As she spoke, the corners of her lips curved upwards unconsciously, a mixture of tears and laughter.
"When no one was home, she would pester her mother to bring me into her small courtyard as well.
Later, I got used to it myself. Whenever no one was home, I'd sneak over to the neighboring young lady's house to play, spending more time there than in my own.
So long that my parents' enemies believed her family was my home. One night, her entire family was annihilated, but I, having returned home temporarily with my parents, survived perfectly fine..."
Feng Xi Wu actually quite liked it when Lu Qing Wan occasionally opened up to him. However, Lu Qing Wan was not someone who easily opened up to others.
Each of her self-disclosures was almost invariably accompanied by a sadness that made Feng Xi Wu's heart ache and feel helpless.
Just like this time, before Lu Qing Wan finished speaking, he realized that Lu Qing Wan didn't lack friends; she was afraid to make friends.
She was simply afraid that her friends would be implicated by her, just like that young lady from before.
Thinking of how Chi Yao Yao had become like this also due to Lu Qing Wan's association, Feng Xi Wu's heart ached immensely.
He wanted to hug Lu Qing Wan, but she was holding Chi Yao Yao, making it inconvenient. He could only pat her back, repeatedly telling her.
"That's not your fault. Look at Chi Yao Yao; she'd rather become like this than betray you. Doesn't that show that you're a friend worth cherishing?
Feng Qing Heng acted disgracefully and deserved punishment, but you did nothing wrong.
The young lady who liked to play with you back then, and Chi Yao Yao today, you will have many more friends in the future.
They, like me, won't blame you, resent you, or abandon you because you face a formidable enemy."
...
The carriage swayed, carrying the three of them back to the Prince of Qin's mansion. To prevent the bumps from hurting Chi Yao Yao, the carriage traveled extremely slowly.
Li Jin's actions were also swift. By the time they returned to the Prince of Qin's mansion, the pharmacy was prepared, and Xue Hong Yi was already waiting.
Seeing that Lu Qing Wan clearly had been crying, he immediately said, "I have already sent word to Senior Sister Zi Yi. She is currently in Tian Xuan City. I've sent her a message, asking her to rush to Zhong Zhou immediately.
If feasible, I will first help stabilize the patient's condition, then take people to Tian Xuan City and see where we can rendezvous with Senior Sister Zi Yi to commence treatment on the spot."
Feng Xi Wu personally cleared the way. He watched as Lu Qing Wan placed Chi Yao Yao on the sickbed, then stepped aside. He instructed Li Su, "Go and get a set of clean clothes for the Princess Consort and Miss Chi. They should be ready for a change at any time."
Li Su hurried out, while Lu Qing Wan and Xue Hong Yi had already begun.
With the spatial laboratory at her disposal, Lu Qing Wan had obtained Chi Yao Yao's medical records on the way back. All the poison detection and case analyses for her were ready.
Da Bai lay on Chi Yao Yao, continuously absorbing the toxins from her body. However, some poisons and蛊 (gu worms) could not be absorbed by Da Bai alone.
Lu Qing Wan administered acupuncture and medicine to Chi Yao Yao while asking Xue Hong Yi, "The poisons and 蛊 marked in vermillion here are beyond my current ability to handle. See if you have any way to resolve them.
Let's deal with one at a time to ensure her immediate safety. Then we'll set off to find Senior Uncle Zi Yi."
Xue Hong Yi took the list and his eyes widened in shock, "So many potent poisons and 蛊? They didn't intend to let her live from the start, did they?"
"Roar!"
A hoarse roar echoed, startling everyone in the room.
Chi Yao Yao's eyes bulged, and the skin all over her face seemed to have ulcerated and healed multiple times, leaving scars that were sickening to behold.
Her voice had become like that of a wild beast, with no trace of human inflection.
"The Soul-Exchanging 蛊 is acting up! Quickly, seal her Bai Hui acupoint!"
As Xue Hong Yi spoke, he took off his outer robe and tied Chi Yao Yao's hands. "Find flexible, durable ropes or cloth to restrain her so she doesn't hurt anyone!"
Lu Qing Wan's hand moved like lightning, inserting a needle into Chi Yao Yao's Bai Hui acupoint, followed by several more.
Feng Xi Wu saw Chi Yao Yao thrash as if crazed, trying to kick Lu Qing Wan. Disregarding the potent poison on Chi Yao Yao, he lunged forward and pinned her legs.
In just that moment, Feng Xi Wu's lips turned black, and his pupils dilated.
"Feng Xi Wu!"
Lu Qing Wan gasped, shoving Feng Xi Wu away. She grabbed a roll of special gauze to bind Chi Yao Yao's legs, then turned to look at Feng Xi Wu, who had collapsed on the ground, his eyes already unfocused.
"Are you foolish? I have Da Bai, and also Teng Snake. Can she harm me?"
Muttering, Lu Qing Wan injected Feng Xi Wu with an antidote and gave him an antidote pill.
Seeing Feng Xi Wu's complexion gradually improve, she hugged him, her heart still pounding. "Fortunately, you weren't harmed. If you were infected by another 蛊, how many lives would you have to spare?!"
Feng Xi Wu blinked weakly. "If she were to harm you, I couldn't remain calm."
"I know you were worried about me. I don't blame you."
Lu Qing Wan felt she was becoming increasingly sentimental. Just seeing Feng Xi Wu poisoned made her want to cry again.
"I'll take you inside to rest for a while. Call me when you feel better."
In front of everyone, she carried Feng Xi Wu into the inner pharmacy, but in reality, she flickered and directly entered the spatial laboratory.
Feng Xi Wu had known Lu Qing Wan for so long, yet this was only the second time he had entered the spatial laboratory. He was surprised, "I'll be fine resting outside. Why are we inside here?"
"The spatial laboratory has basic care functions. If you stay here and do nothing, your body will recover much faster."
Lu Qing Wan leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Yao Yao is not out of danger yet. I need to save her life first, and I'll come back to be with you later."
"Go ahead."
Feng Xi Wu nodded generously.
Of course, he wished Lu Qing Wan could be by his side when he was sick, but the life of Chi Yao Yao was more important than his petty sentiments; he knew the difference.
Lu Qing Wan came and went in a flash. When she returned to Chi Yao Yao's side, her beast-like symptoms had eased, but Xue Hong Yi was swaying precariously, almost collapsing onto Chi Yao Yao.
Lu Qing Wan quickly grabbed Xue Hong Yi's wrist, then recoiled as if electrocuted, releasing his hand. "Did you transfer the Hundred Poisons 蛊 from your body to her?"
Xue Hong Yi's skin was already pale; his now dark purple lips only accentuated his sallow complexion.
Hearing her, he weakly lifted his head and even smiled at Lu Qing Wan. "Isn't she your only friend?
It's just a temporary measure. When Senior Sister Zi Yi arrives, she will return the Hundred Poisons 蛊 to me."
"What nonsense are you talking!
Do you think I don't know that the Hundred Poisons 蛊 cannot randomly transfer between people who aren't blood relatives!"
Xue Hong Yi's Hundred Poisons 蛊 had been nurtured within him since childhood. Removing it from his body was equivalent to taking half of Xue Hong Yi's life.