She Holds the World After Being Reborn-Chapter 45: Thousand Mechanisms Poison, No Antidote

The news of Yan Wanqing coughing up blood spread quickly again, and families throughout the Capital City sent their condolences, especially the residence of the Seventh Prince, where millennium-old ginseng was sent to the Township Manor as if it were free of cost.

Soon the storeroom was packed full, and unable to fit more, the Sun family sent the excess to Yan Wanqing’s courtyard.

Cong Huan looked at the mountain of tonics piled up in the courtyard, her eyes filled with envy.

"The Seventh Prince really cares about our young lady, this Blood Ginseng I heard is unique in the entire Capital City, and now it’s here with our young lady."

Her voice was loud, deliberately so, carrying directly into the ears of the people inside the house, as if worried they wouldn’t hear.

"Keep it down, don’t disturb the Young Marquis and the young lady talking," Cong Ge reminded with a frown. Ever since she understood this maid’s intentions, every word and action seemed to her full of ulterior motives.

Cong Huan pouted unhappily, "But all this is visible to the eye, I’m not telling any lies. Our young lady should understand who truly cares for her the most."

Her words grew more and more outlandish.

Cong Ge’s face turned cold, and with a twist of her hand on her arm, she reprimanded, "What nonsense are you spouting? Come here!" She dragged the maid aside.

The people in the house, hearing the noise outside subside, resumed their game of chess.

Yan Wanqing kept a faint smile, appearing especially gentle and mild, like pear blossoms falling in the spring breeze.

"I apologize for the lax discipline, causing the Young Marquis amusement."

Huai Yu shook his head helplessly, "A maid with such a defiant attitude is indeed a sign of lax discipline."

A hidden meaning was in his words.

Yan Wanqing’s lips curled into a smile, gently placing a white chess piece down, "She’s quite interesting, so I kept her around. Otherwise, what would distract us from the intoxicating life of Capital City?"

Huai Yu glanced at her pale lips, his eyes flashing, "What exactly is the state of your health now?"

"No harm, not dying yet."

Listening to the self-mocking words of the young girl, Huai Yu was moved, "If you would accompany me to the Northern Border, perhaps we could adjust your condition, and there’s even hope of returning to your former flourishing health."

"Flourishing health?" Yan Wanqing savored these words in her mouth.

How she longed to return to her peak, her Spirit Snake Sword dominating the heavens. But her recent experiences practicing her martial arts told her that her health was deteriorating, and the intervals between coughing up blood were growing shorter.

She knew this was the Thousand Mechanisms Poison warning her, informing her that any futile resistance would only hasten her body’s decline and death.

As she was contemplating, a little maid burst in through the door, arms full of parcels, and she headed straight for the incense burner while muttering, "Don’t you fool me, sister. People from the Northern Border love playing with bugs, and those things are wicked. You mustn’t touch them carelessly."

"Yan Lingzhen! Show some respect. This is the Young Marquis from the Northern Border." Yan Wanqing cleared her throat, showing her authority as the elder sister.

Yan Lingzhen wrinkled her little nose and performed an unstandardized courtesy on the spot towards Huai Yu, "I’ve seen the Young Marquis."

Yan Wanqing added from the side, "Please don’t take offense, Young Marquis, this is the Yan Family’s Xiaoliu." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

"The Sixth Miss seems genuine and curious about Gu. From her tone, it appears she has some understanding of it," commented Huai Yu with interest.

Yan Lingzhen moved closer to her own sister, took out a small porcelain bottle from her pocket, poured out colorful medicinal pills, and handed a green one to Yan Wanqing, "Have one."

Yan Wanqing didn’t hesitate and promptly put the medicinal pill into her mouth.

"Do you need water with that?" Huai Yu began to ask, only to see Yan Wanqing’s Adam’s apple move as she spoke, "No need."

She swallowed the pill dry.

Yan Lingzhen said cheerily, "Just like my sister. Ordinary girls need a whole cup of water to swallow a pill and then they still fuss about the bitterness."

Yan Wanqing stroked her hair, "It’s normal for them. You just need to know your sister is not quite normal."

The interaction between the sisters caught Huai Yu’s eye, and a smile couldn’t help but spread across her face, "The affection between you sisters seems quite strong." Last time, Cong Huan was just as attached to Yan Wanqing.

Yan Wanqing’s mind flashed with images from past and present lives as she heard these words, and she nodded with a smile, "Yes, indeed."

However, Yan Lingzhen tilted her head and countered Huai Yu, "Is the affection not good among the siblings in the Young Marquis’ family?"

Huai Yu was stunned by the question. The relationships in his family... were naturally not very good.

"My mother only gave birth to me, and none of my other siblings were raised by her side. So, I’ve been quite estranged from them since childhood, unlike the bond you sisters share, which I must admit I envy a bit."

Huai Yu spoke halfway through.

Those from the Northern Border only wanted to kill him and then inherit the marquisate. They had no brotherly or sisterly affection for him.

Thinking of this, there was a fierce look in the depths of Huai Yu’s eyes.

"You lost," Yan Wanqing declared with a smile as she placed a white piece on the board.

Huai Yu looked down at the chessboard and suddenly grinned, "After an afternoon of play, I’ve lost more than won. It’s rare in the world to find someone whose skill in chess matches the Commandery Princess."

"I studied under Song Huaxu, and I have never won a game against my master," Yan Wanqing remembered some past events.

Huai Yu paused briefly, "What a coincidence."

"How so, Young Marquis?"

"It’s a bit presumptuous to say, but the reason I came to the Capital City was to meet the National Master. I just haven’t found the right opportunity. If the Commandery Princess is the National Master’s disciple, I wonder if you could introduce me?" Huai Yu asked somewhat sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

After hesitating for a moment, Yan Wanqing agreed, "Alright, it just so happens I have some questions for my master as well."

Huai Yu’s face lit up with joy, and he profusely thanked her. Once everyone had finally left, Yan Lingzhen couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Sister, don’t you think he’s a bit odd?"

Yan Wanqing was examining the chessboard, "How so?"

"He’s a man, but he strangely possesses the feminine gentleness of a woman," Yan Lingzhen clicked her tongue, "It’s really peculiar."

Yan Wanqing gathered the white pieces back into the basket, leaving only the black ones, her face bearing a faint smile, "His approach to chess is just like him."

Speaking frankly, Yan Wanqing hadn’t completely figured out Huai Yu either.

This man gave her the impression of being covered by a layer of gauze, elusive and unfathomable.

However, what could be certain for now was that Huai Yu harbored no ill intentions towards her or the Yan Family.

If that was the case, she would not delve into his secrets.

"I can’t be bothered with it anymore," Yan Lingzhen pulled out a small, delicately wrapped package from within her embrace and carefully spread it out on the desk. Under the flickering light, the silver needles glinted brilliantly on the soft cloth.

Yan Wanqing raised her eyebrows slightly, "What is this?"

"Why is the Red Buddha’s Hand called such? Naturally, it involves a set of silver needles with miraculous prowess in acupuncture," Yan Lingzhen said as she pulled out a needle and, before Yan Wanqing could react, pricked her wrist.

Soon, the set of needles had all been used up.

Yan Lingzhen’s face turned serious, and her expression grew more uneasy.

"This poison... is it Thousand Mechanism Poison?"

As she saw Yan Wanqing nod, Yan Lingzhen bit her lip and fell silent, pulling out the silver needles one by one.

"Things are not as simple as I thought. With no antidote for Thousand Mechanisms Poison, and none having been researched so far... Tigers don’t eat their offspring; sister, can you tell me why Father would resort to poisoning?!"