Someone Is Poisoning

"Going back on your word?" Tang Susu reprimanded, "Is this how you speak to your elders in the sect?"

Song Yanqing felt his temper rising, shaking his head, "This disciple cannot understand!" He then kowtowed, pleading, "This disciple truly loves Senior Sister Tang. If I speak falsely, may lightning strike me! I implore the Elder to grant my wish!"

Tang Susu let him kowtow a few times before looking down at him, "It's not impossible to grant your wish. Are you willing to become the Sect Master of Shangqing Sect? If you agree to be the Sect Master, Niu Youdao is not a concern; I will immediately let Tang Yi marry you. What do you say?"

"This..." Song Yanqing looked up, his mouth twitching. He had considered this idea before, but his father in the Capital City had warned him that Shangqing Sect's relationship with Prince Ning, Shang Jianbo, was complicated and could easily incur the Emperor's suspicion. The Song family held a high position, and they could not touch this position.

He wasn't so foolish as to not understand the importance of the matter. Besides, with his family background, he didn't need to gain any advantage from this. Why would he bother to cause trouble for himself?

"This disciple's abilities are limited and cannot bear such a heavy responsibility," Song Yanqing replied weakly, lowering his head.

Tang Susu calmly said, "If that is the case, why don't you try to persuade your father? As long as your father is willing to take over as the Sect Master of Shangqing Sect, I will still marry Tang Yi to you."

"My father's affairs, how can a son make decisions?" Song Yanqing replied guiltily. He couldn't take the position of Sect Master, and his father certainly couldn't. How could he not understand this logic?

Tang Susu's eyes flickered, "Alright, this matter won't force you and your father. Let me ask you again, do you wish for Tang Yi to be the Sect Master?"

Song Yanqing looked up abruptly, his eyes full of longing, "Of course, this disciple certainly hopes Senior Sister can be the Sect Master. If Senior Sister can be the Sect Master, this disciple would be overjoyed."

Tang Susu cursed him as an idiot in her heart. If you and your father are unwilling to touch this position, why would the Song family allow you to marry the Sect Master of Shangqing Sect? From the moment she decided to let Tang Yi inherit the position of Sect Master, you were destined to be apart from Tang Yi!

However, she still patiently asked, "The Sect Master Tang Mu's designated successor before his passing was Dongguo Haoran. Now that Dongguo Haoran has also met his demise, according to sect rules, who should take over as Sect Master?"

"This..." Song Yanqing hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly uttered a name, "Niu Youdao!" He then argued forcefully, "But Niu Youdao has already voluntarily given up the position of Sect Master!"

Tang Susu said, "How he gave it up, I don't need to elaborate; everyone knows. They are silent because they know he is not suitable to be the Sect Master of Shangqing Sect. In this case, who else in Shangqing Sect has the prestige to lead it? Everyone looks highly upon your father and son's background, hoping you two can come forward to lead Shangqing Sect to revitalization. However, due to certain reasons, you and your father are unwilling to take over. The three of us old guys have the prestige, but Shangqing Sect has its own rules to restrain us elders. Those who have retired to the Elder position cannot return to take over as Sect Master. Originally, Wei Duo was the most suitable, but he stutters. Having him as Sect Master would only make people laugh at our Shangqing Sect for having no capable people. Moreover, Wei Duo is stubborn and insists on Sect Master Tang's dying wish, shouting that breaking the rules is the beginning of disaster. He was babbling nonsense, so we had to punish him to go to the back mountain to reflect on his mistakes! What about others? Niu Youdao gave up in that situation, and no one was willing to step forward to bear this infamy, each looking out for themselves!"

At this point, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly. In the end, it was because Shangqing Sect was in decline and in turmoil, with a future full of crises. Being a leader was not easy. If it were during a prosperous period, perhaps a crowd of people would be willing to step forward and fight to be the Sect Master.

Song Yanqing said, "Therefore, this disciple believes Senior Sister is most suitable to take over!"

Tang Susu hummed, "Tang Yi is the Sect Master's daughter. At this critical juncture, if she doesn't step forward to bravely shoulder the responsibility, who will? But how this position came about, all the Inner Sect Disciples know clearly. How can she convince the masses? And how can she prove that she, Tang Yi, is not acting out of selfishness? If she wants to bear this responsibility, she must pay a price. Do you think she is willing to marry Niu Youdao? If she wants to take this position, she must give Niu Youdao an explanation. She is sacrificing herself to give an explanation to everyone inside and outside Shangqing Sect, do you understand?"

As she spoke, she took out a letter from her sleeve and threw it before Song Yanqing's kneeling knees, "This is a letter your father just sent from the Capital City. Take a look yourself."

Although Song Shu was her disciple, some matters of Shangqing Sect still required her to communicate with Song Shu and seek his opinion. It was related to the Song family's support for Shangqing Sect, and she had no choice. Song Shu's reply also supported Tang Yi's succession as Sect Master.

Song Yanqing picked up the letter and opened it, his face immediately filled with distress. His father, Song Shu, had severely warned him not to have any improper thoughts and to obey Tang Susu's discipline, or he would be severely punished.

Seeing this letter, Song Yanqing completely collapsed onto the ground, dejected and heartbroken...

After sending Song Yanqing away, Tang Susu went to the back courtyard and met Luo Yuangong and Su Po, who were waiting and playing chess in a pavilion.

Seeing her arrive, they both stopped playing. Luo Yuangong looked at her and asked, "Have you appeased the Song family?"

Tang Susu glanced at the outcome of the chess game, "I just sent Song Yanqing away. As long as Song Shu has no objections, it represents the Song family's attitude, and everything will be easy. The problem now is that Song Yanqing is very upset. He cannot tolerate this loss at Niu Youdao's hands. This scoundrel may not dare to act openly, but who knows what he might do to Niu Youdao in secret. In short, things are about to be finalized. Niu Youdao absolutely cannot have any accidents at this time. If anything unexpected happens, none of us can explain it to the disciples. At that time, even if Tang Yi takes that position, she won't be able to explain it with a hundred mouths. Everyone will suspect she did it, and the consequences will be endless. Senior Brother Su, this matter requires you to arrange reliable manpower to handle it. Peach Blossom Spring cannot be controlled by Song Yanqing anymore!"

"Mm!" Luo Yuangong also nodded to Su Po in agreement.

Su Po said nothing, silently got up, and left.

Tang Susu watched him leave, her gaze steady and determined. To help Tang Yi clear all obstacles to ascend, she had gone to great lengths. Her husband had died for Shangqing Sect, her son had died for Shangqing Sect, and now her nephew had died for Shangqing Sect. Her family had sacrificed too much for Shangqing Sect. She had already regarded Shangqing Sect as her family's business to protect...

"I am Tu Han! From today onwards, I will take care of your daily life."

At Peach Blossom Spring, Chen Guishuo and Xu Yitian were nowhere to be seen. A one-eyed man with a cane appeared before Niu Youdao and introduced himself. His voice was hoarse and muffled, as if his throat was damaged. Upon closer inspection, one could see a scar on his neck, suggesting damage to his vocal cords.

Niu Youdao couldn't help but examine the limping man with a cane. He had dark skin, a thick beard, and perhaps because of the scar across one eye, his face looked somewhat ferocious, the kind of appearance that could scare children away.

"Thank you, thank you!" Niu Youdao politely took the food box from the man's hand.

Tu Han then asked, "Is there anything else?"

Niu Youdao tried to ask, "Why has the person changed?" He was worried that Song Yanqing would act against him. Was this change of personnel at this time at Song Yanqing's behest or something else?

Seeing the question, Tu Han said nothing, turned, and left with his cane.

Niu Youdao was speechless. It seemed he had encountered another person who didn't want to bother with him.

A few days later, Peach Blossom Spring began to be decorated with lanterns and streamers. A group of Shangqing Sect disciples were busy inside and out of Peach Blossom Spring, preparing for the auspicious day two days later.

Standing on another cliff, Song Yanqing, gazing out, was consumed by jealousy. He had guarded this wilderness for so many years for Tang Yi, and now that the prize was within reach, someone had suddenly intervened and snatched it away. If it were a disciple from a renowned sect, he might accept it, but it was a country bumpkin. How could he bear it?

He had to watch them get married? The more he thought about it, the more he couldn't swallow his anger. Finally, he turned and descended the mountain.

The delivery of food boxes to Peach Blossom Spring was regular. As a disciple carrying a food box crossed a wooden bridge, he was stopped by Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo, who emerged from the side.

"Two Senior Brothers, the higher-ups instructed that you are no longer needed for meal delivery," the disciple said politely. Previously, these two had taken turns delivering meals to Peach Blossom Spring, and he had a slight misunderstanding.

Song Yanqing emerged from behind a nearby rock and walked up to him, reaching out his hand, "Give it here, I need to inspect it."

"This..." the disciple looked somewhat troubled.

Song Yanqing directly reached out, snatched the food box, and turned to walk behind the rocks.

"Senior Brother Song..." the disciple anxiously tried to follow but was blocked by both Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo. He wanted to say something but dared not offend Song Yanqing. Who in Shangqing Sect didn't know about Song Yanqing's background? Even several Elders were wary of him. How could he dare to provoke him?

Fortunately, Song Yanqing seemed to have just checked it casually. He soon emerged from behind the rocks again, handed back the food box, waved his hand, and dismissed him, "I've checked it, no problem. Take it over!"

The disciple meekly took the food box and left.

However, he was still a little uneasy. After walking a distance, he found a secluded spot and opened the food box. Seeing that everything inside was intact and seemed untouched, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He traveled all the way to the mountainside below Peach Blossom Spring, where there was a stone cave. Tu Han was temporarily residing there. After handing the food box to Tu Han, the disciple returned.

Tu Han opened the food box, took out a silver hairpin, dipped it in white powder from a porcelain bottle, and inserted it into the food to check each item. As a result, when the silver hairpin was pulled out, the part that had touched the food turned black.

Someone had poisoned it! Tu Han's face changed drastically. His already ferocious face became even more so. He flashed outside the cave and leaped down the nearly twenty-zhang-high cliff, blocking the path down the mountain. He grabbed the disciple who had delivered the meal by his collar and said in a deep voice, "Did anything happen to the food box on its way here?"

The disciple was startled, not knowing what had happened. Under his repeated questioning, he had to recount the encounter with Song Yanqing along the way.

"Come with me!" Tu Han pulled him away.