Chapter 86: Antidote. What matters is that he is the princess's child, alive...
Here comes the apocalypse.
Pei Ji frowned. The Miao region was separated from the mountains and plains by Tianqi. It seemed not difficult, but it was not simple either.
Moreover, if foreigners come to Tianqi, they must have multiple certificates and property, relatives and friends who are familiar with and have roots in Tianqi, and sufficient money to take care of everything.
This is actually not simple. It is equivalent to asking relatives and friends to act as guarantors. If any problems arise with outsiders, they will be blamed on relatives and friends. Being held accountable is the least of their worries, but if they are accused of treason, they will only have one way to go, and that is death.
"Does anyone know when they arrived?" Pei Ji asked, "or what the person who left with the antidote looked like?"
The subordinate thought for a moment and said, "It is said that he left ten years ago. He was a clan leader in Miaojiang and was a great painter."
Another ten years ago.
He can also draw well.
Pei Ji intuitively felt that this day ten years ago was very special. When mentioning this day, he would think of He Zhiliao's mother Liu Qingxuan who also passed away at that time. From then on, He Zhiliao had no relatives to rely on.
Let’s get back to painting.
We only know that this person came to Tianqi, but Tianqi is a vast territory with countless prefectures, cities, counties and districts. How can we know where this person went?
Even if he came to the capital, there were so many people who could paint well in the capital. How could he be sure who it was and how could he know whether the other party was willing to hand over the antidote?
Moreover, if the Pei family conducts a large-scale search, it will probably cause Emperor An's displeasure and lead to further punishment...
"Since we know that the person is in Tianqi, let's start the investigation from the capital. You stay in the capital. If Lin Feng wants to return to the manor, take him away." Pei Ji said.
"yes!"
Pei Ji sat in the study to calm down for a moment, suppressing all his emotions, before returning to the house to meet He Zhiliao.
Although he said that he wanted the other person to love him, he was unwilling to let the other person bear his emotions.
He Zhiliao knew that they got together to chat every day, so she didn't ask much. However, she was still sensitive to Pei Ji's emotions after he entered the room.
"Is there an accident?" He asked softly and cautiously.
Pei Ji raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at him in confusion, "Why do you ask?"
He Zhiliao shook his head slightly. He didn't know, but he inexplicably felt that the other party was a little depressed. This was always the case when the other party hid something from him.
Maybe it seems perfect to him, but he can just find this imperfection.
"Is it something you can't tell me?" He Zhiliao frowned slightly, looking a little sad and a little pitiful.
"Not really..." Pei Ji suddenly softened his heart, thinking that it was not a big deal. Anyway, there was already some clues now, so it would not be a problem to tell him clearly.
I completely forgot how I tried to hide it just now.
After hearing what he said, He Zhiliao fell strangely silent.
Pei Ji tilted his head to look at him, "What's the matter?"
He Zhiliao raised her eyes and met his deep, translucent eyes. She blinked and murmured, "If my intuition is correct, I always feel like we've seen that clan leader who's so good at painting before..."
"Who?" Pei Ji frowned.
He Zhiliao shifted his gaze and his eyes slowly fell on the wall behind him. The wall there was very spacious, and he only needed to raise his eyes to see the scrolls and paintings hanging on the wall. The paintings were of him and Pei Ji, and even in the paintings they could see their affection for each other.
And this painter with such skilled and consummate painting skills has the best reputation among those they have found in the capital.
It was painted for them by the old man in Xianyun Pavilion.
Pei Ji followed his gaze, and his deep eyes also burst into light. If there is one thing that can be said about painting skills, the painter of this painting is also one of them.
"Could it be such a coincidence?" Pei Ji laughed, but still decided to trust He Zhiliao's intuition and prepared to send someone to ask.
He Zhiliao inexplicably thought of the painting hanging in the Xianyun Pavilion. He grabbed Pei Ji's hand, a smile flashing in his eyes, "Why don't you go and ask in person? Just think of it as a leisurely stroll."
Pei Ji's smile deepened, "Then what are you waiting for?"
It was still very hot at this time. The two of them took a carriage to Xianyun Pavilion. They had never been there since the first time, and they didn't know whether the old painter was in the pavilion.
As the two entered the museum, the waiter immediately greeted them with a smile, "Master Pei, the Fourth Master is here. Are you two here to see me for a painting?"
Pei Ji raised his eyebrows, "Yes, is the painter here today?"
The waiter smiled and said, "Yes, the master has been in the museum recently, but you two came at an unfortunate time today. He is currently painting behind closed doors in his studio."
"It's okay, we'll just wait." Pei Ji said.
"Okay!"
The clerk gestured to them to look around freely and then hurried upstairs to find the old painter.
The painting that He Zhiliao wanted to see was only in the studio before. Now in the hall, there were only those paintings that were specially used to attract customers. They were clearly unchanging objects, but there were customers coming every day.
Pei Ji didn't care much about these things and just watched casually. He didn't care what Zhiliao said and just thought he was just going out for a stroll.
They thought they would have to wait a long time, but the waiter quickly came downstairs and invited them upstairs. There was a look of shock on his face that he himself didn't understand. "The master said you two should go upstairs. Please follow me."
I followed the waiter upstairs and stopped in front of a painting studio.
He Zhiliao blinked. He had a good memory. The studio in front of him was the same one they had been in when they came to paint last time.
The waiter knocked on the door and invited them in, then he went out to continue soliciting and entertaining customers with other waiters.
He Zhiliao and Pei Ji entered the room at the same time and saw that the old painter was still painting. When he saw them, he casually asked them to sit down.
Although Pei Ji was still a little uncertain before, it was not until he set foot here and met the painter that he realized that He Zhile's intuition was probably correct, because he also had that strong feeling.
"Please wait a moment," the old painter said softly, his eyes focused on the painting.
"No hurry." He Zhiliao's voice was a little hoarse but crisp. He was about to turn around and look at the hanging painting, but before he could move his gaze over, he met the eyes of the old painter and didn't even care about the painting in his hand.
The old painter stood up excitedly, "You, you actually..."
Can actually speak.
He Zhiliao looked at him quietly, raised his lips and chuckled: "I was poisoned a few days ago, it's just a coincidence that I got better."
But he could only speak briefly and slowly, and could not speak for long, otherwise he would become unable to speak. I think it was related to the toxins in his body.
The old master looked at him in shock, excited and happy, but also with a hint of sadness. Those emotions piled up in his chest and even blocked his throat, making him not know how to speak for a moment.
Pei Ji vaguely guessed something, and he believed that Xiao Zhiliao had guessed it too, so he deliberately spoke.
"You're not here to ask me to paint, are you?" The old master chuckled and said, his already bright eyes looking even brighter. "Ask whatever you want to ask."
Hearing this, Pei Ji naturally didn't want to beat around the bush with him anymore. He immediately got straight to the point and asked, "Are you from Miaojiang? Are you the tribe leader?"
The old master looked up at them with a smile on his face. "It seems that you have really put in some effort to investigate this matter. It is obvious that you really want to get something from me."
"The antidote to the muteness potion," Pei Ji said. "I know it's in your hands. The Miao people said it was taken away by a tribe leader with superb painting skills."
"I do have the antidote, but is this all you found..." The old master said as he stood up and walked to the painting on the wall.
The woman in the painting is wearing a light smoky purple gauze, her face is covered by the veil, only her bright and clear eyes are exposed, and the poison hidden in her body seems to be alive.
The painter carefully rolled up the scroll, revealing a secret compartment at the back. He took out what they wanted from it without having to pick or look too much. He was so familiar with it as if he had been staring at the dark compartment for many years.
When the dry hand was handed to him, He Zhiliao realized that the delicate little porcelain bottle contained the antidote that could detoxify his body.
He was actually a little nervous, with a happy smile on his face. He looked up at Pei Ji excitedly, then carefully and tremblingly held the antidote in his palm.
Pei Ji held him in his arms and looked at the painter, "Do you have anything else to say?"
They originally came here to find the antidote. Now that they have the antidote, that is naturally the best outcome. If they can hear some other news, it would be even better.
The painter carefully put the painting away, his eyes fixed on the woman in the painting, his pride and satisfaction unconcealable.
Pei Ji's pupils slightly widened, "This painting is..."
The painter then turned to look at He Zhiliao, "Yes, she is the princess of our Miaojiang. Twenty years ago, Miaojiang was plagued by internal and external troubles. The king at that time secretly sent her away to protect her."
No one knew what she had been through, but when the princess contacted her clan again, she had become Liu Qingxuan, the daughter of the Tianqi Liu family.
She is already married and has a child, so none of this matters as long as the princess feels at ease and happy.
The princess was really considering them. She first asked the Liu family to act as a guarantor and bring some of the clansmen into Tianqi to live. After these clansmen had completely become the people of Tianqi, she would slowly bring other clansmen over.
During those years, these divided people slowly gathered together again and tried their best to gain a foothold in Tianqi. Only by doing so could he avoid causing trouble to the Liu family and the princess.
There are also some tribesmen who can never adapt. They will live on the farm. Farming and doing farm work are the same everywhere. Those who are good at business will run shops.
Then the princess died.
The princess, as bright as a pearl, died in her prime years, and no one could stop her.
They now live and work in peace and contentment, but no one knows what happened to her. They are only concerned about protecting the relics she left behind, including the child.
But their arms were not long enough to reach into the He family's courtyard wall, so they could only watch him grow and climb on his own. Fortunately, he climbed out.
When it crawls in front of them, it will stare at them with its bright eyes.
"Since you have the antidote, why didn't you bring it to us earlier?" Pei Ji asked with a frown, not in condemnation, but out of suspicion.
"I don't know. The princess only said that if anyone comes looking for it, she'll give it to them. If no one asks, then she'll keep it until she dies." The painter smiled softly. "We Miao people are tight-lipped and patient. Once we make up our minds, we won't change. We won't change the people we've made up our minds about."
Pei Ji subconsciously looked at He Zhile and thought of He Zhile in his previous life. Perhaps others would call him stupid, but even though he had been granted a divorce by Emperor An, he had never abandoned the Pei family.
Treating others sincerely should not be called mean or stupid.
These words were the same as what the shop owners had said to him when he went to look for the shops. If he could find it, it would be his, and if he couldn't find it, it wouldn't become someone else's.
"I'm not a child of the He family." He Zhiliao said softly.
"Really? We didn't know that." The painter was also a little surprised. After all, it was a foregone conclusion when they arrived.
He said no one knew what had happened to the other person, and he really didn't know.
When he first received the letter, he was also in a daze, as if an old friend who had not been seen for a long time suddenly sent him news.
The princess only listened to what they had experienced over the years, but kept silent about her affairs. Perhaps those times were very difficult, so difficult that she didn't want to mention it at all.
It doesn’t matter who He Zhiliao’s father is. What matters is that he is the princess’s child, a living relic.
He doesn't care who his biological father is. If he could know, that would be great. If he can't know, he would just think of him as having passed away early.
"It doesn't matter who your biological father is, you are the princess's child." The painter looked at him with an especially kind and gentle look. When he met her eyes, it was as if he was looking through him at the lovely girl who had passed away long ago.
These words were like a promise, a promise that they would always follow him, protect him, and love him.
"I understand." He Zhiliao nodded gently and smiled at him. "Thank you for your hard work over the years. Live a good life from now on."
Not for him, but for themselves.
The painter smiled and looked at the painting. "Would you like to take this painting away?"
He Zhiliao looked at the person in the painting. Even through the veil, he could see that the person in the painting was so carefree and happy.
A bright girl should not enter a square wall.
Before coming here, He Zhiliao had vaguely guessed that the painter might be related to Miaojiang, but he didn't expect to know so many things. It wasn't a wasted trip.
Pei Ji was afraid that he would be sad, so he kept observing his expression. He felt relieved when he found that he was really happy.
only--
"Don't you care about anything else?" Pei Ji asked softly.
"We've got the antidote." He Zhiliao frowned slightly, as if puzzled by what else was going on. "Isn't this the most important thing?"
Pei Ji sighed slightly, listened to his somewhat hoarse voice, shut his mouth tactfully, and didn't want him to continue talking.
Back in the house, He Zhiliao opened the medicine bottle and sniffed it. A unique fragrance emanated from it. He tilted his head and coughed twice, and his throat felt a little sore.
He poured the medicine into the bowl, and what came out was a bright red powder. He added some warm water and stirred it, and a bowl of potion more colorful than peach blossoms was prepared.
"Let me try it first to see if it's bitter." Pei Ji picked it up and took a sip. Not only was it not bitter, but the sweet taste melted in his mouth instantly. He was silent for a moment, "After I drank a sip, the medicinal effect should not be affected..."
He Zhiliao couldn't help laughing. He picked up the bowl with trembling hands and drank the antidote in one gulp. It was indeed a bit sweet. No wonder Pei Ji frowned.
Pei Ji quickly handed him some water and said, "Clear your mouth. How do you feel? Can you speak? You can't be mute again because of the poison..."
"Ahem!" He Zhiliao cleared his throat. "I feel...much better..."
He was a little surprised. Although he could speak before, he always felt his throat was blocked and would hurt if he was not careful.
But after drinking the antidote, my throat instantly felt relaxed, the feeling of congestion disappeared, and the hoarse voice became normal, even clearer and stronger.
This was the voice he was supposed to have, but he only heard it seventeen years late.
"Finally..." Pei Ji hugged him fiercely, "My dear, you seem to have become a lark."
He Zhiliao smiled with his eyes curved. This was the result of Pei Ji's hard work for half a year. Although the antidote was right under his nose, if it weren't for Pei Ji's efforts, he would probably have to speak with a hoarse voice for the rest of his life.
So he smiled and said, "Thank you, husband."
Pei Ji also laughed. The things that were weighing on his mind were solved one after another. He felt that he would be able to see the dawn soon, and the road ahead became clear.
The Pei family has had many happy events recently. The joy of the second son Pei’s marriage has not yet faded, and now there are rumors that the fourth son Pei can actually speak!
"Is this true? Didn't he have this condition from the womb? Is there really a chance it can be cured?"
"It's true! I heard he's been out on the streets a lot these days, and people can hear him talking. That's a rare thing!"
"Then why are we still saying all this? We've already accepted his kindness, so it's only right that we come and congratulate him. Don't diminish this hard-earned kindness!"
"Then we'll go too..."
At one time, many ladies in the mansion sent people to send gifts. Even if they couldn't see each other for a moment, it didn't matter. After all, they would meet again someday in the long run!
As long as the feelings are still there, the relationship will not be broken.
This matter was not concealed and spread throughout in the blink of an eye. People said that he was lucky and that even such a stubborn disease could be cured one day. It showed that nothing was impossible in this world!
The Pei family was even happier during this period. Everyone would go to the yard every day to talk to He Zhiliao, as if to confirm that he had really recovered. Uncontrollable surprise and excitement lingered in the hearts of the Pei family members.
This cheerful atmosphere lasted for a long time.
The time for autumn hunting is coming soon.
Every year's autumn hunting is carried out in the royal hunting grounds. The managers of the hunting grounds will release the prey that has been captive for a long time onto the grounds and let them fly and run wildly, while the hunters only need to hunt on horseback.
The huge carriage team arrived at the enclosure. The steward had already packed up everything and was just waiting for the masters to settle in.
Even though the queen had fallen out of favor and had no one to rely on, she was still the queen to the outside world, and she had to be brought to such occasions. However, Rong Fei had just given birth, and her child was only one month old. She was worried about leaving the child with the wet nurse, so she did not come to the enclosure.
It is worth mentioning that Emperor An had already planned to appoint her as a noble concubine when the child was three months old. Although there was already a noble monarch, there was no conflict in the end.
This also made Deguijun realize that his position was precarious and could be touched by anyone, so he had to become the most powerful person in the harem as soon as possible, and he made up his mind completely.
Inside the Pei family tent.
Pei Ji helped He Zhiliao sit down. "Last year, due to special circumstances, we didn't have the chance to hunt. This year, you'll have the chance to have some fun. Don't miss it. I'll choose a docile horse for you to ride."
"Okay." He Zhiliao also responded gently.
"The hunt starts tomorrow. How about I take you to choose a horse?" Pei Ji asked with a smile. He knew He Zhiliao would be willing.
Most of the stables were owned by someone else and were served by special palace servants, but horses were also prepared for officials from aristocratic families.
Pei Ji had a good eye and quickly picked out a chestnut horse. Although it was not as good as Taxue and Zhuying, it was also suitable for He Zhiliao to ride and relax.
The hunting ground is very large, the grassland is endless, and the mountains and forests ahead can be seen in the distance.
"What kind of prey are there?" He Zhiliao asked.
"There are more musk deer, deer, and hares... than on the farms in the countryside. They are all raised by the royal family here, so there will be no impact." Pei Ji said.
He Zhiliao's gaze fell on the distant mountains. He asked softly, "Are there wolves and tigers in the mountains? Is it safe to hunt here?"
Pei Ji held his chin and scratched it, then smiled and said, "Of course it's safe. There are people here to take care of it. They clean up the area every once in a while. If there's any danger, they'll deal with it. Don't worry."
He Zhiliao nodded and stopped worrying about it.
There are many royal relatives and dignitaries here. Even if we really need to worry about this matter, they should be the ones who should worry about it. They all treat others like grass and regard their own lives as priceless treasures.
As soon as he returned to the tent, Harumi came to greet him, "Zhengjun, the second lady came to talk to you. She said she wanted to go shopping with the other ladies."
He Zhiliao subconsciously looked at Pei Ji, who laughed, "Just go ahead. They probably all want to talk to you. I'm also planning to have a few words with my brothers."
"Then I'll go." He Zhiliao said with a smile.
"Go." Pei Ji slowly let go of his hand and watched him walk farther and farther away before going to his brothers' tent.
He Zhiliao was now completely well, so naturally he didn't care about talking to others. In addition, due to his current status, no one dared to laugh at or bully him like before.
The girls who were on good terms with Gongsun Yan all had the same temperament as her and were about the same age as He Zhiliao. Some of them were engaged, and some were married.
"Congratulations, Mr. Pei Sizheng. We didn't have the chance to meet before. We should get together more often in the future."
He Zhiliao felt a little uncomfortable with such enthusiasm, but still responded with a smile, "Of course, you all know my sister-in-law, so naturally you should get closer to her."
Gongsun Yan glanced at him, not missing the way his hands were clenching their sleeves, and immediately changed the subject, "We didn't hunt last year, and it looks like the scene is different this year."
The others were all sensible and followed her lead. What was there to talk about?
As I was walking forward, I bumped into an acquaintance.
Moreover, this acquaintance is the opposite of the one who has fallen out with you.
They are Meng Wanxin and Xu Xinran.
It's not surprising that the two of them get together.
"Miss Meng, Miss Xu." Gongsun Yan spoke first. His gentle address was like a blunt knife, piercing Meng Wanxin's heart.
Meng Wanxin's expression instantly turned much uglier. She snorted softly, "After all, marrying into the Pei Mansion is different. But are the affairs of the Pei Mansion left to you to handle? Don't let others monopolize your power and refuse to let go."
Gongsun Yan smiled slightly, his chin raised slightly with a hint of tenacity. "Don't worry, Miss Meng. The Pei family is simple and kind-hearted. They won't fight to the death over petty gains like others do. Besides, my mother-in-law is kind and gentle. She doesn't want us young people to worry about these things. Naturally, the kind of thing you describe will never happen."
She is not a weak person. If you fail to control her temper just because she rarely goes out, you will suffer.
He Zhiliao smiled unscrupulously with his eyebrows curved. Looking at Meng Wanxin now, he didn't think she was that powerful. It was just that her former status and power had gilded her. Without that layer, she was just an ordinary person.
"Mrs. Pei is indeed very eloquent, but don't be too proud too soon, otherwise you will suffer." Seeing that Meng Wanxin was at a loss for words, Xu Xinran hurried out to help.
Gongsun Yan wasn't even afraid of Meng Wanxin, so how could he be afraid of her? He quickly retorted, "What harm could I possibly suffer in the Royal Hunting Grounds? Are you two planning to make me suffer? Have you asked His Majesty for his opinion?"
Meng Wanxin looked at her sinisterly, "You are so proud! Even if I am not the Crown Princess, I am still the daughter of the Minister. How dare you be so presumptuous in front of me!"
"Miss Meng has a bad memory. She forgot that she was the first to be so presumptuous." He Zhiliao said lightly, with a smile in his eyes that had not yet faded.
Hearing his voice and meeting his eyes, Meng Wanxin was inexplicably speechless, but suddenly thought of something else.
She asked, "He Ruxi told me before that you could speak. Have you been plotting this since then?"
He Zhiliao frowned slightly. "I don't understand what Miss Meng is talking about. I was just cured of this illness recently. Why is she mentioning He Ruxi when she's fine?"
He emphasized her name when he said this.
He Ruxi's death was definitely something Meng Wanxin didn't want to mention, because even she thought she was the murderer.
As expected, Meng Wanxin didn't want to continue the stalemate. She winked at Xu Xinran, and the two of them left quickly.
After they left, a girl whispered, "I heard that Xu Xinran and the Fourth Prince are getting married soon."
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The author has something to say: Little Zhiliao: "I can talk now! You all be careful!" [Haha laugh][Haha laugh][Haha laugh]
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