Zhu Gui’s eyes bulged wide in shock, and he could not draw another breath.
His body went rigid and collapsed straight to the ground, dead before his time, never knowing what had killed him.
Su Hua looked coldly at the corpse without the slightest reaction. Zhu Gui and Zhu Shi were cut from the same cloth—always oppressive and humiliating toward the original lady of the mansion.
During his management of Jisheng Herbal Shop, he embezzled funds and oppressed the shop’s staff. Now he even colluded with outsiders to threaten her.
He wanted to die? She was only too willing to grant him that wish.
Zhou Xun watched Zhu Gui suddenly bleed from his orifices and drop dead before him, utterly helpless.
Though Zhu Gui had been insignificant to him, merely a tool to extort money, Zhou Xun had granted him some respect for the sake of the Chancellor’s wife. Yet Zhu Gui’s death before his eyes was something he could not tolerate.
Especially since Zhu Gui had died while speaking with Su Hua. He could not believe she had such power—but the evidence was undeniable: Zhu Gui was truly dead.
Zhou Xun did not know the inner workings of the Chancellor’s mansion well, but through the Jisheng Herbal Shop he understood one thing: Su Hua was a thorn in the side of the Chancellor’s wife, and Zhu Gui was her brother. Now, with Su Hua involved, Zhou Xun saw an opportunity.
If he helped the Chancellor’s wife eliminate Su Hua, Zhu Gui’s death would not bring her wrath upon him; instead, he could even deepen his ties with her.
Fuming, Zhou Xun glared at Su Hua and shouted, “You dare commit murder in the Yaowang Pavilion, killing the Chancellor’s wife’s brother?”
As his voice fell, the guards inside the first floor of the Yaowang Pavilion, along with the royal soldiers assigned to protect the pavilion, moved swiftly. In an instant, they surrounded the area completely.
All guests entering or exiting the pavilion were barred. A death had occurred inside the Yaowang Pavilion—such a disturbance drew the attention of everyone present.
Zhou Xun barked sharply, “What are you all staring at? Seize her!”
Yun Shuang, emboldened, shouted, “How dare you! My mistress is the eldest daughter of the Chancellor’s household and the future Princess of Ning. How dare you act rashly!”
Master Song, standing nearby, was stunned. He could never have imagined that a simple meeting with Zhu Gui would result in his instant death. He had no clue how Su Hua had done it, but it was clear: Zhu Gui’s death was the work of his young mistress.
Murmurs rose among the onlookers:
“So she is really the Chancellor’s legitimate daughter… her looks are not at all as terrible as the rumors said.”
“Indeed, she has the refined beauty of a lotus emerging from water. If Su Hua had appeared earlier, people wouldn’t have said such things. Everyone thought she was that plain girl.”
Another voice: “The rumors were wrong… but now is not the time to discuss appearances. The steward of the Yaowang Pavilion claims this young lady killed the man on the floor.”
“Look, Su Hua was just talking to him, no contact at all. That man bled from every orifice and dropped dead—how could a young lady cause this?”
“Exactly. This is the Yaowang Pavilion, isn’t it? A place famed for medical masters even more powerful than the imperial hospital. Why not verify it? The steward seems to be exaggerating, framing a girl for murder.”
Hearing this chatter, Zhou Xun’s face darkened. He glared at Su Hua and ordered the guards, “Take action! I take full responsibility!”
The guards, both pavilion and royal, had hesitated before. Now, hearing Zhou Xun’s command, they merely followed orders.
Master Song and Yun Shuang were also slightly alarmed, but they stayed close to Su Hua, protecting her.
Su Hua signaled them to step back, remaining calm, her voice cold: “Little steward, I’m afraid you cannot bear this responsibility.”
Zhou Xun’s brows knitted. He was the steward of the Yaowang Pavilion. A mere unacknowledged daughter of the Chancellor’s house, a girl not even of age, dared to look down on him. “Seize her!” he roared.
“Who dares touch her!”
From the crowd came a clear, commanding voice that cut through the noise. Everyone turned to see a man in a wheelchair. All present bowed respectfully.
“Your Highness, the Prince of Ning.”
Zhou Xun bowed as well, surprised. How did the normally incapacitated Ning Wang appear at the Yaowang Pavilion? This complicated matters immensely.
Su Hua met the man in the wheelchair, who was slowly pushed to stand before her.
At this display, no one dared act. Ning Wang, though physically disabled and not favored by the emperor, was still a prince—his status commanded respect.
Being in this unfamiliar world, Su Hua realized that the title of future Princess of Ning carried certain weight here. Still, she could tell Ning Wang’s presence was no coincidence.
She bowed slightly, saying, “Your Highness, Prince of Ning.”
“No need for formalities, Miss Su,” he said, motioning for all present to drop their bows.
Su Hua met Ning Wang’s gaze but sensed something off, though she could not articulate it.
At the same time, a solemn elder approached.
Zhou Xun, seeing him, was even more deferential. “Elder Liu Feng.”
Su Hua refocused. The elder, dressed in Yaowang Pavilion robes, clearly outranked Zhou Xun.
Ning Wang spoke: “The Yaowang Pavilion has nine floors. Except the ninth, all are open. Each floor is better than the one below, and each has a Guardian Elder. These elders are highly respected and act fairly.”
Su Hua smiled. “Thank you for the information, Your Highness.”
Liu Feng said humbly, “You overpraise me, Prince Ning. I am trusted by the Pavilion Master to bear responsibility. The reputation of the Yaowang Pavilion across the Tianlan Continent must never be harmed.”
He fixed his gaze on Su Hua. “Murder inside the Pavilion will not be tolerated. Regardless of your identity, you will be punished.”
Zhou Xun tried to embellish, “Elder Liu, this Miss Su is extremely arrogant, ignoring even the guards…”
Yun Shuang shouted, “You twist the truth! Before checking the facts, you tried to harm my mistress!”
Liu Feng’s eyes turned cold as he looked at Zhou Xun. “Is this true?”
Zhou Xun evaded the question, saying, “Elder Liu, look at the corpse—does this look like a natural death? Just now, that person was only talking with…”
Liu Feng strode to the body, cutting him off: “How can you speak without verification? Do you take the reputation of the Yaowang Pavilion lightly?”
Zhou Xun stammered, “Elder Liu, I merely…”
Liu Feng glared, “Silence!” He squatted to examine the body personally.