[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou":3,"chapter-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-105":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ink Saint of Great Zhou",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2292068,4481,"Chapter 105: Attending the Banquet","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-105",105,"\u003Cp>“Is this really the Hao Ran Zheng Qi Pill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Shi gripped Gao Youyao’s hand, her face flushed with excitement: “Then we can save your father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang waved his hand: “It might not be real. Let’s first try it on your father. We’ll discuss payment later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he recovers, the money can still be claimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only moments passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pallor on the old man’s face visibly faded, replaced by a healthy flush, and his breathing grew steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man slowly opened his eyes. “I’m hungry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Shi cried out in joy: “Master, you’re finally awake! I’ll go tell the kitchen to prepare some food right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the guest room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not urgent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang rose to wash his hands and began eating lunch, casually asking: “What’s the character of County Magistrate Zheng’s son like?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His character is even worse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded. From his two days with the Gao family, he knew they weren’t the type to make baseless accusations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it seemed Zheng Youqing was indeed suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a maid hurried over: “Young Master Fang, Sister Xue—the young lady asks you both to come to the main hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong? Why the rush?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Er asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maid hurriedly replied: “Zheng Youqing sent an invitation, asking the young lady to attend his grandfather’s seventieth birthday banquet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside a moving carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded: “I’m curious too—he mentioned in the invitation that he knows who poisoned the old man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though no official rule forbade holding banquets in the magistrate’s compound,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slick, powdered-faced young man approached, too familiar, reaching to press close to Gao Youyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Youyao frowned and stepped back, keeping distance: “Young Master Zheng, I heard you know who poisoned my father?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Lu Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Youqing’s face darkened. He glared at Lu Fang: “Boy, you’re not from Beicheng, are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Youqing snorted: “What nonsense are you spouting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Youqing forced a smile, glanced at Wu Feng, sneered, and turned away: “Too many guests to attend to—excuse me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His servant asked: “Master, shall we teach that scholar a lesson now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why he’d ordered the poisoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now it seemed ineffective—Gao Youyao would never marry him, nor hand over the family fortune. Then he had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for that scholar—bind him. I’ll teach him proper manners.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In Beicheng, nothing the Zheng family wants has ever been out of reach. If soft methods fail, we’ll use force.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Beicheng, whatever the Gao family wants has never gone unattained—if gentle methods fail, we resort to force.\u003C\u002Fp>",1246,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3e9513c3b200d0aa504c1ea02246b332edef02c9f78bd6968b81851c5fc71262","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-106","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-104",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]