FID – Chapter 700

Chapter 700: Drugged with Soul-Stealing Potion

With a light cough, Liu Yusheng glanced down and immediately looked away.

She couldn’t laugh anymore.

Just thinking about the day they would put down roots made her heart race.

It was a bit scary…

That night, she spent the time pretending to be dead in bed.

The next day, she spent the time being thoroughly worn out in bed.

The two days of rest that Qian Baihao had given her were spent entirely in the guest courtyard, never leaving the carved pearwood bed!

When she finally managed to leave the guest courtyard, her legs and hands were weak, making Duan Ting laugh for a long time while leaning on the armrest of his wheelchair.

“Feng Qingbai, your abilities are truly impressive!”

Feng Qingbai, holding the blushing girl in his arms, cast a cold glance at the person laughing wildly—and then at a certain part of his lower body. “You can only sigh in admiration.”

Duan Ting turned his wheelchair and sped off.

After leaving the manor, they walked out of the alley lined with royal manors. Turning the corner, they reached the inn where Qian Baihao and the other merchants were temporarily staying.

The group had been waiting for some time.

Seeing these elders, who had regained their spirits after two days of rest, Liu Yusheng felt a sense of shame.

She was still walking with unsteady legs.

After Qian Baihao and the merchants greeted Feng Qingbai, the group selected a spot on the second floor of the inn to sit down. They began eating while discussing the arrangements with the Lu family.

“Yesterday, I sent an invitation to the Lu family. The meeting time we had previously scheduled had to be postponed due to an unexpected event, but they expressed understanding,” Qian Baihao said, glancing at Feng Qingbai. “This time, we’ve set the meeting for this afternoon. It’s better to be early than late, to avoid further complications. Will you be joining us to make an appearance, Nannan?”

Liu Yusheng nodded. “I’ll go and take a look.”

The nourishing wine was produced by the Xinghua Village Winery. As one of the owners, there was no reason for her to stay out of sight when she was here.

This was to avoid the other party thinking that she was neglecting them.

“Does Your Highness have anything to say about the Lu family?” The other members of the merchant group, due to the presence of Feng Qingbai, who was like a giant Buddha, almost did not dare to speak. Everything was represented by Qian Baihao.

“The capital has three major families: the Lu family, the Huo family, and the Li family. The three families are evenly matched in strength. The Lu family has a good reputation in business. Since the decision has been made, we can make initial contact and see how it goes. If the talks don’t work out, we can choose again,” Feng Qingbai offered this sensible advice.

He hadn’t known much about the commercial strength distribution in the capital before, so he took advantage of these two days to have Duan Ting help gather and organize information on the major merchants and wealthy families in the capital.

In the meantime, he also listened to Duan Ting’s opinions.

“Yes, when we first chose a partner, I also did an investigation on the three major families of the capital and ultimately selected the Lu family. Their family is in the tea and wine business, which fits well with our business. Moreover, the current head of the family has a good character, so if the talks go well, we can settle it.”

The two of them discussed the Lu family extensively. When Feng Qingbai spoke, he always had a slight smile on his face, unlike the cold demeanor rumored about him. The merchant group members gradually relaxed and began to join the discussion.

Liu Yusheng listened from the side, occasionally pouring tea for them, but never interjected.

In front of these wealthy merchants, she was just a young girl who had just started out. When it came to medicine, she was confident, but in the business world, she did not dare to be complacent.

The young girl’s humble attitude won the favor of the merchant group, which could be felt in the tone of their conversation.

The group continued eating and discussing, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

It was then that noise and laughter came from downstairs, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps as someone ascended to the second floor.

Someone had come to dine on the second floor.

Since this was an inn and not a restaurant, there were no private rooms or elegant dining spaces.

The third floor was for guest rooms, while the first and second floors, including the lobby, were used for dining.

In addition to the guests staying here, many locals from the capital also came to dine, all drawn by the restaurant’s renowned dishes.

“I heard that the King of Nanling’s fiancée has been found. For a woman, they mobilized the entire royal family’s forces. That woman must be extraordinary. I wonder what she looks like, to have captivated the King so completely.”

“I’ve gathered information that the King’s fiancée came to Beicang with the Nanling Merchant Guild. In Nanling, she comes from a humble background and is not from a prestigious family.”

“If you want to know more about that woman, you should ask Xiangjun. The Nanling merchants sent a letter to the Lu residence early yesterday, saying they would visit today to discuss business. The Lu family knows the most about that Merchant Guild’s members.”

Liu Yusheng at her table overheard the conversation in the hallway. She raised an eyebrow and exchanged glances with the people at her table.

It seemed like even they were affected by it.

No, it should be said that they were dragged into it by Feng Qingbai.

If it weren’t for his striking presence, who would care about who his fiancée was or what she looked like?

In the end, it’s that face causing the trouble.

“Feng Qingbai, next time you go somewhere far away, why don’t you change your appearance?” Like the Heilian, stick on a fake face, make it look ordinary, and no one would even glance at you.

Feng Qingbai pretended not to hear.

With his face, others would envy Shengsheng even more.

Overall, being good-looking still had some benefits.

The people in the hallway had already gone up to the second floor, and at the same time, another voice rang out, clearly laced with sarcasm. “My grandfather did indeed investigate the members of the Nanling Merchant Guild. As for the fiancée you mentioned, she really does come from a humble background, her family is from the countryside, farming. To think that the King is infatuated with someone like that—it’s a shame, especially when the Seventeenth Princess has shown him so much favor!”

Liu Yusheng raised an eyebrow and looked over in that direction.

A group of three men and four women, all about sixteen or seventeen years old, were dressed in fine silks and satin, indicating their high status.

But no matter how Liu Yusheng looked at them, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they all had a mean-spirited air about them.

“Her family is from the countryside? How could the King be interested in someone from that kind of background?”

“I heard that the woman knows some medical skills. There’s a nourishing wine that’s become popular all over the country, and she’s the one who brewed it.” The woman named Xiangjun flashed a mocking smile. “Perhaps she gave the King some love potion.”

The sarcasm grew more excessive. Qian Baihao and the others already had gloomy expressions. They were ready to scold them, but were stopped by Feng Qingbai, who waved a hand to silence them.

Feng Qingbai showed no sign of anger on his face, as if he hadn’t heard anything at all. He continued serving the young girl beside him with food.

He was waiting to see how she would handle the situation.

He had already sensed the fighting spirit in her, so how could he let her be disappointed?

Sure enough, the young girl smiled and asked the people at the table, “How do you know that she gave the King of Nanling a love potion?”

Upon hearing the question, the group turned their gaze toward her and finally noticed the table in the corner of the second floor, near the window.

And the one who had spoken to them was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old young girl, with gentle features and a slight smile on her face, which made it very easy for others to feel a sense of familiarity.

Lu Xiangjun was the first to sit down at the table, sneering lightly as she spoke, “If it weren’t for that, how could a country girl possibly bewitch the King? Just let her compare herself with the Seventeenth Princess. She probably wouldn’t even be fit to hold the princess’s shoes, much less to be with the King. She would only bring shame to his identity.”