The woman’s reaction and expression only heightened Wu Qingyang’s fear. Among all the girls, Liu Cuier was the one she got along with best. The thought that such a thing had happened in her own home filled her with terror, yet she couldn’t help but shake the woman’s shoulders urgently, pressing for answers.
Seeing the woman merely trembling with tears in her eyes, her lips quivering in fear without uttering a word, Wu Qingyang grew so frantic she almost wanted to hit her.
“You… what happened to Cuier? Speak! What happened to her? You’re driving me mad! Hurry up and tell me!”
“Your Highness, stop pressuring her like this. Yan’er, calm down, calm down. What happened to Cuier? Why won’t you say anything?”
This woman was the second daughter of the Minister of Works, Zhong Yanyun. Seeing her younger sister being interrogated by the princess, her elder sister—Zhong Liyan, the eldest daughter of the Minister of Works and another close friend of Wu Qingyang—quickly grasped the situation. Noticing her sister’s terrified state while the princess kept pressing, she stepped forward helplessly to mediate.
When Wu Qingyang failed to get any answers and released Zhong Yanyun with a displeased expression, Zhong Liyan approached gently, soothing her sister with soft words.
“Sister, Your Highness… Cuier-jie, she… she’s dead. I went with the maids to check and found her lying outside the door, black blood trickling from her lips, her eyes wide open. Several maids were also knocked unconscious in the room. Your Highness, sister… Cuier-jie must have been killed by that maid, she must have…”
Zhong Yanyun was genuinely terrified. After a long pause, she finally spoke through trembling sobs, her eyes filled with fury as she looked at them.
“What… Your Highness, what on earth happened? Did you see Yun’er? Did you see Mu Wanxia?”
Hearing that Cuier was dead, Zhong Liyan stiffened in shock, struggling to process the loss of their once-lively companion. After a moment, she turned to Wu Qingyang, who stood equally stunned, her face a mix of horror and contemplation, and then back to her sister.
“I didn’t see Mu Wanxia. I only saw Cuier-jie and the maids—the maids were unconscious in the room, and Cuier-jie was dead at the door… Your Highness, sister… ah…”
Zhong Yanyun recalled the horrifying scene, her body trembling uncontrollably. Even the two maids she had brought along were equally terrified. Barely composed, she broke down again under their relentless questioning, collapsing to the floor in tears, covering her face in despair.
“Cuier… Your Highness, we must avenge Cuier. We must!”
Muttering Cuier’s name, Zhong Liyan’s eyes brimmed with grief and fury. Fixing her gaze on Wu Qingyang, she spoke with fierce determination.
“Yes, we must avenge Cuier. Let’s go—we’ll report this to Her Majesty. Mu Wanqing, let’s see how far your schemes can take you!”
Though equally shocked and heartbroken, Wu Qingyang’s rage overpowered her fear of Wanqing’s earlier warnings. Nodding resolutely, she led the way, supporting Zhong Yanyun, who was barely able to walk, as they sought the Grand Princess, hoping the assembled nobility would deliver justice.
“Grandmother! Grandmother, something terrible has happened!”
Amid the Grand Princess’s birthday celebration, as she sat elegantly on the opera stage surrounded by dignitaries and their wives, a panicked cry shattered the peace. Several disheveled young women rushed forward like flustered butterflies, their faces streaked with tears and sweat.
“Child, what’s the matter? What’s this commotion? Liyan, even you—what’s going on?”
The Grand Princess, poised and dignified, turned in surprise as her granddaughter threw herself into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Alarmed by the girls’ distraught states—Zhong Liyan pale-faced and Zhong Yanyun weeping—she gently lifted Wu Qingyang’s chin, demanding an explanation.
“Grandmother, Cuier is dead! You must bring her justice!”
The thought of her dear friend’s death filled Wu Qingyang with seething hatred. Clinging to her grandmother, she pleaded tearfully.
“Yes, Your Highness…” The Zhong sisters knelt before the Grand Princess, their voices choked with sorrow.
“Cuier? What’s happened to my Cuier? Your Highness, Miss Zhong, what—?”
The commotion drew the attention of the entire hall, but it was Madam Liu, Cuier’s mother and a close friend of the Grand Princess, who reacted most sharply. Noticing her daughter’s absence, she rushed forward in alarm.
“Stop the opera! Let’s hear this properly. Madam Liu, don’t panic. Now, tell me—what happened to Cuier?”
With the opera halted and the performers dismissed, the Grand Princess turned to the weeping girls, her voice firm yet gentle.
“Grandmother… Cuier, she… she was murdered!”
Wu Qingyang’s voice trembled with fear and guilt, but she forced the words out.
“What? My Cuier… murdered?”
Madam Liu swayed, her face draining of color, before collapsing in a dead faint.
“Madam! Madam!”
Minister Liu, equally stunned, caught his wife, his voice breaking as he called for help.
“Someone, take Madam Liu to rest and summon the imperial physician at once! Minister Liu, I am deeply sorry—this joyous occasion has turned tragic. Now, you three—explain everything. How could Cuier have…?”
As attendants carried Madam Liu away, the Grand Princess turned back to the girls, her expression grave.
“Cuier…”
Minister Liu, whose only beloved daughter was Cuier, let out a heart-wrenching cry upon hearing the details—how they had merely escorted the Mu family’s maid back, only for a dispute to end in his daughter’s death. Without another word, he sprinted toward the scene.
Following his lead, the Grand Princess and the others hurried after him. The news quickly spread, reaching even Prince Ning and Song Ziqian’s gathering.
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