The next day.
Jiang Yunxu was awakened by noise.
Opening her eyes, she saw a crowd surrounding her. Chu Youqi was supporting the frail Jiang Yan’er, his expression icy cold, which startled Jiang Yunxu.
She was utterly bewildered. “What’s going on?”
As soon as she spoke, Jiang Yan’er’s tears began to fall.
“Sister, why would you do this to me? It’s one thing to poison me, but why would you try to take credit for my deeds?”
Jiang Yunxu nearly laughed out loud. “Do you even hear what you’re saying?”
She was taking credit for her deeds? How shameless.
Yet Jiang Yan’er appeared completely justified. “Sister, His Highness told me everything. Back then, it was you who kept pestering me for details, and I only told you because you insisted. How could you turn around and tell His Highness? I tested so many medicines for His Highness and ended up with lasting health problems, and you think you can erase everything I did with just a few words?”
Hearing this, Chu Youqi was filled with pity. When he turned to look at Jiang Yunxu, his eyes were full of resentment, as if he hated her for making him misunderstand Jiang Yan’er.
Jiang Yunxu found it truly laughable. She stared coldly at her. “You know very well what really happened back then. There’s no need to waste words with me.”
“Sister, how could you…”
Jiang Yan’er seemed overwhelmed with anger, swaying unsteadily. Chu Youqi quickly pulled her into his arms. Seeing Jiang Yunxu’s indifferent attitude only fueled his fury.
“You poisonous woman, what more excuses do you have? If I hadn’t questioned Yan’er and gotten to the truth, I would have been fooled by you! The one who saved me back then was Yan’er, with her celestial beauty. You?”
“Utterly hideous!”
Although his consciousness had been hazy back then, he remembered the general details. The girl who had cared for him day and night was clearly beautiful, nothing like Jiang Yunxu’s ugly appearance.
Even if she had that birthmark on the inside of her arm, so what? Yan’er’s birthmark was scraped off. She must have heard about it and copied it!
Looking at his foolishness, Jiang Yunxu was speechless.
“You believe whatever others say? Can’t you investigate?”
Chu Youqi was completely provoked by her disdain. “Jiang Yunxu! How dare you speak so arrogantly!”
Her repeated defiance, combined with everything he had endured the previous night, made Chu Youqi so angry that his breathing grew heavy.
“Bring me my whip!”
Today, he would settle both old and new grudges!
That whip was specially made for the Wangfu, covered with fine barbs. Dipped in saltwater, it could inflict unbearable pain.
The original owner of this body had been beaten to death by this very whip.
Jiang Yunxu watched indifferently, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips.
Chu Youqi tightened his grip on the whip.
“You wretch! I spared your life only for Yan’er’s sake, yet you show no gratitude and even dare to try replacing her. You’re asking for death!”
As he finished speaking, the whip swung through the air. A look of schadenfreude flashed across Jiang Yan’er’s face as the whip came crashing down toward Jiang Yunxu.
With just a sidestep, Jiang Yunxu dodged it. When the whip lashed out again, she shifted direction and, before anyone could react, dragged Jiang Yan’er over.
Fortunately, Chu Youqi retracted the whip quickly, or it would have struck Jiang Yan’er.
But in full view of everyone, Jiang Yunxu inserted a silver needle into Jiang Yan’er’s acupuncture point. Immediately, the poison took effect, and she began vomiting blood.
Letting her collapse to the ground, Jiang Yunxu raised her eyes and confronted Chu Youqi.
“Chu Youqi, I clearly said that within this half month, if I die, she dies. Do you still dare to lay hands on me? Are you truly determined to send your beloved Yan’er sister to hell?”
Chu Youqi widened his eyes, wanting to step forward to pick up Jiang Yan’er, but Jiang Yunxu revealed another silver needle, pointing it at the back of Jiang Yan’er’s neck—the threat was unmistakable.
“Detoxify! Detoxify me now!”
Chu Youqi watched as Jiang Yan’er’s face gradually turned bluish, growing increasingly frantic.
But Jiang Yunxu parted her red lips and spoke word by word: “I, your mother, won’t do it.”
“You wretch!”
Chu Youqi raised his hand to strike her, but Jiang Yunxu didn’t hesitate either. She inserted the silver needle half an inch deep, causing a bead of blood to roll down, freezing his hand mid-air.
“San Wangye’s residence is truly lively.”
A low, mellow, and clear voice rang out, distinct from the chaotic surroundings.
Jiang Yunxu turned to look and saw a man dressed in ink-and-water silk, as cold and ethereal as an immortal, seated in a wheelchair and being pushed forward.
However, upon clearly seeing his face, Jiang Yunxu’s pupils contracted. Wasn’t this that so-called Xuan Wang?
Last night, she had sorted through the relationships among the capital’s figures. The situation in Lingzhouguo was divided into four parts, controlled respectively by the Emperor of Lingzhou, the Empress Dowager of Lingzhou, Prime Minister Jiang, and Chu Xuanzhi.
Among them, the Empress Dowager’s power was gradually being divided among the other three, slowly forming a tripartite balance.
Jiang Yunxu furrowed her brows. For now, Prime Minister Jiang was her enemy, but his influence was immense and could not be shaken for the time being.
To seek revenge, she urgently needed a patron, and the man before her was the most suitable.
Chu Youqi was also stunned for a moment upon seeing him, then respectfully called out, “Ninth Imperial Uncle, you’ve returned to the capital? Why was there no report?”
What?
Ninth Imperial Uncle!
Jiang Yunxu’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She had almost forgotten that Xuan Wang was Chu Youqi’s Ninth Imperial Uncle. And last night, she had entered his bathtub and even seen…
Her gaze couldn’t help but drift downward. Chu Xuanzhi noticed and silently covered himself with his robe.
The tips of Jiang Yunxu’s ears flushed slightly, but she quickly composed herself. Last night, she had been completely covered up; he couldn’t possibly recognize her.
“This prince was invited to the Prime Minister’s residence last night. Overwhelmed by drink, I stayed overnight at Zaixiangfu to rest…”
Chu Xuanzhi deliberately explained, leaving everyone present bewildered. But Jiang Yunxu felt somewhat guilty, especially when she heard him add, “Suddenly recalling that your residence has pleasant scenery, I happened to be passing by. And this is?”
Chu Xuanzhi pointed at Jiang Yunxu.
Chu Youqi lowered his head and replied, “Forgive the embarrassment, Ninth Imperial Uncle. The Wangfei has just entered the household and doesn’t understand the rules. I am currently teaching her a lesson.”
“And the one on the ground?”
“She is the Cefei.” Chu Youqi’s face showed a hint of awkwardness.
Chu Xuanzhi observed the scene thoughtfully, then smiled and said, “San Wangye remains as ever.”
The words carried a deeper meaning.
But Chu Youqi dared not say anything. In front of this man, he was exceptionally obedient, even retracting his long whip, though he gritted his teeth and reminded her, “You’d better administer the acupuncture quickly.”
Despite the presence of outsiders, Jiang Yunxu casually extended her hand. Chu Youqi looked bewildered, and she stated, “Three thousand taels.”
Three thousand taels?
Chu Youqi widened his eyes, immediately understanding what she meant. If Chu Xuanzhi weren’t watching, he would have whipped this wretch to death.
“Not paying?” Jiang Yunxu scanned him up and down before finally uttering, “Then wait to die.”
She had only discovered yesterday that her dowry was not substantial, revealing just how stingy the prime minister was in private.
Being new here and having no silver on hand, how could that be acceptable?
Chu Youqi gritted his teeth in frustration; he had no idea she could be so shameless.
Yet, under Chu Xuanzhi’s watchful gaze, as the poison on Jiang Yan’er’s face continued to spread, Chu Youqi finally spoke up.
“Fetch it for Wangfei!”
Unnoticed by anyone, the smile in Chu Xuanzhi’s eyes as he looked at Jiang Yunxu deepened.
But Jiang Yunxu sensed it. Meeting his gaze, she felt inexplicably guilty and said to them, “Leave now, don’t disturb me.”
Chu Youqi was about to reprimand her for her lack of manners when Chu Xuanzhi stopped him.
“Youqi, I’d like to take a stroll around your back mountain.”
Back mountain?
Jiang Yunxu turned around and saw him rubbing the jade pendant she had given him yesterday in his hand, causing her heart to skip a beat.
At that moment, Chu Xuanzhi looked at her as if casually mentioning, “Third Princess Consort’s eyes and brows bear a striking resemblance to someone I know.”
“Her name is Xiao Cui. Do you know her, Third Princess Consort?”