“Alright, since I’m in a good mood today, I won’t hold it against you, girl. But you just took my money…”
Hearing this, Wanqing gave up on beating him further. She staggered to her feet, intending to chase after the money.
Then, a calm and familiar voice reached her ears, followed by the return of the bundle that had been snatched from Chunhong earlier.
“Who is it? Oh, it’s you, little girl. Your money is here—I got it back for you.”
“You? Thank you, Brother Qingfeng. This money is life-saving for me. I never thought this thief would snatch it. I was planning to drag him back to confront Madam. It’s such a relief you got it back for me. Let me see… Wait. Why has my money turned into stones?”
Hearing this, Wanqing looked up and saw Qingfeng. She didn’t know how he recognized her despite her veil but still gave him a grateful glance. In front of everyone, she took the bundle and opened it. When she saw that the silver inside had turned to stones, her face paled in shock.
“Little girl, I didn’t touch the money bag after I took it back. How could it have turned into stones? It must be this guy—ask him!”
Qingfeng was equally stunned when he saw the stones inside the bundle. Though he was annoyed at himself for meddling, given the girl’s cunning nature, he coldly pushed the man he had caught toward Wanqing.
“It must be you! You thief! I’ll beat you to death! This was money I begged Madam for ages to save my life, and you swapped it out! I’ll kill you, I’ll…”
Qingfeng looked both helpless and embarrassed. Though Wanqing was irritated by his interference, her anger was directed at the real mastermind behind the theft. She hurled the stones from the bundle at the man, screaming in fury.
“This…”
Her outburst sparked murmurs among the onlookers.
“So the Second Miss Mu is seriously ill? How heartless of this man…”
“Exactly. She must be desperate. She used to be such a kind girl. But then again, if this was all orchestrated by the Madam, who can say what goes on in those noble households…”
…
“Mercy, mercy, miss! Had I known it was your life-saving money, I’d never have taken it! But I was only following Madam’s orders, I…”
The thief was dumbfounded when he saw the stones in the bundle. Though he had clearly seen the silver earlier, he had no idea how it had turned to rocks. Now, despite having snatched the bundle, he hadn’t actually gotten any money. He struggled, dodged, and begged for mercy while trying to justify himself.
“You dare argue? Everyone heard you admit to stealing! I’ll beat you to death, you thief! Die! Die! Ugh… I’m exhausted. Fine, I’ll spare your miserable life today. But if I ever catch you harming others again, I’ll end you! I…”
Wanqing seemed to have anticipated his excuses. She swung the bundle, hitting him square in the face, silencing him. Enraged, she kicked and punched him until he couldn’t even sit up. Panting heavily, she stepped back, only to suddenly clutch her chest in pain, swaying unsteadily.
“Miss, what’s wrong? Miss…”
Chunhong was equally baffled by the stones. She recalled how Wanqing had asked her to step out while she and the shopkeeper packed the money. Though she wondered if her mistress had swapped it, she figured the thief had only himself to blame.
Hearing the crowd’s murmurs about Madam Liu’s cruelty, Chunhong finally understood Wanqing’s plan. Seeing her mistress had vented enough, she hurried forward—only to see Wanqing’s face twist in pain as she swayed and nearly collapsed.
“Miss!” Chunhong rushed to support her, panic in her voice.
“The poison… it’s acting up early. Damn this thief! Heaven wants me dead! What did I, Mu Wanqing, ever do to deserve this? It must be Madam playing a cruel joke, right? Chunhong, let’s go home—we need to get the money from Madam. If I don’t get treatment soon, I won’t last much longer…”
Though Wanqing wanted to reassure Chunhong it was all an act, the searing pain in her chest forced her to grit her teeth and lean weakly on her maid. She discreetly checked her wrist but found no signs of poisoning. The pain was baffling—she had already expelled the toxin with silver needles. Yet, the agony was real.
Clutching her chest, she sobbed dramatically, playing up her suffering to further tarnish Madam Liu’s reputation.
“Miss, how could this happen? Miss…”
Chunhong wept as she held her mistress, whose face was now drenched in sweat from the pain.
“I’m fine… ugh…” Wanqing forced a weak smile, but then her body trembled, and she pushed Chunhong away, coughing up blood.
“Miss! What’s wrong? Don’t scare me like this! How could Madam be so cruel? I thought she’d finally shown mercy by giving you money for treatment, but… Hang on, I’ll take you to the clinic! Everyone, move aside!”
Panicked, Chunhong shouted at the crowd, dragging Wanqing toward a nearby clinic. In the commotion, Wanqing’s veil slipped off.
“Ah! The Second Miss Mu’s face…!”
Gasps erupted as her ghastly pallor and red blotches became visible.
“Girl, your mistress… her face…!”
Qingfeng, who had assumed Wanqing was faking, was stunned by her condition. The purple-tinged skin and red spots were unmistakable signs of poisoning.
“My mistress’s poison has flared up. These marks are from the toxin, sir…”
Chunhong, though unsure of Qingfeng’s identity, recalled Wanqing’s earlier reaction to him. Desperate, she tearfully begged for his help.
“Come, I’ll take her to a doctor. Hey, stop pretending—if you keep this up, I’ll drop you right here! Hey…? Never mind the clinic—we’re going to Prince Ning’s estate. Master, the Second Miss Mu seems to be poisoned!”
Qingfeng, remembering Wanqing’s usual sharp wit, was unnerved by her sudden frailty. Though he didn’t understand why his master had ordered him to deliver a token after hearing about her jade pendant, her condition now filled him with urgency.
Scooping her up, he called out to her, but she remained unresponsive. At the clinic’s doorstep, he abruptly changed course and carried her to a richly dressed nobleman at the street corner.
“Master, the Second Miss Mu appears to be poisoned.”
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