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The carriage wheels creaked softly as the vehicle moved along the road, the rhythmic sound blending with the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. Behind them, Jun Mo rode his horse leisurely, keeping a steady pace.
This area was crowded with onlookers, so Su Li didn't order the carriage to stop. The route to the villa would pass through a quiet suburban area, and when she noticed Jun Mo still following, she instructed the coachman to halt. Stepping down from the carriage, she waited for him to dismount.
Seeing her stop, Jun Mo gracefully swung off his horse.
"Prince Jing seems to have a lot of free time today?" Su Li remarked lightly.
"Indeed, I've managed to steal half a day's leisure amidst my duties," he replied with an easy smile.
The main road was sparsely populated, save for the occasional passing carriage. It was late summer transitioning into early autumn, and the sunlight bathed everything in a warm, tranquil glow. A gentle breeze carried the scent of nature, adding to the serene atmosphere.
Standing by the roadside, the two exuded an air of calmness.
"The incident today clearly involved Meng Zhiyun's illegitimate daughter. Are you really going to let her go just like that?" Jun Mo asked, his tone curious but probing.
Su Li gazed at the distant peaks barely visible above the horizon. "That woman refused to confess even under pressure. There's nothing more I can do."
Jun Mo raised an eyebrow, skepticism evident in his expression. "That doesn't sound like you."
Su Li turned to look at him, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Oh? Then what kind of person does Prince Jing think I am?"
He studied her profile—the soft lines of her face, the warmth in her eyes—and responded thoughtfully, "Lingering cleverness, decisive action, meticulous calculation—you're not someone who will suffer losses without retaliation."
Su Li chuckled lightly, accepting his words as praise. "I'll take that as a compliment, Your Highness."
Of course, she had no intention of letting Meng Zhiyun off the hook. After publicly accusing her in the palace, Su Li had shown leniency once. This time, if she didn't retaliate, it would be tantamount to allowing herself to be trampled upon.
Noticing the sun beginning to dip lower in the sky, Su Li remembered she still needed to return home to accompany her mother for lunch.
"Your Highness, this spot offers a lovely view. Please enjoy it while I take my leave."
Jun Mo arched a brow, amusement flickering in his eyes. "If the beauty departs, then the scenery loses its charm."
Su Li scoffed, though there was humor in her voice. "Your Highness flatters me too much. Everyone knows I'm infamous for my plain looks."
Shaking his head, Jun Mo countered softly, "Beauty lies not in the skin but in the bone. Those who call you ugly are merely shallow observers."
Su Li fell silent for a moment, slightly surprised by his unexpected eloquence. She hadn't anticipated such poetic words from the usually stoic Prince Jing.
"All right, enough teasing. I came here to inform you that I've sent people to investigate Sixth Brother's private holdings. You wouldn't believe how extensive they are."
Su Li smiled knowingly. "Your Highness, what you've uncovered is only the tip of the iceberg. If you dig deeper into the Jiang family, you'll find something truly astonishing."
Jun Mo regarded her for a long moment before speaking. "I get the sense that you know far more than you're letting on. But since you're unwilling to share, I won't press further."
Her gaze drifted toward the horizon, her voice carrying a distant quality. "Your Highness, I've told you all that needs to be said for now. As for the rest, the timing isn't right. When the moment comes, I'll reveal everything."
With that, she turned and walked back toward the carriage.
"I bid you farewell, Your Highness."
As the Su family carriage disappeared down the road, Jun Mo murmured softly to himself, "What secrets lie hidden within your heart?"
Elsewhere...
"Sixth Prince, please slow down!"
"Prince, the weather is wonderful today. Why don't we go boating?"
"Prince..."
Wanyan Xue, walking ahead, finally lost her patience and spun around. "Enough! Stop chattering incessantly—it's driving me mad!"
Meng Zhiyun immediately fell silent, casting a pitiful glance at Jun Hui. "Prince..."
Wanyan Xue rolled her eyes. "I never invited you to join us. Why are you following us around?"
Meng Zhiyun pouted innocently. "The road is wide open. If Your Highness can walk it, why can't I?"
Infuriated by her persistence, Wanyan Xue snapped, "Fine! Then you go first—I'll give way!"
Softly, Meng Zhiyun replied, "How could I possibly walk ahead of the princes? I'll simply follow behind Sixth Prince."
Realizing they weren't getting anywhere, Jun Ce suggested, "Let's stop wandering and find somewhere to sit instead."
"Perfect! Now you can't follow us anymore!" Wanyan Xue declared triumphantly. "Come on, let's go!"
But she underestimated Meng Zhiyun once again.
"How are you here again? We didn't invite you to tea or dinner!" Wanyan Xue exclaimed in frustration.
Aren't women of Tianqi supposed to be reserved and modest?
Meng Zhiyun smiled sweetly. "I just wanted to rest my feet."
Jun Hui stepped forward, his tone soothing. "Come along. We won't be sharing tables anyway."
Wanyan Xue stomped her foot in irritation.
They ended up sitting at adjacent tables. Watching Meng Zhiyun bat her eyelashes flirtatiously, Jun Ce smirked. "Sixth Brother, it seems your romantic prospects are flourishing."
Jun Hui shot him a knowing glance, silently implying, You're one to talk.
Meanwhile, Meng Zhiyun sipped her tea, oblivious to the growing tension. Suddenly, her maid began furiously scratching her hands.
Upon closer inspection, small blisters had formed on the maid's fingers.
"What's wrong with you?" Meng Zhiyun demanded sharply.
"Mistress... I think I've been exposed to that poison," the maid whimpered.
In an instant, Meng Zhiyun recoiled in horror. "What?! Get away from me this instant!"
The maid trembled, tears welling up in her eyes. "Please forgive me, Mistress!"
Meng Zhiyun felt an unbearable itch spreading across her own hands, which quickly spread to her arms and back. Panic set in as she realized the severity of the situation.
"Hurry back to the mansion!"
As Meng Zhiyun fled in distress, Wanyan Xue watched in confusion. "Why did she leave so suddenly?"
Back at the Right Chancellor's residence, Meng Zhiyun screamed frantically. "Quickly, fetch Father! Call for a doctor!"
By now, her hands were covered in pus-filled blisters, both painful and unbearably itchy.
Her mother, Lady Zhao, rushed to her side. "Oh heavens, what happened to you?!"
Sobbing uncontrollably, Meng Zhiyun cried out, "Mother, help me! It's so itchy!"
Realizing the connection to the Fuchang Poison, Meng Zhiyun glared accusingly at her maid, who was suffering similarly. "It's all your fault! Punish her severely!"
Lady Zhao wasted no time issuing orders. "Drag her away!"
The terrified maid pleaded desperately, "Mistress, spare me! Madam, please show mercy!"
No one batted an eye as the maid was dragged off—such cruelty was routine in this household.
"Mother, hurry and send for a doctor! I must have contracted the Fuchang Poison!"
Lady Zhao gasped. "Fuchang Poison?!"
Though unfamiliar with the specifics, the name alone evoked dread.
"Hurry and summon the imperial physician!"
When the Right Chancellor arrived, he was horrified to see his daughter's face, hands, and exposed skin covered in oozing blisters. Some had already burst, emitting a foul-smelling discharge.
"Don't scratch, child! You'll ruin your appearance!" Lady Zhao pleaded anxiously.
"Mother, it's unbearable! Please knock me unconscious!" Meng Zhiyun wailed.
Lady Zhao ordered the servants, "Fetch ropes! Restrain her!"
Bound to the bed, Meng Zhiyun thrashed violently, screaming in agony. "Father! Mother! It hurts so much! Kill me, please!"
Tears streamed down Lady Zhao's face as she begged her husband for a solution. "My lord, do something! She's our only daughter—we can't lose her!"
The Right Chancellor frowned deeply, his heart aching at the sight of his once-beautiful daughter reduced to this state. Summoning the imperial physician, he prayed for a miracle.
After examining Meng Zhiyun, the physician emerged, shaking his head gravely. "I'm sorry, but this poison is beyond my expertise. Fortunately, the dosage wasn't lethal, so her life isn't in danger—but her appearance..." His voice trailed off regretfully.
Even the imperial physician couldn't cure the poison. What could the Right Chancellor possibly do?