Chapter 161: The Four Wealthy Businesswomen 15

Ning Yuan glanced at the water stains and pills near his feet.

He had originally been reading books in the courtyard. Before Xue Ding left, he had prepared some hot tea for him. Fearing that it might be inconvenient for him to reach, Xue Ding had purposely placed a round stool beside him, with the teapot and medicine bottle resting upon it. It was just that Ning Yuan had been too engrossed in his reading and knocked over the teacup, spilling even his daily medication all over the ground.

Spilling tea was a minor issue, but the medicine was hard to come by.

Those were detoxifying pills meticulously crafted by several renowned physicians of the Imperial Hospital, meant to suppress the poison within his body. Taking one pill a day could not completely cure him, but it could alleviate his symptoms and delay the onset of the poison.

"If it is convenient for you, Daoist Master, would you mind helping me pick up these pills?" Ning Yuan asked.

"Certainly." Shi Xianyu braced her elbows, flipped her entire body over, and leaped down from the wall with neat and agile movements.

Upon landing, she suddenly remembered that the neighboring courtyard gate did not have its bolt latched; she could have simply walked in through the door.

Never mind, that was not important.

Shi Xianyu walked over and helped him pick up the pills from the ground. They were round, dark brown, and emitted a strong, bitter medicinal scent.

She silently gathered all the pills and placed them on a wooden tray on the table. Hesitating for a moment, she said, "Remember to wipe them off before you take them; they are a bit dirty."

Having fallen to the ground and picked up some dust, they could not be washed with water and had to be wiped clean with a clean handkerchief.

Guessing that it would be laborious for him to go back inside for a handkerchief, Shi Xianyu simply took out a tissue from the ones she carried with her and handed him a sheet, which could be considered quite thoughtful.

Ning Yuan accepted the tissue, a faint smile dwelling in the depths of his eyes. "Could the Daoist Master do me another favor and retrieve a cup from inside the room?"

"Alright." Shi Xianyu nodded and turned to fetch the cup.

The light inside the room was somewhat dim, and with very few belongings, it appeared impoverished. Shi Xianyu swept her gaze around and saw no teacup. In the end, she opened the corner cabinet against the wall and finally found a single cup.

How truly pitiful. If this one broke as well, the scholar would be left with nothing to drink from.

Holding the cup, Shi Xianyu returned to the courtyard and placed it on the small round stool beside him.

Ning Yuan picked up the teapot, poured himself another cup of water, picked up a pill, placed it in his mouth, and swallowed it down with the tea.

Just watching him made Shi Xianyu feel the bitterness, yet he did not even furrow his brows.

"Right, here, take this..." She handed him a piece of candy, speaking with kind intentions.

Ning Yuan looked at the candy in her hand without immediately reaching out to take it.

"Milk candy, it can take away the bitterness." Shi Xianyu peeled off the candy wrapper and pushed it a bit closer to him.

The candy was white, and as soon as it was unwrapped, a milky fragrance could be smelled. Ning Yuan gazed at it for a moment before finally reaching out, picking it up, and placing it into his mouth—it was indeed very sweet.

In truth, ever since he had awakened in this body, he had encountered numerous assassination attempts, and poisoning was a common occurrence. Therefore, any food or water entering his mouth was handled by his trusted aides, and he would never touch food or water from any other source.

"Many thanks, the Daoist Master," Ning Yuan asked with a smile. "The candy tastes wonderful. I wonder where the Daoist Master obtained it?"

Shi Xianyu smiled faintly. "I wander the four seas and obtained it by chance. If you ask for the exact location, I cannot remember."

She used to be someone who would stammer even when telling a lie, but now she could spin falsehoods without batting an eye, as smooth and natural as flowing clouds and moving water, showing how much her skills had improved.

"That medicine of yours smells so bitter. I still have plenty of candy; I'll give them all to you." She rummaged through her sleeves again and produced a handful of candy. Transparent wrappers enclosed colorful sweets, piled on the round stool like gemstones and gleaming brightly.

Ning Yuan could not help laughing. "When I have seen other Daoist Masters, they always carry yellow paper talismans and cinnabar. Why do you carry so many candies?"

"I have yellow paper talismans too." Shi Xianyu rummaged through her sleeves again, pulled out two triangular yellow paper talismans, paused, and then tucked them back into her sleeves. "Forget it... They are talismans for dispelling evil and self-defense; you have no use for them."

This world looked quite normal, devoid of ghosts and malevolent spirits, so talismans were unnecessary.

"In that case, I shall accept these candies." Ning Yuan smiled. "I haven't asked how the Daoist Master is addressed?"

Shi Xianyu replied, "My surname is Shi, and my given name is Xianyu. And you?"

"My surname is Li, with the single given name Yuan."

Naturally, Ning Yuan would not reveal the title of the Regent, as that would blow his cover, but even a single character like "Yuan" was enough to arouse Shi Xianyu's attention.

Shi Xianyu calculated silently in her heart: following Lin Yuan and Lin Yuan, another Li Yuan appears. Could it be him? Why does he always sneakily follow me around, yet act as though he does not recognize me?

...Well, it must be because he only possesses a wisp of a soul.

Yet he seemed rather miserable in this world, an unchosen scholar without power or influence, not only poor but with such frail health...

Shi Xianyu glanced at the man in the wheelchair once more, thinking to herself: Although his current situation is rather pathetic, every vessel he chooses is quite decent, all being the types she fancied.

He was far more endearing than when he stood respectfully before her in the immortal palace.

...Anyway, since he knows nothing now, it should be fine even if she did something to him, right?

"What is the Daoist Master looking at?" Ning Yuan asked her gently.

"Oh, nothing." Shi Xianyu shook her head and asked, "Are you married?"

Ning Yuan was slightly startled, then chuckled. "Why does the Daoist Master ask this so abruptly?"

She thought for a moment and said in a serious tone, "Actually, I know how to read physiognomy. Your romantic fate is different from ordinary people; it is best you do not easily talk about marriage in the near future."

"Different from ordinary people?" Ning Yuan smiled and asked, "According to the Daoist Master's view, where does my romantic fate lie?"

"As for that..." Shi Xianyu said with calm composure, "Heavenly secrets must not be divulged."

Left speechless, Ning Yuan merely smiled as he looked at her.

Looking quite poised, Shi Xianyu brushed off her sleeves and said, "Alright, I'll head back first. Call for me if you need anything."

This time she remembered to walk through the gate. As she stepped across the threshold, she turned back to give Ning Yuan another look and said, "We practitioners of the Dao do not sweat the small details; you can just call me by my name from now on—Xianyu or Xiaoyu, either is fine."

"Very well." Ning Yuan smiled warmly. "I will remember it."

Shi Xianyu waved her hand and left, casually pulling the courtyard gate shut behind her.

Ning Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked at the candies beside him. Reaching out, he picked one up, peeled the wrapper, and put it into his mouth. Feeling the sweetness slowly melt on the tip of his tongue, the corners of his lips curled up involuntarily.

After sitting in the courtyard for a short while, Xue Ding hurried back carrying a food box. As soon as he stepped through the gate, he said, "My Lord, the chicken soup was stewed today and took a bit longer, but the old woman who cooks has good culinary skills, and this chicken soup smells truly fragrant!"

Catching sight of the candies on the round stool, Xue Ding's stride faltered. "What are these? Where did they come from?"

With the candy in his mouth, Ning Yuan said unhurriedly, "Some candies, a gift from the neighboring Daoist Master."

Xue Ding's eyes widened sharply!

"You ate them? Are these candies poisoned?!" He hurriedly set down the food box and pulled out a silver needle from his breast pocket to test for poison.

"They should be fine," Ning Yuan said indifferently. "I have already eaten two."

"Your Highness!" Xue Ding's face tightened, and he said solemnly, "The background of those two women next door has yet to be investigated; we must not be careless! Even if nothing happens now, what if it's a slow-acting poison?"