After Saving The Disabled Villain, I Was Attacked In Return! - Chapter 67

“Don’t worry, Miss,” Qi An said calmly. “The banquet has passed its most critical moment. The cook has been contained, and we’ll figure out the rest after the medicinal powder is tested.”

Although the appetizer soup was gone, the other dishes were delicious, and the banquet proceeded smoothly.

The appetizer soup wasn’t a must-have at banquets, so no one noticed its absence. Only Dowager Consort Zhang kept looking around nervously. After Shen Yun made some vague remarks, she finally straightened up and continued eating.

Chen Qianqian, unaware of the Bone Tribe’s involvement, assumed this poisoning incident was just another power play among the nobles. Committed to maintaining good relations with the General’s Residence, she kept the matter secret.

Jiang Yu wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. She hadn’t expected Dowager Consort Zhang to switch targets and serve the poisoned soup to the Third Princess of the Li State first. This was a direct attempt to escalate the banquet into a diplomatic crisis between the two nations.

This old woman is truly vicious and cunning.

Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes. She couldn’t budge Dowager Consort Zhang or anyone else on her own, so she’d have to escalate this to Shen Yun. Though Shen Yun was decisive, she wouldn’t target Dowager Consort Zhang without a compelling reason—she’d at most engage in some verbal sparring.

What would make Shen Yun and Jiang Shengrong attack Dowager Consort Zhang together? You can’t catch a wolf without offering a lamb…

Jiang Yu quickly devised a plan. Before finishing her meal, she grabbed the bracelet and rushed out. Qi An, who wasn’t particularly interested in the food anyway, hurried after her.

Though the winter sun shone brightly, the cold was still formidable. Jiang Yu wrapped her cloak tighter around herself. As she left the residence, Qi An hurried over and pressed a warm hand warmer into her hands.

Due to the day’s workload, only half the usual number of guards stood at the gate. But these remaining guards were elite, having served Jiang Shengrong for years. They knew well the General’s regard for the Eldest Miss. After asking her destination, they nodded in the direction she pointed and let her pass without further ado.

The Secret Guard beside Jiang Yu immediately picked up on her tension. He steeled himself, vowing to protect her diligently throughout the day.

Jiang Yu casually asked a maid to fetch a simple carriage. She didn’t trust any other clinics and wanted to consult Doctor Zhao Qingzhi and Doctor Yu Luo instead.

“What’s the rush?” Qi An asked once she was settled in the carriage. Normally, Jiang Yu shouldn’t have left the General’s Residence on such an important day.

But Qi An had insisted on following her. She would always accompany Jiang Yu, no matter what she wanted to do. She didn’t know when this had become her obsession, but it seemed to be the only goal in her tragic, mysterious life.

Jiang Yu rested her chin in her hands, her face etched with worry. “Ah… I’m just terrified of the ingredients in that medicine. I need to figure it out quickly. Besides, staying there just invites Dowager Consort Zhang to nitpick. Might as well get some fresh air.”

Though Jiang Yu spoke casually, Qi An could sense something was off. Whatever the reason, she wouldn’t have stopped her. The carriage moved slowly, heading straight for their prearranged destination, as Jiang Yu had already made all the arrangements.

Both lost in their own thoughts, the journey passed quickly. By the time they arrived at Spring Renewal Clinic, Jiang Yu hadn’t even fully processed what was happening.

Even the simplest carriage from the General’s Residence was opulent. When it arrived at the clinic’s entrance, the gatekeeper first heard the sound before abandoning his broom and rushing inside.

As Jiang Yu stepped down from the footstool, she saw Yu Luo and Zhao Qingzhi already waiting to greet them, their faces plastered with the kind of deferential smiles one reserves for superiors.

Feeling awkward, Jiang Yu forced a smile as she was escorted into the clinic. She noticed the unusually quiet atmosphere and asked in a low voice, “Doctor Yu, why are you all looking at us like that? It’s making me feel a bit bewildered…” She could tell something was off about Yu Luo and Zhao Qingzhi’s reactions.

As expected, Yu Luo first checked to make sure no one was outside the door before closing it. She then led Jiang Yu and Qi An to the small rest room and shut the wooden door behind them.

Only then did she sigh in relief, a troubled expression crossing her face. “Ever since Dowager Consort Zhang learned that our prescription cured Miss Qi’s legs, she’s stationed guards at the Spring Renewal Clinic day and night. But our clinic isn’t one to be pushed around. We put up a little fight…”

Though no one could truly challenge the Spring Renewal Clinic, dealing with Dowager Consort Zhang’s relentless interference was undeniably exhausting. Jiang Yu immediately felt guilty. “This… I’m truly sorry, Doctor Yu… We had no idea our actions would cause you so much trouble.”

Jiang Yu’s voice trailed off, afraid to reveal the purpose of her visit today. Yu Luo clearly sensed something was amiss and offered a reassuring smile. “It’s alright. Miss Jiang, please, just tell me what’s on your mind.”

Zhao Qingzhi sat before them, her expression stern. Though she held no malice, her demeanor was so serious that Jiang Yu wondered how a junior sister could appear more solemn than her senior sister.

Feeling embarrassed but having already come this far, Jiang Yu retrieved the problematic bracelet from her sleeve. The bracelet’s craftsmanship was subpar, and a golden plate covered its main body. By gently sliding the ornate golden plate aside, the concealed medicinal powder would spill out.

Yu Luo, clearly familiar with such tricks, showed no surprise. She calmly took the bracelet, examining its quality before carefully collecting the powder and holding it to her nose to sniff.

Generally, if the powder were lethal, its potent toxicity would have darkened the entire bracelet. Yu Luo’s initial examination of the bracelet’s condition was a safety precaution. Noticing the metal’s color remained largely unchanged, she deduced the powder likely wasn’t highly toxic, allowing her to cautiously inhale its scent.

“This powder isn’t a lethal poison, but it’s a potent substance that causes temporary dizziness and stomach pain. The effects should last only a day, with full recovery by the next day. However, if used in certain dishes, following the principles of mutual augmentation and suppression, it could potentially be fatal.”

Yu Luo scattered the powder from her fingertips onto the ground, leaving much of it still contained within the golden foil. After calmly stating her assessment, she finally looked up at Jiang Yu.

Qi An stood beside Jiang Yu, listening intently to Yu Luo’s words. Her eyes darkened with suspicion. Could all this effort truly be for such an inferior poison? The sweet soup contained no other ingredients, so there was no risk of any dangerous interactions. Qi An couldn’t understand why Jiang Yu was so urgently asking about the powder and was about to ask more questions.

Just then, a loud commotion erupted outside the Spring Renewal Clinic.

The usually silent doorkeeper stood guard at the entrance, speaking with uncharacteristic firmness: “If you have no business here, do not enter the clinic and disturb the patients.”

“Do you dare defy the orders of the Dowager Consort’s Residence?”

******

The commotion outside continued unabated, causing Yu Luo and Zhao Qingzhi to frown deeply, clearly vexed. “I never expected Dowager Consort Zhang to target Miss Jiang,” they muttered.

Just as the three were about to rise and investigate the disturbance, Qi An noticed Jiang Yu hadn’t followed. Turning back, she saw the pain etched on Jiang Yu’s pale face.

Jiang Yu was biting her lip, refusing to make a sound. Qi An grew anxious. She cared more about Jiang Yu’s well-being than her own, and she knew how much Jiang Yu hated bitter medicine. What could be wrong?

Almost instinctively, Qi An sat down beside Jiang Yu, cradling the frail girl in her arms. Her gaze softened with concern as she stroked Jiang Yu’s hair, her movements now less clumsy than before.

Jiang Yu seemed to be enduring something agonizing. She clutched her head with one hand and her stomach with the other. Finally, tears welled in her eyes as she tugged at Qi An’s sleeve, struggling to curl up in her embrace. In the process, her hand accidentally brushed against Qi An’s neck.

Even in such a worried moment, a blush unconsciously spread across Qi An’s face. She tightened her arm around Jiang Yu and whispered, “Don’t move around… like a kitten.”

Every movement Jiang Yu made felt like a tickle in Qi An’s heart, leaving her body tingling and her arms nearly powerless. Jiang Yu nodded, but the pain welling up still blurred her vision. “It hurts…”

Qi An observed Jiang Yu for a moment. She was still clutching the jade bangle, the gold foil having been peeled off again at some point. More than half the medicinal powder had disappeared, and Jiang Yu was holding her head and stomach. Qi An understood immediately.

“Why would you do something so self-destructive?” Qi An’s voice turned icy, like the snowy day they first met. Jiang Yu shivered and curled deeper into Qi An’s embrace, her voice even softer.

“So those people pay the price,” Jiang Yu whimpered like a kitten, but her words carried unwavering resolve. Only then did Qi An realize her own plans had been too slow.

Support After Saving The Disabled Villain, I Was Attacked In Return!