“The princess only knows that you and I are dealing with that girl together. If you die, the words are mine to say—do I need to worry about how I phrase it?”
Liu Cuier’s words drew a cold, faint smile from Mu Wanxia. With one hand still gripping her throat, Mu Wanxia flicked her wrist, and a pill appeared in her palm.
“You…” Liu Cuier had never dreamed this woman could be so vicious and cunning. Thinking of how the princess had underestimated her, she couldn’t help but worry for the princess. But now, as the other woman forced the pill toward her mouth, she had no strength to resist. In despair, she could only open her mouth as the other’s wrist pressed, allowing the pill to be shoved inside.
“Don’t worry, this won’t hurt much. You’ll just fall asleep and wake up fine…” Watching Liu Cuier collapse weakly to the ground, gasping and clawing at her throat in agony, Mu Wanqing’s lips curled into a bewitching smile.
Suddenly, a figure appeared before her. “You—” Before she could react, a masked black-clad figure swung a blade at her without hesitation. Panicked, she flung a handful of powder, halting the attacker’s advance, then turned and fled in haste.
“Qing’er, thank goodness you’re alright!”
No sooner had Wanqing stepped away than someone darted from the shadows and seized her wrist, startling her. Looking up, she saw Cui Hongxiao gripping her hand, relief and worry warring in her eyes as she scanned her for injuries.
“Sister Cui, why didn’t you leave? I’m fine, don’t worry. Where’s Ling’er? Let’s go check on her…”
Surprised to see Cui Hongxiao—someone she’d only just met—still here and so concerned, Wanqing smiled reassuringly. When Cui didn’t answer, only anxiously inspecting her arms, the care and tension in her gaze made Wanqing chuckle softly. Comforting her, she thought of the other two girls and instinctively led the way toward where the guests were gathered.
“Meiling is already with her brother, resting in a guest room. Prince Ning and Young Master Song are watching over her. But they haven’t mentioned what happened on our side…”
Only after confirming Wanqing was truly unharmed did Cui Hongxiao exhale in relief. Speaking of Meiling, her expression darkened with worry as she hurried alongside Wanqing, offering reassurance.
“Good. Take me to her.”
Remembering she’d only temporarily suppressed Song Meiling’s poison with silver needles and given her an antidote pill, Wanqing turned to Cui and followed her toward the guest quarters.
Entering a quieter courtyard, Cui Hongxiao called out cheerfully, “Qing’er is back!”
At the sound, they stepped inside, where the group by the bed looked up.
“Qing’er, you’re safe… Please check on Meiling. Don’t worry, Ziqian—Meiling will be fine.”
Prince Ning, seated in his wheelchair, turned at Wanqing’s arrival and visibly relaxed. After a pause, he glanced at the pale-faced Song Meiling on the bed and reassured the anxious Song Ziqian beside him.
“Let me see.”
Guilt and concern tightening her chest—knowing Song Meiling and the others had suffered because of her—Wanqing nodded apologetically to Song Ziqian before stepping forward.
“All men, please step out. Sister Cui, Sister Qian, remove Meiling’s outer clothes. I need to apply needles.”
After a quick examination confirmed the lingering poison, Wanqing dismissed the men. Though hesitant, they followed Prince Ning out. Turning to the two women, she instructed them to prepare Meiling while she readied her silver needles.
Once Meiling was down to her undergarments, Wanqing carefully inserted the needles into key acupoints across her body.
“This…” Watching the glinting needles pierce Meiling’s skin, Qian Yuying and Cui Hongxiao bit back their fear, not daring to make a sound lest they disrupt the process.
One by one, seven or eight needles were placed. Only then did Wanqing exhale deeply.
Wiping her brow, she gently rotated the needles. Time crawled for the two women, though for Wanqing, it passed swiftly.
After what felt like an eternity, Wanqing removed the last needle.
Meiling suddenly convulsed, coughing up two mouthfuls of dark blood.
“Meiling! Qing’er, what’s—?”
Qian Yuying rushed to support Meiling, wiping the blackened blood from her lips. Watching Wanqing calmly collect the needles, she couldn’t hide her panic.
“She’s fine now. The poisoned blood is out. Clean her up and change her clothes—she’ll wake soon.”
Wanqing reassured them with a faint smile as she cleaned the needles.
Before she could finish, Meiling stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. The ghastly pallor had faded, leaving only a faint pallidness.
“What… Sister Qian, Sister Cui, Sister Mu… You’re all here?”
Still dazed, Meiling sat up with Qian Yuying’s help, blinking at the gathered faces—including her brother and Prince Ning.
“You scared me half to death, little sister! Thank heavens you’re alright. Thank you, Miss Mu—without you, she…”
Song Ziqian’s tense shoulders finally relaxed as he clasped his sister’s hands, then turned to Wanqing with deep gratitude.
“If anyone should be thanked, it’s me. Your sister suffered because of me. That you don’t blame me is kindness enough.”
Wanqing’s smile softened, her regard for the Song siblings growing.
“Regardless, you saved me before, and now my sister. I never imagined Princess Qingyang would dare such a thing in her own estate. I…”
Though Wanqing demurred, Song Ziqian’s gratitude remained. His voice hardened with anger at the mention of the princess’s schemes.
“Young Master Song, rest assured—whoever targeted your sister and us will pay. Stay with her now. I have matters to attend to.”
Understanding his fury, Wanqing offered a final reassurance. Then, recalling Princess Qingyang’s relentless hostility, her eyes turned icy. With that, she strode out.
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