The guard immediately added, “Your Highness, it’s Miss Mo Yunzhu from the General’s Manor—the future Princess Consort.”
Lan Wang coughed for a long while, his handsome face alternating between pallor and flush before he finally spoke in a low voice, “Why has she come?”
“Master, your poison…” Haojiang looked at Lan Wang with deep concern, but seeing Jun Huolan’s stern gaze, he could only quickly say, “Miss Mo must have received the imperial decree as well and has come to see Your Highness?”
“Invite her in.” Jun Huolan dismissed the guard, then turned to Haojiang. “Haojiang, compared to certain matters, what is my health worth? You know what I fear most.”
Haojiang’s expression grew even more pained and sorrowful, and he could only nod silently.
“That day, I felt Mo Yunzhu was somewhat different from the rumors,” Jun Huolan changed the subject.
“Different?” Haojiang asked, surprised.
“I have a feeling she isn’t the simple-minded woman described in the rumors. Could the information you gathered be wrong?”
“Master, how could it be wrong? Our people have thoroughly investigated Miss Mo’s upbringing. She is lively and active, enjoys martial arts, dislikes refined arts, and has been doted on since childhood. Though somewhat spoiled, her mind is simple and innocent. Otherwise, how could she have been so easily framed this time?”
Jun Huolan pondered for a moment before nodding.
Yet, when he recalled Mo Yunzhu’s sharp gaze that day, her calm demonstration of the poisoned silver needle to prove her innocence, and the cold glance she cast his way, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.
“Stoke the incense burner a bit more. I fear the scent of rouge,” Jun Huolan instructed, then lay back on the soft couch, coughing.
What Mo Yunzhu saw upon entering was the image of a sickly yet beautiful man reclining.
Before her, Jun Huolan wore a loosely draped white silk sleeping robe with subtle patterns, revealing a patch of jade-white skin at the collar.
His waist-length black hair cascaded lazily, framing a face of unparalleled beauty, pale yet tinged with a faint sorrow.
His deep purple lips were strikingly captivating, exuding a seductive charm that stirred an almost irresistible urge to indulge.
Mo Yunzhu couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. The moment Lan Wang had appeared that day, everyone had been awestruck, and the title of Qingyun’s foremost sickly beauty had already spread.
“Please take a seat, Miss Mo,” Haojiang promptly said courteously to Mo Yunzhu.
“Cough, cough… Miss Mo, have you received the imperial decree?” Jun Huolan’s eyes shifted toward her, his gaze flickering with hidden thoughts.
Today’s Mo Yunzhu was not as haggard, sorrowful, or dispirited as they had imagined.
Instead, her face glowed with a soft radiance, her skin like congealed cream, her lips as if painted with vermilion, bright and captivating.
Her phoenix eyes were lively yet sharp, adorned only with a single jade hairpin. Her dark hair flowed freely, with two strands falling beside her cheeks, lending her a delicate feminine charm.
She wore a set of beige embroidered martial attire, a small pouch at her waist adding a touch of heroic spirit.
Remarkably, there was no scent of rouge on her!
“Yunzhu pays her respects to Lan Wang. Indeed, I have come upon receiving the imperial decree. May I ask if Lan Wang is satisfied with this marriage?” Mo Yunzhu first bowed slightly, then sat down and got straight to the point.
Jun Huolan frowned slightly before replying, “Does Miss Mo believe I have the power to resist?”
“If Lan Wang is unwilling, Yunzhu is willing to seek an audience with The Emperor and beg for the annulment of the marriage,” Mo Yunzhu said immediately.
“Cough, cough, cough. Does Miss Mo think that after such an incident, with the whole city knowing, you still have a better choice?” Jun Huolan hadn’t expected Mo Yunzhu to say this.
Did she truly not care at all about her reputation and future?
“It seems not, but Yunzhu could also choose never to marry. After all, Yunzhu wouldn’t want such a dazzlingly handsome man as Lan Wang to suffer too much grievance.”
Mo Yunzhu grinned, carrying a hint of mischief that neither man could decipher.
“Cough, cough, cough. In my current state, how could I suffer grievance? Being able to marry Miss Mo is my fortune. I only fear it would be a grievance for Miss Mo.” With each cough, Jun Huolan’s breath grew unsteady. He absolutely had to marry her!
“Hehehe.” Mo Yunzhu laughed delicately, then immediately continued, “Indeed, I would indeed be aggrieved! Your Highness’s health is too poor; you likely cannot provide Yunzhu with marital happiness. The Emperor would surely agree to annul the marriage decree. However, Yunzhu believes her medical skills are quite good. If I could help Lan Wang recover, then it wouldn’t be a grievance.”
Mo Yunzhu stood up directly and walked to the soft couch.
Haojiang was stunned. Was Miss Mo speaking so bluntly? Marital happiness? What was he hearing? Was this even a woman?
Jun Huolan’s heart jolted. He hadn’t expected to fall into the trap Mo Yunzhu had dug.
Rumors truly were unreliable!
The legitimate daughter of Da Jiangjun Fu was no simple character!
From the very beginning, their information had been wrong.
Jun Huolan’s mind raced, then his expression turned resentful, and he spoke weakly, “It seems Miss Mo is very dissatisfied with me.”
As soon as his words fell, Mo Yunzhu suddenly reached out and pressed her fingers against his wrist. Jun Huolan was greatly startled and wanted to move, but remembering his severe illness, how could he?
Haojiang exclaimed, “Miss Mo!”
“What’s the matter? I’m not trying to kill the Prince, merely checking his pulse. Why the panic? Could it be that the Prince’s illness is fake?”
“Cough, cough, cough…” Jun Huolan instantly coughed until he was gasping for breath, then with a pfft, a mouthful of blood spilled out.
“Your Highness!” Haojiang’s face immediately changed drastically. He cried out, then looked at Mo Yunzhu with anger and said, “Miss Mo, the Prince is truly gravely ill; this is no joke. I must ask Miss Mo to leave at once.”
Mo Yunzhu’s hand still held Jun Huolan’s pulse, her eyes fixed on his beautiful pair of eyes.
These dark eyes, though beautiful enough to easily draw in one’s soul, were far too profound and shadowy, hiding not just eight hundred schemes.
“What’s the hurry? I said I understand medicine!” Mo Yunzhu sat on the edge of the soft couch, not the least bit embarrassed.
“Your Highness, you are deeply poisoned. An ordinary person would be dead. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Fortunately, Your Highness’s Neili is profound and can still suppress it. However, given the virulence of this poison, I’m afraid Your Highness doesn’t have long to live. And you still think of marrying me? Wouldn’t I become a widow very soon?”
Mo Yunzhu finally released his hand and stood up, her phoenix eyes looking mockingly at the sickly handsome man.
Haojiang’s face instantly paled. He suddenly struck out, aiming a palm strike at Mo Yunzhu’s back.
Mo Yunzhu simply leaned her body forward, then spun around, her long hair flowing like an ink lotus blooming. By the time the movement stopped, her dagger was already pressed against Haojiang’s neck, right over his artery.
The sudden change was too fast, and its conclusion even faster. Jun Huolan wanted to intervene but was already too late. His inner shock was unparalleled.
“Swish, swish.” In an instant, two more Anwei dressed in black from head to toe appeared in the room, holding knives and staring at Mo Yunzhu as if she were prey.
Mo Yunzhu chuckled softly, and with a slight movement of her dagger, a line of blood immediately trickled down Haojiang’s neck.
“Stand down,” Jun Huolan commanded in a low voice. The two Anwei quickly vanished, and his eyes, filled with a cold, frosty gleam, fixed intently on Mo Yunzhu.
“Lan Wang, you’ve ruined my reputation. Isn’t it only fair that I collect a little interest?” Mo Yunzhu sneered with a wicked smile, her entire aura dark and menacing.
At that moment, Haojiang felt that Miss Mo’s aura was actually identical to his master’s.
He truly wished he could twist off his own head—what kind of information had he gathered about Miss Mo? It wasn’t just a little off; it was completely and utterly wrong!