She paused, then added, "But actually, I wasn't trying to save her."
All three pairs of eyes fell on her.
The old man frowned, "Then it was an accident?"
Shen Qingqing lowered her gaze, a hint of indifference and coldness on her beautiful face. "She said she saw a medicinal herb by the cliff and asked me to go identify it."
She hadn't doubted him and went to look.
Suddenly, a shove came from behind. As quick as she was, she only managed to grab a button from the person pushing her.
Beyond that, she didn't even see who it was.
"It must be that brat!" the old man exclaimed, standing up abruptly, his voice filled with rage. "I'll go settle things with that brat right now!"
"Wait a moment."
King stopped him.
The old man grumbled, "What do you mean, defending that brat?"
King whispered, "Of course not. But as the junior apprentice says, she didn't see who pushed her. And Ai Qi's public story is that she saved her. She's acknowledged this life-saving debt. Now, if we go back on our word and say she pushed her, do you think people will believe us?"
The old man froze.
He was never good at these kinds of schemes and tricks.
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Give me the button."
King walked to the bedside and extended his hand.
Shen Qingqing placed the button in his palm. It was a very ordinary button, found everywhere. He even vaguely remembered that almost everyone on the island had one.
With just this button, it was impossible to identify who had pushed her.
Fu Jingshu grasped the small hand on his shoulder and slowly stood up. Before he could move, someone embraced his waist from behind, their small, exquisite face pressing against the small of his back.
"You're not allowed to go."
"Qingqing, let go."
Even at the height of his anger, his voice remained gentle when facing his wife.
Shen Qingqing shook her head, holding him tightly. "I know what you're going to do, but you're not allowed to go."
Fu Jingshu took a deep breath, placed his large hand over the small one on his waist, knitted his brows, and his tone grew a little firmer. "Be good."
"No."
She uttered a single word, but it was incredibly firm.
King, holding the button, retreated, and together with the old man, watched the couple's spat with keen interest.
"Who do you think will win?" he asked in a low voice.
The old man snorted, "Do I even need to ask? It'll be the girl, of course."
That brat is completely under the girl's thumb. No matter how tough he seems now, if the girl pulls out her tricks later, he'll obediently listen.
"Qingqing..."
Fu Jingshu's anger churned within him, like molten lava, desperately needing an outlet.
But the one restraining him was someone he absolutely could not harm. Therefore, even in his extreme forbearance, he had to maintain his composure and coax her gently.
"Be good, I'll be back soon."
Shen Qingqing turned him around. His body was stiff and straight, and his exquisitely handsome face was devoid of any expression.
Only when his eyes fell on her did a flicker of tenderness appear.
She ignored the presence of others in the room and kissed him. The kiss was soft and moving, quickly calming the man's agitated emotions.
"Qing..."
As soon as he opened his mouth, she seized the opportunity, and now he couldn't utter a single word.
When the kiss ended, both of them were breathing a little rapidly, but the atmosphere between them had become thick and sweet, as if honey had been added.
"I'll handle it myself. I already have a way. You're not allowed to interfere."
Her red lips were slightly swollen, making her look even more alluring. Her voice was soft and sweet, as if she were coquettishly pleading.
How could he refuse? With a single sentence, he said, "Then you have to promise me one thing."
"Tell me."
He leaned down and whispered something in her ear.
Shen Qingqing's face flushed, and after a moment of hesitation, she said, "Alright, I promise."
"See?" The old man on the other side gloated. "I told you, the brat would be the one to compromise in the end."
King looked at him with an expression of disappointment, as if he were steel that had failed to live up to his expectations. "You're truly disappointing!"
Yet, despite his words, there was a smile and relief in his eyes.
He was happy to see his little apprentice being doted on.
Shen Qingqing's gaze swept over the two of them. She suddenly remembered that their intimate moment had been witnessed by everyone, and she felt an unusual awkwardness and shyness.
She cleared her throat and said, "We can put other matters aside for now. There's something more important."
King frowned, "What is it?"
Shen Qingqing remained silent, her eyes fixed on the old man.
The old man suddenly sighed, a look of worry on his face. This expression surprised King. He instinctively looked at Fu Jingshu.
But Fu Jingshu appeared equally indifferent, as if he knew nothing.
"Are you two hiding something from us?"
"You'll know in a moment."
Almost as soon as Shen Qingqing finished speaking, a hurried knocking sounded at the door. King went to open it, and Butler Su stood there.
His expression was extremely grim.
"You all need to go downstairs quickly. The little prince is not well."
...
When everyone arrived downstairs, Pei Ji was lying on the sofa, his eyes tightly shut, trembling all over, his breathing shallow, looking as if he was on his last breaths.
Everyone gathered around him, yet maintained a distance, none daring to get too close.
No one knew what had happened to Pei Ji. He had been fine just moments ago, talking with Aisen, and then suddenly fainted.
Upon seeing Shen Qingqing and the old man descend, everyone looked as if they had found their savior.
Shen Qingqing stepped forward to examine him. "As expected, this poison is extremely potent."
The old man hummed in agreement, "Then it seems we still need that thing."
Their conversation left everyone bewildered.
Someone couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you already detoxify him? How can it still be so potent? And why did he faint?"
Shen Qingqing said calmly, "That was only temporary detoxification. The person who developed this poison deliberately made it so that the poisoned person wouldn't wake up. They added many mixed poisons. Now, if we want to save him, we must find the formula for the poison to understand how to counteract it."
Hearing this, Butler Su's face turned extremely grim. "Are you saying that this poison cannot be cured, and the little prince is still in mortal danger?"
"That's not entirely true."
Before Butler Su's expression could ease, Shen Qingqing added, "The old man and I can work together to temporarily keep him alive, but we must find the secret formula for the poison as soon as possible. Otherwise... he will still die; it's only a matter of time."
Butler Su said hatefully, "Didn't you say you had a way to cure him?"
"I've done my best."
"Bullshit, 'done my best'!"
Butler Su stepped forward, reaching out to grab her, but the old man blocked him. Butler Su then grabbed the old man's collar, his usually indifferent face contorting with ferocity.
"Do you know who he is? If anything happens to him, none of you here will escape responsibility!"
The old man was short in stature. Although skilled in poison, being grabbed by the tall and burly Butler Su caused him to be lifted directly off the ground.
His eyes turned sinister. "Let go."
Butler Su knitted his brows. "If you can't save the little prince, don't blame me for being rude."
Suddenly, a pale white hand landed on his wrist. Without any apparent force, Butler Su's hand ached, and he involuntarily loosened his grip.