Chapter 105: Attending the Banquet

“Is this really the Hao Ran Zheng Qi Pill?”

Liu Shi gripped Gao Youyao’s hand, her face flushed with excitement: “Then we can save your father.”

Gao Youyao looked at Lu Fang with a complex expression and said: “Young Master Fang, name your price—I’ll buy this Hao Ran Zheng Qi Pill.”

Lu Fang waved his hand: “It might not be real. Let’s first try it on your father. We’ll discuss payment later.”

If he recovers, the money can still be claimed.

But if he doesn’t, Lu Fang had no intention of asking for it—he had offered the pill himself, and demanding payment afterward would make him look like a bully preying on orphans and widows.

Gao Youyao regarded Lu Fang with new respect and nodded with a smile: “Don’t worry—no matter what, the Gao family will repay you.”

Then Gao Youyao placed the Hao Ran Zheng Qi Pill into the old man’s mouth. Instantly, a surge of greenish Hao Ran Zheng Qi poured out from his body.

Wu Feng exclaimed excitedly: “It dissolved on contact and released a massive amount of Hao Ran Zheng Qi—no mistake, this is a third-rank Hao Ran Zheng Qi Pill.”

Only moments passed.

The pallor on the old man’s face visibly faded, replaced by a healthy flush, and his breathing grew steady.

The old man slowly opened his eyes. “I’m hungry.”

Liu Shi cried out in joy: “Master, you’re finally awake! I’ll go tell the kitchen to prepare some food right away.”

…

In the guest room.

Lu Fang toyed with the brush in his hand, murmuring to himself: “Was the old man poisoned? Could it really have been the Zheng family?”

As he pondered,

Xue Er entered carrying a food box and smiled: “Young Master Fang, you must be hungry—I brought chicken soup and wine and dishes. Thanks to you, Master is recovering. The young lady said she’ll give you the silver soon.”

“That’s not urgent.”

Lu Fang rose to wash his hands and began eating lunch, casually asking: “What’s the character of County Magistrate Zheng’s son like?”

Xue Er frowned at the name: “Young Master Fang, you don’t know—he’s a real scoundrel, infamous in Beicheng as a spoiled brat.”

“Once, when my lady and I went out, he blocked our path. We didn’t even know who he was, yet he spoke rudely and enraged her terribly.”

“His character is even worse.”

“After our family rejected his marriage proposal, he came to our house with a mob, shouting and causing a scene, and threatened that anyone who marries my lady is his enemy.”

Lu Fang nodded. From his two days with the Gao family, he knew they weren’t the type to make baseless accusations.

So it seemed Zheng Youqing was indeed suspicious.

At that moment, a maid hurried over: “Young Master Fang, Sister Xue—the young lady asks you both to come to the main hall.”

“What’s wrong? Why the rush?”

Xue Er asked, puzzled.

The maid hurriedly replied: “Zheng Youqing sent an invitation, asking the young lady to attend his grandfather’s seventieth birthday banquet.”

Lu Fang chuckled. So Zheng Youqing had finally lost patience and was showing his true colors. But why invite them over? Unless she actually intended to go to the banquet?

…

Two days later.

Inside a moving carriage.

“This time, stay close to me. With Master Wu here and Beicheng’s nobility present, Zheng Youqing won’t dare go too far,” Gao Youyao instructed.

Lu Fang nodded: “I’m curious too—he mentioned in the invitation that he knows who poisoned the old man.”

Gao Youyao sneered: “Who else could it be? It’s definitely Zheng Youqing. I’ll use a Lingying Talisman to record his face—I’ll bring him and the Zheng family to justice.”

For the Gao family to survive, they must strike first—or they’ll be driven to the brink. If they poisoned him once, what will they do next?

The Gao family must take the initiative to survive; otherwise, they will be driven to a dead end. This time it was poison—what will they do next?

It didn’t take long.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the county magistrate’s compound. Holding a birthday banquet inside the magistrate’s compound? How ostentatious—everywhere were carriages lined up.

Though no official rule forbade holding banquets in the magistrate’s compound,

it was customary for officials’ relatives to avoid such public displays. The Zheng family’s blatant celebration could mean only one thing: they were trying to establish dominance in Beicheng—or had grown too arrogant.

“Miss Gao, you’ve come! I haven’t seen you in a while—I heard your father fell ill. Look, you’ve grown so pale.”

A slick, powdered-faced young man approached, too familiar, reaching to press close to Gao Youyao.

Gao Youyao frowned and stepped back, keeping distance: “Young Master Zheng, I heard you know who poisoned my father?”

Zheng Youqing grinned: “I only heard rumors. But I happen to have the antidote. If you’re interested, we can discuss it later somewhere private.”

Zheng Youqing grinned and said, “I only heard about this matter, and luckily, I just obtained the antidote. If Miss Gao is interested, let’s find a place later to discuss it in detail.”

He turned to Lu Fang.

Before Lu Fang could speak, Gao Youyao said: “This is my husband. We’re betrothed. Please watch your tongue, Young Master Zheng—it’s better for you, and for us.”

Zheng Youqing’s face darkened. He glared at Lu Fang: “Boy, you’re not from Beicheng, are you?”

Lu Fang smiled and nodded: “Young Master Zheng, I’m curious—how did you know my father-in-law was poisoned, not just ill? And now you claim to have the antidote. Could it be… you were the one who poisoned him?”

Zheng Youqing snorted: “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Lu Fang smiled faintly: “Don’t get tense, Young Master. I was just joking. Look at your face—you look guilty enough that anyone might think you’re the real culprit.”

Lu Fang smiled faintly and said, “Young Master Zheng, don’t be nervous—I was just joking. Look at how pale you’ve gone; someone who didn’t know might truly think you’re the mastermind behind it.”

Zheng Youqing forced a smile, glanced at Wu Feng, sneered, and turned away: “Too many guests to attend to—excuse me.”

Zheng Youqing forced a smile without humor, glanced at Wu Feng beside him, snorted, and turned to leave. “Too many guests have come to the banquet—I’m afraid I can’t attend to all of you.”

Zheng Youqing clenched his teeth in rage: “Damn the Gao family! They’d rather pick some fool than bow to me! Hmph! They have no idea what they’re up against—I’ll crush them!”

His servant asked: “Master, shall we teach that scholar a lesson now?”

Zheng Youqing fell silent. His father had ordered him to be discreet—even when targeting the Gao family, he must act secretly to avoid giving others grounds to accuse him.

That’s why he’d ordered the poisoning.

But now it seemed ineffective—Gao Youyao would never marry him, nor hand over the family fortune. Then he had no choice.

Thinking this, Zheng Youqing said coldly: “When the banquet reaches its later stage, I’ll lure Gao Youyao out. That high-rank martial master will follow. You tell Master Ruan to ambush and subdue him.”

“As for that scholar—bind him. I’ll teach him proper manners.”

“In Beicheng, nothing the Zheng family wants has ever been out of reach. If soft methods fail, we’ll use force.”

In Beicheng, whatever the Gao family wants has never gone unattained—if gentle methods fail, we resort to force.