Jiang Yunxu gave Yin Feng a meaningful glance: “You may withdraw first.”
Upon hearing this, Yin Feng immediately looked at his master with concern, unwilling to step back. His master was severely injured—what if Third Princess Consort harbored ill intentions?
“Withdraw.”
Jiang Yunxu snorted twice. Yin Feng had no choice but to retreat.
After closing the door, Jiang Yunxu glanced at Chu Xuanzhi’s leg again, her brows furrowed tightly as if she had something to say.
“Third Princess Consort, why not speak frankly?” Chu Xuanzhi’s jade-like handsome face showed confusion. “Is there still hope? If not, there’s no need to force it.”
“That’s not it.” Jiang Yunxu waved her hand, looked around, and found an exquisite dagger on a nearby table. She fetched a clean cup, and without another word, cut her fingertip, letting drops of blood fall into the cup. After ensuring the amount was sufficient, she withdrew her hand and handed the cup to Chu Xuanzhi.
Chu Xuanzhi generously accepted it and drank it all without hesitation. His pale lips were stained with a bright red trace of blood, appearing particularly eerie.
His swift action left Jiang Yunxu stunned: “You trust me this much?”
“If you doubt someone, don’t use them; if you use someone, don’t doubt them.”
Jiang Yunxu was left speechless. Her blood had been soaked in medicinal liquids for five full years, permeating her veins, and could neutralize hundreds of poisons.
Just a few drops of her blood were enough to dispel the lingering toxins in Chu Xuanzhi’s body.
Sure enough, after drinking the blood, the discoloration on Chu Xuanzhi’s leg wound gradually faded, returning to a normal skin tone visible to the naked eye.
“My blood has been steeped in poisons and can neutralize hundreds of toxins. In the future, if Xuan Wang needs it, send someone to fetch it promptly.”
She was not a generous person. To take her blood, one must first protect her.
Chu Xuanzhi frowned.
“Rest assured, I won’t do anything treasonous. I only want to protect my family and seek justice for the second branch. But in Jingcheng, few dare to offend Zaixiangfu.”
“Haven’t you already aligned yourself with the Empress?” Chu Xuanzhi retorted.
After wiping the dagger clean and placing it on the table, Jiang Yunxu said softly, “The Empress resides deep in the palace, far beyond her reach. How could she be as convenient as Xuan Wang? Thank you for saving me today.”
The emperor’s heart is unfathomable. She wasn’t foolish enough to rely solely on the emperor. Given the emperor’s petty nature, Jiang Yunxu had to prepare an escape route in advance, just in case.
Jiang Yunxu reached into her bosom and pulled out two small porcelain bottles: “These should be enough to deal with the Imperial Physician. However, after each dose, you must drink my blood within three hours to detoxify.”
With that, she waved without looking back: “Farewell!”
For now, Chu Xuanzhi seemed the least hostile toward her. There was no conflict between them, making him a good partner for cooperation.
“Master?” Yin Feng entered the room to check. His eyes widened in astonishment upon confirming the wound had healed, and his admiration for Third Princess Consort grew even stronger.
Chu Xuanzhi suddenly asked, “Did you save Third Princess Consort tonight?”
Yin Feng was taken aback, then recounted what had happened at Sanwangfu. He said, “Actually, Third Princess Consort has had it quite tough.”
“You certainly know how to cherish beauty…”
“Master, that’s not what I meant.” Yin Feng hurriedly explained. He only sympathized with Jiang Yunxu for being constantly schemed against.
…
Jiang Yunxu sneaked back to her courtyard before dawn. Hong Qiao said, “There’s been no movement in the residence for now.”
“Good.”
Seeing that it was about time, she lost her drowsiness and had Hong Fei continue to accompany Tuan Ge’er.
She then changed her attire and found some pastries to fill her stomach.
Suddenly,
a piercing scream echoed through the Wangfu. Nanny Lin, who had brought maidservants carrying water to attend to their mistress for bathing, was startled by the pile of corpses stacked at the doorway.
Inside the room, Jiang Yan’er was also awakened by the noise. Feeling displeased, she wondered inwardly how Nanny Lin had become so careless, making such a commotion early in the morning.
“What was that sound?” Chu Youqi was also startled awake. Suddenly recalling that the men he had sent out the previous day had not returned, he threw off the covers and went to open the door.
As the door swung open, the pile of corpses, stacked like a small hill, tumbled into the room. Chu Youqi stumbled back two steps in surprise.
“Ah!” Jiang Yan’er nearly fainted at the sight, suppressing her nausea with great effort.
Chu Youqi stared at the corpses scattered across the floor—weren’t these the Anwei he had sent yesterday to kill Hong Qiao and Hong Fei?
“How is this possible? Two maidservants actually managed to kill over a dozen of This Prince’s Anwei!”
Chu Youqi roared, “Hurry up and clean this mess!”
Soon, the room was cleared. Jiang Yan’er, her face pale with fright, nestled in Chu Youqi’s arms and asked in a deliberately fragile tone, “Your Highness, what on earth happened? This concubine is so scared.”
“Yan’er, This Prince is here. There’s no need to be afraid.”
After comforting Jiang Yan’er, Chu Youqi summoned someone to question, but unfortunately, all those sent out had perished, leaving no answers.
“Was there any unusual activity in the Wangfei’s courtyard yesterday?”
The Steward shook his head, “The Wangfei was completely normal. Half an hour ago, her maidservant even came to request breakfast. This servant did not notice anything amiss.”
This was strange. How could a dozen Anwei launch an attack without making any commotion?
Chu Youqi’s face turned ashen, “How many more secrets is that wretched woman hiding?”
Meanwhile, Jiang Yan’er, having collected her thoughts, changed into another outfit and gracefully emerged. She asked softly, “Is there any news from my aunt’s side?”
It had been too late yesterday to inquire.
The Steward hesitated, not daring to answer. Jiang Yan’er’s eyelids twitched as she pressed again, “What exactly happened?”
“Reporting to Cefei, early this morning, His Majesty issued an edict to confiscate Yi’an Bo Fu. The male members have been exiled, women over fifteen enslaved, and no one within three generations is permitted to take the imperial examinations.”
This news had spread early in the morning, with many commoners gathering to watch as the Jingzhao Yin carried out the order to confiscate the estate.
“What?” Jiang Yan’er could not believe it.
Chu Youqi was also shocked. Yesterday, it was still Yi’an Bo Fu; today, it had been reduced to commoners facing exile.
“Was it made clear what crimes the Bo Fu was charged with?”
The Steward replied, “Reporting to Your Highness, it is unknown who submitted evidence of crimes committed by Yi’an Bo and his wife to the Yushi. They were implicated in several murders and had embezzled some silver. Each charge was supported by solid evidence. In his fury, His Majesty issued the edict, and before dawn, the Jingzhao Yin arrived at the Bo Fu.”
If not for the late hour yesterday, the confiscation would have taken place then.
Jiang Yan’er felt a pang of discomfort. Her aunt had treated her well, yet she had ended up in such a state.
And the mastermind behind all this was Jiang Yunxu!
“Your Highness, my sister is too ruthless. She wiped out the entire Bo Fu without leaving any room for negotiation. Moreover, she must have obtained the evidence long ago, quietly forcing the Jingzhao Yin to act… How could my sister be so scheming?”
Jiang Yan’er had never imagined the Bo Fu would come to such an end.
“She was always a madwoman!” Chu Youqi regretted marrying her; it would have been better to have her killed before the wedding.
Now, keeping her in the Wangfu was just an eyesore.