“You’re talking nonsense! How could I possibly poison Xia’er?”
Liu Shi hadn’t expected Wanqing to turn the tables on her so quickly. A flicker of nervousness crossed her face as she glanced at Mu Zhenfeng, who was now staring at her due to Wanqing’s words. She retorted angrily.
“You should ask yourself that. Earlier, I did confirm one type of poison in Elder Sister’s system, but then she was poisoned with another. The combination of the two creates a false death-like state. But you forgot, Auntie—when these two toxins clash in the body, any poison can be fatal. That’s why Elder Sister vomited blood and fell into that death-like state. Yet, because you dote on her so much, the second dose you gave her was significantly weaker. The two poisons couldn’t balance each other, only worsening her condition. Should I call you cunning, or say that your cleverness backfired?”
Wanqing let out a faint, mocking laugh as she spoke, watching Liu Shi’s guilty yet defiant expression with disdain.
“Nonsense! How could I poison Xia’er? It was you! You poisoned her and now pretend to be the savior…”
Liu Shi hadn’t expected Wanqing to not only neutralize the poison so quickly but also uncover the truth. Recalling how her daughter had no breath or pulse earlier, she now felt a pang of fear. Seeing her daughter’s condition improve, she realized she was facing a formidable opponent.
But she couldn’t admit it—not now, with her daughter stirring on the bed, about to wake up. Thinking of her daughter’s trust in her, Liu Shi panicked, denying everything and shifting the blame to Wanqing.
“Me? If I wanted to harm her, do you think I’d personally come to poison her? Only someone as clumsy as you would resort to such methods. If it wasn’t you, why do you look like a thief caught red-handed? If it wasn’t you, why don’t you take out the medicine bottle hidden in your sleeve and let everyone test it?”
Wanqing sighed at Liu Shi’s attempt to play the victim. This woman was beyond redemption. Though she didn’t understand why her father still kept her in the household despite his distrust, she pressed on coldly, pointing at Liu Shi’s sleeve.
Mu Zhenfeng’s expression darkened at Wanqing’s words.
He couldn’t comprehend Liu Shi’s actions, but his anger outweighed his confusion. He never imagined his own daughter could become so ruthless—even poisoning Xia’er, the daughter they both cherished.
“You—”
“Master, I didn’t! It’s all this wretched girl’s doing! She’s framing me!”
Liu Shi shrank back in fear as Mu Zhenfeng glared at her with fury.
“If you insist I’m framing you, fine. Honglian, restrain her… Ah, just as I thought—two types of medicine. Xiazhu, go fetch a dog, chicken, or cat.”
Wanqing, tired of Liu Shi’s lies, could hardly believe this woman had once been praised among noblewomen in the capital. Though she wanted to uncover the mastermind behind Liu Shi, her patience had run out. With a flick of her wrist, silver needles shot from her sleeve, striking Liu Shi and silencing her.
Ignoring Liu Shi’s immobilized panic, Wanqing ordered Honglian to search her sleeves, retrieving several vials of medicine. She sniffed two of them, then calmly instructed Xiazhu to bring an animal for testing.
Soon, Xiazhu returned with a chicken.
“Father, do you see now? Did I poison Elder Sister? Did I frame her? Tell me, what was your purpose in doing this?”
Wanqing administered the poisons to the chicken in the same order Liu Shi had given them to Mu Wanxia. The chicken’s reaction mirrored her sister’s. Watching Mu Zhenfeng’s deepening scowl, she smiled faintly.
“I—Master, I had no choice! Please, Master—”
Liu Shi, realizing she couldn’t lie her way out, turned desperately to Mu Zhenfeng.
“Qing’er, I don’t want to see her again. Guards, take her away. Lock her in the Nether Court—no one is to visit except for meal deliveries.”
Disgusted by Liu Shi’s cruelty, Mu Zhenfeng ignored her pleas. He had also witnessed Wanqing’s extraordinary medical skills firsthand. He stepped forward, his voice icy as he gave the order.
“Father! No! You can’t lock Mother away!”
Mu Wanxia, who had just awakened, struggled weakly from the bed, collapsing to her knees in front of Mu Zhenfeng.
“Xia’er, what are you doing? She’s not your mother—no mother would poison her own child. You’ve just woken up. Rest!”
Mu Zhenfeng hurried to support her, his voice firm yet gentle.
“Father, I know… I can’t believe Mother would do this either. But she’s still my mother! Please!”
Tears streamed down Mu Wanxia’s face as she clutched his hand, pleading.
Mu Zhenfeng hesitated, torn—until a sudden movement behind him made him stiffen.
Liu Shi, who had been ordered to be taken away, had struck. She flung a handful of powder, knocking out the servants trying to restrain her. In an instant, she lunged forward, pressing a dagger to Mu Zhenfeng’s throat while locking his neck in a chokehold.
“Are you all dead?! Auntie, release my father! Do you really think you can escape like this?”
Wanqing and her maids had barely reacted in time. When the dust settled, not only the guards but even Liu Shi’s own maids lay lifeless, black blood trickling from their lips.
Wanqing stepped forward, her voice icy.
“Since your silver needles have already left me in agony, and now you want to lock me away to die—I’d rather go out with a bang. If I can take him with me, it’ll be worth it. Xia’er, don’t blame me. I had no choice. The pain from those needles was unbearable. I couldn’t take it anymore. Everyone, step back! If you don’t, I’ll kill him!”
Liu Shi’s mask had fully dropped. She glared at Wanqing, then turned to Mu Wanxia with a twisted apology.
With a sharp press of the dagger, she issued her final warning.
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