Xing Moyuan desperately wanted to see the face of the woman who had spoken, but the potency of the drug was too strong. He only managed to remember Yin Youyue’s retreating figure before slipping back into unconsciousness.
At this moment, Bai Ruyan was momentarily speechless, rendered silent by the shock.
In contrast, Liu Xinrou put on a deeply wounded expression as she accused Yin Youyue:
“Eldest cousin, how can you say such things? Where does that leave my father and mother?”
Liu Xinrou wiped away nonexistent tears and continued:
“Aunt sent you here so that Mother could properly teach you self-cultivation and moral discipline. By acting like this, how are Father and Mother supposed to answer to the Duke’s household? Moreover, you are still betrothed to the Crown Prince. To commit such an unspeakable act here in the Liu family—if His Highness were to take offense, wouldn’t that bring disaster upon our entire household?”
Upon hearing this, the surrounding servants all turned condemning gazes toward Yin Youyue.
The Second Young Miss had been so kind to Yin Youyue, yielding to her at every turn and even risking her own reputation to take her out to socialize and make friends. Yet not only did Yin Youyue show no gratitude, she had the audacity to commit such a shameless act, causing the Second Young Miss such heartache.
Seeing Liu Xinrou’s hypocritical display, Yin Youyue curled her lips into a mocking smile:
“I’m merely saying… taking a male consort is hardly a matter for concern. Even if the Crown Prince himself were to come here, he wouldn’t have the right to interfere in such affairs, would he?”
Liu Xinrou could hardly believe her ears. How could Yin Youyue utter such brazen and shameless words!
Bai Ruyan’s face darkened as she scrutinized Yin Youyue:
“Youyue! Which male consort you choose to be with is beyond the Liu family’s control. However, you are due to return to the Duke’s household in six months. Now that this disgraceful incident has occurred, for the sake of both your reputation and that of the Liu family, as the mistress of this household, I must handle this matter properly! Guards, take Youyue and lock her in the ancestral hall. As for that adulterous man, beat him to death with clubs!”
Several matrons, who had been itching to act, immediately rolled up their sleeves and stepped forward, roughly reaching out to seize Yin Youyue.
A cold glint flashed in Yin Youyue’s eyes. The original host’s body was already ill; if she were confined to the damp, chilly ancestral hall for half a month, her condition would likely worsen. With the scarcity of effective medicine in ancient times, she might even die from the illness!
As realization dawned on her, Yin Youyue’s gaze turned icy. Was Bai Ruyan’s true intention to have her die from illness?!
When the original host first arrived, she had genuinely believed her uncle and aunt were kind to her. Little did she know they had deliberately made her the fool at every turn, crafting a reputation for her as willful, arrogant, foolish, ignorant, and shameless.
She did not know why Bai Ruyan had treated the original host this way, but she, Yin Youyue—a hidden genius Mystic Physician from the 21st century—would never allow herself to be manipulated.
Moving with lightning speed, she formed her hand into a claw, accurately seizing the matron’s wrist and twisting it forcefully. The matron’s hand immediately dislocated.
“Ah! My hand, my hand!”
The matron screamed in agony, instantly subdued by Yin Youyue and too afraid to move.
Bai Ruyan and Liu Xinrou were utterly astonished. How dare Yin Youyue resort to violence!
Bai Ruyan fumed with rage:
“Youyue, how can you still be so brutish, beating and scolding servants at will? Do you still intend to resist now?!”
“This young lady merely thinks that if taking a male consort warrants confinement in the ancestral hall, then shouldn’t Second Sister, who is already carrying a child out of wedlock, have the bastard beaten out of her according to family law?”
Yin Youyue inwardly scoffed, though her expression remained one of pure innocence. Her medical skills were exceptionally advanced; with a single glance, she could tell that Liu Xinrou was no longer a virgin and was, in fact, one month pregnant!
Carrying a child out of wedlock?
The servants could not hide their surprise as they looked at Liu Xinrou. Had the second young lady been secretly carrying on an affair?!
The scorching gazes around her fell on Liu Xinrou’s face and body, pricking her like needles.
Liu Xinrou nervously twisted her handkerchief, fine beads of sweat forming at her temples.
No, how could it be? Yin Youyue was so foolish. Even if she had deliberately approached the other party, she couldn’t possibly have discovered that she was pregnant!
This idiot must have been speaking recklessly. She needed to stay calm.
Liu Xinrou forced a stiff smile and spoke:
“Cousin, you must be so frightened that you’ve started talking nonsense.”
As she spoke, she slowly approached, signaling the others to step forward and restrain Yin Youyue.
Liu Xinrou’s hand was about to grab Yin Youyue, the disgust in her eyes impossible to conceal.
At that moment, Yin Youyue noticed the maids on both sides suddenly lunging at her. She agilely sidestepped and kicked out.
The maid’s body was struck, causing her to stumble and fall sideways, just as Liu Xinrou was walking over. Liu Xinrou lost her balance and fell to the ground.
“Ah! It hurts!”
A cry of pain rang out. Everyone saw that Liu Xinrou had been knocked down by the maid and was clutching her stomach, moaning in agony:
“It hurts so much~ My stomach hurts. Mother, save my child~~”
Ch-child?!
The servants stared dumbfounded at Liu Xinrou, who was wailing on the ground.
The second young lady really was pregnant!
Bai Ruyan’s face changed drastically. Naturally, she realized what her daughter had done and immediately ordered:
“Hurry up and take away the second young lady who has lost her mind. Youyue, I will report the disgraceful things you’ve done in our Liu family truthfully to the master.”
In the end, Bai Ruyan actually dismissed Liu Xinrou’s plea to save her child as madness. She was indeed ruthless enough.
Yin Youyue coldly watched as Bai Ruyan and the servants hastily carried Liu Xinrou away.
If the original host had heard Bai Ruyan invoke her stern and rigid uncle, she would have been terrified out of her wits. But as a genius Mystic Physician whose skilled hands could determine life and death, it had always been others who feared her!
Yin Youyue walked to the door and closed it expressionlessly.
Just as she was about to enter the inner room, her footsteps suddenly halted. She discovered that the bed was now empty.
On the floor lay only a tattered shirt, the kind worn by filthy beggars.
Where had the man from earlier gone?!
Yin Youyue was greatly astonished. How could someone disappear without her noticing?
Given her skills, there was only one possibility for such a thing to happen: this body was too weak, and her five senses had completely dulled.
Gurgle~~
Suddenly, the abrupt sound of a hungry stomach brought Yin Youyue back to her senses. Clutching her flat belly, she remembered that this body hadn’t eaten all day. She felt herself growing weaker.
She had to hurry to the kitchen to find food and fill her stomach, or she might faint at any moment.
With this thought, Yin Youyue headed in the direction of the kitchen.
…
In Bianhe City, within a hidden inn room.
In the dimly lit room, a man lay unconscious on the bed. A faint light shone on his deep, handsome features, as if gilding them with a golden glow, making him appear even more extraordinary.
Suddenly, his deep, narrow eyes snapped open, and he sat up.
Beside him, a black-clad figure who had been silent all along knelt before Xing Moyuan.
The black-clad figure spoke with fear in his voice, pleading for punishment:
“My lord, this subordinate arrived late to rescue you. I beg for your punishment…”
Xing Moyuan cast a faint glance at the black-clad man on the ground, his aura suddenly shifting as an overwhelming pressure surged around him. Blood trickled from the corner of the black-clad man’s mouth, yet he dared not utter a sound.
At this moment, Xing Moyuan seemed like a deity descending, making it impossible for anyone to lift their head and meet his gaze.
If Yin Youyue had been present, she would never have imagined that the man before her, exuding such immense power, was the same one who had lain unconscious on her bed earlier.
Xing Moyuan’s cool, thin lips parted slightly as he uttered a single word:
“Speak.”
The black-clad man seemed to understand what Xing Moyuan was asking and immediately reported truthfully:
“Bai Ruyan of the Governor’s Mansion received orders from the State Uncle’s wife in the capital to completely ruin Yin Youyue, preventing her from entering the capital in six months to marry the Crown Prince.
Bai Ruyan then devised a plan to drug Yin Youyue, intending to have beggars tarnish her purity so she could be confined to the ancestral hall. While the master was disguised and tracking the Third Prince Jun Wuxian, he originally planned to turn the situation to his advantage after being exposed to the Bewildering Powder. However, when this subordinate was restrained, the master was mistaken for a beggar by the Liu family and taken into Yin Youyue’s room… This subordinate arrived too late and could only seize the opportunity to take the unconscious master away…”
“Hmm, you may leave.”
Xing Moyuan’s voice was utterly indifferent as he slowly withdrew his aura.
Gazing out the window, he recalled that hazy, slender figure and slightly curved his cool yet sensual lips, murmuring to himself:
“A male pet… This is the first time anyone has dared to address this lord as such. How truly amusing.”
The black-clad man, who had just left, thought to himself that the young lady Yin of the Governor’s Mansion was surely doomed. To have dared insult the master in such a manner, the master would undoubtedly take her life!