CHAPTER 142: CHAPTER

Mo Lan’s smirk froze the moment Lin Xu snapped.

"Just because I wore white doesn’t mean anything," Lin Xu shot back, her voice sharp with anger she could no longer hold in. "Anyone who had bad intentions toward me could have dressed like me and attacked Lady Xu. So the color of the clothing proves nothing."

The room fell silent for a second.

Mo Lan’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting Lin Xu to raise her voice.

Madame Mo stepped forward. "How dare you speak like that—"

But Lin Xu didn’t back down. Her hands were trembling, not from fear, but from the constant blame being thrown at her.

"You all keep accusing me without thinking," Lin Xu said, breathing hard. "If someone wanted to frame me, wearing white would be the easiest way. And since Lady Xu said it was dark, how can she tell exactly who it was?"

Lady Xu lowered her eyes, her fingers clutching her blanket.

Mo Ying’s jaw tightened. He looked at Lin Xu with a brief spark of pride, because this time, she wasn’t letting them crush her.

Grandma Mo slowly nodded. "Lin Xu has a point. The attacker may have dressed like her on purpose."

Mo Lan scoffed loudly. "So now you’re saying someone else pretended to be you? That’s your excuse?"

"Yes," Lin Xu said without hesitation. "Because I have nothing to hide. I didn’t poison Lady Xu. Think about it—I was with people the whole time during the banquet. When would I have done this?"

Uncle Mo scratched his head. "That’s true... she hardly left the hall."

Madame Mo clicked her tongue. "You’re all letting her twist your heads—"

Mo Ying suddenly stepped forward, his voice firm. "Enough. Until we know the truth, no one is allowed to blame her blindly."

He moved beside Lin Xu and took her hand gently, in full view of everyone.

Mo Lan’s face turned ugly immediately, jealousy burning through her expression.

"She’s lying," Mo Lan hissed. "Just admit it! You want Brother Ying to yourself so badly you’ll harm anyone—"

Lin Xu was about to reply to Mo Lan when, suddenly, Lady Xu bent forward and began vomiting violently. Her whole body shook, her face turning pale as her temperature started rising fast.

Everyone froze for a second, then panic broke out at once.

Grandma Mo gasped, "What is happening now?!"

Uncle Mo rushed toward the bed while Madame Mo stepped back in shock. Even San Na’s expression changed, though she still stood stiffly without moving to help.

Mo Ying didn’t waste a second. "Call the physician.... now!"

Fuhan and a few servants ran out immediately.

Within minutes, the physician returned, sweating as he checked Lady Xu again. But after a moment, he shook his head helplessly.

"I... I don’t know what else to do," he admitted. "This poison is spreading too fast. If nothing is done soon, her chances... will not be good."

Fear spread through the room like cold wind.

Madame Mo clutched her sleeves. "What do you mean you don’t know?! Aren’t you the best physician in the city?!"

"I have never seen this type of poison," he said quietly. "I... I am sorry."

The tension grew heavier. Everyone looked lost, scared, or angry.

Then Lin Xu stepped forward.

"I might know how to help her."

Every head turned toward her.

Uncle Mo frowned deeply. "Since when are you a physician?"

Mo Lan scoffed loudly. "Oh, now she knows medicine? What next? She’ll say she makes poison too?"

Madame Mo crossed her arms. "Stop making things worse. Do you even understand how serious this is?"

Lin Xu didn’t flinch. "I’m not saying I’m a physician. I’m saying... I’ve seen something like this before. I think I know what kind of poison it is."

More whispering spread through the room.

"Impossible."

"She must be lying."

"She’s trying to save herself."

But Mo Ying didn’t hesitate. He looked straight into her eyes, and whatever he saw there made his decision clear.

"Enough," he said firmly. "Everyone out."

Madame Mo’s eyes widened. "Ying’er—"

"I said out," Mo Ying repeated.

His voice was calm but strong, leaving no room for argument.

Even Grandma Mo, after a moment of hesitation, nodded for the others to leave.

Mo Lan glared at Lin Xu the entire time as she walked out. "If anything happens to Lady Xu, it will be on your head," she spat before stepping outside.

Soon, the room emptied until only Mo Ying and Lin Xu remained beside the trembling Lady Xu.

Mo Ying touched Lin Xu’s arm gently. "I trust you. Tell me what you need."

Lin Xu took a deep breath, then looked up at Mo Ying. "I need you to get out too."

Mo Ying blinked in surprise. "Me?"

"Yes," she said gently. "I need full focus. Just give me a little time."

Before he could protest, she placed both hands on his chest and pushed him toward the door—not roughly, but firmly enough that he couldn’t argue. She gave him a small reassuring smile as she slid the door shut.

Mo Ying stood there, tense and unwilling, but he forced himself to trust her.

Lin Xu stood in the quiet room, her heartbeat loud in her ears. Lady Xu lay trembling on the bed, her breath shallow and weak. There was no time left.

She drew in a steady breath and whispered,

"Susu... come out."

A soft blue glow swirled in the air before Susu floated out, tiny arms crossed and tail flicking.

[ Host, your face looks horrible. Something serious must’ve happened. ]

Lin Xu ignored the comment. "Lady Xu was poisoned. The physician can’t help. I need a cure—anything. A pill, herb, medicine. I’ll pay whatever it costs."

Susu’s expression sharpened.

[ Describe what happened. ]

"Her temperature shot up, she started vomiting, her pulse is unstable, and it seems someone forced something down her throat," Lin Xu explained quickly.

Susu’s eyes widened instantly.

[ Host... that’s Ghost Silk Venom. ]

Lin Xu’s stomach dropped. "Is it deadly?"

[ Extremely. It kills slowly but painfully. ]

Lin Xu swallowed hard. "Can it be cured?"

Susu gave a dramatic sigh.

[ If it couldn’t, I’d already be telling you to say your last prayers to her. ]

Lin Xu glared. "Susu!"

[ Fine, fine. There is a cure. A detoxification pill from the system shop, Intermediate Grade. ]

Lin Xu leaned closer. "How much?"

A glowing board popped up.

[ Price: 5000 taels. ]

Lin Xu blinked once.

"Five... thousand taels?"

[ Yes, Host. What, you expected it to be 10 copper coins? This is a rare antidote for a deadly poison. ]

Lin Xu pressed her lips together.

Five thousand taels was a lot—

But she had enough.

She had more than enough.

"Buy it," she said without hesitation. "Right now."

Susu nodded with satisfaction.

[ Purchase confirmed. ]

A bright flash of light appeared in Lin Xu’s palm. When it faded, a small jade-green pill rested on her hand. It smelled faintly sweet and clean.

Lin Xu didn’t waste a second. She rushed to Lady Xu’s side, lifted her weak body gently, and pressed the pill to her lips.

"Please," she whispered. "Swallow."

With effort, Lady Xu obeyed.

The pill melted instantly, and a soft warmth spread through her body.

Susu floated beside Lin Xu, watching quietly.

[ Host... you did the right thing. ]

Lin Xu exhaled shakily, her eyes on Lady Xu’s face as the trembling slowly began to ease. She didn’t know who poisoned her, but she was determined to find out.

One thing was certain...

Tonight was far from over.

Outside the room, after the chaos of the night had finally died down, the Mo family gathered in the courtyard. The banquet had long ended; servants were cleaning, some relatives were preparing to leave, others whispering among themselves. But right now, every eye was fixed on Mo Ying.

He stood in front of them, cold and unreadable.

"We’re going to settle this," Mo Ying said calmly. "One by one, tell me where you were when Lady Xu was attacked."

Grandma Mo sighed tiredly. "I was resting in my room. My legs were hurting. I only heard screams when the maid ran to call me."

Uncle Mo stepped forward. "I was in the study, going through the account books. You can ask the steward, he was there."

Madame Mo raised her chin proudly. "I was downstairs, speaking with the physician about the herbal deliveries for next week. Nothing more."

Mo Ying didn’t react. He simply turned to Mo Lan.

"And you?"

Mo Lan crossed her arms. "Why do I have to answer? Shouldn’t Lin Xu be standing here too?"

Mo Ying’s eyes sharpened. "Lin Xu has already explained herself. And unlike all of you, I was with her before everything happened. She didn’t leave my sight until maids brought us here."

Madame Mo scoffed loudly. "Of course you’ll say that. You believe every word that girl says."

Mo Ying’s voice dropped, firm and icy. "Madame Mo, I’ll warn you once stop accusing her without proof."

Madame Mo stepped closer, not intimidated. "And I’ll say this once: you’re being blinded. That girl caused trouble the moment she entered this house!"

Mo Ying didn’t back down. "What caused trouble wasn’t her. It was the people who couldn’t stand seeing me love someone."

A tense silence fell.

Then Mo Lan suddenly snapped, "So now we’re the suspicious ones?!"

"You’re all being questioned," Mo Ying replied evenly. "If any of you have nothing to hide, you shouldn’t be this nervous."

"Nervous?!" Mo Lan’s voice cracked. "Why would I be nervous?!"

"That’s what I’d like to know," Mo Ying answered. "You didn’t answer my question. Where were you?"

Mo Lan’s lips trembled. "I... I was in my room."

Mo Ying arched a brow. "Alone?"

"Yes!"

"Convenient."

She flushed angrily. "You’re accusing me now?!"

"I’m accusing no one," Mo Ying said. "I’m looking for the truth. The only person I’m certain of is Lin Xu, because I saw where she was with my own eyes."

Madame Mo clicked her tongue. "Your loyalty is pathetic."

"And your hostility is suspicious," Mo Ying replied calmly.

That shut her up.