CHAPTER 143: CHAPTER

Mo Lan rolled her eyes dramatically and turned away, clearly done with the argument.

But Mo Ying wasn’t. He turned slowly toward San Na, the only one who had remained silent through all the chaos.

"And where were you when all this happened?" he asked, stepping toward her.

Every head snapped toward the two of them.

San Na, calm as ever, stood with her hands neatly folded and her expression perfectly composed.

She let out a soft sigh before speaking in a low, gentle voice, too gentle, almost rehearsed.

"If you think I’m responsible for this... that is truly hurtful, General," she said. "As my husband, you shouldn’t even suspect me in the slightest."

The way she looked at him, with those same eyes he had grown tired of, those sly, calculating eyes made his jaw tighten.

"You still haven’t answered my question, San Na," Mo Ying said, voice turning colder. "Where were you when everything happened?"

San Na gave a tiny, practiced laugh, like she was amused.

"Once again, you shouldn’t be asking me that, husband," she said. "Because the last time I checked, you never allow anyone to question Lin Xu." Her smile widened just a bit. "Even when all the evidence pointed to her, you defended her without hesitation. So why are you suddenly questioning me?"

Her words, soft yet sharp, cut deeply through the air.

Mo Ying’s expression darkened instantly.

"San Na!" he snapped, his voice rising with real anger for the first time that night.

San Na didn’t flinch. She simply tilted her head, watching him... almost enjoying his reaction.

"Why are you shouting?" she whispered. "Did I touch a nerve?"

Mo Ying took a step closer, towering over her. "Stop evading. I asked you a simple question. Answer it."

San Na’s fingers curled slightly at her side.. but her face remained beautifully composed.

"Fine," she said at last. "If you must know... I was in my courtyard. I was tired from the banquet and went to rest. I didn’t expect to be dragged into this mess."

Mo Lan muttered under her breath, "Convenient excuse number two..."

San Na shot her a cold glare but ignored her.

"I had nothing to do with Lady Xu’s poisoning," San Na continued. "And the fact that my own husband doubts me.... because of her... is what truly hurts."

She pointed subtly toward the door where Lin Xu had disappeared.

Mo Ying’s face tightened with irritation.

"This isn’t about feelings," he said sharply. "This is about finding the truth."

"And yet the only person you protect is Lin Xu," San Na replied, voice trembling with a mix of anger and fake vulnerability. "You didn’t even hesitate to push me aside for her. Tell me, General... if she asked you to draw your sword on me, would you?"

Mo Ying’s remaining patience snapped.

"Enough," he said coldly. "Don’t twist this."

But San Na wasn’t done. She had been holding this in.

"You’ve been bewitched by her," she said, her voice cracking like she was on the verge of tears. "Ever since she came here, you’ve changed. You look at her like—"

"San Na," Mo Ying warned again, voice low and dangerous.

For the first time, San Na fell silent.

Around them, the family shifted uncomfortably, the tension thick enough to cut.

Just then—

A servant sprinted toward them, out of breath.

The servant had barely finished speaking when—

"Announce the arrival of the Prime Minister’s household!"

The atmosphere, already tense, snapped even tighter.

Heavy, hurried footsteps echoed through the courtyard as the Prime Minister Lady Xu’s father.. marched in with his officials, guards, and his wife right beside him. Their faces were dark with worry and anger.

Madame Mo stiffened immediately.

The Prime Minister’s eyes swept the room sharply, landing on Mo Ying first.

"General Mo," he barked, voice deep and ringing. "Where is my daughter? I heard she fainted and is now in critical condition! If anything happens to her, even your military rank will not save you!"

Madame Mo and the Prime Minister exchanged a quick glance.

Mo Ying bowed slightly but his voice stayed steady. "Lady Xu is being taken care of. We have everything under control."

"That better be true," the Prime Minister snapped. "Because if my daughter loses even a single breath, I swear this entire household will answer for it."

Mo Lan, never missing a chance to stir trouble, stepped forward quickly.

"Prime Minister," she said sweetly, "it’s all the fault of a concubine, Lin Xu. She caused all of this."

Madame Xu, Lady Xu’s mother who had been trembling with anxiety, suddenly lifted her head sharply.

"A concubine?" she hissed. "A mere concubine dared to harm my daughter? Where is she? Bring her out, I will teach her a lesson she will never forget!"

The Mo family tensed instantly.

Mo Ying took one step forward, blocking their path. His voice turned icy.

"No one touches Lin Xu. She did nothing wrong."

The Prime Minister frowned deeply. "You dare defend the woman who harmed my child?"

"She didn’t harm her," Mo Ying repeated firmly.

The Xu family exploded in outrage.

Madame Xu pointed at him angrily. "General Mo, have you gone mad? My daughter lies inside fighting for her life, and you protect another woman?!"

"I protect the innocent," Mo Ying shot back.

Mo Lan scoffed loudly. "Of course he does. He’d protect her even if she burned down the entire estate."

San Na folded her arms, watching silently with a thin smile, enjoying every moment of the chaos.

Grandma Mo quickly stepped in, raising her hands. "Prime Minister Xu, Madame Xu, please calm yourselves. We understand your fear, but accusing without proof will only cause more trouble."

Uncle Mo nodded hastily. "Yes, yes. Let’s wait for the physician.. or for the young woman inside before jumping to conclusions."

Madame Xu glared. "Wait? While my daughter dies inside?!"

"She isn’t dying," Mo Ying said through clenched teeth. "I already said the situation is under control."

"Under control?!" the Prime Minister roared. "My daughter collapses in your estate and you dare speak of control? If anything—"

The door suddenly creaked open.

Every head turned instantly.

Lin Xu stepped out, calm but exhausted, her clothes slightly rumpled from effort.

She bowed respectfully to the Prime Minister.

"Lady Xu is stable now," she said. "Her breathing has returned to normal. The poison has been neutralized."

Silence.

Complete, stunned silence.

The Xu family froze.

The Mo family stared.

Even Mo Ying blinked in shock for half a second before relief washed through his eyes.

Lin Xu continued softly, "She is resting. You may see her now."

After a long, stunned pause...

Madame Xu rushed forward.

"Where is she?! Take me to her!"

The Prime Minister followed quickly, still tense but visibly shaken.

The entire courtyard, once roaring with anger, fell into an uneasy silence.

They all hurried inside almost tripping over each other and froze the moment they saw the scene before them.

Lady Xu was no longer pale and trembling.

She was sitting up on her bed, supported by pillows, her cheeks showing a faint healthy color for the first time since the incident.

Her mother gasped loudly and rushed to her.

"My child!" Madame Xu cried as she pulled Lady Xu carefully into her arms. The two hugged tightly, Lady Xu weak but conscious enough to cling back.

The Prime Minister let out a shaky breath, the anger on his face slowly melting into relief.

Grandma Mo turned immediately to Lin Xu.

"How... how did you manage this, child?" she asked, genuinely shocked.

Lin Xu rubbed her hands together awkwardly, her expression flustered. She laughed lightly.

"Ah... well... only the physician will understand the details, Grandmother Mo. It’s nothing impressive."

The physician who had been doubting her from the start, frowned and walked quickly to Lady Xu’s side to check her pulse.

He placed two fingers on her wrist.

A moment passed.

Then another.

His eyes widened.

"This... This is unbelievable..." he whispered.

Uncle Mo leaned forward. "What is it?"

The physician straightened slowly, still staring at Lady Xu’s wrist.

"Her pulse is strong and steady... The poison has been completely neutralized."

A wave of murmurs swept through the room.

Madame Mo’s jaw dropped slightly.

The Prime Minister stared at Lin Xu with a complicated expression.

Mo Lan looked like she had swallowed a lemon.

And Mo Ying...

Mo Ying actually closed his eyes for a moment, relieved beyond words.

Then he reached for Lin Xu’s hand and squeezed it gently.

"You did well," he said softly, just loud enough for only her to hear.

Lin Xu felt her chest warm up at his words.

From the corner of the room, San Na stood rigid, her hands tightening around her sleeves. Her gaze flickered between Mo Ying and Lin Xu, her expression growing darker by the second.

She said nothing...

but the anger in her eyes was unmistakable.

’you may have won this round Lin Xu but this game is surely not over.’