"When did you arrive in Shu State?"

Cui Qingwu set down the medicine bowl and had the maid beside her wipe the medicinal soup from her hands. When she looked at Chen Yunfan again, her face was wreathed in smiles.

"I just arrived this morning."

"However, I received news that you were unconscious while passing through Jing State, so I brought a Physician over from there."

"Unfortunately, his medical skills were lacking, and he couldn’t wake Yunfan up."

Chen Yunfan froze, pointing at himself. "I was unconscious?"

Only then did Chun Ying manage to chime in and explain.

Even though Chun Ying omitted the events of that night, how could Chen Yunfan not understand that he had been taken down by that bottle of sedative?

His expression flickered between pale and grim, and he gritted his teeth, wishing he could just dig a hole and crawl into it.

Chen Yi took in his entire expression. While he kept a smile on his face, he was secretly ecstatic.

’It wasn’t a waste stopping Li Huai’gu from speaking earlier. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to see such a spectacular show.’

After listening, Chen Yunfan forced a smile. "Thank you for saving me, Brother Yi. I am truly ashamed."

That night, he had planned to rescue Hundred Herbs Hall so that Chen Yi would owe him a favor.

But in the end, not only did he do nothing and get knocked out by a sedative, he had to be rescued and woken up by Chen Yi and his men instead.

’Damn it, just you wait!’

Chen Yunfan cursed silently, vowing that he would find the person responsible.

Although Chen Yi didn’t know his exact thoughts, he could guess the gist of them.

’I bet when Chen Yunfan finds out in the future that I not only knocked him out but also saved him, the look on his face will be even more priceless than today’s.’

Suppressing these wicked thoughts, Chen Yi said with a smile:

"Brother, you are now the esteemed Imperial Top Scholar and the youngest Assistant Governor in the Shu State Governor’s Office. It’s inevitable that you’ll attract some people with ulterior motives."

"You were lucky this time; the poison wasn’t fatal. But if something like this happens again..."

He paused, glancing at Miss Cui out of the corner of his eye, then continued, "You might not be so lucky."

The smile on Cui Qingwu’s face froze. Those words sounded somewhat familiar.

The two maids behind her had already reacted, glaring daggers at Chen Yi.

If not for the others present, they probably would have already started scolding him.

Chen Yunfan, however, was oblivious to all this. "You’re right, Brother Yi. I was indeed careless this time."

Chen Yi took in everyone’s expressions, chuckled softly, and turned to gesture at Ma Liangcai. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Later, have Liu Quan draw up the bill for the consultation fee and send it to my brother."

"Yes, Shopkeeper."

Chen Yi gave a slight bow and took his leave directly.

After a moment’s daze, Li Huai’gu reminded Chen Yunfan about his duties at the Government Office and also followed him out.

After they had left, Chen Yunfan noticed the strange expressions on Cui Qingwu and her maids’ faces and raised an eyebrow.

"Qingwu, you look terrible. Don’t tell me you also ate something you shouldn’t have?"

Cui Qingwu snapped back to reality, a smile returning to her face. "It’s nothing. I was just reminiscing about the past."

"That man just now must be the Chen Yi who used to bully you all the time, right?"

Chen Yunfan said, displeased, "Bully me? As if he’d dare. I was clearly the one bullying him."

He had to maintain a strong front. He would never admit to being bullied by Chen Yi as a child.

Especially not in front of outsiders.

Cui Qingwu smiled and nodded. "I remember seeing him at the Chen Mansion before. He looked like such a bookworm back then."

"Seeing him again today, I find he’s changed quite a bit."

Chen Yunfan nodded. "Brother Yi has indeed changed a lot. His abilities have grown considerably as well."

"But now that he’s married into the Xiao Family, it’s a good thing that he has some skills."

Hearing this, Cui Qingwu asked with a half-smile, "Yunfan, you seem quite concerned about him?"

"We are brothers, after all, and we’re both here in this backwater of Shu State. If I don’t look out for him, who will?"

"Is that so? Then I suppose it would be the same if I came to you for help with something."

"What..."

Watching the two of them talking and laughing, Chun Ying couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat for Chen Yunfan.

’It seems Young Master Yi has dug a trap for my master.’

...

「Meanwhile.」

Chen Yi and the others were in a carriage, heading straight for Jishi Medicine Hall.

Li Huai’gu thought of their earlier conversation and couldn’t help but laugh. "Brother Qingzhou, after what you said back there, aren’t you afraid Miss Cui will come looking for trouble?"

Chen Yi watched the rain fall outside the carriage and shook his head with a smile. "With my brother there, he won’t let Miss Cui do anything reckless."

It wasn’t that he had intentionally set a trap for Chen Yunfan.

Rather, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision he made after learning that people from Xinglin Hall had arrived.

’Is there a connection between the Jing State Liu Family and the Qinghe Cui Family? There’s only one way to find out!’

「An hour later.」

Chen Yi returned to the Xiao Family residence, heading straight for the rear courtyard under an oil paper umbrella.

The armored warriors and maids he passed along the way were all hurrying about. This was, needless to say, due to the impact of Liu Jing’s death the previous night.

However, when he arrived outside Spring Lotus Garden, he saw Xiao Wan’er looking out from the entrance.

"My lady, are you... waiting for me?"