Chapter 33: One Step Ahead
The entire courtyard was filled with tension.
Servants moved hurriedly from one side to another, their footsteps hurried yet careful, afraid of making too much noise at a time like this. Lanterns illuminated the night, casting long shadows across the stone paths.
The moment the carriage stopped, several physicians waiting outside immediately rushed forward.
Meanwhile, Master Xie and Old Madam Xie had already been standing at the entrance of the courtyard for quite some time.
The news had reached the Xie Residence long before they returned.
Young Master Xie had been poisoned. Poisoned during a return visit to the Shen Residence. The thought alone was enough to make everyone’s hearts tremble.
As soon as Wang Gege helped Xie Rong out of the carriage, Old Madam Xie hurried forward.
Her eyes first landed on her grandson before immediately moving toward Wang Gege.
"Are you hurt?"
The question caught Wang Gege off guard.
Old Madam Xie grabbed her hands and looked her over from head to toe, "Are you sure you didn’t eat anything suspicious? Did you drink from the tea? Did you touch any of their food?" The old lady’s questions came one after another.
Wang Gege froze momentarily. She had expected concern for Xie Rong. What she had not expected was concern directed at her.
After all, Xie Rong was the one who had coughed blood. Xie Rong was the one who had collapsed.
Yet not a single person had looked at her with suspicion. Not one person had questioned whether she had something to do with it. The realization stirred something strange inside her chest.
"Are you sure you didn’t touch any of their food too?" Old Madam Xie held onto Shen Taotao’s hand tightly.
Wang Gege shook her head. Her lips pressed together before she finally said, "I..."
For a moment, she did not know what to say. She felt like crying because whether in her previous life or this one, she expected nothing.
"Cough—"
Before her mind could wander through her memories, a cough suddenly sounded behind her.
Fresh blood stained the handkerchief in Xie Rong’s hand. The courtyard instantly descended into chaos.
"Young Master!"
"Physician!"
"Hurry!"
The waiting physicians immediately rushed forward and the guards swiftly carried Xie Rong toward the main room while the servants hurriedly pushed open the doors.
The atmosphere inside instantly became chaotic.
"Move aside."
"Bring the lamp closer."
"Prepare hot water."
"Quickly!"
The moment Xie Rong was laid upon the bed, the oldest physician stepped forward without wasting another second. His fingers rested on Xie Rong’s wrist.
The room gradually quieted as everyone waited eagerly.
After a few breaths, the physician’s brows slowly knitted together. The expression alone was enough to make everyone’s hearts sink.
Old Madam Xie immediately stepped forward. "How is he?"
The physician did not answer immediately.
Instead, he checked Xie Rong’s pulse once more before carefully examining the blood-stained handkerchief that had been brought back from the carriage. His expression became increasingly solemn.
Master Xie’s face darkened, "Speak."
The physician finally withdrew his hand, "The poison is aggressive."
The room held its breath.
Old Madam Xie’s body swayed slightly. A nearby maid quickly stepped forward to support her.
"The poison entered Young Master’s body not long ago, which is fortunate." The physician paused. "However..."
That single word caused everyone’s heart to tighten.
"The amount was not small."
Wang Gege’s fingers unconsciously clenched. The words repeatedly echoed inside her mind.
The poison had originally been intended for her. If Xie Rong had not switched the cups... The person lying on that bed right now would have been her. The thought sent a chill down her spine.
Old Madam Xie noticed her pale face and assumed she was frightened. The old lady gently squeezed her hand, "Do not be afraid."
Wang Gege lowered her head. For once, she couldn’t force herself to reply.
At that moment, another physician stepped forward after examining the remaining tea brought back from the Shen Residence.
His expression was equally unpleasant, "Master."
Master Xie immediately looked over.
The physician lowered his voice.
"This poison was prepared with considerable care."
The room fell silent once more.
"What do you mean?" Master Xie asked.
The physician hesitated briefly before replying, "The ingredients themselves are not rare. However, several medicinal herbs were mixed together. Individually, they would not attract attention. But once combined..." His expression darkened, "They become lethal."
The implication was obvious. This was not a random attempt. Whoever prepared the poison knew exactly what they were doing.
Old Madam Xie’s face immediately turned cold, "So someone deliberately wanted Rong’er dead."
No one dared answer.
Only then did the physician speak again, "Fortunately, the Young Master possesses a strong constitution. Had it been an ordinary person..."
He did not finish his sentence but everyone understood. The room grew even quieter.
Master Xie’s expression became frighteningly cold. For years, countless people had feared Xie Rong. Yet few remembered that before Xie Rong became the most feared person in the Xie family... He had first been Master Xie’s son.
"Can the poison be removed?" Master Xie asked.
The physician immediately bowed, "This old man will do everything within his ability."
Master Xie’s eyes narrowed, "That is not what I asked."
The physician’s forehead instantly became covered in sweat. After a long pause, he finally answered honestly. "There is a chance."
The words offered little comfort because a chance meant uncertainty. A chance meant failure was equally possible.
Old Madam Xie suddenly closed her eyes. Her lips moved slightly as though silently praying.
Meanwhile, Wang Gege stared at the unconscious figure lying on the bed. The blindfold had not been removed. Even now, it remained neatly tied across his eyes.
His face was pale and this time, he looked less like the untouchable Young Master Xie everyone feared and more like an ordinary man fighting against death.
And the room remained heavy with tension.
The physicians continued discussing possible treatments among themselves while Old Madam Xie sat beside the bed, unable to hide the worry on her face.
"This subordinate requests permission to speak."
A calm voice suddenly came from the doorway, making everyone turn.
Mo Yan stepped forward and bowed.
Master Xie frowned, "What is it?"
Mo Yan reached into his belt, "This subordinate was instructed by the Young Master beforehand."
The words immediately attracted everyone’s attention.
Mo Yan withdrew a small jade bottle, "If Young Master were ever poisoned and lost consciousness, this subordinate was ordered to administer this medicine immediately."
The physicians stared, Old Madam Xie blinked and Master Xie’s expression became strange.
Meanwhile, Wang Gege was completely stunned, "What?" The question slipped from her lips unconsciously.
Mo Yan lowered his head, "Those were Young Master’s exact instructions."
The room fell into an awkward silence.
One of the physicians couldn’t help asking, "Young Master expected to be poisoned?"
Mo Yan remained expressionless. "Young Master said that when one has too many enemies, poison is merely a matter of time."
The physician nearly choked. While Master Xie and Old Madam Xie closed their eyes, neither of them looked particularly surprised.
Wang Gege stood frozen.
What kind of person prepares for being poisoned beforehand?
Before anyone could speak further, Mo Yan had already uncorked the jade bottle. A faint medicinal fragrance immediately filled the room.
The physician closest to him quickly examined the pill. His eyes widened, "This..."
The old physician carefully took the medicine and inspected it. Then his expression became increasingly shocked, "This medicine was specially prepared against poison."