“It’s nothing. With your internal energy cultivation, the needle I just pricked into your hand probably only temporarily immobilized you. But if I do it again to your arm, I guarantee you won’t be able to move for an entire hour. As I said, I’m sorry for what I did to you. But the situation was critical—without you, I would have had to resort to someone else to detoxify. If you insist on holding this against me and causing trouble, I’ll be waiting. Honglian…”
Leng Mingye’s cold eyes burned with fury and killing intent. Wanqing chuckled lightly and explained before calling out to Honglian outside the door.
Honglian, hearing the summons, entered and awaited her orders.
“Throw him back to his Ji Prince’s residence. Oh, and Brother Leng, there’s one more thing I’d like to remind you. I’m truly grateful for your past care and protection of Wanqing, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. But if you continue to harass me over this, don’t blame me for being impolite. Next time, I won’t be so lenient. Now, go.”
Wanqing elegantly sat down, poured herself a cup of water, and drank it before turning to Honglian with her instructions. Watching Honglian approach Leng Mingye, she casually reminded her and gestured for her to proceed with the task.
“Mu Wanqing, just you wait. You’ll pay dearly for provoking me like this.”
Unable to move, the thought of being dragged home by a woman as the dignified heir of the prince’s household filled Leng Mingye with such rage that he could strangle her on the spot.
This girl was clearly testing his limits. If that was the case, he wouldn’t hold back any longer. Even as Honglian dragged him away, Leng Mingye glared at her with furious, hawk-like eyes and spat out his threat.
“I’ll be waiting.”
Watching him, Wanqing smiled sweetly and continued sipping her water.
“Miss, what happened? The heir…”
After Honglian left, Wanchun and the other maid entered. Though they didn’t know the full story, they understood that their mistress must have drugged the heir. Recalling the rumors of his stubbornness, they couldn’t help but worry and asked cautiously.
“As long as you follow my orders, nothing will happen. But if you meddle outside this courtyard and something goes wrong, don’t blame me for not warning you. I’m tired. All of you, leave. Honestly, can’t a person even sleep in peace?”
Wanqing glanced up at the maids, who had hastily thrown on their clothes, and reassured them with a calm tone. Seeing them hesitate but eventually turn to leave, she lay back down on the soft bed, muttering irritably before closing her eyes to rest.
Unbeknownst to her, as soon as she drifted off, Honglian—who had just returned from escorting Leng Mingye—was about to sleep when a faint tapping sound came from her window.
“Who’s there?”
Honglian’s cold whisper was quiet, but Wanqing, a light sleeper, heard it. Though annoyed by the constant disruptions to her rest, she remained in bed, simply straining her ears to listen.
“Aunt Bai? You? How did you suddenly sneak into the Marquis’s residence? What if the guards catch you…”
Next, she heard Honglian rise from her bed, tiptoe to the door, and then her surprised, hushed question.
“With my skills, do you really think these guards could spot me? Come outside. I need to ask you something.”
Though the voice was soft, Wanqing recognized it immediately. Then came the sound of Honglian stepping out and carefully closing the door.
Soon, Wanqing overheard their whispered conversation, which paused after a while.
“Honglian, you must be cautious about this matter. If anything happens, report to me immediately. I’m leaving now.”
After Bai Nianlong’s careful instructions, Wanqing heard Honglian return to her room.
Though Honglian moved silently, Wanqing’s years of experience allowed her to discern every step—how Honglian paused outside her door before finally retreating to her own bed.
Once Honglian settled, Wanqing found herself suddenly wide awake.
Her eyes were sore, but she felt no drowsiness. Instead, her mind raced with questions: What had Honglian and Aunt Bai discussed? Was it related to her?
Baffled, she recalled the auction and the many people present, wondering about Bai Nianlong’s motives. The night’s strange events left her puzzled—was this all a coincidence, or part of a prearranged plan?
Thinking of Lady Liu, Mu Wanxia, the mysterious black-clad man, and Sun Fengyu’s schemes, she couldn’t help but wonder: Were Bai Nianlong and the others also after *that thing*?
Unable to unravel the mystery, she grew curious about her birth mother’s identity and the secrets she might have left behind.
Lost in these thoughts, she realized how late it was. Between Leng Mingye’s intrusion and Honglian’s odd behavior, she had only managed a brief nap before hearing Wanchun and Xiatao whispering outside. She rose and dressed.
“Miss, you’re awake. I was just thinking of letting you sleep longer since you had a late night. It’s still early—you could rest until breakfast is ready.”
As soon as she opened the door, Honglian greeted her with concern.
“No need. I have matters to discuss with Father. You all may stay behind.”
Remembering Honglian’s late-night encounter, Wanqing replied coolly. After a quick wash, she headed to Mu Zhenfeng’s courtyard.
“Second Miss, you’ve come just in time! I was about to fetch you. The master, he…”
The moment she stepped into her father’s courtyard, Lian’er rushed over in distress, tears welling in her eyes.
It was still early morning, with most of the household asleep. Lian’er’s agitation made Wanqing pause. “What’s wrong? Speak slowly. What happened to Father?”
Seeing the maid’s genuine concern for her father, Wanqing grew wary, considering the other women in the household.
“Second Miss, I’ve been giving the master the medicine you prescribed these past two days. Last night, he even said the pain in his chest had eased. But just now, when I went to check on him, I found him… he…”
Lian’er wiped her tears as she spoke, but fresh ones spilled over at the mention of Mu Zhenfeng.
“Let’s go see.” Though unsure what had happened, Wanqing knew she’d been too busy to prepare new medicine lately. Her father’s condition should have improved with her prescription, but Lian’er’s distress signaled trouble.
“Father! Wake up! Open your eyes and look at me! Father, it’s Xi’er! Father…”
Upon entering the room, Wanqing was met with heart-wrenching sobs. The bed was surrounded by people—servants stood outside, while Mu Wanxia and Mu Wanjun wept bitterly by their father’s side. Even the maidservants dabbed at their eyes.
Puzzled, Wanqing glanced at Lian’er before pushing forward. “Excuse me, let me through.”
Inside, she saw her father lying motionless on the bed, his face ashen, lips pale with a bluish tint. Mu Wanxia clung to him, shaking him desperately, while Mu Wanjun wept quietly beside them.
Wanqing immediately reached for her father’s wrist to check his pulse.
“Mu Wanqing! It’s you! You vile, poisonous woman! Just because Father scolded you on our advice, you poisoned him! Guards! Seize her! I’ll have her tried in court!”
The moment she appeared, Mu Wanxia sprang up, pointing at her with venomous accusation and ordering the servants to arrest her.
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