After getting in the car, Zhang Susu couldn't help but chuckle, "Youli, you're still as mischievous as ever. Your words just now almost made your second aunt crush her lunchbox in anger."
Jiang Youli was completely unapologetic, "Mom, didn't you see the murderous look in her eyes? I'm not the type to just take it. Why should I indulge her? It's not like I don't have a temper too."
Zhang Susu liked her daughter's attitude; at least she wouldn't let herself be taken advantage of.
On the way, Jiang Youli made a call to Jiang Xing.
"Is the medicinal herb garden you were supposed to clear for me done?"
The voice on the other end was reluctant, "It's done."
"Good. Wait for me at the garden. I need to inspect the work."
"...Fine."
Zhang Susu, sitting beside her, couldn't wrap her head around the situation. Even with Jiang Zhao in such a state, Jiang Xing, as Jiang Zhao's older brother, still followed Jiang Youli's every word.
She really wondered what kind of spell Jiang Youli had cast on Jiang Xing. It was utterly baffling!
...
Returning to the Jiang family's Eastern District villa, Jiang Youli had just entered her room when Xiao Hei, Xiao Bai, and Xiao Lü, who had heard the commotion, immediately slithered over and began circling her feet.
"Missed me, huh?" Jiang Youli said with a smile.
The three little snakes nodded in unison.
Jiang Youli went to the cabinet, got them some freeze-dried spiders, fed each of them two, and then headed to the medicinal herb garden she had tasked Jiang Xing with clearing.
Jiang Xing was already there, his face expressionless. "Go ahead, inspect it."
The garden had been cleared and, following her plan, surrounded by a fence with a small gate for entry and exit.
Jiang Youli couldn't resist teasing him, "Jiang Xing, it seems you were being too modest before. Look at this perfectly formed herb garden. You actually have some skill with farm work. If you can't inherit Starlight Entertainment in the future, you can always come tend my herb garden for me."
Jiang Xing said with a cold face, "Could you please stop insulting me?"
Jiang Youli feigned surprise, "But I'm complimenting you!"
Jiang Xing: "..."
Jiang Xing took a deep breath. "Then don't."
Jiang Youli shrugged. "Oh, fine. Then I'll just say it straight: you're useless. You'll definitely never get Starlight Entertainment back. Behave well, and I might still let you be the caretaker of my herb garden."
Jiang Xing: "..."
You'd better just shut up!
But he didn't dare talk back to Jiang Youli like that!
Knowing full well that Jiang Xing was searching for the "Poison Doctor" (herself) at the capital's largest auction house, Jiang Youli asked him deliberately, "I'm going to the capital's largest auction house tonight. Interested in coming along?"
Hearing Jiang Youli mention the capital's largest auction house, Jiang Xing frowned, his guard instantly up. "What are you going there for?"
He had just yesterday stationed people at the auction house to lie in wait for that elusive, mysterious Poison Doctor. And now, at this critical juncture, Jiang Youli suddenly announced she was going there too.
Was it just a coincidence?
Or was she up to something again, deliberately trying to sabotage his plans?
Jiang Youli brushed it off casually, as if it were nothing. "I heard they have lots of rare and precious treasures there, things you can't find or buy on the regular market. Now that I'm the legitimate Jiang family heiress, of course I'm going to broaden my horizons."
Seeing Jiang Youli's nonchalant attitude, Jiang Xing's expression darkened further. He stated firmly, "I'm not going."
What a joke. Who would choose to go with her?
Who knows what kind of trap she might set this time!
Jiang Youli shrugged. "You're right. If Starlight Entertainment doesn't show results this month, you'll have to hand it over to me for management next month. You probably don't have time to go to an auction house with me. I'll go by myself then."
Jiang Xing endured her jab. "I've finished the herb garden for you. If there are no issues, I'm leaving."
As he turned to go, Jiang Youli stopped him. "Oh, one more thing. Last night, someone sneaked into my room and rummaged through everything. No idea what they were trying to steal. Do you know anything about that?"
Hearing this, Jiang Xing's body stiffened. A flicker of panic crossed his face, but he quickly regained his composure and denied it without hesitation. "How would I know?"
However, his slightly tense expression didn't escape Jiang Youli's sharp eyes.
Jiang Youli let out a light laugh and continued to prod, "Because you're poisoned by me. I was wondering, were you so desperate that you decided to take a risk and try to steal the antidote?"
Jiang Xing's face darkened further at her "desperate" comment, while also growing tense from being guessed correctly. A fine layer of sweat even appeared on his forehead.
He forced himself to stay calm, gritting his teeth as he retorted, "Even if I wanted to steal it, I'd first need to know what the antidote even looks like!"
A faint, ambiguous smile played on Jiang Youli's lips. "True. My room is filled with all sorts of medicines. Some can pull people back from the brink of death, some are nourishing tonics, but others are lethal poisons... Really, there's a bit of everything. If someone accidentally ingested the wrong one, the consequences would be unthinkable. I wonder which clever soul thought of stealing from my room. They really must have a death wish."
Cold sweat broke out on Jiang Xing's back, and a wave of fear washed over him. He didn't reply.
Jiang Youli waved her hand. "Alright, you can go."
Only then did Jiang Xing leave the herb garden, walking with a slight limp.
Once he was farther away, he let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the attempt to steal medicine had failed. If Jiang Youli wasn't just trying to scare him, and he had taken the wrong drug by mistake, the consequences would likely have been even more disastrous!
In the future, regarding the matter of detoxification, he needed to be even more cautious!
Watching Jiang Xing hurry away with his limping gait, Jiang Youli snorted softly. He really hadn't suffered enough.
With that thought, she also leisurely left the herb garden.
...
In the evening, after dinner, Jiang Youli went to the garage, took a new car, and drove to the capital's largest auction house.
"Miss Jiang, what brings you here again today? Did you bring more good items?" Boss Lin's eyes lit up when he saw Jiang Youli, as if he saw a pile of gold waving at him.
Jiang Youli smiled. "About those rare medicinal herbs I brought you last time, I haven't seen the payment yet. They haven't been auctioned off, right?"
Boss Lin told her honestly, "I haven't put them up for auction yet. The three rare herbs you gave me are simply too precious. I need to choose the right moment, wait for the most eager buyers to appear, and then auction them. The higher the auction price, the higher my commission, after all."
Jiang Youli remarked, "Boss Lin, you certainly know how to do business."
"You flatter me, Miss Jiang," Boss Lin said with an ingratiating smile. "Since you didn't bring herbs this time, what brings you here?"
Jiang Youli said, "Last time you mentioned Jiang Xing was looking for the Poison Doctor."
Boss Lin nodded. "Yes. You said at the time not to notify Jiang Xing. So, have you changed your mind and are willing to meet him now?"
Jiang Youli gave a sly smile and said, "Exactly. So I'll have to trouble you, Boss Lin, to inform Jiang Xing for me. The Venomous Doctor will be at the auction this weekend. Therefore, I hope Boss Lin will put up a medicinal herb for auction at that time."
