Lady Cao’s expression stiffened slightly.
Part of the 1,500 taels they had was the 100 or so taels that her son had earned through his hard work.
"Mother?" Cao Bin noticed something was off with her and felt concerned.
"Bin’er, what if... what if I say that your marriage to the Su family... has to be delayed a little longer. Would that be alright?"
Cao Bin had always been obedient and understanding, but when it came to his marriage, he was particularly anxious. Now, hearing that the wedding was to be delayed, his face changed. "No! The Su family’s daughter has waited for me for over three years. She’s nearly eighteen now and is being ridiculed as an old maid. We must marry this year."
The Su family had made it clear that if they didn’t settle the marriage this year, their daughter would marry someone else and would no longer wait.
He knew his father’s frugality. Normally, he was reluctant to spend on food or socializing, saving up all his silver to hand to his mother. Meanwhile, he would make money by painting, writing calligraphy, or teaching at a private school to help the family financially.
Lady Cao smiled, "Mother knows how deeply you care for each other. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the marriage happens."
Cao Bin was reassured. "Mother, the Su family’s daughter is virtuous and wise. Once she becomes my wife, she will honor you just as I do."
Lady Cao nodded, then said that today was a good day, and they should share a drink together.
Cao Bin was happy too--after all, come spring, his family would formally propose to the Su family.
They brought out a jar of aged daughter’s red wine that had been kept for years.
Pouring two cups, Lady Cao watched as her son drank his in one go. She smiled faintly, though guilt tugged at her heart. Still, she felt a sense of relief wash over her.
In the winter, alcohol would warm the body.
But after just a moment, as Cao Bin was about to drink his second cup, he suddenly felt something was wrong with his body.
His throat felt like it was on fire, and his internal organs were being mercilessly twisted and stabbed.
He coughed up a mouthful of black blood.
Cao Bin realized it then.
The wine was poisoned!
"Mother... why?" he gasped in agony, collapsing forward, knocking the cup to the ground.
"Bin’er, your marriage cannot go ahead. Rather than let you marry someone unsuitable in the future, it’s better to end it now." Lady Cao spoke calmly, then drank the poisoned wine herself in despair.
"Mother!" Cao Bin shouted in horror.
He tried to grab her hand.
Lady Cao hesitated for a moment, then painfully pushed his hand away, her voice cold, "We cannot hold hands and go together. Otherwise, in the next life, we’ll still be family. Bin’er, in this life, your parents were useless, dragging you down. I hope in the next life, you can be born into a good family, with loving parents who provide for you... And most importantly, a father who thinks of you and spoils you, not one who neglects his own family..."
She also began coughing up black blood.
Cao Bin could only vaguely hear her words as death approached.
In his final moments, he faintly heard the door being kicked open and saw the faces of Chu Shuo and Xie Beihan.
He had already passed out, his face purple and green, his eyes rolled back.
"Brother Cao!" Chu Shuo shouted, frantically rummaging through his Qiankun Bag for an antidote pill.
Xie Beihan, holding his Divine Wood, saw Cao Bin’s soul starting to leave his body. Quick to act, he pulled out a Soul-Stabilizing Talisman and slapped it onto Cao Bin, sealing his soul back into his body.
Luckily, Chu Shuo had organized his Qiankun Bag earlier, so he quickly found the antidote pill, giving one to Cao Bin and shoving another into Lady Cao’s mouth.
They hadn’t expected that upon visiting, they’d find the mother and son both poisoned.
The poison wasn’t lethal, but the antidote pill could only temporarily save their lives, unable to fully cleanse the toxin.
Xie Beihan called out to a servant, "Quick, fetch the imperial physician! No, summon the Ninth Princess!"
The poison had already penetrated their organs, and with his abilities, a Detoxification Talisman wouldn’t be enough to save them.
In the capital, only his sixth sister could save them.
"No need to trouble anyone. I’ll call her," Chu Shuo said, still shaking from the earlier shock. Now that the two were safe for the moment, he relaxed a bit and remembered his Whisper Talisman, using it to contact his sixth sister.
Within two breaths, Nanli appeared at the Cao residence, having learned of the situation from the talisman.
However, she had never been to the Cao residence before, and she landed directly in the hall, startling Elder Cao and the officials of the humble faction.
"Ninth... Ninth Princess?!" Elder Cao was stunned, irritated even. "No matter how many lives you’ve saved, you can’t just barge into someone’s house ! Do you have no regard for the law and order?"
The other officials exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to speak.
They were actually signaling Elder Cao to tone it down.
The Ninth Princess was known for her decisive nature. If they angered her, she might ignore them when they needed her help later on.
But Elder Cao wasn’t afraid--he was a man of integrity, and ghosts couldn’t touch him.
Nanli glanced at him and said, "Your wife and son are in trouble. Where’s the courtyard? Lead the way."
Elder Cao grew even angrier. "What do you mean by that? Watch your mouth!"
His wife and son were fine, how could they be in trouble?
However, since Elder Cao was an honest official, his home was modest, and the servant came running to report in just a few steps.
"Master, the madam and young master are in trouble!" The servant rushed in, overjoyed to see Nanli, "Ninth Princess, you’re here! Please follow me quickly!"
He hurriedly led the way.
Nanli couldn’t be bothered to argue with Elder Cao and followed the servant.
Elder Cao was still in a daze. By the time he reacted, his legs had gone weak.
One of his disciples supported him, "Teacher..."
Elder Cao steadied himself, waved them off, and said, "It’s probably just a small matter. Go back and gather some silver. The court and the people are more important..."
Not wanting to pry into their teacher’s private affairs, they nodded and took their leave one by one.
Only then did Elder Cao rush to the rear courtyard.
Upon arrival, he saw his wife and son slumped in chairs, unconscious, with traces of black blood at the corners of their mouths.
Nanli checked their pulses, then immediately took out her Heaven Star Brush and drew a Detoxification Talisman on them.
Fortunately, her second brother and Xie Beihan had come just in time to administer the antidote pills. Otherwise, by the time she arrived, they would have already died.
The Detoxification Talisman, which she had improved, had some special effects on poison that had reached the internal organs.
After a moment, black blood dripped from their fingertips.
"Ninth... Ninth Princess, how are they?" Elder Cao asked, his voice trembling with worry.
"They won’t die, but after the poison is expelled, they’ll need to rest and recover for a while," Nanli replied, then quipped, "Elder Cao, your enemies aren’t ruthless enough. This poison isn’t strong. Otherwise, they would’ve been dead the moment they drank it."
Elder Cao’s face darkened.
Admittedly, he had been rude earlier. Pressing his lips together, he bowed to Nanli in thanks. "Thank you, Ninth Princess, for saving them."
Nanli quickly caught him and sighed, "How could I dare accept your bow?"
She didn’t want him to scold her again.