At this time, lanterns had already been lit in the mansion, and Zhi Cui took one and held it in front to light the way.

A tree shook in front of them, and before they could react, one of them lunged at them.

Zhi Cui quickly stood in front of Shi Lan, forming an angle with Dan Cai to protect her.

The man stumbled and fell to the ground, struggling to crawl forward a couple of times. As if he had used up all his strength, he said in a hoarse voice, "Please save me, Your Highness's wife."

Shi Lan recognized the voice, pushed Dan Cai aside, and looked down at the newcomer. "Who are you?"

The person raised their head, revealing their face under the lantern.

"This servant is Baoxia."

Shi Lan was somewhat surprised, and at the same time became a little wary. After all, she had served Qian Zhiqing before. Even if she wasn't in front of Qian Zhiqing at the moment, who knew if she was secretly doing things for her?

With a pale face, she stared at Bao Xia and said, "Where have all the rules of the manor gone? How dare you appear in front of your master like this?"

Bao Xia shrank back, prostrated herself on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, sobbing, "Granny Qi asked the madam for me, wanting to marry me off to her nephew. I refused, so she sent people to take me away. Please, Madam, help me, don't let her capture me." After saying this, she lay on the ground and refused to get up.

Shi Lan was wary of her and didn't want to get involved in this matter, so she decided to just walk past.

Seeing that she did not answer, Bao Xia quickly crawled two steps on her knees and said, "Her nephew indulges in all sorts of vices, and I have no other choice but to come to you for help." She wiped away her tears, moved slightly, and said, "I know you are in a difficult situation. I only ask that you protect me for half a day. Once I have raised enough money, I will ask Granny Ruan to mediate."

Shi Lan stopped and looked down at her.

The coarse cloth clothes, washed white, had many scratches on them. Her once neatly combed sideburns were now disheveled. Her once handsome face showed signs of vicissitude and weariness, and her fair fingers were covered with fine calluses.

“If you want protection, why come to me? I think the young lady would be more willing to take you in.”

Shi Lan's voice was cold and indifferent. Bao Xia felt a chill in her heart and quickly scrambled a few steps, saying, "Miss Biao did send someone to look for me, but I have already been hurt by her and do not want to have anything to do with her anymore." She bowed down and kowtowed heavily, saying, "I was reckless before. If the young master's wife is not satisfied, she may punish me as she sees fit. Bao Xia will have no complaints."

Shi Lan pursed her lips and pondered for a moment.

Normally, Shi Lan would probably agree to such a request, but having just concluded that Qian Zhiqing had a conspiracy and that Bao Xia had once been her man, Shi Lan didn't want to be the farmer who warmed the snake.

Bao Xia lowered her head and slowly straightened up, seemingly waiting for Shi Lan's decision.

Just as Shi Lan was about to take a step, she suddenly lunged forward. Shi Lan instinctively dodged, and Bao Xia only landed at her feet. A strange fragrance suddenly wafted over.

Shi Lan knew something was wrong and quickly covered her nose, saying urgently, "Hold your breath."

Shi Lan shouted immediately, but she was still a beat too slow. Zhi Cui swayed twice and called out "Miss" with difficulty. Before she could move, she had already fallen to the ground. Dan Cai only had time to take out something and throw it into the air. When a loud bang rang out in the sky, she had already fallen to the ground, head to head with Bao Xia, who was already unconscious.

Suddenly, Shi Lan's eyes were filled with a bizarre and surreal world. The flowers and trees she had seen before turned into monsters with claws, baring their fangs and lunging at her. The straight road beneath her feet twisted and deformed without any order.

Shi Lan slipped and swayed like a willow in the wind.

There seemed to be faint footsteps in the distance. Shi Lan knew that someone was coming, and that person was undoubtedly Qian Zhiqing.

Confused, Shi Lan chose a direction opposite to the source of the sound and stumbled towards it.

Not knowing where she had passed, Shi Lan suddenly felt a tightness in her scalp and her body involuntarily moved backward.

Shi Lan waved her arms and struggled repeatedly.

The person following beside her suddenly chuckled softly, "Shi Lan, no matter how cunning you are, you probably didn't expect me to put the 'drug' on Bao Xia, did you?"

Shi Lan moved her lips as if to refute, but her lips were numb and she couldn't say a word.

Her mouth was forcibly pried open, and a pill melted instantly in her mouth. Before she could react, the person behind her shoved her hard.

She shoved the door open with her body, and through the blur, she seemed to see two men rolling back and forth inside the room.

Qian Zhiqing chuckled and said, "The news that the Crown Prince's wife committed adultery with a man and died while in mourning is enough to bring shame to your family."

Shi Lan, still dazed, gripped the door panel and leaned back, the Soul-Destroying Nail silently slipping into her palm.

Seeing that she was about to leave through the doorway, Qian Zhiqing said, "Push her inside."

The person who had been silent walked over. Shi Lan stabbed her palm hard, the intense pain stimulating her nerves. The instantaneous clarity allowed her to see the outstretched hand.

Shi Lan grabbed him very quickly and threw him over her shoulder.

The man didn't expect Shi Lan to still have the strength to resist, and he stumbled as he was pushed into the house.

A series of clattering sounds came from inside the room, followed by the tearing of cloth and a woman's screams and wails.

Based on the voice, Shi Lan recognized that the person was not Qian Zhiqing. She then searched with her hazy eyes and found the figure retreating.

Shi Lan gripped the Soul-Destroying Nail tightly and stabbed her arm again. Her confused mind cleared, and she finally saw Qian Zhiqing's approximate location.

Shi Lan staggered over and grabbed her sleeve.

Qian Zhiqing's face turned pale as she struggled violently, "What do you want to do?"

Shi Lan grinned, gave a silly laugh, and said, "Naturally, it's about giving them a taste of their own medicine."

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