“This, Miss…” The sudden turn of events left Wanqing injured. Though Honglian couldn’t fathom why the master’s attitude toward the young lady had changed so drastically in an instant, she still worriedly supported the unconscious Mu Zhenfeng and glanced anxiously at Wanqing.
Leng Mingye observed the scene before him. Initially intending to humiliate the girl, he hadn’t expected things to escalate to this point. His fists clenched at his sides, but he remained silent, his face dark as he stood rooted to the spot.
The abrupt shift in circumstances left even the Eldest Princess and others bewildered, including Prince Ning.
At that moment, Mu Wanxia stepped forward gracefully, offering a dignified bow to the Eldest Princess while respectfully suggesting, “Your Highness, the evidence is irrefutable. I implore you to investigate thoroughly…”
“Mu Wanqing, with the evidence so clear, what else do you have to say for yourself?”
Though the Eldest Princess couldn’t quite grasp the situation, she was genuinely perplexed by the theatrics between the Mu father and daughters, even between the sisters. Glancing at the motionless Liu Cuier lying on the ground, she thought to herself: their petty squabbles might mean nothing to them, but they had cost the life of Minister Liu’s daughter—and at her birthday banquet, no less.
What was supposed to be a joyous celebration had turned into this. The Eldest Princess could no longer remain composed. With a cold gaze, she turned to Wanqing, whose expression was equally grim.
“Wanqing maintains her innocence. I did not poison Liu Cuier. Mu Wanxia, I never imagined… I kept retreating, thinking we were sisters, avoiding conflict. Yet you… *heh*…”
Wanqing felt it was almost futile to speak further. Though she knew the day would come when she and Leng Mingye would clash—perhaps even draw swords—his betrayal and slander still cut deep. Her father’s sudden change, though she didn’t fully understand it, clearly indicated he had been poisoned.
And the poisoner was unmistakably manipulating him. Watching Mu Wanxia’s smug, icy demeanor, Wanqing inwardly sneered. Outwardly, she wore a defeated expression, staggering slightly as she let out a bitter laugh.
“Your poisoning of Miss Liu is an undeniable fact. What’s the point of saying more? Your Highness, Princess, will you still shield such a woman?”
Mu Wanxia, pleased with how things had unfolded, smirked and turned to the Eldest Princess, even casting a meaningful glance at Wu Qingyang beside her.
“Guards, detain both the Second and First Miss Mu. Though the Second Miss carries the poison, there are too many inconsistencies, and the First Miss’s actions raise suspicions. Minister Liu, I assure you, justice will be served. They will be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for a fair trial…”
Leng Mingye had noticed Mu Wanxia’s aggression toward Wanqing. Though the girl’s stubbornness infuriated him, considering her predicament, he frowned and issued the order. He signaled Qingfeng and Baiyu behind him, then glanced at Minister Liu, who looked up at him in confusion, and even the perplexed Eldest Princess.
“Cough, cough…”
At that moment, Liu Cuier, who had been lying motionless before Minister Liu, suddenly let out faint coughs.
“Cuier! Cuier, my daughter! You’re awake! You scared me half to death! Quick—someone! Fetch Physician Zhang to examine her!”
Minister Liu’s face lit up with joy at his daughter’s weak coughs. As she slowly opened her eyes in his arms, he tearfully regarded her as if she had returned from death itself. He then turned eagerly to Physician Zhang nearby.
“No need. I’m fine—just a bit of chest tightness. I owe my life to the Second Miss Mu. Without her, I might have…”
Liu Cuier weakly reassured her father, who held her hand with rare tears in his eyes. Though she had been unconscious, she had heard everything clearly. Now, she looked weakly at the crowd and spoke of Wanqing.
“Wait—Miss Liu, you say you owe thanks to the Second Miss Mu? How so?”
The Eldest Princess, though skeptical—after all, the physician had declared her dead—asked with astonishment.
“I was actually poisoned by the First Miss Mu. I overheard their argument. The Second Miss said she wasn’t the true daughter of the Mu family, that her real father was someone else. When the Second Miss left, the First Miss saw me at the door. Afraid I’d expose her, she tried to silence me… Your Highness, the First Miss was using your trust to settle personal grudges…”
Under the gazes of the Empress Dowager and others, Liu Cuier weakly recounted the events.
“If this is true—Your Highness, Qingfeng, stop the Young Master at once! The truth is coming to light!”
Prince Ning and the others exchanged stunned looks. The victim’s testimony was more damning than any evidence. Watching Liu Cuier’s weak but resolute nod, they turned urgently to the Eldest Princess, ordering Qingfeng to intercept Leng Mingye and the others, now mere silhouettes in the distance.
“What? Such a thing… Second Miss Mu, it seems fortune favors you today. I’ll let you go this once. But First Miss Mu—causing chaos at the Eldest Princess’s banquet, framing your own sister, even harming others… Such venomous cunning truly impresses me. Young Master Sun, isn’t this the woman you once abandoned your little fool for? A viper like this marrying into your family would be quite the blessing. What are you waiting for? Qingfeng, seize her!”
Qingfeng and his brother approached, leading a composed Wanqing and a seemingly calm but smugly smirking Mu Wanxia.
Qingfeng’s whispered update made Leng Mingye halt abruptly. Though his expression relaxed slightly, his words remained cutting as he addressed Wanqing. Watching her puzzled but faintly smiling as she was released and untied, he then turned to Mu Wanxia and the arriving Sun Fengyu.
“You think you can take me? Leng Mingye, call off your men, or I’ll poison him right now!”
In a flash, Mu Wanxia flicked her sleeve, scattering a cloud of powder. As Leng Mingye and the others covered their noses and retreated, she lunged forward, her long nails pressing against Sun Fengyu’s throat, one hand gripping his shoulder as she issued her ultimatum.
“You—Wanxia…!”
Sun Fengyu, who had initially hoped to rescue her—disappointed as he was by her actions—found himself seized instead. Stumbling back with her, he stared at her in shock.
“Shut up! Everyone, back off! If you don’t, my nails will deliver the poison, and he dies!”
Sun Fengyu’s words only fueled her desperation. Though Mu Zhenfeng hadn’t fully grasped her true identity, facing imprisonment, she resorted to this last-ditch effort. As she dragged him backward, her mind raced for an escape.
Just then, a ripple disturbed the air.
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