"Welcome, County Princess," Baili Laoye said, rising with his wife to greet her.
Song Yu'er held her chin high. From the moment she stepped into the Baili residence, her demeanor as a county princess was ostentatiously displayed.
Although Baili Laoye was a wealthy merchant, he felt somewhat inferior to the daughter of the City Lord of Xiyu. Gu Qianying, seated beside him, observed this silently, saying nothing.
Since her arrival, she had heard about the Song family's power struggles in this region.
Despite this, Song Yu'er noticed her. Perhaps it was the unfamiliar face in the Baili residence, but Song Yu'er regarded her with suspicion.
She stepped forward, approaching Gu Qianying to examine her for a moment, then pointed at her and asked Baili Laoye, "Who is she?"
Baili Laoye was anxious, a thin layer of sweat beading on his forehead. How should he explain this?
Ultimately, it was Madam Baili who stepped forward to handle these women. Although she was still unwell, she had managed the household for many years. She saw through Song Yu'er immediately, saying nothing more, but slowly stood before Song Yu'er and said softly, "Miss Song, your engagement with our Baili family has been dissolved. Therefore, you have no right to question our Baili family's affairs."
The situation was not difficult to decipher. Song Yu'er had learned that Baili Su had awakened and wanted to see for herself what was happening. She hadn't expected to run into Gu Qianying and felt a sense of unease.
This woman appeared somewhat cold, and had been silent since she arrived. She seemed a bit haughty, but it was unclear where she came from.
"Who is she?"
Song Yu'er asked again, but this time her tone was less pleasant, carrying a hint of arrogance.
"This, this is the physician we invited!"
Baili Laoye, to avoid further trouble, revealed the truth.
"A physician? Hahaha! Do their attire qualify them as physicians? Old sir, you mustn't jest with me!"
Upon hearing Baili Laoye's words, Song Yu'er burst into laughter. She had never seen a physician dressed so shabbily. "What physician? I'd say they look more like beggars!"
"You, with such an appearance, know medicine? I think you're just trying to latch onto the Baili family because you value our family's alliance. I advise you to give up on that idea quickly!"
Song Yu'er added, looking down on Gu Qianying and her companions from the bottom of her heart.
Gu Qianying remained silent, observing. A paper tiger, she thought; best to ignore it.
"Where is Baili Su? Didn't he wake up? Why isn't he here to see me?"
Having had her fill of mocking Gu Qianying, she raised her head and scanned the surroundings, searching for Baili Su. However, she found nothing.
Could it be that the person hadn't awakened at all? Was the Baili family lying?
"I don't care if he's awake or not. Regardless of our engagement, as long as he's alive, I will marry him!"
With that, she raised her head, cast a challenging glance at Gu Qianying, and then left with her maid, Xia Zhu.
Everything happened so suddenly that the Baili family members were caught off guard.
"Today, we have truly made a spectacle for our esteemed guest!"
Baili Laoye was deeply apologetic. His Baili family was renowned as wealthy merchants throughout Xiyu and even the entire realm, but in the end, in the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, they still couldn't compare to the status conferred by the Song family's position as the King of Xiyu.
"Not at all, you needn't worry."
Gu Qianying offered words of comfort and said no more.
However, the Song family, as the overlords of Xiyu, always got what they wanted, and this matter had become quite troublesome!
Baili Laoye wore a distressed expression. Before long, a vigorous old man emerged from the main hall – Old Master Baili. He had learned of everything that had transpired and was now tearful. He proposed sending Baili Su away, but his wife rejected the idea, and the situation seemed to have reached a deadlock.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yi Hao, who had been missing for a long time, had crept into Baili Su's room.
Baili Su had already awakened and was leaning against his bed, quietly contemplating the day's developments.
"Big brother, you're awake? I thought you would have fainted again!"
"Lie down quickly. You only just woke up, and the toxins are still acting up. Be careful not to move too much, or it will accelerate the spread of the toxins in your body, which will be dangerous!"
Seeing that he was awake, Xiao Yi Hao's face lit up with joy. He sat beside Baili Su and asked.
"How did you know I was poisoned?"
Baili Su didn't treat the person before him as just a child. If he were a simple, guileless child, how could he have discerned that he wasn't dead, but merely deeply poisoned?
He didn't regard the person before him as a child; his medical skills were not low.
Xiao Yi Hao chuckled, peeling an orange from the table and sharing half with Baili Su, saying softly, "I just have this ability. I can tell you're not dead, just poisoned. Although the poison is deep, it's not without a solution!"
"Don't worry! Since we met you on our trip to Xiyu, it means we are destined. My mother is an extremely skilled physician, and she will definitely cure you. Rest assured!"
Xiao Yi Hao's small mouth was full of orange segments. He spoke indistinctly, saying a few words. He hadn't expected the oranges in Xiyu to be so sweet and delicious. He'd have to find some more to eat later.
He smacked his lips, savoring the taste, but then looked at Baili Su. He suddenly felt that from this angle, Baili Su, despite his bruised and pale complexion, still looked very handsome. However, this appearance was gradually overlapping with someone in his memory, but Xiao Yi Hao couldn't recall who that person was. He found it strange but dared not say anything.
Baili Su thought differently. He had long known he was poisoned and wouldn't last much longer. He had anticipated this feigned death, but he hadn't expected the seemingly unintelligent child before him to awaken him with a single needle and claim he could completely clear the toxins from his body. It was indeed very interesting. He was very interested in this child, and also in the woman with the indifferent expression.
He always felt as if he had seen them somewhere before, yet there was an indescribable sense of familiarity.
However, the poison of Tianzhu Man was not easily resolved. There would be plenty of time to meet again, and he could slowly figure out what these people were here for. Although they claimed to be visiting relatives, he didn't believe them!
A man who lived in seclusion, yet lacked neither cunning nor vision. Xiao Yi Hao had failed to notice this. If any conflict arose in the future, Xiao Yi Hao would surely regret saving him today!
Of course, these were all matters for later. When Xiao Yi Hao remembered who this man truly was, he would no longer regret it!