Chapter 156: Qi Residence

“Lord Liu, whether the Regent can be cured will depend on you,” Su Wan said, as she couldn’t get close to the Regent and had to rely on Imperial Doctor Liu.

But Imperial Doctor Liu was at risk—what if the Regent held him accountable?

Su Wan was uncertain whether Imperial Doctor Liu would be willing to help.

Imperial Doctor Liu wanted the Regent to recover, but he also worried about the Regent settling accounts later.

The Regent’s personality was somewhat ungrateful.

He only allowed others to obey his commands.

Defying him, even if it was for his own good, wouldn’t necessarily spare one from his wrath.

“Let me think about it,” Imperial Doctor Liu didn’t agree immediately. “You came to see me today, and it was Luo Cheng who brought you. I’m afraid this news has already reached the Regent’s ears. If I am called to take his pulse in the coming days and the Regent doesn’t question me, then I will help you this once.”

“Thank you for your trouble,” Su Wan bowed respectfully.

Imperial Doctor Liu waved his hand. “I’m doing this for the Great Zhou as well.”

Su Wan didn’t press further and left with Luo Cheng.

Luo Cheng was shocked to discover that the Regent’s poison was the same as Gu Huaizhi’s!

Gu Huaizhi’s complexion had clearly improved, indicating that his poison had been cured.

That’s why Su Wan was so confident.

“Young lady Su, if Lord Liu is unwilling to help, even if it means risking my own head, I will find a way to let you detoxify the Regent,” Luo Cheng said, visibly emotional, as if he had glimpsed the dawn of hope. “If you can cure the Regent, whatever orders you have in the future, just say the word.”

“Alright.” Su Wan did not stand on ceremony with Luo Cheng.

Su Wan’s eyes flickered slightly as she took out a bottle of medicine from her sleeve and handed it to Luo Cheng. “If Lord Liu doesn’t help, then put this medicine into what the Regent consumes.”

Luo Cheng looked troubled and said, “The Regent doesn’t take that medicine.”

Su Wan sighed softly. “Adapt to the situation, then.”

After bidding farewell to Luo Cheng, she got into the carriage.

Qi Sixth asked, “Young lady, where are you going?”

A thought crossed Su Wan’s mind. “Is the Qi family still around?”

“Still here.”

“Let’s take a look.”

The carriage headed toward the Qi family residence. This street was lined with the homes of prominent and noble families, featuring green-tiled roofs, red eaves, layered terraces, and pavilions, with two stone lions at the entrance exuding an air of majesty.

Su Wan got off the carriage and was stunned as she looked at the neatly kept entrance. She thought the Qi residence had been sealed off, as there was no one from the Qi family left, but it seemed that someone was still living there.

“Young lady, please wait a moment; I will go knock on the door,” Qi Liu said as he stepped forward and grasped the brass knocker on the large red lacquered door studded with nails.

“Who is it?” The heavy door opened, and an elderly man with frost-white hair and beard peered out. He immediately recognized Su Wan and, overwhelmed with emotion, stumbled out of the door and bowed deeply. “Young lady, I am the old butler of the Qi residence. Please, come inside quickly.”

Su Wan quickly reached out to support the butler gently and followed him into the residence, asking in confusion, “There’s no one left in the Qi family. Didn’t the Emperor reclaim the estate?”

“The Emperor initially planned to seal the residence and grant it to a meritorious official in the future. However, the Regent insisted on preserving it, saying that the Qi family bloodline had not been extinguished and that it should be left to you to handle. Over the years, since you never came, I have been guarding it all this time,” the butler said, his eyes brimming with tears.

The Regent’s exact words were that Su Wan should make the decisions, including selecting someone from a collateral branch to be adopted into the Qi family.

The butler had once thought that he would never see Su Wan in his lifetime, yet unexpectedly, she had come.

“You can choose someone from a collateral branch, or you could…” The butler suddenly remembered something, and his words took a turn. “Since the Su family has severed ties with you, you could return to the Qi family and inherit it.”

Su Wan’s heart stirred, and after careful consideration, she said, “Let’s select someone from a collateral branch.”

If she were to inherit the Qi family, the court’s attention would likely turn to her again, which would be detrimental to Gu Huaizhi.

The butler was disappointed, but he quickly composed himself. “That’s fine as well.”

“Is my mother’s boudoir still here?” Su Wan asked, gazing at the vast general’s residence. It was spotless, reflecting the butler’s dedication, yet it felt devoid of human warmth. “I’d like to see it.”

“It’s still here, still here!” The butler led Su Wan to Biyun Pavilion.

Su Wan pushed open the door, and the courtyard was filled with blooming peonies. She stepped on the bluestone path and walked to the entrance of the room. The butler stepped forward to unlock the door, and as it opened, dust billowed out. She fanned the dust away with her hand and covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief before entering the room.

“This room has been locked ever since the young lady passed away, which is why it hasn’t been maintained,” the butler explained.

Su Wan nodded slightly. “You can go about your duties; I’ll just take a look around.”

“Ah, understood!” the butler responded and left.

As the last trace of sunset faded from the sky, the butler lit an oil lamp and exited Biyun Pavilion.

Qi Sixth, showing good sense, waited at the door for Su Wan.

Su Wan stood in the middle of the room. It had been unoccupied for too long, making it feel cold and desolate, with a faint hint of mildew in the air.

By the light of the candle, she scanned the room. The furnishings were elegant, and the Duobao Pavilion was filled with rare treasures.

She turned into the inner chamber, where there was a canopy bed, a chaise lounge by the window, a round table set with celadon tea ware, a carved redwood cabinet, and two chests.

Su Wan walked to the chaise, one leg on the ground and the other kneeling on the lounge, her hands ready to push the window open.

The movement was hindered, and Su Wan frowned, preparing to stand up straight.

Her foot slipped, and with a thud, Su Wan’s upper body flopped onto the chaise.

Grimacing, Su Wan propped herself up on the chaise to stand. Suddenly, she sensed something amiss and pressed down on the chaise, noticing a spot that seemed loose. Her eyes narrowed, then she lifted the rush mat spread on the chaise.

Below the mat was a wooden board. She tapped on it, and the sound was hollow throughout. She looked around and found a finely carved, intricate dagger on the display shelf. As she drew it, the blade gleamed with a sharp, cold light—clearly a quality item.

She used the dagger to pry along the seams, lifting the wooden board, revealing a wooden box placed right in the middle.

Su Wan took the wooden box out. It wasn’t locked but secured with a mechanism.

She tried to open it but didn’t succeed.

Su Wan instinctively felt that the contents of the box were very important, so she decided to take it back and slowly work on unlocking the mechanism.

“Young lady, will you be having dinner here?” the butler’s voice sounded from outside.

“I’ve already had dinner.” Su Wan opened the door and looked at the butler’s aged face, asking in a low voice, “Are there no paintings or calligraphy by my mother in the house?”

The butler sighed. “When the lady got married, she burned all of her paintings and calligraphy.”

His gaze fell on the box in Su Wan’s hands. “Shall I get you a cloth to wrap it?”

“No need.” Su Wan spread her hand, revealing the dagger lying in her palm. “Is this dagger my mother’s?”

The butler, who had watched Qi Min grow up, still had some memory of her belongings. “This was a gift from the Regent to the lady.”

Su Wan’s heart stirred. If it was from the Regent, an idea suddenly struck her. “May I take it with me?”

The butler had no objections. “Of course, all of the lady’s belongings are yours, Young lady.”

Su Wan took away the wooden box and the dagger.

Gu Huaizhi had not yet gone to bed; he was busy handling official documents.

Su Wan placed the box in front of him. “Can you open it?”

Gu Huaizhi put down his brush, placed the box before him, fiddled with it a few times, and with a click, the lid of the wooden box popped open.