Chapter 8: Punishment

Xiao Jue gave a cold snort, his eyes blazing like fire, his voice laced with a biting chill: "She is becoming increasingly audacious, using my favor to openly poison people within the Prince's estate. If I continue to indulge her, there is no telling what kind of trouble she will stir up next."

"Chang Feng, take Xiang Xue to the woodshed and have her reflect on her actions. She is not to leave without my command," Xiao Jue ordered.

Mu Liufei wanted to plead for her, but he held back. He knew Xiao Jue’s temper well; once a decision was made, it could not be changed.

"Liufei, get up. I only want to teach Xiang Xue a lesson so she remembers to restrain herself." Xiao Jue sat by the bedside, his gaze fixed on Qiu Shuiman, who was gradually drifting into a peaceful sleep.

"Yes." Mu Liufei stood up, observing the way Xiao Jue looked at Qiu Shuiman. "Your Highness, the best time to administer the medicine is in three days, after the second round of toxins is purged from your body," Mu Liufei reminded him from the side.

"I know. You may leave," Xiao Jue waved his hand, his tone as indifferent as ice.

Mu Liufei picked up his medicine chest and turned to leave the room.

Xiao Jue watched the sleeping Qiu Shuiman, a strange emotion stirring in his heart. The expression of agony on her face after she was poisoned earlier lingered in his mind. Nie Rongze had said she had been fed toxins since childhood; for over a decade, she had been enduring such suffering.

Qiu Gongjin—he did not even spare his own daughter. Such a ruthless and cold-blooded man; sooner or later, he would make him pay the price.

"Do not blame me. After you die, I will avenge you," Xiao Jue said, tucking the quilt around her before rising and turning to leave.

In her sleep, Qiu Shuiman did not know that she was drawing closer and closer to death.

When Xiao Jue returned to his study, a secret guard delivered a confidential report regarding the events that took place on the day of Qiu Shuiman’s ghost wedding. As he read the contents, Xiao Jue’s eyes narrowed.

Nie Rongze had replaced the lethal poisoned wine with a white silk noose, and when Qiu Shuiman saw the silk, she lost control and tried to flee, accidentally striking her head against the corner of a table.

Xiao Jue looked at the report, but he could not make sense of it. If Nie Rongze intended to send Qiu Shuiman to him to act as an antidote, why would he swap the poisoned wine? And since many people had examined Qiu Shuiman’s body and confirmed she was dead, how did she come back to life inside the coffin?

And who was this man named "A-Ye" that she kept murmuring about?

Xiao Jue looked at the final line of the report: The eldest son of the Prime Minister’s estate, Qiu Yehen, Qiu Shuiman’s brother, was the only person in the Prime Minister’s household who cared for and looked after her.

Qiu Yehen, A-Ye, A-Ye? Xiao Jue closed the report, a chill radiating from his body. "Meiying," Xiao Jue called out, and a man in black suddenly appeared.

"Go and investigate Qiu Yehen," Xiao Jue commanded.

Meiying acknowledged the order and vanished like a gust of wind. Xiao Jue burned the report and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. What exactly was Nie Rongze planning?

Qiu Shuiman—should he kill this woman or keep her? Xiao Jue massaged his forehead, his mind filled with her image.

When Qiu Shuiman woke up, it was already dark outside. She got out of bed, walked to the window, and pushed it open, gazing at the bright, clear moon in contemplation.

The agonizing sensation she felt before losing consciousness felt very familiar to Qiu Shuiman, as if it were a latent feeling from the original owner. She guessed that perhaps the original body suffered from some chronic condition, like heart disease.

"Your Highness, you are awake." Qing Zhui walked in and asked upon seeing Qiu Shuiman standing by the window. Because of her negligence that morning, she had nearly caused the Princess to lose her life; thinking about it now, she still felt a lingering fear.

Qiu Shuiman turned around and saw Qing Zhui standing not far away, looking terrified. "What is wrong? You don't look very well. Are you ill?" Qiu Shuiman walked over to examine her.

Qing Zhui shook her head. "No, this servant is fine. Is Your Highness feeling better?" She kept her head bowed. Although Xiao Jue had not killed her, a servant who made a mistake deserved punishment. Twenty lashes were light for someone like her who practiced martial arts, and she had even received medicinal ointment from Chang Feng.

Qiu Shuiman gave a soft hum and said, "I'm fine. I don't know what happened; that painful feeling just felt very familiar. It might be some old ailment of my body, nothing serious. Qing Zhui, I can't sleep. Could you show me around the Prince Yin estate?"