Medical and Martial God-Chapter 101: Retreat

"At her hands? Big Brother, what do you mean by that?" Zuo You asked, bewildered.

"Dragon Hollyhock married my brother, and even if it was for his money, she wouldn’t dare kill anyone, right?" Zuo Song’er added, equally perplexed. "Besides, killing my brother and the rest of the Zuo family wouldn’t do her any good."

"Zuo You, do you know where your infertility came from?" Ye Xiu asked.

"The doctor said I was born infertile," Zuo You replied.

"That doctor was talking nonsense, and it’s highly likely he was bribed by Dragon Hollyhock," Ye Xiu stated. "If I’m not mistaken, Dragon Hollyhock has you drink something every night before bed, doesn’t she?"

"Big Brother, how did you know?" Zuo You exclaimed in shock. "Dragon Hollyhock has been giving me some kind of herbal medicine. At first, she said it was good for my health, and later she claimed it was a folk remedy for infertility."

"That’s poison!" Ye Xiu declared. "Dragon Hollyhock added a slow-acting poison to the medicine. It isn’t fatal, but it’s designed to end your bloodline. In fact, I noticed you were poisoned the very first time I met you."

Hearing Ye Xiu’s words, Zuo You’s world came crashing down. Ever since being diagnosed with infertility, he had been subjected to constant ridicule. Dragon Hollyhock’s gentleness and the sweet nothings she whispered while preparing his medicine each night had moved him, allowing him to ignore the gossip.

But in the end, all the kindness she had shown him, all the sweet words she had spoken, were nothing but lies.

"Why?" Zuo You asked in disbelief. "What does she gain from rendering me unable to have children?"

"Exactly! If she had my brother’s child, that child would be the future heir to the Zuo family," Zuo Song’er said, unable to fathom Dragon Hollyhock’s motives.

"I’m not entirely sure what her specific plan was," Ye Xiu admitted. "But my guess is that Dragon Hollyhock never intended to let any of you live. She wanted to install Luo Qiwei as the head of the Zuo family and, through him, gain indirect control."

Zuo You and Zuo Song’er fell silent. They had suspected as much but had been unwilling to accept the truth.

"I really married a wonderful wife," Zuo You said with a bitter laugh. His heart felt as if it had been pierced by a thousand swords, the pain sending spasms through his entire body.

"Alright, get up," Ye Xiu said, helping Zuo You to his feet. "A woman like Dragon Hollyhock isn’t worth your sorrow or your affection."

Zuo You managed a wry smile. He understood the logic, of course, but how could he not be heartbroken after being so deeply betrayed by the woman he loved most?

"Big Brother, since you know my brother was poisoned, can you cure him?" Zuo Song’er asked.

"I can. I’ll send you a prescription in a bit. Just get the medicine prepared according to the instructions, and the poison in Zuo You’s body will be completely gone within seven days," Ye Xiu replied.

"Thank you, Big Brother," Zuo Song’er said gratefully. "You cured my illness, helped our family avoid a scandal, exposed Dragon Hollyhock and Luo Qiwei’s conspiracy, and now you can even cure my brother. The Zuo family owes you too much."

With that, she turned to her brother. "Brother, Big Brother is here to look at houses. Why don’t we show him around? Whichever one he likes, we’ll give it to him as a gift, alright?"

"Alright!" Zuo You nodded. He knew Zuo Song’er was suggesting this to give him something to do and keep his mind from wallowing in misery.

In truth, he wasn’t that fragile. Reason told him it wasn’t worth grieving over heartless monsters like Dragon Hollyhock and Luo Qiwei. He was just furious!

While Ye Xiu, Murong, Zuo You, and Zuo Song’er were looking at houses, Dragon Hollyhock and Luo Qiwei returned to their car.

"Your plan failed, and I’ve lost any right to fight for the inheritance. What do we do now?" Luo Qiwei, looking as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant, had lost all his fighting spirit.

"We haven’t lost yet," Dragon Hollyhock said, her lips curling into a vicious smile.

"What do you mean?" Luo Qiwei asked.

"Tonight, I’ll arrange for some people to go with you to the Zuo residence. You will force them to transfer all of their shares to your name," Dragon Hollyhock explained.

Hearing this, Luo Qiwei shot upright, his energy completely restored. "Are you sure this will work?"

"Of course," Dragon Hollyhock replied confidently. "This was my backup plan, something I wouldn’t use unless absolutely necessary. But given the circumstances, we have no other choice."

"Good, good..." Luo Qiwei grew excited. "What do you need me to do?"

Dragon Hollyhock’s hand came to rest on his thigh.

Luo Qiwei instantly understood. He started the car and headed straight for the nearest hotel.

Accompanied by Zuo You and Zuo Song’er, Ye Xiu and Murong viewed every available layout in the Waterfront Huating Residential Complex. In the end, Zuo You gifted Ye Xiu and Murong each a large, fully furnished apartment. Ye Xiu didn’t refuse. Zuo You was repaying a debt of gratitude, and refusing would have only put him in an awkward position.

By the time they completed the necessary paperwork, it was already evening. The four had dinner together before heading their separate ways.

When Zuo You and Zuo Song’er arrived home, they found their parents and grandparents waiting anxiously for them.

"Zuo You, was everything you said on the phone this afternoon true?" their grandfather asked the moment they walked in.

Zuo You had called his family that afternoon to tell them about Dragon Hollyhock and Luo Qiwei, but his parents and grandparents had refused to believe it.

"It’s true," Zuo You said dejectedly. "Dragon Hollyhock and Luo Qiwei admitted it themselves. Big Brother Ye even gave me the security footage of them eating at that couples’ restaurant."

At this, his parents and grandparents finally believed him.

"What a disgrace! An absolute disgrace!" the grandfather exclaimed, pounding his chest and stamping his feet. "I’ve navigated the business world my entire life and have never suffered such a humiliation! That wretched couple, Dragon Hollyhock and Luo Qiwei, have utterly shamed the Zuo family... cough, cough..."

"I must have been blind," the grandmother snarled, grinding her teeth. "To think I treated a promiscuous and malicious woman like her as a good granddaughter-in-law..."

"Mom, Dad, I can’t let this go. What do you think we should do about Dragon Hollyhock and Luo Qiwei?" Zuo You’s mother said, panting with rage.

"Have Zuo You take Dragon Hollyhock to the Marriage Registrar for a divorce first thing in the morning. She can forget about taking a single penny of the Zuo family’s money," the grandfather said coldly. "As for Luo Qiwei..."

At the mention of his name, the grandfather looked at Zuo You’s father, Zuo Zhongzheng. "Luo Qiwei is your son. You tell us what should be done with him."

Zuo You, Zuo Song’er, their mother, and their grandmother all turned to look at Zuo Zhongzheng.

"Well..." Zuo Zhongzheng faltered, a troubled expression on his face.

Luo Qiwei was, after all, his biological son. Even a vicious tiger won’t eat its own cubs. It was incredibly difficult for him to decide Luo Qiwei’s fate.

"I’d also like to know what Dad plans to do with me."

Just then, a playful, taunting voice drifted in from the doorway.

Hearing it, the members of the Zuo family became enraged and whipped their heads toward the entrance.

There stood Luo Qiwei, smiling as he walked in with three other people.