Upon hearing these words, Li Zizhuo initially felt a little relieved, realizing that his father hadn't considered him inferior simply because he was a son of a concubine. However, he quickly felt even more uncomfortable. So, in his father's eyes, he hadn't lost out because of the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, but rather that his father truly believed he was inferior to Li Qingchen?
"Li Qingchen, are you indirectly insulting me?!"
"Why should I scold you? Your father scolds you for not making you successful all these years. I just want you to understand that instead of hating me, you should hate yourself for being unambitious and having a narrow vision. You only have the position of heir apparent in your eyes, but your father has the magnificent landscape that once belonged to the Kingdom of Qiao. Your father is determined to restore the Kingdom of Qiao, but you only want to inherit the title peacefully."
Li Zizhuo had never been able to get a word in edgewise on topics like national righteousness, and for a moment he was speechless. Then he remembered the pill that had just been forcibly fed to him, and suddenly asked anxiously, "Li Qingchen, what exactly did you feed me?!"
"It's a poison that causes blood to flow from all seven orifices and the skin to turn black when it takes effect; even a celestial being couldn't save it," Li Qingchen said calmly, his expression as serene as if he were discussing the wind and moon with someone.
"What?!" Li Zizhuo's hair stood on end, and he immediately reached down to vomit the pill.
Knowing that his efforts were futile, Li Qingchen smiled mockingly: "However, you don't need to worry too much. This is a slow-acting poison that will take effect in about a month. I have already sent the antidote back to your residence in Qiaochuan. As long as you set off at dawn and hurry along the road, you should be able to take the antidote before the poison takes effect."
Li Zizhuo tried to vomit for a long time but couldn't get anything out, which showed that the poison was absorbed very quickly. He had no choice but to give up, raising his bloodshot eyes, which looked like blood moons, and staring hatefully at Li Qingchen.
"Li Qingchen, do you think that banishing me from Shengjing will protect that girl's life? Do you think Father will tolerate this after he finds out?!"
“Therefore, I did not intend to let my father know about this.” Li Qingchen glanced indifferently at the disheveled Li Zizhuo.
Li Zizhuo suddenly burst into laughter. Although he didn't speak, his eyes were full of threat, clearly saying: When I get back, I will naturally inform my father. At that time, that girl will still be doomed!
Li Qingchen was not angry at all. Instead, he returned the greeting with a smile: "I believe that my elder brother will not tell Father about this matter, because once he does, you will not be able to get the antidote next month."
"The antidote for next month?" Li Zizhuo's arrogant smile vanished abruptly, his face turning deathly pale. "Then what you already had sent back—wasn't that the antidote?"
"Of course, but it's only half the antidote. It can delay the onset of the poison, but it can't completely eradicate it. You need to take the other half to get rid of the remaining poison in your body."
"You!" Li Zizhuo stood up angrily. Although he was extremely weak, he still mustered his strength to point at Li Qingchen and questioned, "Aren't you afraid that Father will find out what you did to me?!"
Li Qingchen, however, appeared completely unconcerned and relaxed: "Even if Father knew, there would be nothing he could do. No one in this world can cure Lu Beixing's poison except himself. If you keep your promise, I will send you the antidote on time. But if you spread this around..."
He smiled dismissively: "From now on, you don't need to worry about the position of heir apparent anymore. You should think about how to write your memorial tablet."
“Lu Beixing…” Li Zizhuo repeated the name, then withdrew his hand.
Lu Beixing is known as "Lu the King of Hell" because his poison is so potent that no one can cure it. As the saying goes, "If the King of Hell calls you to die at midnight, who dares to keep you alive until dawn?"
Li Zizhuo had heard of this man's infamous reputation. Even his own father had wanted to recruit him, but unfortunately, he could never find any trace of him; he was like a dragon whose head appears but whose tail never appears.
It turns out this person had already followed Li Qingchen...
Li Zizhuo had no choice but to admit defeat this time, nodding helplessly: "Alright, I'll set off back to Qiaochuan at dawn. Don't worry, I won't report to my father about either the Wei family girl or the poisoning you gave me."
After saying that, Li Zizhuo solemnly instructed again: "Then remember to have someone send me the antidote on time, and there must be no mistakes!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
