Chapter 262 Doubt

“No problem,” Doctor Luo immediately agreed. “It’s a good opportunity for me to see this man again. Although we’ve met a few times before, I don’t know him very well. I hope your father, the Marquis, wasn’t wrong in his judgment; he is truly a loyal and devoted man.”

Mu Xi also hoped for this outcome; she was still willing to place her bet on Pei Dong.

Afterwards, Doctor Luo took Mu Xi's pulse again and managed to scrape together some tonics from his medical kit, which he gave to Mu Xi as a temporary supplement.

Mu Xi accepted the medicine and reluctantly bid farewell to Doctor Luo.

Just as they reached the door, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Dr. Luo, what do you think of that girl Tao'er?"

Doctor Luo was puzzled by the question, but Mu Xi suddenly asked and thought of something: "Alas... Tao'er... I've watched her grow up since she was a child. I heard that she has become a famous dancer in this brothel. Since I don't see her today, could it be that she has fallen out of love with you due to the disaster? Even if that's the case, that girl is naturally quick-witted, it's only human nature, don't take it to heart."

Since Doctor Luo said so, Mu Xi said nothing more, personally put the hood on Doctor Luo, and quietly sent him out.

Turning back to her, Cao Pan'er asked, "Your Highness, did you feel something was amiss when you suddenly asked about Tao'er?"

Mu Xi's expression hardened: "Since you asked that, you must have noticed something, right?"

Since Cao Pan'er knew that Tao'er and Zhelan were both maids who had grown up with Mu Xi since childhood, and were deeply trusted and like sisters, she didn't say much. She just said in a light tone, "This servant didn't see anything, but since the day Zhelan died, I haven't seen Tao'er again. She shouldn't be implicated by us, and even if she was, there should be some news about her."

Mu Xi nodded: "That's true. And don't you think there's something wrong with what happened with Mu Chong?"

"Something's not right?" Cao Pan'er was caught off guard.

Mu Xi slowly said, "These past few days, the more I think about it, the more something seems off. How could it be such a coincidence? In such a large city as Moyang, with so many brothels, Mu Chong just happened to come to this one, and specifically asked for you. The main thing is that now that I think back carefully, when Mu Chong first saw you and me that day, she wasn't very surprised, as if she had expected it. Isn't that strange?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Pan'er also thought back carefully, and after a while exclaimed, "Ah...yes...when I first saw him, I was really startled, but it didn't seem like surprise in his eyes, but rather...that kind of joy of finally seeing the prey."

“That’s it. Someone must have leaked our whereabouts.” Mu Xi had no choice but to admit it, no matter how unwilling she was. “Now, in this Fangfei Tower, only the four of us know each other inside and out. Now that Zhe Lan is gone, and we are in this state, the only person who could have leaked our information is Tao’er.”

Mu Xi was not the original owner of this body, and she did not have the same childhood bond with Tao'er and Zhe Lan.

Without this "childhood filter," she was able to have this suspicion about Tao'er, and was almost certain of it; otherwise, the original owner might not have.

Cao Pan'er followed her train of thought: "If it really is Tao'er, why would she do this? To exchange for a chance to get out of here? If that's the case, she should have already been rescued, but yesterday I vaguely heard the pimps talking about her preparing a erotic dance."

"Whatever it is, we'll probably have to ask to find out." Once Mu Xi had a basic idea, she didn't want to think about it anymore and immediately discussed it with Cao Pan'er.

However, Tao'er was added to this plan.

Three days later, at Fangfei Tower, everything was settled, and all that remained was for people to take the bait.

Because things had been peaceful these past few days, Liu Mama had relaxed her vigilance somewhat and didn't want to keep assigning someone to serve the two of them. Therefore, although Cao Pan'er still had to go out easily, Mu Xi was allowed to run around serving tea and water and taking care of Cao Pan'er's daily needs.

Mu Xi was thus able to move around the building more easily.

According to the message sent by Pei Dong, Mu Chong will definitely come to Fangfei Tower again tonight, to keep Cao Pan'er's appointment.

So Mu Xi and Cao Pan'er made all the preparations in advance.

As night falls and the lights come on, guests gradually arrive, and the building becomes lively again.

Mu Xi hid in a corner on the second floor, looking up at the stage set up in the lobby on the first floor, where singing, dancing and music were playing, creating a noisy atmosphere.

As the newly crowned top courtesan of Fangfei Tower, Tao'er had to go through three or four rounds of dancing and drinking with customers, and she was already feeling unsteady on her feet.

Mu Xi watched as Tao'er, supported by a maid, went upstairs to rest. As the two of them staggered up to the second floor and then to the third, she rushed forward from behind to help Tao'er: "Let me... let me..."

Tao'er turned her head and was surprised to see Mu Xi. A look of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she stammered, "You...I...what are you doing here?"

"What do you mean 'you'? Me... You must have had a hard time down there. Come on, let me help you..." Mu Xi said without waiting for a reply, helping Tao'er upstairs.

Tao'er was exhausted and slightly drunk, so she didn't say much and let Mu Xi help her upstairs.

Mu Xi asked with concern, "You drank quite a bit, didn't you? Take a break for a bit, there's a second half to come, right?"

"Hmm." Tao'er's peach blossom eyes were half-open and half-closed, and she seemed too lazy to talk much, even in her drunken state.

Mu Xi shifted most of Tao'er's weight onto herself and said to the maid on the other side, "The hangover soup in the kitchen should be ready by now. Go and get a bowl for Miss Tao so she can drink it while it's hot to sober up as soon as possible."

Mu Xi was clearly much older than the little maid.

The maidservant glanced at Tao'er but didn't react, so she nodded, turned around, and went downstairs.

"Come on... let me help you to rest first. You must have had a hard time lately." Mu Xi casually helped Tao'er up to the fourth floor.

Inside a private room on the fourth floor, Cao Pan'er had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing her from afar, she called out, "Oh, Sister Tao, it's been so long since we last met. Why don't you come and sit down? I've been so bored these days."

As they were talking, Cao Pan'er rushed out and, together with Mu Xi, helped Tao'er up.

A maid guarding the door saw that Cao Pan'er only went out briefly to greet her and did not intend to go far away, so she did not stop her.

Tao'er opened her eyes in surprise, only to be lifted up by Mu Xi and Cao Pan'er on either side without any explanation.

While making a fuss, Cao Pan'er led Tao'er into her private room: "These days I've been so bored being locked up in my room, and you haven't even come to see me. We were in the same batch of Fangfei Tower, so our friendship is much stronger than others..."

Many people in the building knew that Cao Pan'er and Tao'er were sold into Fangfei Tower together. They knew each other before they were sold and had no doubts.

After a few rambling words, Tao'er was led into the room. Mu Xi turned around and closed the door, then went over and picked up a coarse cloth that had been prepared beforehand and coated with a sleeping potion. He put it over Tao'er's head from behind, gagging her mouth and nose.