Chapter 135: Poisoned

"Ah..." Tan Qingjiu wore a look of sudden realization. "So that's how it is? I thought Zijiao looked a little different, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. Hearing you say this and taking a closer look, he really has lost some weight."

Hearing this, Shen Zijiao merely straightened his back slightly.

Qingdai quickly added, "And probably because of practicing martial arts and calligraphy these past two days, young master Zijiao has a completely different aura about him. He looks much more upright and spirited."

Shen Zijiao lowered his head to look at himself, a flash of skepticism crossing his eyes.

"Really?"

"Really," Qingdai smiled. "Why would this servant lie to you?"

Seeing that Shen Zijiao's mood had visibly improved, Tan Qingjiu asked, "How many more laps do you have to run?"

Shen Zijiao curled his lip. "Twenty laps."

Seeing that Shen Zijiao was about to sit down, Tan Qingjiu quickly said, "Don't sit down immediately after running, otherwise your heart won't be able to handle it. Walk over here slowly, and I'll check your pulse."

Shen Zijiao glanced at Tan Qingjiu, curled his lip again, and walked slowly toward her. "My legs feel like they're going to break. When I wake up tomorrow morning, my legs are definitely going to be broken."

Xingyou, standing nearby, chuckled. "I have a way. I have a roller over there. Later tonight, you can have someone help you soak your feet, and then roll it over your body. Although it might hurt a little while rolling, it feels super comfortable afterward. Besides, you won't hurt nearly as much when you wake up tomorrow morning."

Shen Zijiao pressed his lips together and remained silent.

He didn't want a roller at all.

What he wanted was for Tan Qingjiu to speak up and say he didn't have to practice anymore tomorrow.

However, Tan Qingjiu remained quiet and merely reached out her hand toward him.

Shen Zijiao let out a huff and extended his hand as well. Although he didn't like Tan Qingjiu at all, his little life was still important.

After taking his pulse, Tan Qingjiu nodded slightly. "Very good. Because you've been sweating properly after taking the medicine these past two days, the medicinal effect is acceptable, and the toxins in your body are gradually being expelled."

"Hold on a little longer. Once the toxins in your body are completely cleared out, I can let you rest for a day."

Shen Zijiao's eyes suddenly lit up. "Really?"

"Naturally, it's real." Tan Qingjiu's lips curved slightly. "Why would I lie to you?"

Shen Zijiao turned his head to look at Xingqi and Xingyou. "Did you hear that? She's the one who's letting me rest for a day."

"Yes, yes, yes. You only get that one day of rest in a whole month, so you better cherish it."

Shen Zijiao let out a huff and, angered once more, fell silent.

Tan Qingjiu furrowed her brow. "What is this?"

"Hmm?" Shen Zijiao looked up at Tan Qingjiu, puzzled. "What do you mean, what is this?"

Tan Qingjiu pressed her lips tightly together. "It's... it seems like other poisons have appeared in your body..."

At this, not only Shen Zijiao, but even Xingqi and Xingyou were startled, quickly hurrying over to Tan Qingjiu. "Other poisons have appeared? How could this happen?"

Tan Qingjiu frowned. "It truly seems like other poisons have appeared in your body, but strangely enough, it's also as if you've taken an antidote..."

"However, between two different poisons, and close to an antidote for one of them, there is actually a relationship of mutual generation and restriction, which easily causes changes in the toxicity."

Shen Zijiao frowned. "Then hurry up and check me! What kind of poison is this anyway? Why would this kind of poison inexplicably appear in my body? Who is trying to harm me?"

With that, Shen Zijiao looked up at Tan Qingjiu, his eyes seeming to carry a hint of suspicion.

Suddenly, Tan Qingjiu frowned, her body swaying slightly.

"Mistress?"

Tan Qingjiu raised a hand to press against her temple, her complexion suddenly turning pale.

"Mistress, what's wrong?"

Tan Qingjiu took a deep breath. "The new poison that has appeared in his body is targeted at me."

She bit her lips hard, and blood suddenly spilled from the corner of her mouth.

"She's bleeding!"

Xingqi and Xingyou rushed over anxiously. "What's wrong? Why is she bleeding?"

Shen Zijiao also seemed startled, staring fixedly at Tan Qingjiu, his eyes filled with panic.

Noticing the reactions of the three, Tan Qingjiu raised her hand, used her sleeve to wipe away the blood at the corner of her mouth, and then mustered all her strength to say, "Don't worry, I'm fine."

"Don't panic either. Stay right here and listen to Sister Qingdai."

Xingyou's eyes widened in even greater panic. "Why are you talking like you're leaving your final instructions? I won't do it! I won't stay here nicely, and I won't listen to Sister Qingdai."

"..."

Leaving final instructions? Tan Qingjiu was so angered by Xingyou that she almost coughed up another mouthful of old blood. She raised her gaze to look at Xingqi's face.

Xingqi met Tan Qingjiu's gaze and seemed to perceive something hidden within it. His expression shifted slightly as he grabbed Xingyou's hand. "Does Mother have any other instructions?"

Tan Qingjiu finally let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, among all her sons, at least one of them was somewhat reliable.

Tan Qingjiu's vision was gradually beginning to blur. "Go invite Dr. Wang from Taiji Tower over. He can cure this poison."

"Capture all the attendants and maids around young master Zijiao. Not a single one must be left behind. Hand them all over to Prince Duan and tell him to interrogate them thoroughly."

"Understood."

Having arranged everything one by one, Tan Qingjiu finally fainted in peace.

"Ah! Someone, help!"

Seeing her collapse, all three children were startled. Xingyou practically leaped into the air and turned to glare at Shen Zijiao. "It's you! It must be Tan Yunge who wanted to poison Mo—poison the mistress, so she had someone poison you. She knew the mistress would surely come to see you and check your pulse, because the mistress is your..."

Xingyou gritted his teeth. "That's why she came up with such a vicious method."

Shen Zijiao was also somewhat panicked. "But she hasn't had any contact with me at all. How could she poison me?"

"That's why the mistress told them to interrogate your attendants! Those servants and underlings around you were all brought from the Heir's Manor, weren't they?"

"They must be taking orders from Tan Yunge!"

"Tan Yunge is truly vicious. She doesn't view you as a son at all; she treats you like a chess piece."

"She had already poisoned you once before, and yet she dared to do it a second time."

Qingdai and Zisu had already rushed forward to support Tan Qingjiu.

Attendants outside the door also hurried inside.

"Quick, go report this to the Prince."

The steward also rushed in. "Good heavens, what has happened to the Princess Consort?"

"Trouble the steward to capture all the servants around young master Zijiao."

Out of the corner of his eye, Xingyou spotted a sneaky figure inside the room. "Quick, catch him! He's trying to run!"