After Ling Qiushui left, Zi Mo informed everyone that the assassin had escaped, and upon seeing Ling Qiushui's return, Zi Mo departed with her people once again.
Ling Qiushui was even more puzzled by the situation. What had gone wrong?
"Hmm!" Ling Qiushui snorted, rolling up her sleeves to examine her arm. She noticed a small red dot where she had been injured earlier.
Suddenly, the pain intensified, and more red dots began to appear at a rapid pace. Ling Qiushui's eyes widened in horror as she observed the changes occurring on her body.
"Ugh!" The pain spread to her face.
Ling Qiushui hurried to the edge of a copper mirror and saw the dense red dots covering her face.
"Bang!" She flipped the copper mirror, and it fell to the ground.
"I can't believe I knew nothing about someone poisoning me with the Flying Heavenly Demon."
Ling Qiushui's face twisted with anger, the red spots making her appearance even more hideous.
On a nearby rooftop, Su Qi playfully shook the Soul Devouring Bell in his hand.
At that moment, a cold-blooded and sinister aura emanated from his pink little face, surpassing even the chill of a cold-blooded killer. It seemed that he was a natural embodiment of evil.
"Ling Qiushui, you slandered Xin'er. If I, Su Qi, don't return the favor with interest and repay you in kind, then I'm not doing justice to her," Su Qi muttered, her eyes filled with malevolence. She couldn't help but think of her sister's pale and fragile face.
Su Qi couldn't wait to exact revenge on Ling Qiushui.
"Qi'er, it's almost time. Ling Qiushui is also a formidable opponent. She'll soon realize the deception of the Flying Heavenly Demon. Let's return home," Su Li reminded, aware that trouble would soon arise with the approaching dawn.
"Good, Brother." Su Qi swiftly put away the Soul Devouring Bell. "Ling Qiushui, this time I'll show you just how troublesome Yan Wang can be. You'll find it difficult to escape the clutches of the little ghost." The two brothers swiftly left Cloud City, their feet carrying them away at great speed.
Ling Qiushui covered her face with a silk scarf, her eyes filled with exhaustion. Beneath the scarf, a menacing intent curled on her lips. Whoever was manipulating the Flying Heavenly Demon must be nearby. If they were too far away, it would be impossible to control the flying moths.
Ling Qiushui's sharp eyes surveyed every corner.
"Damn, I'm a step too late."
Frustrated, Ling Qiushui returned to her room with a blank expression.
She had intended to treat herself, but to her horror, she discovered pus oozing from the red spots.
"Ugh!" Ling Qiushui let out a horrified cry, staring at her face in terror. The Flying Heavenly Demon was toxic.
"No, my face, my face..." Ling Qiushui raised her hands, her expression reflecting sheer terror as if she were facing imminent death.
Early the next morning, on Sanqing Mountain.
Su Zimo opened her eyes to the warm sunlight streaming through the crack in the door.
Recalling her efforts to recall the events of the previous night, she realized that she had fallen asleep outside. Yet now she found herself lying in bed.
She tilted her head slightly and spotted Xin'er's adorable little face.
Su Zimo smiled knowingly, noticing that Xin'er's condition had improved since yesterday.
Feeling warmth on the other side, Su Zimo furrowed her brow, sensing that something was amiss.
She turned her head abruptly and was met with the enlarged handsome face before her eyes.
Su Zimo was taken aback and quickly checked her attire, relieved to find that she was properly dressed.
Her heart settled, and Su Zimo focused on Mu Yunxuan's handsome face, which she had the chance to see after he had fallen asleep.
His sleeping posture was incredibly lazy, with his gentle jade-like hands resting on his head. His black hair was disheveled yet not untidy, adding a touch of sinister charm. Even with his deep-set closed eyes, one could still sense the sharpness emanating from him.
With an exquisite nose and beautifully shaped lips, Su Zimo had seen countless beautiful men in the world, but none had evoked the same sense of astonishment as his beauty.
Mu Yunxuan abruptly opened his eyes, and in an instant, a captivating brilliance radiated from his face.
Su Zimo blushed instantly, caught red-handed. Her face appeared unnatural, and her eyes avoided his gaze as she struggled to get up.
"Madam, are you awake?" Mu Yunxuan reached out and held her, his hoarse voice filled with deep affection.
Mu Yunxuan gazed at her transparent, blushing face, finding her even more alluring when she was shy.
"Get up when you wake up?" Su Zimo tugged at Mu Yunxuan's hand, feeling that this girl took every opportunity to tease her.
"Madam, haven't I slept enough?" Mu Yunxuan voiced his dissatisfaction.
"Then you can continue sleeping," Su Zimo replied in a low tone as she rose gently, making her way past Xin'er.
"You can stay by Xin'er's side. It's a bit chilly in the mountains, and her hands and feet feel cold. I'll go make breakfast for you."
Su Zimo glanced at her daughter, distressed, wishing that Xin'er could recover and be as happy as other children.
With a heavy sigh, Su Zimo silently prayed for the ghost doctor to cure Xin'er.
Mu Yunxuan noticed the change in Su Zimo's expression and vowed to share her pain from now on, believing that with his support, Xin'er would surely get better.
Following Su Zimo's instructions, Mu Yunxuan lay down beside Su Xin and gently tucked her in, sleeping with their heads together.
Su Zimo felt warmth in her heart, finding solace in the sight of her husband and daughter sleeping peacefully.
After covering the crack in the door with a cloth to block the sunlight, Su Zimo left the room and strolled leisurely.
Meanwhile, Mu Yunxuan gazed at his daughter's peaceful face, his heart melting as he held her little hand. Feeling the slight coolness, he gently enveloped her hand in his warm palm.
"Xin'er, you will definitely get better, no matter what it takes. Daddy will make you better," Mu Yunxuan whispered with a soft smile, his eyes filled with affection.
Back in Cloud City, Ling Qiushui sat in front of a copper mirror that night. The red spots on her face had transformed into yellow pustules, oozing pus with a foul odor.
Witnessing her loss of beauty, Ling Qiushui's heart burned with deep hatred. She realized that it was most likely Su Qi who had played a part in her disfigurement.
Regretfully, Ling Qiushui acknowledged that her skill in deception had been bested by a five-year-old child, leaving her feeling humiliated.
"Su Qi, Su Zimo? I won't spare you," Ling Qiushui muttered, her eyes filled with hatred as she covered her face with a white silk scarf.
She tapped the table three times, and a masked man in black swiftly appeared in the room.
"Palace Master," the masked man bowed.
"Have you discovered what happened last night?" Ling Qiushui's voice was cold and filled with a strong intent to kill, her eyes sharp as they swept over the kneeling masked man.
"Palace Master, it seems that they noticed the disappearance of our four men. Based on our deduction, it is likely that they were killed by their people," the masked man replied, trembling.
"Worthless! How could a mere mortal kill those with powers beyond their reach?" Ling Qiushui exclaimed angrily, her body trembling with fury.
"Is there nothing else you have to report?" she asked, her voice cold and cruel.
The masked man hesitated for a moment, then nodded and retreated. Unbeknownst to him, he had missed the fact that he had followed the two children but had to leave halfway due to a sudden stomachache. When he returned, the children had disappeared.
"They are indeed involved," Ling Qiushui gritted her teeth, her voice filled with anger.
"Give the order to pursue them! Kill anyone associated with Mingyue Villa, especially those three children. Not a single one should be allowed to escape," Ling Qiushui commanded, her eyes burning with hatred.
The masked man nodded and left to carry out the order.
Meanwhile, in Mu Yunhan's courtyard, laughter could be heard from a distance.
"Haha! Yun Han, Ling Qiushui must be in misery! Pus is now covering her face. I wonder how she'll react. Zi Mo said with a smile, dressed in a white robe, exuding an air of elegance.
Mu Yunhan, in his vibrant red robe, looked radiant with his eyes shining like stars.
"She's clever. Even in this state, she still dares to stay in Cloud City. She must have a follow-up plan. If it weren't for the need to uproot them, I would have dealt with her last night," Mu Yunhan said, annoyed, as he slammed the table.
"This is the consequence she brought upon herself. She disfigured Qi'er with the Flying Devil technique, and now she's busy trying to fix her own face. But we can't be complacent. It's time for the Magic Capital to make its move, and we have to prepare for another round of assassinations in the capital," Mu Yunhan said, reclining lazily in his chair, gazing up at the ceiling.
"Yes! We need to catch our breath and find a way to deal with the people from the Magic Capital. They're determined to exterminate the Mu family. Unfortunately, they are allowed to roam outside for half a month each year. I wonder what scheme they'll come up with this time. We're busy with the alchemy competition, the grand opening of Qi'er's thirteen shops, and the state banquet. It's wave after wave," Zi Mo replied, her brow slightly furrowed.
Suddenly, a thought crossed Mu Yunhan's mind. "By the way, what about the matter with Jun Lin Tian? Hasn't Zi Mo sent the evidence yet? It's been quite a few days," he pondered aloud.
"I'm eager to see her. A woman who dares to make a move on Jun Lin Tian, I wonder if Yun Xuan can tame her," Mu Yunhan mused.
Zi Mo spoke with a meaningful expression, his face filled with anticipation.
"Her temper may not be the best, but her actions are impressive," Mu Yunhan smiled. In fact, he hadn't fully recognized Su Zimo's greatness back then. She appeared lifeless, with her head lowered. Now that he saw her, he might not even recognize her.
In Bright Moon Villa, Su Qi was still fast asleep.
Su Li was not in the habit of sleeping in, always waking up as soon as dawn broke.
"Uncle," Su Qingjue walked over with a worried expression.
Su Li raised an eyebrow and asked, "Uncle, is something wrong?"
"Yes!" Su Qingjue nodded.
"The bark stacked in the paper mill has turned black and was deliberately destroyed. Fortunately, it was discovered in time, and the finished and colored products were not ruined," Su Qingjue explained.
"The area around the paper mill is heavily guarded, and ordinary people can't enter it."
Su Li took a few steps and said in a serious tone, "Unless there is a traitor within the paper mill."
"That's possible," Su Qingjue clenched his fists, blaming himself for his carelessness.
"It's truly unfortunate. Twenty large pools have been contaminated, and the contaminated pulp has been piled up for four hours. This happened just when it was time for pulping. It seems that the person is very familiar with everything in the paper mill. If you had gone to the paper mill half an incense stick's time ago last night, the thief's plan wouldn't have succeeded," Su Li turned to Su Qingjue, his voice gentle.
"Uncle, you don't have to blame yourself too much. The enemy is cunning, and there are times when it's impossible to prevent them," Su Li reassured him.
"Who could it be?" Su Qingjue couldn't figure it out. Everyone seemed loyal, and he paid great attention to the affairs of the paper mill. He never noticed anything abnormal, even waking up in the middle of the night to check on it.
"At the moment, Bright Moon Villa has made many enemies. It's not strange that someone is secretly trying to sabotage us. Uncle, let's have the water in the pools replaced. The finished products are enough for the opening. Uncle Murong will handle their disposal," Su Li suggested.
"Uncle, you should move to the paper mill tonight. The opening is imminent, and we can't afford to let things go wrong and ruin Mother's hard work," Su Qingjue thought, determined to catch the thief.
"No need, Uncle. Let's go together tonight. We'll have the little raccoon secretly keep watch. If the person shows up tonight, we won't let them escape," Su Li's eyes were deep, sharp like a hawk as he gazed angrily at the horizon.
He felt that something was amiss when his mother wasn't around in the village. He thought that she was burdened and didn't want to trouble her further with this matter.
"Uncle, please go on with your tasks. Don't tell Mother in advance. She's exhausted from taking care of Xin'er, and we shouldn't burden her further," Su Li instructed, concerned about his mother's well-being.
"Uncle, rest assured. We can handle this matter, and I won't tell Mother," Su Qingjue nodded and left.
"Ah, Grand Duke, wait for me. I'll accompany you," He Yunting said, trotting over.
Su Qingjue stopped and looked at He Yunting.
He Yunting hurriedly approached, "Whoever ate the gall of a leopard, all our hard work for the past few days was ruined. I used to check everything meticulously. I should have forced him to eat it and see if his thick waist could save him from being devoured by Chi Yan."
Clearly, He Yunting was also aware of the incident at the paper mill.
Su Li didn't stop him. He had always trusted Uncle He's abilities.
"I'll go to the shop first and check on the loading of the goods. I'll leave things in your hands here," Su Li said.
"Li'er, take care of yourself. When I left this morning, I noticed a few suspicious people near the villa," He Yunting warned, seemingly unafraid of confronting danger head-on.
"Don't worry. What about Tongzi and Uncle Shaoyu? Are they accompanying Quercus?" Su Li reassured them and turned to walk towards the dining room.
In the palace, in Yao Guifei's dormitory.
At first glance, the Guidian Lan Palace was exquisitely beautiful, with its cornices and exquisite designs. In the hall, the Beique Pearl Palace was resplendent and dazzling, giving the impression of being inside a treasure trove.
Yao Guifei knelt on the carpet, trembling.
In front of her lay a pile of yellowed papers.
Emperor Haoyue, the Crown Prince, and the Queen were all present.
"Yao Guifei, look at these. They were found in Tian'er's study, secretly communicating with Li Chengxiang. And let's not forget the jade pendant from last time. Do you dare to deny it this time?" Emperor Haoyue looked at the trembling Yao Guifei, clearly enraged.
"My Emperor, these concubines really don't know what's happening. It's highly likely that someone is framing Tian'er. If Tian'er did such a thing, would he keep these letters in his study? Wangwu Emperor Mincha," Yao Guifei's eyes flickered as she urgently tried to explain, hoping to deny the accusations. However, the evidence was right in front of her.
It had come suddenly, and she hadn't heard anything beforehand. The evidence was irrefutable.
Why was Tian'er acting so foolishly? Would he casually leave behind evidence of his secret dealings with ministers in his study? Was he playing with her?
"You don't know? Someone wants to frame Tian'er? Hm?" Emperor Haoyue coldly glanced at Yao Guifei. "Well, let me tell you. He was too late to hide it. He went to Su Mansion that night and fell into a trap. Shu Ben was concerned about him and personally went to the palace to see him. Unexpectedly, I found these letters in his study. These letters were clearly written ten years ago. You sent your henchman, Li Chengxiang, to find a panacea for you to take, but I never thought that Li Chengxiang would harm the Xiao family. Many years ago, the ancestors of the Xiao family refined pills for a royal concubine in the palace. After Wang Guifei took the pills, she showed signs of poisoning. Wang Guifei blamed the Xiao family for tampering with the pills and convinced the emperor, in a fit of anger, to imprison the Xiao family who had refined the pills. However, it was later revealed that the noble concubine had deliberately framed the Xiao family because she failed to obtain the essence cleansing pill she desired. The first emperor felt guilty and wanted to compensate the Xiao family, so he wanted them to become alchemists in the palace. But the Xiao family refused, as long as the elixir refined by their family was not allowed to enter the palace. The first emperor had to agree to their request. Ten years ago, a similar incident occurred again. You and Wang Guifei had the same intention, but unfortunately, Li Chengxiang destroyed the Xiao family without obtaining the pill. If it weren't for Li Hu's accident this time, this matter would have remained buried. Such a cruel act is truly chilling."
After Emperor Haoyue finished speaking, he looked out the window with a pained heart.
Empress Ji Wu'er glared fiercely at Yao Guifei.
Li Chengxiang, the old fox, was their apparent ally, but secretly he was working for Yao Guifei. It was unclear who had devised this plan to kill two birds with one stone, easily satisfying the hatred in Yao Guifei's heart.
The prince stood expressionless. This was the royal family, and Jun Lantian had always been ambitious. He knew it, but he had been too careless, and this time he suffered a great loss.
"My Emperor, these actions were all carried out by me, and Tian'er has nothing to do with it!"
At this point, Yao Guifei knew that even if she were cunning, Emperor Haoyue would not believe her. Now she only wanted to protect her son before she could make a comeback.
"You did it alone?" Emperor Haoyue coldly looked at Yao Guifei. "Hmph! Do you think I'm playing games with Xu? In the eyes of the Haoyue Emperor, how could he tolerate a son plotting rebellion?"
"Bring the men," Haoyue Emperor shouted outside.
Soon, two eunuchs entered the room.
"Take the Yao family to the Cold Palace. No one is allowed to approach without my permission."
"Yes, Emperor."
Despite her attempts to plead, Yao Guifei was dragged away to the Cold Palace.
Subsequently, Haoyue Kingdom issued a decree to inform the world that the Three Kings had conspired to rebel, and the evidence was conclusive. All their military power was stripped, and they were forbidden from participating in imperial affairs. The Three Kings' Mansion was forever banned, and they were not allowed to step foot outside its premises.
Li Chengxiang's family, due to their involvement in Jun Lantian's affairs and orchestrating the Xiao family's demise, were also executed.
Meanwhile, Jun Lantian was still asleep in King's Landing, oblivious to how he had destroyed himself.
At noon, Su Zimo received a message from Liu Shiyu.
Mu Yunxuan was also present and noticed Su Zimo's expression.
Jealousy filled him as he asked, "Do you still care about him in your heart?"
"Who?" Su Zimo felt that Mu Yunxuan's question was inexplicable.
"Jun Lantian. Do you still care about him?" Mu Yunxuan persisted.
"Mu Yunxuan, can't you say something relevant? That scumbag isn't worth caring about!" Su Zimo rolled her eyes.
Mu Yunxuan's face brightened. At least she didn't care!
Su Zimo tore the note and thought to herself, "Su Zimo, I've done everything I could for you. Jun Lantian has been stripped of his military power, forbidden from participating in imperial affairs, and forever banned from the Three Kings' Mansion. For someone who sought power and ambition, his wings have been clipped, and he will never rise again."
In reality, Mu Yunxuan had also received news from Mu Yunhan and already knew everything that had happened the previous night.
"Madam, what are we going to do today?" Mu Yunxuan asked, still feeling a bit jealous.