Chapter 110 (Continued)
"Are you crazy!" Meng Yutong suddenly stood up and shoved the porcelain bottle out of his hand. The bottle rolled a few times on the ground, the dark medicine spreading like ink. She was quick enough, but Ji Yun still swallowed a mouthful.
A sharp pain, like a wildfire, instantly engulfed his entire body. Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on Ji Yun's forehead. His long, slender fingers gripped her wrist tightly, veins bulging: "I don't ask for forgiveness... I just beg you not to ignore me..."
"Where is the antidote?" Meng Yutong asked, both shocked and furious.
After learning that Meng Yutong knew he had remembered everything, he saw her so resolute for the first time.
In his previous life, all he brought her was disappointment and pain. He couldn't imagine the pain and heartbreak Meng Yutong felt when she finally drank the begonia wine.
He owed her all of this, and he was supposed to repay it to her.
He had always held onto a sliver of hope, thinking there was still a chance to salvage the situation... but that chance was gone.
Before coming to Zhaoyu Hall today, he had already met with Princess Jingfu and told her the details of the begonia poison, which was made from the flowers of marigolds. According to Qingshu, that pot of flowers is still in Jin'an Palace.
Meng Yutong already knows the past, and she can't forgive him. If he dies today from the poison of the Autumn Begonia, it will be a relief for him. Jingfu can then use this to connect with the case of Jin'an setting up the Autumn Begonia poisoning of Jingfu. In this way, Jin'an will definitely have no chance to recover.
As for Consort Xian, she has committed many evil deeds over the years. Although he has collected a lot of evidence, he still needs something to truly defeat her and prevent her from ever making a comeback.
Jin'an's target from beginning to end was him, because he had killed the only light in her heart. She couldn't bear that after her brother's death, he, as the culprit, could still pursue happiness so easily.
She was determined to ruin his happiness, just as he had ruined hers before.
If he dies, Jin'an will lose all fighting spirit and will no longer cover up for the Empress Dowager. It will not be difficult for the surviving assassin to find out the connection between the assassin and the Empress Dowager.
In this way, Meng Yutong can focus solely on managing her Zhaoyutang, with no one posing a threat to her. Given her abilities, she will have no problem participating in the official selection next year.
Without him, she will live a good life in the future. She still has family and friends around her, and she will get everything she wants...
He seemed not to hear her, stubbornly staring at her, a trickle of dark blood seeping from the corner of his lips: "...Ah Ying, don't despise me..."
"Ji Yun! Where's the antidote?" she demanded urgently.
His internal organs felt as if they were being twisted and wrung by an invisible hand, the pain almost suffocating him. He managed a weak, feeble smile, his voice barely audible: "So that's how much pain you were in back then..."
With trembling hands, he pulled a letter from his pocket. It was wrapped in yellow paper, and the contents were not visible.
He took the letter and placed it in Meng Yutong's hand, saying, "Open it after I die..."
Meng Yutong noticed that he was becoming somewhat delirious, and instinctively gripped her sleeve tightly. If this continued, he would truly perish here.
What a madman!
He hadn't given her the antidote he brought back last time, and she didn't know if the Ji family still had any. Meng Yutong felt a pang of panic. If she went to the Ji family now, he would definitely not be able to wait for her to retrieve the antidote before they arrived.
What should we do?
Meng Yutong was in a state of turmoil. She casually brushed aside the letter he handed her and her mind raced, trying to think of any other solutions.
A clear bird song came from outside, and she suddenly paused.
No, the antidote for the begonia... He once sent a dose to Liu Sijun's pigeon to detoxify it.
However, the pigeon recovered after taking some of the antidote, and she didn't throw it away. Instead, she put it away in the jade gourd she always carried with her.
She suddenly remembered, and half-supported, half-carried him to the inner room, settling him on the bed.
He lay slumped on his side, his eyes tightly closed, his long eyelashes trembling slightly in the excruciating pain, his thin lips pressed into a pale line, and even his breathing carried a suppressed tremor.
Meng Yutong dared not delay and hurried to the cabinet to search. Finally, she found the jade gourd deep in the drawer.
Her fingertips trembled slightly, almost unable to hold the life-saving object. With great difficulty, she unscrewed the lid, helped him up a little, and forced the antidote into his mouth.
Ji Yun was in so much pain that he couldn't speak, but he stubbornly raised his fingertips to hook the hem of her clothes, letting her do as she pleased.
After finally feeding him the antidote, Meng Yutong's tense nerves finally eased for a few moments. She put away the jade gourd in her hand, a feeling of lingering fear rising in her heart.
Just as she was about to get up, Ji Yun seemed to sense something, and the hand that was holding the hem of her clothes suddenly wrapped around her waist. With the last bit of strength, he pulled her down onto the couch.
The pain in his body didn't seem to have eased at all after taking the antidote, and although his arms were clearly injured, he still held her waist tightly with all his might. His warm breath sprayed on her neck, and she could clearly feel the suppressed, painful trembling coming from beneath the body of the person in front of her.
Meng Yutong's body stiffened under his grip: "What are you doing?"
"Don't leave me..." His voice was hoarse, his breath weak, almost pleading.
If she were to insist on breaking free at this moment, he would be powerless to stop her.
He could have simply kept all his emotions and expectations hidden in his heart, just like before, and endured it; then it would have passed.
But he didn't want to be like that anymore. He didn't want any of the worries, calculations, self-esteem, or pride.
He only wants Meng Yutong.
He pleaded humbly, "At least for now... don't leave me... Ying."
Meng Yutong remained silent for a long time. "I have already given you the antidote, so your life is not in danger for now. I have thought about it carefully. We only got married yesterday, and divorcing you now would indeed have many drawbacks. So I will compromise. For the time being, we will still be husband and wife in name, but I will still live in Zhaoyutang, just like before. We will discuss this matter properly when the time is right. What do you think?"
"Okay." Ji Yun inhaled the comforting fragrance emanating from her embrace, and his tense limbs gradually relaxed.
She said they would not divorce for the time being.
He quietly buried his face deeper and tightened his arms around her.
“Ji Yun, there’s something I’ve never understood. Why did you break out in a rash the day after Granny Gui’s death anniversary in my past life?” Meng Yutong suddenly asked.
The person in her arms swayed slightly.
"Hmm?" She looked down at him.
"The night you were drunk, I kissed you." Ji Yun closed his eyes. To be honest, he had no strength left in his body; all his strength was used to hold Meng Yutong tightly.
He didn't have the strength to lift his eyes.
It shouldn't be because he was ashamed and embarrassed to see her that he dared not look at her.
He told himself that.
"You're so self-righteous," Meng Yutong had never imagined the truth would be like this, and a hint of annoyance rose in her heart: "If you have no feelings for me, why did you kiss me?"
"How could it be unintentional?" He suddenly opened his eyes, his dark pupils surging with a turbulent undercurrent, as if to drag one into an abyss. "My feelings for you have never been unintentional."
"If that's the case, why do you distance yourself from me, treat me coldly, and ignore all my attempts to be nice to you?" Meng Yutong stared at him, her eyes clear and cold like a deep pool.
Their breaths mingled, so close they were almost touching, yet within that small space lay the weight of her long wait, endless disappointment, and ultimate despair from her past life.
Ji Yun's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his voice low and hoarse: "It was my arrogance that made me think that distancing myself from you was protecting you. It was also my hypocrisy and cowardice that made me want to fulfill my brother's last wish while also fantasizing about being with you day and night."
Meng Yutong frowned slightly. This subtle expression caught Ji Yun's eye, causing his heart to sink as well.
“Take it easy,” she whispered, “I’m having trouble breathing.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Yun immediately released his arm, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes: "Are you still feeling unwell?"
Those hands still lingered loosely behind her back, not daring to completely withdraw, as if afraid she would leave in an instant.
Meng Yutong quietly sorted out the cause and effect of her past life, her heart strangely calm and undisturbed: "So, in the previous life, Jin'an used my safety to coerce you. And your brother's last wish was to cure her heart ailment?"
Ji Yun nodded: "The year you married into the Ji family was near the end of the year when Granny Gui had an accident in the countryside. Later I learned that it was not an accident, but Jin'an's doing. At first I thought I could protect you, but I gradually realized that her hatred for me had already penetrated to the bone. She is paranoid and crazy by nature, does things without considering the consequences, and is ruthless. In addition, she gained the emperor's favor after saving him... I dare not take any chances."
The lingering pain in his chest made his breathing heavier as he finished speaking. He paused, took a moment to catch his breath, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips: "In fact, she never trusted me. Every time I went to the palace for a consultation and prescription, she refused to use any of the other medicines, opting only for the old prescriptions left by my brother. Even if I wanted to manipulate the medicine to control her, I was powerless to do so."
At this point, he gave a self-deprecating smile: "Even if this method were feasible, I probably wouldn't have done it back then. I owe my brother too much, and I always fantasize about finding a way to have the best of both worlds."
Meng Yutong interrupted him, her eyes cold and distant: "And what about you now? I didn't want to get entangled with Jin'an, but my concessions only made her more aggressive. Now that I know that Granny Gui died at her hands in my past life, there is no room for maneuver between us. If you still care about your brother's last wish and intend to protect him, then it's time to end things between us."
"Never." Ji Yun's arms tightened again, and a stubbornness that was completely different from his usual coldness was revealed in his handsome brows. He came to see her today with the intention of seeing her one last time, but fate had been cruel. Since he had been allowed to live, he could not let go.
“She is deeply obsessed, and I cannot stand by and watch her act recklessly any longer. My brother is kind and benevolent, and if he is watching from heaven, he would never want to see more innocent people implicated by her. She should pay the price for what she has done.”
His gaze darkened, a sharp glint appearing beneath the surface: "Originally, I entrusted all the details of the assassination to my aunt, asking her to handle the situation and bring you justice. But now..."
He paused briefly. Now that he was alive, he would naturally handle these matters himself. "I will enter the palace tomorrow. Whether the assassination involved Jin'an or the Empress Dowager, there must be an explanation. And Qing Shu... I once used the price of curing Jin'an's heart ailment to make him lie low in Jinglan Pavilion, but I don't know what Jin'an said to him. He was willing to be Jin'an's pawn this time, so he must have thought of an escape route. I'm afraid he intends to take the blame for the assassination himself."
Meng Yutong nodded, "If that's the case, it's probably impossible to sentence Jin'an to death."
"It's alright. Qing Shu's interactions with Jin An over the years have naturally left some clues. I've considered that even if he goes to Jinglan Pavilion, he might not obey my orders. I've also collected evidence regarding his past connections with Jin An. However... this time, I don't want to deal with just Jin An, but also the Consort Xian. Only by taking them all down can we eliminate future troubles. If I don't get a satisfactory result by tomorrow, I have ways to delay this case further while I gather other evidence. Only by delivering a fatal blow can I feel at ease."
In his original plan, he died today because of Qiu Haitang, and Jin'an's crime was a matter of course. After his death, Jin'an would no longer have anyone to hate or fight against, nor would she continue to make deals with Consort Xian and seek benefits from her. He could take this opportunity to clear away all obstacles.
But now... he's not dead.
Things became a little complicated.
A look of certainty flashed in his eyes. The process might be a bit complicated, but the outcome would remain the same.
“You look much better now,” Meng Yutong nudged his shoulder. “Let go and go upstairs to rest.”
He then pressed his forehead against the side of her neck, his voice muffled and hoarse: "Don't push me... I'm dizzy."
Before she could react, he whispered, "I have to go to the palace tomorrow. If anything happens, we can discuss it when I get back."
Yu closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep, his arms still tightly wrapped around her waist, as if afraid she would run away.
Meng Yutong gazed at the canopy above her head, a corner of which swayed gently in the breeze, and her thoughts drifted along with it... A sense of emptiness and helplessness filled her heart.
Is the persistent, shameless person next to her Ji Yun?
The night was deep, and the candlelight cast two blurry shadows on the wall. She listened to his faint breathing and felt his burning body temperature, but her heart felt like it was stuffed with cotton.
Will the two of them continue to have this ambiguous relationship in the future?
Her thoughts and feelings were not yet fully clear; they felt like a tangled mess, and the more she thought about it, the more her head ached.
Forget it, let's deal with the future later.
It was more important to deal with Jin'an's matter first. Meng Yutong was also a little tired, so she didn't bother with Ji Yun anymore and simply closed her eyes.
In the darkness of night, Ji Yun quietly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the profile of the person beside him.
I don't know how long I watched it...
The next morning, when Meng Yutong woke up, her pillow was empty. The morning light shone through the window lattice, casting dappled patterns of light on the brocade quilt.
She rose and walked to the table, where she saw a piece of plain paper placed under a teacup, the ink clear and crisp, just like the person who wrote it:
"Enter the palace to thoroughly investigate the events of the previous day. Do not worry about me when you return home late."
The handwriting was steady, as if the fragile and stubborn Ji Yun from last night was just an illusion.
She lightly traced the ink marks with her fingertips, pondering: Given Jin'an's caution in leaving behind evidence after the failed assassination attempt the night before, would she really have left any incriminating evidence? The breakthrough probably still lies with the captured assassin and Qing Shu.
Thinking of Qing Shu, her eyes darkened slightly. He was loyal to Ji Zhao and regarded Jin An as Ji Zhao's continuation. Ji Yun was right; he would rather die than betray Jin An.
It remains to be seen whether the evidence Ji Yun possessed regarding Qing Shu's previous collusion with Jin An can substantiate Jin An's charges.
As for that assassin... the fact that he was able to pass through so many checks and sneak into the heavily guarded wedding hall on the wedding day was definitely not something Jin'an could have done alone.
This matter must also be related to the Empress Dowager.
If this matter is truly related to her, at this critical juncture, will the shrewd and calculating Empress Dowager sacrifice her pawn to save the king?
A soft sound outside the window made her look up. She saw the autumn wind sweeping through the persimmon tree, and a ripe fruit, unable to withstand the force, fell to the ground. The orange-yellow flesh burst open, juice splashing everywhere, leaving a sticky stain on the bluestone slab.
Meng Yutong stared at the mess of leftover fruit and gently shook her head.
A shrewd person like the Dowager Consort Xian will surely make the choice that is most beneficial to herself. But Jin'an, given her personality, would she really just sit and wait for her fate?
Since her rebirth, Meng Yutong has only wished to practice medicine and help the world, staying away from the power struggles of the elite. But the tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease.
In her past life, Granny Gui died tragically, she herself died by poisoning, the Jiang family was destroyed, her grandmother was injured... In this life, she is repeatedly driven to the brink of despair, and new and old grudges keep surging, which has long been a source of great annoyance for her.
Jin'an and Consort Xian should both pay the price for their actions.
However, since the Empress Dowager is deeply favored by the Emperor, it would be difficult to shake her in the slightest without solid evidence of her crimes.
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