Chapter 337 Fate Uncertain

Xiao Yunheng's expression changed slightly. "I have never mistreated you, and I have kept my promise not to harm Princess Qinghe. What is so good about Xiao Xuanyou that makes you willing to risk your life to follow him?"

"What happens to His Highness the Crown Prince is none of my concern. I only want to ensure my wife's safety."

Xiao Yunheng scoffed, "Yes, she's safe for now, but what about you? Do you think you'll see the sun rise tomorrow?"

His expression was not without sarcasm. "So many people are surrounding her. You cleared the obstacles for her. Once you die, who knows how many suitors will swarm around you. You are really generous, Shen Ci'an, sacrificing yourself to fulfill someone else's marriage."

Xiao Yunheng hated Shen Ci'an for ruining his grand plan. He had long lost his former gentle and indifferent demeanor, and his words were full of malice. "When you are buried in the yellow earth, while Jiang Zhi is having children with someone else and living a happy life, I wonder what you will think down there?"

Shen Ci'an felt a pang of sadness at the thought of that scene. "Happy and fulfilling? That's wonderful."

“You’re still being stubborn even when you’re about to die,” Xiao Yunheng said with a mocking smirk. “You’ll be poisoned in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Let’s see if you can still be as calm and collected as you are now then.”

Shen Ci'an stroked the teacup in his hand.

Today, after court, he went to the Imperial Study to advise the Emperor that he was willing to go to Changshan to persuade Prince Gong to allow the Prince of Xiang's heir to return to the capital.

The Emperor readily agreed and, at his request, sent the commander of the Imperial Guards to accompany him.

He wouldn't let himself die so quietly.

Perhaps by using his own death, he could make Xiao Yunheng suffer some more.

Xiao Yunheng, however, only felt that Shen Ci was putting on airs.

"However, I am very curious, since Lord Shen is so disregarding life and death, why did he come to Changshan today? Did he just want to see me make a fool of myself?"

Shen Ci'an smiled and said, "The Crown Prince of Xiang will know soon."

Xiao Yunheng felt even more contempt for Shen Ci'an.

He was both greedy for life and afraid of death, and arrogant and unwilling to beg for mercy. He even wanted me to give him the antidote.

That's utterly delusional.

"Then this young master would really like to take a look."

At this point, Shen Ci'an's poison began to take effect.

A sharp, needle-like pain spread through my internal organs and limbs, as if countless ants were gnawing at my body.

Although Shen Ci'an was prepared, he still couldn't help but frown slightly.

"What's wrong? The poison's taking effect?" Xiao Yunheng asked calmly. "Is it becoming increasingly unbearable?"

Shen Ci'an's face had turned as pale as paper, his thin lips were completely devoid of color, and he was sweating profusely.

But he bit his lip tightly and didn't make a sound.

"Don't worry, Lord Shen, this is just the beginning. This poison won't make you die quickly and easily. After seven days, it will have already taken root in your blood and flesh, slowly eating away at your flesh and blood, causing you unbearable pain and making you die in agony."

As soon as Xiao Yunheng finished speaking, Shen Ci'an could no longer hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The blood was also dark red, and when it was sprayed on the ground, it looked like a large patch of blood-red flowers.

"Oh dear, how pitiful. Does your wife know how much you've sacrificed for her? She didn't even come to see you off on your final journey. It's truly a pathetic situation."

Shen Ci'an didn't speak; he couldn't utter a word.

Suddenly, he vomited a large mouthful of blood again.

Dark red blood stained his blue clothes. He raised his hand to wipe his lips, but found his fingertips trembling.

Soon he was in so much pain that he could no longer sit up. His once straight back bent over, and muffled groans of unbearable pain escaped from between his teeth.

In the silent room, only Xiao Yunheng looked down at him, as if he were an insignificant ant.

"Is there anything else you would like to say before you, Lord Shen?"

Shen Ci'an's eyes began to glaze over, and he slowly slid off the stool.

He didn't even glance at Xiao Yunheng, his unfocused eyes fixed on the doorway.

The young lady is currently doing something, I don't know.

She must have been very sad to know she was dead.

"Master!"

Suddenly, he saw the tightly closed door suddenly open, and light rushed in from outside. A familiar figure, so deeply ingrained in his soul, burst in without warning.

"Master!!"

The sound in his ear made him think he was hallucinating. He watched as the blurry figure rushed in, caught his slowly sliding body in his arms, but couldn't withstand the force and fell to the ground with him.

"Miss, Miss..." He didn't even have the strength to speak.

Jiang Zhi, travel-worn and disheveled, turned pale instantly upon seeing Shen Ci'an covered in blood. She could hardly believe her eyes and instinctively rushed towards him.

"Master, how could this be? What exactly happened?" She found her voice trembling.

“Princess Qinghe, there’s no need to worry,” came Xiao Yunheng’s gloating voice from above. “He’s just poisoned and will die soon.”

"You're the one who killed him!" Jiang Zhi looked up at him with bloodshot eyes. "Xiao Yunheng, how could you be so lawless, daring to kill even a court official! Hand over the antidote now, or I will never let you go!"

“Princess Qinghe, you’ve misunderstood me,” Xiao Yunheng shrugged. “It’s Lord Shen’s own fault, he has no one to blame but himself.”

Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

No, the teacher is already in trouble, she can't panic.

“Entering the Shadow Moon, wasn’t Doctor Xue brought to Changshan? He must have the antidote there. Search him. If he doesn’t have it, bring him to me.”

Ruying and Anyue immediately accepted the order and withdrew.

Jiang Zhi then gave him the Heart-Protecting Pill that she always carried with her.

This was a medicine that Xiao Xuanyou had her carry with her every day when she was in the Eastern Palace, to prevent anyone from poisoning her.

“Useless Princess Qinghe, this ordinary heart-protecting pill can’t cure the poison at all; it will only prolong his suffering.” Xiao Yunheng remained completely calm.

The commander of the Imperial Guards who came in with Jiang Zhi was also startled by the scene before him.

how so?

He was only accompanying Lord Shen on the Emperor's orders to persuade Prince Gong to release the Prince of Xiang's heir. Prince Gong did not agree. Before leaving, Lord Shen met the Prince of Xiang's heir and went inside to talk to him, asking him to wait a moment.

Unexpectedly, while we were waiting, Lord Shen was poisoned to death by the Prince of Xiang!

How is he supposed to explain this to the Emperor when he gets back?

Just then, a long neighing sounded from outside the door. As soon as everyone heard the sound, they saw the person dismount from the horse, lean on his sword, and stride in.

He was tall and had long legs. He stepped into the main room in just a few steps. When he saw Jiang Zhi kneeling on the ground and Shen Ci'an, who was covered in blood, being held in her arms, his usually cold and stern eyes couldn't help but twitch.

He strode forward and asked, "What happened?"

Then he saw Jiang Zhi raise her head with red eyes, her eyes already brimming with tears, about to fall, but there was not much sorrow in them, but rather an unusual calmness.

"The Master was poisoned and murdered by Xiao Yunheng, and his fate is unknown." Her voice trembled.

Without saying a word, Lu Yuan squatted down and gently pressed Jiang Zhi's hand to comfort her. "Don't worry, let me protect his heart meridian first and see if I can force the poison out."

After speaking, she sat cross-legged behind Shen Ci'an and placed her palms on his back.

Although she had always disliked Shen Ci'an, if Shen Ci'an died, Azhi would definitely be heartbroken.

No matter how unwilling he was, he didn't want to see her in pain and suffering.