Chapter 182
Everyone enjoyed the meal, except for Tao's mother, who found it tasteless and unappetizing.
Under the twinkling stars, Tao Tao spent another night at the Tao family's house. She went to the room where Xi Quan was, just as Bai Zang was changing his dressing.
She sat at the table, looking thoughtfully at the wound. Bai Zang, sitting by the bed, grimaced at the sight of the horrific injury, his face showing a hint of reluctance.
Xi Quan was in so much pain that she could barely breathe, but she still comforted him, saying, "It's okay, just do it. The sooner it hurts, the sooner it'll be over."
After changing the dressing, he threw the blood-stained gauze into the basin, picked it up and walked towards the door. He saw Tao Tao there, bent down, and went out.
Xi Quan turned to look at her, her pale face showing some unease. She didn't know what she wanted to do there, so she didn't speak first.
In his opinion, this young woman was too unpredictable. She was smiling at you, but the words she said could kill you. She was simply a vicious smiling tiger.
According to Tu Miaoling, the two of them were friends, so it's no wonder she could harm her friend; she's really not a normal woman.
"You're in good spirits; you seem to have a lucky life."
Tao Tao looked at him, her expression indifferent, revealing no emotion.
Her words interrupted his thoughts, bringing him back to his senses. He smiled obsequiously and said, "Thank you so much for your great kindness, Your Highness. I will never forget it."
"Just tell me what you need, and I will do my utmost to fulfill it, even unto death."
Hearing this, she grinned, but the smile didn't reach her eyes: "Don't worry, I will definitely keep my promise."
Although she didn't need him right now, she thought that someone who came from Chu Feng Pavilion would definitely be useful in the future.
"You've been at Chufeng Pavilion for so long, you must know the people who come and go from there. First, draft a list of the current court officials who come and go from Chufeng Pavilion."
Upon hearing this, Xiquan froze, looking at her with a puzzled expression. Seeing that she didn't seem to be joking, he began to stammer.
"Your Highness, this won't do. If Chu Feng Pavilion finds out that I leaked the secret, they will definitely not let me off the hook."
The Celestial Empire has explicit prohibitions against officials in the court from patronizing prostitutes; those who do so will be demoted or even dismissed.
Women, when they are weak and desperate, can still make a living this way. It's not that men can't make a living this way, but why should it be more expensive than the Spring Candle Pavilion?
Is it because they have a man's penis that they charge more? And then the woman risks having an abortion!
Furthermore, even if she didn't say it, the number of officials seeking thrills at Chufeng Pavilion was definitely more than those at Chunzhu Tower. In any case, she remembered bumping into several of the faces she saw at the palace banquet that day at Chufeng Pavilion.
Upon hearing this, Tao Tao looked at him with a smile and said, "Do you believe I'll kill you right now?"
After saying that, her face instantly turned cold, and she called out a name: "Leng Qiao!"
The next second, the door was forcefully pushed open, and Leng Qiao approached him step by step with a blank expression. His heart pounded rhythmically with her steps, pounding against his eardrums.
He sensed the murderous aura emanating from her and instinctively backed away from the bed, but accidentally touched the wound near his heart. The sharp pain instantly brought him back to his senses.
Xi Quan quickly endured the pain, got up, knelt on the bed, and begged for mercy: "Princess, spare me! Princess, spare me! Please, spare this servant! This servant knows nothing..."
"Don't know? Those three words sound unpleasant, so either you write them down, or I, the county magistrate, will send you on your way right now."
Tao Tao stood up, making a move to walk out.
At the same time, Leng Qiao drew the short knife from his waist, which gleamed with a cold, eerie light in the dim candlelight, reflecting on his pale, terrified face.
She opened the door with both hands, and Leng Qiao's knife plunged towards his neck. In the nick of time, he closed his eyes and shouted, "I'll write! This servant will write it down now."
Tao Tao stopped in her tracks, a satisfied smile playing on her lips, a hint of pleasure in her eyes.
She walked back to him and said gently, "It's alright. You're still injured, so it's okay to write slowly. Just stay here and rest for a while. I'll come back when you're better."
Xi Quan slowly opened her eyes, watching the sharp blade being pulled away from her neck, and the two walked out the door.
The only sound in the quiet room was his rapid breathing. Another narrow escape from death had completely relaxed his highly tense nerves, and he collapsed onto the bed.
After relaxing, he was surprised to find his back soaked with sweat and his clothes sticking to his skin, which was very uncomfortable.
But to still be alive is already a blessing.
Tao Family Shop on Chengnan Street.
A figure stood in front of the door, its long shadow cast on the closed door in the moonlight, giving it an air of loneliness and desolation.
Qi Heng lowered her head in disappointment. Tao Tao hadn't appeared here for several days, and she couldn't help but wonder if she wasn't coming back, or if she was still at the Prince's residence...
But now his father is always watching him, waiting to find fault with him. He cannot fall down for the sake of the ministers who have pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince.
Otherwise, once he is deposed, those people will not survive.
He stayed there quietly for a while, then suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he turned and walked in another direction.
Not long after, he appeared at the entrance of an unknown alley, past which was the Tao family's residence.
Less than half an incense stick's time later, the door was hurriedly pushed open, followed by an anxious voice.
Tao Tao moved with lightning speed, glancing at the person beside her, and asked anxiously as she walked, "What happened? How could Asu choke on something?"
Have you called a veterinarian?
Rong'er looked troubled and said, "It's getting late, and we can't get a doctor to come now."
It was Xiaotao's voice.
Qi Heng looked delighted and was about to step forward when he immediately realized that his appearance might be too deliberate, like a lecherous man guarding the young lady's door.
"That's really strange. Can't a prince's mansion even afford a doctor?"
Tao Tao was a little angry. The situation was urgent, so she couldn't be angry. She didn't know any veterinarians, so she thought about going to Dr. He to see if he could treat her.
Rong'er lowered her head in fear, remaining silent as a cicada in winter.
"Xiao Tao!"
Suddenly someone called her name from her right.
She suddenly stopped and looked over suspiciously. Only when the person stepped out of the shadows did she realize that it was actually Crown Prince Qi Heng.
What's going on? Why is Qi Heng here in the middle of the night?
"Do we need a doctor? I'll summon the imperial physician to the Prince's residence immediately."
Upon hearing this, her face immediately lit up with joy. "Really? That's wonderful! But I need a veterinarian."
Qi Heng frowned in confusion, but still nodded: "Okay."
He then raised his hand, and the hidden guards in the darkness vanished in an instant, like a gust of wind.
Tao Tao saw his gesture and understood that he was telling the people in the shadows that His Highness the Crown Prince was the heir apparent, so how could he appear in the middle of the night without anyone protecting him?
Thinking of this, she felt a little relieved. "Let's go, let's hurry back to the Prince's Mansion."
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