TGFH Chapter 35: Life Hanging by a Thread

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Today was the day of Hua Lan and Qin Zhenli’s arranged meeting, a day that would bring resolution to their matter, no matter the outcome. Aside from the two of them, there were many others who were deeply invested in this situation. While the two met in the garden, the main courtyard of the General’s residence hosted a group of people who were chatting and awaiting news. Among them were Bai Yi, Xiao Min, Yun Mozhi, Feng Jing, and Xiao Mo. At that moment, Bai Yi was lounging on a recliner that Xiao Yiran had specially prepared for him, smiling faintly as he listened to Feng Jing speak.

Since the death of Prince Luo, Feng Jing, Xiao Mo, and Mo Yan had all found themselves with more free time. Mo Yan had been loaned out to help in the Marquis of An’s household by Bu Huaiyuan, so he was absent. However, Feng Jing frequently visited the General’s residence, clearly enjoying himself, while Xiao Mo was often dragged along unwillingly to keep him company. Feng Jing was currently the most talkative of the group.

As for Yun Mozhi, apart from occasional visits to the Marquis of An’s household to check on Bu Huaiyuan, he had practically moved into the General’s residence. Naturally, he was present as well. Meanwhile, Bu Huaiyuan and Mu Qi had been busy with their own affairs since the imperial decree for their marriage was announced. Though their wedding preparations were proceeding smoothly, neither mentioned the decree or showed any interest in outside matters.

Originally, Xiao Yiran had been present as well. However, just as Qin Zhenli arrived at the main courtyard, a servant reported that a message had come from the Marquis’ household about a sighting of the Yan Kingdom’s heir, Murong Yao. Xiao Yiran left immediately with Qin Zhenli to investigate. Xiao Mo wanted to join them but was stopped by Xiao Yiran and Feng Jing, who asked him to stay and ensure the safety of the group in their absence.

Thus, the others only knew that the meeting between Hua Lan and Qin Zhenli had seemingly gone well but were unaware of the specifics. They planned to ask Hua Lan about it when she returned. However, despite waiting for a long time, Hua Lan did not reappear. Later, a servant reported that the young lady had left the garden alone, blushing, and had run off without calling anyone. Everyone laughed, teasing that she must have been shy and had hidden away. The conversation then shifted to Bai Yi.

Just as Feng Jing curiously asked Bai Yi and Yun Mozhi about the subject of “pregnant husbands,” another servant arrived with news that Aunt Xiao had come. For a moment, everyone exchanged glances. Finally, Bai Yi and Xiao Min shared a look and decided to have the servants invite Aunt Xiao in, as it would be disrespectful to turn away an elder during the festive season.

Aunt Xiao entered the hall with Murong Yao and another death soldier disguised as her attendants. Feng Jing frowned, pulling Xiao Mo along to stand beside Bai Yi. Bai Yi did not rise but smiled faintly at Aunt Xiao and said softly, “Greetings, Aunt. I must apologize for not standing to greet you; my condition limits me. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Having experienced Aunt Xiao’s repeated hostility, Bai Yi had long since given up on forming any close relationship with her. Since he no longer wished to waste energy on fostering familiarity, he decided that as long as he maintained appearances, that would suffice.

Xiao Min rose to her feet and gave a slight bow without saying much. As a clan relative of the Xiao family, Xiao Mo, though unwilling, still gestured a respectful greeting to Aunt Xiao, recognizing her as a senior member of the family. However, he was quickly pulled back by a pouting Feng Jing.

Aunt Xiao glanced around the room. Though inwardly furious at Bai Yi for what she perceived as his arrogance, she maintained a warm smile and said gently, "It seems everyone's here today. I came specifically to apologize to Bai Yi." She took a tray from Murong Yao's hands and placed it lightly on the table, revealing a small soup tureen. She ladled out a bowl of soup and handed it to Bai Yi. "It was my fault before; my temper got the better of me. But since the emperor has decreed it, I won’t dwell on the past. I made some silver ear and lotus seed soup today, hoping we can all live harmoniously as one family in the future."

Bai Yi subtly raised an eyebrow, surprised that Aunt Xiao had come to make amends. Given her long-standing hostility, he doubted her sincerity. However, since she was smiling and offering an olive branch, he couldn’t exactly scowl and send her away.

With a signal to Yuan'er for support, Bai Yi slowly made his way to the table. After briefly inspecting the bowl of soup, he found nothing unusual but still refrained from taking it. Smiling politely, he said, "Thank you for your kind gesture, Aunt. However, I’ve already eaten and am quite full. Please don’t misunderstand; I appreciate your goodwill."

Internally, Bai Yi mocked himself for how flowery his speech had become since moving into the General's residence. He hardly recognized himself sometimes.

Aunt Xiao’s expression darkened slightly at his refusal. She exclaimed, "Bai Yi, are you rejecting your aunt? Or do you think I’ve poisoned the soup? Ah! Here I come with sincere intentions, only to be rebuffed. It seems this old woman is unwelcome in the General’s residence!" She dramatically pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes, playing the part of a wronged elder.

Bai Yi barely managed to suppress an eye roll. To outsiders, it might appear that he had been bullying Aunt Xiao. Not wanting her theatrics to spoil everyone’s mood, Bai Yi glanced at Yun Mozhi, who gave him a subtle nod indicating it was safe. With a resigned smile, Bai Yi picked up the bowl. "Aunt, your hospitality is appreciated. I wouldn’t dare reject it. I’m simply full from the meal earlier, so please don’t take it the wrong way. I’ll just have a small taste."

He scooped a spoonful of soup and prepared to take a sip. Both Yun Mozhi and Bai Yi, being trained physicians, had examined the soup and found nothing amiss. However, Aunt Xiao’s past actions made everyone wary. The group watched intently, bracing for anything unusual.

Few believed Aunt Xiao would use a lethal poison. For one, she lacked access to toxins capable of eluding even Yun Mozhi’s detection, having spent years confined to the General’s residence. For another, her previous transgressions had been spiteful rather than murderous. Poisoning someone to death was an entirely different matter.

As Aunt Xiao dabbed her face with her handkerchief, her eyes flickered toward Bai Yi. Meanwhile, the two disguised attendants behind her—Murong Yao and another death soldier—kept their heads bowed, subtly monitoring the room. If Bai Yi succumbed to the drug, chaos would follow. Fleeing might not be possible, but taking someone down with them was a backup plan.

"Stop! The soup is poisoned!"

Just as Bai Yi raised the spoon to his lips and sipped a small amount, Hua Lan’s panicked voice rang out from the hall. The disheveled young woman stumbled in, her face pale with terror. When she saw Bai Yi had already swallowed a small sip, her heart nearly stopped. She sprinted toward him, shouting, "Cousin-in-law, spit it out! It’s poisoned!"

Feng Jing reacted instantly, slapping the bowl from Bai Yi’s hands and pulling him back several steps. Xiao Mo leapt forward to shield the group, while Yun Mozhi rushed to Bai Yi’s side to induce vomiting. Xiao Min’s personal maids hurried to shield her from any danger.

Aunt Xiao’s voice rose sharply. "Lan’er, what nonsense are you spouting? There’s no poison here!"

Before Hua Lan could explain, one of the disguised attendants suddenly lunged forward, engaging Xiao Mo in combat. The other raised a hand and hurled a hidden blade toward Bai Yi. With Feng Jing holding Bai Yi steady and Yun Mozhi focused on inducing vomiting, neither noticed the incoming attack. Hua Lan, acting on instinct, threw herself forward and shielded Bai Yi with her own body.

This time, there was no one to shield Hua Lan. The silver blade buried itself in her chest, blood spilling down its handle. Hua Lan staggered, her body swaying before collapsing.

"Lan’er!!!" Aunt Xiao’s anguished cry echoed through the General’s residence.

Xiao Mo quickly subdued the first attacker, while Feng Jing joined in to capture Murong Yao. Meanwhile, Aunt Xiao stood frozen in shock at Hua Lan’s fall. To ensure she didn’t act out again, Xiao Min ordered her maids to restrain Aunt Xiao.

"Urgh… cough, cough…" Bai Yi, with Yun Mozhi’s help, managed to vomit up the small amount of soup he had ingested. Still breathless, he saw Hua Lan collapse and immediately pushed Yun Mozhi. "Mozhi… quickly… check on Lan’er… cough…"

Yun Mozhi nodded, confirming Bai Yi had expelled the soup, and moved to Hua Lan’s side. The girl had already lost consciousness, her chest wound bleeding profusely. Yun Mozhi produced a jade bottle, fed her a pill, and used silver needles to apply pressure to several critical acupoints.

Though the events transpired in moments, it was chaos. Xiao Min stayed composed, dispatching servants to summon the physician Zhong and notify Xiao Yiran. Guards arrived to restrain the unknown attacker. Feng Jing tore away a mask from one of the prisoners, revealing the face of Murong Yao. Sharing a grim look with Xiao Mo, both decided these two needed to be personally watched.

As the chaos subsided, the group turned their attention to Yun Mozhi, intending to ask about Hua Lan's condition. Despite Aunt Xiao’s schemes causing this disaster, Hua Lan had been an innocent victim, even taking a blade meant for Bai Yi. No one wanted to see her harmed further—especially with her marriage possibly imminent.

However, before anyone could voice their concern, Yuan'er’s panicked cries echoed from behind:

“Madam! Madam, what’s happening!? Madam, please wake up! Young Master Yun, come quickly! Madam is bleeding so much!!”

Everyone froze in shock, only to see Bai Yi lying unconscious in Yuan'er’s arms, his face as pale as a sheet. His lower body was soaked in blood, with fresh crimson continuing to flow. The sight made hearts stop. Feng Jing and Xiao Mo, keeping watch over Murong Yao and the others, dared not move, while Xiao Min rushed to Bai Yi's side with a pale face but found herself utterly helpless.

Yun Mozhi, still attending to Hua Lan’s severe wound near the heart, could barely spare a moment. Hearing Yuan'er’s desperate cries, he quickened his needlework to stem Hua Lan's bleeding before immediately rushing to Bai Yi.

He took Bai Yi's wrist and checked his pulse. Yun Mozhi's brow furrowed deeply, his expression dark and grim. He quickly deduced the situation: Bai Yi had been poisoned. Although he’d consumed only a small amount and vomited most of it, the poison was so potent that even a few drops could kill. While not entirely incurable, the poison inflicted extreme suffering. Bai Yi's condition was further complicated by his pregnancy. His fragile fetus, which had only recently stabilized, was now in jeopardy due to the stress. The shock had triggered premature labor, which posed immense risks since the baby was not yet full-term.

Adding to the danger, Bai Yi’s unconscious state prevented him from cooperating during labor. Coupled with the poison and the likelihood of excessive blood loss, both mother and child were at severe risk.

“Cousin Yun, how is Sister-in-law?” Xiao Min asked, her voice trembling with worry.

“Not good,” Yun Mozhi replied gravely. His usual calm expression was replaced with rare severity. He turned to Xiao Min and instructed, “Prepare a room immediately—Bai Yi is going into premature labor. As for Hua Lan, I’ve temporarily stabilized her bleeding, but her injury is grave. We need to extract the blade as soon as possible. Send someone to fetch Xiao Yiran immediately and request additional imperial physicians from the palace.”

Xiao Min quickly moved to carry out his orders. Aunt Xiao, Murong Yao, and the others were securely bound and detained under heavy guard. Yun Mozhi even administered immobilizing medicine to prevent any resistance. Bai Yi and Hua Lan were carefully relocated to separate rooms. While Yun Mozhi had stabilized Hua Lan for now, he left her under Doctor Zhong’s supervision, ensuring she was closely monitored until the imperial physicians could assist with surgery.

The urgency of Bai Yi's situation, however, could not be overstated. The fetus had begun descending, but Bai Yi’s unconscious state and insufficient dilation were causing severe complications. Blood loss continued unchecked, and Bai Yi’s face grew increasingly ashen. If this continued, Bai Yi would die of blood loss before delivering the baby. Yun Mozhi began using golden needles to stimulate Bai Yi’s acupoints, desperately trying to stabilize his condition.

“If we can’t neutralize the poison, Bai Yi won’t regain consciousness,” Yun Mozhi muttered. “Without waking, the baby can’t be delivered safely. If this continues, Bai Yi will die… It seems I’ll have to take a gamble and force him awake with stronger medicine.”

Despite his best efforts with acupuncture, Bai Yi’s condition showed no signs of improvement. Yun Mozhi clenched his fists tightly, frustration and helplessness flashing in his eyes. Resolving the poison itself wasn’t complicated—Yun Mozhi had already analyzed the soup and devised an antidote. The problem lay in Bai Yi’s pregnancy. Administering the antidote too aggressively might harm the fetus. On the other hand, delaying treatment would allow the poison to spread, endangering both mother and child even further.

Forced into a corner, Yun Mozhi made his decision. If Xiao Yiran were here, Yun Mozhi knew he would prioritize Bai Yi’s life without hesitation.

Determined, Yun Mozhi wrote out the antidote prescription and handed it to Yuan'er, urging her to gather the ingredients immediately. He also instructed her to prepare labor-inducing medicine as a contingency. Clearing the room of unnecessary personnel, Yun Mozhi retained only a few trusted attendants to assist.

He would bet everything on this slim chance of survival.

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