Li Zishen frantically grabbed Tang Xiaowan's hand.
Her wrist, soft and boneless, shimmered with a metallic quality and the unique glow of rubies, dazzling like flames.
He had no time to pay attention to these details.
The bracelet was a gift from him after all.
It contained a total of nine rubies, each strictly sized.
He was just somewhat puzzled as to why Tang Xiaowan would speak to him in such a tone, her eyes devoid of any sense of security, treating him as if he were a completely unforgivable villain.
"I'm sorry, I was impulsive just now. Don't be mad, I was just too worried about you."
Tang Xiaowan suddenly felt a severe headache.
Then, images began to flash through her mind, with tears shimmering in her beautiful eyes.
As Li Zishen gripped her hand, he again touched the wound on her shoulder, and a gentle woman's voice resonated in her ear.
It's coming! You better hide well, definitely don't let me catch you.
This voice inexplicably comforted Tang Xiaowan.
As for why she felt this way, she was puzzled and eager to find out.
"Who are you? Why..."
"I am Zishen, Xiao Wan!"
Li Zishen moved closer to Tang Xiaowan, his phoenix eyes full of concern, "What's wrong?"
At this moment, Tang Xiaowan was somewhat unable to distinguish between what was a dream and what was reality, but the scent of medicine emanating from the man seemed familiar.
She vaguely remembered a masked man in black suddenly bursting in, spraying something at her.
Soon, her limbs began to go numb, and her headache became unbearable, and during the subsequent scuffle, she was hit on the shoulder with a vase.
Before long, another man in black burst in.
Then, she lost her vision and hearing; faintly, it seemed like someone had put a few Chinese Medicine Pills into her mouth, which melted upon contact.
A few minutes later, more pills, but oddly, the tastes were different.
Afterward, she could remember nothing.
The spray, small pills, faint scent of medicine, why only these fragments?
Who was that woman, and who am I?
Tang Xiaowan's brows suddenly furrowed, her headache intensifying, prompting her to cough dryly twice.
"Xiao Wan, Xiao Wan?"
Li Zishen hurriedly tucked her hand under the silk duvet. Even though Qingcheng was springlike all year round, it could still be a bit chilly in the mountains without the sun.
"The rubies, the rubies are real," Tang Xiaowan paused, feeling a tightness in her chest, "If..."
A few dry coughs interrupted her, and her petite cheeks grew paler.
"If you like it, then..."
Several more dry coughs followed, this time more violently, and dark blood spurted from her mouth, staining her newly changed dress.
"Let me go... The bracelet is yours."
After saying this, Tang Xiaowan closed her eyes, and her breathing grew increasingly labored.
Li Zishen quickly pulled her into his embrace.
Her frail body trembled continuously, cold as ice.
"Xiao Wan, Xiao Wan, what's wrong with you?"
A lion-like roar resounded again, and the two bodyguards outside immediately clenched their fists.
The younger one glanced at the slightly ajar solid wood door: "Brother, is there some trouble? Should we check it out?"
"It's Doctor Lin we're calling, are you trying to get us killed?"
"Oh, right, right, right, it's Doctor Lin."
Moments later, hurried footsteps came from the dark red solid wood staircase.
It was Lin Ping and Fang Yun, one after the other.
In their hands, they still carried those heavy metal cases.
"Sister Ping, is it Lady Tang..."
"Don't speak carelessly later; I'm here."
"Okay, thank you, Sister Ping."
"Don't be scared; we mean well. After all, it's an emergency situation. Brother Shen will understand."
"Yes, yes, absolutely."
After entering, Tang Xiaowan's black-stained blood truly startled Lin Ping.
It won't be serious, it won't!
She thought she would face the most severe punishment and reprimand, but Li Zishen didn't say much. He just gently set Tang Xiaowan down from his arms, signaling her and Fang Yun to hurry and treat her.
"Brother Shen, Lady Tang ..."
"Don't use Western medicine; let Fang Yun handle it."
Lin Ping had just taken out an injection, ready to administer it, but she was stopped by the deep voice of Li Zishen.
Thus, she awkwardly stepped aside.
As Fang Yun opened the suitcase, rows of silver needles came into view; the shortest were only about the length of a finger, while the longest were a full 15 centimeters.
Soon, the needles were inserted one by one into the corresponding acupoints, and Heart Protecting Pills were also stuffed into her mouth.
What puzzled her was that the remaining toxins in Tang Xiaowan's body had already dissipated and her breathing had stabilized a lot; she essentially didn't need any treatment.
The so-called weakness was merely unconsciousness.
The three of them fell into deep thought.
Could that black blood perhaps be the remaining toxins?
It'd be better once expelled!
But why was she still shivering?
Li Zishen furrowed his brows and looked coldly towards Fang Yun, who was preparing to remove the needles. "Is there a head injury?"
"No, it was checked last night."
"Yes, everything is normal."
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Li Zishen shook his head thoughtfully.
She doesn't even recognize me; how could she be normal? Could those people have come for the Ruby bracelet?
Indeed, each gem on it is costly, not to mention there are nine.
No, it's not the bracelet; it shouldn't be!
Seeing Li Zishen's preoccupation, Lin Ping quickly stepped forward. "Brother Shen, shall we bring over the equipment and conduct a thorough check on Lady Tang?"
"No need, we'll do it once we're back at Li Garden."
"But isn't Lady Tang afraid of heights? I remember you mentioned that Lady Tang ..."
"It's fine; I can hold Wan."
Hearing this response, Lin Ping trembled inside. This wasn't just about taking someone for a short stay; it was also about announcing the status of their relationship.
"Brother Shen, isn't this move too conspicuous? What if the masterminds behind this..."
Li Zishen smirked, "That would be even better."
Meanwhile, in the backyard.
A bodyguard was taking photos of a footprint, while others cast their gaze elsewhere, hoping to discover something.
The footprints varied in size and depth; the largest was size 44, the smallest only 36.
What perplexed the bodyguards even more was that there were no footprints on the stone path leading to the main villa or on the wooden stairs, only appearing in the grass of the backyard and on the third-floor balcony.
"Could it be someone climbed up using a rope?"
"Possibly, heading straight for the study room to ambush, then returning the same way, which is why all the footprints are concentrated in this area."
A slender bodyguard turned his head towards the third floor. "I think you've watched too many movies. Even with a Flying Tiger Claw, it'd be futile; it's too far."
"Ah, true, let's continue then."
However, just then, a bodyguard responsible for detection suddenly displayed a look of surprise.
"Guys, there's a void under the lawn!"
The other black-clad bodyguards, who were ready to move the suitcase and continue expanding the search area, immediately turned around upon hearing this.
"Another secret passage?"
The detector nodded: "Very likely."