Chapter 30: February Red

"How do you know I was poisoned with February Red?"

Bai Yi asked.

"There are three reasons. First, the young master's wound is blackened, smells fishy, and the blood at the wound is brown‑red. Second, the tendons and vessels near the wound form a spider‑web pattern. Third, the young master has high fever, damp sweat, and palpitations. Moreover, I just inquired about the young master's symptoms these past days; all these are reactions after being infected with February Red."

Old Huang remained unhurried, his demeanor solemn.

"I guess the young master had already taken medicine before, but I am puzzled: February Red is a deadly toxin; an ordinary person who contracts it would die within three days at most. From the young master's current condition, the poisoning has lasted at least seven days, yet you don't seem to be on the brink of death…"

That was the part he had been puzzling over just now, the part he couldn't understand.

"Knowing too much shortens one's life."

Bai Yi's sudden remark left Old Huang and Huang Yuanchang frozen on the spot.

Huang Yuanchang looked at the expressionless man and silently drew in a breath of cold air.

"Young master, please forgive us… we are not trying to pry into your privacy; we only want to make future treatment more convenient, so we… we…"

"Just a joke, gentlemen, don't mind."

He suddenly gave a teasing smile; that sentence eased the previously tense atmosphere.

"As physicians, it's natural for you both to understand a patient's condition. I did indeed take medicine that temporarily suppresses the toxicity, but it cannot eradicate it, which is why I sought you both, and if you both would not hesitate to aid me, I must thank you profusely."

Seeing that he bore no blame, Huang Yuanchang finally let out a long sigh of relief.

"To be honest, this old man has little confidence; February Red is one of the eight strange poisons, and there are very few who can cure it in this world. Unless… the legendary doctor known as the Carefree Wanderer is present, there might be some hope. With my modest medical skill, I can at most suppress the toxin for a few days without recurrence, but to eradicate it, I am too inexperienced and truly powerless."

Old Huang sincerely clasped his hands; everything he said was truthful. He has studied medicine for decades, yet his expertise in toxins is not profound. The Huang family's three branches of the medical hall are all poor at detoxification, so they are likely unable to help the young master.

When he mentioned the Carefree Wanderer, Bai Yi's brows twitched slightly.

His eyes flickered for a moment, then he gave no response.

The air inside the carriage grew somewhat stagnant.

Outside, the cold wind howled, yet Huang Yuanchang inexplicably felt cold sweat beading.

Time seemed to stretch on, and finally he heard the young master's voice: "Very well, then I trouble you both."

Old Huang let out a long sigh in his heart, "I will do my utmost."

When the two stepped down from the carriage, Huang Yuanchang felt as if he had come back to life.

"Min Feng."

"Young master."

"Find a place to settle."

"Understood."

…

Thus, they took residence in the next room.

Shen Qingquan came over and asked Old Huang and the other, "Is everything alright?"

"No… this young master will probably have to stay next door for a while; I will treat him, which will take a few days."

Shen Qingquan glanced at the departing carriage, then nodded, "It's windy here; let's go inside first."

Thus, the three returned to the courtyard.

Just as the door closed, Huang Yuanchang's legs felt weak, but Shen Qingquan's sharp eyes and quick hands steadied him.

"What's wrong?"

Facing the woman with jet‑black eyes, he was startled, stepped back quickly, "Nothing, perhaps I knelt for too long earlier; my leg is a bit numb."

She gave him a deep look and said, "It's late, rest early. Old Huang, call me if you need anything."

"Yes, miss, also rest early."

"Qinger."

At that moment, Shen Juancheng emerged wearing their outer coat; they too had heard the commotion.

"I think I heard someone speaking?"

"Someone came to see Old Huang for treatment. It's nothing serious; you should go to sleep quickly."

Shen Juancheng asked a few questions and then left, and Old Huang and Huang Yuanchang also returned to their rooms; Shen Qingquan, separated by a wall, looked toward the opposite side.

The noise over there had already ceased.

Night once again returned to silence.

She stood in the courtyard for a while,

then returned to her room.

That night, she dreamed.

After a long time, she dreamed of that man.

"Qinger, how much longer do you plan to run away?"

"You are so unruly, must I have to break your bones before you behave?"

"In this life, you, Shen Qingquan, can belong only to me, Xiao Hanyuan."

"Qinger…"

…

The dream that night was bizarre and surreal.

She seemed to return to her previous life, when she was imprisoned by Xiao Hanyuan.

His demonic whisper kept echoing in her ear.

Each utterance pierced deep into her bones.

It seeped into her marrow, like a nightmare.

That voice, "Qinger", seemed like a curse, forever lingering in her mind.

She suddenly opened her eyes and met Sixth sister's worried, clear gaze.

Shen Qingci lay at her pillow, and upon seeing her wake, said, "Sister, you're awake?"

Outside, the sky was already bright.

Shen Qingquan touched her throbbing head, sat up, and asked, "What time is it?"

"It's already the hour of the Dragon, Mother sent me to call Sister to eat."

From the courtyard outside came the sounds of cooking and Mother and Aunt speaking, though their voices were very low.

"Sister, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

Shen Qingci looked at her with some worry.

She paused, "Why ask like that?"

"Sister, you were dreaming. I called you several times but you didn't wake, and you were muttering something, seemed very uncomfortable…"

Shen Qingquan recalled the dreams from last night, frame after frame like shattered slides, so vivid that she could hardly tell dream from reality.

Since her rebirth, it was still the first time she dreamed of him.

Perhaps because that person last night stirred memories from her previous life she did not wish to recall.

"Sister? Sister?"

Shen Qingci waved in front of her; she snapped back to herself, finding it somewhat amusing. She truly was like a startled bird, making a mountain out of a molehill at any trace.

Perhaps that man's shadow over her was indeed too great.

"I'm fine, just a bit groggy."

But Shen Qingci still wore a worried expression, "Sister, I've grown up and can share your worries. If you have anything, tell me, and we'll figure it out together."

She grasped her hand with a serious expression.

Shen Qingquan was startled, looking at Younger Sister's thin, pale face; though still youthful, her brows bore a steadiness and resilience unlike her.

She was surprised, then after a moment felt gratified.

She extended the other hand, gently massaging her bud‑like head, "Our Little Qingci is really amazing; grown up, we can both share Sister's worries."

That slightly sighing, laughing tone made Shen Qingci a bit embarrassed, "Sister…"

"Only that Sister still wants to dote on us Qingci; can Qingci grow up slowly? Otherwise how would Sister tease Little Qingci?"

"Sister, you're being too mischievous! I'm not a child~" she pouted, her face puffed up like an angry pufferfish.? This book was first published on 17K Novel Network; see the official content right away!