Chapter 96 Such an unparalleled young master, like a painting, seems to have mistakenly entered the mortal realm…
She fell into Cheng Ying's arms, as if she had found a sling to help her out of the mire. She held him tightly, her breath growing hotter and hotter. She felt as if her whole body was on fire, and her reason was being slowly swallowed up.
Her remaining consciousness told her that she had to leave immediately.
"...Take me home, find Mei...Little Sister Mei..."
Anyone could tell something was wrong with her appearance.
Cheng Ying's delicate face darkened sharply as she glared at the girls. "Ali, don't be afraid. I will bring you back safely."
"Thank you..." As she felt relieved, an excruciating itch coursed through her limbs, as if her skin and flesh were being peeled away.
This feeling eroded her clarity, giving her an irresistible urge to tear her clothes apart. She instinctively curled up, making sounds of unbearable discomfort.
"...I'm afraid I can't take it, knock me out..."
Upon hearing her soft plea escaping from her cherry lips, Cheng Ying, without hesitation, struck her on the back of the head with a chop, then scooped her up in his arms as she fainted.
Many girls had already gathered around, with Zhao Danxin being the first to approach.
"Lord Cheng, what's going on with my cousin Ali?"
"She's not feeling well, I'll take her home now."
"Lord Cheng, you don't need to worry about this. I'll take my cousin Ali back myself."
Men and women are different, and Zhao Danxin's suggestion was perfectly reasonable and in accordance with etiquette. The worry on her face was genuine, but it wasn't because of Shen Qinglu; rather, she was afraid of being blamed by Gu Ruxu and her parents.
She came forward and reached out to take the person, but Cheng Ying avoided her.
Cheng Ying's dagger-like gaze swept across her face, then swept over the others, her expression growing increasingly gloomy.
Princess Fangfei had already arrived. Upon seeing him, she frowned. "Lord Cheng, Miss Shen has come to the meeting at my invitation. If she is unwell, I will send someone to escort her back."
"I'm worried about you all."
As Cheng Ying spoke, she carried Shen Qinglu away, her attitude of ignoring Princess Fangfei and everyone else as if she didn't care about anyone.
"This Commander Cheng is so rude and arrogant. How could he just carry Miss Shen away like that?"
"He doesn't even give the princess any face. It's not just rude and arrogant, it's downright disrespectful. He's just related to the Marquis of Yongyi's family, he really doesn't know anything."
"Poor Miss Shen, her reputation is probably ruined now."
"What's so pitiful about her? She's someone whose mental illness might not even be fully cured. She's actually quite a good match for Commander Cheng."
The murmurs continued, and Princess Fangfei's delicate brows furrowed even deeper as she watched the young man carrying her away quickly, a look of displeasure appearing on her peach-blossom face.
Right behind her were Zhuang Lanyi and Jiang Xinyue.
Jiang Xinyue loathed Shen Qinglu, her expression full of schadenfreude. "How did she suddenly faint? When she wakes up, she'll probably cry her eyes out."
Being carried by a man in public, regardless of the reason, is bound to attract some gossip.
It is true that Cheng Ying was a promising young man, but unfortunately his background was not high. Even though he had the support of the Marquis's family, in the eyes of the powerful and influential families, his status was ultimately too low.
Jiang Xinyue's meaning was clear: she thought that after this incident, Shen Qinglu would probably find it difficult to marry into a high-ranking family again.
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Lanyi gave a disdainful snort but said nothing, though a hint of resentment flashed in her eyes.
According to the usual procedures of the spring outing, there will be a competition of skills and poetry later, which is the most anticipated time for the girls. If they are outstanding in their skills and poetry, they can earn the reputation of a talented woman.
Before arriving, Zhao Danxin was eager to make a name for herself. She had already found it troublesome to be entrusted by Gu Ruxu to take care of Shen Qinglu, and now she felt even more frustrated that someone had ruined her plans.
She had no choice but to bid farewell to Princess Fangfei and chase after her.
*
Princess Fangfei is of noble status, and the elegant gatherings she organizes have strict rules and many requirements.
Besides the guards and imperial guards protecting the area, no unauthorized personnel were allowed to enter the manor, including the personal maids and servants of those attending the gathering, who were all waiting outside.
Today, Xia Chan and Ren Chun accompanied Shen Qinglu out. When they saw their young lady being carried out by Cheng Ying, their expressions changed.
Although Shen Qinglu was knocked unconscious, her body was still reacting, twitching from time to time.
Xia Chan's voice trembled, "Lord Cheng, what's wrong with my young lady..."
Cheng Ying placed Shen Qinglu on the horse, then mounted her own horse and said to them, "Follow me!"
With a flick of his whip, the glossy, chestnut-colored horse galloped off into the distance.
Xia Chan and Ren Chun quickly got into the carriage and followed him.
He spurred his horse and galloped away, quickly leaving them far behind as he headed towards the Shen residence. Once inside, he carried them straight to the main courtyard.
When Shen Linlang saw it, she was naturally shocked.
"Before Miss Shen fainted, she told me to bring her back and then find someone named Mei Xiaomei." He carried her into the house while explaining what Shen Qinglu had said.
"Quickly, go and invite Miss Mei." Upon hearing this, Shen Linlang immediately sent Yinping to Pear Garden to fetch her.
Mei Xiaomei arrived quickly and immediately began acupuncture upon seeing Shen Qinglu's condition.
Shen Qinglu's convulsing body gradually calmed down, and after a short while she opened her eyes. When she saw the familiar people and scenes, she breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Ali, what's wrong with you?" Shen Linlang asked anxiously, her eyes reddening as she gripped her hand tightly.
Before Mei Xiaomei arrived, Cheng Ying had already explained the situation.
"I don't know what's wrong with me. Suddenly my body felt like it was on fire, and I felt terrible. My mind felt like it was burning out." She felt completely exhausted, as if she had just escaped from a fire.
"Girl, think carefully, is there anything wrong with what happened today?" Mei Xiaomei asked her.
The acupuncture just now only temporarily suppressed the poison in her body. To detoxify her, it is necessary to determine what kind of poison it is.
Her beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly. "I didn't eat or drink anything, nor did I touch anything I shouldn't have. If there's anything wrong... it's that Jiang Xinyue came close to me. Her fragrance was very strong, like flowers, but also a bit cloying. It smelled very unpleasant."
Mei Xiaomei listened attentively, seemingly lost in thought.
After a long pause, he said, "According to what you've said, there is a poison that is similar to it, but that poison is quite complex and requires a catalyst."
If Jiang Xinyue's fragrance was truly unusual, then she wasn't the only one who smelled it; why were others unaffected?
She asked Mei Xiaomei, "What kind of trigger is it?"
Mei Xiaomei said, "I know a kind of poison with a base of sweet floral fragrance and a catalyst of woody fragrance. It can have the base first and then the catalyst, or the catalyst first and then the base. It is a kind of epileptic poison. When poisoned, the person feels like they are on fire and loses consciousness. In order to get rid of the poison, they will do all sorts of ugly things, even taking off their clothes."
That's truly a vicious thought!
Such poison was perfectly suited to be administered to her.
Shen Qinglu felt a chill in her heart. If she were truly poisoned and had a fit of madness in front of everyone, no one would suspect poisoning, but would attribute it to her not being fully cured of her mental illness.
Even if it is later proven that she was poisoned, it will be too late.
"The Jiang family!" Shen Linlang gritted her teeth, her hands clenched into fists.
"Jiang Xinyue doesn't have that much cunning. She's either an accomplice or someone is using her."
Jiang Xinyue is not very shrewd and is very likely unaware of the situation.
As Shen Qinglu was thinking this, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration and asked Xia Chan to bring the invitation sent by Princess Fangfei.
Mei Xiaomei took the invitation, smelled it, and then nodded, "Then it must be right."
Princess Fangfei's status meant she didn't need to do many things herself; others were willing to serve her. Tasks like writing and sending invitations were usually entrusted to close friends and acquaintances.
"Ah Li," Cheng Ying's voice sounded from outside the door, "Are you awake?"
Shen Linlang then remembered that the person who brought her daughter back was still outside. "Today we are truly grateful to Lord Cheng, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."
The severity of the epilepsy was so great that just hearing Mei Xiaomei describe it made her heart pound. The thought of the worst possible outcome filled her with lingering fear, and she was still deeply shaken.
She instructed Xia Chan to keep watch, then went out and said to him, "A-Li has woken up. We're so lucky to have you here this time; we owe you a huge favor. If there's anything else in the future..."
“Madam Shen, there’s no need for such formalities.” He interrupted, and as his tense expression relaxed, a kind of indescribable beauty was revealed in his gentle demeanor, somewhere between a man and a woman. “I am on good terms with your son, and Ali is also like my sister. There’s no need for formalities between siblings. Just invite me to a meal when she’s better.”
The word "brother" and "sister" brought Shen Linlang great comfort.
She wasn't one to mince words, and readily agreed.
Watching Cheng Ying's departing figure, her eyes showed undisguised admiration, which then slowly turned into worry.
*
Not far from the Shen residence, there was an inconspicuous-looking carriage.
While it may seem unremarkable at first glance, it is actually quite ordinary. Anyone with a discerning eye would notice the difference in the carriage. Not only is the carriage larger than ordinary ones, but the materials used are also extremely exquisite. However, it appears quite plain due to the lack of any ornate decorations or insignia symbolizing the head of the household.
When Cheng Ying came out of the Shen residence, she immediately saw the carriage. After looking around, she nimbly slipped inside.
The carriage was exquisitely crafted, exuding understated luxury in every detail.
On the throne with its brocade cushions sat a man dressed in snow-white robes, elegant and noble, his slender hands resting on his knees, each one as if carved from jade.
This peerless young master is like a cloud that has strayed into the mortal world, or snow left behind in the world of mortals. He is quiet, elegant, and aloof, with a handsome and cold demeanor. He is oblivious to everything around him and always keeps his eyes down, like a painting.
Cheng Ying took the auxiliary position and recounted what had happened.
After he finished speaking, the carriage fell silent again.
After a long silence, Mu Hanshi finally looked up at him. His eyes, as calm as a lake, seemed to have no bottom or end. His first words were, "Aying, thank you."
The second sentence was, "I wish to bring forward the plan; is that permissible?"
Upon hearing this, a look of excitement and determination flickered across his effeminate face, and he nodded emphatically, "I can do it!"
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