CHAPTER 227: CHAPTER 227: MEDICINE PILL

The sound of Feiying’s coughing came from outside the rock garden. In desperation, Fengyu pushed Xie Xun’s shoulder, but it wouldn’t budge. Overcome with emotion, Xie Xun was acting impulsively, so Fengyu leaned against his shoulder and bit him hard.

"Calm down..." Fengyu sobbed as she called out to him, biting and twisting at him. Stung by the pain, Xie Xun finally calmed down. "If you don’t want to suffer, then stop biting me."

Fengyu: "..."

As he held onto her, his breathing was heavy. He raised his voice, asking, "What is it?"

Feiying, who had just watched him carry Third Miss into the rock garden, felt awkward about disturbing his master’s business but could only steel himself and say, "Master, there’s been a development."

Xie Xun took a deep breath, suppressing the rolling tide of emotions within him. "Understood."

Fengyu couldn’t help but recall when, during the archery banquet, they had also hidden in a rock garden. But back then, Xie Xun had despised her. She was lost in her thoughts when Xie Xun led her out. "Summon Nuanyang over!"

"Yes!"

Xie Xun had Nuanyang brought over to protect Fengyu, avoiding any further awkward situations like what had just occurred. Fengyu was already too embarrassed to lift her head. Xie Xun patted her head lightly in a comforting gesture before leaving with Feiying.

As soon as he left, the oppressive atmosphere dissipated, and Fengyu let out a heavy sigh of relief. Nuanyang teased her, "Miss, should I escort you back to the mansion first?"

The affair at Mudan Building wasn’t finished yet. Fengyu gently shook her head; she was worried about Lady Thirteen and wanted to wait a while longer. "Did any news come from the front?"

Nuanyang led her to a small building at the far east side to rest, speaking as they walked. "In the main building, someone got drunk, so Feiying had the courtesans coax some information out of them. Sure enough, we learned a bit: Dugu Jing’s twin sister, Dugu Hongying, is the Beiman Saintess, raised from a young age at the Sorcerer’s Mansion. She’s skilled in poison crafting and gu-raising. Originally, the plan was for the Princess to marry the Crown Prince as part of a political alliance. But later, the Crown Prince and Dugu Jing seemed to have struck some sort of deal, and the alliance was called off. Now, Dugu Jing wants to poison and kill everyone in our Marquis Mansion. Truly a dark and vicious heart—two nations go to war, casualties are unavoidable, but does the Beiman Royal Family’s dead truly outweigh ours? So many noble sons of our Marquis Mansion were lost on the Ningzhou Battlefield back then. When only the Marquis was left, the line almost ended."

The more Nuanyang spoke, the more aggrieved she became. "I was born into this household; my mother served the Madam since she was young. After Madam gave birth to the Eldest Miss, her health suffered, and she wasn’t able to conceive for many years. Meanwhile, the Marquis fought life and death on the battlefield. Fearing the end of the Marquis lineage, Madam painfully accepted concubines for him. In the years before the Eldest Young Master was born, every time the Madam made offerings to the ancestral tablets, her eyes were red. It wasn’t until the Eldest Young Master and the Second Young Master were born that the Madam could finally face her ancestors with some peace of mind. Perhaps it was because the burden lifted from her heart that her health improved, and so she was able to eventually give birth to our Master. Had the Madam been a little selfish back then, our Marquis lineage might have ended with the Marquis himself. Why does Dugu Jing resent Marquis Mansion so much? Whose family hasn’t lost someone? Are their lives the only ones that matter? The Marquis has both a blood feud of murdered father and slain brothers with them. But for the sake of negotiation, he’s endured it all. And yet they still wish to exterminate us completely—it’s intolerable!"

"Nuanyang, be good, don’t cry!" Nuanyang was younger than Fengyu, still childish, and at the mention of sorrowful matters, she began to cry. Fengyu could only comfort him. "Dugu Jing brought the Princess here for negotiations, meaning to form another marriage alliance. Once Princess Huazhen married into Beiman, there would be familial ties between Beiman and Yanyang, so there’d be no need to keep the Princess in Beiman. If not for Second Young Master being injured and Marquis Mansion counterattacking, Princess Huazhen would’ve become wed here. Dugu Jing’s original plan must’ve been to keep the Princess in Yanyang—she’s adept with poisons and gu worms. The consequences could’ve been unthinkable."

"Such petty tricks. Second Young Master had known long ago about the Beiman Princess’s skills in poison and gu crafting. He arranged for people to inspect the Marquis Mansion’s food every day. Neither the Marquis nor any of the young masters have ever been targeted successfully."

"Second Young Master is so meticulous!" Fengyu sincerely admired Xie Jue. The more she admired him, the more she felt pity for his injured eyes. "A few more days and the Beiman people will leave the capital. Once they’re gone, we can finally breathe easier."

Yanyang knew very little about Beiman; separated by Sha Ling Tian Mountain, there was always unease. No one could guess what schemes they might be plotting. The Beiman openly declared their intent to annihilate Marquis Mansion—how did they intend to do it? Poison?

Fengyu hoped Xie Xun could extract more information.

Nuanyang led her to the easternmost pavilion, where Fengyu sat by the window, lost in thought. No matter how she pondered it, she couldn’t make sense of the Beiman’s plan—their actions seemed rife with contradictions.

She also worried: what if this was a trap in itself?

Fengyu was deeply protective; even during the days when she and Xie Xun disliked each other, she often sent jewelry and silk fabrics to the Marquis Mansion because of Feng Shu. She was particularly fond of the ladies in the mansion. Now that she and Xie Xun shared a mutual affection, she was even more concerned about the mansion’s safety.

The negotiations and the new policies had placed the Marquis Mansion under great scrutiny. If it weren’t for the Northern Iron Cavalry, Emperor Jianming would’ve acted against the mansion long ago. She worried the emperor might use the Beiman as an excuse to destroy them.

The festivities in the main building went on until midnight. The eastern pavilion was far from the main building, making it very quiet.

After midnight, Lady Thirteen returned to the eastern pavilion, exhausted, her legs trembling, hair disheveled, and her neck marked with bite marks. Fengyu blushed furiously at the sight. She felt sorry for Lady Thirteen but was also inexplicably embarrassed.

"Miss, why are you here?" Lady Thirteen’s voice was hoarse as she hastily adjusted her clothes, though the marks on her body were hard to conceal.

She wasn’t ashamed, only worried about startling her lady.

Fengyu tried to act composed but couldn’t help worrying about Lady Thirteen. "Were you bullied by Dugu Jing?"

Lady Thirteen chuckled, her natural allure making her laughter enchanting. Even Fengyu, as a woman, was momentarily entranced. Nuanyang kept his distance once Lady Thirteen returned.

After a simple wash and change of clothes, Lady Thirteen leaned weakly against Fengyu, her legs still trembling. From up close, Fengyu could see the bite marks on her neck even more clearly.

Dugu Jing is so vicious—what is he, a dog?

Feeling distressed, Fengyu touched Lady Thirteen’s face. "I’m so sorry."

"Why are you apologizing out of nowhere?" Lady Thirteen smiled, affectionately playing with Fengyu’s hair ribbon, her smile filled with indulgence.

"If it weren’t for me and Xie Xun, you wouldn’t have had to compromise with Dugu Jing and be bullied by him." Fengyu’s eyes reddened. "You suffered to divert him."

Lady Thirteen hesitated and then burst out in laughter, clutching Fengyu’s arm for support as her body shook uncontrollably. Fengyu was left bewildered by her reaction. Tears streamed from Lady Thirteen’s eyes as she laughed. "Did you see anything?"

Fengyu awkwardly nodded.

Lady Thirteen didn’t want Fengyu to dwell on this or feel guilty. "It was entirely consensual, just a fleeting pleasure. Don’t call it suffering—it’s nothing of the sort. As long as I’m happy, it doesn’t matter who’s on the bed."

"..." Fengyu didn’t understand. Her neck was bitten until it bled.

Seeing Fengyu’s confusion, Lady Thirteen chuckled softly. "I’m not some innocent maiden. I have no lover, and I owe no one—my only goal is my own pleasure. Dugu Jing is young and handsome, and quite... passionate. It’s been ages since I’ve experienced something so thrilling. Miss, between a man and a woman, as long as both parties are willing, there’s no talk of suffering. You’ll understand once you’re married."

She sighed regretfully. "What a pity that he’s a Beiman man and will soon leave the capital. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind him coming to find me more often."

Fengyu: "?"

She didn’t understand but was deeply shocked. Lady Thirteen merely found her adorable. "Miss, in a year or two, before you get married, I’ll teach you."

"Teach me what?" Fengyu was baffled.

Lady Thirteen gave her a sly wink. "Things that make you happy."

Fengyu didn’t understand what Lady Thirteen meant but still felt her face burn. Lady Thirteen sighed. "Too bad Dugu Jing isn’t talkative. I was afraid he’d get suspicious. Otherwise, I might’ve been able to extract some information for the Young Marquis."

"There’s no need to take risks—that’s Xie Xun’s responsibility," Fengyu said. "Although I don’t completely understand what you’re saying... as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters."

"Miss, you’re so adorable. The Young Marquis is truly fortunate." Wen Shisan’s fingers brushed over Fengyu’s brows, a smile on her face. But there was worry hidden beneath her laughter. She buried her own concerns, deciding not to trouble her lady with them.

Dugu Jing would soon return to Beiman, and who knows when they’d meet again.

"I think so, too!" Fengyu also felt that Xie Xun was very lucky.

The two exchanged a smile. Wen Shisan silently thought to herself—Miss had saved her and her sisters as a child. Three years ago, when they reunited, she had once again rescued them from a dire situation. Otherwise, they’d have long become playthings in some nobleman’s backyard, far from the carefree lifestyle they now enjoyed.

For her lady, she would go through fire and water without hesitation, even at the cost of her life!

A Protector from Mudan Building rushed in hurriedly, looking panicked. "Lady Thirteen, something’s happened up front."

Wen Shisan’s expression tightened. "What is it?"

"Dugu Jing claims he’s lost a jade pendant and is digging through everything to find it."

What kind of jade pendant is worth such a commotion? Fengyu wondered, unsure if Xie Xun’s plan had gone smoothly. Wen Shisan exchanged a brief word with Fengyu before heading to the main building.

Fengyu had a sudden thought and pulled out a small jade bottle from her sleeve. Earlier, she had found two such bottles among Dugu Jing’s belongings. Surely, Dugu Jing wouldn’t cause such a scene over a jade pendant in the middle of the night.

She grew suspicious and opened the bottles. Inside, she discovered two sets of pills, one scarlet and one crimson. Fengyu’s heart raced. Could Dugu Jing’s search actually be for these bottles?

Retrieving two pieces of silk cloth, she poured out a pill from each bottle before summoning Nuanyang. She instructed him to toss the jade bottles into the garden outside the main building, leading the Beiman to search there.

If Dugu Jing couldn’t find them, it might cause trouble for Mudan Building.

Nuanyang excelled at such tasks, completing it without flaw. As Fengyu predicted, Dugu Jing indeed sought these two bottles. Her brows furrowed slightly—what was so special about these pills?

After retrieving the bottles, Dugu Jing led the Beiman away. Wen Shisan stayed behind to clean up the aftermath.

When Xie Xun came for Fengyu, it was already early morning. Fengyu asked worriedly, "How did it go?"

"The Beiman indeed plan to wipe out Marquis Mansion, but I couldn’t uncover the exact method." Xie Xun’s expression was grim, his heart filled with unease. He had done his best, yet the specifics of the Beiman’s scheme eluded his grasp.

Fengyu said, "If Dugu Jing truly seeks revenge, this plan must be highly confidential, known only to the masterminds. It’s not certain that we can uncover the details. Just be vigilant before they leave the capital."

Xie Xun and Fengyu had anticipated that they might not glean much information tonight. However, the evening wasn’t a complete loss. Fengyu handed him the two pills. "Dugu Jing falsely claimed he was searching for a jade pendant. In truth, he was looking for these bottles of pills. I hid them before leaving earlier. Have someone investigate whether they’re useful."

"Alright. Let me escort you back to the mansion first."