Shen Qingwu held her breath and focused, keenly sensing the aura of cultivators lurking in the shadows.
They were surrounded.
She frowned, but her peripheral vision caught Prince He standing calmly beside her… She then glanced at Meng Po and stepped back, clasping her hands behind her back as she declared, “I’m not interested. I’m withdrawing.”
“Hey.” Ye Chen raised a single eyebrow, crossing his arms with a smile playing on his lips. “Wasn’t it you who asked for my help earlier? Abandoning me after crossing the river isn’t very honorable.”
Shen Qingwu simply turned her face away. “Then you withdraw too.”
But Prince He remained unmoved.
“In that case…” Meng Po narrowed her eyes and lightly raised her right hand. Instantly, a circle of gleaming arrows materialized around them, trapping everyone.
The Seventh Princess, having lost all her Neili, panicked and clutched the railing, her face pale with fear. “Imperial Uncle—”
Unexpectedly, Shen Qingwu casually sat on the ground, propping her chin with one hand and adopting the posture of a spectator.
Seeing this, the Seventh Princess stamped her foot in anger. “Your Excellency Wuxiang is so cold and heartless! How can you just stand by and watch us die?”
“All our lives are in your and Imperial Uncle’s hands now!”
She thought she was speaking righteously, but after shouting, she realized no one supported her, leaving her both shocked and furious.
Shen Qingwu pretended not to hear, even closing her eyes to rest. Moments later, she felt a gust of wind, followed by a large hand gripping her neck.
“Imperial Uncle, you—” The Seventh Princess, who had been scolding Shen Qingwu from the stands, gasped weakly, “Surely not…”
She blamed Wuxiang for standing aside, but that didn’t warrant killing her, did it?
Shen Qingwu remained expressionless, only frowning slightly. “I said I’m not participating.”
Ye Chen said nothing, his gaze fixed intently on Meng Po.
“Ah…” Meng Po sighed helplessly and waved her hand, causing the arrows to vanish simultaneously.
Rubbing her forehead with a bitter smile, she looked at Shen Qingwu. “Since you’re using the Ghost Market’s honored guest as leverage, I have no choice but to concede.”
With that, she turned to the guests. Meng Po channeled her Neili, her voice echoing throughout: “Today’s treasure was a setup by the Ghost King. The one who solved it was Prince He. The effects of the drugging will wear off in half a moment.”
She lightly raised her wrist, and the lights suddenly brightened.
Only then did the Seventh Princess notice that all the guests appeared unsurprised, finally understanding the situation. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
So she was the only fool?!
By the time she collected herself, her Imperial Uncle and Your Excellency Wuxiang had returned to the stands. She didn’t even dare look at Wuxiang.
“If it weren’t for you, I would have been poisoned too. This should be yours.” Ye Chen said, offering the newly acquired Jiaoren Meat to Wuxiang.
Jiaoren Meat… Shen Qingwu thought for a moment and reached out to take it, but noticed a pair of eyes staring longingly at the meat, looking rather pitiful.
It inexplicably reminded her of Dahuang in Medicine King Valley, wagging his tail when begging for food from her.
“Ahem…” Shen Qingwu pondered, then broke off a small piece of the Jiaoren Meat and pushed it toward the Seventh Princess. “Here, for you.”
The Seventh Princess widened her eyes in disbelief, her face instantly blooming with joy. She hugged the jade box as if it were a priceless treasure. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony!”
She had achieved her goal for this trip!
Dawn approached, and the Ghost Market was about to close. They exited the Ghost Market together and parted ways at the Gate of Yan.
After returning to Shi Fang Courtyard, Shen Qingwu unfolded a slip of paper under the candlelight.
Meng Po had given it to her before she left. It read: Several hundred taels monthly, repaid on time, lasting half a year.
This is the record of Shen Wushi’s loan from the Ghost Market.
What on earth… is she doing?
The note curled and blackened in the flames, eventually turning to ashes.
Just then, the first ray of morning light pierced through the night.
…
Shen Qingwu fell asleep immediately and wasn’t awakened until noon by Xia Chun’s knocking.
“Young Mistress, someone from the palace has come with an oral decree from His Majesty, inviting you to attend the Empress’s birthday banquet in the palace five days from now.”
Xia Chun’s voice was full of delight. “You’re the only one from the entire Marquis Estate who received an invitation!”
Of course. Otherwise, would Shen Wencong think he could attend the palace banquet with his mere fifth-rank official position?
This special honor was earned by her father and brother. Even if the second branch occupies the Marquis Estate, they shouldn’t dream of getting even a fraction of it!
Shen Qingwu slowly opened her eyes. She happened to need an opportunity to enter the palace and see the Emperor.
Meanwhile, in the ancestral hall of the Marquis Estate.
Upon learning the news, Shen Qingxi was going mad: “Ah—why her!”
“I won first place in the Spring Examination and finally gained the Empress’s appreciation, which is why she exceptionally allowed me to attend the banquet.”
“Why does Shen Qingwu get such an honor as soon as she returns! Just because she’s the Firstborn Daughter of the Marquis Estate?!”
After her mother’s guidance, she suddenly realized: if Shen Qingwu returns alive, then her husband will inherit the peerage, and her own father won’t be able to!
She’s here to steal my position!
“Bang!” She kicked over the writing desk, splattering ink all over the floor, inadvertently ruining the scriptures she had just copied, which only fueled her rage further. “Ah—”
Since the Grand Princess sent a matron to supervise her, she had to write everything herself, and these were all her painstaking efforts.
“Young Mistress.Chuntao tremblingly held her back, whispering to persuade, “This servant can only distract the matron for a short while.” Please be careful not to be heard when she returns.”
Shen Qingxi could only angrily grab her own hair in frustration: “Chuntao, go tell my father to remind the Empress that I’m still under confinement!”
She absolutely couldn’t stay in this ancestral hall for three full months, letting Shen Qingwu enjoy the limelight outside. By then, who would remember her, Shen Qingxi?
“And also, keep a close watch on Shi Fang Courtyard for me!”
“Yes.” Just as Chuntao was about to leave, Shen Qingxi called her back.
“Wait, you said Shen Qingwu has been asking around the estate about the Empress’s health? Wanting to concoct pills as a birthday gift for the Empress?”
Chuntao nodded: “Yes, Young Mistress.”
Shen Qingxi slowly narrowed her eyes, a calculating glint flashing within them: “Send someone to Shi Fang Courtyard with a message… say that I’ve heard Her Majesty has been in poor health in recent years, and even the Imperial Physicians are at a loss. If someone could offer medicine for recuperation, they would surely win Her Majesty’s favor.”
Chuntao was puzzled: “Young Mistress, isn’t this helping the Eldest Young Mistress?”
“Helping?” Shen Qingxi sneered. “What do you know? The Empress dislikes others discussing her infertility the most. If Shen Qingwu actually presents recuperative medicine…”
The more she thought about it, the more she felt this plan was brilliant: “At that time, not only will she anger the Empress, but she’ll also incur the Emperor’s wrath!”
She gently stroked the scriptures stained with ink, a sinister smile reaching the depths of her eyes.
Shen Qingwu, this is the crime of great irreverence—let’s see how you escape this!