Chapter 49: The Path of Love Is Fraught with Hardships and Heartache (Part Two)

"Exactly the same?" Yun Ci looked at Luan Qing in shock. "Could it be confirmed?"

"I would never speak without absolute certainty," Luan Qing replied coolly. "The late Marquis was kind to my entire clan, brought me into his household, and, fearing others would slander me and bring me harm, insisted on marrying me. Outsiders all claim I bewitched and cursed him—for he died three months after I entered the house—but we know well enough the true cause of his death."

At these words, both Qu Fang and Yun Ci fell silent.

Fourth Concubine Luan Qing was only twenty-five this year. When she joined the household ten years ago, Yun Ci was not yet eleven, but old enough to understand things. He found it absurd that his father would take a fifteen-year-old girl as a concubine.

Yet, when Luan Qing entered the house, his mother did not object—a reaction starkly different from when his father married the second and third concubines. Yun Ci knew that the third concubine, Wen, had followed his father for many years and received his true affection, but in terms of status, his mother would rather a maid-born woman, Hua, enter the house first than recognize Wen.

For this, his mother quarreled with his father for a long time. In the end, only Wen’s gentleness and understanding won his mother’s approval, and when she entered the house, she was already eight months pregnant. This made Yun Ci understand that, jealous and harsh as his mother might be, she cared deeply for the Yun lineage.

This was also why Yun Ci was so anxious for Chu Xiu to bear a child.

The memories were vivid. When Luan Qing arrived, his mother’s uncharacteristic acceptance had puzzled him. Only later did he learn the reason: Luan Qing had diagnosed his father with a long-standing love-poison and discovered he had already passed it to his wife, who then transmitted it to her unborn child.

Love-poison was a unique art of the Jiang clan, as its name suggested, passed between man and woman. If a man bore the poison, it would be transmitted to the first woman he lay with, and if she conceived, the child would inherit it.

What was strange was that the poison’s symptoms varied from person to person. It could only be administered to men, and would only affect the first woman and her first child.

Thus, Second Concubine Hua and Third Concubine Wen were unaffected, as were Yun Qi and Yun Xian.

As Yun Ci recalled the past, Qu Fang sighed and spoke: "When the late Marquis and Lady Dowager were poisoned, neither showed symptoms. Only you, as the legitimate eldest son, were born with deep-seated fetal poison. I was entrusted by the Marquis to cure you, but it was like feeling my way across a river in the dark. I knew how to expel the poison, but not how it began. Had I known, I would have realized that both the Marquis and the Lady Dowager were poisoned."

He sighed again. "It was my lack of skill that left traces of the poison within you. That is why, when you tried to save the young marquis, you ended up with a lifelong injury to your leg."

All was fated, beyond human control. The memories filled Yun Ci with melancholy, and the thought of Chu Xiu’s poisoning deepened his worry. Yet if it was love-poison, it was not without cure.

"Divine Physician Qu, you seem to have strayed from the topic," Luan Qing interrupted, bringing them back to the present. "You two need not worry so much. Love-poison is common among my Jiang clan. The late Marquis died only because the poison had long festered within him, and he insisted on saving the Lady Dowager at the cost of his own life."

Yun Ci could only fall silent at this. Back then, Luan Qing had diagnosed his father with love-poison and was brought into the Yun household. Yun Ci himself had been under Qu Fang’s care for three years and, to save Shen Yu, had triggered the poison in his leg. By then, most of the love-poison was already expelled and his life was not in danger.

Yet his father and mother, though they showed no symptoms, were both treated by Luan Qing at his father’s insistence, fearing the mastermind would strike again. His mother was cured, but his father...

To this day, his mother believed her husband died from the years of love-poison, but knew nothing of why he was so desperate for the cure, nor of the deeper truth. Yun Ci himself only learned the details later from Luan Qing.

It turned out his father and mother had been poisoned for over ten years. Though it never flared, the toxins ran deep. During the cure, both suffered signs of organ failure, but his father insisted Luan Qing save his wife first, losing his own chance at recovery and dying from the years of accumulated poison. Before death, he ordered Luan Qing to hide the true cause from his wife.

For years, his mother believed her husband’s true love was Third Concubine Wen, and this resentment gave her the strength to endure. If she knew the truth, Yun Ci feared she would not wish to live. So, he obeyed his father’s dying wish and kept the secret from her.

Sometimes love makes one weak, while hatred gives one strength.

He had never expected the same poison to reappear in the Yun household after twenty years. But this time, having learned from the past, Yun Ci was calm and composed.

"Luan Qing," he addressed her by name when they were alone, "can you cure the poison in me and Chu Xiu?"

"Naturally. The poison is recent. If treated promptly, and with careful recovery, there will be no lasting harm," Luan Qing replied, her tone cold but confident.

Relief swept through Yun Ci, and he said solemnly, "In that case, Luan Qing, I entrust both our lives to you."

Luan Qing nodded with equal gravity. "Rest assured, Marquis. I have enjoyed the hospitality of the Yun household for years; it is only right I do my part. However..."

"But what?" Yun Ci pressed.

"However, one herb is needed for the cure, and it grows only in my homeland. When I met the Marquis in the Jiang lands and learned of his affliction, I brought some with me. Now, to cure you both, I must return to gather more," Luan Qing explained.

Yun Ci frowned. "How long would the journey take?"

"If I hurry, three months at most," said Luan Qing. "The herb grows on my clan’s sacred mountain, but it isn’t rare and is easy to pick. I will return as soon as I have it."

She thought for a moment and added, "During this period, for the sake of your health and Miss Chu Xiu’s, it would be best if Divine Physician Qu stays to care for you."

"It will be my honor," Qu Fang replied before Yun Ci could even ask.

"Then prepare to depart tomorrow, if you can," Yun Ci said, seeking Luan Qing’s agreement.

"At your command," she replied, her icy beauty unmoved. Rarely did she offer comfort, but now she said, "Marquis, though this poison escapes most physicians, it is not incurable once discovered. Rather than worry about the poison, you should consider who administered it."

Her words struck directly at Yun Ci’s heart. Twenty years ago, his father was poisoned; now, he himself. Even if not the same hand, it must be the same group.

Moreover, the one who administered the poison might not be close to the Yun family, but the mastermind surely was. Otherwise, why wait until he brought Chu Xiu back from Fangzhou to strike?

Two poisonings, twenty years apart, both targeting the Marquis of Lixin—the intent was clear.

A wry self-mockery rose in Yun Ci’s heart. While he deceived himself, someone had already seen through his feelings for Chu Xiu and laid this trap.

Who could it be? Who could plot for more than twenty years? The Yun clan was always a target, despite striving to keep out of trouble.

Now, there were only two possibilities: either a Yun clansman coveted the title of Marquis of Lixin, or an enemy wished to wipe out the main line, or even the entire Yun clan.

Yun Ci did not want to suspect anyone without proof. But if he allowed himself to consider it, there was no one in the household wholly above suspicion. If he died without an heir, by the order of succession...

No! It could not be his two half-brothers! He would rather believe the Yun clan’s many enemies were responsible than suspect his own kin.

But if it were an enemy, why not use a swift and deadly poison, rather than one that took its time?

He turned the matter over and over in his mind, but the more he thought, the less he understood.

Seeing Yun Ci’s deepening frown, Qu Fang tried to comfort him. "Marquis, do not dwell on this. It cannot be solved in a day. For now, you must take care of yourself and give your enemies no further chance."

Yun Ci agreed. "Then I must trouble you these days, Divine Physician."

Qu Fang was about to reply when Zhu Ying entered to report, "Marquis, the Third Master requests an audience."

Yun Xian? Yun Ci looked to Luan Qing. "Go prepare for the journey. I’ll handle this. Until then, say nothing to anyone."

"I understand," Luan Qing replied. "I’ll return to Lengbo Courtyard."

Yun Ci nodded and told Zhu Ying, "Have Yun Zhong arrange quarters for Divine Physician Qu. He’ll be staying for some time."

Zhu Ying obeyed, gesturing for Qu Fang to follow. Luan Qing trailed behind them.

As the three left, they encountered Yun Xian entering. He paused to let Zhu Ying and Qu Fang pass, nodding courteously. Once they had gone, he moved forward, only to nearly bump into Luan Qing.

Startled, Yun Xian instinctively reached to steady her. When he saw who it was, he greeted her, "Fourth Aunt."

Luan Qing was used to being solitary, speaking only with Yun Ci and his mother. She found it odd that Yun Xian, only seven or eight years her junior, called her "Fourth Aunt," but merely nodded. "Greetings, Third Master," she said and walked on.

Yun Xian watched her go, frowning thoughtfully, then composed himself and entered Yun Ci’s study. "Elder Brother, things are unsettled in Chanzhou. Our bank and grain business have run into trouble, and the canal traffic is blocked. I wish to go there myself to look into it."

Chanzhou? Was that not Luan Qing’s homeland, where the Jiang clan resided? Yun Ci realized that if Luan Qing suddenly vanished from the household, it would arouse suspicion. Since Yun Xian was heading to Chanzhou, why not...

"Third Brother, Fourth Aunt mentioned she misses home and wishes to visit the Jiang lands. Since you’re going to Chanzhou, why not take her with you? You can look out for each other," Yun Ci suggested. He had no fear for Luan Qing—skilled in poison and gu, few could threaten her.

Besides, by sending Yun Xian with Luan Qing, he could clear his favorite brother of suspicion. If the poisoning had nothing to do with the third branch, Yun Xian would surely see her home safely; if it did, he would not dare act rashly now.

He would also send people to watch secretly along the way and give instructions to observe carefully at each stop. Perhaps some clue would turn up.

The more Yun Ci considered it, the more feasible it seemed. He looked to Yun Xian. "There’s no time to lose. Set out tomorrow."

"The sooner the better. I agree," Yun Xian replied.

Outside, the sky was clear and blue, the light fading, with a hint of summer rain in the air. Yun Ci gazed silently, a sigh in his heart. His path with Chu Xiu was fated to be difficult...