The night was dark and windy, and two figures, one after the other, scaled the three-meter-high courtyard wall.
The courtyard of Marquis Pingning's residence was eerily quiet. Situ Yan felt a little lightheaded. "He's a marquis, isn't he? Are the guards here too lax?"
Ji Jin replied, "It's not lax, there are none at all. This courtyard is filled with incense smoke. Anyone who gets too close will collapse."
"No wonder you told me to take the detoxification pill earlier. How is he not afraid of poisoning his own people?"
"This incense is rather peculiar. I'll have to get some back to study later." He seemed to have already smelled the scent of่ (gว) worms. Could this Marquis Pingning be of the same ilk as him?
Bah, he would never be so heartless as to use his own daughter's blood as medicine.
Although he didn't have a daughter yet.
Having vented his frustrations on his wife, Marquis Pingning slept exceptionally soundly until he was jolted awake by a cold object repeatedly tapping his face. The moment he opened his eyes, he was met with a handsome and heroic face, the corners of whose mouth curved into a wicked smile. "Father-in-law, you've had quite a deep sleep."
His dagger had been caressing his face for a while, and only now did he wake up.
Marquis Pingning was terrified but quickly composed himself. "My good son-in-law, what brings you here?"
At the same time, he glanced around. What was going on? How could Situ Yan have infiltrated? Even if the incense smoke outside was ineffective, wasn't there Su Xin? She was supposed to be on guard tonight.
"Is His Lordship looking for her?" Ji Jin appeared from somewhere, then kicked the unconscious woman lying before them. "His Highness said he wanted to have a good chat with you tonight. Family matters, you know, can't be overheard by a mere maid, can they?"
Situ Yan said with disgust, "Speak properly. Who is his family?"
Marquis Pingning felt the cold edge of the blade at his neck, forcing himself to suppress his anger. "My good son-in-law, let's talk properly."
"Talk properly? When you were draining my wife's blood, did you think about talking properly?" No wonder Fu'er had inexplicably lost so much blood; it was all the work of this beast before him. It was fortunate they discovered it early, otherwise, if she were to be bled several more times during her pregnancy, even an iron body wouldn't withstand it.
Under the candlelight, the color drained from Marquis Pingning's face instantly.
"How do you know? What else do you know?"
"We know what we need to know, such as the peculiar poison you've been afflicted with."
Ji Jin chimed in, "It can prolong life, and using the blood of one's own offspring as medicine can invigorate the spirit. This formula is quite something. Marquis, you've kept such a formula for decades, it's truly a waste. If you had offered this formula to the Emperor, how could the Marquis's manor have fallen to such a state?"
If he could have offered it, why would he have waited until now? Marquis Pingning really wanted to roll his eyes.
Ji Jin ignored him. "This formula requires the heart's blood of offspring from time to time. This must be difficult for you, but for the Emperor, who has many children, it should be no problem at all. Yet, you never offered it. Let me guess, is it only the blood of children born after you were poisoned that is effective?"
Remarkably, this poison was becoming more and more like a Gu.
Marquis Pingning retorted, "If you've already guessed it, why are you still asking?"
Who was it that had uncovered his secrets so thoroughly? If he found out, he would have them skinned and their bones ground to powder to appease his hatred.
Ji Jin said, "You don't have to ask, as long as you hand over the formula."
So, they were after his peculiar poison formula. Marquis Pingning's heart settled. As long as they didn't get the formula, they wouldn't dare to lay a hand on him. All this talk about avenging his wife was just an excuse.
He glanced at Situ Yan and straightened his back. "Imperial Physician Ji, as a learned physician, you must know how precious the formula in my hands is. If you want it, shouldn't you be a little more respectful to me?"
"No problem, no problem. As long as you cooperate, His Highness and I will definitely not make things difficult for you."
"How do we cooperate?"
"Write down the formula."
"Alright, but before that, I want to know where you got your information from." Not many people knew his secret, and those who did had already been poisoned. They wouldn't dare betray him.
Marquis Pingning's eyes gleamed with ferocity. He would deal with them after tonight.
Situ Yan was getting impatient. He never knew Ji Jin could talk so much. It seemed that in his familiar territory, anyone could become talkative.
He applied a little more force, and a bloodstain appeared on Marquis Pingning's neck.
"Ah, what are you doing?" The sharp pain brought Marquis Pingning back to reality, and his gaze toward Situ Yan involuntarily showed a hint of fear.
Situ Yan gripped the hilt of the dagger, the sharp blade repeatedly grazing his skin. The wound was shallow, but the trickles of blood made Marquis Pingning almost faint.
Amidst the pain, Situ Yan's voice was as cold as if it came from hell. "Nothing. Just a reminder. I am the cleaver, and you are merely a piece of fish. When did it become your turn to negotiate? Either speak now, or I'll take you to the Dali Temple and let you experience our interrogation methods."
Marquis Pingning was usually timid outside, but within his manor, he was the undisputed king. This was because every person's life was in his hands. But when his own life was threatened, he realized how unbearable the feeling was.
He turned pleading eyes to Ji Jin. "Imperial Physician Ji, if you kill me, won't you still want the formula?"
Ji Jin looked annoyed. "Didn't I tell you earlier to cooperate with His Highness? Look, now there's blood, isn't there?"
"You want to get something for nothing?"
"Nonsense."
Situ Yan's patience ran out. He gently twisted the dagger, the tip piercing Marquis Pingning's inner garment and sinking into his chest. A little more force, and he would be dead on the spot.
Marquis Pingning's eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
Situ Yan: "......This, isn't this too anticlimactic?"
"There's blood now. People like him, they don't feel it when they hurt others. But when it happens to them, they can't take it for even half a moment."
"What do we do now?"
"Either wait for him to wake up, or splash him with cold water."
"Then splash him. There's no need to be polite to scum like him." Situ Yan, thinking of how many times his wife had been secretly bled, wished he could just kill this man.
And so, Marquis Pingning awoke, wet once more.
The burning pain on his neck told him that the nightmare was not over. Looking at the two figures with predatory gazes, and the dagger plunged deep into the bedside, he shivered uncontrollably.
Situ Yan pulled out the dagger and casually toyed with it. "Think carefully before you speak, or the next stab won't be into the bed, but into your limbs. Do you think it's better to cut off your hand or your foot?"