The Palace still hadn’t found Prince Wen De. He vanished like Song Yi, as if evaporating into thin air.
Bai Ruozhu, on a whim, decided to visit Song Yi’s family. Naturally, Jiang Yichun accompanied her. They inquired around, quickly arriving near Song Yi’s ho.
Bai Ruozhu pointed to the wall top, and Jiang Yichun understood. The two jumped onto the wall and hid in Song Yi’s yard.
The yard remained unchanged, still showing no sign of Song Yi, nor any traces of Poisonous Insect.
Suddenly, a sobbing sound ca from inside the house. Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun exchanged a glance and quietly moved to the back window.
The window wasn’t fully closed. They saw a Fusang woman inside wiping her tears, looking extrely haggard. It was Song Yi’s wife, Xizi.
Nowadays, many knew Song Yi was a Poisonous Insect master and had plotted harm against the Emperor. If it weren’t for the Emperor’s benevolence, soone else would have punished his wife upon failing to find Song Yi.
Just then, a knocking sound ca from outside. Xizi’s face changed, she hurriedly wiped her tears and quickly went to open the door.
An elder from Fusang rushed in, along with two middle-aged n.
As soon as the elder entered the yard, he slapped Xizi. "Your brother ca to take you ho, why did you refuse? You married a sinister and ruthless man not by your choice. But why won’t you separate from him and return to live with your family?"
Xizi covered her face and started crying again, suddenly kneeling to the ground, "I’m an unfilial daughter, but I’ve been married to him for over ten years, he’s treated well. How can I leave him during his hardship? I want to wait for his return and ask him directly if the rumors are true!"
Bai Ruozhu shook her head in the back, thinking she was indeed a stubborn woman.
The elder, furious, kicked her. "It’s co to this, and you still hold out hope for him? Because of what he did, our family is ridiculed by neighbors daily, even relatives avoid us, afraid of being implicated by any Poisonous Insect. Do you want to drive to my grave?"
"But he’s always appeared fine, there’s never been anything strange around him, not even bugs in the house. Maybe he’s been controlled by soone, and it wasn’t his doing," Xizi cried.
One of Xizi’s brothers said, "Don’t you think about it? Every house has bugs. Kyoto is damp, and when the weather is hot, cockroaches are bound to appear. Why doesn’t your house have any? It’s probably because regular bugs fear Poisonous Insect, right."
Xizi’s face turned pale, she staggered a bit, "I—I don’t know, I just want to wait for his return, and clear up things with him before separating. I’ll certainly go back ho to care for father and mother."
"You’re truly obstinate and foolish!" the elder shouted, "Take her back for , I can’t let her continue with this nonsense."
Her two brothers reached out to grab her when a man’s voice ca from the door, "Wait!"
Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun hurriedly looked over, wondering who might be coming to Song Yi’s house.
A middle-aged man walked into the yard, politely greeted Xizi’s family.
"Excuse . I’m Jingshang, here to visit my sister-in-law." Jingshang glanced at Xizi, "What’s going on here?"
"Who are you?" the elder asked.
"I’m Song Yi’s friend, often visiting, my sister-in-law knows ," Jingshang said, "Forgive my boldness. If she leaves with you now, wouldn’t it invite outsiders to gossip about your family? Her staying poses no disturbance, as the Emperor hasn’t punished her, clearly indicating the fault lies with Song Yi, not her."
Xizi gave him a grateful look.
Bai Ruozhu exchanged a knowing look with Jiang Yichun, feeling Jingshang’s presence was peculiar and deciding to keep an eye on him.
Jiang Yichun nodded lightly, showcasing their ability to communicate through re glances.
In the end, it wasn’t clear whether Jingshang’s persuasion worked or if Xizi’s family felt inconvenient with an outsider present, they didn’t forcibly take Xizi but left disappointed.
Xizi kept crying, Jingshang comforted her briefly. Eventually, feeling his staying alone was inappropriate, he got up and left.
Bai Ruozhu used so dicine, fainted Xizi, then sent Xiaomao to inspect her. Fortunately, Xizi wasn’t infected by Poisonous Insect, possibly revealing Song Yi’s remaining affection for his wife.
Or perhaps he’s afraid soone close being infected would expose him?
Afterward, she and Jiang Yichun pursued Jingshang, quickly locating him as Song Yi’s early acquaintance whom they sought contact with.
At the ti, Song Yi seed reluctant to get close to them, yet Jingshang appeared enthusiastic, considering interacting with Zhongyuan’s envoy a great opportunity.
The pair approached and directly struck Jingshang’s acupoint, causing him to faint, and Xiaomao was sent for inspection.
Xiaomao laid on Jingshang’s brow for a long ti, only to conclude he wasn’t infected by Poisonous Insect.
"That’s odd, was he not sent by Song Yi, why did he co unexpectedly?" Bai Ruozhu mused, "He seed profit-driven during prior contacts, Song Yi now facing infamy, he doesn’t avoid him, rather ran to his door."
Jiang Yichun glanced at Jingshang, saying, "You don’t understand a man’s thoughts, but I can tell at a glance. He’s here for Song Yi’s wife."
"What? Are you saying he has a liaison with Xizi? Doesn’t seem like it. They were alone earlier and did nothing," Bai Ruozhu replied.
"Xizi doesn’t have feelings for him, but he does for Xizi, and it’s not recent. With Song Yi’s troubles now, he finally sees an opportunity. I recall investigating Jingshang’s background before. He’s a widower who never remarried," Jiang Yichun explained.
A widower being a man whose wife died, never remarried referred to not taking another wife. Bai Ruozhu rolled her eyes, annoyed by his scholarly explanation.
"He hasn’t been infected by Song Yi, seems we won’t find clues here. Let’s go back," Bai Ruozhu decided, annoyed, casually kicking the unconscious Jingshang, unexpectedly causing sothing to roll out from his sleeve.
"Eh, what’s this?" Bai Ruozhu squatted to inspect, refraining from imdiate handling.
Jiang Yichun leaned in to view, "Looks like a wooden carved walnut?"
Bai Ruozhu released Xiaomao to check for Poisonous Insect connections, the result showing no sign of Poisonous Insect Qi.
To avoid revealing themselves, they refrained from touching the wooden carved walnut and quickly departed.
After so ti, Jingshang woke, rubbed his head, looking puzzled, "Why did I suddenly faint?"
He turned, noticed the wooden carved walnut nearby, imdiately picked it up and carefully returned it to his sleeve.
Suddenly, his face changed dramatically, murmuring, "Have I been infected by Song Yi’s Poisonous Insect? I need to find soone to check!"
After speaking, he hurried toward his ho, not bothering with the dust on his clothes.
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