“Second Miss, you— Second Miss, Master, this servant couldn’t stop her…”
Wanqing barged straight into the front courtyard, where Mu Zhenfeng was currently hosting a guest in his study.
The maid standing guard outside the study instinctively tried to block her, but Wanqing shoved her aside and slipped in. The maid could only follow, watching as Mu Zhenfeng, who had been chatting with his guest, looked up at her. She lowered her head respectfully and spoke.
“Oh, it’s fine. Qing’er, what are you doing barging in like this? General Song, this is my second daughter. Please excuse her rudeness. Qing’er, you’re injured—why aren’t you resting in your room? What’s the hurry?”
The maid’s words trailed off as Mu Zhenfeng, who had been conversing with a man of similar age—a man who exuded an air of martial prowess and solemn dignity—calmly raised his head, cutting off their conversation. He waved his hand dismissively, signaling the maid to leave.
Only then did he turn his attention to Wanqing, who had burst in unannounced. Noticing the man’s slight frown and the irritation in his expression at being interrupted, Mu Zhenfeng offered a faint smile in apology before addressing Wanqing.
“Greetings, Uncle Song. Father, I came to ask about Chunhong. How have you dealt with her? Can you tell me where she is now?”
Despite her father’s explanation, Wanqing remained composed. She bowed respectfully to the stern-faced man before turning back to Mu Zhenfeng with her question.
“There was a thief in the manor, and that maid was unfortunate. I’ve already had servants take her to the mass burial woods outside the city. You’re injured—you should be resting in your room. Running around like this could reopen your wounds. Go back now. Lian’er, escort the young lady back to her quarters.”
Though Wanqing was not his favored daughter, Mu Zhenfeng’s attitude toward her had softened somewhat, likely due to the men who surrounded her. He gave her a brief explanation before firmly instructing the maid behind him to take her away.
“No, Father. How long ago did you send her there? I want to see her one last time. Please, have someone take me to her. I’m begging you. I’ve never asked you for anything before…”
As the maid stepped forward to guide her out, Wanqing resisted, thinking of all the moments she had shared with Chunhong. Though grief weighed on her heart, she stubbornly planted her feet and pleaded with Mu Zhenfeng, lowering herself in a rare show of humility.
“You stubborn child. I had her buried last night. What are you—”
Mu Zhenfeng sighed in exasperation, clearly unwilling to let her leave.
“Fine. I understand.” Seeing that her father would not relent, Wanqing acquiesced silently and followed Lian’er out.
“Lian’er, do you know who from the manor took Chunhong to be buried yesterday?”
Once they reached the entrance of her courtyard, Wanqing stopped and turned to Lian’er. Knowing that the maid had long attended to Mu Zhenfeng’s daily needs alongside Lady Liu, she pulled a silver ingot from her sleeve and handed it to her.
“Second Miss, you’re too kind. I only heard that when Chunhong’s accident happened and you weren’t in the manor, the master immediately ordered Liu San to handle it. You might ask him—I’m sure he can tell you exactly where she is. You’re still unwell, Second Miss. You should rest. This servant will take her leave now.”
Lian’er accepted the silver with a faint smile and offered the information before bowing and departing.
Sighing, Wanqing watched her go. For some reason, the courtyard, once familiar, now felt eerily empty and silent without Chunhong. Shaking her head, she stepped inside.
Inside, Hongyan had already woken. Wanqing questioned her about the previous night’s events and found that her memory was indeed hazy. She explained that Qingfeng had arrived just in time to save them during the crisis and that her poison had been treated at Prince Ning’s residence.
Seeing that Hongyan harbored no suspicions, Wanqing then told her about Chunhong and asked her to accompany her to see the maid one last time.
For some reason, despite both Zhong Shu and her father insisting that Chunhong was dead, Wanqing couldn’t bring herself to believe it. Though she had her suspicions about who might have harmed her, the thought was too painful to accept. Chunhong had been only a year or two older than her, yet she had always cared for and protected her.
Just days ago, Chunhong had told her that as long as she was around, their lives would keep getting better. But now, just as things were improving, she was gone. Wanqing needed to see her—even if it was just her burial site—so she could have something to remember her by.
The two sought out Liu San, who proved to be perceptive. Upon hearing their request, he readily asked Zhong Shu for leave and led them to the site.
“It’s just up ahead, Second Miss. Right there— Wait, this… this is…”
As they reached the main road near the mass burial grounds, Liu San pointed ahead. But when he arrived at the burial site, his expression twisted in shock.
“What’s wrong? Liu San, who—who could be so cruel as to dig up Chunhong’s body? This hairpin is definitely hers. Liu San, are you sure this is where you buried her?”
Wanqing, supported by Hongyan, followed and gasped at the sight. The grave was fresh—the soil around it still damp from recent digging—but a gaping hole now marred its surface, revealing an empty pit.
“Second Miss, I swear I buried her right here. But there aren’t even wild dogs around…” Liu San looked around in confusion, unable to explain the desecration.
“Someone must have taken her. Look—these footprints are much fresher and shallower than last night’s. Who would hurt her and then steal her body? Be careful— Wait, who’s there? Ah, figures. Another coward hiding their face. Miss, this person must be connected to Chunhong’s death.”
Just as Wanqing struggled to process the disappearance of Chunhong’s body, Hongyan crouched to examine the ground. Spotting the fresh tracks, she suddenly lunged forward, yanking Wanqing away from Liu San’s side.
A throwing dagger now glinted between her fingers. From the trees ahead emerged a figure clad in black, their face concealed beneath a deep hood, revealing only their eyes and nostrils.
Hongyan, despite her injured shoulder, sneered. “Who are you? Why did you kill my maid, and why steal her body?”
Wanqing’s gaze locked onto the stranger. Though they remained silent, something about their silhouette felt familiar. Realizing they had been lying in wait, she clenched her fists, fury simmering beneath her icy glare.
“Don’t blame me. She wouldn’t cooperate—tried to scream. As for her body, hand over what you’re holding, and I’ll return it.”
The stranger’s serpentine eyes gleamed with amusement at Wanqing’s rage. Their voice was rough as they laid out their terms.
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