Poisonous Peasant 'Concubine' Ch 89 - Hyacinth in Bloom

May 13, 2026

Chapter 89 — Ling Jingxuan VS Zeng Shaoqing

Even though, in his previous life, he had long since grown accustomed to seeing handsome men and beautiful women from all over the world, the very first moment Ling Jingxuan laid eyes on Zeng Shaoqing, he still couldn’t help but pause.

Though it lasted only a few seconds, it was enough to show just how breathtaking Zeng Shaoqing was.

Compared to Chu Ci—who had once left him equally stunned not long ago—Zeng Shaoqing was at least a few degrees more striking. Or rather, their beauty was simply different. Chu Ci’s was cold and aloof, the kind that kept others at arm’s length without question. The man before him, however… his beauty was the sort that stunned at first glance—seductive to the bone, almost wickedly enchanting.

At the same time, during those brief seconds of Ling Jingxuan’s distraction, Zeng Shaoqing—who had risen to lean casually against the couch—also gave him a swift once-over.

Strictly speaking, Ling Jingxuan wasn’t the type of man who overwhelmed at first glance. But his features were finely cut, his bone structure sharp and defined. His long, narrow phoenix eyes should have carried a seductive charm, yet on his face, they instead exuded keen intelligence and unfathomable depth. Once they locked onto someone, it was hard to look away.

And after more than a month of good food, good wine, and the nourishment of Crescent Spring water, the skin exposed to the air had become fair, smooth, almost delicate enough to break at a touch—adding a touch of refined elegance to his appearance.

But—

What truly surprised Zeng Shaoqing was his presence.

His frame wasn’t particularly tall and even leaned toward the slender side, yet the moment he stepped into the private room, his aura wasn’t suppressed by anyone present—not even by Zeng Shaoqing himself. If anything, there was a faint sense that he might even stand above him.

How could a mere country farmer possess such presence?

Because of that, the interest in Zeng Shaoqing’s eyes deepened. Ling Jingxuan had clearly struck his fancy.

“Sixth Master, this is Young Master Ling Jingxuan.”

Watching the two of them stare at each other with identical fox-like smiles, Shopkeeper Zhang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. At first, he had worried Ling Jingxuan might feel intimidated. After all, Sixth Master was a true imperial kin—the current Emperor’s cousin—and born into the foremost marquis household of the dynasty. Even sitting still, he was enough to inspire fear in others.

And yet… Ling Jingxuan acted as he always did, as though he had no idea of the other party’s background, treating him like any ordinary person.

“Brother Ling, this is Sixth Master—the owner behind our Xinyuan Restaurant.”

No matter how astonished or helpless he felt, Shopkeeper Zhang still dutifully stepped forward to make introductions.

Zeng Shaoqing slowly rose from the couch, walking toward Ling Jingxuan with unhurried elegance. Stopping less than half a meter away, he reached out and hooked a finger under his chin, lifting it slightly.

“What a handsome young master. You can’t be more than twenty, hmm? To stand before me without a hint of fear… it makes me rather reluctant to let you go.”

“If you don’t want your hand to rot off, I suggest you behave yourself.”

Ling Jingxuan neither brushed his hand away nor stepped back. He shifted slightly, meeting his gaze with calm, steady eyes. A faint smile lingered at his lips, yet there wasn’t the slightest trace of warmth in his eyes—if anything, they were cold enough to freeze three feet of ice.

Zeng Shaoqing paused.

Before he could even process the meaning behind those words, an intense itch suddenly spread across the back of his hand. His fox-like eyes flicked downward. At some point, the previously fair skin had turned a vivid red, covered in dense clusters of small rashes.

His gaze darkened instantly.

Slowly withdrawing his hand, he turned and walked toward the nearby table. One of the green-clad maids hurried forward with a basin of cool water, kneeling to carefully wash his hand.

“Master… the antidote powder isn’t working.”

After a moment, the maid looked up at him. She had already added the palace-issued detoxifying powder into the water—normally, most toxins would be neutralized upon contact. Yet no matter how she washed it, the redness on Zeng Shaoqing’s hand remained, swollen and glaringly inflamed—if anything, it seemed to be worsening.

“Heh… I didn’t expect you to know how to use poison. And with such refined methods, too. Even the toxin itself is quite unusual.”

Lowering his gaze to his reddened, swelling hand, Zeng Shaoqing let out a soft laugh, then looked toward Ling Jingxuan—who showed no intention whatsoever of offering the antidote on his own.

He had underestimated him.

“You flatter me, Sixth Master.”

Ignoring the utterly stunned Shopkeeper Zhang, Ling Jingxuan carried the wine jar over and sat down leisurely across from him. Only then did he take out a brown pill, about the size of a fingertip, and toss it to the maid.

“Dissolve it in warm water and apply it to the back of the hand.”

If he wasn’t mistaken, this Zeng Shaoqing was far from as simple as he appeared. His earlier steps had been light, almost as if he were gliding—his martial skill was undoubtedly high. The only reason Ling Jingxuan had succeeded in poisoning him was luck—and the man’s lack of guard in that moment. If it happened again, it wouldn’t be so easy.

If possible, he didn’t want to offend someone like this. Nor did he wish to befriend him.

A man who used his own advantages to the fullest extent to conceal his true nature was, without question, extremely dangerous.

Of course, if he insisted on teasing him again, Ling Jingxuan wouldn’t hold back. Poisoning him might not be easy—but it wasn’t impossible either. He had more than enough methods to deal with him.

To put it plainly, he was just too lazy to bother dealing with a cunning fox like this—one with both a dark streak and formidable strength.

Both men were sharp, calculating, and just a little bit scheming. With only that brief exchange, they had already more or less seen through each other’s true nature.

“I thought you’d let my hand rot off just like this.”

The green-clad maid quickly prepared the antidote according to Ling Jingxuan’s instructions and applied it to the back of his hand. Almost instantly, the unbearable itch vanished, and the swelling subsided at a visible rate.

Zeng Shaoqing glanced at his now greatly improved hand, the corner of his lips lifting slightly.

It seemed this trip had truly been worthwhile—he had stumbled upon someone unexpectedly… interesting.

“You think only your hand would have rotted?”

Ling Jingxuan raised a brow, showing no intention of concealing his skill with poison. Only by letting the other party see what he was capable of could there be room for greater cooperation. A man like Zeng Shaoqing would never work with a fool.

“Heh… in that case, I’ve come out ahead?”

At his words, Zeng Shaoqing revealed the most genuine smile he’d shown in days.

Ever since Yan Shengrui had suddenly disappeared from the frontier, the entire Da Qing dynasty—and the intelligence networks of several major factions—had been searching for him. Not wanting to fall behind those opportunistic young wolves, Zeng Shaoqing had cast his own net as well. Yet none of the reports that came back had brought any good news.

He could hardly remember how long it had been since he’d felt a genuine desire for anything.

And yet, on a whim—just a casual excursion to clear his mind—he had found something that made him truly smile again.

Already dangerously attractive, that smile only amplified his charm. Sitting across from him, Ling Jingxuan lowered his eyes, momentarily at a loss. Whoever ended up taking in this devilishly alluring man in the future—so long as it wasn’t his man—he’d wholeheartedly applaud.

“Jingxuan, are you truly just an ordinary farmer? That chilled dish you created isn’t something a farmer would come up with. And those medicinal fish you raise—throughout the entire Cangzhou region, across six prefectures and over a hundred counties, no one has managed to cultivate freshwater fish successfully. If you say this is all the work of a simple farmer… I find that hard to believe.”

Pleasantries over, Zeng Shaoqing finally got to the point.

If hearing about the chilled dish had merely piqued his curiosity, then learning that Ling Jingxuan could raise fish in Cangzhou had shocked him—and deepened his interest. His seemingly casual gaze remained fixed on Ling Jingxuan’s face, sharp enough to catch even the slightest flicker of expression.

And yet—

There wasn’t the slightest change. Even the faint curve of Ling Jingxuan’s smile remained exactly the same.

“When a person is driven to the brink, the impossible often becomes possible. When I was young, I studied medicine under a wandering barefoot healer. Knowing how to use herbs to raise fish isn’t so strange, is it?”

His tone was even, unhurried.

“Or must we all follow the paths laid down by those before us, advancing step by step without ever daring to innovate?”

A well-worn excuse—but effective. He didn’t believe Zeng Shaoqing could truly dig up a barefoot doctor who never existed. In this world, there were far too many things beyond human reach. Even with imperial and marquis backing, there were limits to what could be uncovered.

Clap. Clap.

“Well said—‘innovation and reform.’ I like people like you.”

Zeng Shaoqing suddenly applauded, casting aside his earlier probing. Leaning halfway across the table, his fox-like eyes locked onto Ling Jingxuan with unabashed interest. His hand twitched as if to reach out again—but paused, then withdrew. Clearly, he remained wary of his poison.

“Jingxuan… have you considered coming with me?”

“Heh… I think I’ll pass.”

Ling Jingxuan met his gaze directly, calm and composed, without the slightest trace of hesitation.

“If Sixth Master ends up falling hopelessly in love with me, I’d find that rather troublesome.”

“…Troublesome?”

Zeng Shaoqing frowned slightly.

Wasn’t it an honor for him to fall in love with someone? How could that possibly be called trouble?

In the capital alone, countless noble ladies waited in line for his favor. And yet here he was—being rejected outright. Had his charm somehow diminished?

For a man of his status—the son of a marquis, the Emperor’s cousin, the greatest merchant in the realm—whether man or woman, who wouldn’t be captivated upon seeing him?

And yet Ling Jingxuan called it troublesome. It was, frankly, a blow to his confidence.

“My heart is small,” Ling Jingxuan said lightly. “One person is enough for a lifetime.”

“And my tolerance is even smaller—I don’t share.”

“Sixth Master is elegant and extraordinary. I’m sure many admire you. But I have no interest in becoming just another name on your list of conquests.”

“Of course—if you don’t mind me poisoning them one by one… and then poisoning you as well, I wouldn’t object to you continuing to come closer.”

A faint smile still rested on his lips, as if he were merely commenting on the weather.

“But that is—if you’re capable of making me fall for you.”

His words were not only ruthless—they were nothing short of shocking.

In an era where men could take multiple wives and concubines, while women—or those in the receiving role—were expected to remain wholly devoted, such words would be considered scandalous. If spread, they could ruin a person’s reputation entirely.

Even the Empress herself wouldn’t dare speak so openly—she would instead be expected to graciously arrange the Emperor’s consorts.

And yet Ling Jingxuan said it plainly, calmly, without the slightest concern.

Zeng Shaoqing’s interest in him deepened once more.

“In that case… for the sake of my life, I’d better behave.”

The teasing undertone faded, leaving behind something more measured.

After all, this was only their first meeting. He wasn’t about to give up an entire forest for a single crooked tree.

But—

A glint of mischief flickered in his fox-like eyes.

What would happen if this man met Yan Shengrui?

One was domineering and unrestrained, the other composed yet sharp—both insistent on a single love for a lifetime.

If they crossed paths… sparks would surely fly.

For some reason, Zeng Shaoqing found himself looking forward to it.