Ling Feng looked at Mu Houchu with surprise. Indeed, their master was astute; he’d instantly discerned there must be a condition attached.
"Elder Xu stated, if he were to help, it wouldn’t be easy. If His Highness can agree to one condition, he would give it a try." Ling Feng paused before reluctantly looking up at Mu Houchu, "He stated if you’re truly sincere, you’ll pledge a thousand liangs of gold and ten thousand qings of good farmland."
Mu Houchu scoffed coldly, "If he can save her, then even ten thousand liangs of gold won’t be a problem."
Ling Feng bowed his head in agreement, "Yes."
"You may leave."
However, Ling Feng hesitated before adding, "There’s one more thing."
"What is it?" Mu Houchu was growing impatient.
"When the doctor came to diagnose the princess earlier, he discovered... "
"Discovered what?" Mu Houchu furrowed his brow in worry.
He dreaded it might be bad news.
"The princess is with child," said Ling Feng.
Mu Houchu was taken aback, a rare hint of joy gained a foothold in his cold countenance, "Really?"
"The doctor was too intimidated by your presence to speak. Therefore..." Ling Feng awkwardly said, "Congratulations, Your Highness. I’ll take my leave."
With that, he turned and left.
Mu Houchu’s lips curled up in a smile. He reached out and touched Xin He’s face, "Xin He, we’re expecting another baby."
The events of the whole day, filled with surprises and joy, left Mu Houchu with an indescribable feeling. Seeing her now, he was just grateful she was fine and Ah Guai was safe.
Xin He’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as if she was about to wake up.
"Xin He?" Mu Houchu whispered, looking down at her.
"Mm," Xin He slowly opened her eyes, "Where’s Ah Nan?"
"I have sent him to Elder Xu. Don’t worry, everything will be alright," Mu Houchu said softly.
Xin He always trusted Mu Houchu’s words. Hearing his assurances now, she asked in disbelief, "Really?"
"When have I ever lied to you?" Mu Houchu laughed lightly, "Xin He, we are expecting another baby."
Mu Houchu tenderly touched Xin He’s abdomen, his eyes filled with warmth.
Xin He froze, "The baby... really?"
"Yes, we’re going to have another baby. I am to blame for the events of today. I overlooked certain aspects and was careless, leading to this result. Rest assured, there will not be a next time, okay?" Mu Houchu said.
Xin He, whose heart had been clenched tight, could finally breathe easy. Hearing the news of her pregnancy, a sense of profound emotional warmth welled up, causing her eyes to turn teary, "Mm."
Mu Houchu had Xin He take her medication, and then he accompanied her as she ate some porridge. After that, he had her lay down, allowing her to take some much-needed rest. Carrying a baby and enduring such a fright, it would be best for her to get some extra sleep.
"You get some sleep first. Once you wake up, if there is any news from Li Nan, I will let you know," Mu Houchu said softly.
"What about Ah Guai?"
"She’s fine. She has already taken the antidote and is sleeping. When she wakes up, she will likely come looking for you immediately. We won’t tell her about what happened today." Mu Houchu has always been protective of Ah Guai. The day’s events were too dangerous; if Ah Guai had experienced them, she might carry long-term emotional scars. As it had turned out, Ah Guai had been unconscious and unaware of everything so it would be best not to tell her anything.
"Mm." Xin He nodded in agreement.
Mu Houchu tucked Xin He into bed, then stood up and left.
Xin He began to feel a silent tranquility settling over her heart. Sheaps of fatigue rushed over her and she fell into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, on stepping out of the house, Mu Houchu’s expression immediately turned cold.
In the courtyard outside, Ling Feng and others were waiting.
"Master, we have brought the person here. Should we start the interrogation now?"
Mu Houchu’s voice was cold, "Bring him in."
"Yes."
Ling Feng nodded and signaled to a servant. The servant immediately went to fetch the person in question.
"Kneel down!"
Liu Man, who had been bound up like a rice dumpling, knelt before Mu Houchu. His face was filled with fear and he barely dared to look at Mu Houchu. "I, I, I pay respect to Your Highness."
Next to be brought in was Shulan. Her face appeared deathly pale and she seemed deeply dazed, uncertain of what to do.
Ling Feng handed Mu Houchu a fragrance pouch. "This pouch contains an incense made from begonia flowers, which perfectly masks the scent of the bellflowers. Both scents are very similar and it is nearly impossible to tell them apart. Bellflowers, when used on their own, pose no harm. However, when mixed with Orchid Fragrance, it turns poisonous. This poison can cause a feeling of utter weakness, and some weaker individuals may even faint instantly. The princess and the provincial princess had been poisoned by this mix."
The fragrance pouch in question was the one that Shulan had been carrying around her waist.
Hearing these words, Shulan turned her head towards Liu Man, to the man she had been planning to marry. She chuckled bitterly, "So, this was your purpose for giving me the fragrance pouch, was it?"
Liu Man did not dare to look at Shulan. All he could do was plea to Mu Houchu, "I had no choice. If I didn’t comply, the Emperor wouldn’t spare me, I..."
Mu Houchu kicked him down onto the ground with one swift motion. Liu Man felt his chest close to collapsing. He collapsed onto the ground, coughing up blood.
Mu Houchu coldly commanded, "Investigate everyone behind him. Do not let anyone escape."
"Yes!" replied Ling Feng. "What about him..."
Mu Houchu cast a cold glance over Liu Man, "Kill."
Shulan trembled as she knelt on the ground, her incessant crying the only sound. She didn’t know what to feel or what to do.
"What about Shulan..."
Mu Houchu’s icy gaze swept across Shulan, devoid of any emotion.
Just as he was about to give the order, Xiaoyu quickly knelt on the ground and pleaded, "Shulan is likely unaware of all this. She has been devotedly serving the princess for many years without any hidden motives. I beg Your Highness to show mercy and spare her this time, the princess surely wouldn’t want to part with her either."
It seemed the final point was the crux of the matter. If not for the consideration of Ji Xinhe, Mu Houchu probably wouldn’t have shown any leniency.
With Ji Xinhe in mind, would Mu Houchu have wasted so much effort and time handling Li Nan’s issue? Wouldn’t it be better to just weed him out straight away? Yet, for her sake, he patiently strategized how to handle it. The same applied to the situation with Shulan. Xiaoyu has always been direct when dealing with matters and stating her opinions.
"Detain her for now," Mu Houchu coldly commanded.
"Yes."
"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!" Xiaoyu repeatedly kowtowed.
Mu Houchu glanced at her, "Use your cleverness where it’s required. If you dare to use it where it isn’t, even if the princess defends you, I won’t spare you."
Xiaoyu trembled in fear, "Yes, I won’t dare!"
"Go in and take care of your mistress," Mu Houchu ordered in a cold voice before briskly striding away.
Only when Mu Houchu’s figure had fully disappeared from view did Xiaoyu let out a sigh of relief. Wiping the beads of sweat off her forehead, her body felt stiff from the tension.
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