The servant led the two to a side hall. The hall was simply yet elegantly furnished. Soon, a pretty maidservant came to serve tea. Seeing Yun Yinghuai's handsome appearance, she couldn't help but glance at him a few more times, treating him with great hospitality and a particularly sweet smile. Yun Yinghuai, however, kept his eyes lowered, his face completely calm. Chu Tong, seeing this, secretly chuckled to herself, "That little girl's flirtatious glances are misplaced. Young master, you can only win him over with force, not with subtle hints. In all the world, only someone like me, who knows how to anticipate the situation, can win a beauty's heart." Thinking this, she looked at Yun Yinghuai with a smug smile.
Seeing Chu Tong's eyes shining with laughter, Yun Yinghuai couldn't help but curl his lips, but then composed himself and said, "Prince Ping admires gentle and noble women the most. When you see the prince, you must act dignified and ladylike. Don't talk nonsense or act recklessly."
Chu Tong nodded and smiled, "Of course, I'm very good with those high-ranking officials..." But in her heart, she thought, "What does it matter whether the Prince likes me or not?" However, seeing Yun Yinghuai's brand-new clothes, she immediately realized, "Prince Ping is that Second Madam's old flame, and possibly the young master's father, my father-in-law. That's why the young master specially changed into new clothes today. His instructions to me must be to make a good impression on his father." Thinking of this, Chu Tong felt a sweet warmth in her heart.
After waiting for a moment, footsteps were heard, and then the curtain was lifted and a servant entered, bowing his head respectfully and saying, "His Highness invites Hero Yun to come forward for a chat, and asks Miss Yao to wait here for a moment."
Yun Yinghuai stood up and said to Chu Tong, "I'll go over first, you wait here for a while."
Chu Tong smiled at Yun Yinghuai, squinting her eyes as she said, "Don't worry, I won't wander off anywhere." Yun Yinghuai's expression relaxed, and she turned and walked out.
Chu Tong took a sip of tea, then grabbed a handful of snacks from the table and popped them into her mouth, thinking, "When I see Prince Ping later, I'll try my best to please him, and while I'm at it, I'll see if he and Yun Yinghuai look alike." She felt inexplicably content eating and drinking alone. Suddenly, the curtain was lifted again, and a woman carrying a plate of snacks walked in with her head bowed. Chu Tong glanced at her; the woman had a graceful figure and an elegant demeanor, wearing a red and white satin dress with light gold peony and chrysanthemum patterns, a wide belt embroidered with plum blossoms and branches around her waist, and a red-gold phoenix-tail hairpin and kingfisher feather comb adorning her piled-up hair. Her skirt swayed as she walked, graceful and elegant. Chu Tong thought to herself, "Strange! Strange! This attire doesn't seem like that of a servant, but rather like that of a lady. Could it be that my young master and Prince Ping have recognized each other as father and son, so the prince sent a concubine to serve tea and water to my future daughter-in-law?"
While she was still lost in thought, the woman had already approached with her head down and placed the snacks on the table. Out of curiosity, Chu Tong couldn't help but turn her head to see her face. Just then, she heard two sharp "slaps" as the woman swiftly struck Chu Tong's pressure points. Then, she heard a sinister female voice whisper in her ear, "Yao Chu Tong, how have you been?" As the woman spoke, she raised her face, revealing her stunningly beautiful features. Her exquisite phoenix eyes stared at Chu Tong with a glint of venomous resentment.
Chu Tong was terrified upon seeing her; this person was none other than Lin Ji, the second wife of the Xie family!
Chu Tong was terrified, crying out in her heart, "Oh no! Oh no! What a terrible year I've been, with misfortune befalling me! Today I've run into this vixen! She must hate me to death, and I wonder how she'll torture me to death before she'll stop! Husband, come save me!" But then she thought, "Isn't this vixen already insane? How did she end up in the Prince Ping's mansion? Could it be that she's rekindling her old flame, Lin Xihe? Come to think of it, this vixen might even be my mother-in-law. I'll explain the situation to her later, and maybe she'll spare my life..."
The second wife smiled charmingly, leaned down and gently patted Chu Tong's face, saying, "It's been so many years since we last met, and I've missed you terribly. In my midnight dreams, I wish I could tear every piece of flesh off your body. So today, we must catch up properly." After saying that, she picked up Chu Tong, released the pressure points on one of her legs, pressed a dagger against her waist, and said coldly, "Come with me, don't try anything funny!"
Chu Tong cursed inwardly, "Damn it!" Then, helplessly, she was led forward, limping, by the Second Madam. Chu Tong was filled with anxiety, but apart from one leg, the rest of her body was immobile. The Second Madam was extremely familiar with the paths of the Prince's mansion, deliberately choosing secluded and deserted trails. Occasionally, when maids or old women came to inquire, the Second Madam would simply offer a slight curtsy and say, "I am a newly arrived musician teaching the dancers in the mansion. This little girl just injured her leg during practice; I'm helping her back to rest." The old woman, with her failing eyesight, couldn't see Chu Tong's desperate attempts to communicate, so she let the two of them pass.
After walking for a while, and passing through a grove of osmanthus trees, the scenery suddenly changed. The opulent atmosphere of the grand mansions and mansions was completely gone, replaced by a scene of secluded tranquility. Ahead, thousands of emerald bamboos shaded the view, and within them, several houses were faintly visible, looking exceptionally secluded and serene.
The second madam paused, her expression one of utter despair. She muttered to herself, "The inner palace... the inner palace has become like this... Well, well, at least it saves me from further sorrow..." After a moment of silence, she composed herself and glared fiercely at Chu Tong, saying, "Come with me." Chu Tong inwardly groaned, "It's over, it's over! That vixen brought me to such a secluded place; it seems she's going to torture me!" She then mentally cursed the second madam once more.
The second madam led Chu Tong to a room, which was empty but unusually simple and plain. The tables, chairs, and benches were all rough and clumsy, with no playthings. Several Buddhist scriptures and teacups were placed on the table, and a plain white curtain hung on the bed, along with plain white bedding. Chu Tong had long expected the second madam to take her to a secluded place and torture her, but as the moment approached, she was terrified. In her heart, she cursed, "Damn it! At most, I'll just die! I'll be a hero again in eighteen years!" But then she immediately thought of how she hadn't even lived to be eighteen, and she couldn't help but feel sad. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced them back.
The second mistress glanced around the room, then opened a cabinet in the corner and shoved Chu Tong inside. She then pressed pressure points on Chu Tong's legs, sneered, and said, "I'll keep you alive, you little slut, for a little while longer!" With that, she closed the cabinet door and turned to leave. The cabinet was pitch black. Chu Tong cursed inwardly, but was powerless to do anything. She peered through the crack in the door for a while, then could only sit there, staring blankly. She prayed to every deity in the room, hoping someone could save her before the second mistress returned. She waited for a long time, but there was no movement. Exhausted and terrified, she leaned against the clothes in the cabinet and fell into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, everything was still quiet. She peeked through the crack in the door and saw that it was already pitch black outside, knowing that the sun had set. Chu Tong thought, "I've been missing for so long, my husband must be looking for me everywhere. Husband, oh husband, please come quickly... Where exactly in the Prince's mansion is this? When I came in, I saw two Buddhist scriptures on the table. Could a monk be living here?" Then she thought, "If that vixen comes to torment me later, I'll definitely find a chance to kill her. Even if I meet the King of Hell in the end, I'll have someone to keep me company. That way, it won't be a loss! Haha, dying together isn't a loss either!" Although she thought this, her face still showed a bitter expression. She frowned and thought about random things for a while, then drifted off to sleep again.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Chu Tong's eyes widened in shock, her heart clenching. Someone walked in and lit the candles in the room.
Feuds and grudges have raged for many autumns.
Chu Tong held her breath and peered through the crack in the door. She saw a slender middle-aged man standing by the table, with long, soft eyebrows, delicate eyes, and a refined, scholarly air. He wore official boots and a long, lotus-green robe embroidered with gold patterns, a sapphire-blue jade belt with gold floral embroidery around his waist, and his hair was styled in a high bun with a red-gold hairpin inlaid with pearls. He exuded an air of wealth and luxury. Chu Tong thought to herself, "This man is dressed so elegantly! He must be someone important. Could it be that he and that vixen have arranged to meet here to take my life?" Just as she thought this, a voice rang out, "Your Highness, I have fulfilled your orders. My mother has been living in this manor for over half a year now. Shouldn't Your Highness also keep your promise...?"
Chu Tong was taken aback, thinking to herself, "Good heavens! Your Highness! Could this noble uncle be Prince Ping of Nan Yan? My little husband's father?" Then she felt that the voice sounded very familiar, but she couldn't figure out who it was.
The man was none other than Prince Lin Xihe of Nan Yan. He snorted and said indifferently, "Am I a man who breaks his word? When your mother changes her mind, the seal of Yunding Gate will naturally be yours."
Upon hearing the word "seal," Chu Tong immediately became excited. Then the voice said again, "Your Highness... Your Highness's request is rather unreasonable, my mother..."
Lin Xihe flicked his sleeves, his face showing displeasure, and said, "Making things difficult for someone? How could I so easily hand over the seal of the Cloud Peak Sect?" After saying that, he glanced to his left with a half-smile and said, "I asked you to bring your mother here, but I didn't ask you to frame Yun Yinghuai! And now you've dragged me into this mess! I naturally don't want to get involved in the grudges of your Cloud Peak Sect, but Yun Yinghuai is in my residence now. I'm covering this up for you, and you still want to bargain with me?"
Chu Tong was startled and thought to herself, "Oh my god! Could it be that the person speaking is Yun Zhongyan's son? He brought his mother to the Prince Ping's mansion and framed my husband! I must find a way to get out of here, tell my husband about this, and help him clear his name!" Thinking of this, Chu Tong's heart began to pound wildly.
The man replied respectfully, "This humble subject would never dare to bargain with Your Highness. I will certainly do my utmost to fulfill Your Highness's instructions. However, my mother's love for my late father was unwavering, and after his death, she resolutely became a nun. Your Highness..."
Lin Xihe waved his hand impatiently and said, "Alright, alright, I know. Come here, I have something to tell you." The man immediately moved closer to Lin Xihe. Chu Tong stared at him and was immediately horrified. He was dressed in a light blue silk robe, with a handsome face, thick eyebrows, a straight nose, and a pair of slanted, handsome eyes. It was none other than Ding Wuhen! Chu Tong thought to herself, "Damn it! It's him! He's the one who harmed my husband! No wonder Ding Wuhen knew so much about the sacred artifacts of the Cloud Peak Sect! He wanted to get rid of Yun Yinghuai and become the sect leader of the Cloud Peak Sect, and he was searching everywhere for the double box and the seal, wanting to seize the treasure! Hmph, unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes. Now I'm in the position of sect leader and I've even obtained the double box! But, but he's Yun Zhongyan's son, he should be surnamed Yun, why is he surnamed Ding?"
Lin Xi whispered a few words to Ding Wuhen, then waved her hand and said, "Alright, you can go now." Ding Wuhen clasped his hands in agreement, bowed, and left.
Lin Xihe hummed a tune as he picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself a cup of cold tea. Just as he was about to take a sip, the door creaked open, and a tall, slender woman entered. She wore a black cloth hat and a coarse nun's robe, and held green sandalwood prayer beads in her hand. In the candlelight, the woman appeared to be in her thirties, with a radiant, jade-like face, delicate features, and a captivating gaze that made one hesitant to look directly at her. She stood quietly like a red plum blossom blooming proudly in the snow, pure and immaculate, her robes fluttering, like a fairy untouched by worldly affairs. Such character could not be described by mere earthly beauty. Chu Tong was dumbfounded, clicking her tongue inwardly, "My goodness! Is this nun some kind of Guanyin Bodhisattva descended to earth? I've seen so many beauties, yet none of them can compare to her! Not to mention that vixen, the Second Madam, even my mother would be outshone!"
Lin Xihe's eyes lit up immediately, and she hurriedly stood up to greet her, smiling warmly, "Su Xue, you're here. Are you tired? What would you like to eat? I'll immediately tell the kitchen to make you some snacks and vegetarian dishes."
Chu Tong was shocked. "Su Xue! That's it! Such a beautiful woman must be Bai Su Xue, the number one beauty in the martial arts world back then! Damn it, no wonder Ding Wuhen knows the 'Qun Fang Sword Technique.' This sword technique was created by his mother, how could he not know it? But... but if that's the case, then Bai Su Xue is Yun Zhongyan's wife... Tsk tsk tsk, does Yun Zhongyan have no eyes? He married such a beautiful wife, yet he still fell for that vixen, the Second Madam! Alas, it seems all men are the same; the grass is always greener on the other side, and other people's wives are always the best..."
Bai Suxue avoided Lin Xihe and said coldly, "This humble nun has long been a nun, and her Dharma name is Huichan. Suxue is this humble nun's name in the mortal world, and only Huichan's husband can call her that. Please, Your Highness, show some respect."
Lin Xihe's expression changed slightly, but she quickly put on a smile again and said, "Yes, yes. It's too inconvenient for the nun to go to the South Garden Buddhist Hall to chant scriptures and worship Buddha every day. How about I build a Buddhist hall in this bamboo grove? And find a few clever and obedient young nuns to serve the nun..."
Bai Suxue sat down and said, "No need." Then she sneered, "Although I have been hit by the Prince's muscle-weakening powder and am powerless and unable to use my martial arts, I still have the strength to walk from here to the South Garden. Besides, nuns live a simple life with coarse tea and plain food, and I am not used to being served."
Lin Xihe was taken aback, then sighed deeply and sat down beside Bai Suxue. He said softly, "Suxue, I know you're angry that I brought you to the Prince's mansion, but... I just couldn't help myself... Suxue, must you be so cold to me? For the sake of our past relationship, if you could just give me a nice look every day, I would be content..."
Chu Tong's eyes widened as she thought to herself, "Good heavens, there's something going on! Hahaha, this world is truly wondrous. Yun Zhongyan has taken a liking to Lin Xihe's wife, but Lin Xihe also likes Yun Zhongyan's wife. They're both cuckolded, which is quite fair. Could this be the so-called karma?" Then she looked at Bai Suxue and thought that she was indeed stunningly beautiful. No wonder Prince Ping, who had a beautiful wife and concubines, couldn't forget her.
Bai Suxue sat quietly with her head down for a moment, then looked up and sighed softly, "The past is like smoke and mist, it has all dissipated, let's not mention it again."
Seeing that Bai Suxue's expression had softened slightly, Lin Xihe quickly put on a smile and said softly, "It's getting late. I'll tell the kitchen to prepare some of your favorite vegetarian dishes." After saying that, he carefully looked at Bai Suxue's face and saw her lower her eyes and nod almost imperceptibly. Lin Xihe immediately smiled and was about to say something when he heard Bai Suxue say again, "I want to eat freshly cooked lotus root and peach blossom porridge. Go and bring it to me yourself."
Lin Xihe was overjoyed, as if she had received a divine decree. She hurriedly said, "Okay, okay, wait a moment, I'll go to the kitchen right away and tell them to cook porridge, and then I'll bring it to you myself." With that, she walked out with a smile.
Chu Tong thought to herself, "Prince Ping is so shameless. The Second Madam loves him to death, but he ignores her completely. Now, he's overjoyed to have a beautiful nun serve him food. Humph, a prince like him isn't ashamed at all! But it's good, since the two of them are staying here, the Second Madam certainly won't dare to come in. My life is safe for now." Just as she was secretly rejoicing, she heard the door being pushed open with a "bang," and a middle-aged noblewoman hurriedly walked in. Her hair was styled in a peach blossom bun, adorned with a red gold five-phoenix pearl hairpin, a crimson palace flower on her left temple, and a bright red satin dress embroidered with pink and purple peonies and gold threads. A begonia-colored belt with silver plum blossom threads was tied around her waist, and she wore a jade necklace and agate earrings. She looked radiant with jewels. She was tall and slender, with a figure very similar to Bai Suxue, yet she was as delicate as a willow swaying in the breeze. Her eyes were filled with soft light, her lips were radiant, and her cheeks had a sickly air about them. She was incomparably beautiful and indescribably delicate and fragile.
The woman hurried to Bai Suxue's side, took a small bottle from her bosom, and handed it to Bai Suxue, saying, "Senior Sister, I've found the antidote for the Muscle-Weakening Powder. After you take it, it will take half an hour for the remaining poison to dissipate. During this time, remember not to circulate your internal energy, or your meridians will be damaged." After saying this, she took out another porcelain bottle and handed it to Bai Suxue, saying, "This is a sleeping potion. Put it in the Prince's tea later. Once he's asleep, go to the small grove to the south. I'll arrange for someone to come and meet you. The front courtyard is looking for a young maid who's visiting the Prince's residence. You can escape while there's chaos."
Bai Suxue nodded, took the antidote and drank it all in one gulp, then put the sleeping potion into the teapot. She looked up and saw the woman hesitate, her eyes flickering, so she took the woman's hand and said, "Hongxiu, is there something you want to say to me?" Chu Tong's heart skipped a beat and she said, "Hongxiu, Hongxiu, this name sounds so familiar, I don't know where I've heard it before?" She racked her brains for a while, and suddenly remembered that on the day the Second Madam went mad, she kept calling out the name "Fang Hongxiu", and viciously cursed this person for being treacherous and secretly seducing the Prince, which led to her pregnancy and being demoted to the inner palace. Chu Tong thought to herself, "So this woman is Fang Hongxiu, that vixen's nemesis. She's even Bai Suxue's junior sister!" The thought that this seemingly delicate woman had defeated the beautiful but ruthless Second Madam filled Chu Tong with awe. She glanced at Fang Hongxiu a few more times, finding her and the Second Madam to be equally beautiful, but while the Second Madam possessed a captivating charm in every gesture, Fang Hongxiu was as gentle and graceful as spring water. Chu Tong clicked her tongue in amazement, "Goodness, a woman as delicate as a rabbit defeated a viperous vixen! Appearances can be deceiving."
Fang Hongxiu bit her lip and stammered, "Senior sister, I, I... I just saw a young man in his twenties walk out of the bamboo forest. His appearance and demeanor were so similar to... but he couldn't possibly be that young. For a moment, I thought he was a dead man who had come back to life... Senior sister, could it be that Brother Ding Er has descendants in this world?"
Bai Suxue was taken aback, then grabbed Fang Hongxiu's wrist and asked urgently, "Did you really see this person walk out of the bamboo forest?"
Fang Hongxiu shrugged in surprise and said timidly, "That's right... The day Senior Sister came to the Prince's Mansion, she was unconscious, and he was the one who carried you in... Was he you and Second Brother Ding...?"
Bai Suxue's clear, watery eyes instantly turned frosty. She turned around and slammed her hand on the table, gritting her teeth as she angrily said, "That beast! So he's the one who brought me here!" After saying that, she took a few deep breaths to steady her breathing and said to Fang Hongxiu, "That's right, his name is Ding Wuhen, and he is my son with Ding Pinsong."
Chu Tong was shocked and thought to herself, "What? My master's wife actually cheated on me and even had a child! Oh dear, I never thought Bai Suxue, who seemed so pure, innocent, and noble, was such a hypocrite!"
Fang Hongxiu let out a soft "Ah!" and covered her mouth, then whispered, "Senior Sister, you're not...you didn't marry Brother Yun, so how did you have Brother Ding's child?"
Bai Suxue frowned, her eyes seemingly filled with endless sorrow and unrequited love, and said softly, "Back then, Song Ge and I were deeply in love and had already set a wedding date. Who would have thought that he would suddenly die in an accident? But at that time, I was already pregnant with his child... When Brother Yun saw that I was determined to give birth to the child, he was afraid that I would be bullied and gossiped about in the martial arts world, so he married me and took care of me like a sister." At this point, Bai Suxue sighed and said, "Brother Yun is truly a good man. If it weren't for him, we, a widow and her child, really don't know how we would have survived."
Just then, footsteps approached from outside the door, followed by Lin Xihe's voice: "Su Xue, Su Xue, I've brought the porridge!" Fang Hongxiu was startled and hurriedly grabbed Bai Su Xue's wrist, saying, "Senior Sister, why is he back so soon? What should we do?"
Bai Suxue said in a deep voice, "Don't panic." She quickly bolted the door shut, then looked around and pointed to the wardrobe, saying, "You should hide inside first." Fang Hongxiu nodded and hurried over to open the wardrobe door. Chu Tong's eyes lit up, and when their eyes met, Fang Hongxiu was terrified, pointing at Chu Tong and trembling, "You, you, where did you come from?" At that moment, Lin Xihe knocked on the door outside, saying, "Suxue, open the door, open the door quickly!"
Bai Suxue approached and saw a girl of about fifteen or sixteen sitting in the closet, slumped limply on the quilt, only her large, bright eyes sparkling. Bai Suxue squatted down and touched Chu Tong a few times, then frowned and said, "It's nothing serious. This little girl has had her acupoints sealed and can't move. Hongxiu, you should go inside and wait." The knocking on the door grew more urgent, and Fang Hongxiu had no choice but to shrink into the closet and sit down next to Chu Tong with her knees drawn up.
Bai Suxue opened the door and walked to the table without saying a word, then sat down. Lin Xihe wanted to ask her what she had been doing in the room, but seeing Bai Suxue's icy demeanor, she swallowed her words, went to the table, and placed the dishes one by one on the table, saying solicitously, "Tonight, the kitchen happens to have lotus root and peach blossom porridge. The petals were picked this spring and preserved with honey, and the porridge is very thick. I also brought over some side dishes; please try them."
Bai Suxue took a spoonful of porridge and nodded slightly, saying, "It tastes good." Lin Xihe was overjoyed, his smile growing even brighter. Bai Suxue tapped the stool next to her with her chin, saying, "Sit down." Lin Xihe immediately sat down, and Bai Suxue picked up the teapot on the table, poured a cup of tea, and placed it in front of him, saying, "You've gone to great lengths for me these past few days; this cup of tea is for you." Lin Xihe's eyes widened, his face flushed with excitement, and he stammered, "No, no, no, how can this be considered going to great lengths? I would do anything for you." After saying this, he stared intently at Bai Suxue and said softly, "Thinking of you makes me grow old, and the years have passed so quickly. Suxue, twenty-six years ago, when I first saw you, you stood in the snow wearing a white fox fur coat, looking like a fairy descending to earth. At that time, I thought, if I could spend my whole life with you, I wouldn't mind being a prince... We've already missed twenty-six years; let's cherish what we have now..."
Bai Suxue calmly held up a teacup to Lin Xihe and said softly, "Your Highness is too kind. Please have some tea." Lin Xihe, flattered, took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. Then he reached for Bai Suxue's hand. Bai Suxue quickly dodged, her expression icy, and said, "Your Highness, please have some self-respect. You are a wealthy and noble prince, surrounded by beautiful wives and concubines. I am a nun, and Your Highness need not be so insistent. Your Highness's concubine, Fang Hongxiu, is my junior sister. Hongxiu is gentle, beautiful, considerate, and dignified. She has also borne you children. Your Highness should cherish her."
Lin Xihe's eyes widened as he shouted, "Hongxiu knows the Beauty Sword Technique, and her figure is very similar to yours. Whenever she performs the sword dance for me, I think you are by my side. If it weren't for this reason, why would I favor her? Suxue, my feelings for you are genuine. In my eyes, Hongxiu is just someone who keeps me company in your place..."
Chu Tong thought to herself, "Tsk tsk, I never thought Lin Xihe, at his age, would still be such a womanizer! His philandering ways are practically on par with Qin Ye, the King of Jinyang of Beiliang! But it's really not nice for my wife to hear him making vows of eternal love to other women. If it were me, I would definitely rush out and slap him a few times, then go out and find some other man to cuckold him to vent my anger!" Thinking of this, she couldn't help but glance at Fang Hongxiu beside her. Unfortunately, the closet was too dark, and she couldn't see the other woman's expression. Just then, she felt a "plop" as a tear fell onto Chu Tong's hand. Chu Tong was stunned, unconsciously thinking of her mother, and sighed softly in her heart.
Bai Suxue lowered her head and said, "Why are you doing this..." Just then, a woman's giggling voice came from outside the door, followed by a melodious yet infinitely sinister voice: "Lin Xihe, you've been a womanizer for so many years and haven't changed. I wonder if you still remember your old friend!" With that, the door to the room was pushed open with a "bang," and the Second Madam stood in the doorway. The moment she saw Lin Xihe, her phoenix eyes flashed with an infinitely complex expression, as intense as a raging flame. But all the emotions vanished in an instant, replaced by endless hatred and resentment.
The two people in the room were instantly stunned. Lin Xihe pointed at the Second Madam in horror, "You, you..." Before she could finish her sentence, the effects of the sleeping potion kicked in, and Lin Xihe's head lolled to the side as she fainted on the table with a "thud." Bai Suxue stood up and frowned, "Lin Ji? You are Lin Ji? You're still alive!"
The second wife coldly said, "Of course I'm still alive! I'm going to live to be a hundred years old, longer than any of you! Did you think that just because you drove me out of the palace like a stray dog, I wouldn't come back? Humph! The debts you owe me, I will collect them all today!" Chu Tong thought to herself, "Brilliant! That vixen is here! Fang Hongxiu is also in this cabinet now. She's Bai Suxue's junior sister, so she naturally knows martial arts too. Damn vixen, rotten vixen! It would be best if you enemies met and fought to the death, so I could take this opportunity to escape." Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel smug.
The second wife slowly walked in. She stared at Lin Xihe on the table and chuckled. In the candlelight, her beautiful smile appeared incredibly sinister. She said softly, "Lin Xihe! You've finally fallen into my hands! I'll kill you now, to eliminate any future trouble!" With that, the second wife flicked a dagger from her sleeve and lunged at Lin Xihe!
Bai Suxue's eyes flashed, and she immediately dodged to the side. At the same time, a cry of "No!" rang out. Fang Hongxiu, who had been hiding beside Chu Tong, rushed out from behind the counter, grabbed a wooden fish from the table, and hurled it at the Second Madam. The Second Madam hurriedly dodged, then paused, seeing Fang Hongxiu, and burst into laughter, "Excellent! Excellent! Today, all my enemies have gathered here! Is Heaven helping me take my revenge?" She glared at Fang Hongxiu hatefully, "Fang Hongxiu, all these years I've dreamt of skinning you alive, you vile woman! Today, I will make sure you die by my hand!" With that, she raised a dagger and thrust it forward!
While dodging and parrying, Fang Hongxiu shouted, "Lin Ji, you only hate me anyway. Release the prince, and I'll fight you one-on-one!"
The second madam sneered, "A pair of adulterers!" As she spoke, her attacks became even faster, moving with lightning speed, creating a dense barrier in front of Fang Hongxiu. Bai Suxue tried to rush to the door for help, but she was weakened by the muscle-relaxing drug and felt as limp as mud. The room was small, and she was trapped in a corner, unable to move forward or backward. In the blink of an eye, the second madam and Fang Hongxiu were fighting right in front of her. Bai Suxue reacted swiftly, taking advantage of the second madam's momentary lapse in attention, and suddenly plunged a poisoned needle into her back. The second madam, engrossed in the fight, was completely unaware.
Although Fang Hongxiu had practiced martial arts since childhood, she had been a princess for over twenty years, living a life of luxury and ease, and her skills had long since deteriorated. She couldn't withstand more than a few moves. Fighting and dodging, she accidentally knocked over a candle in her panic, extinguishing the flame and plunging the room into darkness. The Second Madam followed, her dagger aimed straight for Fang Hongxiu's face. Fang Hongxiu quickly dodged, her right hand forming a fist to strike the Second Madam's left shoulder. The Second Madam hurriedly used her dagger to block, but Fang Hongxiu's punch wobbled slightly mid-air, immediately changing direction and striking the Second Madam directly in the chest. The Second Madam couldn't dodge in time and took the blow, letting out a muffled groan and staggering back two steps. In her haste, something fell from her sleeve, landing on the ground with a soft "clang."
The Second Madam and Fang Hongxiu, fully engaged in their battle, were oblivious to what was happening. Bai Suxue, preoccupied with her own tension, had no time to notice anything else. Only Chu Tong, nestled in the cupboard, saw everything clearly. The dim moonlight streamed into the room, illuminating the small object. Chu Tong's breathing quickened instantly, and she cried out in her heart, "Mother! This is the auspicious beast seal of the Cloud Peak Sect! With it, I can retrieve the double treasure chests and become the richest man in the world!" Then it dawned on her that the Second Madam had kept her locked up here for so long because she had gone to steal this seal. At this moment, she no longer cared about the fight; her eyes were fixed intently on the seal.
Just then, Fang Hongxiu was stabbed hard in the right chest. She screamed and fell to the ground, her body leaning back. Her elbow struck a major acupoint on Chu Tong's chest, accidentally opening a pressure point on Chu Tong's upper body. Chu Tong felt a lightness in her body, and then her arms gradually regained feeling. She remained calm and obediently nestled in the cabinet, thinking to herself, "I can't act rashly now. I'll wait a while, and when the opportunity arises, I'll rush over, pick up the seal, and then run to the gate to call the guards to catch this vixen!"
The second madam moved like a ghost, step by step towards Fang Hongxiu. Fang Hongxiu, clutching her wound, retreated towards the corner while shouting, "Help! Someone come quick!" But there was only silence outside the door. It turned out that Bai Suxue always preferred quiet, and no one dared to disturb her in the bamboo grove. Lin Xihe had only brought two servants with her, ordering them to guard the house and await orders, but the second madam had caught them and secretly killed them. The house was surrounded by a bamboo grove, and there wasn't a single guard left. A glint of pleasure flashed across the second wife's face. Her tone was icy as she gritted her teeth and said, "Fang Hongxiu, did you ever think you'd end up like this, ungrateful wretch who secretly seduced my husband? Did you ever think you'd end up like this, banishing me to the inner palace and stealing my favor and status? Did you ever think you'd end up like this, making me live a life worse than death? I should have come to take revenge on you two long ago! Unfortunately, my illness allowed you to enjoy yourselves for a few more years. Today is your death day!" She then chuckled and said, "Before I kill you, I'll kill Lin Xihe first, so you can both die together!" With that, she turned and walked towards Lin Xihe. Fang Hongxiu screamed, "No! Don't hurt the Prince! Kill me! Kill me! Senior Sister, please save the Prince!"
Hearing this, the second madam stopped in her tracks. She glanced back at Fang Hongxiu and sneered, "Save him? Hmph, I'm afraid this woman, like me, only wants to kill him!" She turned to Bai Suxue and gave her a strange smile, her shimmering phoenix eyes revealing an unusual glint. She slowly said, "You probably don't know, do you? It was Lin Xihe who killed your lover, Ding Pinsong, back then!"
Bai Suxue's beautiful eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "What did you say?"
The second wife's expression remained calm, but a hint of malice flashed in her eyes. She spoke softly, "Back then at the Heroes' Gathering, Lin Xihe fell head over heels for you, his longing bordering on obsession. However, you and the chivalrous swordsman Ding Pinsong were childhood sweethearts, destined for each other, so you ignored him. In a fit of rage, he sent five highly skilled guards to kill Ding Pinsong, claiming to the outside world that he had been hunted down by enemies. At the time, Yun Zhongyan was Lin Xihe's close bodyguard and inadvertently learned of this. Ding Pinsong was his sworn brother, but Lin Xihe was also his savior. He couldn't avenge Ding Pinsong, so he married you and took good care of you to make up for his debt. Because of this, Lin Xihe harbored considerable resentment towards him. However, Yun Zhongyan was quite prestigious in the martial arts world, and Lin Xihe also needed his help, so the matter had to be dropped..."
Bai Suxue swayed slightly and took a few steps back, saying, "How...how did you know?"
The second wife smiled slightly, her words seemingly filled with endless emotion: "Once, Yun Zhongyan covered her face and wept bitterly after getting drunk. She told me about this and held my hand, saying that you and he were only like brother and sister. She hoped that I would not take it to heart and that we could leave the palace together and travel the world hand in hand."
Bai Suxue seemed dazed for a moment, her expression blank and bleak. She lost her balance and slumped to the ground against the wall. Chu Tong couldn't help but shake her head inwardly, thinking, "Beautiful women have always had tragic fates. Bai Suxue is so beautiful, yet her life is so miserable. Alas, alas, what a pity." As she thought this, she quietly released the acupoints on her legs.
Fang Hongxiu, clutching her wound and struggling, screamed hoarsely, "Don't believe that bitch's nonsense! She's lying to you!" The Second Madam sneered, "Whether I'm lying to her or not, just ask that beast Lin Xihe!" With that, she stepped forward and pressed Lin Xihe's pressure points, then poured the water from the teapot over his head, kicking him hard in the chest, saying, "Wake up!" Lin Xihe groaned and opened his eyes. The Second Madam squatted down and patted Lin Xihe's face with a dagger, saying, "Tell me, who killed Ding Pinsong?"
Lin Xihe was dazed and could only stammer incoherently. Bai Suxue was heartbroken, feeling that all her happiness and love in her life had been destroyed by this man. Decades of sorrow and resentment burst forth like a burst dam. She rushed over, grabbed Lin Xihe's clothes, tears streaming down her face, and gritted her teeth, saying, "You beast killed Song Ge! Today I will avenge him!"
Lin Xihe finally regained consciousness. He tried to get up, but found that his pressure points had been sealed, rendering him unable to move. Upon hearing Bai Suxue's words, he trembled and hurriedly said, "Suxue, I didn't kill him! I didn't!" The Second Madam snorted, "You didn't kill him? Could it be that Yun Zhongyan lied to me? Ding Pinsong died, and unable to seek revenge on you, he killed those five guards who committed murder. Is that true?" Lin Xihe's expression changed drastically, which Bai Suxue clearly saw, and she immediately understood. She trembled, closed her eyes, letting tears roll down her cheeks, and turned to the Second Madam, saying, "Lady Lin, could you give me Lin Xihe's dog's life? I want to tear him to pieces!" Lin Xihe glared and cried out, "No! Lady Lin, save me! If you save me, I'll make you my princess, and we'll be together day and night. From now on, I'll only love you!"
Upon hearing this, the second madam burst into laughter and said to Bai Suxue, "This scoundrel's dog life is yours!" Bai Suxue staggered to the second madam, took the dagger, and in the instant she turned around, she suddenly felt a surge of blood in her abdomen, almost tearing her internal organs apart. She vomited a mouthful of blood and immediately collapsed to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably.
A soft chuckle came from the corner of the room. Fang Hongxiu coughed and giggled at the same time, which sounded particularly eerie in the dimly lit room. She caught her breath and said softly, "Senior sister, what I gave you wasn't some antidote for muscle-relaxing powder, but a 'Soul-Dissolving Pill'! This pill will take effect once you circulate your internal energy or your blood boils due to emotional excitement. You must be in a lot of pain right now, right?" As she spoke, she struggled to sit up, blood gushing from her chest, but she seemed unconcerned. Her beautiful face was already contorted, and she gasped, "Senior sister, don't blame me. You know my feelings for the prince. Back then, he liked you, and I even stole your Qunfang Sword Technique to stay by his side. But, but even after more than twenty years of marriage, he still couldn't sever his feelings for you!" At this point, Fang Hongxiu paused, and her voice suddenly turned cold, "So, I have to kill you! Only by killing you can the prince be mine alone! Only with me!" Chu Tong was shocked, thinking to herself, "What ruthless methods! No wonder this seemingly delicate and gentle woman was able to drive the Second Madam out of the Prince's mansion!"
The second madam chuckled and clapped her hands, saying, "Good show, truly a good show!" She slowly walked towards Fang Hongxiu, giggling, "But of all these people, I'd most like to see you, you wretch, die first!" With that, she raised her foot to kick Fang Hongxiu's chest wound. As soon as she lifted her leg, she felt a searing pain throughout her body, and her limbs stiffened. The poison from the silver needle Bai Suxue had pierced her back was beginning to take effect. The second madam screamed and collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain, vomiting blood continuously. Seeing this, Lin Xihe immediately shouted, "Help! Someone help!"
Chu Tong peeked out from behind the cabinet door, thinking to herself, "Goodness, what's going on? These three wicked women were so fierce just now, but now they're all lying stiffly on the ground. They look like they're about to meet their maker!" She moved her legs and then crawled out of the cabinet, grabbing a vajra from the table as a weapon. Trembling, she tried to avoid the Second Madam as she headed to the center of the room to retrieve the auspicious beast seal. Lin Xihe was startled to see a small figure emerge from the cabinet. He stared at Chu Tong in terror and cried out, "Who are you? Don't kill me! If you save me, I'll give you gold, silver, and endless riches!" At this moment, the Second Madam, enduring the pain, screamed, "Yao Chu Tong! Don't save him! Kill him! If you save me, not only will I not kill you, but we'll forget everything, and I'll even grant you permission to marry Hui'er!"
Chu Tong glanced at Lin Xihe and then at the Second Madam, thinking to herself, "This prince is a fickle, womanizing scoundrel. If I save him, and I find out about his shameful deeds, he might kill me to silence me. But compared to him, the venomous Second Madam is even less trustworthy! Besides, saving her today would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains, causing endless harm! It would be better to save my young master's teacher's wife; if she's alive, she can prove my young master's innocence. Hmph, this Second Madam might be my young master's biological mother; if she were... Knowing I killed her, the public would inevitably resent me. Since I've already done it, I might as well go all the way. I'll spare Bai Suxue and kill everyone else to silence them. Afterwards, I'll instruct Bai Suxue not to tell anyone." Having made up her mind, she spat at the Second Madam, saying, "You vixen! I'm a married woman now! What is Xie Linghui anyway?! I'd be a fool to believe you! I'll kill you now, so you won't come looking for trouble again!" With that, she raised her vajra and walked towards the Second Madam. The Second Madam was writhing in pain, powerless to resist, only able to glare intently at Chu Tong's face with her phoenix eyes.
Just then, a piercing scream came from behind. Chu Tong immediately turned around and saw Bai Suxue gripping a dagger with both hands, desperately plunging the blade into Lin Xihe's chest. She trembled violently, tears streaming down her face, repeatedly stabbing Lin Xihe's chest several times! Fang Hongxiu cried out, "Your Highness! Your Highness!" She straightened up and crawled towards Lin Xihe with all her might. Lin Xihe initially screamed, but after two stabs, his head lolled to the side, and he fell silent. Fang Hongxiu slowly crawled towards Lin Xihe, her body covered in blood. Seeing Lin Xihe dead, Fang Hongxiu was stunned for a moment, then cried out mournfully, "Your Highness." She reached out and touched the hem of Lin Xihe's clothes, then collapsed to the ground, unable to move again. Bai Suxue collapsed, the dagger clattering to the ground. Her face was covered in blood as she leaned against the wall and whispered, "Brother Song, you died such a tragic death. I've finally avenged you!"
Chu Tong was stunned by this sudden turn of events, but then she heard the Second Madam laugh wildly, her face contorted in pain. Tears streamed down her face, revealing an indescribable madness. Chu Tong was startled and involuntarily took two steps back. The Second Madam said with boundless glee, "Good! Good! Wonderful! Today I can witness two of my greatest enemies die before me. I... I have no regrets even if I die here!" With that, she glared fiercely at Chu Tong and said, "You! You little bitch! You've brought me to this state! My son will definitely kill you! Kill you!" Chu Tong snorted and said, "Who kills whom is still uncertain. Now I'll send you to the Western Paradise!" With that, she raised her vajra and smashed it onto the Second Madam's head. Blood splattered everywhere. The Second Madam's facial muscles twitched a few times, and then she fell to the ground dead. Chu Tong cursed, "You damned vixen, you slut, how dare you threaten me! When I see you in the underworld, I'll smash you a few more times with this pestle!" After cursing, she came to her senses, quickly threw away the weapon in her hand, bent down to find the seal on the ground and put it in her bosom, then ran to Bai Suxue's side and said, "Auntie, are you alright? You mustn't die!" Bai Suxue was in excruciating pain, her mouth filled with blood and foam. She said intermittently, "I...I'm alright...I'm so happy...so happy...I raised Wuhen to adulthood, and now...I've avenged Brother Song...haha...hahaha..." She laughed loudly a few times, vomited a mouthful of blood, the light in her eyes faded, and she quietly closed her eyes.
Chu Tong cried out in alarm, "Auntie! Auntie! You can't die! Who will prove my husband's innocence if you die? Auntie!" She shook Bai Suxue a few times, knowing she was already dead and calling out was futile. She slumped her shoulders and sighed deeply. Moonlight slanted into the room, illuminating the bloodstains. Chu Tong shivered and muttered to herself, "I can't stay here any longer! I must escape to find my husband!" She stood up and checked the bodies one by one, confirming they were all dead. Then she thought, "Bai Suxue was Yun Zhongyan's wife. Now that Lin Xihe is dead, who knows if the court will cause trouble for Yundingmen? I might as well frame her now!" With her mind made up, she dragged the Second Madam's body to Lin Xihe's side and plunged a dagger into his chest. Then she had the Second Madam pretend to hold a dagger, turned around and pulled Fang Hongxiu behind the Second Madam, stuffing a vajra into her hand. After that, she nodded and said, "That's it! The Second Madam killed Lin Xihe, and Fang Hongxiu then ambushed and killed the Second Madam from behind. They all died in a messy pile, but they died a worthy death, though they died with their eyes wide open!" After saying that, she opened the door and went out. She saw that the surrounding bamboo forest was still silent, with only a crescent moon hanging in the sky.
Her heart was filled with joy as she raised her eyebrows.
The crickets chirp haphazardly, the cold moon hangs alone, and a desolate light shines on my graying temples.
Using the dim moonlight, Chu Tong barely managed to discern directions and ran towards the front of the mansion. Reaching the edge of the bamboo grove, she stopped and hid behind a clump of bamboo, peering ahead. She saw flickering lights in the distance and faint sounds of commotion drifting over. Chu Tong thought to herself, "These people are probably looking for me, but now that the Prince and Princess are dead in that grove, if I rush out like this, I'll inevitably get involved. Besides, I still have the auspicious beast seal on me; if I'm mistaken for that witch's accomplice, I'll be in big trouble! It's best not to act rashly." Just then, Chu Tong saw seven or eight people carrying lanterns approaching. She looked around and saw a house not far from the edge of the grove, so she tiptoed over.
The house wasn't large, with two small rooms on either side of the main house. Chu Tong approached the window of the left room, pressed her ear against the pane, and listened carefully to any sounds inside. She then poked a hole in the window paper with her finger, squinting as she peered inside. The room was completely dark and silent. She pulled a small silver hairpin from her hair and inserted it through the crack in the window, slowly sliding it upwards to the latch. With a flick of her wrist, the window creaked open. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, she jumped inside. By the moonlight, she saw neatly arranged bolts of cloth, curtains, cups, bowls, bamboo blinds, flowerpots, and other items. Having grown up in wealthy households, she immediately realized this was the Prince's storeroom.
Chu Tong turned and closed the window, then tiptoed to a corner and sat down. After a while, she heard footsteps outside, followed by a young man saying, "Young Master Yun, we haven't searched the area around the bamboo grove yet. A distinguished guest of the Prince lives there, and the Prince has repeatedly ordered that no unauthorized personnel be allowed to approach. If the young lady isn't in the storeroom, I'll have to report to the Prince and ask for his permission for us to search the grove." At this moment, a woman's cheerful voice said, "If you can't find Young Master Yun's friend in the storeroom, just search the bamboo grove directly. Why bother asking Father? Is there some kind of bodhisattva living in the grove?"
Yun Yinghuai said in a low voice, "Princess, please follow the rules of the Prince's Mansion and trouble Steward Lin."
Chu Tong thought to herself, "So it's my husband! I'm in trouble if he asks where I've been all this time!" Just then, she heard the door lock click. Chu Tong scratched her head and suddenly had a bright idea. She reached out and poked her sleeping acupoint hard, then collapsed limply onto a pile of cloth.
Just then, the main gate opened, and seven or eight people rushed in behind Yun Yinghuai. Yun Yinghuai's brows were furrowed, and his eyes revealed his anxiety. It turned out that Chu Tong had suddenly disappeared in the small side hall where guests were waiting. Yun Yinghuai assumed that she had seen the exotic flowers and plants in the palace and had run off to play. He informed the prince and then led people to search everywhere. However, after searching for several hours, as the sun set and the moon rose, Chu Tong was still nowhere to be found. Yun Yinghuai knew that although the little girl liked to play around, she was very sensible. If she did not return for a long time, something must have happened to her. He was extremely anxious and wanted to dig three feet into the ground and turn the entire palace upside down.
The group searched the room with lanterns when suddenly someone cried out, "Ah! Young Master Yun, there's a girl here!" Yun Yinghuai rushed forward and saw a young girl lying among the fabric in the corner, her eyes closed. She wore a pomegranate-red dress, her features as delicate as jade. It was none other than Yao Chutong. Yun Yinghuai quickly took Chutong into his arms and gently shook her, saying, "Xing'er, Xing'er? Wake up, wake up." Chutong didn't respond. Yun Yinghuai was anxious, but seeing that Chutong's breathing was steady and her complexion rosy, as if she hadn't been hurt, and instead seemed to be asleep, he reached out and pressed Chutong's pressure point, then continued to whisper in her ear. After a short while, Chutong hummed and opened her eyes. Seeing that Chutong was awake, Yun Yinghuai exclaimed with joy, "Xing'er! You're awake!"
Seeing Yun Yinghuai's genuine affection for her, Chu Tong was overjoyed. Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she saw a girl of about eighteen or nineteen standing behind Yun Yinghuai. She was beautiful, with fair skin, and her face bore a striking resemblance to Fang Hongxiu, yet possessed a more spirited air. Her hair was styled in a single bun tied with a ribbon, and she wore a bright red dress embroidered with magnolia branches, a jade belt around her waist, and riding boots. She looked somewhat dashing and spirited. This girl was none other than Lin Xihe and Fang Hongxiu's daughter, Princess Lin Caiwei. Her beautiful eyes stared blankly at Chu Tong, a hint of hostility flashing within them. Chu Tong immediately frowned, thinking, "This girl is probably Fang Hongxiu's daughter, and she's probably taken a liking to my husband!" Thinking this, her gaze met Yun Yinghuai's, and then she burst into tears, clinging tightly to his neck and throwing herself into his arms, crying, "Husband, husband, why did you only come now? I thought I'd never see you again!" While crying, she secretly peeked behind Yun Yinghuai, only to see the girl's face turn pale upon hearing the word "husband." Chu Tong secretly felt smug, but continued to cry, wiping her tears all over Yun Yinghuai's clothes.
Yun Yinghuai thought Chu Tong was just frightened, and his heart softened. He gently patted her back and said softly, "Don't cry, don't cry, I'm here." Then he picked her up and said to everyone, "We've found her, but she's been frightened. Please trouble Steward Lin to arrange a room for her to rest."