“Now!?”

This time, it wasn’t just Si Kouji who was stunned—so was Tuoba Yu.

“This is far too sudden…”

“Exactly!” Si Kouji snapped out of it, frowning in reflexive opposition. “His Highness has only just started to recover. How can he withstand the rigors of travel? Even if we must leave, we should at least wait another two days…”

“We can’t wait!”

Shui Xingqiu’s tone was unyielding, leaving no room for doubt.

“If we don’t leave now, trying to leave later won’t be nearly so simple!”

Si Kouji and Tuoba Yu exchanged a confused look, completely baffled as to why he had suddenly become so insistent.

Shui Xingqiu had neither the time nor the desire to explain.

Hearing what Si Kouji had said, he already guessed what had happened. ‘Xiao Lansi has been exposed!’

‘Who knows when I’ll be dragged into this!’

‘Even though I came here under a false identity, if those people really decide to investigate, they’ll definitely uncover who I really am!’

He turned back to Si Kouji and asked urgently, “Besides this, has anything else happened in the capital? What about the Prince Jing Mansion?”

Si Kouji was baffled. “Th-this… I don’t know…”

“Forget it!”

‘It’s too late to ask about this now. The most important thing is to leave the Capital City at once!’

Seeing Shui Xingqiu’s unwavering determination, Tuoba Yu was the first to come around.

He quickly made his decision. “Fine! We’ll leave right now!”

Si Kouji had no time to object. “Your Highness—”

“We’ll listen to our teacher,” Tuoba Yu said, his tone firm.

“This…” Si Kouji knew he couldn’t change their minds. Though thoroughly confused, he still nodded. “Fine. I’ll go make the arrangements.”

Fortunately, they had already been preparing to leave, so there wasn’t much to pack.

A short while later, the group departed in their carriage.

Puddles still dotted the road, and the carriage wheels sent water splashing as they sped by.

…

「Dingbei Marquis Mansion.」

Yun Cheng looked up in surprise. “Oh? They left?”

Xi Su leaned casually against the doorframe and nodded lazily. “In a great hurry. It looked like a hasty decision. By my count, they should be leaving the city soon.”

Yun Cheng stroked his chin thoughtfully. “That esteemed guest’s injuries haven’t healed yet, have they? Leaving in such a rush… I’m afraid he’s only going to suffer more on the road.”

Xi Su crossed his arms. “Didn’t the Master already give the order? If they want to leave, we’re not to stop them. Just let them go.”

“True enough,” Yun Cheng said with a smile. “The rain has stopped. A fine time to start a journey.”

As Xi Su turned to leave, he nearly collided with someone else.

Yun Cheng’s expression turned to one of surprise when he saw the newcomer. “Su Mu, what brings you here?”

Normally, these men were scattered in different places, making it rare for them to meet. It was quite a coincidence that they were all here today.

Su Mu nodded a greeting to Xi Su before walking into the room. He was concise. “Our guest says he wants to go out for a walk.”

“What?”

For once, Yun Cheng was stunned.

“Our guest,” of course, referred to Uncle Di, who lived in the Marquis Mansion and was usually under the care of Su Mu and the others.

‘He’s usually been so quiet. Why all of a sudden today…?’

“He wants to go out?”

“Yes.” Su Mu nodded. “The day before yesterday, didn’t Second Miss Ye deliver a new wheelchair? And a…” He narrowed his eyes. “I believe she called it… a prosthetic limb?”

Uncle Di seemed deeply moved after receiving the items. Today, he had even taken the initiative to ask if he could go outside.

Of course, a matter like this required the Master’s approval.

Since the Master wasn’t at the mansion, he had reported it to Yun Cheng instead.

“I see…” Yun Cheng mused for a moment. “Alright, I understand. We’ll wait for the Master to return before deciding.”

He glanced outside.

“After such a heavy rain, tomorrow will likely be a sunny day. It would be a shame to miss the spring scenery, wouldn’t it?”

…

「Qiyuan Hall.」

More and more blood trickled from Xiao Lansi’s nose and mouth, a horrifying sight.

As he watched her breathing grow fainter, Emperor Muwu’s anger mounted.

“Why aren’t they here yet!”

Eunuch Li stepped forward cautiously and advised in a low voice, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The men have been dispatched, but it will naturally take some time…”

‘Eunuch Li was miserable.’

‘Even if Si Kouji and his people arrived, they probably couldn’t solve Xiao Lansi’s problem either.’

‘Wouldn’t that just make the situation even uglier?’

“Perhaps… perhaps we should summon an Imperial Physician?”

The moment he made the suggestion, he saw Emperor Muwu shoot an even colder glance at Fan Chengzhuo.

“If they had that kind of skill, I wouldn’t be facing this predicament today!”

Beads of sweat formed on Eunuch Li’s brow, and he clamped his mouth shut, heart pounding with fear.

‘This situation is an absolute mess!’

‘His Majesty’s mood was volatile and impossible to predict. Even I can’t begin to guess what he’s thinking…’

Emperor Muwu stared coldly at Xiao Lansi, who was sprawled on the floor.

“I will ask you one last time: did you deliberately orchestrate a plot to fake your own death and escape?!”

His voice was laced with suppressed fury.

Though it was phrased as a question, he already knew the answer.

‘Xiao Lansi had clearly made a fool of them all, including him!’

‘As an emperor, how could he possibly tolerate such deceit?’

But Xiao Lansi could no longer answer him.

Excruciating pain emanated from every inch of her skin, every bone in her body, accompanied by a soul-deep itch.

She began to claw at her own body.

Her sharp nails quickly broke the skin, leaving behind bloody furrows.

But instead of stopping, she grew more frantic, even beginning to claw at her own face.

Ye Chutang’s brow furrowed.

“The poisonous insect has already spread throughout her entire body. I’m afraid…”

Emperor Muwu was filled with rage and disgust.

“Such methods are truly sinister and vicious!”

In an instant, a bloody gash appeared on Xiao Lansi’s cheek.

But she was beyond caring.

Her eyes remained fixed on something in front of her. While desperately fighting the agonizing itch wracking her body, she struggled to crawl forward.

Her blood-caked nails scraped horribly across the floor, producing a grating sound.

She scrabbled with such force that the nail on her little finger was torn completely backward, leaving a mess of mangled flesh and blood.

Xiao Lansi seemed oblivious to the pain, her eyes wide as she madly pushed forward.

‘Just a little further… I can get my bead back…’

“Imperial Father, your son believes we should have her moved to a side hall and placed under special care as soon as possible,” Xiao Chenglin suddenly interjected. “Otherwise, keeping her here… I’m afraid it will not end well.”

He didn’t specify how it would not end well, nor did he need to.

Everyone present understood perfectly.

If Xiao Lansi were to die in Qiyuan Hall, it would be a tremendous loss of face for Emperor Muwu.

Emperor Muwu’s brow furrowed as he looked at the filthy bloodstains on the floor and the frenzied Xiao Lansi.

“Guards—”

The moment he spoke, guards surged forward and seized Xiao Lansi by the shoulders!

THUD—!

Xiao Lansi’s head hit the floor. A sharp numbness shot through her shoulders, and her outstretched hand fell limply.

She stared intently ahead at the bead, now just inches away, and began to struggle and whimper frantically.

“L-let go… It’s… it’s mine… mine—”

Xiao Lansi gazed at the bead, her eyes wide, as tears streamed silently down her face.

“Ah—nghh—ah—”

Her breathing was ragged. Every syllable she uttered sounded like the grating rasp of a broken bellows, garbled and impossible to discern.

In that moment, all her strength seemed to evaporate, leaving her unable to break free.

Just then, a fair, slender hand picked up the cord.

Xiao Lansi stiffly raised her head, her gaze vacant.

Ye Chutang bent down slightly and placed the bead in her palm.

It felt cool to the touch.

Just like the long days and nights of years past, it was the most familiar of feelings.

“Uwah… huh… ah…”

Xiao Lansi clutched the Turquoise Bead tightly, her eyes fluttering shut as tears streamed down her face.

A cry of uncontrollable grief and despair finally echoed through the great hall.

“…M-Mommy…!”

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