It was Zhao Sihai plotting behind the scenes.
She didn’t argue with him, struggling to break free to warn Ji Mingshao. But Zhao Sihai, having revealed the truth, quickly restrained her again, kissing her cheek. “Third Sister, in a few days, I’ll bring you Second Brother’s head, and then you’ll be at ease with me.”
Originally, he didn’t want to kill Ji Mingshao, intending to use the authorities to exile him. However, upon realizing Ji Mingshao could escape even when severely wounded, he decided to disregard their bond and eliminate him to prevent future trouble.
Yu Qiu was horrified.
Ji Mingshao hadn’t gone far before he sensed someone following him. The sickly scholar was unmatched in using poison. He spread poison powder on his shoe soles and sealed his nostrils with an antidote pill before deliberately walking into dense vegetation. With each step, the poison powder was left on the grass to dissipate slowly. He listened carefully, and within a quarter of an hour, two muffled sounds were heard as two black-clothed men collapsed nearby, conscious but unable to move.
Zhao Sihai became increasingly excited as he spoke, unconsciously revealing long-held grievances.
While listening to him, Yu Qiu felt her mind becoming hazy, and her limbs began to go limp. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, Zhao Sihai fell backward. Ji Mingshao rushed in and stuffed a pill into her mouth, saying in a low voice, “Let’s go.”
The pill cleared Yu Qiu’s mind. She said joyfully, “Second Brother, you’ve come to save me?”
Ji Mingshao stood in front of Zhao Sihai, his gaze dim. He disliked itinerantdisputes and had withdrawn from Wuying Pavilion to live a carefree life. Unexpectedly, his sworn brother harbored jealousy and was determined to eliminate him.
He took out a small box from his chest. Yu Qiu recognized it and quickly grabbed his hand, anxiously saying, “Second Brother, although Big Brother has done wrong, please spare his life for our years of friendship!”
Ji Mingshao withdrew his hand. He was reluctant to be ruthless, and with Yu Qiu present, he would never be able to kill Zhao Sihai.
The guards outside had been knocked out by his toxic smoke. Ji Mingshao led Yu Qiu out, saying, “Don’t go back to Wuying Pavilion. It’s probably filled with Big Brother’s trusted people, and it won’t be safe for you.”
Yu Qiu asked with a hint of expectation, “Second Brother, are you taking me with you?”
“I have matters to attend to and can’t take you along,” Ji Mingshao replied, preparing to go to Erlong Mountain. He knew he couldn’t take a woman with feelings for him to find Ruan Ning. “Dress as a man and seek refuge with Luo Jin in Sishui. It’s a gathering place for itinerant people, and Big Brother won’t easily find an opportunity to harm you. I’ll come find you once my matters are settled.”
As he spoke, he felt confusion about what “matters settled” meant. Yu Qiu was disappointed, wanting to keep him but helpless as he left. After he was gone, she remembered his untreated injury from days ago, wondering if he was still in pain.
Yu Qiu called out “Second Brother” and rushed to chase after him, but he was nowhere to be found.
Luo Jie was anxious and fidgeting. One hour? He feared he would scratch himself to death in less than half an hour. Unable to speak, he looked at Ruan Ning anxiously. Seeing the blood marks from scratching on his skin, she grabbed Ji Mingshao’s collar and commanded, “Give me the antidote!”
After being apart for many days and finally getting close to her again, Ji Ming Shao was emotionally stirred, wanting to embrace her, yet still managing to say, “No!”
Ruan Ning didn’t waste words, directly starting to search his body. She was fierce, grabbing him tightly. Ji Ming Shao felt intoxicated, his heartbeat quickening, face flushing, and body moving closer to her. He could feel her warm hand searching inside his sleeve, pulling out flint, a money bag, and medicine bottles, which she carelessly tossed on the table. Yet even this messiness was attractive to him.
Her warm hand suddenly left him and moved to check the bottles on the table. Ji Ming Shao felt a sense of loss, wanting to keep those hands close.
“Ji Ming Shao, which bottle is the antidote?” The bottles looked similar, and Ruan Ning couldn’t tell, so she had to ask.
Ji Ming Shao replied softly, “These are all my medicines.” He wanted to tell her that his injury hadn’t healed, he needed to apply medicine daily, and had been traveling for her despite needing rest. But he couldn’t, silently hoping she would ask, yet she said nothing and absentmindedly tossed the bottles back on the table.
He felt a bit disappointed, but her indifferent attitude only made him more infatuated as he stared at her intently.
His disappointment was short-lived; she hadn’t found the antidote and grabbed him again, searching his chest.
Ji Ming Shao felt his ears burning. He lowered his head, looked at her downcast eyes, and softly asked, “What are you doing?”
“Finding the antidote,” Ruan Ning replied, unaware of his subtle intentions. To her, he would eventually be hers, so touching him was no big deal, even through layers of clothing.
She pulled out a small, exquisite box he carried, clearly containing something confidential. As she was about to open it, Ji Ming Shao held her hand: “Don’t move, I’ll do it.”
He pressed a hidden mechanism, opened the lid, and handed it to her, softly saying, “Don’t move carelessly. There’s a mechanism inside. Opening it wrong will shoot poison needles.”
Ruan Ning rolled her eyes, “Why do you always carry such things? Did you just shoot poison needles at Brother Luo?”
She called him “brother”? Ji Ming Shao felt bitterness inside, involuntarily withdrawing his hand. He didn’t want to use his antidote to save her “brother.”
Ruan Ning snatched the box and slapped his hand: “Are you done? Hurting people as soon as you enter? You think you’re in the right? Tell me, which is the antidote?”
All his emotions disappeared.
Ji Ming Shao obediently stated, “The white bottle with the red stopper.”
He watched as she took the small porcelain bottle, removed the stopper, and walked towards Luo Jie. Regret washed over him; why had he helped her lover? He wished the muscular man would suffer for daring to covet her as a husband.
Ruan Ning asked, “How do you use the antidote?”
Ji Ming Shao turned away, refusing to answer, but she struck him on the back of the head with the bottle stopper. “Hey, I’m talking to you. How is it used?” she demanded.
He touched his neck and turned back, her intensity making it hard to think clearly. Finally, he replied, “Half a pill orally, half crushed and applied to the wound.”
Ruan Ning took a pill, broke it, and put half in Luo Jie’s mouth, asking, “Brother Luo, where are you wounded?”
Luo Jie struggled to point to his upper arm, where a scratch had bled through his clothes. If it weren’t late at night in her room, he would have wanted to tear off his shirt.
Without hesitation, Ruan Ning unbuttoned Luo Jie’s collar and pulled down half a sleeve, then crushed the remaining half pill and applied it to his small wound.
Being undressed by his beloved and touched gently made Luo Jie’s face turn red.
His heart raced, and he almost forgot about the person nearby. The antidote worked quickly, relieving most of the intense itching. He said, “Miss Ning, it’s offensive to be half-naked in front of you. Thank you for treating my wound.”
Ruan Ning thought, “You’ve been shirtless at the site for days. Why be formal now?” She laughed and replied, “Brother Luo, why are you being so polite with me?”
Luo Jie felt a tremor in his heart. Her words suggested a closeness beyond ordinary acquaintance. Did that mean she accepted his proposal?
