Long Yubei pondered deeply, "Am I truly that important to you? To be entrusted with such a precious thing to consume."
"You are my husband, of course you are important to me." She pressed further, "If the roles were reversed, would you give it to me?"
"Do you wish for the unvarnished truth?"
"Certainly. No deceiving me."
"No deceit. I would take it myself first."
Gu Lili felt no surprise; after all, when she only had one pill, she too consumed it first—it was only natural.
"And what if you had two?"
He shook his head, "Still no."
A sudden pang gripped her heart. "Then who would you give it to?"
"My family."
Gu Lili felt as if a knife had pierced her chest, a sharp sting of pain. "Am I not family to you?"
"I mean other family," Long Yubei mused gravely. "You have yet to claim the foremost place in my heart."
"I thought you would at least give me the second," she forced a smile. "Alas, my title as your wife is but a hollow honor. Indeed, you do not love me, nor hold me dear. I understand."
Though she understood, an oppressive heaviness lingered within her chest.
"If it is truly so precious, then keep it for yourself. Don't give it to me."
It seemed the pill held little allure for him after all. Gu Lili attributed this to his disbelief in its purported immunity against all poisons.
"If you refuse, then I'll give it to Gu Xichen."
She said no more, focusing instead on her meal.
Long Yubei glanced at her intermittently; she never once met his gaze.
After the meal, as she rose to leave, he uttered five words: "Leave the pill behind."
She placed it on the table for him. "If you take it, you'll suffer pain—you must endure it."
Examining and sniffing the pill carefully, he finally summoned a servant to bring water and took it.
Gu Lili resumed her seat. "Su Changzhi said the discomfort lasts about two hours."
Long Yubei set down his cup, bracing himself for the ordeal.
In truth, his preparation was woefully insufficient.
The potency of the pill far exceeded his expectations.
At first, the discomfort was mild, but gradually intensified; pain spread fiercely through his limbs and bones.
It felt as though countless needles pierced into his marrow, siphoning his very soul—an agony almost unbearable.
"What on earth… did you make me consume?" Long Yubei gritted his teeth, leaning on the table.
"A medicine to render you immune to all poisons."
"I feel as if you've fed me a deadly toxin."
"Impossible. If you died, wouldn't I be imprisoned and sentenced to death?"
Yet Long Yubei doubted her words and summoned Tang Qingli, "Take me to the hospital..."
"Husband, no hospital," Gu Lili urged. "I tested it on myself. At first it's agonizing, but after this phase, you'll recover gradually."
"Young Madam, what did you make our young master take?" Tang Qingli fretted.
"A pill beneficial to your master's health. Qingli, he will be fine, trust me." She soothed Tang Qingli's worries.
Hearing that she had endured it herself, Long Yubei resolved to persevere.
Each agonizing second felt like torment in hell.
After nearly half an hour, he began vomiting uncontrollably.
Tang Qingli watched anxiously, "Shall we still take him to the hospital?"
"No need," Gu Lili insisted. "Wait another hour and a half, and he'll be completely well."