Chapter 129 The illness worsens. You shouldn't, and don't need to, bear the consequences for them. ...

"Is Que Sheng sick?"

Lian Chisu was handling sect affairs in Bailuzhou when she suddenly received a letter from Xichuang. She gave Xichuang a private communication channel in Bailuzhou, which was used specifically to report Lian Quesheng's situation to her.

But the west window hadn't been used for years, and even Chisu hadn't required him to write a letter every half month or month; she just wanted Lian Que to be safe and sound. But she never expected that the first time she'd use it would be because Lian Que was sick.

From childhood to adulthood, over the years, Lian Chisu's biggest worry has been Lian Quesheng's health. He was born weak and poisoned, and coupled with the Taoist's words, she and Lu Buwen were very lenient with Lian Quesheng in other aspects, except for one thing: that he should take good care of his own health.

"How could Quesheng suddenly fall ill? He was perfectly fine the last time I saw him. Why did he suddenly become so sick? Why didn't he write sooner?" Lian Chisu's anger suddenly surged up. "What did I tell him before? He was to tell me immediately if anything happened. Why did he delay until now?"

"Sect Master, please don't worry. Perhaps the young master has just caught a cold, a minor ailment. Don't be too concerned. Over the years, the young master has always been in good health, which we have all witnessed."

Fu Shu quickly tried to comfort her, picking up the documents that Lian Chisu had slapped to the ground and tidying them up before placing them back on the table. "Besides, with Xi Chuang around, he has always taken the best care of the young master. The sect leader shouldn't blame him, no matter who else he is."

"Hmph, no one should blame him, no one should." Lian Chisu sneered, glanced at Fushu, and said nothing more. When Lu Buwen pushed the wheelchair in, she made eye contact with him and handed the letter to Lu Buwen. "Fushu, you can go out first. Pack your things. We'll go to Xingchenque in an hour."

"Yes, Sect Master."

Fu Shu didn't dare to ask any more questions. Seeing that the two had something to say, she quickly retreated. The moment she closed the door, she felt a moment of relief, but the atmosphere inside was strange and frightening.

She originally thought that the sect leader also loved Xichuang like his own child. After all, they seemed very harmonious on the surface, and many things in Bailuzhou were even entrusted to Xichuang without Lian Quesheng knowing.

Unexpectedly, after this was mentioned today, Fushu realized that something was wrong. Even the relationship between the sect leader and Xichuang was far from the "motherly love and filial piety" they showed.

Fushu had known Xichuang for several years and was one of the people he had the most contact with in Bailuzhou. When he first came to Bailuzhou, he was holding a token from Lian Quesheng, saying that Lian Quesheng had saved him and brought him here.

They did receive a letter from Lian Quesheng, saying that he had rescued a homeless and pitiful child. Lian Quesheng originally intended to personally deliver the child, but something came up along the way, so he gave the child a token instead.

At that time, there was only half a day's journey left to Egret Island, and Lian Quesheng let him come by himself, but he had given him instructions in advance, so there shouldn't be any problems.

However, when Xi Chuang arrived later, it was more than half a year later than the letter had stated. Fu Shu found this strange and wanted to investigate, but Lian Chi Su said it was nothing, that it was normal for a child to get lost and stay somewhere for a few days, so the matter was put aside.

Fu Shu didn't inquire further. As a mere disciple by the sect leader's side, it wasn't a good thing for her to know too much. Sometimes, being a little oblivious was wiser.

Now that I think about it, this matter is getting stranger and stranger. Even if it was just a child who got lost, where did he stay by himself for the past six months? Fushu doesn't know, and she can't figure it out either. Recently, one thing after another has happened, keeping her extremely busy.

"Is the sparrow that sick?"

Lu Buwen frowned after reading the letter. He had too many concerns in his heart. Seeing his wife's similar expression, he suddenly thought of what the Taoist priest had said when Lian Quesheng was born. He lowered his voice and said, "Today is the last year. More than half of it has passed. Could it be that what that man said was all true?"

"I don't know either."

Lian Chisu was extremely agitated. "What should we do? If it's true, Quesheng doesn't know about his condition yet. If he really only has six months left, and you haven't found any medicine, I didn't expect that Xichuang's side is also unreliable."

"Is there something between you and Xichuang that you're hiding from me?" Lu Buwen realized something from her words. "Did you send him to find medicine, or did you send him to do something else?"

"You don't need to ask too much. Just know that he's trying to save Quesheng. More people always mean more help. It's better than you searching outside for so many years and still finding nothing."

Lian Chisu took the letter, burned it in the incense burner, and said, "Let's keep this from Quesheng for now. When we go to Xingchenque later, you mustn't let it slip."

Am I such a tactless person?

Lu Buwen rolled his eyes at her. Neither of them was in the mood to talk. Lian Chisu picked up the tea on the table, took a sip, and remained calm for a while. She sat in the chair. She was clearly the sect leader of Bailuzhou, a powerful and influential figure. She was usually decisive and efficient in front of outsiders, but now she showed a rare hint of vulnerability.

"Don't worry, things will get better."

Lu Buwen gently pushed the wheelchair to her side and hugged her. "Children are born lucky, everything will be alright. There haven't been any accidents all these years. Back then, you and I were both so badly injured, he shouldn't have survived. I never expected that he could be born safely. It's already a blessing for us."

“It’s my fault, I didn’t listen. Do you think it would have been better for us and for him if we hadn’t had this child? Quesheng wouldn’t be in this situation now. He’s only in his twenties, in the prime of his life.”

Lian Chisu felt a little guilty, and her eyes stung. She was a woman who didn't like to cry, but this matter involved her child, and even the strongest person couldn't face it calmly.

“If anyone is to blame, it’s the person who poisoned him, not you.” Lu Buwen stroked the woman’s temple. “You have already sacrificed a lot for him. This is not your fault. If that’s the case, then I’m the culprit who harmed Quesheng. Chisu, don’t take the consequences of those evil people’s wrongdoings upon yourself.”

"You don't need to, and shouldn't, bear the consequences for them."

It's unclear whether Lian Chisu listened or not. The two sat leaning against each other for a while, until they heard Fushu outside say that the luggage was ready, and then they went out.

“Buwen and I can go. Fushu, you stay in Bailuzhou. If anything important happens, send me a message.” Lian Chisu gave Fushu a few more instructions. “You can handle the rest yourself. I trust you.”

"Sect Master, is it possible—"

Fu Shu wanted to say something, but when she looked up, the person was already gone. She was the only one left in the huge main hall of Bailuzhou. The disciples were practicing their swordsmanship in the back. If she didn't know there was someone there, she would have thought that the place was as quiet as an empty city.

Inside the Star Palace, Xi Chuang was sitting by Lian Quesheng's bedside, his face ashen. He looked even worse than the sick Lian Quesheng, as if he hadn't slept for days and nights and had been drained of his life force.

Hurried footsteps sounded, and the door was quickly pushed open. The woman walked in, not even glancing at Xi Chuang, and went straight to Lian Quesheng by the bedside. Lu Buwen, who was behind her, forced a smile at Xi Chuang, but both of them knew that the smile was extremely bitter and would have been better off not smiling at all.

"How long has he been like this?"

When Lian Chisu arrived, she found the situation was worse than she had imagined. She checked Lian Quesheng's pulse and found it was almost entirely draining without any inflow.

“After Master returned from Young Master Jiang’s house, he caught a cold. He kept it from me for the first ten days or so. Later, when I found out, I sent a message to the sect. Now it’s the twentieth day.” Xi Chuang answered carefully. “I originally thought Master’s condition was not serious, so I found a doctor to take a look. But I never expected that the doctor would say that Master was in a state of near death. I was anxious and dared not hide it from the sect leader.”

"Where is the doctor?"

“I’ve had him waiting outside.” Xi Chuang gestured for Xiang Zhanyi, who was waiting outside, to come in. “Sect Leader, you can ask him anything you want to ask.”

Xiang Zhanyi cursed Xi Chuang, that guy who valued women over friends, in her heart. Then, pretending to be timid and fearful, she walked in shakily and bowed to Lian Chisu and Lu Buwen, saying, "Sect Leader Lian."

"Tell me, what exactly is the condition of my son?"

Lian Chisu waved her hand, telling him to get up, "Just speak frankly."

"Yes, Young Master Lian's illness came on suddenly and seemed to be caused by a cold, but in fact, I detected a toxin in his body that seemed to have been accumulating since birth. Over time, it has become extremely difficult to resolve. So I would like to ask the Sect Master, what were Young Master Lian's conditions when he was born?"

Xiang Zhanyi stroked his hastily glued-on beard with feigned seriousness, speaking slowly and deliberately. Lian Chisu didn't seem to doubt him much. "There is indeed a poison in Quesheng's body, but I don't know what it is, and there has been no antidote for so many years."

"Take my pulse. This poison originated from within my body." Lian Chisu rolled up her sleeves and examined Zhan Yi for a moment, then looked troubled. "The sect leader is in good health and shows no signs of poisoning. I am powerless to help. I wonder if Madam has used any medicine?"

“No, I was pregnant with Quesheng at the time, and I was already terrified because of this poison. I didn’t dare to take any medicine indiscriminately for fear of affecting him. I just didn’t expect it to turn out like this.” Lian Chisu walked to Lu Buwen’s side again. “My husband was poisoned like me. Come and see him again.”

"yes."

Xi Chuang's expression turned serious. If Lian Chisu could recover from the poison, wouldn't Lian Quesheng also be able to find a way to be saved? He had a glimmer of hope and stared anxiously at Xiang Zhanyi, but after looking at Lu Buwen, the other party shook his head.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy. Xi Chuang, Lian Chisu, and Lu Buwen all focused their gazes on Xiang Zhanyi, but he also showed a helpless expression. "Sect Leader Lian, I have examined them. Although the poison in Master Lu's body and Young Master Lian's body is similar, it is still different. Master Lu's poison is much milder."

"I'm sorry, but I really have no other choice."

Xiang Zhanyi and Xichuang exchanged a glance. He had indeed done his best. Xichuang's heart sank. Xiang Zhanyi silently withdrew. Lu Buwen pushed the wheelchair to the bedside and touched Lian Quesheng's face. In the end, it was he and Lian Chisu who had implicated their child.

“There’s still a month until Quesheng’s birthday.” Lian Chisu was calculating the days. Xi Chuang understood the implication in her words: there was still plenty of time, and he would eventually take Jiang Yu’s body back.