Chapter 104: Creating the Antidote

Yang Yuxiong walked to the bedside and gazed at the pale-faced woman, his heart filled with conflicting emotions. He did not know whether he ought to blame her for concealing her formidable martial arts from him all these years, or feel grateful that she possessed such skill. Otherwise, he would still be confined to that dark corner of the imperial palace, watched over by guards and deprived of his freedom.

As if sensing what was in his heart, Liang Wei slowly awakened. She still appeared as delicate and fragile as ever, inspiring pity and tenderness. Looking at the man whose expression was so complicated, she gave him a weak smile.

“Your Majesty, what is wrong with these servants? How could they allow you to remain here and watch over me? You must be tired today. You ought to rest properly.”

Yang Yuxiong looked at the woman who had just awakened and was already concerned only for him. He found himself unable to utter even a single word of accusation. He could only say gently, “My beloved, you have finally awakened. I was terribly worried.”

Liang Wei lowered her head, her voice soft and subdued. “Your Majesty, I am guilty.”

“Oh? What crime could my beloved have committed?” Yang Yuxiong was curious to hear what explanation she would offer.

Looking at him earnestly, Liang Wei said, “Your Majesty, I have never told you that I know martial arts.”

“Then why did you not tell me?”

Liang Wei had been waiting for precisely that question. She answered gently, “Your Majesty, for more than twenty years, you have cherished me and protected me so well that I thought I would never need to use martial arts in this lifetime. Besides, I was afraid that if I told you, Your Majesty would find me too rough and uncouth.”

When she finished, she gazed at Yang Yuxiong with an innocent expression.

After hearing her words, how could Yang Yuxiong remain angry? Her reasons were perfectly convincing, and she had even managed to flatter him with great subtlety. He was so pleased that his heart nearly blossomed with delight.

He said tenderly, “My foolish beloved, how could I possibly blame you? You never told me, yet when it mattered most, you were the one who saved me. I can scarcely dote on you enough.”

The Noble Consort Liang struggled to squeeze out a few tears of emotion and nestled into Yang Yuxiong’s arms.

“Your Majesty, I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime. Fortunately…” Before she could finish, she began to sob softly, looking every inch the picture of joyful tears.

Yang Yuxiong’s heart melted completely. He gently patted Noble Consort Liang’s back and comforted her. “There, there. Do not cry. Are we not together again?”

He thought that all the years he had spent doting on this woman had not been in vain. At the crucial moment, she had still been the one to come to his aid.

“Your Majesty, I want to remain with you forever. When I recover, shall we travel together and enjoy the mountains and rivers?”

“Of course. Whatever my beloved wishes is agreeable to me.”

“Your Majesty, I love you so much. You are the best to me.”

With that, her soft lips covered his, giving him a lingering, passionate kiss that left Yang Yuxiong utterly delighted.

Zhan Yan was taking a stroll through Fragrant Pear Courtyard with Zhongli Yu. Her belly had already grown large at six months, and she had entered the middle stage of pregnancy. The weather had grown considerably cooler, and all the osmanthus blossoms in the courtyard had fallen. Zhan Yan no longer suffered from nausea, and the sight of the osmanthus trees no longer troubled her. Instead, whenever she saw them, she was reminded of Zhongli Yu’s devotion and indulgence. Her heart grew as sweet as honey.

Li Hun entered and saw Zhongli Yu carefully supporting Zhan Yan as they walked slowly around the courtyard. He hurried over to Zhongli Yu and said, “Young Master, Divine Physician Meng said that you and Madam should go see him.”

Zhongli Yu exchanged a glance with Zhan Yan. Could it be that there was finally news of an antidote?

“Have they developed the antidote?” Zhan Yan asked anxiously.

Li Hun shook his head. “Divine Physician Meng did not say. Perhaps they have made some progress.”

Zhongli Yu took Zhan Yan’s hand. “We will know once we go and see.”

“All right.”

Hand in hand, Zhongli Yu and Zhan Yan made their way unhurriedly toward the residence of Divine Physician Meng.

When they arrived, they discovered that Zhou Lan was there as well. Ever since Zhou Lan had agreed to develop an antidote for the Thousandfold Obedience poison, Zhongli Yu had ordered that he no longer be confined. He was now free to move about the Gu residence.

When Divine Physician Meng saw Zhongli Yu and Zhan Yan arrive, he smiled broadly.

“Yu’er, Yan girl, you are here.”

Seeing the delight on Divine Physician Meng’s face, Zhan Yan hurriedly asked, “Grandfather Meng, have you made progress with the antidote?”

“Indeed. Sect Master Zhou and I have been working on it for more than half a month, and we have finally achieved results. Once taken, this antidote should permanently eliminate the poison.”

Zhan Yan exclaimed joyfully, “Grandfather Meng, is that really true?”

“Of course it is.”

“That is wonderful!”

Zhongli Yu was equally delighted. “This time, we truly owe everything to Grandfather Meng and Sect Master Zhou. Zhongli Yu will never forget your kindness.”

Meng Tao waved his hand. “You rascal, this old man does not need your gratitude. Healing the sick and saving lives is my duty.”

Zhou Lan said guiltily, “Is Prince Chun trying to shame me? I was the one who created this poison in the first place. Now, I am merely turning back after losing my way.”

Looking at Zhou Lan, Zhongli Yu said, “Sect Master Zhou was only momentarily misguided. You need not dwell on it. Now that the antidote has been created, those under the poison’s control can be saved.”

Zhan Yan turned to Zhou Lan. “Sect Master Zhou, some time ago, Yang Qi led a group of people here. Among them was a woman highly skilled in martial arts. I heard Yang Qi call her ‘Mother,’ so I assume she was Noble Consort Liang of Xiyuan. Do you know this woman?”

As she spoke, Zhan Yan carefully watched Zhou Lan’s reaction. She wanted to know whether the woman he loved was Liang Wei, the consort of Yang Yuxiong.

Sure enough, Zhou Lan’s expression changed at once. He asked urgently, “You did not do anything to her, did you?”

He knew that Zhongli Yu’s martial arts were formidable, and even he was no match for him, let alone his junior sister. Although he resented her for ignoring his feelings all these years and using him repeatedly, how could a woman he had loved for more than twenty years simply be cast aside? Thus, upon hearing Zhan Yan’s words, he could not help worrying about her safety.

From his reaction, Zhan Yan was almost certain that Noble Consort Liang was the woman Zhou Lan loved deeply. She could not help sighing inwardly. Noble Consort Liang truly was blessed. She had enjoyed the favor of the King of Xiyuan for more than twenty years, while behind her stood a senior fellow disciple who loved her in silence and was willing to obey her every command.

Zhan Yan said indifferently, “Rest assured, Sect Master Zhou. We did not make things difficult for her. She merely suffered a minor injury, and Yang Qi took her away.”

Zhou Lan breathed a sigh of relief. “That is good.”

He made no attempt to conceal his concern for Liang Wei.

Looking at him, Zhan Yan could not help feeling sorry for him. He loved a woman with such single-minded devotion, even though she had long since married another man. For more than twenty years, he had continued to love her, allowing her to order him about and even committing heinous acts for her sake. It was difficult to say whether he was foolish or simply hopelessly infatuated.

Zhan Yan said lightly, “Sect Master Zhou truly is devoted to Noble Consort Liang.”

Zhou Lan gazed at the sky beyond the window and began recalling the past. His voice seemed to drift a long way off as he spoke softly.

“Twenty-five years ago, my junior sister and I were already in love. I thought we would remain together for the rest of our lives. Who could have known that twenty-two years ago, she would catch the eye of Yang Yuxiong, the Crown Prince of Xiyuan, forcing us to part?”

“If your junior sister loved you as well, why did she marry Yang Yuxiong?” Zhan Yan had never believed that Liang Wei truly loved Zhou Lan.

“Yang Yuxiong was the Crown Prince of Xiyuan. Once he wished to marry her, how could my junior sister have dared refuse?”

“But I have heard that the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect has always lived in seclusion. How did your junior sister come to the attention of Yang Yuxiong? Even if he had taken an interest in her, you could have brought her back to the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect. Surely Yang Yuxiong would have been powerless to stop you.”

Zhan Yan could not help trying to awaken this blind man to reality.

For a moment, Zhou Lan did not know what to say. Gradually, he seemed to understand that perhaps his junior sister had merely been using him all along. But if that was true, why had she appeared to love him so deeply whenever they were together?

Seeing that he had fallen silent, Zhan Yan guessed that he had begun to see the truth. She then said, “Sect Master Zhou, I would like to ask you for a favor.”

Zhou Lan looked at her in confusion. Had he not already given them the antidote? Why did she still need his help?

“What would Princess Consort Chun like me to do?”

“You have been here for nearly a month. By now, your junior sister is probably waiting to obtain the medicine so she can give it to those under her control, is she not?”

Zhou Lan nodded. That was indeed the case. He said nothing, waiting for Zhan Yan to continue.

“I want you to take the antidote we have prepared, find your junior sister, and give it to her. Tell her to administer it to those under the poison’s control, while letting her believe that it is merely another dose of the medicine they must take once a month.”

Zhou Lan did not understand her intentions. Now that they had the antidote, why did they not simply deliver it to those people themselves and gain their gratitude? Why go about it in such a furtive manner?

Zhan Yan did not explain. She merely looked at Zhou Lan expectantly.

Seeing that she had no intention of elaborating, Zhou Lan nevertheless agreed readily. “Very well. I promise.”

“Then thank you, Sect Master Zhou.”

“This matter was caused by me in the first place. I do not deserve your thanks.”

“Then you will leave tomorrow, all right?”

Zhou Lan nodded. “All right.”

Once they had reached an agreement, Zhan Yan returned to Fragrant Pear Courtyard with Zhongli Yu. After they entered their room, she asked curiously, “Husband, are you not curious why I chose to do this?”

With a soft laugh, Zhongli Yu replied, “My Yan’er merely wants to cast a long line in order to catch a bigger fish. You deliberately do not want Noble Consort Liang to know that the people she controls have already taken the antidote. When she threatens them again, we can reveal the truth and catch her completely off guard.”

Zhan Yan laughed softly. “Husband, do you have to be so clever?”

“My wife is already so intelligent. If I do not try to learn from you, what will I do if you decide you dislike me?”

Zhan Yan nodded. “That is true. If you were too foolish, perhaps I really would grow to dislike you.”

Zhongli Yu’s face darkened. “You dare.”

Zhan Yan answered playfully, “Why would I not dare?”

His expression turning ominous, Zhongli Yu said, “In any case, you are not allowed to dislike me.”

“Why not?” Zhan Yan blinked her large eyes innocently.

“Because I said so. That is reason enough.”

“How overbearing.”

“I am used to it.”

“…”

First published by Xiaoxiang Academy. Reproduction prohibited.