Elder Suzaku also frowned and said: "The Black Lotus Holy Sect suddenly appeared in Gyeonggi, and our Beggar Clan was also very surprised. The Marquis is right. Since the Black Lotus Holy Sect was founded, it rarely leaves Xichuan. Even if some disciples arrive in the Central Plains, They all hide their identities, but they have never caused trouble in the Central Plains area. This time they came to the vicinity of Gyeonggi, there must be a good reason."
Qi Ning thought for a while and then said: "Elder Suzaku, you are a veteran in the world, and the Beggar Gang is also the largest gang in the world. Based on your experience, is there any gang force in the world that dares to confront the imperial court?"
"This...!" Elder Zhuque was obviously surprised by Qi Ning's question, and he didn't know how to answer it for a while.
Qining said: "Actually, I know very well in my heart that the world is about gratification and grudges, and many people don't like to be bound by rules. I also know that many people even disdain the imperial court and are disgusted with the imperial court's involvement in the world. I I want to ask you, in this world, is there any gang that dares to confront the imperial court with open swords and guns?"
Elder Zhuque hesitated for a moment, then finally shook his head and said: "Master Hou, to be fair, there are some officials in the imperial court who bully the people, and some righteous men in the world don't like it and take action to vent their anger on the people. But even so, it's all Incognito, no one really dares to reveal their identity and confront the court. In fact, the bigger the gang in the world, the more cautious it is. Firstly, because the bigger gangs in the world are under the eyes of the court, and secondly, once the gang gets bigger, , there are too many people involved, and if we go against the court, the consequences will be disastrous."
"So, there are actually not many gangs in the world who dare to openly confront the imperial court." Qining touched his chin and said, "Then do you think the Black Lotus Holy Sect has the courage?"
"The old beggar doesn't know much about the Black Lotus Holy Cult, but... I don't think the Black Lotus Holy Cult dares to confront the imperial court." Elder Suzaku said thoughtfully: "They are a border gang after all, and the imperial court does not care about them. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s good that Tai Tai is ruling the roost in the Bashu area, but if you fight against the imperial court, isn’t it asking for trouble?”
Qi Ning's brows slightly raised, a smile appeared on his lips, and he whispered with a smile: "The Black Lotus Holy Sect poisoned countless people this time, isn't it a blatant confrontation with the imperial court? Whether it is the Shenhou Mansion or your Beggar Gang, In just one day, it was found that the poison came from the Black Lotus Holy Cult. Don’t you think this is a bit strange?”
"What does the Marquis mean?" Elder Zhuque frowned.
Qi Ning said: "If the Black Lotus Holy Sect only wants to deal with you Beggar Gang, it only needs to attack you Beggar Gang, why bother the innocent and ask for trouble?"
Elder Zhuque was thoughtful.
"Of course, I can't be sure what happened." Qi Ning said softly: "I just feel that there is something fishy here. Elder Suzaku, you are in the world and are well-informed. What I mean is that you can investigate in secret. Now, is there any hidden secret in this matter? If someone is using the name of the Black Lotus Holy Cult to attack you and has other plans, but we are fooled by the real murderer behind the scenes, wouldn't we be secretly laughed at by the real murderer?"
Elder Zhuque nodded slightly and said: "Master Hou, when you say this, the old beggar also feels that the matter is not that simple." He stood up and said: "Master Hou, the old beggar takes his leave first. What you said, I will send someone to cover it up later. investigation."
"That's fine." Qi Ning nodded and said, "If I find a way to detoxify, I will send someone to Luogu Lane immediately."
"The old beggar would like to thank the Marquis in advance on behalf of all the brothers in the gang." Elder Zhuque cupped his hands and left without staying much.
Others were very busy at this time. Doctor Song played a big role in this. Tang Nuo didn't have to go in and out personally. Doctor Song assisted Tang Nuo in the house and came out from time to time to tell him how to cook medicine. Zhao Wu Shang and others were holding bamboo tubes at the back and blowing fire on the stove. After frying the concoction, Doctor Song came out and brought it into the house.
Qining knew that Tang Nuo was already preparing an antidote, but the poison this time was very special, so it was not possible to determine the antidote at once. Tang Nuo was conducting a combination test of the antidote.
When Duan Canghai came back, Tang Nuo had already tried seven or eight detoxification methods, but the results were obviously failures.
"Have you got all the needed medicinal materials?" Qining asked immediately after Duan Canghai entered the room.
Duan Canghai was a little embarrassed and said: "Master Hou, we have searched many places, and most of them have been obtained. Now... we only lack two medicinal materials."
"It can't be the two medicines from Tianjia Medicine Store, right?"
Duan Canghai was even more embarrassed, but he could only nod his head and said: "Guimucao and Fengguzi are indeed rare medicinal materials. Several big drug stores have heard of them, but they all say that these two medicinal materials are rarely used, and they are also rare. We can’t sell them at a good price, so we don’t have them in stock.”
"Then you went to Tian's Pharmacy?"
Duan Canghai said: "I found Tian's house. Mrs. Tian had already gone to bed, but when I saw their housekeeper, Tian also said no."
"Really not?" Qining frowned.
Duan Canghai hesitated for a moment and then said: "Master Hou, I think the Tian family did this on purpose. When they left, I saw Mrs. Tian hiding behind the window."
Qi Ning said angrily: "Don't that woman know that she is trying to save her life?"
Duan Canghai sighed: "Master Hou, it seems that the Tian family has misunderstood us. Butler Tian is also lukewarm and doesn't seem to want to talk to us."
Qi Ning knew that since Tang Nuo ordered these two herbs, they were indispensable. Now that Tang Nuo was working hard to prepare the antidote, he couldn't afford to be negligent in his logistical work. He said, "They must be hiding it on purpose. No, I'll go there by myself." He didn't say much, and went out alone. Duan Canghai was running back and forth. Although he was tired, he was still worried about Qining's safety, so he could only follow him.
The horse was flying. Qi Ning knew where the Tian Mansion was. He arrived at the Tian Mansion without stopping and signaled Duan Canghai to knock on the door. The door was wide open. The person who opened the door said angrily: "It's midnight, are you going to let me sleep?" Seeing Duan Canghai, he said angrily: Canghai frowned and said, "Why is it you again?"
Before Duan Canghai could speak, Qi Ning had already stepped forward, pushed open the door, and said directly: "Go and ask your wife to come out. If you don't come out, someone will die." He had been here once and told Tian The mansion was very familiar, so he went straight to the hall and sat down with Da Ma Jin Dao.
Not long after, Butler Tian, whom he saw last time, came over. When he saw Qi Ning, he bowed and said, "Isn't this the Marquis? I don't know what your orders are?" He glanced at Duan Canghai next to him and knew it all. .
"Steward Tian, you are old. In the middle of the night, your brain may be confused and your memory is not very good, so I won't say more to you." Qining knew that Steward Hotan's verbosity was of no use and would instead waste time, so he simply said : "Go and ask your wife to come over. I have something urgent to ask her."
Butler Tian smiled apologetically and said: "Master Marquis, Madam... Madam has already gone to bed. She is exhausted. Moreover, according to the rules of the house, no one can disturb Madam once she goes to sleep."
"Do you know that if she continues to avoid seeing her, someone will die." Qi Ning stared at Butler Tian and said coldly.
Butler Tian was stunned for a moment, with a trace of panic flashing in his eyes, but he still said: "Master Marquis, we... no one in our house has broken the law, and... how can anyone die?"
Qi Ning felt a little anxious. He stood up and said, "Which courtyard does Mrs. Tian live in? Can you take me there?"
Time waits for no one. Every day that is delayed, many people will die from the poison. Tang Nuo is doing his best. Qining knows that he cannot delay at all. Although he suddenly breaks into Tian's house in the middle of the night, even if he is Marquis, that is indeed very wrong, but he knows that Mrs. Tian is deliberately trying to make things difficult for him. If he discusses it slowly, he may not be able to get the medicinal materials tomorrow.
Butler Tian was obviously under the instigation of Madam Tian, and he was still saying slowly: "Master Hou, Madam has really gone to bed, and we can't disturb her. If there is really an emergency, wait for Madam to wake up and ask Madam to go to the Hou Mansion...!"
"Old housekeeper, if you continue to be nagging, you will bring huge disaster to your Tian family." Qi Ning threatened: "The imperial court has already investigated this matter. If you ruin the important affairs of the imperial court, I will only ask you Can the Tian family afford it??"
Steward Tian was stunned for a moment, seeing that Qining's expression was solemn, and he didn't seem to be joking. He thought that it was just two herbs, how could it be related to the important events of the imperial court
Duan Canghai also said in a deep voice: "Old housekeeper, don't delay any more. Don't think about it. If it wasn't a big matter for the court, why would the Marquis and I come here again and again? Why did the Marquis go to such trouble in the middle of the night when he should be resting? Come here? It’s just two herbs. Do you think if it’s a trivial matter, it’s so necessary to go to war?”
Butler Tian felt a little panicked at this time.
Although the Tian family medicine store is not weak in the capital, in the eyes of the imperial court, it is just a small shrimp. If it really ruins the affairs of the imperial court, Butler Tian also knows that the consequences will be disastrous.
"Old housekeeper, if Madam goes to bed, we don't really need to disturb her." Qining said: "You just need to tell me whether you have Guimucao and Fengguzi in stock? As long as you can bring these two medicinal materials to My lord, we don’t need to disturb Mrs. Tian.”
The old housekeeper lowered his head and said: "Master Hou, everything in the medicine store... is all decided by the wife. I... I don't dare to make random decisions."
As soon as these words came out, Qi Ning and Duan Canghai looked at each other and knew something in their minds.
"Okay, take me to Mrs. Tian's courtyard." Qi Ning said coldly: "If we delay any longer, you won't be able to get away with it."
The old housekeeper hesitated for a moment, then finally raised his hand and said: "Master Marquis, please!"
He led the way. Although he was old, he walked very slowly. He turned to the outside of a courtyard gate in the east, pointed to the courtyard and said: "Master Marquis, Madam... Madam lives here without Madam's instructions." , we servants cannot enter the courtyard."
Qi Ning saw that the door of the courtyard was ajar, but it was not closed. He knew that it was rude to break into the courtyard of a woman's house in the middle of the night, but when he thought about Tang Nuo's sleepless days and nights, he was looking for an antidote, and there were countless people waiting for the antidote. , could only casually whisper: "You guys wait here." Pushing the door and entering the courtyard, he looked up and saw that the lights were still on in the left wing of the courtyard. He knew that Mrs. Tian was inside and not asleep. .