carriage first and reached out a hand, bringing Daili down as well.

"Welcome, Your Grace."

"Welcome, Your Grace."

Daili saw two men who looked somewhat similar to Ding Lianxi standing beside him. One was older than the other, but both were in excellent spirits.

The old man, who was in his seventies, had greying hair, a lean face, and gentle, clear eyes. He actually possessed an air of transcendent, immortal-like grace.

"Elder Ding, there is no need for such formalities," Qin Shaozong personally helped Ding Lianxi's grandfather up. "I have come today entirely for the illness of my young son. I hope you will do your utmost later and hold nothing back."

Daili paused, unable to resist looking at Qin Shaozong. The young man standing beside Daili also couldn't help but look at the man in front of them.

Qin Shaozong stood before the two of them. He was very tall, with a straight back and broad shoulders, looking like a mountain that could shield them from the wind and rain.

Even though he knew why his lord had come, hearing these words still made Ding Lianxi reveal a look of astonishment.

His young son?

The young master was the Marquis's son? Something seemed wrong...

After a moment of shock, the Ding family members quickly invited them inside.

Since they were anxious to seek medical help, they got straight to the point. The people in the main hall did not sit separately but gathered around a small table. Qin Yanzhou sat on one side of the table, and Ding Lianxi's grandfather, Ding Luying, sat on the other.

Qin Yanzhou described his condition to the old man in detail, including how the attacks felt, the frequency of taking the medicine, the color and smell of the pills, and even the age at which he first started taking them.

Hearing her son say he had been taking this kind of medicine since he was ten years old, Daili's vision went dark for a moment. A long arm wrapped around her waist at just the right time, holding her up and preventing her from collapsing.

Qin Shaozong glanced at the pale woman in his arms and instructed a maid nearby, "Go pour a cup of hot tea."

Ding Lianxi didn't dare turn his head, only daring to steal glances from the corner of his eye. He thought to himself that the words of that stingy miser Jin Duole might actually have some accuracy to them.

The Marquis's estate might truly be undergoing a massive change.

"...The first time I took that medicine, my heart beat very fast at first. My body grew hot, my mind became hyperactive, and it felt like a hot fire was burning in my blood. The second time I took the medicine was two months later. The symptoms were the same, except that in the end, all the heat seemed to converge in my abdomen." As Qin Yanzhou said this, he devoted a fraction of his attention to observing Daili beside him.

Seeing his mother's strange expression, he couldn't help but purse his lips.

Ding Luying, seeing him stay silent for a long time, took the initiative to ask, "Young Master, what happened next?"

For a healer, the greatest worry was a patient who wouldn't cooperate and hid things.

Daili was also anxious listening to this and called out to her son.

Only then did Qin Yanzhou continue his explanation.

Ding Luying asked, "Young Master, do you have any of the medicine you previously took left over?"

Qin Yanzhou shook his head.

Ding Luying didn't say anything further, only asking him to extend his hand so he could take his pulse.

Time slowly ticked by. No one in the main hall spoke, and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Daili felt as if layer upon layer of wet cloth was covering her face. Heavy and stifling, it smothered her nose, making every breath she took exceptionally difficult.

"It is the Crimson Gall," Ding Luying said, withdrawing his hand.

Although Daili hadn't heard the rest yet, at this moment, those invisible cloths were suddenly lifted away significantly, and her breathing became smoother.

This old gentleman knew what it was!

This was much better than not being able to figure it out at all.

Ding Luying stroked his greying long beard. "The Crimson Gall is a type of Gu worm that feeds on Cold Food Powder. And the pills you took previously, Young Master, were very likely Cold Food Powder."

Daili froze. She didn't even hear the maid who brought the hot tea calling her in a low voice.

Cold Food Powder.

Some people might not be very familiar with this name, but its other name was absolutely well-known to the world: Five Minerals Powder.

Five Minerals Powder was originally a traditional Chinese medicine prescription for treating stroke and typhoid fever, but it was later abused and became a death warrant for many.

Ding Luying continued, "Cold Food Powder should not be used in large quantities. Those who take it for a long time are prone to confusion, tinnitus, palpitations, and a series of adverse symptoms."

Daili knew all of this.

Basically, no one who consumed Five Minerals Powder met a good end. With excessive minerals accumulating in the body, and perhaps even trace amounts of heavy metals, it would be a miracle if one could live a long and peaceful life.

Daili hurriedly asked, "Elder, you just said that the Gu worm called Crimson Gall feeds on Cold Food Powder. Does that mean the residual accumulation of Cold Food Powder in my son's body is not much, and the worm and the host have reached a balance?"

Ding Luying replied, "I can only say it is a precarious balance. If the Crimson Gall is starved for a long time, it secretes a venom. All of the young master's previous discomforts were caused by this venom."

Qin Shaozong took the teacup from the maid's hands, stuffed it into Daili's hands, and said casually, "Then just continue taking the Cold Food Powder to feed the worm so it stops causing trouble."

Daili couldn't help but glare at him.

Is Cold Food Powder something one can consume so recklessly?

"My Lord, this method is ill-advised. Cold Food Powder is a drug, after all, and every drug harbors a trace of poison. Over the years, the young master's foundation will inevitably suffer lasting damage," Ding Luying said, shaking his head.

Qin Shaozong replied, "Then we extract it."

Ding Luying fell silent for a moment. "A Red Gall parasite has a lifespan of twenty years. Whenever its life nears its end, or when it starves to the brink of death, it enters an entirely new state. It begins to frantically devour its host's flesh and blood, attempting to convert them into nourishment to prolong its own life. If left unchecked, within half a year, the host's intestines and stomach will be gnawed clean through, and they will die in agonizing torment."

As those last words fell, Daili's heart seized in a painful spasm.

"Then... old sir, do you have a way to remove the parasite?"

Ding Luying knitted his hoary brows. "There is a way. However, from what this old man can see, the Red Gall was implanted in the young master's body at a very early age. Coupled with what appears to be a highly irregular feeding pattern, its lifespan has been cut significantly shorter than others of its kind. It has already entered its final, frenzied stage, and has been in it for quite some time."

Daili opened her mouth to speak, but only a breathless gasp escaped her lips.

Qin Shaozong then said, "Since there is a way, I must trouble you to go ahead and extract the parasite, old sir."

Ding Luying replied, "The extraction itself is not difficult. The problem lies in the vast array of medicinal ingredients required. Some of these herbs grow in the south, while others are found in the west; they are scattered far and wide. And the young master's Red Gall only has three months left."