Chapter 120: Someone Seems to Be There!

Fifth Prince's Residence.

Shang Xiaomin had just returned to the Study when Qingzhu came hurrying over to knock on the door.

"Imperial Prince, there's a letter from Qingye!"

"Bring it here quickly!"

Shang Xiaomin strode over, took the small Bamboo Tubes, and after reading it, nodded with satisfaction.

"Qingye and the others did very well. That little brat of the Cheng Family is already dead."

Qingmu also wore a very pleased expression.

"Today is truly a fine day. We just brought down the Second Prince, and now we've received this good news."

"So smooth — it shows even the heavens stand on the Imperial Prince's side. The Imperial Prince is sure to achieve what he has set his heart on!"

Hearing their words, a strange dark glint flashed in Qingzhu's eyes.

Qingzhu's eyes lit up.

"Roar—"

Looking at the small black medicine bottle he pressed into her hand, Qingzhu was slightly stunned.

"There's a mistake."

"It's just…"

"Bad."

Eight bows — trying to send someone away?

Qingzhu cautiously opened the door and glanced out, then quickly slipped away from the courtyard.

"Is he going to regret it, or is he planning to open his mouth wide like a lion?"

Having said that, he glanced once more at the medicine bottle in Qingzhu's hand, then left with small steps.

He bowed deeply to Shang Xiaomin several times.

"Y-yes!"

"But look at his expression — he already knew long ago?"

"Ten thousand taels of gold for one life — if word of that deal got out, I'm afraid your doorstep would be worn down by visitors, wouldn't it?"

"Remember it!"

Hearing those words, Zhong Pengmin suddenly laughed.

Then he patted Qingzhu's shoulder, laughing and playing it off.

That sudden question was truly beyond Qingzhu's expectations and left her completely dumbfounded.

"You've come to deliver the news to him — Yu'an is alive and kicking, not a thing wrong with her."

But on what grounds would he give it?

"You know the antidote is very precious. He can't make another demand. As long as you can do it — say, whatever matter he wants handled, or whoever he wants killed, just hand it all over to you. Or else…"

Waiting for that long stretch, every second crawled for Qingzhu. She watched the person in front of the desk with a relaxed air; seeing that the other gave no response, her heart gradually sank to the bottom.

Yu'an sat on the Tiger King's back, small hands slightly spread. The bun on top of her head was tousled a little by the wind, fine strands of hair slipping down to her brow and fluttering gently in the breeze.

"Subordinate understands!"

Seeing him being so mysterious, Qingzhu asked in confusion.

"But is there a clear Imperial Decree?"

"Haha, Big Yellow, faster!"

"From now on I'll stay and sell my life for you!"

Qingzhu looked up at him.

Shang Xiaomin's hand tapped on the table, his eyes lowered in thought, and he repeated softly under his breath.

After he left, Shang Xiaomin said a sentence.

What's going on?

"This matter absolutely cannot be allowed to reach Cheng Chengxuan's ears!"

What he needs now is not a drug to delay the poison's onset, but one that can completely cure it!

Qingmu rolled her eyes.

"Really?"

Shang Xiaomin casually tossed the paper slip into the stove and turned to the two of them with a stern command.

Outside the window, Qingmu saw that scene the moment she arrived.

"Moreover, he didn't just have you tell me — he also had you intercept the Cheng Family's letters here, to keep him from getting the news."

Qingzhu raised her head and stared fixedly at him.

Qingzhu nodded.

"Take this."

"Earlier our condition was: you help him gather information, and once it's done, he gives you the antidote, plus ten thousand taels of gold."

"I…"

"Unmoved even if Mount Tai collapses before you — yet hearing of a relative's death, you still have the mind to care about other matters."

"Good, I know now. Thank you for your trouble delivering the message."

"You guess."

Just as she was about to give up, she suddenly heard a sound.

"Ten thousand taels of gold for two bottles of antidote — I refused."

"I just want to change the condition."

"Just now the Seventh Prince received a letter from Qingye. It says below that his eldest nephew, Cheng Yu'an, has come down with smallpox — and hasn't passed away yet."

Chu Yuan is still that foolish.

"What's going on over here? Xiao Huang, you lot go take a look."

"Oh right!"

……

Qingmu's words were slightly evasive.

"Take it slow!"

"Enough, you're fine. He remembers to take his medicine on time."

As Zhong Peng spoke, he opened the window and leapt back.

After leaving the Study, Qingmu brought Qingzhu to a corner.

"You go out first."

"You lot pass the word down — these next few days, if anyone comes looking for him, or anyone delivers a message to him, you must stop them!"

"Yu'an, wait for you!"

Hearing that his nephew was alive, how could he still be so agitated?

Qingzhu's brows knit slightly.

"Yes, the Seventh Prince had barely returned to his residence when the Imperial Decree arrived."

Shang Xiaomin nodded.

"What is it?"

"Huh?"

Taking advantage of the people around, Qingzhu flashed directly to the Guest Courtyard.

"The person hasn't left yet. Are you still coming out?"

Isn't that the mindset of someone who can't accomplish great things?

Watching my retreating back, Qingzhu silently tightened her grip on the medicine bottle.

Shang Xiaomin lowered his eyelids in thought, not answering me right away.

"After being his little brother for all those years, if I can't even help him with such a small matter, wouldn't all those years of taking advantage of him have been for nothing?"

Although detoxification only requires half a Hundred Detoxification Pill, besides the one already diluted into medicine, there are still two left in my hand.

The big fellow grinned with his big mouth, his little eyes squeezed into a pair of big crescents, his glum little rice-teeth all showing. As the Tiger King ran and leapt, his plump baby-fat cheeks wobbled.

Too bad — it's too late.

"Never set foot in Ducheng again for the rest of your life?"

For some reason, I always felt that the Seventh Prince didn't seem to love him that much — instead, it was as if he had some troublesome matter on his hands.

Yi Jiang also rode a Young Tiger, chasing along behind.

Suddenly, the sound of tiger roars came from nearby.

Hearing this, Qingzhu slightly lowered her head.

Qingzhu hurriedly shook her head.

Just like that, the two children and the tigers headed toward where the sound came from.

"You've already been so careful, and yet he still noticed."

Qingmu and Qingzhu lowered their heads in assent, replying in unison.

I clenched my teeth. Word by word.

After a long while, the hand tightly gripping the medicine bottle loosened slightly.

"Any other news from the Seventh Prince's side?"

"Thank you, Prince's Son Cheng."

Having said that, I glanced at the person who had been sitting steadily at the desk the whole time.

"This, this is… something the Imperial Prince bestowed on me before. He worries it might be useful."

Hearing this, Shang Xiaomin raised a brow slightly.

"Huang Qi, hurry and chase after his little brother!"

And on the other side, even though he had long known this letter was fake, upon hearing that piece of news, Zhong Pengmin's hand resting on his knee still subconsciously clenched tight.

And the Yu'an they spoke of — at this very moment was playing with his big companion at the foot of the Mountain.

That person is really becoming more and more incomprehensible.

But Qingzhu quickly caught on.

"No, no — I just want to exchange the gold for antidote medicine."

"Hahaha, Yi Jiang, come quick!"

"Awesome!"

……

Qingzhu felt the medicine bottle in her sleeve, loved it for a moment, then her gaze quickly grew resolute.

Very well — such a fragile heart is indeed something ordinary folk find hard to match.

"I'm not a child anymore — I don't have the mind for guessing!"

"Look quick! There seems to be someone over here!"

The two little ones, in the middle of their fun, stopped.

Saying so, Yu'an's big hand patted the Tiger King on the neck.

Shang Xiaomin looked at me and tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Damn, you know about it."

"The plan succeeded. The National Lord hasn't yet issued the order for the Seventh Prince to return to his fief, and he will never set foot in Ducheng again for the rest of his life."

Yi Jiang stared intently and let out a gasp of astonishment.