Poison Genius Consort (Web Novel)

It was common knowledge that Yan'er loved to sleep and that waking her up would have serious consequences. However, Rui'er went out of his way to avoid his godfather's question by circling around him, pouncing on the bed, and dragging Yan'er up. She was so drowsy that she didn't resist and remained asleep.

Rui'er could only release her and holler, "Xuanyuan Yan, it's on fire!"

"Ah…!" Yan'er immediately sat upright with wide, sleepy eyes. "Fire?"

Rui'er squinted and said, "Wake up."

Yan'er's face immediately fell as she gave him a punch, but Rui'er had enough foresight to hurriedly back away. When she turned to chase him off the bed, she realized with a start that Godfather Qi was standing on the side, looking at her. She froze and completely woke up.

This godfather wasn't just her foster father, but her secret master! Zhao mama taught her a lot of "common sense" through this godfather's father, a fact she discovered just last year. Of course, what she loved wasn't the "common sense" he taught her, but the frequent snacks and sweets he sent over from all corners of Cloud Realm Continent.

"Little Yan'er, did you miss godfather?" Gu Qishao asked with a grin.

"Of course! I almost missed you to death!" Yan'er grinned slyly and added right after, "Heheh, what kind of goodies did you bring to eat this time? Let me guess."

Rui'er stood on the sidelines without a word and a forced smile on his face. Gui Qishao waved his hands. "I didn't know you little lass was here, so I didn't bring a thing. Whatever you want to eat, godfather will go find right away."

Only then did Yan'er sense something wrong. Godfather had ran into them by chance, not come see them on purpose. When did godfather show up? Her heart lurched and she slowly turned towards her big brother. Rui'er was still smiling because he was certain Yan'er could deal with it.

Seeing this reaction, Yan'er was more convinced that something was up!

Her eyes spun before she grinned again, curved and charming. "I want to eat…I want to eat the tangyuan of that old meatbun shop south of the city!"

Rui'er slapped his forehead, completely speechless. Where was one supposed to get tangyuan from a meatbun shop? Moreover, there was only one old shop south of the city and they sold noodles! The old meatbun shop in Medical City was north of the city!

Gu Qishao laughed out loud. "Done! Little Yan'er, you just wait. Godfather will buy some right away!"

So speaking, he left.

Rui'er and Yan'er exchanged looks until they were sure Gu Qishao was gone before she hurried forward to murmur, "What's going on? Why did you trick me again?"

"When I carried you back, godfather was already waiting in the room. He asked what we were up to and where little Shadow went. I said something wrong by accident and exposed us!" Rui'er said anxiously.

"What did you say wrong?" Yan'er grew anxious as well.

"I said we just got to Medical City and godfather didn't believe it," Rui'er replied.

The luggage in the rooms had long proved they'd arrived beforehand.

"Idiot!" Yan'er glared at him before asking, "What do we do now?"

"Scatter and have the shadow guards hold him back," Rui'er said seriously. Imperial father's shadow guards all liked to stop godfather in his tracks. Yan'er had no other solutions and nodded.

Thus, brother and sister took up their luggage and quietly slipped out the door. But they'd hardly crossed the threshold when a light cough sounded from the roof. Rui'er didn't even bother calling for the shadow guards. He pulled Yan'er after him and ran.

Mhm, there was no need to look to know their godfather was above them.

Rui'er was used to practicing martial arts for years but was still laying his foundational skills at a time like this. Compared to Gu Qishao, his martial arts were still weaker. And Yan'er only had a smidgen of kungfu. The old master of Celestial Mountain didn't classify her as a waste in lieu of saving Long Feiye some face.

Gu Qishao did a few somersaults and landed in front of the siblings, blocking them. He was still smiling. "Little Yan'er, you're not eating the tangyuan from the meatbun store anymore? Where are you going?"

Yan'er was especially abashed as she laughed, while Rui'er lowered his head. Despite being deceived, Gu Qishao was still grinning. Seeing that both children didn't fight, he took their hands in his own. "Come, I'll take you to eat the meatbun store's tangyuan!"

Gu Qishao really did take Yan'er and Rui'er to that old noodle shop and called for a bowl of their signature noodles for each of them. He especially instructed the kitchens to add Yan'er's favorite eggs cooked sunny-side up. The two children were indeed hungry and the noodles were delicious, but they couldn't taste a bit of it.

After finishing his noodles, Gu Qishao asked, "Sleepy?"

Rui'er nodded honestly. How couldn't he be sleepy after staying up all night? If not for his heart hanging in his chest, he'd be dozing off by now. Yan'er replied with a yawn.

"Then go back and sleep," Gu Qishao said cheerily.

Both Yan'er and Rui'er exchanged looks and felt more insecure. They kept thinking that godfather was leaving some big ace to deal with them. Back at the medical academy, Gu Qishao still didn't do a thing. He doted on children so much, how could he bear to force them? He had Yan'er sleep well but went to stare at Rui'er at the head of his bed. No amount of sleepiness could stand his godfather's cheerful scrutiny. At last, Rui'er couldn't stand it and said, "Godfather, spare me."

"Spare you what?" Gu Qishao feigned ignorance.

Rui'er sat up helplessly. "I really can't say anything about this. I promised someone!"

"Who did you promise?" Gu Qishao asked.

"I can't say. Godfather, a gentleman's promise is worth a thousand gold. Rui'er can't be someone who breaks his word!" Rui'er declared.

Gu Qishao grew sly. He didn't really want to know the secret, but was just worried that he'd be tricked. But while he was acting foxy, the door was suddenly thrust open and Yan'er walked in with a face full of grievances. Rui'er and Gu Qishao had hardly made heads or tails of her when she began to cry.

"Godfather, I'll tell! I'll tell! It's related to the Grand Tutor. We have an agreement with the Grand Tutor that we can't tell anyone else!"

Yan'er had been tossing and turning on the bed with all sorts of worries and guess about their godfather's ace move. Although she was sleepy as death, she couldn't fall asleep. To her this was torture, too painful! If she couldn't say something, she felt like her heart was being crushed by a stone and all kinds of uncomfortable.

But she could only reveal that it was something related to the Grand Tutor. As for the details, she'd die before she revealed them.

By now, Rui'er had fallen apart.

Gu Qishao's eyes flickered with a complex expression, but he didn't pursue the matter. He said, "Since it's an agreement, I won't ask. But honesty towards family has to start from a young age."

"What about enemies?" Yan'er asked.

"You're already enemies, so why talk about trust? ‘Soldiers never tire of deceit,' understand?" Gu Qishao retorted.

Yan'er nodded immediately and felt that made sense. Gu Qishao walked over and patted her on the head. "Your father tricked me multiple times in the past!" he muttered.

Yan'er didn't understand, but Gu Qishao just urged her to go to bed. She looked at her brother, a little confused. Godfather's really not asking? That doesn't feel right, ah. Rui'er was suspicious as well. But besides believing him for the time being, what else could he do?

Thus, the two very tired children went to sleep. Gu Qishao left and searched all of medical academy without finding Gu Beiyue. Without hesitation, he went to Endless Mountain. [1] The two children had appeared at Medical City without little Shadow in tow, while their secret was related to Gu Beiyue. Without a doubt, Gu Qishao had to be around the city if not within the city itself. Endless Mountain was the best suspect.

Endless Mountain was vast, so Gu Qishao searched for quite a while before finally spotting a small compound on its side. Gu Beiyue had just finished instructing little Shadow and was preparing to soak in the medicinal bath.

Lil Thing sensed Gu Qishao as soon as he approached the courtyard. Gu Beiyue looked back and spotted the familiar red robes with a start.

Gu Qishao!

Gu Qishao entered the compound. His sensitivity to the scent of medicine was higher than ordinary people, so he immediately knew something was wrong. He could conclude that Gu Beiyue was using vast quantities of medicine everyday! His eyes swept across the courtyard and rested on a large bathtub by the gates as his brows creased.

Complex emotions flittered past Gu Beiyue's eyes as he realized the matter couldn't be concealed.

Step by step, Gu Qishao walked close and knitted his brows to stare at Gu Beiyue for a long time. "Medicine nerd, you…what's wrong?"

Gu Beiyue didn't speak. At this moment, Qin Min and little Shadow walked out to see Gu Qishao and froze in shock on the spot. In the silence, Gu Qishao suddenly roared at Gu Beiyue, "Just what's wrong with you?!"

Qin Min and Shadow were both scared, but Shadow immediately ran forward to push Gu Qishao aside. He didn't speak, but formed his hands into fists to glare at him. He wouldn't allow anyone to yell at father, not when father was still sick!

Gu Qishao ignored Shadow and was still angry. "How many days do you have left? You actually…you even hid it from me!"

Who was Gu Qishao? Pill Fiend!

He could tell the seriousness of the condition and how sick one was just by the quantity of medicine. Using this much medicine would make it hard to survive even half a year, to say nothing of one! He always assumed this medical nerd was running all over Great Qin in the past two years, busying himself building medical clinics for the people. Who knew he was actually this ill!

Gu Qishao was so furious he almost lost all reason. He punched the wall and laughed coldly. "You even lied to me! Even hid it from me!"

Back then, when he was on that mountain behind the army camp and walking towards death step by step, it was this medical nerd who spent days by his side. When he couldn't stand the torture anymore, it was this man who had embraced and soothed him. During those days, Gu Beiyue would always ask again and again in his ear, "Little Qi, if you died, what would Poison lass do?"

If not for Gu Beiyue and his words, Gu Qishao wouldn't have resisted the urge to kill himself right then and there.

"Gu Beiyue, if you died, what would Poison lass do?" Gu Qishao asked back.

Qin Min was even more startled by these words. She seemed to understand something, or rather—discovered a secret! Her hands went to muffle her mouth unconsciously.

And yet…

1. 无崖山 wuya shan – In hindsight it might have been better to translate this as "Cliffless Mountain," but what's done is done for now.