In times of chaos and famine, I traded one pound of rice for two royal flushes.

When the half of the military tally engraved with a tiger totem was placed on the desk, Liu Chengen's pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints.

Wei family!

The Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion!

If the medical record containing the earth-shattering secret was a knife held to his throat, then this half of the tiger tally was the boulder that crushed the last line of defense in his heart.

He looked at Qin Shaolang, this seemingly harmless young man, who at this moment appeared more terrifying than Wei Zhongxian in his eyes.

"What...what exactly do you want to do?" Liu Chengyu's voice trembled slightly.

"What I want to do is not important." Qin Shaolang pushed the medical record in front of him. "What is important is what you, Minister, want to do."

"Is it to continue pretending to be deaf and dumb, waiting to 'die' on your bed three years later, so that the people behind you can rest easy?"

"Or... take back what is rightfully yours?"

Liu Chengen's breathing became rapid, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Of course he didn't want to die.

They didn't want the power they had painstakingly built up over a lifetime to end up benefiting others.

"Wei Zhongxian is powerful and has the emperor's favor; we can't touch him," Liu Chengen said through gritted teeth, expressing his concerns.

"Who said we were going to touch him?" Qin Shaolang laughed. "Sometimes, to bring down a big tree, you don't need to do it yourself. You just need to let the woodworms on the tree bore it out themselves."

He picked up the pen on the table, dipped it in ink, and wrote a person's name on the white paper next to him.

Xue Yi.

"Does this person remind you, sir?"

Liu Chengen narrowed his eyes: "Wei Zhongxian's adopted son, nothing more than a ruthless henchman who kills without blinking an eye."

"He's more than just a lackey," Qin Shaolang said with certainty. "He's also a master of poison and needlework. The poison in your body, sir, is most likely from his handiwork."

"What?!" Liu Chengen exclaimed in shock.

"Moreover, this man is extremely ambitious and is by no means someone who would willingly remain subservient to others. His staying by Wei Zhongxian's side is merely a matter of mutual exploitation." Qin Shaolang looked at Liu Chengen. "Two tigers cannot share one mountain, and there is no room for a second 'Wei Zhongxian' by Wei Zhongxian's side either. Sooner or later, they will clash."

"All we need to do is step in and clean up the mess when they've both exhausted themselves in the fight."

Liu Chengen looked at Qin Shaolang without saying a word for a long time.

This young man's scheming and cunning are truly terrifying.

He not only saw through the situation in the capital, but he also understood the hearts of the people perfectly.

"Why should I believe you?" Liu Chengen asked in a deep voice.

"Just because of this," Qin Shaolang pointed to the half of the tiger tally, "the injustice done to the 300,000 loyal souls of the Wei family army needs to be cleared. And I need an ally who can help me uncover the truth about my father's wrongful conviction."

"Qin Wentian's son..." Liu Chengen murmured to himself, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Finally, he took a deep breath, as if he had made a momentous decision.

"Alright!" He picked up the medical record book. "I'll take this. Now, what do you need me to do?"

"It's very simple." Qin Shaolang's lips curled into a smile. "You only need to do one thing for me. Within three days, I need to see all the case files about Zhou Mu, whether they are from the Court of Judicial Review or the Ministry of Justice, not a single one can be missing."

"As for this medical record..." Qin Shaolang picked it up and weighed it in his hand. "I have to deliver it to Eunuch Wei personally. After all, such a big thing has happened, he needs to know so that we can have a thorough investigation."

……

The residence of Wei Zhongxian.

When Qin Shaolang requested an audience with a "solemn" expression, Wei Zhongxian was feeding fish in the back garden.

"What's the matter that makes you so anxious?" Wei Zhongxian didn't turn around, but simply scattered handfuls of fish food into the pond.

"Godfather!" Qin Shaolang's voice carried just the right amount of "panic" and "loyalty," "I've found something extraordinary in an abandoned pharmacy in the south of the city!"

He presented the medical record book with both hands.

"Your son has discovered that the medical records here are almost identical to the current emperor's symptoms! Moreover, a name is mentioned in them—Zhou Mu!"

"I dare to speculate that there is a huge conspiracy behind this! It seems someone is using the same methods as ten years ago to assassinate His Majesty!"

Wei Zhongxian finally turned around.

He took the medical record book and flipped through it page by page, his expression growing increasingly grim.

When he saw those two bloody words on the last page, a terrifying killing intent erupted from his body.

"Excellent! Well done, Zhou Mu!"

"Snapped!"

He slammed the medical record book onto the ground.

"We've treated him well, yet he dares to betray us and do such a deceitful thing!"

He pointed at Qin Shaolang and ordered sternly, "Xue Yi!"

Xue Yi appeared behind him like a ghost.

"Investigate! Find all of Zhou Mu's remaining associates, cronies, and even his entire family within nine generations—everyone connected to him—leave no one alive! Trace them all out!"

"We'll show them what happens when they betray us!"

Wei Zhongxian's anger seemed to set the entire garden ablaze.

Qin Shaolang lowered his head, but a cold smile flashed in his eyes.

Keep performing.

He knew that Wei Zhongxian's thunderous rage was partly an act for him, and partly a genuine intention to kill.

However, he didn't want to kill any "Zhou Mu's remnants," but everyone who knew about the existence of this medical book and was related to "Qinghe Aconitum".

He's trying to kill them to silence them and destroy all the clues.

"Qin Shaolang." After venting his anger, Wei Zhongxian put on a kind face again. "You have done a great service this time. We will reward you."

He clapped his hands, and Eunuch Li immediately came forward carrying a tray.

On the tray were more than a dozen boxes of medicinal herbs wrapped in fine brocade.

"These are all tributes from the palace. Take them and use them to help the Emperor recover." Wei Zhongxian's tone was as gentle as a loving father's. "Please, don't let me down."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Qin Shaolang, carrying the pile of precious medicinal herbs, bowed and withdrew.

Upon returning to the villa, he immediately spread all the medicinal herbs out on the stone table.

Ginseng, Ganoderma lucidum, deer antler... each one is a rare and precious delicacy.

But he didn't even glance at it, and went straight to the bottom box, where he picked out a dry, unremarkable herb.

The herb was completely black and emitted a faint, fishy smell.

"This is... 'Nine-Turn Resurrection Grass'?" Wei Qing looked at the herb, his expression changing slightly.

"It sounds nice, but it's actually a poisonous herb that can induce a deep state of suspended animation." Qin Shaolang held the herb to his nose and smelled it. "When combined with my master's unique 'Turtle Breath Needle,' it can create a flawless appearance of suspended animation."

"What is he trying to do?" the monkey wondered, terrified.

"He wants to leave me a 'way out'." Qin Shaolang's eyes turned cold.

"If I fail to cure the emperor, or discover some secret that he shouldn't have discovered, he will make me 'die an accident,' and then dispose of my 'body' without anyone noticing."

Wei Zhongxian's murderous intent was no longer concealed.

Qin Shaolang put the "Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Grass" into his bosom, but there was no fear on his face.