She tasted each dish. The flavor was quite good.
"After eating plain food for so long, even stir-fried pork tastes especially delicious."
Lady Yan said indifferently, "You love at. From now on, I’ll make it for you every al."
ng Qianqian sighed and glanced at the dishes on the table. "Which dish haven’t I tried yet? Is it the stir-fried dried bamboo shoots with shredded pork?"
She picked up a bite with her chopsticks. "No poison here either."
"Pickled radish?"
After tasting all the dishes, her gaze fell on the wine pot on the table.
"There’s wine here."
She picked up the wine pot and sniffed it. "Green plum wine. Let honor everyone with the first toast."
"Put it down."
Lady Yan spoke.
ng Qianqian raised an eyebrow and held the pot out to her, pouring a cup for her. "Master, would you like a drink?"
Lady Yan didn’t reply and continued eating.
Until the servants ca to clear the dishes, that cup of wine remained untouched.
ng Qianqian touched her chin. So, is there really sothing wrong with the wine?
After the al, ng Qianqian took a basket and walked outside.
Lady Yan said casually, "No need to dry the dicinal herbs today."
ng Qianqian looked at her in surprise. "I’m allowed to rest?"
Lady Yan turned and walked away. "Co over and copy so books instead."
ng Qianqian’s face darkened.
-
Mingxin Hall was where Gongsun Yanming handled official duties.
The glow of the setting sun filtered through the mottled leaves, scattering light across the courtyard.
Shang Wuyou learned that Gongsun Liuying ran into trouble, so he went to visit her, but was stopped outside by Xiao Rong’er. He decided to find his father instead to ask about his elder sister’s situation.
Today, Mingxin Hall lacked servants on duty, rendering it eerily quiet.
It was strange—the Thousand chanism Pavilion in the Imperial City was arranged just like the one at Lingshan, yet sothing felt distinctly out of place.
He walked through the corridor and found his father’s study.
The door was slightly ajar. Just as he raised his hand to knock, he heard voices inside.
"Elder Brother, Mr. Zimu entered the palace today. He must be capitalizing on Liuying losing her Phoenix Girl Destiny, looking for an opportunity to pull Lu Qi down as well. Luckily, Elder Brother foresaw this and didn’t let him et Your Majesty. But if this drags on, it won’t help us. If Yan Hanshuang can’t carry out her task and more ti is wasted, the longer it goes, the worse it will be for us. Liuying’s life is also in constant danger."
"In my opinion, why not go along with their plans and tell Your Majesty that Yan Xiaojiu stole Liuying’s destiny?"
"Mr. Zimu is a disciple of Witch Mountain and surely knows Witch Mountain’s Forbidden Techniques. As long as we pin this cri on him, all problems will be resolved effortlessly."
"To deceive the emperor is a cri punishable by death. When the ti cos, we won’t even need to act. Your Majesty will naturally execute Yan Xiaojiu, and Mr. Zimu and the Crown Prince Mansion will completely lose Your Majesty’s trust."
Outside the door, Shang Wuyou’s face shifted in expression.
He couldn’t make out what the two said next.
When he ca to his senses, he had already left Mingxin Hall.
All of ng Qianqian’s complaints about the Thousand chanism Pavilion paled in comparison to the intrigue he overheard today.
Was this still the honest and kind Second Uncle he knew?
The sa Second-in-Command of the Thousand chanism Pavilion who taught him to uphold justice, maintain a chivalrous heart, and never bully the weak?
"Wuyou, why do we practice martial arts?"
"To be the best in the world!"
"Wrong. Martial arts are for building strength, protecting family, and glorifying the sect."
"Then can I fight people I don’t like?"
"Haha. If they’ve done wrong, you can teach them a lesson. But rember, your fists should never be used to bully the weak."
Shang Wuyou felt as though sothing within him had started to crumble loudly.
If his Second Uncle was like this, then what of his father?
Despite getting closer to ng Qianqian in recent days, deep down he still felt that the acts of evil weren’t committed by his father. Perhaps soone had simply impersonated him to commit unrighteous deeds.
But earlier, his father’s silence—was it disagreent that kept him from speaking, or tacit approval of Second Uncle’s plans?
Shang Wuyou’s mind was a chaotic ss.
He stumbled his way into Elder Yan’s courtyard.
Shang Wuyou clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and resolutely stepped inside.
He pushed open her door.
Night had long since fallen, and the room was dimly lit. She sat quietly by the window, lost in thought.
Shang Wuyou stepped toward her, grabbed her hand abruptly, and began pulling her outside. "You can’t stay in the Thousand chanism Pavilion any longer. My father and Second Uncle want to kill you!"
"Who did you say your father wants to kill?"
A familiar voice suddenly rang out.
Shang Wuyou’s hair stood on end, his steps faltered, and he turned around in disbelief. "Second... Second Sister?"
He instantly let go of her hand and looked toward the side corridor.
There, Xiao Rong’er approached slowly with Hong Xiu, erging from the darkness of the night.
Gongsun Ziyu said coldly, "I knew it—you ungrateful white-eyed wolf had already colluded with that little girl!"
Xiao Rong’er walked up to Shang Wuyou, sighed as she glanced at him, and said, "Wuyou, oh, Wuyou. Why did you betray the Thousand chanism Pavilion?"
Several disciples dressed in night clothes appeared, encircling Shang Wuyou completely.
In the Thousand chanism Pavilion, wearing night clothes indicated these actions were carried out behind the Pavilion Master’s back.
Shang Wuyou said firmly, "I want to see my father."
Xiao Rong’er replied with an air of calm. "You won’t have that chance. You barged into Elder Yan’s courtyard intending to avenge your elder sister, but ended up being killed by that girl."
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