“Beware, it’s poisonous…” The fluctuation in the air made Leng Mingye and the others tense up. Wan Qing, recognizing the familiar scent in the air, quickly warned them. Just then, a dark figure flashed before their eyes.
Leng Mingye and his two attendants, along with Qingfeng and his brother, immediately raised their sleeves to cover their noses. Meanwhile, a shadowy figure lunged toward Mu Wanxia.
“Watch out…”
The figure moved with astonishing speed, comparable to Qingfeng and his brother. Without hesitation, Wan Qing stepped forward, scattering medicinal powder from her sleeve as she rushed toward Sun Fengyu, who was standing beside Mu Wanxia.
“Ah…”
In the blink of an eye, the black-clad figure had already reached them, gripping Mu Wanxia’s shoulder. “Xia’er, let’s go,” he said coldly, noticing her shocked expression at his sudden appearance. With a swift motion, he pulled her up while simultaneously striking Sun Fengyu with a palm strike.
Wan Qing arrived just in time, but her powder was deflected by the attacker’s flick of his hand, sending it straight toward Sun Fengyu, who had been knocked back by the strike.
“Damn it, move!”
Seeing the powder heading for Sun Fengyu, who was still dazed from the blow, Wan Qing acted purely on instinct to save him. She pushed Sun Fengyu aside while waving her other hand to block the attack.
“Ugh…”
The assailant leaped onto a nearby wall with Mu Wanxia and vanished. Though Wan Qing had managed to push Sun Fengyu away and deflect the attack with her powder, the force of the palm strike still sent her staggering backward. Unable to hold back, she coughed up blood.
“Qing’er…”
Leng Mingye and the others snapped out of their daze just in time to see Wan Qing spit out blood and collapse backward. Qingfeng, horrified, cried out and rushed toward her.
But before he could reach her, a larger hand moved faster. Leng Mingye stepped forward, catching her and pulling her into his arms.
“Little one, little one…”
It was Leng Mingye who had reached her first. Holding her close, he saw her pale, bloodless face under the setting sun and panicked. One arm wrapped around her waist while the other gently patted her cheek, calling out urgently.
“Leng Mingye, let me go… let go…”
Realizing it was him holding her, and seeing the panic and concern in his eyes, Wan Qing felt a surge of bitterness. After all he had done to harm her, now he pretended to care? Though her chest ached unbearably, and she longed to just close her eyes and sleep, she forced herself to open them weakly. With a stubborn glare full of hatred, she pushed him away and struggled to stand.
But the moment she left his arms, her legs gave way, and she collapsed again.
“Qing’er…” This time, both Sun Fengyu and Leng Mingye reached out to steady her, their voices filled with concern.
“Let go of me, Leng Mingye. I told you—you’ll pay for everything you’ve done to me. You will. Sun Fengyu, take me away. I don’t want to see him.”
Seeing the unreadable emotion in Leng Mingye’s eyes and recalling all he had put her through, Wan Qing felt nothing but exhaustion. She glared at him coldly, struggling to stand and move toward Sun Fengyu. But as soon as she reached him, her strength failed, and she fainted again.
“Qing’er…” Sun Fengyu caught her, his voice laced with worry.
“Master Sun, you should take her to see the imperial physician immediately,” Qingfeng said, stepping forward. He wanted to take her himself, but seeing the others approaching, he suppressed the urge and turned to Sun Fengyu instead. As Sun Fengyu nodded to the Princess and carried Wan Qing away, Qingfeng cast a worried glance at Prince Ning.
“The truth is clear now, Princess. We hope you will take charge of this matter…”
Prince Ning, noticing Qingfeng’s concern, shared his worry but maintained his composure. He patted Qingfeng’s hand reassuringly before addressing the Princess, his gaze icy as it settled on Leng Mingye.
“Ye’er, this was your mistake. Since the truth is out, it’s clear that the Second Miss Mu is innocent. Let’s end today’s banquet here. Escort Marquis Mu and his daughter back to their residence for treatment. As for the matter concerning the eldest Miss Mu—that is the Marquis’s family affair. I trust he will give you a proper explanation. Minister Liu, what do you think?”
Under Prince Ning’s reproachful gaze, the Princess had no choice but to accept the unexpected turn of events. With a resigned sigh, she turned to Leng Mingye, who stood slowly, his expression dark and aloof after watching Sun Fengyu and Wan Qing leave.
“Very well. The banquet is concluded.”
As Red Lotus and Prince Ning took their leave, the Princess turned to Minister Liu.
Thus, the Princess’s birthday banquet came to an abrupt end. Outside the Princess’s residence, Leng Mingye stood alone, his cold eyes fixed on the carriage carrying Wan Qing and Sun Fengyu, followed by Prince Ning and his entourage.
“Master, if you would just lower your pride, things with Second Miss Mu could be different.”
Bai Yu approached, noticing how his master’s gaze lingered on the departing carriage. His expression grew even colder, lost in thought.
“Since when do I need your advice on my affairs? Return to the manor.”
Bai Yu’s words only deepened Leng Mingye’s frustration. He recalled Wan Qing’s defiance, her reckless act of shielding Sun Fengyu, and the poison that nearly took her life. His chest tightened with guilt—especially remembering how he had, in a moment of arrogance, planted the evidence on her to provoke her.
His pride and stubbornness had almost cost her everything. Now, even if she survived, she lay unconscious, and the thought gnawed at him.
“Master, wait. I know I shouldn’t interfere, but you clearly care for her. Yet you push her away with harshness. This won’t win her heart—it will only drive her further from you.”
Bai Yu’s blunt words struck a nerve.
“Silence! Who said I care for her?”
Leng Mingye lashed out, striking at Bai Yu, who dodged just in time.
“I’ve said my piece. Think it over.”
With that, Bai Yu walked away, leaving Leng Mingye alone with his thoughts.
“Do I truly care for her?”
As he walked back to the Ji Manor, Leng Mingye questioned himself. Before, he had felt a connection—seeing his own past in her. But now? Had he really let go of his grudges? Did he truly… care?
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