Chapter 04: Tough

"Greetings, Lord Gao." Mu Xi bowed slightly.

Although the original owner was a girl, she was raised as a boy from birth.

For many years, all manners, etiquette, and behavior have been in accordance with the Crown Prince's standards.

In addition, Mu Xi had developed a decisive and forthright personality in the business world in her previous life, so it was perfectly natural for her to perform a man's fist-and-palm salute.

"Gao Quan." The Grand Marshal returned the greeting with a slight fist and palm salute, introducing himself.

It is precisely at times like these that we must not be guilty.

Mu Xi took the initiative to ask, "What was the purpose of the Grand Marshal's question just now?"

Gao Quan glanced at Ling Mei's corpse, and instead of answering, asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, did you really deal with this person yourself?"

The original owner's claim that she was "weak and sickly, and bedridden for many years" was a cover-up, a way of keeping her out of the public eye and minimizing the risk of her true gender being exposed.

But when it comes to strangling someone...

It would indeed be very difficult for a woman to do, unless it were a man, in which case there would be no doubt.

After a moment's thought, Mu Xi had to admit, "It was me."

"Oh?" Gao Quan seemed to be thinking about something, then changed the subject, "Yesterday, the palace sent some terrible news that the Crown Prince, who had always been frail and sickly, suddenly fell ill and died. I came here to offer my condolences, but I never expected that the Crown Prince would come back to life. It's truly amazing."

"It is indeed remarkable, but I have survived, which must be a blessing from heaven. I wonder what the Grand Marshal is questioning?" Mu Xi remained calm and composed, not giving others any chance to see through her.

Gao Quan's scrutinizing gaze lingered between the two "brothers," Mu Xi and Mu Xun.

Finally, he fixed his wolfish eyes on Mu Xi: "The young master is standing here perfectly fine, so there's no doubt about it. However... given the young master's physical condition..."

"What exactly does the Grand Marshal mean?" Mu Xi felt uncomfortable being looked at, so her tone became unfriendly.

Gao Quan smiled insincerely: "Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. The death of a servant is nothing to be regretted. However, this servant has clearly just died. On my way here, I vaguely heard shouts coming from the mourning hall from just a wall away. I suppose there must have been a great struggle between Your Highness and this servant."

Is this a questioning of her physical strength, or a questioning of her gender?

Unable to figure out what the other party was up to, Mu Xi could only retort, "So what?"

"Look how badly this servant is injured. I'm sure the young master has put in a lot of effort. There's still blood on your hands, young master. I'm a soldier and know a little about bandaging. Why don't I take a look at your hand..." Before Gao Quan finished speaking, he was already close by and reached out his left hand to grab Mu Xi's right wrist.

"Ah..." Mu Xi was even more surprised by this turn of events. Before she could dodge, her right wrist was gripped by Gao Quan with a sharp pain.

Mu Xun had only made a gesture of blocking in front of him, but Gao Quan moved like lightning. Having lost the initiative, Mu Xun could only shout, "Grand Marshal, let go... don't hurt the Crown Prince."

"Hehe, how could I possibly harm the young master?" Gao Quan said casually, while secretly exerting force in his hand.

"Let go." Mu Xun grabbed Gao Quan's arm.

When the two clashed, Gao Quan's large hand was like an iron clamp.

Mu Xi had already regretted her earlier cry of pain, and now she gritted her teeth resolutely, refusing to make another sound.

"Let me handle this guy, I'll deal with him." The violent man's voice in my head was eager to try.

Mu Xi had not yet overcome the hurdle of "killing with her own hands," and she made up her mind never to let this volatile and manic personality show itself again.

But in the blink of an eye, everything went blurry.

Gao Quan's empty right hand struck Mu Xun: "Why are you so nervous? I'm just checking the young master's injuries."

With a "snap".

Mu Xun's expression changed as he took the blow head-on and was forced to retreat.

Gao Quan's right palm was clearly not used with full force; the palm strike changed direction halfway and attacked Mu Xi's chest.

"Ah..." This change was too sudden, and Mu Xi was shocked. She instinctively covered her chest with one hand.

At the critical moment, a tiny "whoosh" sound came.

Gao Quan cried out "Ouch!" and withdrew his hand.

The next second, a gaunt old man with white hair and a youthful face, carrying a medicine box, appeared in everyone's sight.

"Dr. Luo." Mu Xi felt like she had seen a savior.

Ignoring his own safety, Mu Xun turned back to protect him again: "The Crown Prince's personal physician, Luo Shenyi, has arrived, so there's no need for Grand Marshal to trouble himself."

Gao Quan then awkwardly stepped back to look at his left hand.

There were drops of blood on the back of his hand, but it was impossible to tell what had caused the injury.

Mu Xi was still in shock and even angrier.

Despite all the planning, no one expected Gao Quan to be so disrespectful to Prince Jin Fang in public.

I have never been so humiliated in my two lifetimes.

In his rage, he remembered the sword hanging at his waist, drew it from its sheath, and pointed it at Gao Quan: "Gao Quan, how dare you... you..."

Gao Quan showed no fear whatsoever: "Why is Your Highness angry? I was merely trying to kindly treat your injuries. Your Highness is a man, not a woman. Are you afraid of not being able to treat you?"

“You…” Mu Xi immediately regretted overreacting.

Gao Quan's physical advances were impolite, but if it were between two men, it would be understandable. She shouldn't have reacted so strongly.

But it's absolutely impossible for her to let it go so easily.

The divine physician Luo approached and calmly pressed down on the sword in Mu Xi's hand.

Mu Xi's wrist was still throbbing, so she went along with it and sheathed her sword, but her anger was even greater and she had nowhere to vent it.

Physician Luo then smoothed things over, saying, "I received a report that the young master suddenly woke up in the mourning hall, and his condition is probably unstable right now, so I came quickly to take his pulse."

Mu Xun also breathed a sigh of relief and echoed, "Brother, you don't look well. Please sit down and ask Physician Luo to take your pulse."

Since waking up, Mu Xi has been physically exhausted and emotionally shocked and furious.

This thought somehow made my stomach churn again.

Seeing that Gao Quan had a wolfish and hawkish look in his eyes and did not take her, the heir, seriously, she was still furious and insisted on "driving away the guests": "Since I am not dead, there is no need for you, Madam and Grand Marshal, to offer sacrifices. Please leave."

Gao failed to achieve his goal tonight and lost a trusted confidant. Unwilling to leave, he looked towards his elder brother.

Gao Quan glanced at Ling Mei's corpse again: "In that case, we won't disturb the young master's pulse diagnosis. Men, take the body away..."

"Wait, this body should be handed over to me for disposal." Mu Xi's "personal killing" earlier was already reckless, and now he must be cautious. Who knows if Ling Mei still has any flaws? "This servant dared to steal from me, she cannot be let off easily even if she dies. I will send her to the authorities for severe punishment and execute her entire family according to the law."

Gao Quan knew he had really offended people.

He was a military strategist, and after a moment's thought, he slowed down: "If this matter gets out, it will probably damage the reputation of the Jin Fangjun family. It would be better to let the lady handle it privately."