Xiao Qiniang heard the man's voice and turned around. She raised the lamp, illuminating the person on the wall. Seeing that he spoke with difficulty and his eyes were vacant, she felt relieved.
"There's nothing else to do, so I came to have a look."
The man tied to the wall seemed to say something, but Xiao Qiniang didn't hear clearly. However, she didn't dare to walk over rashly, so she stayed put.
"I wonder if you've changed your mind?"
The man smiled. "The Xiao family has produced heroes for generations, yet it has fallen to this state, having a young girl take charge."
Xiao Qiniang's hand gripping the oil lamp turned pale, her round face drawn tight. "You may not think much of this young girl, but aren't you still in my hands?"
The man's eyes were vacant. "I am a man who deserves to die. My continued existence in this world goes against the will of heaven. If you have compassion, why not grant me a swift end and let me be free?"
Xiao Qiniang glanced at the sickly man, who seemed to have lost all will to live. She said, "A quick death is not as good as a lingering life. Though this saying is crude, the truth it holds is undeniable. Even if you don't think for yourself, don't you think of your family? I heard that after all these years, they have never given up searching for you."
The man froze, lost in thought.
Just then, a rumbling sound came from not far away. A stone door opened, and two people carrying oil lamps walked in. They seemed surprised to see someone else in the room and were startled. Upon seeing that it was Xiao Qiniang, they appeared relieved.
The two stepped forward and bowed, "Seventh Miss."
"Seventh Miss."
Xiao Qiniang nodded. "Take good care of him, and be sure to give him his medicine."
"Yes!"
Satisfied, Xiao Qiniang left the stone chamber, this time through the stone door.
Oil lamps hung on the stone walls of the passage. Turning left, a faint sound of wind could be heard. After a few steps, she saw stone steps, and the wind grew stronger.
Xiao Qiniang ascended the stone steps. Before long, another stone door blocked her path. As usual, Xiao Qiniang felt along the wall and pushed gently. The stone door creaked open, revealing a gap just wide enough for one person to squeeze through.
Xiao Qiniang blew out the oil lamp in her hand, passed through the gap, and then restored the stone door to its original position. The stone door was rough and uneven, looking no different from ordinary stone walls. Xiao Qiniang, holding up her skirt, hunched over and cautiously emerged from the narrow passage between the rockeries.
The wind outside was strong, and the surroundings were dark. Seizing the opportunity while no one was around, Xiao Qiniang quickened her pace towards her courtyard.
As the night deepened, Xiao Qiniang, whose limbs were weak and cold, dismissed the guards in her courtyard and hurried into bed.
She had not yet recovered from her illness and needed to rest well.
The next morning, Li Man'er finished her breakfast and went to see Li Shu for his examination. She leisurely extended three fingers and placed them on Li Shu's wrist. After a moment, she withdrew her fingers. "You're almost healed. After a few more days of recuperation, you should recover completely."
Li Man'er picked up her brush to write a prescription. "The prescription needs to be changed to be milder. The previous medicine was too potent and cannot be taken continuously."
She handed the written prescription to Old Sun and said, "Nutritional supplements are also important for better recovery of blood and energy." As she spoke, she picked up her brush again and wrote a new list of dietary recommendations, including things to note, and handed it to Old Sun as well.
"Have someone get the medicine and instruct the kitchen staff to be careful."
"Yes." As Old Sun was about to leave with the prescription, Jiao Niang walked over and blocked his way.
"Eldest Miss, please let me take care of this prescription! They are probably not allowed to leave the manor. I can move around more easily, and I can also give better instructions for the kitchen matters."
Li Man'er gave Old Sun a look, and he handed the prescription to Jiao Niang. Jiao Niang was overjoyed. "I'll attend to it right away."
After Jiao Niang left, Li Man'er then instructed Old Sun and Qin Si, "You two go and guard the entrance. Do not let anyone in."
The two men acknowledged the order and left.
Li Man'er then moved a chair and sat beside Li Shu, asking softly, "Father, what exactly happened on the day of the incident?"
Li Shu also wanted to discuss this with her. He said, "That day, we went on patrol and went quite far, about a hundred li from the city. The weather was not good, and there were still many areas to cover, so we set up camp outside for a night. This was not a major issue. However, the next day during the patrol, a strong wind suddenly blew up. The guide sent by the Xiao family said that this is how the weather is in Mobei; it rarely rains, but it is always windy, and the temperature difference between day and night is very large."
Li Shu began to speak at length.
When the strong wind started, visibility was affected. Naturally, they were all on horseback, and it was easy to have an accident if they urged their horses forward recklessly. So, they thought of dismounting to take shelter. Before he could dismount, he saw a gray object suddenly emerge from the ground. The wind was blowing fiercely at the time, and he couldn't clearly see what the thing was before it bit him, causing him to fall directly from his horse.
"You didn't see it clearly. Can you describe its appearance in general terms?"
Li Shu thought for a moment before saying, "It was gray, furry, and about the size of a domestic cat."
Li Man'er shook her head. "I have no idea what it was. However, Father, the poison you have is not a single toxin but a mixture of several complex poisons."
"Are you saying this was not an accident, but deliberate?"
"Don't you think that with ordinary poison, once it's neutralized, the person recovers? Why would you need so much recuperation? Look at you now, you've lost so much weight. It will likely take some time to recover."
Li Shu actually believed Li Man'er. "You think the Xiao family did this."
"Naturally, who else would target you? Don't forget, Mobei is the Xiao family's territory. You brought your troops here, which is a clear provocation. Even if you were acting on orders, it's likely that the Xiao family sees you as a thorn in their side."
"The Xiao family is far from as united as outsiders perceive," Li Shu said wistfully. "Man'er, you've been in Mobei for some time now. Have you discovered anything?"
Li Man'er appeared respectful, but inwardly, she was rolling her eyes so hard they almost fell out.
"Father and I are thinking along the same lines," Li Man'er said. "However, I've noticed that besides Xiao Qiniang, there are no other members of the Xiao family in the government office. Do you know where they all are?"
"Old General Xiao, along with his third son Xiao Ruqin and fourth son Xiao Ruduo, are in the military camp. As for Xiao Rudí, I only met him once at the welcoming banquet on the first day I arrived in Mobei. After that, I haven't seen him. Li Shu pondered. "It's normal, after all, the eldest son of the Xiao family is now a businessman."