Jiang Yuanfu: "Ah-Xi, you know, I was once a heavenly being..."

Outside the Luo residence, the coachman had just harnessed the carriage and stopped at the gate. Qin Weixi, along with Fenghua and Queshe, boarded the carriage, intending to search the market for some rare treasures. Pu Niang's birthday was approaching, and they would also be visiting Grandmother Zhao at Xiaguang Peak that evening. Today, merchants from all over the country had gathered here, and there were countless novelties to be found.

In the bustling market, Qin Weixi and Feng Hua stood in front of a stall selling silk fans. Years ago in Jiangnan, she had bought such a silk fan for Pu Niang. Pu Niang loved it so much that she would hold it in her arms and gently wave it every year before the sweltering summer heat.

The sight of vendors carrying winter fruits on shoulder poles or selling sugar cakes and roasted chestnuts along the street tempted Feng Hua. Holding a silk fan, she continued to crane her neck and watch until the vendor selling sugar cakes left the street.

Sparrow Tongue, standing to the side with her arms crossed and alert to her surroundings, found her action amusing: "Little Fenghua, are you craving sweets again?"

Feng Hua blushed upon hearing this: "Who said that? I was just taking a look."

Qin Weixi listened, casually untied the purse from his waist, and handed Feng Hua over, saying, "Go buy whatever you want to eat."

Feng Hua blinked: "What would you like to eat, Miss?"

Qin Weixi laughed: "I can eat anything you buy. Order a bag of freshly roasted chestnuts for Miss Sparrow Tongue."

Sparrow Tongue moved a little closer, her eyes shining: "Your Majesty still remembers that I like roasted chestnuts."

Upon hearing the address "Madam," Qin Weixi smiled and picked up his silk fan. Seeing this, Feng Hua hesitated for a moment, clutching the hem of her dress, before quickly disappearing from their sight.

On this day, the streets of Gulou are packed with people. Acrobatic troupes specially come to perform wrestling, lion dancing, or magic tricks like making people disappear, hoping to earn a lot of money and go home to have a good New Year.

Feng Hua was engrossed in looking at a bag of freshly roasted melon seeds, but knew she couldn't linger. She was about to buy some roasted chestnuts, sweet cakes, and sour candied hawthorns, along with the pretty rabbit lantern she had just seen, before heading to find her mistress. But as she turned around, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck.

Feng Hua knew something was wrong, and before he could take two steps or shout, he felt his vision go black and he fainted.

At the other end of the street, Qin Weixi had already bought silk fans, hand-painted lanterns, and lifelike zodiac masks by a painter. She wanted the old man who had lived in seclusion in the mountains all year round to feel, at this moment of the New Year, the prosperity and peace of the people hidden in the streets and alleys of this land under the new governance of the late emperor.

But Feng Hua did not return for a long time.

Qin Weixi was about to return the large and small items in his hands to the carriage when he asked Que She to look for Feng Hua, who was nowhere to be found. Because of the New Year's Lantern Festival, the streets were crowded with people, and as far as the eye could see, they were all ordinary people walking head to head and shoulder to shoulder.

Sparrow Tongue, however, said solemnly, "Madam! The Marquis has instructed his subordinates to stay by your side at all times!"

Qin Weixi smiled and said, "Alright, alright. Then let's take him to the car together. If we pass by any crowded places, can you keep an eye out for Feng Hua?"

Sparrow Tongue hesitated for a long time, but still nodded with a solemn expression.

But he couldn't help but wonder to himself, could this gluttonous little Feng Hua have been kidnapped by human traffickers?

Just then, the two walked to the acrobatic troupe where Feng Hua had just stopped. Que She's sharp eyes darted around and she said to Qin Weixi, "Madam, please wait here for me for a few moments. I'll be right back."

Qin Weixi watched Sparrow Tongue's departing figure with a smile in her eyes, but she actually stayed where she was and waited for her.

Suddenly, someone tapped her on the shoulder from behind: "Qin Weixi—"

Qin Weixi turned her head in an instant, only to see Liang Xi holding a short, sharp blade tightly against her neck. She whispered, "Don't move!"

This scene was witnessed by Luo Chen, who had just finished a business deal with the tea shop owner as he walked out of the shop.

Que She swept the crowd gathered in front of the acrobatic troupe but did not see Feng Hua and had to return. At that moment, she and Luo Chen, who came out of the teahouse, saw Liang Xi restraining Qin Weixi with a sharp blade.

Que She immediately drew her sword and strode towards the mountain, while Luo Chen flew past in the distance. Qin Weixi smiled silently at the two of them and gestured with her bright black eyes for them to calm down.

Anger gradually welled up in Liang Xi's eyes, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Qin Weixi, you really are a persistent ghost!"

Qin Weixi smiled faintly: "Oh? Am I blocking your way?"

Seeing Qin Weixi's calm and composed expression, Liang Xi tightened his grip on the hand hidden in his wide sleeve, moving it a little further toward her snow-white neck.

Blood beads oozed out in an instant.

"Qin Weixi, if you want your maid to live, you'd better come with me."

Qin Weixi, still with her eyes lowered, smiled faintly and said, "When have you ever seen me not leave?"

Not long after, outside the Qin family's old residence.

Sparrow Tongue and Luo Chen, who had been following in the shadows, kept a close eye on Liang Xi, ready to draw their swords against her at any moment.

Inside the old residence of the Qin family.

Liang Xi's personal maid and a man who looked like a servant were tying the unconscious Feng Hua to a pillar under the corridor leading to Qingliang Garden.

Luo Chen also quietly entered the courtyard after Liang Xi, waiting to restrain Liang Xi at any time.

Upon seeing this, Sparrow Tongue, who had already leaped onto the roof, abandoned her sword and instantly reached for the long whip at her waist, swinging it towards the sharp blade in Liang Xi's hand.

In those few breaths, Qin Weixi suddenly gave a cold laugh: "Brother!"

Liang Xi, standing behind him, was startled, then a sudden, burning pain spread throughout her arm, causing her to drop her knife with a low groan. In the blink of an eye, Luo Chen had already leaped forward, grabbed Liang Xi's hand, and dragged her along the ground towards the pillar.

Meanwhile, Que She had already leaped down and knocked down Liang Xi's maid and Liang's servants with whips, and untied the unconscious Feng Hua.

Qin Weixi glanced at Feng Hua, who was now slumped weakly in Que She's arms, and looked back at Liang Xi and Luo Chen, saying, "Could you trouble your cousin to help her up and tell her how those two tied Feng Hua up and how they tied her to them?"

Luo Chen smiled, picked up Liang Xi, who was lying on the ground with a furious look in his eyes, and then left.

With a sharp "smack," Qin Weixi swung his hand without hesitation.

"Qin Weixi! How dare you!" Liang Xi felt a deafening roar in her ears.

"There's nothing I wouldn't dare to do! At least not to you!" Qin Weixi walked step by step toward Liang Xi, looking at her coldly: "Was that murder in the spring, Liang Xi?"

"What makes you think it's me! Qin Weixi, I really thought you were dead, buried in the river, your soul scattered, unable to return to your homeland, and buried all alone in..." Liang Xi was still full of anger, cursing incessantly, and was about to step forward to scratch her.

Qin Weixi suddenly chuckled and grabbed Liang Xi's prized hair. Liang Xi screamed, echoing throughout Qingliang Garden, but no one could answer her.

"You dare! You still dare to grab my hair! You're the one who cut my hair back then..."

Qin Weixi grabbed a strand of her beautiful hair, quickly wrapped it around his hand, and then pulled it downwards forcefully. He smiled and said, "You're wrong. Children's fights are not quite the same as adults' fights."

"Sparrow Tongue, bring me your sword!"

Sparrow Tongue immediately threw the sword at her waist and gave Liang Xi a wicked smile.

Qin Weixi took the sword with one hand, drew it from its sheath, and in a flash cut off most of Liang Xi's waist-length hair.

Liang Xi grabbed a lock of his black hair that had fallen to the ground in the wind and cried out hoarsely, "Qin Weixi, I'll kill you!"

*

Outside the Qin family's old residence, Chu Yening and Tao Qingyun led Meng Yu from the Luo residence to the Qin residence. Except for the strict guards at the Donghua Gate when they left the palace, Tao Qingyun, to avoid alerting the people attending the banquet at the Taihe Hall that day, continued to hold Meng Yu hostage after leaving the palace. Meng Yu remained silent and cooperated with Tao Qingyun throughout.

Tao Qingyun smiled coldly upon seeing this and ordered Fa Cai to park the carriage elsewhere. At this moment, Fa Cai suddenly exclaimed "Eh!" and said warily, "Young master, there's a carriage parked over there!"

Tao Qingyun and Chu Yening both stared intently at them. After leaving the palace, Fa Cai drove the carriage, and the two of them, along with Meng Yu, went to the Luo residence. However, they learned from Gu Han that Qin Weixi had taken Feng Hua and the girl Que She out. So Fa Cai drove the carriage to Gulou Street but still couldn't find them. Fa Cai was at a loss, but Chu Yening lifted the carriage curtain and leaned out, saying to him, "Go to the Qin family!"

Tao Qingyun's cold eyes turned towards the carriage, then she handed Meng Yu, who was under the knife, to Chu Yening. He then strode over, lifted the curtain, and saw a girl in a gorgeous dress trembling inside the carriage, her face deathly pale.

Tao Qingyun shouted sharply, "Jiang Yuanfu, you're hopeless!"

After saying this, Tao Qingyun pulled the trembling Jiang Yuanfu off the carriage and ran towards the Qin family's old residence. It was at this moment that the group saw Qin Weixi grabbing Liang Xi's black hair and intercepting her with a sword outside the Qingliang Garden in the inner courtyard of the Qin family.

Chu Yening, whose eyes were filled with hostility and who had remained silent since leaving the palace, suddenly chuckled softly.

Zi Shu followed the group all the way here, and the moment she saw Princess Zhenhui outside the Qin family's old residence, she was already in a panic. Ever since Meng Yu brought that eerie black box back to the palace that day, and she saw the princess put the clay doll inside, she had felt uneasy and had nightmares every night.

During the day, she served the princess as usual, but secretly observed her every word and action without the princess's knowledge. The princess, who usually loved to laugh and play with the palace maids, had been keeping herself secluded in the palace since the Dragon Boat Festival, remaining silent all day or staring blankly at the box for a long time.

Today, Her Highness the Princess rarely left the palace. Because it was the New Year's banquet, all the palace servants went to receive the food bestowed by the Emperor. In just a few moments, she inexplicably found a key in the Princess's dressing case, which she never allowed anyone to touch, based on her usual habits. She then took the key with trembling hands and walked towards the black box on the multi-treasure cabinet.

The character "Xi" was indeed a character. In that instant, her face turned deathly pale. She recalled how, during the Dingguo case, the princess, dressed in plain clothes and abandoning her former glory, had walked all the way to His Majesty's Imperial Study to plead for the young girl from the Qin family.

They were once inseparable sisters. They would wear dresses of the same color, have water cups with the same designs, and often sleep in the same bed. Why are they like this now...?

Inside Qingliang Garden, Zi Shu knelt down with a thud.

Liang Xi also looked shocked when she saw Jiang Yuanfu.

Today is the New Year's banquet. Thinking of her brother who was living in a daze at home and her younger brother who had disappeared, she followed her father into the palace, feeling humiliated and surrounded by the gossip of noble ladies.

Her father said to her earnestly, "Son, if you can gain the princess's favor now, your brother will definitely get better. Our Liang family will also get better. If it weren't for my old bones supporting us, our Liang family would probably be finished."

To her surprise, Princess Zhenhui treated her no differently than before, or rather, no differently since the Luo family's daughter returned to the capital. Suddenly, she thought of that gentle and refined gentleman, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Why, why was he born into the Luo family?

Princess Zhenhui smiled and rewarded her with a bowl of sweet cheese. Amidst the envy of the noble ladies, she led her out of the palace. After all these days, a smile finally appeared on her face.

But the princess didn't say where she was going. She only said that they were going to visit the Empress Dowager at Xiaguang Peak that night and wanted to look for some new and interesting treasures outside the palace.

The princess also said to her: "Axi, I was just thinking of having my mother recognize you as her goddaughter. You've suffered these past few days. In this way, you can also have a good marriage."

She was flattered and overwhelmed. When she looked up, she met Princess Zhenhui, who was in tears. Just as she was about to speak, she saw the princess lift the curtain of the carriage and look into the bustling city. She said softly, "Axi, you know, I was once a favored daughter of heaven."

Why isn't she like that now? She is still the precious daughter of the noble family within the many gates.

Liang Xi was momentarily bewildered, but following her gaze, she saw a pair of bright women in the crowd, dressed in pale yellow silk robes, smiling gently.

She blurted out, "Luo Zhaoxing."

Suddenly, a voice rang in her ears, filling her with endless fear.

"No, that's Afu's seventh sister."

Seventh Sister?

Liang Xi suddenly opened her eyes wide. She suddenly remembered the Star Gazing Tower in spring, the Wu Ding Marquis family who were exiled to the border, Li Sheng who was beheaded in the bustling market, Gao Jian, the Minister of Works who carved sixteen characters on his body to plead for the Qin family, and her brother who almost lost his life.

Qin Weixi! She blurted out.

It's her! She's come to claim my life!

Without hesitation, she got off the carriage with her personal maid, her anger blazing as she looked at the bright-eyed, white-toothed woman in the crowd. She then quickly whispered some instructions to her maid.

But at that moment, she suddenly awoke with the biting winter wind, and when she came to her senses, she saw the carriage still standing there with its curtains motionless.

And there was that strange, pitch-black box she saw in Princess Zhenhui's bedchamber that day.

She might as well go all the way! Everything the Liang family has now is thanks to her!

Qin Weixi looked at the group of people who suddenly appeared in front of him and Jiang Yuanfu, who was being dragged over by Tao Qingyun, whose face was ashen.

And then there was the eunuch who was held captive by Chu Yening.

She walked quickly past, her gaze shifting from the reassuring eyes to the eunuch's face.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still.

She recognized those eyes.

Chu Yening, who had been staring intently at the girl in front of him, tightened his grip on her hand even more as her face turned deathly pale.

"You're not dead?" Qin Weixi asked Meng Yu with an icy look in her eyes.

Meng Yu realized the meaning of those words and looked up at the woman in front of him.

After a moment, he gave a sinister smile: "Little girl, I never expected you to be alive either."

Chu Yening suddenly let out a cold laugh, "As expected."

"That arrow was because I didn't teach it well back then."

He looked at Meng Yu with a half-smile, but his eyes held an extreme killing intent: "I'm not in a good mood right now, so I'll take your life first."