Meng Qingyao hurriedly grabbed Jiang Yu’s arm, “Yu’er, auntie… auntie…”
Jiang Yu gently patted her back, “Auntie, speak slowly.”
But Meng Qingyao’s hands were cold as ice, and she couldn’t even form words properly.
“Yu’er, it’s like this – auntie has been feeling restless lately. I was thinking of persuading her to visit Azure Cloud Temple to pray.”
Pei Xiao finally approached with measured steps, asking softly, “Is this what auntie wanted to say?”
As the faint scent of sandalwood from Pei Xiao grew closer, Meng Qingyao shuddered and retreated behind Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu glanced at the terrified Meng Qingyao, then looked into Pei Xiao’s smiling eyes.
His smile was so deep yet veiled in layers of obscurity that Jiang Yu nearly lost herself in his gaze. She shook her head, “Auntie isn’t feeling well, we should return first.”
“Good, I’ll escort you.” Pei Xiao nodded with satisfaction, his index finger lightly touching his thin lips, “Since auntie is seriously ill, she should focus on recuperating rather than becoming paranoid and suffering the consequences.”
With Pei Xiao’s arm around her shoulder, Jiang Yu was led out of Princess Manor.
Passing by the vermilion lacquered wooden box, she couldn’t help but glance at it, then at the bloodstains on Pei Xiao’s shoes.
How could a frail scholar like him be so unconcerned about stepping in blood?
“Yu’er!”
Meng Qingyao suddenly rushed over and blocked Jiang Yu in front of the wooden box.
The confusion in her eyes had vanished, replaced by a determination to face death courageously.
Her daughter had died in vain – how could Pei Xiao remain unperturbed, maintaining marital harmony?
Even if it meant mutual destruction, she would expose the sins Pei Xiao had committed!
“Yu’er, see clearly what your so-called husband has done?” Meng Qingyao’s trembling finger pointed at the box.
Through the cracks, what seemed like bloodshot eyes stared out ominously, eerie and sinister.
Jiang Yu paused as blood from the bottom of the box dripped onto her embroidered shoes, still faintly warm.
Jiang Yu immediately withdrew her foot, while Meng Qingyao supported her waist, secretly glaring at Pei Xiao, “Yu’er, let’s properly appreciate Lord Pei’s thoughtful gift together!”
“Yu’er! They’re just trivial items, nothing worth seeing.” Pei Xiao stepped forward and grasped Jiang Yu’s wrist.
“Lord Pei, since the gift has been delivered, why fear others seeing it? Unless…” Meng Qingyao delighted in seeing Pei Xiao flustered, sneering coldly, “Unless you’ve committed some heinous deed that you must hide even from your own wife?”
“It’s just an injured little creature. Why must the princess force my wife to see this?” Pei Xiao narrowed his eyes, concealing murderous intent.
“Isn’t Lord Pei supposed to be an upright gentleman? How can you speak of a human life so lightly?”
…
“Enough!” Caught between them, Jiang Yu shouted to stop them.
The blood continued dripping incessantly – it was obvious the box contained nothing good.
Jiang Yu had been observing the confrontational stance between Pei Xiao and Meng Qingyao, which strikingly resembled the murderous face from her nightmare.
Jiang Yu couldn’t help but feel distressed.
While she was eager to verify what kind of person her husband truly was, Meng Qingyao’s intention to use her as a pawn was equally obvious.
Whatever was in that box, would publicly tearing open their relationship truly benefit her?
With Pei Xiao holding immense power, acting impulsively would only bring harm to herself.
“Since my husband doesn’t wish me to see, then I won’t look.” Jiang Yu quietly stood by Pei Xiao’s side, “Husband, let’s return home.”Pei Xiao glanced at the girl beside him from the corner of his eye. Seeing her delicate, dependent demeanor, he felt somewhat reassured.
But Meng Qingyao, infuriated by her foolish appearance, completely lost her temper.
“Jiang Yu, you fool! Pei Xiao is a ruthless killer, far beyond what you can imagine! My son was torn to pieces by him!
His gentlemanly facade is all an act to deceive you, and you still trust him?
Take a good look—this will be your fate too!”
Meng Qingyao angrily flung open the box.
Pei Xiao immediately covered Jiang Yu’s eyes, his deep voice falling over her head, “Don’t look!”
With her vision suddenly blocked, Jiang Yu could only see the Bodhi seed bracelet on Pei Xiao’s wrist swaying back and forth.
He practiced Buddhism and chanted sutras, usually avoiding meat and strong flavors.
But now, the stench of blood and flesh bypassed the White Jade Bodhi Beads, seeping into Jiang Yu’s nostrils. The mingling scents made her nauseous.
Jiang Yu’s shoulders trembled slightly.
It wasn’t fear of the corpse she was about to face, but the possibility that these hands, as pure as a jade Guanyin’s, might already be stained with blood—and she had known nothing about it.
But since things had come to this, she had to face it.
Jiang Yu took a deep breath and moved the hand blocking her eyes.
In the corridor, however, there was no expected chaos.
Meng Qingyao, with her disheveled hair, stood frozen before the wooden box…
Inside the box was no human corpse, but a dying white fox.
Jiang Yu looked at Pei Xiao in surprise.
Pei Xiao maintained his gentle smile, even appearing somewhat wronged: “I told you earlier it was just an animal. Why must you stir trouble between us, Princess?”
“Your Highness, this animal was specially brought by the princess’s entourage from Mobei to cheer you up. Unfortunately, it was snatched by a vicious wolf and died halfway.
Our lord thought it was still the princess’s heartfelt gift, so he specifically brought it to you,” Pei Xiao’s guard stepped forward to explain.
Meng Qingyao’s heart raced, her chest heaving. It took her a while to calm down. “But you just said… you said…”
For a moment, Meng Qingyao couldn’t pinpoint any fault in Pei Xiao’s words.
From beginning to end, Pei Xiao had never admitted to killing her daughter—it was all Meng Qingyao’s assumption.
Pei Xiao wasn’t foolish enough to announce killing a royal relative to the world.
Today’s incident was merely to frighten Meng Qingyao and uncover what she had done to Jiang Yu.
But Pei Xiao hadn’t expected that Meng Qingyao seemed to have stumbled upon some buried secrets…
Pei Xiao clenched his knuckles, occasionally observing the girl beside him. “Yu’er, are you alright?”
Jiang Yu parted her lips.
In this situation, whatever she wanted to ask or investigate would clearly be inappropriate.
Staying longer would only make Pei Xiao suspicious.
Jiang Yu patted her chest to calm her breathing. “I’m fine. It’s just that the white fox’s death was too gruesome—it startled me.”
“Yes, my fault.” Pei Xiao tucked her stray strands behind her ear.
Jiang Yu was his treasure, raised in a honey jar—she shouldn’t have seen such filthy things.
“Let’s go!”
“Yu’er!” A hand grabbed Jiang Yu.
Meng Qingyao’s parched lips parted several times, shaking her head repeatedly at her.
“Aunt, this white fox was your daughter’s thoughtful gift after all. Take good care of it. I see it’s not completely dead yet.”
Pei Xiao twirled the Buddhist beads in his hand, the cold White Jade Bodhi Beads resting on the dying white fox, stained with vivid color. “The Buddha is merciful!”
Meng Qingyao glanced at the white fox.
The fox’s body curled into a ball, convulsing uncontrollably.Beneath the bloodstained fur, a Cloud-patterned Gold Bracelet could faintly be seen clamped around its neck, constricting its breathing while blood continuously seeped from the corners of its mouth.
“Ah!” Meng Qingyao released Jiang Yu’s hand as if electrocuted.
Jiang Yu steadied her weakly. “What’s wrong, Aunt?”