"Impossible!" Pei Lie flatly denied.
The others nodded in agreement.
A person like Pei Xi, with his immoral character and ruthless methods, who could even harm his own father, was clearly devoid of humanity.
If such a person were to ascend the throne, wouldn't everyone be doomed?
The Queen, however, remained silent.
Pei Xi ignored Pei Lie. "Your word doesn't count. Father King is poisoned, and this matter still requires Father King's opinion."
All eyes turned to the man on the throne. He was in his early fifties and had been king for nearly thirty years. However, everyone knew that he was gentle, kind to his people, benevolent to his officials, and loving towards his sons.
But this very nature, being too lenient and deeply afraid of death, made him a difficult choice.
If he were to choose…
The answer was obvious.
Everyone stared intently at him. The King, however, was looking at Pei Xi. Supported by the Queen, he sat on the throne, weak and with a dull ache in his head, his throat unable to utter a sound.
He simply ceased his futile attempts to speak, knowing it would only make him appear ridiculous.
The Queen also looked at him. "What are your wishes?"
The King looked at her, shaking his head. His movements were slow but resolute, his eyes still holding a remnant of fear – the fear of death.
Yet, he refused to compromise.
Not just the Queen and his brothers, but even Pei Xi was astonished.
"Aren't you afraid of dying?" he couldn't help but ask.
The King's lips moved, then he remembered he couldn't speak. He simply stopped, unwilling to look at Pei Xi, and closed his eyes, refusing to engage.
The Queen gently caressed his face. "Don't worry, I won't let you die."
The King's eyes snapped open. He seemed to understand what the Queen was about to do. Grasping her hand, he shook his head repeatedly, wishing he could shout aloud.
No!
He feared death and the loss of his throne, but he remembered his father's teachings even more vividly.
Previously, he hadn't known of Pei Xi's character. Now that he did, he realized how terribly he had erred and that he could never hand the throne over to such a person.
Pei Xi was surprised. "You actually have such backbone."
The King's face turned bright red.
Pei Xi shook his head. After his surprise faded, only indifference remained. "This mixed poison gives you only three days. Without an antidote, he will surely die. By then, I will still ascend the throne, and it will be no different from now."
Shen Qing Qing narrowed her eyes slightly. "You're willing to give us three days to try?"
"Of course."
Pei Xi grinned, looking almost harmless. "Why not?"
Everyone was bewildered.
Normally, to prevent any unforeseen complications, one would force everyone to make a choice immediately and quickly ascend the throne.
Why give them time?
Weren't they worried that something might go wrong?
As if sensing their thoughts, Pei Xi kindly offered an explanation. "I'm a bit abnormal. I don't like things that come too easily. The more setbacks I face, the more excited I become."
Everyone's brows furrowed, utterly speechless.
Such a person actually exists!
"Are you crazy?"
"That's your father! He treated you so well, and when you returned, he was ready to name you crown prince. Now you've poisoned him, are you even human?"
The crowd couldn't help but curse him vehemently.
But Pei Xi's expression remained unchanged in the face of their accusations; he simply didn't care. "Whether I'm human or not has nothing to do with you. But one thing is certain: when I sit in this position, if I decree you are human, you will be human. If I decree you are beasts, you will not be human."
These words were utterly arrogant!
Everyone was so enraged their teeth ached, wishing they could lunge forward and beat him.
However, the guards stood watch menacingly, preventing them from acting. They could only try to kill him with their glares, but such glares, to Pei Xi, were…
Completely ineffective.
Shen Qing Qing frowned and asked, "What if I find the antidote within three days?"
Pei Xi chuckled. "Impossible."
"Are you so sure?"
"The poison I concocted is absolutely impossible to cure," Pei Xi said, one hand behind his back, the other extending, his five slender fingers moving repeatedly. "Five poisons forming a mixed toxin. To detoxify it, you must find the individual antidotes for each of the five poisons and administer them simultaneously. Missing even one will not work."
Furthermore, two of the medicinal ingredients required for these five antidotes were not available in Country H.
Even he himself had to travel far and wide to find the five ingredients to synthesize a single antidote. Because this antidote was so rare, he didn't use this poison lightly.
Upon hearing this, everyone grew anxious.
Their gazes instinctively turned to Shen Qing Qing, but she lowered her eyes, lost in thought, and remained silent for a long time.
Had she no solution?
The Queen's eyes dimmed, a struggle flickering within them. If there was truly no way, then perhaps…
Just then, the butler entered from the door, his expression hurried, his hem still stained with blood.
Shen Qing Qing's eyes darkened.
The butler approached Pei Xi and whispered in his ear, "Master, we couldn't stop those two. The contents of the safe were taken."
"Idiots!"
Pei Xi turned his back to Shen Qing Qing, his face contorted in a silent, furious reprimand.
The butler lowered his head in fear, feeling guilty and ashamed, believing himself to be utterly useless. He had indeed managed to stop the two, yet they had still escaped.
And the items were not recovered.
"Master, don't worry, I've already sent people to pursue them. Even if those two cannot be caught, they won't be able to return for now. I will definitely send more men…"
Suddenly, Pei Xi patted his shoulder. "Good job."
The butler was startled.
But then, catching sight of Shen Qing Qing from the corner of his eye, he suddenly understood. His master was putting on a show. If Shen Qing Qing knew the antidotes had been obtained, she would have no qualms.
He lowered his head and calmly replied, "Thank you for your praise, Master."
Pei Xi turned, a satisfied smile on his face. "Apologies, I had two mice in my house, and I sent the butler to catch them."
Shen Qing Qing asked calmly, "Did you catch them?"
Pei Xi smiled. "Of course. Look at the bloodstains on my butler's clothes. One of the mice was slightly injured. It's just that this mouse was too cunning and almost escaped."
"Is that so?"
Shen Qing Qing's tone was placid, making her unreadable.
Pei Xi's smile suddenly vanished, as if his interest had waned. His tone became listless. "That's enough for today. I don't want to delay any longer."
Everyone looked at him in astonishment.
Pei Xi said slowly, "Queen, choose one of two. It's very fair."
But for the Queen, this was an impossibly difficult choice. If she handed the throne to Pei Xi, she and her children would not survive.
Pei Xi's nature was to cut down to the roots, let alone dealing with a few fierce tigers.
But if she refused…
She looked at the King. His eyes were now unfocused and vacant, as if his consciousness was fading. The Queen's heart felt as though it were being sliced by a knife.
She suddenly looked at Shen Qing Qing, her eyes filled with a desperate and subtle hope.
Because now, her only hope rested with Shen Qing Qing.