"What?!" Huangfu Lan was extremely surprised and took a step back in horror. "You, you're insane!"
"Heh, what's the point of being crazy now that it's already done!" Huangfu Ting sneered, propping himself up and grabbing Huangfu Lan's neck with his other hand. "Let me tell you, if you tell anyone about this, I'll kill you!"
"I, Second Brother, your affairs are no longer my concern!" She hadn't even settled accounts with him for what happened last time! In any case, she couldn't help him with anything anymore! Thinking of this, Huangfu Lan suddenly remembered the medicine Yiyun Shangcheng had given her that day. Could her current itching all over her body be due to that medicine? She hadn't paid much attention to it, thinking that nothing would happen after so much time had passed, and Yiyun Shangcheng hadn't contacted her for missions since then, so she assumed they had no further connection!
But now that I think about it, this seems to be the only explanation!
Huangfu Ting noticed her wandering thoughts and felt a pang of displeasure. "What are you thinking about?"
"Let me go! What do you want to do? I'll do it for you, and then you can let me go right away!" Huangfu Lan didn't waste any more words with him. She needed to find Yiyun Upper City as soon as possible and see what was going on!
"Help me back!" Huangfu Ting was slightly relieved when he saw that she complied.
The two vaguely made their way to Huangfu Ting's palace. At that moment, a person slowly emerged from the shadows. After cautiously checking that no one was around, the person quickly disappeared into the darkness.
Huangfu Xuan was still reading letters in his study. Perhaps he was tired, so he looked up and stretched. But when he looked at the study door, he felt a moment of disorientation. He seemed to see Ma Ruyi nervously carrying in the lotus seed soup.
"Put it down," Huangfu Xuan couldn't help but say.
She had barely finished speaking when she realized how lost she had been. Huangfu Xuan sighed softly, flipped open a troop deployment map, and remembered what she had said earlier, “This is a troop deployment map? I feel it’s too simple. It should be more complex to prevent the enemy from invading.”
Heh! Huangfu Xuan chuckled silently, "How utterly naive! No general would manage an army so simply! Just think about it, it's obvious I'm just fooling you, deliberately letting you see this!"
Huangfu Xuan closed the troop deployment map and was about to get up when he heard a few footsteps outside.
Is it her? Huangfu Xuan looked at the study door. "Come in."
The person who came opened the door was his own guard and a young eunuch.
Huangfu Xuan recognized Xiao Xizi, whom he had arranged to be in the palace.
It wasn't her.
A hint of disappointment flashed in Huangfu Xuan's eyes, then he waved his hand. "What is it?"
Xiao Xizi immediately stepped forward, bowed, and the guard wisely withdrew and closed the study door.
"Reporting to the Third Prince..." Xiao Xizi recounted what he had just seen deep in the corridor.
Huangfu Xuan's eyes were deep. Feng Rulin had long been killed by Nan Xuzong, but now it was said that Huangfu Ting killed him. Needless to say, this must have been Nan Xuzong's scheme.
"You may leave!" Huangfu Xuan said. "Hold your troops still and keep a close watch on the situation! Report to me immediately if there is any disturbance!"
"Yes." Xiao Xizi respectfully withdrew.
Huangfu Xuan stood up and looked at the night sky. It was getting dark so easily!
He moved his legs, then pushed open the door and walked towards a room.
I wonder if she's feeling any better now. I've already had many imperial physicians examine her these past few days, and I've also asked Nan Xuzong for help... But what should I do about her bone-corroding poison? Can I really bear to watch her disappear before my eyes?
No, I absolutely do not want this outcome!
Thinking of this, Huangfu Xuan quickened his pace. He had seen her at noon, and her complexion was much better, which put his mind at ease.
The two guards standing outside the door immediately bowed to Huangfu Xuan, saying, "Third Prince."
Huangfu Xuan ignored them, pushed open the door with a cold expression, went inside, and closed the door.
This is his territory; he can do whatever he wants here!
But when they went inside, they found no one on the bed!
Huangfu Xuan was stunned. Damn it! He quickly looked around and saw the window was open. Huangfu Xuan immediately jumped onto the windowsill and, following her footsteps, began searching!
"Guards! The Third Princess Consort has run away! Bring her back to me!" Huangfu Xuan was furious! Didn't she trust him? Didn't she understand his heart? Was she going to avoid him?
Instantly, all the guards began searching.
Huangfu Xuan's cold eyes swept around, he wished he could burn everything down so she would have nowhere to escape!
"Ma Ruyi, I don't believe you can be so heartless!" Huangfu Xuan sneered, watching the guards searching tirelessly, and shouted, "If it's not in the manor, search the entire capital! Seal off the capital!"
"yes!"
Huangfu Xuan's eyes blazed with fury. This woman actually didn't believe him? He leaped out of the palace and headed straight for General Ma's residence. He'd see how her father would explain himself!
But it's actually quite embarrassing that I couldn't even keep a woman by my side! So infuriating!
"Fine, I won't go to General Ma's mansion. I'll look for it myself first!" Huangfu Xuan stopped in his tracks and then walked back to his own residence.
Thinking about it, she's just a woman... but, that's her... Huangfu Xuan's mind was in turmoil, and his temper became even worse. With his wine-red hair on his head, he looked like a lion ready to rage at any moment!
Nan Xuzong looked down at Ji Wushang nestled in his arms, and as he listened to her talk about how worried she was when she saw Huangfu Ting kill her while she was impersonating Feng Rulin, a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
How wonderful it is that she is worried about herself!
"I'll be fine, so don't worry!" Nan Xuzong smiled and hugged her. "Your husband is pretty amazing!"
"You think you're so great, huh!" Ji Wushang said reproachfully, snuggling into his arms. "But I'm worried, I'm just worried."
"Don't worry, it's okay." Nan Xuzong smiled.
The carriage carrying the two entered the Prince of Jin's residence, which was still brightly lit. Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong alighted from the carriage, wondering what was going on, but before they could ask, several maids rushed up and knelt on the ground, "Fourth Prince, Fourth Princess, you've finally returned!"
"What's wrong?" Ji Wushang stepped forward. "Get up! Has something happened at the manor?" Could it be that Ji Sisi was stung by a scorpion and poisoned, and asked him and Nan Xuzong to come and check on her? Or was she frightened and is putting on an act?
"Fourth Prince, Wu Shang!" At this moment, Madam Qin entered, supported by Zhu Cui and a nanny.
Ji Wushang stepped forward and asked, "Mother, what's wrong? Why aren't you resting so late?" She helped Madam Qin up and said, "The Fourth Prince and I will go to see Grandmother later. We bought some precious medicinal herbs for Grandmother to take so she can recover faster. I also bought some tonics to nourish the fetus for Mother and Sister-in-law." All her words were so natural and logical.
"You're so filial! Did you go to a very far place to buy medicine?" Madam Qin looked at Nan Xuzong, and then at Ji Wushang.
"Yes." Nan Xuzong stepped forward and placed his hand on Ji Wushang's shoulder. His gaze was slightly cold, and he looked at everyone with an air of looking down on the world.
Ji Wushang nodded.
"Alas, Fifth Miss is gone." Madam Qin said, a tear welling in her eye. "I... I don't know how to explain this to your father!"
"What?" Ji Wushang frowned. "Mother, you're not joking, are you?"
"How could I dare to joke like that!" Madam Qin's face was not good. She recounted what had happened that afternoon, and finally said, "Alas, there was nothing I could do! After burning it, I ordered people to bury it in the ancestral graves and then sealed off Juyuan Garden."
Ji Wushang was stunned for a moment, "How could such a thing happen? Where did those poisonous scorpions come from?"
"I don't know either. Now that it's burned, there's no evidence to investigate!" Madam Qin sighed. "I don't know anything to tell the old lady and your father."
"Let's just tell the truth! Mother had no choice but to burn everything, otherwise the consequences would have been dire!" Ji Wushang comforted Madam Qin.
Madam Qin sighed, "I was originally thinking of asking you to come and see if there was any hope for Fifth Miss, but I couldn't find you. Alas!"
"It was our fault." Ji Wushang lowered his head. "Mother, please accept my condolences."
"That's enough, what's done is done, there's nothing we can do about it!"
"Oh, Mother, you must take care of yourself," Ji Wushang said.
Nodding, then waving her hand, "Everyone, disperse! It's late, go to sleep!" Madam Qin shook her head, "Wu Shang, would you mind helping your mother back?"
"Yes." Ji Wushang turned to look at Nan Xuzong, who nodded.
The maids and nannies watched as Ji Wushang slowly followed behind the two of them, supporting Madam Qin as they strolled leisurely towards the West Garden.
"Mother, is there something you want to tell me? If so, please speak freely!" Ji Wushang said. Ji Sisi's death was one thing, but hearing that she had been scorpions burrowing into her seven orifices—such pain was truly torturous. He had only asked someone to put the scorpions on her bed to scare her, so how did it turn out like this? Had he applied something to her body? Or used some incense? Otherwise, the scorpions wouldn't have kept burrowing into her body as Madam Qin had said!
Is this a case of overreaching and backfiring, or is it an inevitable outcome?
"Wu Shang, I... I feel that the death of the Fifth Miss is just the beginning. I'm afraid I'll be the next one to die!" Madam Qin stopped walking and looked at Ji Wu Shang, holding her somewhat cold hand. "I'm still pregnant and don't want to die like this!"
"Mother, what are you saying?" Ji Wushang frowned slightly.
Seeing that it wasn't a good place to talk, Madam Qin immediately pulled Ji Wushang into her West Garden, dismissed the maids and nannies who were guarding outside, and went into the inner room with Ji Wushang before speaking.
“The death of the Fifth Miss was not accidental; it must have been deliberately orchestrated!” Madam Qin said immediately, her face showing some tension.
"Why do you think so? Although I also think there must be something fishy about this, could it be that there is a maid in this mansion who wants to ruin her master?" Ji Wushang asked, his eyes widening slightly.
"I don't know who brought the scorpion in. I've already dismissed the people from Juyuan so they can find their own way out and not stay in the mansion waiting to die."
“I understand what you mean, Mother. Do you think someone is going to target the Fifth Miss first, and then transfer the blame to you?” Ji Wushang asked, looking at her expression.
Madam Qin nodded. "A year ago, Aunt Bai tried to kill me, and I lost my child. This still haunts me! But I know that only by fighting and struggling can I gain a foothold in this household! I am fortunate to have received your help, Miss, to become the General's wife! But I don't want to fight anymore. I just want to cherish the peace in this household! But with what happened today, I feel like those days have come again!"
"But if anyone tries to bully me or harm my baby, I will certainly not let them get away with it!" Madam Qin said, her eyes turning slightly cold.
Ji Wushang was taken aback. "Mother means you suspect...Sister-in-law?" Mo Qiqi? No, this matter concerns me, not Mo Qiqi! Fortunately, Madam Qin told me. Otherwise, if I made wild guesses and blamed Mo Qiqi, and then started a secret battle with her, it would be another life-or-death struggle!
They didn't owe him anything in their past lives, and they haven't done anything to wrong him in this life, so Ji Wushang didn't want to let the two of them suspect each other.
"Wu Shang, don't talk nonsense!" Madam Qin said immediately, but her eyes clearly showed that she suspected her!
"Mother, I want to ask, does my sister-in-law know about Fifth Sister's death?" Ji Wushang wasn't afraid to bring it up.
"Yes, I had someone inform her. She was extremely surprised when she heard this, and then she said she wanted to go see the Fifth Miss's burial, but I ordered that she not to go. After all, she has a child now, and as her mother-in-law, I also have to consider her needs!" Madam Qin's face was full of warmth.
Ji Wushang's eyes darkened. Judging from this, Mo Qiqi was likely also wary. Since Madam Qin suspected Mo Qiqi, how could Mo Qiqi not suspect Madam Qin as well? Both of them were pregnant, and coincidentally, Ji Dingbei and Ji Tiankui were not present...
"Mother, don't worry, I don't think my sister-in-law is that kind of person. You should relax; maybe Fifth Sister's death was just a coincidence!" Ji Wushang tried her best to smooth things over. She didn't want Madam Qin and Mo Qiqi to suffer any further harm!
"A coincidence?" Madam Qin was not very convinced.
"I think we shouldn't speculate. Why don't we ask my sister-in-law to discuss it with us and see how things go?" Ji Wushang suggested, believing it would be better for them to communicate than to discuss it here.
"Then, let's give it a try!" Madam Qin said. "I just want things to be peaceful and harmonious in the household!"
Ji Wushang nodded. He was relieved that she thought that way, and he knew he hadn't misjudged her!
But at that moment, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. The maid outside didn't even care that Ji Wushang and Madam Qin were discussing things behind closed doors. She rushed forward and was grabbed by the guards, shouting, "Madam, something terrible has happened! The eldest young mistress has hanged herself!"
☆、277 There is a kind of feeling called helplessness!
Ji Wushang was startled!
He immediately went forward to open the door, saying, "Mom, I'll go take a look first!" He then quickly ran towards the sunflower garden where Mo Qiqi was.
She can't die! Mo Qiqi absolutely cannot die, otherwise, Ji Tiankui will definitely resent Madam Qin from now on, and if Madam Qin has a child, Ji Dingbei will definitely side with Madam Qin. If in the future Ji Dingbei and Ji Tiankui become father and son enemies... then it will be my fault, not theirs!
Ji Wushang rushed to the Sunflower Garden and saw several maids kneeling on the ground crying. Ji Wushang immediately stepped forward and said, "What are you crying for?! Quickly prepare hot water for me and go to the Fragrant Garden to tell the Fourth Prince to come!" After giving the order, Ji Wushang stepped forward.
Mo Qiqi was already lying on the bed, with obvious marks on her neck. Was this woman really so stubborn and desperate? Couldn't she find another way to clear herself of suspicion in Madam Qin's eyes?
After watching Ji Wushang run out, Madam Qin sat there stunned for a moment, then sat down on the stool. What happened?
"Hanging herself..." She had misunderstood her! She knew she suspected her, so she chose to hang herself to prove her innocence? Madam Qin's face turned pale. At this moment, Zhu Cui and several maids and nannies stood to the side, watching her closely. This was Ji Wushang's intention, fearing that Madam Qin might not be able to accept it!