Chapter 102: Who is the Assassin?

Li Zhiyun noticed the doubt in his eyes. Though he felt wronged, he understood that saving Li Jiancheng was the priority. Suppressing his frustration, and with Wang Fu’s help, he carefully fed him water mixed with the medicine drop by drop.

In the silence that followed, no one spoke. Everyone stared intently at Li Jiancheng, holding their breath. After what seemed like an eternity, the black veins on his arms and legs began to fade, and the swollen, pitch-black left leg gradually regained its normal color at a visible pace.

Doctor Xu marveled at the pill’s miraculous effects while checking Li Jiancheng’s pulse. He confirmed that the poison in Li Jiancheng’s body had been neutralized and would no longer endanger his life.

Upon hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief—especially Li Shimin, who felt his body go limp. He had truly feared that Li Jiancheng might not make it. Thankfully… Li Zhiyun had been there.

Thinking of this, he said gratefully, “Fifth Brother, thank you.”

Li Zhiyun smiled brightly. “Second Brother just said—brothers don’t need to thank each other.” Then, turning to Li Xuanba, he added with a hint of irritation, “Well? Do you believe me now?”

Li Xuanba looked uncomfortable, turned his head away, and remained silent. At that moment, Li Jiancheng let out a faint groan and slowly opened his eyes.

Seeing this, Li Shimin quickly approached him and asked anxiously, “Big Brother, how are you feeling?”

Li Jiancheng glanced around weakly and replied, “I’m alright... just a bit weak. What happened to me?”

Li Shimin recounted the events and then said, “We owe Fifth Brother our gratitude this time. Without him, we might not have been able to neutralize the poison.” He knew that due to Lady Wan’s influence, Li Jiancheng had harbored resentment towards Li Zhiyun. But regardless, they were blood brothers, and Li Shimin hoped this incident could mend their strained relationship.

With a complex expression, Li Jiancheng nodded at Li Zhiyun and said, “Thank you, Fifth Brother.”

Though simple, those four words stirred deep emotions in Li Zhiyun. Shaking his head repeatedly, he responded, “Big Brother flatters me. It was my duty to help.”

Li Xuanba, growing impatient, asked, “Big Brother, how did you get poisoned? And when did the assassin sneak into the mansion?”

Hearing this, Li Jiancheng’s expression darkened. With Wang Fu’s support, he sat up slightly and glared coldly at Ji Rong, who was trembling on her knees. “The assassin never left. They’ve been hiding amongst us all along, waiting for the right moment to strike!”

“No! I’m not the assassin! I’m innocent!” Ji Rong cried desperately. “If you don’t believe me, Master Li, send someone to Shuangqiao Village to investigate. I never left the village before coming to work at the governor’s residence. How could I possibly be the assassin? Also, my uncle works at the county office—he can vouch for me! I swear I’m innocent!”

After she finished speaking, Li Jiancheng commanded, “Wang Fu, thoroughly inspect her. Check if she’s wearing a human-skin mask.”

Wang Fu complied, roughly examining Ji Rong’s face and neck. Shaking his head, he reported, “Master Li, she isn’t wearing a mask.”

Li Jiancheng nodded slightly and stared piercingly at the terrified Ji Rong. “Speak. What’s your connection to the female assassin? Where is she hiding now? Who is behind all this? And how many accomplices do you have?”

Ji Rong crawled forward on her knees, tears streaming down her face. “I’m innocent, Master Li! Someone must have slipped poison into the medicine without my knowledge. If I truly wanted to harm you, I could have done so from the very beginning instead of waiting until now.”

Li Jiancheng sneered. “During the previous attempts, Doctor Xu was present, making it inconvenient for you to tamper with the medicine. But later, after gaining my trust, you took charge of changing the medicine yourself and plotted to kill me. Ji Rong, this is your last chance. If you don’t tell the truth, neither you nor your family will survive.” He had never been a merciful man, and taking lives meant little to him.

“No! Master Li, please! I’m innocent!” Ji Rong pleaded repeatedly. But seeing that Li Jiancheng wasn’t convinced, he lost patience. Coldly, he ordered, “Take her away and beat her. If she still refuses to talk, throw her into the dungeon. Keep a close eye on her—don’t let her escape!”

Despite Ji Rong’s desperate struggles and cries of innocence, she was dragged away without mercy. Just as she was about to be pulled out of the door, she suddenly remembered something and shouted, “Master Li! I know who poisoned you!”

Li Jiancheng’s expression shifted. Signaling for the servants to stop, he asked, “Who?”

Ji Rong quickly replied, “It’s Zhang Chenyue—it must have been her!”

Li Jiancheng vaguely recalled the name. “Why her?”

“Back then, she secretly sneaked into my room. At first, I thought she came for the formula of the tendon-renewing powder, but now I realize her true intention was to harm you, with stealing the formula being secondary,” Ji Rong explained, seizing the opportunity to shift blame onto Zhang Chenyue. “I had just ground the herbs into powder and placed them on the table. The medicine used these past two times was made from that same powder.”

Listening to their exchange, Li Shimin cautiously asked, “Big Brother, is Zhang Chenyue the dancer you expelled not long ago?”

“Yes, it’s her,” Li Jiancheng confirmed. Turning to Wang Fu, he instructed, “Go find Chief Steward Lin. He should have Zhang Chenyue’s address. Bring her here.”

“At once,” Wang Fu replied. By the time Steward Lin returned, it was already dusk. Zhang Chenyue, limping from her recent injuries, entered the room. Before she could steady herself, Ji Rong lunged at her, grabbing her hair and shouting angrily, “You vile woman! What grudge do you hold against me to frame me like this? You’re heartless!”

Zhang Chenyue struggled, bewildered. “What nonsense are you spouting, you crazy woman? When did I ever harm you?!”

Ji Rong spat back, “Who else could it be but you? I always thought you were just mischievous, but I never imagined you’d collude with the assassin to harm Master Li through my hands. Luckily, Master Li survived unscathed. Otherwise, you’d have succeeded in killing him.”

Zhang Chenyue grew even more confused. “When did I ever conspire with an assassin or harm Master Li? Your accusations are absurd!”

“Enough!” Li Xuanba snapped, irritated. “This isn’t some common street brawl. Both of you, stop this nonsense at once!”

At his command, Ji Rong reluctantly released Zhang Chenyue. Once both women stood apart, Li Shimin asked Zhang Chenyue, “What were you doing sneaking into Ji Rong’s quarters?”

At this question, Zhang Chenyue’s expression changed, and she stammered uncomfortably, “I—I already told you. I went to visit her. I didn’t expect her to falsely accuse me of stealing her formula and slander me to Master Li, resulting in my expulsion.” With feigned innocence, she added tearfully, “Though I come from a humble farming family, my parents taught me well. They always warned me never to take what doesn’t belong to me. I am innocent!”