Elder Duan's expression darkened slightly. "Why so flustered! What happened? Speak slowly!"
The male servant bowed apologetically. "Second Master, Patriarch, the eldest young lady drank the traditional Chinese medicine prepared for the old patriarch and then fainted."
Duan Feiyang's face immediately sank. "I told you to watch her, how could you let her drink the medicine?"
"The old patriarch wanted to see the eldest young lady. We escorted her to the old patriarch's courtyard and happened to encounter someone from the kitchen pouring out the medicine. She rushed over, snatched it, and drank it."
Elder Duan tightened his grip on the armrest. "Hurry and call a doctor!"
Lan Yuxi chuckled lightly. "No need to call a doctor, she's faking it, because there's no poison in that medicine at all."
Duan Feiyang looked over suspiciously.
Lan Yuxi smiled and explained, "The medicine was swapped on the way back by Eagle. The reason I had the medicine poured out was because Eagle didn't have time when swapping the medicine and just grabbed a few herbs."
Elder Duan frowned. "Feiyang, don't let your father see her either, just send her away directly!"
Duan Feiyang coughed lightly. "Second Uncle, my father wants to see her to explain the cause of Elder Uncle's death again."
Elder Duan said coldly, "Haven't we said enough before! She just doesn't believe it, what can we do? Don't let your father trouble himself either, send her away overnight to prevent her from causing more trouble!"
Duan Feiyang pursed his lips tightly. "Alright, I'll arrange it now."
Lan Yuxi stood up. "Brother, I'll go with you. Although the medicine has no poison, we can't rule out side effects."
Nan Xiao squeezed her hand with concern.
Lan Yuxi shook her head with a smile. "It's fine, I'll just take a look and come back."
Seeing her insistence, Nan Xiao released her hand.
When Lan Yuxi and Duan Feiyang arrived at the backyard, Duan Ning was still lying on the ground with her eyes closed.
Lan Yuxi frowned slightly and took out a golden needle, pricking her pressure point.
As soon as the needle was inserted, Duan Ning let out a yelp and jumped up from the ground.
Duan Feiyang looked at the bodyguards he brought with disgust and said, "Take her away!"
Duan Ning pushed away the bodyguard who rushed forward first and yelled at Duan Feiyang, "This is my home, where do you think you're taking me?"
Duan Feiyang sneered. "Home? Do you consider this your home? That was your own third uncle. You accuse him of poisoning, but besides Second Uncle, he was the one who loved you the most!"
"He was the one who poisoned my father back then, so I'm just giving him a taste of his own medicine!"
"How many times have I told you, your Elder Uncle's death had nothing to do with anyone. He died of a drug allergy."
"That was his signature too. Without his signature, the doctor wouldn't have dared to use the medicine on my father!"
"Think whatever you want! This is the last time I'll explain it to you."
Duan Feiyang signaled to the bodyguards. This time, they didn't hold back and rushed forward.
Duan Ning still wanted to resist one last time, but after Lan Yuxi threw a few golden needles, she couldn't move.
Duan Ning looked at Lan Yuxi with venom in her eyes. "Lan Yuxi, I curse you to be abandoned by Nan Xiao sooner or later!"
Lan Yuxi hooked the corner of her lips. "Even if that day comes, you still won't get him!"
"I..."
As Duan Ning uttered a word, Lan Yuxi flicked another golden needle, sealing her mute acupoint.
Nan Xiao was her ultimate bottom line. She still felt that her current life was like stolen goods, and with Duan Ning babbling like this, she felt a subtle unease.
The Duan family acted swiftly. That night, Duan Ning and the steward were sent to where they belonged.
And that night, after Nan Xiao and Lan Yuxi got their marriage certificate, Lan Yuxi was the most proactive she had ever been, her initiative even baffling Nan Xiao.
In the latter half of the night, Nan Xiao closed his eyes contentedly, holding the little woman in his arms.
"Promise me you'll never leave me, okay?"
In a half-dream, half-awake state, Nan Xiao heard Lan Yuxi's sleepy murmur and pulled her closer. "Okay, not only will I not leave you this lifetime, but we'll be together in the next life and the one after that."
Having received the response, Lan Yuxi finally fell asleep peacefully.
The next day, as soon as Lan Yuxi got out of bed, she received a report that the steward had a stroke and lost his ability to speak less than four hours after entering the police station.
After hearing the report, Lan Yuxi's mouth twitched involuntarily. People from prominent families were indeed not to be trifled with.
Lan Yuxi and Nan Xiao stayed in Yunli for two days. After Elder Duan's toxins were cleared, Lan Yuxi left the medicine and returned to Kyoto with Elder Duan and Duan Qingyang.
That evening, the Presidential Palace hosted a banquet to entertain the four family patriarchs. This news quickly spread, and people discussed it for days, believing that the new Four Great Families were the most powerful golden combination since the founding of China. With such leaders, China would surely reach a new height.
Next, people began to speculate about where the new Prime Minister would emerge from, with Nan Xiao's name being the most frequently mentioned.
Ming Zicheng did not disappoint the nation. The day after the four major families gathered in Kyoto, he held a press conference announcing Nan Xiao's appointment as the new Prime Minister.
Given the Nan family's impeccable reputation in China, Nan Xiao's becoming Prime Minister was a popular choice, and the entire country erupted in excitement.
Elder Hong waited until Nan Xiao had successfully taken office as Prime Minister before flying to Nokas with Lan Zixin.
As soon as Elder Hong disembarked, he recognized the junior sister he had missed for nearly half a lifetime in the crowd—Ling Xiaoling.
Although Ling Xiaoling's appearance hadn't changed much, her jet-black long hair had turned into short, curly, snow-white hair.
Elder Hong's hands clenched tightly as he strode towards Ling Xiaoling. As their eyes met, they both saw tears in each other's eyes.
Ling Xiaoling raised her hand and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "Senior Brother, long time no see."
Elder Hong smiled indulgently. "Long time no see. You're just like you were when you were little, unchanged at all."
Ling Xiaoling let out a chuckle. "Senior Brother, don't comfort me. I'm an old woman, how can I still be like I was when I was little?"
"I'm talking about your eyes, they're still as clear as they were back then!"
Ling Xiaoling smiled bitterly. "They've been clouded too. Later, I came to understand, let go, and then they became clear."
Elder Hong's gaze drifted into the distance. Under his gaze, a tall figure flashed and hid behind a pillar.
Lan Mushang stepped forward to block Elder Hong's view. "Elder Hong, let's go home."
Elder Hong laughed heartily. "Alright, home."
Everyone got into the business vehicle. On the way, Ling Xiaoling asked many questions about her family, and Elder Hong answered each one in detail.
After listening to his account, Ling Xiaoling smiled wistfully. "Hearing you describe it like this, I really want to go back and see."
"The Hong Sect is your home. You can go back whenever you want."
Ling Xiaoling's eyes dimmed slightly. "I've seen you, so I won't go back."
Elder Hong frowned slightly. "Zhen Ting is also in Nokas, don't you want to see him?"