Pei Xi not only ate the food himself, but also took the whole plate of food and shared it with Pei Feng, Pei Jin and others.
Pei Tang sat down with them and ate some food as well.
Song Tingyue was too late to stop it.
The old woman behind her, Xia, glanced at Jiang Wan secretly, then lowered her head and remained silent.
Jiang Wan also noticed her.
Song Tingyue rarely kept such a stout and ugly servant as Granny Xia by her side, so it was quite unusual to see her today.
Jiang Wan took note and had Biluo remind Shen Ci to be careful about what he put in his mouth, before returning to her tent early.
After a while, voices could be heard from not far away.
Biluo went to investigate and returned to report: "Song Tingyue's maid was careless and left her sleeping cloak at the manor. The First Prince said he would go and fetch it for her."
As she finished speaking, the sound of horses' hooves echoed along the mountain path.
Jiang Wan peeked out and saw Pei Feng's departing figure on horseback.
As night deepened, the laughter and noise outside grew fainter.
An hour later, everyone returned to their tents and went to sleep.
Jiang Wan closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from outside the tent.
It wasn't very noticeable at first.
Later it became clearer, and it seemed like something was crawling along the ground, getting closer and closer.
Jiang Wan immediately became alert.
The curtain was lifted from the outside, and by the moonlight, one could see that the person who came in was dressed as a servant, handsome, and with a slightly furrowed brow.
It is precisely the order of time.
"Master, many snakes have appeared in the forest and are approaching."
Where are the guards?
"There seems to be a problem with dinner; most of the guards are sleeping soundly and cannot be woken up at all."
Shi Xu frowned, his face unusually solemn.
"Master, it's dangerous here. If we don't leave now, it will be too late."
Jiang Wan went outside and saw that the tents of several princes were connected together, a dark mass, and there was not a sound.
Just then, Shen Ci strode over.
Heeding Jiang Wan's warning, he didn't touch the grilled meat. Those who ate it were drugged and fell into a coma.
"I just went to check, and the princes are all sleeping soundly," Shen Ci said.
"Madam, something terrible has happened!"
Biluo, who had gone to scout around, ran over and said urgently.
"All the horses have been drugged and cannot be ridden away."
Jiang Wan watched the swarm of snakes slowly gathering towards the camp and said softly, "It seems that someone did this on purpose."
She looked up at the sky, where the pale moon was being invaded by dark clouds, making the faint moonlight even dimmer and more obscure.
It's as if a storm is brewing.
“Shen Ci, you’re fast on your feet. Go back to the manor and report to Pei Xuan, and have him find some antidote for snake venom immediately.”
Jiang Wan took off the jade pendant from her waist and threw it to him: "There may be snakes on the way down the mountain. This is green jade, which can ward off evil spirits and insects."
Shi Xu's eyes flashed with disapproval, and his lips moved slightly: "Madam..."
“There are swarms of venomous snakes here. A single piece of jade cannot protect me. Only if Shen Ci successfully brings reinforcements will we have any chance of survival.”
Jiang Wan's words were concise and to the point, seemingly devoid of emotion.
Shen Ci frowned.
He had seen too many people who were afraid of death; in the face of crisis, everyone wanted to keep the guarantee of survival for themselves.
Even if it's just one more point.
Jiang Wan, however, kept the life-saving item for herself.
He pretended to walk towards the mountain path, but couldn't help turning back.
As a secret guard, he was ordered by Pei Xuan to keep a close eye on Song Tingyue's movements.
The lives and deaths of others were none of his concern.
Logically, he should quietly return and continue to keep an eye on Song Tingyue.
But given the current situation... if we stand idly by, Jiang Wan might really encounter some misfortune.
He had a vague feeling that this crisis was aimed at her.
Shen Ci held the jade pendant, his expression shifting, and suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Then, without looking back, he ran down the mountain.
At this moment, Jiang Wan had already rushed into Pei Tang's tent, shaking her vigorously: "Princess, Princess!"
Pei Tang was fast asleep.
Jiang Wan took out a small medicine bottle from her sleeve and placed it under Pei Tang's nose. After a few breaths, Pei Tang frowned and opened her eyes.
"Can you stand up?" Jiang Wan asked.
"Jiang, Sister Jiang?" Pei Tang's eyes were glazed over, and she seemed delirious.
Jiang Wan frowned; this sleeping potion was truly potent.
"Biluo, you carry her on your back."
Biluo, who was skilled in martial arts, carried Peitang on her back without much difficulty. Together, the two of them carried Peitang to the campfire.
Jiang Wan added some branches to the fire, and the flames leaped up, illuminating the current situation.
As far as the eye could see, countless green snakes were wriggling about.
There are at least a hundred.
The snakes, wary of the firelight, dared not approach easily and slowly climbed onto the tent.
If they had been even a fraction of a second later, they would probably have been attacked by the snakes.
There are about ten camps on the mountain, but they alone cannot save everyone.
Just then, Pei Xi's terrified scream suddenly rang out.
"Help! Help!"
Suddenly, a tent flap was ripped open, and Pei Xi shook off a snake from his body, turning ashen-faced with fright.
"Ah! There are snakes here too! How come there are so many snakes!"
Whether it was the effect of the drug or he was paralyzed with fear, after screaming a few times, he found that he couldn't stand up at all.
Upon seeing Jiang Wan in the firelight, Pei Xi's pupils dilated in shock.
"Did you do this! Jiang Wan! You're retaliating against me for drugging your hot spring, attracting so many snakes that want to bite me to death!"
Jiang Wan: "Oh, so it was you who did it that day."
Pei Xi: "..."
He was terrified and trembled as he struggled to crawl out with one hand while tightly grabbing a sleeping person behind him with the other, dragging the person out.
Jiang Wan looked closely and realized it was the Second Prince, Pei Jin.
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