“I…”
Mu Wanxia was caught off guard by the question, her expression flustered. Just as she was about to speak, her body suddenly went limp, collapsing to one side, and black blood began to trickle from the corner of her lips.
“Eldest sister, eldest sister, what’s wrong with you? Eldest sister… Mu Wanqing, it must be you! You poisoned my sister, didn’t you?”
As Mu Wanxia collapsed, Mu Wanjun was horrified. She quickly caught her sister, shouting in panic while glaring at Wanqing with hatred and accusation.
“Me again? Why would I poison your sister? Third sister, don’t make baseless accusations…”
Faced with Mu Wanjun’s blame, Wanqing sighed helplessly, raising an eyebrow. It seemed these people wouldn’t rest until they pinned everything on her. With a resigned shrug, she glanced at the coldly composed Prince Ning beside her and the equally icy, barely concealed anger on Leng Mingye’s face before speaking up.
“It’s you, Mu Wanqing. Everyone knows you’re skilled in poisoning—Xiangmei and the other maids were the ones who acted recklessly in your courtyard because of your poison. It’s you… Ugh…”
Wanqing’s calm demeanor only made Mu Wanjun scoff bitterly. Leaning against her younger sister’s shoulder, she spat out more black blood as she spoke.
“Someone, quick! Fetch a physician!”
Seeing his beloved daughter vomiting black blood right before his eyes, Mu Zhenfeng, though furious at their antics, was also alarmed and immediately ordered the servants.
“No need for a physician. She isn’t poisoned—if anything, she poisoned herself. Her goal is to frame me, seeking revenge because I exposed her and her mother’s schemes, leading to her mother being confined to the Youming Courtyard by Father…”
Wanqing observed Mu Wanxia’s reaction. Despite her ashen face and continuous vomiting of black blood, Mu Wanjun, though furious, showed no real panic or concern. Wanqing spoke calmly, cutting straight to the point with Mu Zhenfeng about the sisters’ true intentions.
“I… Qing’er, I may resent you, but why would I risk my own life? In this household, who else but you knows how to poison? And who else but you has a grudge against me? Isn’t that right? I…”
As Wanqing spoke, she noticed her father hesitating, his expression filled with worry. Mu Wanxia leaned weakly against her sister’s shoulder, her face accusatory as she retorted.
“Between you and me? Eldest sister, you’re mistaken. There’s no grudge between us—only your hatred toward me. I won’t even mention your affair with Sun Fengyu, but I remember every single thing you’ve done to me. I know you two are in love, which is why I didn’t object when Sun Fengyu broke off our engagement. I silently stepped aside to let you be happy. Is that still grounds for your hatred? It’s only you who’s been targeting me, even wishing for my death.”
Wanqing sighed at Mu Wanxia’s accusations. It seemed her kindness had been mistaken for weakness. Since they insisted on framing her, she no longer saw any reason to spare their dignity.
With a faint smile, she turned to Mu Wanxia and countered, bringing up her past with Sun Fengyu before concluding pointedly.
“I didn’t! Sun Fengyu’s affection for me was one-sided. You pretended to step aside for us, but in your heart, you wished for my death. Everyone knows you’re skilled in poisoning and using silver needles to harm others.”
Mu Wanxia’s face flushed with shame and panic at Wanqing’s direct accusation. She shook her head vehemently, playing the innocent victim as she hurled more blame at Wanqing.
“Poisoning? Using silver needles to harm others? Little fool, is what she’s saying true?”
Hearing Mu Wanxia’s words, Wanqing clenched her fists inside her sleeves. If not for the others present, she would have lunged to tear that lying mouth apart. How dare she twist the truth like this? Yes, she knew how to use poison and silver needles—so what? Was she supposed to just stand there and let them harm her?
Leng Mingye’s question, though calm, made Wanqing seethe. She had indeed used silver needles in the past, and a simple inquiry would reveal that. Since Mu Wanxia had already exposed it, there was no point hiding anymore.
Facing Leng Mingye’s probing gaze, she forced a smile and explained.
“Brother Shizi, don’t listen to her nonsense. I only learned to use silver needles recently—Mu Chengfeng taught me while helping me detoxify. As for poisoning, I’ve never done it and don’t even know how. How could I have poisoned her? The only times I used silver needles were in self-defense—if I hadn’t fought back, they would have beaten me to death.”
“Is that so?”
Leng Mingye’s lips curled slightly, but the skepticism in his eyes made Wanqing burn with anger. That wretched woman—she’d pay for this later.
“Of course! Brother Shizi, do you really think I’d lie to you? As for the clothes and poisoning she mentioned, they have nothing to do with me. Eldest sister, third sister, is this charade really necessary?”
Wanqing looked at Leng Mingye with feigned hurt, but when he merely studied her before turning away, she dropped the act and confronted the sisters directly.
“Father, Shizi, Prince Ning, my sister is truly poisoned—she’s not pretending! Look at her, she’s vomiting blood… Who would risk their life just to frame someone? It makes no sense!”
Mu Wanjun’s tearful plea only made Wanqing scoff.
“If she’s really poisoned, why aren’t you rushing to find a physician? If you truly cared, why stand here doing nothing while she suffers? Isn’t this just a setup?”
Mu Wanjun’s theatrics disgusted Wanqing, though she kept her expression coolly mocking.
“I… Only you have the antidote for my sister’s poison. What could an ordinary physician do? Sister, how are you? Sister… Second sister, I beg you—please give her the antidote. Whatever grudge you hold against her, we’re still sisters, born of the same father, aren’t we? Father…”
Wanqing’s composed questioning made Mu Wanjun falter. But as she spoke, Mu Wanxia suddenly convulsed violently, more black blood spilling from her lips, her face turning deathly pale with a sickly greenish hue.
Panicked, Mu Wanjun shook her sister, pleading desperately with Wanqing. When her pleas went unanswered, she turned to their father in despair.
“Don’t beg her, Jun’er… don’t. Father, I… I’ve failed you. I won’t be able to serve you anymore. I only hope… after I’m gone… you’ll release Mother. My death… will make her repent… Father… Ugh…”
Mu Wanxia’s weak, gasping plea was almost too convincing. Even Wanqing had to admit the girl was a skilled actress. Still, she watched coldly as Mu Wanxia convulsed again, vomiting more blood.
“Qing’er, if you have the antidote, please give it to save your sister. I promise you—once she’s cured, they won’t trouble you again. Please, Qing’er.”
Mu Zhenfeng’s heart ached at the sight of his eldest daughter suffering and his youngest wailing in despair. Though he knew offending Wanqing now was unwise, he had no choice but to lower his pride and beg.
“Please…”
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