Chapter 174: Chapter 86 Life and Death Together_2
Duan Xiaoyan became anxious upon hearing this, "It’s not worth it, not worth it at all, I’m not worth it! Sister, please rethink this!"
"What’s not worth it? Life is fleeting; when you die, you’re buried. My girl, in the next life, we’ll still be sisters."
Their diversion lightened the previously tense atmosphere a bit, and amid this laughable exchange, Lu Tong finally spoke.
She said, "Today, Young Master Duan dies here, and Lord Pei avenges him by killing my maid. It’s likely that by tomorrow he won’t let me off the hook, let alone Renxin Medical Hall."
"After all, Lord Pei is an imperial guard of the Emperor, with a noble status, making it a piece of cake for him to strike at us commoners."
"Escape means death either way..."
She lifted her gaze, calmly locking eyes with the person opposite her.
"So today, none of us should leave through this door, let’s die together."
At those words, not only was Duan Xiaoyan taken aback, but even Chi Jian at the door was startled.
Just like that, a threat to perish together without so much as a dispute?
What sort of strategy was this?
Lu Tong lifted her chin, speaking calmly amidst the shocked gazes.
"The medical hall deals with medicine and poison, the storerooms are full of it. Entering is easy, leaving might not be so. Someone barging in and accidentally stepping on or touching something might trigger the poisons; it happens often."
She looked towards Pei Yunmeng, "Isn’t that right, Lord Pei?"
No one spoke.
The relentless autumn night, teardrops swaying, the dim yellow light of the room teasing emotions.
Pei Yunmeng looked at her, his deep eyes dark as liuli, suddenly let out a light laugh.
"You want to die together with me?"
He laughed, "That won’t do. To share a lifetime under one quilt, and a grave after death; I reserve such matters for my spouse alone."
His words were frivolous, yet his serious demeanor, eyes smiling with eyebrows raised, made it seem as though he wasn’t a scheming, hidden-thorn commander, but rather a flirtatious guest pursuing pleasure under the dancing shadows of candles and flowers.
Lu Tong remained silent for a moment before asking, "Do you have a spouse already?"
Pei Yunmeng was briefly taken aback.
Duan Xiaoyan was also puzzled. What did she mean by that? Why did Lu Tong suddenly bring this up? Could it be that Lu Tong intended to bargain with the prospect of Pei Yunmeng’s position as princely consort in exchange for his antidote?
A silence ensued.
Pei Yunmeng said, "No."
Lu Tong nodded, "That’s perfect, then. If you die today, you won’t have to worry about a spouse anymore, saving your household a betrothal gift."
She spoke with such indifference that everyone in the room found it challenging to discern whether she was serious or joking.
Outside the window, the wind rustled. Pei Yunmeng watched her quietly, then let out a sigh.
"Thank you for your thoughtful consideration, but we’re not quite at the point of discussing life and death."
"Doctor Lu, let’s have a proper talk instead."
"Exactly, exactly!" Duan Xiaoyan glanced at the water clock on the table, "Let’s not be so heated, everything can be discussed calmly."
After a moment of silence, Lu Tong asked, "What do you want to talk about?"
The dim candlelight enveloped the person opposite, the silver thread embroidery of an eagle on his wrist guard glistening with a subtle cold light, both beautiful and dangerous. The young man’s alluring eyes were cold with every word spoken.
"The male corpse discovered on Mount Wangchun last night belonged to Liu Kun, the owner of Liu’s Noodle Shop in Que’er Street in Shengjing."
"Coincidentally, Liu Kun’s youngest son had just participated in this year’s imperial examination, and got imprisoned for involvement in a bribery case."
"Doctor Lu," he asked Lu Tong, "do you know Liu Kun?"
"I don’t."
"But before that, you had dined at Liu’s Noodle Shop." He smiled, "Don’t you remember?"
Lu Tong’s mind stirred.
This man was quick to act.
Her contact with the Liu Family, Fan Family, and Qi Chuan had not been deliberate, precisely to avoid detection. Yet Pei Yunmeng had still discovered it.
He was a member of the Palace Front Office, yet his tactics outdid those of the Department of the Imperial City.
She lifted her gaze, staring straight into Pei Yunmeng’s eyes, her own eyes mocking.
"Lord Pei," she spoke slowly and deliberately, "does the Palace Front Office always investigate so meticulously? Since you’ve been watching me for so long without making a move, and now that the examination scandal has settled, with all the culprits from the Ministry of Rites fallen."
"Were you hoping to use me to kill someone? Then shouldn’t you be... thanking me?"
In an instant, the air in the room chilled.
A small, star-shaped flower had formed in the candle’s wick within the flickering light, swaying until the wind blew it down, its embers extinguishing in a moment within the night breeze.
Not a soul in the room spoke, all as silent as if frozen by the chill.
Pei Yunmeng sat opposite Lu Tong, that pair of dark and brilliant eyes gradually losing their mirth, and in a moment, an aura of lethal intent permeated the space.
He slowly leaned forward, gazing into Lu Tong’s eyes.