“Qing’er, how is she?”
Mu Zhenfeng never expected that the daughter he despised the most in his life would take an arrow for him. With disbelief in his eyes, he stepped forward and asked Hongyan, who was holding Wanqing’s wrist.
“The arrow was poisoned. Give her this quickly. It’s a pity we didn’t find out who this person is, but earlier, when I questioned him, he did say that the Marquess’s wife sent him to kill Xiangmei. I never thought… Marquess, you should find a physician to treat the young lady’s wound as soon as possible.”
Hongyan hadn’t anticipated this outcome either. Though the girl was full of mysteries, seeing the scene before her, she hastily let go, took out a bottle from her bosom, poured out a pill, and stuffed it into Wanqing’s mouth. Together with Chunhong, she supported Wanqing, whose face was pale and who was moaning weakly, and made the request to Mu Zhenfeng.
At this point, she believed there was no need for further words—Mu Zhenfeng would surely question Lady Liu for an explanation.
“Someone, call a physician to treat the Second Young Lady’s wound.”
Watching Hongyan carry the limp Wanqing out, Mu Zhenfeng’s expression softened slightly. He glanced at Lady Liu, whose face was ashen and visibly unsettled, then ordered the servants. Immediately, a servant fetched a physician, and they hurried toward Wanqing’s residence, the Bamboo Fragrance Pavilion.
“What exactly is going on here? Do you recognize this man?”
Only after Wanqing and the others had left did Mu Zhenfeng turn his head, his eyes filled with rage and malice, to question Lady Liu.
“My lord, I truly don’t know what happened. Please believe me—how could I ever send someone to harm you, my lord?”
Under Mu Zhenfeng’s furious and icy gaze, Lady Liu’s face paled. Her hands, which had been resting on her knees, clenched tightly, as if the pressure could ease the shock and tension in her heart. She looked at Mu Zhenfeng nervously and pleaded repeatedly.
Mu Zhenfeng irritably yanked his sleeve free from her grasp, not even glancing at her as she stumbled and fell to her knees. His eyes remained fixed on her, as if his stare alone could force the truth from her.
“My lord, please believe me. I truly don’t know what happened, my lord…”
Lady Liu, having been roughly pushed aside by Mu Zhenfeng, staggered and knelt on the ground. She made no move to rise, instead fixing Mu Zhenfeng with sorrowful, resentful eyes as she defended herself.
“Father, how could Mother ever do such a thing, given her love for you?”
Seeing this, Mu Wanjun and her sister stepped forward and knelt beside Lady Liu. With tears in her eyes, Mu Wanjun looked up at Mu Zhenfeng and countered.
“That’s right, Father. How could Mother ever do such a thing? It must be that wretched girl’s doing—she must have conspired with the Prince’s household to set you up…”
Mu Wanxia, following her sister’s lead, knelt as well and redirected the blame squarely onto Wanqing.
“Is that so? If she resented our past neglect of her, she could have simply used the Prince’s influence to humiliate me. Why go to such lengths to injure herself? Xiangmei, I ask you—what exactly happened?”
Hearing his daughters’ defense, Mu Zhenfeng thought of his usual affection for them, and of Lady Liu, who had borne him these two daughters and no other. He had always respected and cherished her, never imagining she could be so cruel to him.
Though his heart ached for his daughters, he looked at them with pain and asked pointedly. When they fell silent under his gaze, he turned coldly to Xiangmei.
“I… My lady, Xiangmei has been under your care since childhood and has served you faithfully. Yet I never thought you would treat me this way. I hope you will honor your earlier promise. Xiangmei can only seek release in death…”
Pressed by Mu Zhenfeng, Xiangmei thought of all she had witnessed and the way Lady Liu had treated her. With a bitter smile, she looked at Lady Liu, then suddenly bit down hard on her tongue.
Her abrupt action startled Mu Zhenfeng, who lunged forward—but he was too late. Xiangmei collapsed, her body convulsing before stiffening, dark blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
“You… she was poisoned. What did Xiangmei mean by her words earlier? What promise did you make to her? Speak!”
Mu Zhenfeng crouched down, confirming Xiangmei had indeed taken poison. Though shocked, he stood and fixed Lady Liu with a cold glare.
“My lord, if you refuse to believe me, nothing I say will matter. In that case, I have nothing to say.”
Lady Liu hadn’t expected Xiangmei to say such things before dying. Though furious, she realized Xiangmei had only reminded her of their agreement—not betrayed her.
Watching Xiangmei die before her, she felt a pang of emotion. But when Mu Zhenfeng questioned her, she responded indifferently, as if resigned to whatever fate he decreed.
“You… Fine. Guards, take Lady Liu to the Secluded Fall Pavilion in the rear courtyard. No one is to see her without my express orders, aside from delivering her meals daily.”
Enraged by Lady Liu’s response, Mu Zhenfeng coldly issued the command. Without sparing a glance at Lady Liu or his two daughters, who immediately began pleading for mercy, he turned on his heel and left.
“Mother! Don’t take her away! Mother…”
The Secluded Fall Pavilion had once been the residence of Mu Zhenfeng’s late mother, who had lived there alone, devoted to prayer and vegetarianism. After her passing, it had been converted into a memorial hall, renamed the Secluded Fall Pavilion.
When Mu Wanjun saw her pleas to her father ignored and her mother being dragged away, she rushed forward, shouting at the guards.
“Xia’er, Jun’er, listen to me. Don’t cry. Your father is just angry right now. Once he calms down and sorts out the truth, he’ll surely release me.”
Seeing her two beautiful daughters weeping and clinging to her, Lady Liu’s face bore an uncharacteristic bitterness and despair as she comforted them.
“But I don’t want you to leave! I don’t want you in that place!”
Mu Wanjun and her sister only clung tighter to Lady Liu, sobbing and begging.
“Silly girls, this is just a misunderstanding between your mother and father. He’ll uncover the truth in time. Stop crying. You must take care of each other—especially your sister. Though she excels in everything, she’s too soft-hearted. I fear you’ll both suffer at that girl’s hands. Remember, you must stand united as sisters. Never let discord come between you. Now go.”
Overcome with sorrow, Lady Liu gently stroked her daughters’ heads and urged them to leave. When the guards pressed her again, she firmly pushed them away and followed the guards out.
“Mother…” Watching her mother being taken away, Mu Wanxia and her sister tried to stop them but were held back. They could only cry out helplessly as their mother was locked away in the memorial hall.
“Sister, don’t cry. This isn’t over yet. Right now, you must focus on settling matters with Young Master Sun. Once your engagement is finalized, Father will surely release Mother on the day of the betrothal.”
After their mother was taken away, Mu Wanjun was the first to regain her composure. Wiping her tears, she comforted her sister with a reminder.
“Yes. I will save Mother. I swear it.”
Mu Wanxia’s usually gentle eyes now burned with rare calculation and resolve. She wiped her tears and clenched her teeth in determination.
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