Dong Shuang nodded, "Indeed, there is something wrong. He is not sick at all."
"Not sick?"
This was something Song Chaoyu had not expected. "If he isn't sick, then what is his current condition?"
Dong Shuang sighed, "He has likely been poisoned by Gu."
Gu?
Song Chaoyu had heard of such things, but they were rather horrifying. "I've heard that in Xiao Qin country, there is an ancient family that practices Gu. However, in the past hundred years, there have been no reports of Gu poison. Thus, most people believe that this so-called Gu poison either never existed, used to scare people, or has long been lost. Are you sure that the head of the Cong family has been poisoned by Gu?"
It seemed even Dong Shuang hadn't expected Song Chaoyu to know about Gu poison.
She became even more serious. "This Gu poison does exist, though not many people in our Xiao Qin country have seen it. Those who practice Gu poison are only from the Zhu lineage, who were suppressed by the royal family. However, the Tan family at that time feared the Zhu family, so they quietly eliminated most of the Zhu family members over a hundred years. Even if there are still descendants of the Zhu family, they might not possess the art of Gu poison."
Mu Changxi nodded. "Indeed, a branch of the Zhu family once fled to our Great Yue Dynasty. However, before long, this family was inexplicably wiped out by bandits. Thinking back now, A Yue must have been done by members of the Tan clan. Their methods are truly vicious!"
To this, Dong Shuang seemed disdainful. "The Tan family is vicious, but the Zhu family is not much better. When the Zhu family and Tan family vied for power, they did not care about the lives of the common people. Regardless, neither of them are good people!"
Neither were good people, yet the Cong family had provoked the Zhu family.
This gave Song Chaoyu a strange feeling. "It seems that the people of Xiao Qin country in the past were all skilled in their own ways! The Tan family used excellent poisons, and the Zhu family practiced Gu poison. Why didn't they have any straightforward methods?"
"Tsk—"
This statement made Dong Shuang, who had been serious, burst into laughter. "If they could be straightforward, why would the common people prefer the Great Yue Dynasty over Xiao Qin country?"
Compared to Xiao Qin country, the Great Yue Dynasty's methods were indeed much more upright and aboveboard. Moreover, with two enlightened rulers, the lives of the people in the Great Yue Dynasty were much better than those in Xiao Qin country.
Mu Changxi also pondered for a moment, then said to Song Chaoyu and Dong Shuang, "Since this matter does not concern us, let's not get involved. We will depart tomorrow morning, and it is still best to be wary of the Cong family."
Song Chaoyu nodded, still feeling a little worried. "By the way, before we left, the head of the Cong family did call me over. I think he probably guessed your identity. And from his words, he seemed very familiar with you."
Mu Changxi's brows furrowed deeper. "Perhaps... he took notice of me when we were in the Southern Kingdom. I have already instructed Chun Jun to investigate their purpose for coming. If they are not targeting us, and they do not act rashly, we will pretend not to know."
Song Chaoyu's thoughts coincided with Mu Changxi's.
When traveling, they did not wish to attract too much trouble.
However, the Cong family had to be guarded against.
—
In the blink of an eye, it was the next day.
As Song Chaoyu and the others packed their belongings to depart, they saw that the Cong family was also packing. Large piles of goods filled the entrance of the small post station.
The young master of the Cong family had gotten out of bed today, but he looked very weak, coughing incessantly in the cold morning breeze.
As Song Chaoyu pushed Mu Changxi out, they saw the young master of the Cong family approaching them, as if he had been waiting for them. "May I ask where the two of you are going? If you are heading to Qin Prefecture City, may we travel together? It would be good to have mutual support, and travel more comfortably in these mountainous and forested areas, wouldn't it?"
It seemed that traveling together was unavoidable.
Song Chaoyu glanced down at Mu Changxi, who was also observing the head of the Cong family. "I'm afraid that with your many people and our few, we won't be able to travel together. Moreover, the road ahead is smooth and clear. It's best for everyone to go their separate ways to ensure peace."
"Smooth and clear road?"
The man chuckled and coughed again. "Young Master Han, are you perhaps afraid of us? Please rest assured, although we come from the Southern Kingdom, our destination is not you. We are not curious about what you intend to do. We merely wish to travel together to alleviate loneliness. Is Young Master Han unwilling?"
As he spoke, he leaned closer and suddenly whispered to Mu Changxi, "Your Highness, we have met before. I have some words I wish to say to Your Highness, and I hope Your Highness will allow me to accompany you!"
He had indeed discovered their identities!
Mu Changxi frowned. The man stood up, smiling with his face covered in white powder, and said to Mu Changxi, "My name is Cong Fei. Now we know each other, don't we? Young Master Han, shall we travel together?"
Song Chaoyu disliked Cong Fei's attitude and was unsure of his intentions.
However, Mu Changxi suddenly seemed to recall something and nodded at Cong Fei, then pointed to their carriage. "Traveling together is fine. I hope your many people can keep up with our pace."
Cong Fei smiled and nodded, then entered their carriage first.
As Song Chaoyu pushed Mu Changxi forward, Mu Changxi patted Song Chaoyu's hand. "A'yu, you will know his identity shortly. He is a trustworthy person!"
Song Chaoyu found it strange.
Why did Mu Changxi suddenly start to trust Cong Fei upon hearing his name?
Did Mu Changxi still have many secrets that Song Chaoyu did not know?
—
After getting into the carriage with Mu Changxi, the carriage had barely started moving when Mu Changxi suddenly reached out and patted Cong Fei's shoulder, seeming somewhat emotional. "You are Cong Fei? Didn't you die many years ago?"
Song Chaoyu was surprised. "You really know each other?"
Mu Changxi nodded, with a hint of emotion. "He was the only one in the Southern Kingdom who knew my identity. A'yu, we have a life-and-death bond. He saved me, and I saved him. So you can trust him, you don't need to worry."
This was something Song Chaoyu had not expected.
Cong Fei also seemed to be filled with emotion. "Yes! I am the only one who knows that person is not the King of Chang's subordinate. I met Han Xi on the border of the Southern Kingdom. That was the only time he went to the Southern Kingdom, about ten years ago."
Ten years ago?
Song Chaoyu suddenly remembered that ten years ago, during a summer, Han Xi and Granny Han had indeed gone on a long trip! At that time, they said they were going to visit relatives far away.