Lou Xiaowu didn't answer, instead looking at Mo Sigui with hopeful eyes.
Mo Sigui carefully examined it for a moment, picked it up to sniff, then immediately frowned and wrapped it back up. "Where did you get this thing?"
"Is there really a problem?" Lou Xiaowu asked urgently. "What kind of poison is it?"
Only after securely wrapping the object and stuffing it into a bottle he carried did Mo Sigui answer unhurriedly, "It's Plague Gu. Actually, it's a type of poison, but an extremely terrifying one that seems almost alive. It can empty an entire city within seven days, hence why it's called Gu. Those infected initially show symptoms like a cold—flushed cheeks as red as peach blossoms, reddened eyelids, and foul breath. After three days, they become bedridden, and by the seventh day, they perish. The horrifying part is that after death, the entire body becomes contagious, and anyone who comes into contact will inevitably fall ill."
Yao Ye exclaimed in alarm, "Then you—?"
"Don't worry. Judging by the cut, the person was still alive when the finger was severed. This Gu relies on corpse energy to thrive. If the finger was cut while the person was alive, the toxicity becomes inactive and won't spread unless ingested or exposed to an open wound." Mo Sigui turned to Lou Xiaowu. "The infected person has likely had it for three days already, hasn't they?"
The fingers are connected to the heart. If the Gu poison has spread to the heart meridian, it must have been three days.
Lou Xiaowu nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes. It was exactly three days when the finger was cut. Can they still be saved?"
Seeing that she wasn't worried about infection but instead asked this, Mo Sigui knew the infected person must be someone very close to her. Yet, he could only shake his head. "The poison has already invaded the heart meridian. Even if the Gu caster provided the antidote, it wouldn't save them. If the person has strong Inner Force, they must be executed and cremated immediately, because this Gu feeds on Inner Force. The stronger the Inner Force, the more potent the Gu poison becomes."
Lou Xiaowu's eyes reddened. "This is my aunt's severed finger. Many in our main family fell ill within three days. The family head ordered all infected to be frozen and placed in the ice cellar. Someone has already gone to Plum Blossom Village for help. Since you recognize this, do you have a cure?"
Lou Xiaowu had been traveling to Plum Blossom Village with them but split off upon hearing Mo Sigui was in Bianjing.
"Though the poison is fierce, the antidote isn't complicated." Mo Sigui took out a porcelain bottle, tossed a medicinal pill into his mouth, and handed one to each of them.
"Miraculous Doctor Mo, please save the Lou family! Xiao Wu will repay you in any way she can!" Lou Xiaowu bowed deeply, even kneeling before Mo Sigui.
After a brief moment of thought, Mo Sigui reached out to help her up. "The Mei and Lou families share fortunes and misfortunes. Let's go."
Then, he turned to An Jiu. "You stay and enjoy Bianjing. I'll return soon."
"Alright," An Jiu replied.
Despite Lou Xiaowu's usually lively personality, she had no mood for small talk now. Once the matter was settled, she bowed to An Jiu and hurried off with Mo Sigui.
As the sound of hoofbeats faded, Yao Ye ordered the carriage back to the estate.
"It sounds extremely dangerous. I hope the young master can handle it," Yao Ye sighed.
An Jiu remained silent. The situation was far too suspicious. The four great families had just been attacked during the trial, and now the Lou family was in trouble upon returning! The Mei family likely wouldn't escape unscathed either.
The Mei family would surely realize this and would have Elder Qi stay to oversee things. The Lou family also knew seeking help at Plum Blossom Village might not work, so they sent Lou Xiaowu ahead to fetch Mo Sigui.
"You don't usually care for him. Why the concern?" An Jiu asked, puzzled.Yao Ye looked at An Jiu. "The young master is not listed in the Mei Shi family register, nor does he have any ties to Lou Shi. There’s no obligation for him to go on this trip. His going is entirely out of gratitude for Elder Qi’s upbringing. I’ve served in Mei Shi for many years. Though I’ve never been close to him, I know he’s seen life and death and can be somewhat indifferent. But if someone truly earns his sincerity, he would go through fire and water for them."
Meeting her expectant gaze, An Jiu pondered for a moment but failed to grasp the meaning. "What are you implying?"
Yao Ye lowered her voice. "Find a way to marry him! The young master is far better than that Hua Erlang—at least we know his roots!"
"He and I are siblings." An Jiu hadn’t even considered this possibility. Even if they weren’t siblings, she would never allow Mei Jiu to marry a physician! Deep down, she believed all doctors were madmen and perverts. Mo Sigui might seem normal now, but her own father had appeared refined and gentlemanly in public too!
Unaware of these thoughts, Yao Ye said in confusion, "The Song Code doesn’t prohibit marriage between cousins, my lady. You should know that!"
Mo Sigui and Mei Jiu’s mothers were sisters, making them cousins—perfectly eligible for marriage.
Unwilling to discuss it further, An Jiu replied, "We’ll see."
Noticing her resistance, Yao Ye wondered if she had actually taken a liking to that playboy Hua Erlang! If so, whether this marriage happened or not, it would be a tragedy!
Back at the residence.
After bathing, An Jiu sat crouched by the hearth, spotting the newly purchased trinkets on the table. She couldn’t resist moving closer, picking one up to fiddle with. Her luxurious robes pooled on the floor, her long, half-dried black hair cascading down her back.
"My lady, it’s late. Time to rest," Yao Ye reminded her.
An Jiu ignored her, engrossed in manipulating a small dove cart. The cart was shaped like an elegant little bird, with wheels on either side and a hollowed-out body in the middle. The entire toy was no larger than two fingers, exquisitely crafted and adorable.
Yao Ye realized that since returning from the trial, her lady seemed to live entirely in her own world, unaffected by others’ opinions. She stopped pressing and let her be.
Night deepened, frost glimmered white.
The lantern-lit streets gradually emptied. In a dark alley stood a figure, clad in a close-fitting black outfit and a mantle, blending into the shadows.
His ear twitched slightly, and he gave a soft cough.
A shadow dropped down like a swallow, kneeling before him. "Commander, Lou Shi is in trouble. Mei Shi’s Mo Sigui has already rushed there."
"The cause of the Lou Shi elders’ poisoning?" The commander’s voice was low and icy.
The subordinate tensed. "Still unknown, but we’ve detected a group of uninvited guests lurking near the Mei Shi residence in Bianjing."
"Hold off for now. Observe in secret. Go."
"Yes!" The man vanished swiftly.
The situation was clear—the ambush during the trial was just the beginning. That group had silently killed dozens of Crane Control Army Shadow Guards in mere hours, a terrifying display of strength.
With such formidable power, who else could be behind it but the Emperor?!
These men risked their lives, living in the shadows, their existence a constant dance with death—only to fall not in defense of the Song Dynasty, but at the hands of their own master! The commander clenched his fists, knuckles cracking.A cold wind swept through the alley. After calming down slightly, the commander's heart was filled with doubt once more—the current Emperor appeared idle on the surface, wholly devoted to alchemy, but in truth, he was deeply suspicious and calculating. It was unlikely he would do something to sow discord between ruler and subject. Even if he intended to eliminate the Crane Control Army, he shouldn’t be in such a hurry to achieve it.
Unless, of course, he had taken too much of his medicine and ruined his mind!
The commander smoothed his emotions and vanished into the dark night.
The next day.
An Jiu finished her morning meal, changed into men’s clothing, and went out to enjoy herself.
Unfortunately, Mei Jiu’s body was far too delicate and beautiful, drawing frequent glances from passersby as she walked. An Jiu was extremely sensitive to such attention, constantly feeling as though she was being watched. After an hour of wandering, she was nearly on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Seeing her so jittery, Yao Ye couldn’t take it anymore and suggested, “Young master, there’s a teahouse by the river over there. Let’s go sit for a while.”
This was exactly what An Jiu wanted to hear. “Good.”
By the river, slender willow branches drooped low, their withered twigs coated in a thick layer of white frost. The water shimmered under the morning light, and a thin mist lingered like delicate gauze, creating a breathtaking scene.
The teahouse was built right by the water, allowing patrons to admire the river view from the windows.
An Jiu settled into a private room, watching the riverside households pounding laundry by the bank and boats laden with goods calling out their wares. The lively, everyday scene stirred something deep within her.
“Enough is enough,” An Jiu thought to herself. “All that talk about being strong is just nonsense! Mei Yanran gave everything to keep you alive, and this is how you repay her? In two lifetimes, I’ve never met a creature more pathetic than you.”
Her heartbeat faltered strangely.
An Jiu had merely spoken her mind, venting without any real expectation of Mei Jiu. Yet suddenly, she heard a weak voice: “An Jiu.”
The teacup at An Jiu’s lips froze.
“I want to live… I want to live like them…” Mei Jiu trembled.
Under the influence of An Jiu’s formidable mental strength, Mei Jiu had long since awakened. But she forced herself to sleep every day, avoiding any troubling thoughts.
She wanted to save her mother, but the life of the Crane Control Army filled her with terror—especially after witnessing the brutality of the trials, where lives were treated as worthless as weeds. She longed to break free from Mei Shi and live an ordinary life, yet the guilt of leaving her mother suffering in torment gnawed at her relentlessly.
How wonderful it would be to just sleep forever! But fate had other plans. Under the weight of An Jiu’s mental strength, she had no choice but to wake.
“What should I do?” Mei Jiu murmured.
Yao Ye leaned in and asked, “What did you say, young mistress?”
Mei Jiu jolted, realizing she had regained control of her body. Panicked, she cried out recklessly, “An Jiu! An Jiu!”
She hadn’t figured out what to do yet—how could this happen?
Yao Ye, startled, steadied her. “Young mistress, what’s wrong?”
Mei Jiu clung to Yao Ye, weeping pitifully.
Just as Yao Ye was about to ask further, a sharp buzzing sound came from outside the window. Startled, Yao Ye looked up to see three arrows hurtling toward them. Instinctively, she pulled Mei Jiu aside.
The two tumbled to the ground. Seeing Mei Jiu’s dazed and frightened expression, Yao Ye was full of questions, but there was no time to dwell on them. “Guards!” she shouted.
The guards outside rushed in.
“Protect the young master!” Yao Ye shielded Mei Jiu, moving her to safety.Mei Jiu was on the verge of collapse. She had just been awakened by An Jiu in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere, but why did she encounter such a thing the moment she woke up!
"No sign of the ambusher!" reported the guard who entered.
What was going on? In broad daylight, someone actually attempted to assassinate Mei Shi's young lady! Yao Ye had too many things he couldn't comprehend today. (To be continued...)
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