“If You Ran loses the bet, she must bow and scrape to her and admit that the State Preceptor’s estate is inferior to their Yuwen clan.”
The State Preceptor raised an eyebrow slightly. “And if she loses?”
“If she loses, she won’t blame us for the prince’s death.”
“Oh?” The State Preceptor looked at You Qi with interest. “Did she win?”
“Of course!” You Qi wore an incredulous expression. “Though she was dead drunk and still hasn’t woken up, Assistant Minister Wen still won.”
“Hmm? How did Assistant Minister Wen get involved?”
You Qi shrugged. “Assistant Minister Wen said You Ran is no match for her, and Yuwen Shu shouldn’t bully the weak.”
“Heh.” A faint smile played on the State Preceptor’s lips. “That person is quite interesting timid, lustful, greedy, unruly, unprincipled, lies effortlessly, yet somehow responsible and righteous.”
“Indeed.” You Qi’s expression was somewhat bewildered. “During the Zou Yun case, she could have completely ignored Miss Li and closed the case perfectly. Instead, she went to see her alone. That shows Assistant Minister Wen has a sense of responsibility and justice. She knew it was dangerous but went anyway that’s bravery.”
“Right. I originally thought she would stand by and do nothing.” The State Preceptor set down the case file and stood up.
You Qi looked momentarily stunned. “So, you intentionally had the innkeeper reveal that Miss Li had delivered dried mushrooms to her, just to test Assistant Minister Wen?”
“Yes.” The State Preceptor nodded indifferently. “Her going to find Miss Li, along with the appearance of that assassin, proves she is not one of the General’s people.”
“Then she’s cleared, isn’t she?” You Qi didn’t understand why the State Preceptor was still investigating when she had already gotten the answer she wanted.
“Jinling isn’t just home to the General. There are many ghosts and demons lurking, perhaps even right beside us.” A fleeting sorrow passed through her deep eyes, but she continued with determination, “I will root them all out.”
You Qi nodded firmly.
“However, Assistant Minister Wen is too frivolous and hardly fit for important tasks.” The State Preceptor frowned slightly as she spoke.
You Qi looked at her with disbelief at the evident disdain. “I thought you quite liked her.”
“…” The State Preceptor paused, then her cheek twitched. “Would you let You Qi touch your butt?”
“Of course not!”
The State Preceptor looked at You Qi and shrugged. “You and You Ran are sisters, and even you wouldn’t allow it. Yet, she actually let Miao Shiyi touch her butt.”
“Shameless!” You Qi cursed indignantly.
The State Preceptor glanced at the agitated woman, and You Qi immediately composed herself. “Even as a joke, it’s truly inappropriate.”
“She also praised the young lady of the Nanchuan family as beautiful. The way she looked at her, her eyes were practically sparkling.”
The State Preceptor shook her head, sighing as she massaged her temples. “She even called her Ranran and asked to be called Wanwan in return!”
You Qi watched the State Preceptor’s subtle, clenched-jaw movement, her eyebrows raised and pupils dilated.
“Is Nanchuan Ranran that good-looking?” The State Preceptor turned back, her eyes full of disdain as she looked at You Qi, clearly implying she thought otherwise.
You Qi quickly shook her head. “She’s passable, but nowhere near as beautiful as you.”
The State Preceptor froze for a moment, then her lips twitched at You Qi’s half-smiling expression. “I’m asking you about serious matters.”
“Nanchuan Ranran is above average among high-quality Omegas. If she weren’t so weak-willed, her rank could be even higher. It’s normal for Assistant Minister Wen, as an Alpha, to be captivated, but her words were still too frivolous.”
You Qi analyzed everything with flawless logic, completely missing the Grand Tutor’s exasperated expression. She simply remarked, “But the idea that you’d actually compare yourself to Nanchuan Ranran is quite strange.”
The Grand Tutor stiffened slightly, denying with a frosty tone, “I’m not comparing myself to her. Why would I, an Alpha, compare myself to an Omega like her?”
“Good to hear.” You Qi smiled faintly.
The Grand Tutor shot her a glare. “Why are you standing there? Go check the inn where the Yan Kingdom’s Crown Prince is staying. See if we missed anything.”
You Qi hurriedly acknowledged the order and retreated from the room, a slight curve lifting the corners of her lips. Who would have thought the Grand Tutor would get angry just because Wen Shaoqing praised Nanchuan Ranran? And clearly, it wasn’t about Nanchuan Ranran it was because Wen Shaoqing had dared to praise someone else?
Tsk! You Qi wore the expression of someone anticipating a good show.
The Grand Tutor stared blankly at the red bracelet in her hand. Returning it to Wen Shaoqing felt odd, but if she didn’t return it, would Wen Shaoqing think she didn’t want to give it back?
A sudden unease gripped the Grand Tutor’s heart. She shook her head vigorously and muttered to herself, “She had the audacity to give away something I gifted her and in my name, no less. That’s utterly infuriating. What did I do wrong?”
She tucked the bracelet away and sat down, glancing at the sky outside. How long has it been? And she’s still drunk? What if the other party doesn’t fall into her trap?
Will I have to save her again?
＊
Wen Ningwan was shaken awake, her stomach churning from the alcohol. She scrambled up and rushed outside.
Yuwen Shu grinned cheerfully at the people outside, slurring, “Even though I lost, I didn’t throw up.”
You Ran staggered to her feet and wobbled over to Yuwen Shu, patting her shoulder before leaning in and going, “Yue—”
Yuwen Shu froze for a second, then the world seemed to spin. She immediately dashed outside, bending over as she vomited.
You Ran leaned against the doorframe, laughing until tears welled in her eyes. Liu Jiaojiao stumbled over, looking utterly drained. “Officer You, you’re something else.”
You Ran quickly steadied her. “Not at all, not at all. But Registrar Liu, if one cup is enough to knock you out, maybe you should avoid drinking in the future.”
“Not one cup one bowl,” Liu Jiaojiao stubbornly corrected, refusing to admit her low alcohol tolerance.
Miao Shiyi, heavily drunk, pushed past both of them and also hurried outside.
You Ran watched the three of them with disdain, covering her eyes and turning away. She hooked an arm around Liu Jiaojiao and guided her back inside. “Don’t look. It’s too hard on the eyes.”
“But we haven’t investigated the case yet,” Liu Jiaojiao said, far more sober than the others.
You Ran felt genuine admiration for her and patted her shoulder. “Registrar Liu, your dedication to work is truly commendable. Why don’t you go handle the tasks Wen Shaoqing assigned?”
“Right, right! I almost forgot. I need to spread rumors while I’m still drunk.” Liu Jiaojiao hurried out but stopped abruptly, turning back to bow deeply toward You Ran with a solemn salute.
“Thank you for reminding me, Officer You.”
You Ran was taken aback, staring at her helplessly. To think someone so upright existed around Wen Shaoqing?
Liu Jiaojiao, looking thoroughly hungover, stepped outside and immediately ordered the Dali Temple officers, “Prepare the carriage and horses. We’ll escort the Yan Kingdom’s Crown Prince out of the city first thing tomorrow morning.”
She chuckled drunkenly, swaying as she walked out of Dali Temple, mumbling happily, “The Crown Prince’s carriage must be grand!”
Thanks to Miao Shiyi spreading rumors among the commoners the previous day claiming the person who died was merely a stand-in for the Yan Kingdom’s Crown Prince, and that the real Crown Prince was under Wen Shaoqing’s protection coupled with Wen Ningwan’s lavish birthday celebration and her day-and-night drinking spree with the Crown Prince’s guards, the public found the rumors all the more believable.
Now, with Liu Jiaojiao drunkenly leaving the Dali Temple to arrange the carriage and horses, the plan to send the Yan Kingdom’s crown prince back tomorrow became even more convincing.
Wen Ningwan slept soundly in her room and woke up early the next morning. Seeing Yu Wenshu’s livid face in the courtyard, she instantly felt more alert. Stretching lazily, she crooked a finger at Miao Shiyi. “Let’s begin.”
Miao Shiyi retrieved a worm from a fist-sized bamboo bottle she always carried at her waist.
Yuwen Shu asked, “What is this for?”
You Ran looked shocked. “Miaojiang witchcraft!”
“Correct. But this is a worm, a gu worm. Although it’s being used on the Assistant Minister, it alters the perception of others. The worm changes your vision, making the Assistant Minister appear as the crown prince in your eyes.”
As she spoke, she softly chanted the witchcraft incantation. You Ran and Yuwen Shu exchanged a glance, their jaws dropping in astonishment. In their eyes, Wen Ningwan now looked exactly like the crown prince.
“You Ran, did you borrow people from the State Preceptor’s residence?” Wen Ningwan asked.
You Ran snapped out of her daze and nodded woodenly. “The State Preceptor agreed immediately when he heard you needed them.”
“Thank you. Having the State Preceptor’s people escort us will make it more convincing.” Wen Ningwan glanced down at her clothes, then gave Yuwen Shu an apologetic look. “I’ll also need to borrow the crown prince’s attire.”
Tears welled in Yu Wenshu’s eyes as the person before her seemed to bring her crown prince back to life. She nodded numbly and instinctively said, “Your Highness, please.”
Wen Ningwan paused for a moment, observing Yu Wenshu’s joyful expression, but chose not to correct her.
Under everyone’s gaze, Wen Ningwan walked step by step toward the carriage prepared outside the Dali Temple. The commoners waiting outside to see if it was truly the Yan Kingdom’s crown prince watched the heavily escorted Wen Ningwan and were utterly convinced.
Miao Shiyi pulled Wen Ningwan aside as she was about to board the carriage and whispered in her ear, “This worm technique only lasts for an hour. You must hurry.”
Wen Ningwan stared at her in surprise. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?!”
Yuwen Shu shielded her and urgently urged her into the carriage. The procession, escorted by Yu Wenshu, You Ran, and about twenty elite guards from the State Preceptor’s residence, moved forward as onlookers lined the streets, buzzing with discussion.
Assistant Minister Wen is truly remarkable! It’s as if she foresaw everything, hiding the crown prince early on to prevent the villains from succeeding!
Inside the carriage, Wen Ningwan felt her heart sink. An hour would only get them just beyond the city gates. Would the murderer risk showing up?
＊
You Qi rushed into the study. “Something’s wrong! Assistant Minister Wen is using herself as bait to lure out the murderer.”
“What?” The State Preceptor looked up from his desk.
“You Ran sent word that Miao Shiyi, Assistant Minister Wen’s personal clerk, used a worm technique to alter the Assistant Minister’s appearance, making her look like the Yan Kingdom’s crown prince. She plans to use herself to draw out the murderer and capture the culprit alive.”
“Miaojiang witchcraft?!” The State Preceptor stood up immediately.
“Exactly. With the publicity over the past two days and the addition of the gu technique, the other party is sure to be convinced. Moreover, with You Ran leading the escort, the murderer will likely strike near or even within the capital. If Assistant Minister Wen fails, the State Preceptor’s residence will inevitably be implicated.”
The State Preceptor’s eyes narrowed. You Qi added anxiously, “I examined the wounds on the crown prince’s body. They closely resemble the work of that assassin, Mu Xiu, who has never failed before.”
The State Preceptor frowned, strode out angrily, and snorted coldly. “This Wen Ningwan! So reckless! Once we capture her this time, she will not be let off lightly!”