The people Fourth Master sent to Shaanxi to investigate did indeed conduct their investigation, but few people knew about Liu's past. After all, Liu was a prominent family in Tongzhou, Shaanxi, and her father was the prefect of three prefectures: Tongzhou, Cangzhou, and Yingzhou. Few people knew about Liu's affair with Mu Qingyang; those who did have likely been dismissed by Old Master Liu.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince had been grading exam papers at the Imperial Academy for the past two weeks. Almost all the candidates' papers had been reviewed. However, to ensure fairness, the grading process involved cross-checking and exchanging papers. Therefore, they would need another week to complete the evaluation.
The Fourth Prince has been shuttling between the Imperial Academy and the Palace this week, reporting to Emperor Kangxi on the progress of the candidates. A batch of well-written exam papers have already been sent directly to Emperor Kangxi for his review.
While the Fourth Prince was looking at the interactive exam paper, he decided to go back. He had already changed all the clothes he brought.
Just as Fourth Master boarded the carriage back to Yuanmingyuan, Su Peisheng, who had come to fetch him, reported what had happened. It turned out that Su Peisheng had been shuttling between Fourth Master and Yuanmingyuan, carrying his belongings whenever needed. Lanqin didn't want to bother Fourth Master, but she still told Su Peisheng about it; she couldn't hide it from him anyway.
The Fourth Prince sat in the carriage with his eyes closed, listening to Su Peisheng talk about Mu Qingyang.
"Did the concubine use her own money to compensate?" the Fourth Prince asked.
“Yes, we didn’t ask the accountant for it. The concubine said that she was the one who asked that Master Mu to leave it behind. She should take responsibility for it,” Su Peisheng said.
"The Mu family troupe came to the garden to perform; it was invited by you, Master. All the women in the inner quarters listened. Yet, when something went wrong, the concubine took all the blame!" Fourth Master said.
Su Peisheng had been indignant on Lanqin's behalf, which was why he immediately spoke to the Fourth Prince. Upon hearing the Fourth Prince's words, he immediately said, "Indeed, Consort is too kind. That Mu family troupe leader is clearly an extortionist. He led his men to block Consort's courtyard, and Consort saw that they had suddenly lost their main performer and their livelihood, so she took pity on them and agreed to their unreasonable demands."
The Fourth Master frowned and asked, "What has happened in the garden while I've been away?"
Su Peisheng then recounted in detail how Lanqin had brought Aunt Cui and the others to stay with her, and how she had searched for medicinal ingredients for Mu Qingyang.
"What about the others? Has anything happened to Liu?" Fourth Master asked.
"Princess Liu is fine. We called the doctor twice, and both times it was nothing serious," Su Peisheng said.
The Fourth Prince remained silent. After returning to the manor, he bathed and changed at the Jiuzhou Qingyan Pavilion before heading to Lanqin's place.
When Lanqin saw Fourth Master return, she immediately rushed to him. She couldn't help but want to confide in him about everything that had happened in the past two weeks.
Fourth Master held Lanqin in his arms, gently stroking her back, and said, "I know everything. You've worked hard. I had no idea you had so much private money."
Lanqin lifted her head from Fourth Master's embrace, glanced at him, and said, "When I married into this family, my mother gave me a sum of money to keep me safe."
"I'll make it all up to you. If something happens to the opera troupe I hired, you won't have to pay for it," Fourth Master said generously.
Lanqin smiled and said, "My lord, let's have our meal first, and I'll explain everything to you in detail later."
After dinner was served, the Fourth Master dismissed everyone from the room.
Seeing the Fourth Master's actions, Lanqin knew that he must have something to say to her.
"Does Your Excellency also have something to say to me?" Lanqin asked.
"Don't you also have something to say to me?" Fourth Master said.
The two looked at each other with great interest and said in unison, "You go first!"
More than seven years of companionship have allowed the two to develop a tacit understanding.
"Alright, you go first!" Fourth Master said, narrowing his eyes.
“Actually, my matter can be put off for now. Let’s hear it first, Master,” Lanqin said.
"Su Peisheng has already told you everything that has happened in the manor these past few days. I entrust you with the final decision," said the Fourth Master.
"Isn't Your Highness afraid that I might be biased and unfair, like wrongly accusing Your Highness's princess?" Lanqin asked with a smile.
"I believe you," Fourth Master said solemnly. "We've already sent people to Tongzhou to investigate Liu's matter, why haven't they returned yet?"
“Even if the people Master sent come back, they might not be able to find anything. After all, the matter is over, and it’s this kind of thing. The person involved must have already dealt with it, and those who knew the situation are no longer here,” Lan Qin said.
Fourth Master nodded and said, "Are you talking about Mu Qingyang? How did he die?"
Lanqin pondered for a moment and said, "My lord, I have done something, and I hope you will not blame me. If you think that I deliberately set a trap for the other party, then I'm afraid I cannot continue."
Fourth Master said, "Continue!"
Lanqin said, "Master, you don't actually need to give me that sum of money!"
Fourth Master raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why?"
“Because Mu Qingyang is not dead! And I did not actually give them any money!” Lanqin said.
This time, Fourth Master opened his eyes wide and immediately asked, "What exactly happened? Su Peisheng has been keeping it from us?"
Lanqin nodded and then recounted the events of that day to the Fourth Master in detail. It turned out that Shuiling had caught the cunning Gu worm, but the creature, like a gecko, severed its forelimbs to preserve its hindquarters and burrowed back into Mu Qingyang's body. Physician Yang, a seasoned physician, immediately grabbed a silver needle and struck Mu Qingyang's philtrum, immobilizing the worm's lower body. Shuiling tossed the severed worm half into the brazier, then carefully pinched the remaining half hidden inside Mu Qingyang's nostrils and slowly pulled it out. Physician Yang breathed a sigh of relief, finally preventing the damned Gu worm from burrowing back into his flesh.
Meanwhile, Lanqin left midway and hurried back to Yue Di Yun Ju. Inside, after hearing Shui Ling's account of the events, she concluded that Liu Shi was clearly behind it all. She had feigned stomach discomfort to lure Lanqin there, then sent someone to use a cat to frighten the maid ringing the bell outside, thus hindering the exorcism of the Gu. Fortunately, Physician Yang and Shui Ling reacted quickly and subdued the Gu, saving Mu Qingyang's life.
After the Gu worm left his body, Mu Qingyang woke up just two hours later. Lanqin told him about Liu's actions and what Fucha knew. Mu Qingyang hadn't expected Liu to be so ruthless, actually poisoning him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
