With this tragedy having struck the Bao estate, Bao Lei did not appear for the final day of the competition, and Lang Yu unilaterally declared Sun Dabao the winner.

Yet hardly anyone was inclined to take his word for it.

Their foremost Thunder King hadn’t even shown up—that hardly counted as a loss.

Feng Jiang stayed by the unconscious Qiao Mu’s side the entire time; everyone assumed he had shut himself away out of overwhelming grief.

It was only when Lei Shenbao came that he sought Feng Jiang out directly.

In the main hall of the east wing, Feng Jiang sat in the center of the room, lifting his teacup for a sip.

Lei Shenbao looked at him and gave a light sigh.

“Lei, if it truly turns out to be Lang Yu’s doing, I will give you an explanation.”

Feng Jiang set down his cup and looked at the man seated across from him.

“Was anything left behind at the scene?” The only person he truly cared about was Qiao Mu.

The Bao estate was his property after all—did it matter whose hands had raised him there? Destroyed was destroyed.

“We found some unusual powder, which I had collected. We don’t yet know the details.”

Lei Shenbao glanced sideways at a guard, who nodded and stepped forward, handing Feng Jiang a small bottle.

“This is what hadn’t fully burned. Lighting a fire with this would make it spread fast—I imagine the way the flames rose so quickly in the west wing last night had something to do with this powder.”

Feng Jiang took the bottle, glanced at it, then set it down.

“There’s also someone in the household who was seriously injured.”

No sooner had Feng Jiang spoken than Yang Sheng stepped forward and knelt before Lei Shenbao.

“Lord Lei, that was Doctor Long’s attendant. He was struck by an enemy blade while saving me—the blade carried a vicious poison.”

“After a full night of emergency treatment by Doctor Long, Qiao escaped immediate danger, but the poison he was struck with has even Doctor Long at a loss.”

“Lord Lei, would you be willing to go take a look at Qiao’s condition?”

Lei Shenbao withdrew his gaze from Yang Sheng and looked up at Feng Jiang.

“Is this true?”

“Mm.” Feng Jiang nodded. “Though, the matter of Qiao…”

His thick brows furrowed, and he continued, “Last night, I heard from Doctor Long that Qiao is actually a woman. I’m not sure if that would make things inconvenient?”

“That’s no inconvenience at all—I’m no physician, and I won’t be having much contact with her,” Lei Shenbao said, standing.

“Take me to see her. If Lang Yu really dared to play poison games with me, I’ll have him killed.”

It was only at this point that Yang Sheng realized the truth about Qiao being a woman, and he stood at once with a nod.

“Then I’m in your debt, Lord Lei. Regardless, Qiao… Miss Qiao, is also the one who saved my life.”

When Lei Shenbao, Feng Jiang, and Yang Sheng walked together into Qiao Mu’s room, Xiao Yingtao emerged from inside and blocked their way.

“What are you all… here to do?” she asked, brow furrowing.

“Young mistress, we mean no harm. Lord Lei has some knowledge of poisons, and we’d like him to take a look at Miss Qiao’s condition.”

“What?” Xiao Yingtao stared at Yang Sheng, eyes wide, then quickly turned her gaze to Feng Jiang.

“Lord Bao, what is the meaning of this? Qiao barely escaped a forced marriage and was taken in by Dragon Shadow—why would you…”

“We’re all trying to help you—how could you go back on your word like this?”

“Young mistress, my lord meant no such thing.” Yang Sheng cupped his hands.

“He merely hopes Lord Lei might be able to help Miss Qiao—there’s no ill intent.”

“Young mistress, is that right?” Lei Shenbao said, looking down at Xiao Yingtao.

Xiao Yingtao pressed her lips together, withdrew her outstretched arms, and looked at him, lowering her head slightly.

“Lord Lei.” She looked somewhat unwilling, but resigned.

Lei Shenbao’s lips curved faintly. “Don’t worry. Miss Qiao saved Yang Sheng—she may as well be one of my own people too.”

“I’ll keep her secret.”

That Feng Jiang revealed Qiao Mu’s true identity as a woman had been Feng Jiu’er’s idea.

Feng Jiu’er had no way of knowing just how much Lei Shenbao understood about poisons and medicine.

Rather than risk him discovering it on his own, it was better to tell him beforehand.

“Xiao Yingtao, don’t judge a gentleman’s heart by a petty person’s standards,” said Feng Jiu’er, rising from where she sat by the bed.

“Since Lord Lei is willing to lower himself to examine Qiao, it wouldn’t make sense for you to keep obstructing him.”

“Lord Lei, please.” Feng Jiu’er gestured with her hand.

Xiao Yingtao pressed her lips together and stepped aside, clearing the way.

Lei Shenbao walked over and sat down at the bedside. After checking Qiao Mu’s pulse, he opened her eyes and examined them.

Finally, he stood.

“I wonder if it might be convenient for me to take a look at Miss Qiao’s wound.”

“No, you may not!” Xiao Yingtao stepped forward.

“Qiao’s life is hanging by a thread, and you’re still worried about whether someone sees her arm?” Feng Jiu’er shook her head and walked over, pulling back Qiao Mu’s sleeve directly.

Xiao Yingtao moved over and sat down behind Feng Jiu’er, the proximity causing Lei Shenbao to step back a pace.

Feng Jiu’er carefully unwound the bandage on Qiao Mu’s arm, exposing the wound on it.

She stood and looked up at Lei Shenbao.

“My apologies! Xiao Yingtao and Qiao are like sisters—please don’t take offense, Lord Lei.”

“It’s nothing.” Lei Shenbao moved closer, sat down, examined the wound carefully for a moment, then stood again.

“Doctor Long, what’s your assessment of this poison?”

Feng Jiu’er looked at Lei Shenbao, her crescent brows furrowing. “Does Lord Lei perhaps already know what poison this is?”

“You could say that.” Lei Shenbao gave a light nod.

“I never expected Miss Qiao to survive being struck with this poison. Doctor Long, your medical skill is no ordinary thing.”

“I specialize in needlework, and with Mr. Bao’s internal energy lending assistance, we took a gamble and it paid off,” Feng Jiu’er said softly.

“If Lord Lei truly knows, please tell me! I hope Qiao wakes soon.”

“Very well.” Lei Shenbao looked at Feng Jiu’er, nodded, and extended a hand, gesturing. “Let’s go speak elsewhere.”

“Alright.” Feng Jiu’er nodded.

The two of them, one after the other, left Qiao Mu’s chamber.

Everyone knew Lei Shenbao was a master of poison craft, but according to Feng Jiu’er’s investigations, no one had ever actually seen him use his skills in person.

Whether this man’s ability was genuinely his own, or whether there was someone capable behind him, Feng Jiu’er found herself curious.

Feng Jiu’er hadn’t expected that Qiao Mu’s injury would create an opportunity for her and Lei Shenbao to interact.

But if she’d had a choice, Feng Jiu’er would rather not have had such an opportunity at all.

Qiao Mu was her own person; she would never wish for one of her own to be hurt, let alone so severely.

Feng Jiu’er and Lei Shenbao spoke with increasing rapport, but with Feng Jiu’er anxious to save a life, she truly didn’t have much time to linger.

Drawing on her own knowledge along with what Lei Shenbao had told her, Feng Jiu’er worked out a method to clear the poison from Qiao Mu’s body, and she stood.

“Lord Lei, my thanks, today!”

“Doctor Long, there’s no need for such formality,” Lei Shenbao said, smiling as he rose. “Besides, it was for one of my own people that Miss Qiao was injured—it is I who should apologize.”

Feng Jiu’er cupped her hands. “Lord Lei’s knowledge and eloquence leave me deeply impressed.”

“However, I must go now to work on the antidote, so I can’t stay to chat with Lord Lei at length. Perhaps another time…”

“Another time—how could there not be another time?” Lei Shenbao said, a smile at the corner of his mouth. “For a talent like you, Doctor Long, I, Lei, thirst for the worthy indeed!”