She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

Night had fallen, and Wei Chengchao, who hadn’t seen Han Lei return, was on pins and needles.

This day felt like pure agony for him.

The brewery was full of men exuding murderous intent, and they didn’t yet know he was the one who had abducted Han Lei.

Although they were all busy with their own tasks, Wei Chengchao felt uneasy staying here! He dreaded the thought of them chatting with him, worried he might inadvertently let something slip.

If that happened, he wouldn’t even know how he died.

The Wei Family was the leading noble family of the Da Jing Dynasty, their influence well-established and deeply rooted, including kinships in Taoyuan County.

Wei Chengchao and his two attendants spent the day wandering around a relative’s house, but every night they had to take the antidote, so once darkness fell, they had to return to the brewery.

At the relative’s house, Wei Chengchao, a coward, didn’t dare mention his poisoning, nor did he dare drag his relatives to trouble Han Lei, fearing she would stop his antidote in a fit of anger.

Moreover, the dignified Mr. Wei being countered by a young woman would be laughable.

Until he figured out what poison he was afflicted with, he dared not act rashly, fearing he might die unexpectedly.

It wasn’t until the end of the hour of Xu that Han Lei’s carriage slowly stopped at the brewery’s entrance. The brothers who had just finished work and were ready for dinner came out to help carry Ms Yang.

To Han Lei’s surprise, Wei Chengchao, usually a pampered rich boy, joined with his two attendants to help eagerly, wearing a sycophantic look.

One glance was enough to know he had a favor to ask.

After settling Ms Yang, all the brothers sat at a table to have dinner, chatting and laughing heartily while enjoying their meals.

Han Lei glanced at Wei Chengchao and saw he was oblivious to the taste of the food in front of him, instead scratching himself nervously.

Han Lei ignored him and ate her meal. After returning to the room, she was about to write a letter to Zhao Zun when there was a knock on the door.

Knock, knock, knock!

The knocking was quite rhythmic.

Han Lei smiled slightly and opened the door to find Wei Chengchao standing outside, as expected.

"Hehe, Miss. Not resting yet!" Wei Chengchao smiled obsequiously.

"Oh! Look at my memory," Han Lei pretended to have just remembered. "I forgot to give you your antidote today, you’re here for the antidote, aren’t you?"

"Hehe, forgetfulness is no problem, I came to get it myself."

Han Lei grinned, reached into her sleeve, and pulled out three Gastric Health and Digestion Pills, placing them in Wei Chengchao’s already open palm.

"Thank you, Miss." Wei Chengchao quickly popped one into his mouth, crunching it up.

Han Lei suppressed a laugh, tossed him a dismissive glance, and was about to close the door.

Wei Chengchao quickly raised his hand to prop the door open, "Hey, Miss. Wait, wait. Hehe..."

"Anything else?"

Knowing he was up to something, Han Lei feigned ignorance.

Wei Chengchao looked around like a thief, cautiously asked with a distressed face, "Miss, can I come in and speak?"

"At night, it’s not good for a man and woman to be alone, right?" Han Lei’s sweet demeanor turned cold.

"Miss, I’m begging you. This matter, this matter I dare not speak outside!"

Wei Chengchao clasped his hands together, pleading miserably.

Han Lei could roughly guess his intention, and seeing how scared he was, she found it amusing.

"Come in then!"

Han Lei no longer made it difficult for him, turned around, sauntered over to the table, and leisurely poured herself a cup of tea.

Wei Chengchao hurriedly came in, turned back to peek outside, and then softly closed the door.

"Speak, what’s the matter?" Han Lei sat comfortably, looking at him.

Wei Chengchao walked over and suddenly knelt with a loud thud, startling Han Lei.

"Miss, Miss, I beg you. Don’t make me go to Canzhou, let me return to the Capital City! If I go to Canzhou, Prince Xiaoyao, uh no, King of Canzhou will kill me."

Sure enough, Han Lei guessed it’d be about this.

"No way!" Han Lei directly refused but left him a sliver of hope. "If you go back and continue your misdeeds, what then?"

"No, no, absolutely not."

Wei Chengchao was anxious, shaking his head like a rattle drum, raising two fingers to swear oaths.

"I’ve learned my lesson, how dare I forget it? I swear, when I go back, I’ll reform and be a good person, practicing kindness like Miss. As long as I don’t go to Canzhou, I’m willing to be at your beck and call, do anything you want."

"Oh? Do anything?"

Han Lei raised an eyebrow, waiting for that statement.

Seeing hope, Wei Chengchao nodded vigorously without thinking.

"Yes! As long as you don’t make me face King of Canzhou, I’ll do whatever you say."

Seeing the timing was right, Han Lei’s eyes flashed with cunning, lightly asking.

"Then... what do you think of my brew?"

Brew?

Weren’t they discussing returning to the Capital City? Why suddenly talk about brew?

Wei Chengchao’s mouth twitched but dared not defy Han Lei, so he answered truthfully: "The brew is exquisite, truly the nectar of immortals."

Wei Chengchao was known in the Capital City as a notorious playboy, a regular at major taverns, and even drank the palace’s tribute wine. Truly, no wine compares to Han Lei’s Drunken Immortal Brew.

"Hmm, seems you have good taste." Han Lei nodded, cutting to the chase. "I want to sell this brew in the Capital City and later sell other things, but I need someone to be the nominal owner."

"Miss wants me to be the caretaker? But all I know is eating, drinking, and having fun, I don’t know how to run a business!"

"No, I just need your name. You can return, and I’ll give you a three-month supply of antidote at once. Thereafter, every three months, I’ll send someone to deliver it. The condition is: all my enterprises in the Capital City must be publicly said to be yours. You cannot let anyone know they’re mine, can you do that?"

"This... Miss, are there any other options?" Wei Chengchao hesitated.

He had a sense of self-awareness; did he look like someone who could manage enterprises?

"No. Even if there were, you’re not cut out for it," Han Lei candidly hit his sore spot.

"..."

Wei Chengchao’s shoulders slumped, collapsing helplessly onto the ground, looking utterly forlorn.

Han Lei wasn’t in a hurry, and leisurely said, "Take your time to consider. Anyway, you have only two choices. First, come to Canzhou with me and let Zhao Zun tear you to pieces. Second, be the nominal owner of my enterprises and safeguard my business. Of course, I won’t let you bear the title for nothing; I can give you ten percent of the profits as compensation, which equals ten percent shares—a benefit others would dream of having! But you must remember, if anyone besides you and me knows those enterprises are mine, I’ll immediately cut off your antidote."

"..."

Han Lei tried hard to hold back laughter, continued increasing pressure, and feigned severity in her warnings.

"Do you know why I can produce poison at any time? I forgot to tell you, I’m an expert in toxins. The poison I create, even the Imperial Physician in the palace couldn’t detect any trace of it. So, don’t hope to return to the Capital City to get an antidote from the Imperial Physician. Don’t believe me, then try."

"Uh..."

Going back to the Capital City to get an antidote?

Upon hearing this, Wei Chengchao’s eyebrows twitched.

What’s the background of this wretch Han Lei? How does she seem to know everything I’m thinking?