Raiders of the Duke and Duchess

"That's true..." Shangguan Chu nodded slowly while stroking the tea cup, seeming to accept this explanation.

Ning Xiuyuan's heart dropped slightly, and he thought that he was indeed too worried. No matter how powerful the information network in Shangguan Chu's hands was, he should not be able to accurately grasp the news in Dali Temple. to this extent. After all, just knowing that Xu Siniang was ill was already a bit shocking.

The teacup in his hand was slowly put down, and the smile on Ning Xiuyuan's lips became calmer.

But I heard Shangguan Chu smile and say, "It's just... I just have a question that has been bothering me these past few days, so I invited the third master to come over for tea today, hoping that you could answer it for me."

Ning Xiuyuan slowly looked at the other person, and time seemed to be stretched infinitely. Ning Xiuyuan could even see the dust rising in the air, and could see the inevitable light in the eyes of the man an arm's length away. Ning Xiuyuan closed his eyes and warned himself not to be nervous. Things were not the worst. After some warnings, he said in a steady voice as usual, "Brother Shangguan, if you have anything to ask, just say so."

Shangguan Chu saw Ning Xiuyuan's nervousness in his eyes.

He smiled to himself, put the jade in his hand on the table, and then said, "That's it... the little girl has a medicine in her hand. I know this. She set off from Jiangnan. Old Chen was worried, so he took the medicine I gave it to her, it was the last life-saving charm. But now I heard that for Xu Siniang’s illness, she gave the medicine to you, please deliver it to me. So I don’t understand now. Doctor Qin went in with the medicine. The imperial physician is an imperial physician with superb medical skills, and the medicine is refined by a miracle doctor that can bring the dead back to life. Why... Xu Siniang's condition has not improved at all?"

Ning Xiuyuan only felt that the light in front of him suddenly dimmed, and then returned to normal.

He heard his heart beating like a drum in his ears, so hard and fast that it made his chest hurt. The pain flowed along the blood to his limbs and bones, making him lose all strength in an instant. He saw in the eyes of the man an arm's length away...himself who was clearly at a loss.

Shangguan Chu... I underestimated him too much. This overly handsome man often makes people subconsciously think that he is a rich young man because of his handsomeness, but he just has some money... that's all.

But they forget that when a person's wealth accumulates to a point where it is difficult for everyone to catch up, this itself is very revealing. What's more, it is still a giant like Shangguan Chu who has controlled half of the entire Jiangnan for many years.

Ning Xiuyuan racked his brains to think of how to explain himself in order to justify it later, but the person opposite him seemed to have lost his patience. He raised his eyebrows with one hand on his chin and asked with a smile, "Huh? Is this question... difficult to answer?" With a smile on his lips and gentle words, His eyes were sharp and a bit aggressive.

Putting his fingertips on his knees and tightening them, Ning Xiuyuan pressed the corners of his mouth and said, "I don't know much about medical skills. I probably just took this medicine, so maybe it doesn't take effect that quickly...Brother Shangguan It really surprised me that I can even put an eye in Dali Temple."

"Those who have traveled all over the world in these years will inevitably have wider interpersonal relationships." Shangguan Chu ignored it lightly. After finishing speaking, the smile on his lips had disappeared. He looked straight at Ning Xiuyuan, "Well... this medical skill, right? I don’t understand either. Don’t forget that I have opened many pharmacies, but I really don’t understand this medicine. So before I came here, I specifically asked Mr. Chen, if I take this medicine, when will it take effect... But Mr. Chen Tell me, that pill melts in your mouth and takes effect when it enters your stomach."

Ning Xiuyuan's face turned pale.

Shangguan Chu had already withdrawn his gaze, only looking down at the jade he placed on the table, tapping the armrest with his fingertips, once, once, slowly. Amid the tapping sounds, he nodded to himself and murmured, "That's right! A life-saving pill at a critical moment, can't we wait for it to slowly take effect? ​​Third Master Ning, don't you think so?"

Ning Xiuyuan was silent. The hands on his thighs tightened and relaxed, and my heart was in a state of confusion. The feeling of weakness came over me, and my whole body was in a trance.

Ji Wuyan asked him that day, had he given the medicine to Xu Siniang? He said he sent it.

Later, Xi Yu leaked the story about Imperial Physician Qin, so he explained to Ji Wuyan that he asked Imperial Physician Qin to bring the medicine in.

In short, the medicine was delivered to Xu Siniang - this is how he deceived Ji Wuyan.

He has told many lies in his life.

There are well-meaning ones, and there are not-so-well-meaning ones, or even malicious ones. Some are motivated by interests, and some are contrary to their true intentions. Ning Xiuyuan never denied these.

If you want to live well in this world, who can only tell the truth all your life? Only this time, ever since I told this lie, I have always been anxious and worried that sooner or later someone would expose the truth. He never thought that this day would come so early... But even so, he never regretted it. He was only worried that if he was discovered too early, the medicine would not be saved.

Time passed little by little, and no one spoke in the room. There was only the sound of fingertips tapping the handrail, one after another, very softly.

Ning Xiuyuan didn't know Shangguan Chu's purpose, but since he came to him first to mention the matter, there must be room for discussion. After a while, he raised his eyes to the opposite side and reported a number, "Thirty thousand taels."

There was a sound of fingertips tapping on the armrest, and the other party raised his eyebrows. His beautiful eyes were full of questions, amusement, inquiry, and ridicule. He said, "In the eyes of Third Master Ning, I am really a profit-seeking businessman who can buy and sell anything. But... isn't Third Master too stingy to buy such a pill for thirty thousand taels? After all, this The medicine... is also related to Third Master’s bright future and prosperous official career. Third Master’s future is only worth thirty thousand taels?”

Ning Xiuyuan was stunned for a moment, and his clenched fingertips suddenly loosened up. The panic in his eyes that was not easy to detect dissipated in an instant. He asked Shangguan Chu, "Brother Shangguan...do you think I am going to send the medicine secretly?" Dedicate the palace to His Majesty in exchange for a better future?"

"Isn't it?"

"Huh..." Ning Xiuyuan was really relieved at this time. He pursed his lips and asked the other party, "The eldest son of Duke Ningguo, the youngest imperial master in this dynasty, is deeply trusted by His Majesty... Such a promising future Isn't that enough? Is there anything more beautiful than this?" He picked up the cold tea in front of him and took a slow sip. He felt that the breath he had been holding for a long time was finally exhaled slowly.

Ning Xiuyuan's reaction was very strange. He was nervous just now, but now he is calm and relaxed? Shangguan Chu didn't quite understand and just snorted, "Who knows? After all, even a businessman like me doesn't understand the official position in the court."