Chapter 416: Chapter 153 His Nervousness_2
"Who told you to actually drink it?" The ease and aggressive pressure he had shown just before had vanished, replaced by a semblance of shock and anxiety as he grabbed Lu Tong’s hand and headed out: "Let’s go."
Lu Tong shook off his hand: "What are you doing?"
"To find a doctor."
"I am a doctor." Lu Tong stepped back, "You were the one who told me to drink the medicine, and now you’re the one telling me to find a doctor. Lord Pei, are you joking with me?"
He seemed somewhat vexed, his voice no longer as indifferent as before: "I only wanted you to know that this matter is confidential..." His voice suddenly stopped, Pei Yunmeng looked at Lu Tong: "How can you still talk?"
The "Fragrant Pill" took effect almost immediately when ingested, yet several moments had passed, and Lu Tong was unharmed.
Pei Yunmeng hesitantly looked at her: "Just now you..."
"The bottle was empty."
Lu Tong offered a slight smile, her expression somewhat mocking: "’Fragrant Pill’ is poison, Lord Pei, surely you don’t think the Medical Officer Institute would carelessly leave such poison lying around?"
That medicine bottle had been there who knew how long, it was an empty bottle. Chang Jin had previously mentioned that he would put some moth-repellent fragrant pills in it to keep the letters from degrading, but had completely forgotten about it.
Upon hearing this, Pei Yunmeng froze.
Lu Tong said: "Actually, even if I had ingested it, it wouldn’t matter, but," she looked up, staring at Pei Yunmeng quizzically, "why would you be so agitated if I ingested the poison, Marshal?"
She knew he was trying to scare her, so she too played along deliberately.
Yet the sternness in Pei Yunmeng’s scolding just then, for a fleeting moment, gave the illusion that perhaps,
It looked as though he was sincerely anxious about her.
She was close to Pei Yunmeng, who looked down to meet Lu Tong’s serious gaze.
Those eyes, which are mostly tranquil, occasionally reveal turbulent waves, making one overlook their usual expression. Perhaps it was the lamp light that was too serene, or the spring night in Shengjing that was too gentle, but her eyes, clear as water, filled with genuine curiosity, like the moonlight they had passed in the courtyard earlier, which tenderly illuminated the entire forest.
He paused for a moment, then abruptly looked away, saying coldly: "I don’t want to look for trouble."
The reason was not very convincing, but Lu Tong did not press him further.
The room fell silent for a while, then Pei Yunmeng turned back to Lu Tong: "If that medicine bottle wasn’t empty, would you have drunk it?"
"Yes."
He frowned: "Why?"
"I believe that Lord Pei would not have me drink a mute medicine."
He stared at Lu Tong, looking a bit perplexed: "You trust my character that much?"
"No, not at all."
Lu Tong replied airily: "I just think that if Lord Pei were truly worried about me leaking secrets, you’d kill me with a blade, not give me a bottle of mute medicine."
"Lord Pei would not be that kind."
Pei Yunmeng: "..."
He snorted a laugh, his tone faint: "From what you’re saying, am I utterly devoid of conscience?"
Lu Tong did not respond, only looking out of the window, where the dark clouds had completely dispersed, and a bright moon hung high.
The oil lamp had only a short stub left.
It was almost the fourth watch.
She reminded: "Aren’t you leaving, Lord Pei? If someone notices and follows you here later, I can only say that you coerced me."
Pei Yunmeng glanced at her, Lu Tong standing in the dim light, with darkness all around, and her clad in a snow-white garment in front of the bookshelves, her hair cascaded over her shoulders, appearing fragile and pale, like a beautiful ghost stepping out from the scrolls upon the shelves.
Seemingly docile, yet dangerously cunning.
He then laughed nonchalantly: "Then I’ll just say we’re in league together." After a pause, he looked at her again: "But that’s unlikely to happen, at most they’ll think you and I are having an affair."
Lu Tong retorted: "Rest assured, my Lord, I wouldn’t have an affair with someone like you."
He choked back a comeback, seemingly laughing it off, and then glanced at Lu Tong one more time before heading towards the door.
Just as he was about to reach the door, he suddenly remembered something: "Right."
Lu Tong looked up.
"Next time you hide, remember to hold your breath."
He seemed to deliberately vex her: "Your breathing was too loud, I heard it the moment I entered."
Lu Tong: "..."
The room fell silent again.
Lu Tong clenched the medical records in her hand.
If she had known, she should have stabbed with the needle earlier.
She shouldn’t have shown mercy.
...
Spring Mountain at night was silent, and the sky during the fourth watch had not a single star.
In the yard, a black dog lay in its kennel, suddenly opening its eyes, straightening up and listening in the direction of the gate for a moment before shrinking back into its den.
In the study of the Palace Marshal’s Mansion, someone entered the room.
The room was brightly lit, the tall brass lamp burning brightly.
Xiao Zhufeng sat at the desk, lifting his head at the sound, he saw Pei Yunmeng stepping into the room.
"Did you find the thing?" he asked.
Pei Yunmeng reached into his bosom, pulled out a booklet, and threw it in front of him, shedding the black clothes he wore and taking a cloak from the chair to wrap around himself.