"Today, when Madam Zhu came, we already clearly stated that we absolutely did not have the ability. If we could poison others at will, wouldn't this place be ours? We wouldn't have to grovel at your feet and be thrown into prison, nearly losing our lives a few days ago. We would have already made a move, silently eliminating those who were detrimental to us. The fact that the Zhu family still exists proves this point," Wu Caiwei stepped forward, looking at the county magistrate's wife with some helplessness. In the eyes of outsiders, they were driven to desperation and forced to appear.
Madam Xianning stood before him, her deep gaze fixed on him motionlessly. Wu Caiwei met her gaze with a calm expression, conveying his ignorance. After a long silence, the county magistrate's wife finally shifted her eyes and waved her hand, signaling for everyone to take him away.
After walking a few steps, he turned back, casting a fierce look at them, and then flicked his sleeve. Everyone could tell that his mind was far from settled. The animosity between the two parties was now firmly established. However, the Fujian people were unconcerned. Even if they hadn't openly fallen out, the couple would never have made their lives easy. The assassination attempt a while ago was the best proof.
They had expected the other party to make a move openly. Little did they know that that night, the food they ate had an unusual smell. Was Madam Xianning testing whether they could sense it, or did she feel that their ignorance had cost her face? Thus, she decided to act decisively, finding someone to poison their food and eliminate them once and for all. Lan Cheng was ultimately a major concern for them.
The two exchanged glances and deliberately avoided the suspicious soup and dishes. Wu Caiwei glanced at the servants and saw a maid not far away, constantly observing their actions. It seemed the county magistrate's family had more influence in Lan Cheng than they had imagined. Their own household already had informants, and he had thought the Li mansion was as impregnable as a fortress.
As they were pondering solutions, Li Zixin returned from outside, dusty and travel-worn. He had been sourcing goods from elsewhere recently and had finally returned today. He heard that the Li family's shops had encountered trouble, seemingly involving the county magistrate and his wife. Regardless, they were his enemies, and he did not want the couple to compromise. Upon hearing of their predicament, he hurried over, eager to hear their next plan.
Having spent so much time together, Li Zixin was quite at ease. He sat down directly, picked up his chopsticks, and was about to eat when Wu Caiwei stopped him. Just then, Madam Miya's mouth gaped in surprise. Realizing that their plan had been exposed, she decided to go all out and immediately ordered her subordinates to apprehend her.
The situation changed in an instant. Li Zixin looked at them with utter confusion. After Madam Wu secretly explained the matter to him, Li Zixin knew that despite their strong words and seemingly formidable martial arts, they were soft-hearted. Knowing they couldn't bring themselves to do it, he quickly volunteered, asking them to let him handle the maid. Wu Caiwei knew that after her ordeal in prison, her heart had hardened. She also knew that this maid should not live in this world. However, she couldn't bring herself to do it, as it was still a human life. The other party was the most selfish, but to eliminate future trouble, she could only close her eyes and let him handle it.
Not long after, he returned, meticulously washed his hands as if nothing had happened. A few dishes were missing from the table, and no one mentioned the maid. Li Zixin chatted about his experiences during his journey, occasionally laughing, as if the tense atmosphere had never existed. If not for the fact that the Li family was one maid short, anyone would have thought it was all a dream.
Madam Xianling sat quietly by the county magistrate's bedside. Although the county magistrate had arrived in the morning, his face was already pale and sallow. Everyone knew his condition was serious. He was aware of what he had ordered his people to do today and had been awaiting news. He hadn't expected to still have no reply at this hour. He knew the plan had failed, yet his informant had told him the poisoning was successful. The only explanation for them to so easily evade it was their medical skills. He had no other explanation. It was merely a small test, and he hadn't expected them to actually possess such abilities. If that was the case, then the words spoken today were also false. His own lord's illness was likely caused by their poison.
But now, the problem was that the other party did not intend to let his lord go. Tears welled up in her eyes. Although he had treated her well for the most part, she only realized how heartbroken she was when she was truly about to lose him. For so many years, her resentment stemmed from the fact that she had once given him her true feelings. It was only because he had grown older and become greedy that they had drifted apart. But at the brink of life and death, she had forgotten all his flaws, reminiscing about the most touching and unforgettable things he had done for her. Thinking about it now, it was truly beautiful.
She couldn't help but hold his hand. She spoke of the first time they met, unsure if he could hear her or not, but feeling that speaking her mind would bring her comfort. The feelings she had buried for so many years for her lord, she feared she would never have the chance to express them if not now. To her surprise, a tear slowly slid from the corner of his eye. Knowing he could hear her, she spoke with even more fervor.
A shocking event occurred that shook the entire populace of Nanchang. At the second crow of the rooster, the county magistrate passed away. This surprised them. Just a few days ago, they had seen him walking proudly on the streets. Although several doctors had been consulted at the county magistrate's mansion, illness and death were natural occurrences for those who ate grains. Such situations had happened before, and they hadn't taken it to heart. Unexpectedly, they received such news this time. Some rejoiced, while others worried. For the common people, the county magistrate had been here for so many years, only increasing their burdens and achieving nothing. For the wealthy merchants in the city, they had already invested a considerable amount of money in the county magistrate this year. They had expected the year to pass smoothly, only for him to die halfway through. They didn't know who would take over his position, nor whether the new county magistrate would be easy to deal with or as accommodating as the previous ones.
After the county magistrate's death, Li Zixin's face was filled with smiles every day. He couldn't help but eat several bowls of rice at meals. His heart's ailment had eased. Although Li Zixin's uncle was still at large, he was eventually easier to deal with than the county magistrate. Moreover, he had heard that he had begun to live a life of austerity. This time was different from before. In the past, whenever he came to collect taxes, he would claim poverty but actually accumulate wealth. This time, however, it was for real. After all, they had grown accustomed to easy gains for so many years and to a lavish lifestyle. With the sudden loss of a major source of income, their downfall was inevitable.