Inside the main hall of Fengya Building,

Yun Xiaoran sat down in the main seat, supported by Granny Li, and looked at the woman standing a few steps away.

The woman, dressed as a palace maid, was quite old, and her eyes were as sharp as knives.

They were completely different from the maids and servants in this mansion.

Yun Xiaoran leaned back in her chair, her discomfort making her still very irritable.

"What's your name?"

"Mu Zhen!"

"What does the Empress Dowager want with you here?"

"The Empress Dowager was worried that the county princess would be lonely and helpless in the mansion, so she sent me to help her, to eliminate the Jiang family, win back the Ninth Prince's heart, and ensure the county princess's lifelong wealth and honor."

Mu Zhen raised his head as he spoke.

"But there is one thing: I will not be a slave. If the county magistrate agrees, I will stay; if the county magistrate does not agree, I will leave immediately."

Yun Xiaoran looked her up and down.

"Since you were recommended by the Empress Dowager, you must have some real skills. If you're trying to fool me, I will certainly..."

Mu Zhen nodded slightly.

"Princess, please have the servants prepare a bowl of contraceptive soup first."

Yun Xiaoran was taken aback and sat up abruptly, her facial features contorted from the soreness and pain in her lower back.

"What...what nonsense are you talking about?"

Mu Zhen raised his finger and pointed to his abdomen.

“The county princess already has fertility here. If she does not drink the contraceptive soup, she will surely conceive secretly, which will lead to endless troubles.”

Granny Li hurriedly tried to prepare, but Yun Xiaoran stopped her.

She looked at Mu Zhen with a sinister gaze.

"If you dare tell anyone, I have a hundred ways to kill you."

Mu Zhen bowed slightly.

"Now that I have pledged allegiance to the county magistrate, I am now her person. I will clear all obstacles for her. Only when you rise to prominence can I do better. We... are in the same boat."

Yun Xiaoran found these words very pleasing.

She slowly stroked her lower abdomen, feeling nauseous yet inexplicably excited.

"If I want this child to become the eldest son of the Ninth Prince's mansion, do you have a way to do that?"

Granny Li knelt down on the ground with a thud.

“Princess, confusing the royal bloodline is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family.”

Enraged, Yun Xiaoran kicked her in the face.

"Who told you that the county magistrate is going to give birth to him? I want this child to die in the womb, and I want that bitch Jiang Qingwan to pay for this child's life!"

Mu Zhen looked at the fierce glint in Yun Xiaoran's eyes and slowly curled the corners of his lips.

"Alright! However, we should wait until the Ninth Prince returns to the capital before making any plans. We must not rush things. Before that, Princess, please refrain from any rash actions."

Yun Xiaoran pouted impatiently.

"Do you need to remind me? But punishing Jiang Qingwan is of utmost urgency."

Mu Zhen shook his head again.

“I have my own plan for this matter. Given the Ninth Prince’s temperament, the way he killed Jiang Qingwan will definitely not be traced back to you. Only in this way can we turn the tide.”

Yun Xiaoran did not refute this point.

Mu Zhen's eyes darted around, and she leaned down to ask, "Is that man from last night still alive?"

Yun Xiaoran felt nauseous just thinking about last night.

“I cut off his tongue, broke his hands and feet, and even cut off his genitals. I want to make him suffer all kinds of torture before I send him to his death.”

The more wicked she was, the more Mu Zhen appreciated it.

"Hand this person over to me; I have a better plan."

As she spoke, she took out a porcelain bottle from her bosom and handed it over with her hands clasped in respect.

"If a woman takes this pill for ten days, her body will be restored to its original state. The Ninth Prince should be back in ten days."

Yun Xiaoran was overjoyed and immediately took it, opened it, and smelled it. Sure enough, the fragrance of the medicine was refreshing and invigorating, and it was clearly no ordinary product.

"Granny Li, take her to see that cripple. Don't let him appear before me again."

Mu Zhen bowed respectfully, glancing furtively at Yun Xiaoran's abdomen. A strange blackness flashed in his eyes, as if for a moment, it swallowed up the whites of his eyes.

This is truly a gift from heaven for a ghost baby. It is fed by sacrificing its own father, and once it is successfully born, it will kill people without leaving a trace.

Inside the dilapidated woodshed,

Wang Tiezhu lay paralyzed in a large earthenware jar; the smell of blood was masked by the smell of earth, and was not strong.

Granny Li dared not go in; she led the way to her seat and then left.

In the most dilapidated courtyard of Fengyazhu, Muzhen called out to Granny Li.

"I will live here from now on. I don't need maids or servants. Just leave my three meals a day at the door on time. No outsiders are allowed to come in from now on."

Those who can become celestial masters usually have some strange rules.

Since this person was sent by the Empress Dowager, Granny Li naturally didn't think much of it. After agreeing, she turned around and ordered people to go inside to clean and deliver daily necessities.

Mu Zhen closed the door to the woodshed before looking again at the large urn containing Wang Tiezhu.

The excitement in his eyes grew even stronger.

"You actually suffered the backlash from the talisman, and your manhood was cut off and your desires were locked up. You are truly an excellent nourishment without me having to work hard to refine you. It seems that the Jiang family set up a trap in this elegant building. They really do have some skills."

...

As evening approached, Jiang Qingwan returned to the Prince's Mansion, but instead of going to the backyard, she went to Shuya Courtyard to see Song Yushu.

The two chatted for a while inside, and even had a meal and drinks together.

The kitchen staff mobilized many people to serve the dishes, and even roasted two chickens on the spot. The lively atmosphere lasted until it was completely dark.

Yu Ying summoned Lian'er and Li Dou, saying that the princess was drunk and staying at Shuya Courtyard, and asked them to go and serve her.

Just before curfew, a convoy of goods passed through inspection and left the city gate.

They sped along and came to a stop in a deserted grove of trees on the outskirts of town.

Not long after they stopped, two more carriages arrived to join them.

One car carried Luo Jiu and a bunch of toolboxes, while the other carried Qing Sui, Lian'er, and Li Dou, along with Xiao Hong, who was sprawled in Lian'er's arms, gnawing on a chicken leg.

The drivers were all Su Liuer's trusted confidants and spies from Huailou.

At this moment, Su Liuer was dressed in men's clothing, looking exceptionally heroic.

"The journey is long, and we will not stop at any post stations along the way. If any of you feel unwell, medicine is prepared in the caravan. Please let me know."

Qinghui got up to get off the bus.

"I'm going to keep the princess company."

Lian'er also insisted on going, but Su Liu'er stopped her.

Luo Jiu was also getting anxious.

"I'll go and give the princess a ride; I still have a lot of questions to ask."

Everyone turned to look at him.

Luo Jiu had already taken a bath and changed his clothes, and his hair was neatly combed, giving him the air of a hermit master.

"Why are you all looking at me like that? We still need the Princess to break through this trap, so we must make the most of every moment."

He said that he was holding a toolbox and preparing to jump.

Su Liuer rubbed her forehead.

She already knew Luo Jiu's identity, so her attitude was naturally respectful.

“Sir, you are full of energy, but the princess has been drinking and has just arrived after a long and bumpy journey. She is already asleep. It is not appropriate for you, a man, to do this.”

Luo Jiu's face flushed instantly, and she muttered something before sitting back down.

"You didn't say she was asleep."

Then he became somewhat dissatisfied.

"The prince is in dire straits, yet she still has the mood to drink and sleep soundly?"

Su Liuer pursed her lips, said nothing more, and turned back to the carriage in front.

The convoy sped toward Qingfeng Village in the darkness.