Chapter 577: Chapter 577: Abnormality

Xie Anbai’s head was bowed, his eyes red-rimmed, as he murmured aloud:

"If I had given him the medicine sooner, would Father not have gone?"

He couldn’t accept the scene before him. The father who was always so imposing in his memory now lay silently on the bed. His hair was streaked with gray, and his broad hands were ice-cold.

Only now did he realize with a jolt that his father had long since grown old.

Before this, he had never imagined losing him.

But it all happened so fast!

Grief and regret surged uncontrollably in Xie Anbai’s heart.

’If only I had been more mature and obedient sooner, if I hadn’t deliberately defied my father, if I had realized in time—would any of this have happened today?’

Just moments ago, during their confrontation in the courtyard, Xie Anjun had accused him of harming their father. He had refuted it with conviction, but now, Xie Anbai was truly unsure.

’Was I... really wrong?’

"Did anything unusual happen before the Marquis passed away?"

A clear, gentle voice broke through Xie Anbai’s thoughts.

He stiffly raised his head, only then noticing that Ye Chutang had come to his side. She had turned to ask the question to the servant waiting at the door.

The servant was instantly flustered. He hurriedly knelt and replied, "No! I swear on my life! After the Second Young Master left, the Marquis remained in his room alone. Aside from coughing softly twice, he made no other sound! Later... later, when I came in to change the Marquis’s water, I found that something was wrong—Princely Heir! Second Miss Ye! I’m telling the truth! I wouldn’t dare lie to you!"

Ye Chutang stared at him. "So, you’re saying that after the Second Young Master left, no one other than you entered this room?"

The servant wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Y-Yes!"

Shen Yanchuan suddenly asked, "And where were the Princess and the Princely Heir at that time?"

Xie Anjun felt instantly offended, and a blaze of anger shot through him. "What are you implying!? Don’t tell me you suspect me!?"

"Didn’t you just suspect your own brother?" Shen Yanchuan retorted coolly. "I just find it a little strange that when the Marquis’s condition suddenly worsened, no one besides Xie Anbai was there to attend to him. Or am I not allowed to ask?"

Xie Anjun couldn’t refute it and could only suppress his anger as he said, "I was dealing with some urgent matters at the time. I thought that since Second Miss Ye had already prescribed medicine, there wouldn’t be any issues. Who would have thought—"

His words were still laced with resentment for both Ye Chutang and Xie Anbai.

As for Xiao Jiayi, it went without saying. She was a princess, after all; it wasn’t her place to do such things.

Besides, her relationship with the Xie Family had been very tense lately, so she was even less likely to concern herself with their affairs.

After listening, Ye Chutang looked back at Xie Pei.

Then, she said, "Second Young Master, would you please help me check if there are any abnormalities on the Marquis’s body?"

Xie Anjun’s brow furrowed at once. "What are you trying to do now!?"

Ye Chutang turned back, seeming somewhat surprised. "Do you not wish to know why the Marquis passed away so suddenly?"

"I—"

Before Xie Anjun could think of a reply, Xie Anbai had already answered, "Fine."

He stood up and methodically checked Xie Pei’s face, neck, hands, and feet.

Suddenly, his movements paused, his gaze fixing on a particular spot.

Ye Chutang followed his gaze.

Between Xie Pei’s lips and teeth, there seemed to be a faint, dark blue tint.

With a trembling hand, Xie Anbai had just touched the corner of Xie Pei’s lips when a trickle of bright red blood slowly seeped out.

—His mouth was filled with blood!

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