Lin Zhenfan, after waking up in the Duke Lin's mansion, suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, his chest aching faintly.
He had an ominous premonition that the puppet蛊 on Murong Ziyi had been removed by a master.
His scheme, planned for three to four years, had been ruined by someone else. He was furious.
Who could possibly possess such great ability to remove the蛊 he had cultivated, without even taking his blood as the cultivator?
Could it be that Leng Ruo Li?
Even with her exceptional medical skills, it was impossible for her to remove a蛊 from Murong Ziyi's heart.
Had she also learned the art of attracting蛊?
"Guards!"
Lin Zhenfan propped himself up, his body weak, and shouted into the darkness. Immediately, a man in black darted out from the shadows and knelt respectfully before him.
"Master, what are your orders?" the man in black said expressionlessly.
These black-clad death warriors were kidnapped as children and raised in the Great Medicine Vat of the Dark Night Pavilion. Each one had undergone grueling training, becoming bloodthirsty and invulnerable death warriors.
However, such death warriors were extremely difficult to cultivate. Out of a hundred children, it was considered good if ten could be trained into death warriors. Sometimes, only one or two could be successfully trained out of a hundred, as the rest would die from the medicinal soups he prepared.
Now that his stronghold had been destroyed, he would have to find new children to raise and train.
At this moment, looking at the death warrior before him, Lin Zhenfan felt a mix of emotions, as he had very few death warriors left.
"Go and contact the hidden informant in the Cold King's mansion. Ask him what has been happening there recently and to tell you everything truthfully," Lin Zhenfan ordered with a somber expression.
"Yes, Master. Your subordinate obeys!" the hidden guard in black replied, then flashed away.
Lin Zhenfan then furrowed his brow and called a servant waiting outside the door into the room, instructing him to go to the Prince Qing's mansion and invite the Valley Master of Ghost Valley to the Duke Lin's mansion.
Meanwhile, Leng Ruo Li had given Chu Mingxuan and Murong Lischen a few pointers on how to take care of Murong Ziyi. She and Jun Mohan then left Murong Ziyi's courtyard, preparing to visit Xiao Liu Zi in the adjacent courtyard.
Since that night, after Leng Ruo Li and Jun Mohan had rescued Xiao Liu Zi and Yin Er, both of them had been in a deep sleep.
Later, Leng Ruo Li performed a thorough examination on Xiao Liu Zi and Yin Chen, discovering a high concentration of sleeping pill components in their blood. According to Chu Mingxuan, they had been afflicted with the rare Seven-Day Sleep Soul Powder, but this medicine would not cause any harm to their bodies. However, Xiao Liu Zi and Yin Er would likely sleep for seven days before waking up, as nothing could rouse them during that time.
Today marked seven days since Xiao Liu Zi and Yin Chen had returned to the Cold King's mansion and fallen asleep. They should be awake by now.
As the Cold King and his consort crossed the moon gate leading to Xiao Liu Zi's residence, they saw Xiao Liu Zi sitting alone on a stone bench, lost in thought.
Leng Ruo Li quickly walked over and asked with concern, "Xiao Liu Zi, when did you wake up?"
Upon seeing the Cold King and his consort, Xiao Liu Zi immediately stood up and bowed to them, saying respectfully, "Xiao Liu Zi greets the Cold King and the Cold Princess Consort!"
"Cold King, Cold Princess Consort, I also just woke up."
"Xiao Liu Zi, you don't need to address us like this. We are of the same generation as your father and mother. You can call us Uncle and Auntie."
Leng Ruo Li smiled gently at Xiao Liu Zi's timid demeanor, making her feel approachable.
Xiao Liu Zi nodded obediently.
"Uncle, Auntie, thank you for saving me."
"You're welcome. I told you a few days ago that your father and mother entrusted you to our care in their letter. We are truly sorry that you had to suffer." Leng Ruo Li said with deep remorse.
Hearing this, Xiao Liu Zi shook his head.
"Auntie, can I go and see Boss Guo?" Xiao Liu Zi asked for permission.
"Of course. Today, your Uncle and I are also going out. We'll accompany you to Old Guo's Cloth Shop."
Leng Ruo Li said this with her usual gentle gaze.
When Xiao Liu Zi was still asleep, Jun Mohan had instructed the steward to fetch some money from the mansion's treasury and arrange for several people to help Boss Guo rebuild Old Guo's Cloth Shop.
After all, Old Guo's Cloth Shop had been burned down because of Xiao Liu Zi, and they couldn't let a good person down.
"Uncle, Auntie, thank you!"
Seeing that the Cold King and his consort had agreed to his request, a smile appeared on Xiao Liu Zi's face.
"Don't mention it. I've asked someone to bring you a bowl of light lean meat porridge. Eat it, and then we'll go out."
After speaking, Leng Ruo Li called a servant to the kitchen to fetch breakfast for Xiao Liu Zi.
After he finished breakfast, the Cold King and his consort took Xiao Liu Zi with them in a carriage towards Old Guo's Cloth Shop.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they arrived by carriage at Old Guo's Cloth Shop, which had been burned down that night.
The shop had now been cleared to the ground. Over a dozen workers were bringing in new timber to prepare for rebuilding the house. In fact, these workers were all hired by the Cold King's mansion steward. Boss Guo and a few of his shop assistants had also joined in, and the atmosphere of their work was very good.
Leng Ruo Li and Jun Mohan arrived at the construction site with Xiao Liu Zi. Boss Guo, who was busy working, suddenly turned around. Seeing the Cold King and his consort and Xiao Liu Zi behind him, he hurriedly bowed to them.
"This humble subject pays his respects to the Cold King and the Cold Princess Consort!"
"Boss Guo, please rise!" Leng Ruo Li said with a smile.
"Yes, thank you, Cold King and Cold Princess Consort!"
Hearing Leng Ruo Li's words, Boss Guo straightened up immediately.
"Uncle Guo, were you injured that night?" Xiao Liu Zi asked with a face full of concern.
"Xiao Liu Zi, I'm fine. But your status is noble. You should not call me Uncle Guo in the future." Boss Guo said with a kindly smile.
"No, you are my Uncle Guo. I will continue to call you that." Xiao Liu Zi replied with a serious expression.
"This... this is not proper. You are... your status is noble. How can a commoner like me be your uncle? Wouldn't that bring me misfortune?" Boss Guo said with a worried frown.
Seeing the worry on Boss Guo's face, Leng Ruo Li knew what he was afraid of.
In ancient times, the status of royalty was extremely noble. Xiao Liu Zi was the eldest son of Prince Ji of the Southern Zhao Kingdom, and the eldest grandson of the Southern Zhao King. Boss Guo had no blood relation to Xiao Liu Zi. How could he dare to let someone of such noble status call him uncle? If he accepted, it might soon bring him disaster.
Therefore, Leng Ruo Li quickly helped Boss Guo out of his predicament.
"Boss Guo, it's alright. Xiao Liu Zi likes you, so let him call you Uncle Guo. His parents are not unreasonable people."
Leng Ruo Li said in a gentle tone, her clear, bright almond-shaped eyes holding a warm smile.
Since the Cold Princess Consort had said so, Boss Guo couldn't refuse and had to comply with Xiao Liu Zi's wishes.