Chapter 104: Feigning Death

Late at night.

Su Qingmeng searched the entire Beiling Medical Hall, holding dozens of medicine bottles of various sizes in her arms, each containing secret antidotes from the major medical halls.

Returning to the Wang Mansion, Su Xiyan was already asleep.

Chu Qi had guarded outside Li Yunji’s room all night.

Seeing Su Qingmeng return with reddened eyes, she greeted her.

Su Qingmeng nodded slightly and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Inside, Li Yunji’s weak voice came from within.

Su Qingmeng sighed softly and pushed the door open.

She was taken aback by Li Yunji’s strange posture, squatting on one leg, and asked, “What are you doing?”

Shiyi feigned sadness and explained, “Young master’s poison has reached his marrow; this is a sign of disorder throughout his entire meridian system.”

Li Yunji nodded.

Su Qingmeng glanced at him, half doubting, “But why do I feel like his complexion has improved a lot?”

“That is the ‘returning light before death’!” Shiyi quickly responded.

Su Qingmeng’s expression grew even graver as she let out a long sigh.

She paced over to Li Yunji, placed the medicine bottles down, and anxiously said, “Quick, take a look—see if any of these can be used.”

Shiyi bent down, pretending to search through them. After a moment, he shook his head with a sigh, “Miss Qingmeng, you don’t need to look anymore. There is no antidote.”

Su Qingmeng said nothing and turned to leave in search of more medicine, but Li Yunji called out to stop her.

“Don’t be too sad,” Li Yunji comforted. “Death is inevitable.”

Su Qingmeng’s expression darkened slightly, her crimson lips parted, but she hesitated to speak.

It was as if she had a thousand words but didn’t know where to begin.

She silently stepped out the door.

“Stop.”

Watching her retreating figure, Li Yunji sighed deeply, feeling a pang of guilt.

“I have something to tell you.”

The door closed behind them. Li Yunji and Shiyi exchanged a glance, and Shiyi understood, beginning to explain patiently.

“So, that means the young master doesn’t have to die!” Chu Qi suddenly beamed with joy, her voice betraying her excitement.

“Shh—” Li Yunji hushed her, “lower your voice.”

Chu Qi then suppressed her smile.

Su Qingmeng remained silent, staring intently at Li Yunji with a complex expression.

It was hard to tell if she was happy or angry.

“Why didn’t you say this earlier?” Su Qingmeng’s voice was cold, her gaze sharp as a blade.

“How could I know if someone was secretly watching?” Li Yunji pouted, “I wasn’t going to tell you at all.”

“Then why tell us now?” Su Qingmeng demanded.

Li Yunji paused, sighed, and said, “Seeing you causing such a fuss isn’t a solution.”

“Do you think I’m a hindrance?” Su Qingmeng snapped.

“What else?” Li Yunji shot back, “You run around seeking doctors and medicine every day—doesn’t that just tell others I’m not dead?”

“You want to die, huh? Fine, then die!” Su Qingmeng’s anger flared.

Seeing her so aggressive, Li Yunji suddenly lost his temper, “Who says I have to? I’m not dying now! If you dare, bite me!”

“Say that again!”

“Bite me!”

“...”

Without warning, the two erupted into a fierce quarrel, spitting words like flying sparks.

Shiyi and Chu Qi, caught in the middle, felt utterly bewildered.

“Why are they suddenly fighting over nothing?” Chu Qi asked, puzzled.

Shiyi replied, “It’s just stubborn pride.”

“One worries because they care.”

“The other fears losing the other.”

“But neither will admit it! Ah, it’s just a game they play.”

His tone was full of helplessness.

“Why don’t you speak for them?” Chu Qi suggested. “This can’t go on.”

But Shiyi was unconvinced, shrugging, “What’s the point of saying it out loud?”

“Some things are better left unspoken.”

Chu Qi nodded, half understanding.

Their bickering reached a stalemate. Su Qingmeng took a sip of water to soothe her throat, while Li Yunji switched to a plank position and continued to argue.

Neither would yield.

Only when both were exhausted did they pause.

“Young master, what are your plans now?” Shiyi seized the moment to ask.

Li Yunji exhaled deeply and said solemnly, “Since the poisoner dared to use such a vicious method, they surely want me dead.”

“Then let them have their wish.”

“We will play this act to the end over the next few days.”

Shiyi’s eyes widened. “You mean, fake death?”

Li Yunji nodded.

“But can we fool the prince and General Zhou?” Chu Qi frowned slightly. “They are both third-rank experts.”

“Of course not.” Li Yunji replied calmly.

As he spoke, he involuntarily flipped into a handstand.

“What then?”

Li Yunji shrugged off the question casually, “My second uncle has long known I’m fine.”

“But today he hurriedly brought medicine…” Su Qingmeng’s mind suddenly lit up. “No wonder he looked so angry.”

“He wanted to use your injury as an excuse to cause trouble for the Zhou family!”

“The anger is genuine,” Li Yunji nodded slightly, “but so is the ulterior motive.”

He glanced at Su Qingmeng, surprised at the progress she had made recently.

“What about Zhou Li?” Su Qingmeng paused, then asked, “How will you fool him?”

“No need to fool him.” Li Yunji chuckled lightly. “He’s deeply involved in my poisoning.”

“Even if he knew I was faking death, he wouldn’t expose it.”

“After all, he wants to uncover the truth more than we do.”

Afterwards, they exchanged glances and nodded.

Su Qingmeng’s anger still simmered beneath her cold snort as she turned and left.

...

Two days later.

News of Li Yunji’s death by poisoning spread throughout Beiling City.

Outside the walls, laughter and cheers rang out, many raising their arms in triumph over his sudden demise.

Within the Beiling Prince’s Mansion, white silk banners fluttered in the air.

A heavy atmosphere of sorrow filled the air.

Li Yunji lay quietly in his coffin, his face serene and peaceful.

This was thanks to Shiyi’s blow to the back of his head that morning.

Li Yi and Zhou Li stood before the hall, expressionless as they gazed at the coffin.

“That brat’s up to some trick again,” Li Yi frowned, pressing his mustache downward.

“Putting on a show,” Zhou Li snorted coldly.

With that, he turned to leave.

“General Zhou,” Li Yi called after him sternly, “I know you blame the heir Li Shizi for Zhou Jingzhi’s case.”

“But don’t forget, he framed the heir first.”

“If you want revenge, you should keep it within limits!”

Clearly, this was a rebuke for Zhou Li’s reckless endangerment of Li Yunji.

Zhou Li turned his back, standing tall and imposing without anger.

“Speaking of framing, General Li, have you forgotten who gave the Beiling Scourge its notorious title? It was Li Shizi!”

With that, he swept his sleeves and strode away briskly.

Li Yi’s eyes narrowed, furious at Zhou Li’s words.

His mustache twitched with the muscles beneath, a murderous gleam flaring in his gaze.

“You old curmudgeon! When I succeed, you’ll be the first to die!”