When news of Gu Qingfeng asking Mei Chu for the poisonous calming incense reached Jiang Yu's ears, Jiang Yu simply nodded and said, "Don't you guys think that Pei Jian seems to have become arrogant lately?"

A few months ago, Pei Jian was humble and concealed himself very well.

“Sometimes people just aren’t destined for it,” Gu Lin said meaningfully. “The Pei family has been refining medicine and making poisons for generations. They certainly couldn’t have secured their position as the top family with just those skills. But since the Pei family’s ancestors chose to build their fortune through these methods, they must have had their reasons.”

For a fleeting moment, Gu Qingyan felt sorry for the Pei family.

When he first started thinking about how to treat the aristocratic families, he had thought of the Pei family. At that time, he thought that the Pei family should practice medicine and help the world, so that the Pei family could also gain the respect of the world.

But he never expected that Pei Jian would be such a ruthless and scheming person.

"Yes, it's a pity that the Pei family's medical skills are wasted."

Jiang Yu glanced at the darkening sky outside and said, "The New Year is almost here. Let Pei Jian and Pei Zhi leave Dayu before the New Year, so that everyone can have a peaceful New Year."

"What about Qin Ke'er...?"

"Tell the Qin family the news, including our conjectures and the Sun family's conjectures." A dark glint flashed in Jiang Yu's eyes. "If the powerful families really unite as one, it won't be a good thing for us."

"I will give the order tomorrow."

Gu Qingyan stretched as he spoke, “This year has passed both quickly and slowly. The first half of the year before finding Mother seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye, and the second half of the year after finding Mother seems to have been filled with many, many things.”

"That's great, next year will definitely be a good year."

Also, next year they won't be a family of three, but a family of four.

Gu Qingyan secretly glanced at Jiang Yu's belly, hoping that the baby in his mother's belly would grow up quickly. He couldn't wait to see what the baby looked like.

Seeing Gu Qingyan's adorable expression, Gu Lin and Jiang Yu both burst out laughing.

“Ayan will be seventeen next year.”

......

When Pei Jian came to Gu Qingfeng's room again, he smelled the calming incense.

But seeing that Gu Qingfeng's expression was normal and that there were dark circles under Gu Qingfeng's eyes, Pei Jian did not take it to heart. "The Second Prince is recovering well now, but he needs to rest more."

"I can't sleep at all, what can I do?"

Gu Qingfeng chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Patriarch Pei, why didn't I see you coming over the past few days?"

“Something has happened. The Second Prince just needs to take the medicine as prescribed.” Pei Jian clearly didn’t want to say more, and Gu Qingfeng didn’t press further. “Judging by the time, it’s almost the New Year. Knowing Gu Qingyan’s personality, he won’t let you stay until the New Year. In the next few days, I would appreciate it if Patriarch Pei could come and check my pulse every day.”

"The Second Prince doesn't believe me?"

"Hmph." Gu Qingfeng chuckled. "I still have residual poison in my body that hasn't been cured, and Patriarch Pei has given me a new one. I want to live a few more days, so I'll only feel at ease after checking my pulse."

"Your Highness is joking. That's not a new poison, it's just something to help you recover." Pei Jian smiled as well. "Since Your Highness is worried, I'll come every day for the next few days."

"Thank you for your trouble, Patriarch Pei."

Looking at the burnt-out incense stick, Gu Qingfeng lowered his eyes.

Please come more often, and come several more times.

After leaving Gu Qingfeng's courtyard, Pei Jian suddenly couldn't help but sneeze a few times, and his nose also felt a little sore.

"Master, are you alright?"

Pei Jian waved his hand, "It's alright, perhaps it's just that the weather in the capital of Dayu is too cold, and I've caught a cold."

Pei Jian wrinkled his nose, and his right eyelid began to twitch wildly, giving him a sense of foreboding.

"Is everything alright with the young master?"

“Master, Ah Hao said that the young master is not fully recovered yet, so he has been resting quietly in the courtyard.”

Pei Jian nodded upon hearing this, and his subordinate's voice rang out again, "However... Young Master Yun sent an invitation saying he wanted to visit the young master."

"Just say that Zhi'er is not feeling well and cannot receive guests."

Pei Jian's expression darkened at the thought of Yun Mo; he had always looked down on those who betrayed their noble families.

"yes."

The carriage slowly returned to the temporary residence. Pei Jian hesitated for a moment, then walked towards Pei Zhi's courtyard.

"Zhi'er".

Upon hearing Pei Jian's voice, Pei Zhi struggled to her feet, saying, "Father."

"Don't stand on ceremony. How is your recovery going?"

"I feel much better today." Pei Zhi's face was still a little pale. "These past few days, I've troubled my father to come and check my pulse every day."

There's no need for thanks between you and me, father and daughter.

Looking at Pei Zhi's expression, Pei Jian felt that his daughter had changed.

Pei Zhi forced a smile. "Thank you, Father."

Lying in bed these past few days, she has come to understand many things she had never thought of before. It seems that her father is not the great hero she always thought he was... capable of healing the sick and saving lives.

Pei Zhi now only felt it was absurd.

She couldn't imagine where the Pei family, and even her own future, would lie.

......

Qin Ke'er woke up the day before the Pei family left.

"Ke'er, you're finally awake."

Sun Shu was overjoyed and wept when she saw that Qin Ke'er was awake.

"Sister Shu, I'm not dead!" Qin Ke'er cried out, tears streaming down her face. "Sister Shu, I wish I were dead, I wish I were dead..."

"Ke'er, begging for death is useless. Will your death solve the problem?" Sun Shu looked at Qin Ke'er's appearance and felt a pang of sadness. How much better was her situation than Qin Ke'er's?

"Sister Shu, my father is unconscious. My second uncle is in charge of the family now, but I know his temperament best. My brother and I are trapped in Dayu. The Qin family... the Qin family is doomed."

Qin Ke'er spoke while tears streamed down her face. If she could see no future, why would she want to die?

"Ke'er, who told you this? Was it Pei Zhi?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Ke'er's eyes first showed a few hints of doubt, then she shook her head, "No, it wasn't Azhi who said it, but I... I don't know who said it either."

"How could I not know who said it?"

Sun Shu's eyes darkened, and she dismissed everyone else in the room. "Ke'er, explain yourself to me."

"After I saw Azhi off that day, I saw a note hanging on the lowest branch of the tree in the yard. It mentioned the Qin family's affairs." Qin Ke'er was a little exhausted after saying so much. "So I don't know who it was."

"Even if it wasn't Pei Zhi, it's still inextricably linked to the Pei family."

Sun Shu patted Qin Ke'er and said, "Rest for a while. You need to rest to recover. Don't think about anything else for now. Don't try to kill yourself again."

"Sister Shu..."

"Since God didn't let you die this time, it means you deserve to live."