Chapter 27: The Second Time
Xie Rong still managed to push himself to stand. Although the poison had already affected him, his posture remained as straight as ever. Only the blood at the corner of his lips revealed how serious the situation truly was.
His hand reached for Shen Taotao’s.
The sudden movement from Xie Rong finally pulled Wang Gege out of her shock. "Husband—"
Before she could finish, Xie Rong tightened his grip slightly.
"Mo Yan." His voice was low, but the command carried unquestionable authority.
Almost immediately, a figure appeared from among the guards stationed outside.
"Young Master." Mo Yan dropped to one knee.
The moment his eyes landed on the blood at the corner of Xie Rong’s lips, his expression changed drastically.
"Seal the residence."
The entire hall fell silent.
Master Shen froze upon hearing the order.
Meanwhile, Wang Gege stared at Xie Rong in disbelief. The man had just been poisoned yet his first command was not to summon a physician but it was to seal the residence.
Wang Gege shook her head, disagreed, "No... Call for the physician!" Her voice suddenly rang throughout the hall.
The shout stunned everyone present. Including Master and Madam Shen.
Shen Yurou also looked over in surprise. Because this was the first time they had ever heard Shen Taotao raise her voice and the panic in it was impossible to miss.
"Call for the physician now!" She stood up so abruptly that her chair nearly toppled over.
Only then did the servants finally return to their senses.
"Quick!" Master Shen immediately shouted. "Go!"
"No one leaves the residence." Mo Yan’s cold voice instantly echoed through the hall.
Several servants froze in place.
Master Shen’s expression changed. "Young Master Xie has been poisoned!" He shouted, "What are you waiting for?"
Mo Yan’s jaw tightened but he did not move because he had received only one order— Seal the residence.
"Mo Yan..." Wang Gege’s shaky voice suddenly reached his ears.
Mo Yan turned toward her. The young woman was gripping Xie Rong’s arm tightly. Her face had already turned pale.
"Mo Yan, right?" She swallowed nervously, "Can we leave first?"
Her voice trembled slightly. "I am afraid..."
The simple words instantly caused several people in the hall to look at her. The fear on her face did not seem fake.
Mo Yan remained silent and his gaze instinctively shifted toward Xie Rong. Obviously waiting for Xie Rong’s next order.
At that moment, Xie Rong’s fingers moved slightly. The hand gripping Wang Gege’s loosened briefly before tightening again. As though reassuring her that he was still conscious.
Then his hoarse voice slowly sounded, "Take your Young Madam away first."
The moment those words fell, Mo Yan moved immediately.
"Stop!" Lu Wenyuan’s voice suddenly broke the heavy tension in the hall.
Everyone instinctively turned toward him. The young scholar had already risen from his seat. His expression was far from pleasant.
"This is not right, Young Master Xie." His gaze swept across the guards who had begun surrounding the exits, "You cannot keep everyone here without explanation."
The hall immediately fell silent. Even Master Shen frowned slightly.
Lu Wenyuan’s words were not entirely unreasonable. A poisoning had occurred but no evidence had been presented but everyone was already being treated as suspects.
Hearing that, Mo Yan’s expression remained cold, "This matter concerns the safety of my Young Master... And it concerns the safety of my Young Madam."
His sharp gaze swept across the hall, "Before the culprit is found, nobody leaves."
The atmosphere instantly grew heavier.
Lu Wenyuan frowned, "This is not right, Young Master Xie."
His gaze swept across the guards surrounding the exits. "By what authority are you detaining everyone present?" His voice remained respectful, yet firm.
Just then, Xie Rong’s body suddenly leaned forward. "Cough!"
Another mouthful of blood spilled from his lips.
Wang Gege’s face instantly turned pale, "Husband!" She immediately reached out to support him.
The sight instantly threw the entire hall into chaos.
Despite his condition, Xie Rong slowly lifted his head.
"The authority?" His voice was hoarse. A trace of blood still lingered at the corner of his lips.
Xie Rong then turned his head slightly toward Lu Wenyuan, "My wife was poisoned in the Shen Residence only a few days ago."
The words instantly caused Master Shen’s expression to stiffen.
Xie Rong continued calmly, "The Shen family failed to find the culprit the first time."
Xie Rong’s voice remained calm despite the blood staining his lips. "When the first poisoning went unresolved, someone grew bold enough to attempt a second." His head turned slightly toward Lu Wenyuan, "Tell me, Scholar Lu, should I wait for a third?"
The entire hall fell silent. Nobody answered because nobody could.
Even Lu Wenyuan found himself unable to respond. He turned toward Shen Yurou in confusion. Because honestly, he knew nothing about the first poisoning, this was the first time he had heard of it.
Almost immediately, whispers began spreading throughout the hall.
"What was the first poisoning?"
"Young Madam Xie was poisoned before?"
"When did that happen?"
"Wasn’t it said she merely fell ill?"
The more people whispered, the paler Shen Yurou became.
Xie Rong let out a weak breath. The movement seemed to aggravate the poison furthe but despite his condition, his voice remained calm.
"So..." His head turned slightly, directly toward the person whose face had already lost all color, "Elder Miss Shen..."
The hall instantly fell silent again. Everyone’s gaze followed him, landing on Shen Yurou.
"Would you like to explain?" Xie Rong’s simple question struck Shen Yurou like a bolt of lightning.
Her eyes widened. Almost immediately, she stumbled to her knees.
"Young Master!" Her voice trembled, "I swear it was not me!"
The sudden confession stunned everyone. Even Lu Wenyuan froze because nobody had accused her.
The realization caused several expressions to change.
Only then did Shen Yurou seem to realize what she had just said. Her face turned even paler.
"I... I... I meant..." She looked around desperately, "I really knew nothing about this matter."