My Naive Ginseng Spirit Wife and My Cultured, Scheming, Delicate Husband

chapter83

When the assassins arrived, Qi Yun was discussing Ye Pingrong's whereabouts with Chu Chengyun.

This time, Chu Chengyun, who called himself the Third Young Master, did not hide much. He honestly told Qi Yun that Ye Pingrong was staying at Prime Minister Meng's residence, had almost recovered, and would be back soon.

He had called Qi Yun over now to give him advance notice: when Ye Pingrong returned this time, he would not come alone, and was afraid someone would be with him.

But as to exactly who that someone would be, Chu Chengyun had not yet decided whether to tell Qi Yun. After all, that person had quite the background. But it was right at this moment that the assassins broke through the window and burst in!

Even though Qi Yun had a calmer, more steady personality than most people, he was after all just a commoner who had never actually encountered assassins and death warriors. When he suddenly saw them, he froze for a moment before stepping back.

And that single moment of delay was all it took for the opponent's blade to s***h open his arm.

Tiezi protected him as they retreated into a corner. Qi Yun pressed hard on his arm and watched coldly from the sidelines.

Those people were clearly here for the Third Young Master, but the Third Young Master's men were no pushovers either. Liu Rong, who had always kept a low profile, drew his sword and stepped forward, clearly showing the bearing of a master. Several more men dressed in coarse cloth rushed in from outside, clearly the Third Young Master's guards, and started a brawl with the assassins.

In the end, several of the guards were killed and wounded, Liu Rong also took a blade cut to the leg, but the most miserable was the Third Young Master himself.

His chest was run straight through, blood flowed ceaselessly, and he fell silent immediately.

Liu Rong panicked, but Qi Yun gripped Tiezi's hand hard and said to him: "Leave here as soon as possible. There's an abandoned farmhouse not far from here. I passed by it before, no one lives there. Let's go there first." After saying this, Qi Yun's vision went black, and he lost consciousness.

This was not the first time Qi Yun had fainted. Growing up, he had fainted countless times.

But this time was different.

Before, no matter how sick he was, he could always feel the outside world. He could vaguely hear the sounds around him, and even when there was light in front of his eyes, even with his eyes closed, he could still feel it.

But this time, once he fainted, he was truly gone. It was as if he had been sunk into an ink-black deep pool—he could not see, could not hear, and could not even breathe smoothly.

In his haze, Qi Yun had only one thought in his mind—

In the end, I still couldn't stay with Jiaoniang.

And when he opened his eyes and saw the strange room, he vaguely felt that he must have become a ghost now. How else could his body feel so light?

He had never felt this ease before. There was no pain at all, no discomfort at all. This was impossible in itself.

I must be dead, right.

Qi Yun sat up, turned his head, and looked straight into a familiar face.

The woman was looking at him with beautiful eyes, tears glistening in her pupils, wet and dewy, making her eyes look even brighter and clearer.

Qi Yun's heart ached to see it, and he said softly: "Jiaoniang, I promised I would take care of you, but now... I have failed you. I have no chance in this life. I only hate that we cannot be together life after life. If there is a next life, even if I have to become a fish, an insect, a bird, a beast, even turn into a stone, I will stay by your side..."

Before Qi Yun could finish speaking, Ye Jiao leaned over and gently kissed the corner of his mouth.

Qi Yun froze slightly, and subconsciously opened his mouth to respond, but his mind was only thinking—

I'm a ghost, can I still be kissed?

When Ye Jiao pulled away, Qi Yun heard the woman's slightly stubborn voice: "You're fine, you're perfectly okay. I won't let anything happen to you. What next life, this life is not enough for me yet."

Qi Yun looked at Ye Jiao holding his hand tightly, then looked at her face, and opened his mouth: "I... Where am I?"

It was rare to see her husband look so muddled, Ye Jiao couldn't help but smile. She sat on the edge of the bed and gently wrapped her arms around his body, carefully avoiding his wound, then said softly: "This is the Qi Family Herb Shop. Shopkeeper Fang and Chunlan are both busy outside. There are also people Huiniang brought guarding the perimeter. Don't worry, it's very safe here."

Ye Jiao stroked his face again, thinking that her husband had truly suffered.

The White Rainbow Fruit could save a life and also nourish the body, though its nourishing effect was not extraordinary. But after eating a whole one, Qi Yun was already fine now, and it had even replenished his qi and blood.

Even though she knew that Chu Chengyun had survived just by eating a little crumb of the flesh, and Qi Yun eating the whole fruit should have made a full recovery, Ye Jiao had still been worried until he opened his eyes.

In little ginseng's heart, how much blood Chu Chengyun, who she had only fed fruit crumbs to, lost was none of her business. But if her own husband even got a scratch, that was something to break her heart, and couldn't be delayed for a moment.

Ye Jiao couldn't help but say: "Husband, rest well, don't move around."

After hearing this, Qi Yun slowly came to his senses, realizing that he was still alive in the mortal world, and would not have to go to the underworld alone. He inexplicably felt the emotion of having escaped disaster.

Not even bothering to ask what had actually happened, he wrapped his arm back around Ye Jiao, lowered his head, and buried his face in the hollow of her neck. Breathing in the faint scent of orchid, he said softly: "It's so good, Jiaoniang, it's so good."

He had never thought being alive could be such a wonderful thing. Qi Yun felt that if he could hold his wife like this every day, this lifetime would never be enough for him.

Ye Jiao whispered to him: "Don't you ever say those words again."

"What words?"

"Just that stuff about turning into fish, insects, birds and beasts. Even if you really turned into a stone, there are so many stones in the world, how would I know which one is you?"

Hearing this, Qi Yun knew she still remembered the nonsense he had just said. He held her a little tighter, then said: "Don't worry, I'm not willing to die. With you and Xubao, dying would be too much of a loss."

Ye Jiao smiled and nodded hard.

And Liu Rong, who was just about to come in to check on the situation, stopped in his tracks and sighed loudly.

At such a critical moment, he actually had to watch a loving husband and wife show their affection... this was just his fate.

Why did he, a man who hadn't even gotten married, have to see all this married bliss every day? Even if he envied it, there was nothing he could do.

But Liu Rong didn't go in. He just took a look, confirmed Qi Yun was fine, and looked away.

Liu Rong knew that Qi Yun had actually just been dragged into this innocent misfortune. And Ye Jiao was the benefactor who had saved his master at a critical moment with a handful of dirt. Of course he wouldn't disturb them now. After gently closing the door again, Liu Rong walked to the next wing room.

As soon as he entered the door, he saw Chu Chengyun half-propped up on the couch, and Madam Meng sitting beside him without saying a word.

Meng Huirou was wearing casual clothes: a plain long skirt matched with a dark-patterned robe. It didn't look like the kind of outfit Madam Meng would usually wear out in public.

She came from a prominent family, and every movement followed proper etiquette. Even now that she was living incognito, that didn't change her requirements for herself.

The reason she had left the house without fixing herself up properly was because she was so worried about Chu Chengyun. She feared even the slightest complication for him, and hadn't even had time to comb her hair properly.

And on the way to the Qi Family Herb Shop after receiving the message, Madam Meng had planned everything out carefully in her heart.

Her husband was a kind man, but things that couldn't be said before had to be made clear now.

She had to tell him how venomous the current Empress is, tell him that all his brothers are wolves with hidden ambitions, tell him that if he doesn't fight for himself now, it's a death sentence.

Madam Meng had always been eloquent. Before, the timing wasn't right, she didn't dare to speak, couldn't speak. After all, her husband still cared about the Empress' kindness in raising him, cared about the brotherly bond between him and his brothers, so she could only hold back.

Now they have made an attempt on his life, her husband should finally understand.

But when she actually saw Prince Duan, who had barely escaped with half his life, Madam Meng suddenly couldn't say a word.

Just now she had sat beside Chu Chengyun, wiped his sweat for him, fetched him tea and water, gently kneaded his slightly aching palms, but couldn't say anything at all.

Chu Chengyun just sat there quietly. Prince Duan, who usually always loved to joke and laugh, was now as calm as a wooden puppet.

It was this scene that Liu Rong saw when he pushed open the door and came in.

Madam Meng quietly stood up and said softly: "I'll go get a new basin of hot water." Then she left.

Liu Rong watched the Princess Consort leave, he couldn't very well leave too, so he forced himself to go over and saluted: "Your Highness."

Chu Chengyun nodded, some life returning to his face, and asked: "How is Erlang?"

"Back to Your Highness, just now Physician Li checked on you and Second Young Master Qi. Second Young Master Qi's wound isn't serious, he can already get up and walk around now, he just needs to keep the wound from getting wet. On the contrary, Your Highness, you must rest quietly in bed. This time your heart and lungs were injured. Even though your life is not in danger, you still have to be very careful, so you don't leave any root illness."

Chu Chengyun raised his hand and gently pressed his tightly bandaged chest, and said softly: "I thought I was definitely going to die this time."

Liu Rong was Ye Pingrong's subordinate, he had always received Ye Pingrong's favor, so he was naturally closer to people from Ye Pingrong's side.

Hearing Chu Chengyun's words now, Liu Rong immediately said: "When it was a matter of life and death, it was Second Young Master Qi's wife who stepped in to help, that's how Your Highness got your breath back."

Chu Chengyun was stunned for a moment, then didn't press for details, just nodded and said: "Erlang is a good man, and his wife is also good. This time I dragged them into this for no reason, I owe them. Pingrong's sister was even willing to save my life, I will remember this kindness in my heart."

Liu Rong lowered his head, and was glad in his heart that Chu Chengyun didn't ask for details.

Otherwise, he really couldn't explain why feeding dirt into Chu Chengyun's mouth could save a life...

Chu Chengyun took a deep breath, looked at Liu Rong, and asked: "Who sent assassins to kill me, do you know?"

Liu Rong honestly shook his head: "We don't know exactly who it was. They were death warriors, every strike was meant to kill, they hide poison in their mouths. Whether they succeeded or not, they would take the poison afterward. There are no markings from any manor on their bodies, so we can't tell who sent them."

Chu Chengyun closed his eyes and asked in a low voice: "They poisoned their blades, didn't they?"

Liu Rong did not hide it: "The blades were not poisoned, but the daggers they carried were poisoned. Fortunately, neither Your Highness nor Second Young Master Qi were stabbed by the poisoned daggers, so you weren't poisoned. That is a blessing. I brought the blades here and already gave them to Physician Li to identify."

"What kind of poison?"

"Strychnine nut."

This poison is not common, but Chu Chengyun knew another name for this poison: "You should call it***"

Liu Rong looked confused, but Chu Chengyun gave a faint smile.

He gently pressed his chest, and his voice was slow: "Qianji is the poison made from strychnine. First your neck goes stiff, then your whole body spasms, you get excruciating abdominal pain. The pain makes your body curl up, your head touches your feet, and the shape looks like a*******"

Every word Chu Chengyun said was very calm, very soft, but listening to it in Liu Rong's ears made his spine go cold.

It wasn't just because this poison was vicious and cruel, torturing people before killing them. It was also because when Chu Chengyun spoke, his expression was cold, his tone was icy. This was something Liu Rong had never seen before.

Normally, Chu Chengyun was the most kind and approachable. To Liu Rong, this master didn't feel like a prince, not even like a noble. He was easy to talk to, had a gentle personality, loved to joke around. It seemed like no matter how big a thing came to him, it wasn't a big deal.

But this cold tone now was something Liu Rong had never heard before.

Chu Chengyun was still smiling, the corners of his mouth curved up. He took a deep breath and said: "They want me dead, they want it so bad, they really want me dead."

At this moment, Chu Chengyun suddenly realized how ridiculous what he had done before was, ridiculous to the extreme.

Qianji poison is only available in the imperial palace, passed down from generation to generation, never leaked out. That's why they didn't poison the blades, to avoid exposing themselves, only poisoned the daggers.

And the imperial palace was his home.

Chu Chengyun asked himself: what he had carefully guarded was nothing more than the Empress' kindness in raising him. What he had painstakingly maintained was nothing more than the brotherly bond between him and his brothers. He had never wronged anyone.

He wasn't ignorant that the imperial family has no affection, but he always thought, if I get out of the way, if I leave, I have no desire for the throne, I just do my own idle things, can't I just avoid all this?

It doesn't matter to me who becomes emperor, wouldn't that be fine?

But now, Chu Chengyun finally understood. His good reputation, the support of the civil officials at court, and his step-by-step retreat and tolerance, had all become a thorn in those people's eyes in the end. They not only had to pull it out, they had to burn it to ash, otherwise they would never be satisfied!

Chu Chengyun suddenly laughed, laughed louder and louder, didn't even notice when the wound on his chest split open from the laughter.

He was really such a fool, really such a fool.

Liu Rong was at a loss, he could only kneel on the ground and look at him blankly.

Madam Meng had originally been standing at the door, not going in for a long time. She knew that only by letting Chu Chengyun think it through clearly this time could he walk the right path in the future.

But in the end, she couldn't bear the heartache. She threw away the basin, pushed the door in, ran over and hugged Chu Chengyun, held his head tightly to her chest, pressed him against her, and said over and over: "Husband, I know your heart is bitter, but... this is how the world is, this is just how the world is..."

Chu Chengyun's laughter gradually faded. He leaned against Madam Meng, his expression slowly calmed, but his fists were clenched tightly.

And in the next room, Ye Jiao also heard Chu Chengyun's laughter. She couldn't help but ask curiously: "That Third Young Master is really an open person, is he that happy to be alive? Laughing like this, I'm afraid he'll hurt himself."

Qi Yun saw further than she did, and he could hear the desolation in that laughter. He understood in his heart that Chu Chengyun wasn't happy, he was afraid he had just made a cruel resolution in his heart.

As for what kind of resolution, it didn't matter to Qi Yun. He didn't want to pry, and he wouldn't drag Ye Jiao into it.

He was just from an ordinary family, a small household. Those battles between big shots didn't affect their daily life.

It was just that some things should be discussed with the Third Young Master now. At the very least, he should ask when exactly Ye Pingrong would be back, and who he would bring with him. There had to be a plan.

But that was all for later. For now, it was better to stay away from the Third Young Master, who was both physically and mentally battered.

Having made up his mind, Qi Yun said softly: "Jiaoniang, does Mother know I got hurt?"

Ye Jiao shook her head: "I didn't dare let Mother know, I was afraid she'd worry. That's why we didn't send you guys to the mountain courtyard and came back here instead."

Qi Yun nodded, and smiled as he stroked Ye Jiao's hair: "You did the right thing, Jiaoniang, we should hide it from Mother."

Just as they were talking, Ye Jiao suddenly frowned.

Qi Yun couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong?"

Ye Jiao bit her lip, pointed to her own chest, and said softly: "It's swollen here."

This was usually Xubao's feeding time. Today she was away from Xubao, so Ye Jiao felt swollen and uncomfortable.

Qi Yun's ears were slightly red, he said hurriedly: "I have nothing to do right now anyway. If I cover the wound on my hand a little, no one will see it. It's still light out, let's head back."

When he stood up, Ye Jiao tugged at his sleeve: "Then... husband, help me."

Help? Help with what?

How was he supposed to help with the tightness in her chest?

Qi Yun suddenly thought of one idea, his ears turned bright red with embarrassment, but he asked calmly: "Just tell me what you need, Jiao Niang, I'll do whatever you say."

"Go help me tell Chunlan to take Physician Li away, I won't feel at ease otherwise."

... Oh, that's what this was about.

Qi Yun coughed lightly, nodded, then went to find Tiezi to pass the message.

Ye Jiao inexplicably tilted her head, why did she feel like her husband looked disappointed?