Chapter 3: The Assassin of the Prime Minister's Residence

Chapter 003: The Assassin in the Prime Minister's Mansion

Qin Zi'er’s lips curled into a radiant smile. "Why so fierce? Rest assured, I won't touch you again. I only ended up here because I was ambushed. The medicinal bath in your tub is helping to neutralize the poison I was struck with. Once the poison is cleared, I’ll leave."

The man’s lips were pressed into a tight line. The murderous aura surrounding him did not diminish in the slightest at Qin Zi'er’s words; instead, his gaze grew even darker and deeper, as cold as an awl.

"If you keep staring at me like that, be careful, or I might just get annoyed and actually eat you!" Now that the poison in her body was no longer an issue, Qin Zi'er was in the mood to tease this man. It wasn't every day one encountered such a prime specimen; even if she couldn't truly "eat" him, she should at least tease him, or it would be a disservice to the arrangement fate had made for her.

The man stared at Qin Zi'er with such intensity that if looks could kill, she would have been executed countless times over.

Qin Zi'er narrowed her eyes, reached out, and patted the man’s face, her expression full of mischief. "I say, handsome, this girl’s body is still pure, you know. Even if I was forced to occupy your tub, you don't need to look at me as if you’re dying to tear me into a thousand pieces and scatter my ashes. Look at how boring it is for you to soak here all alone; having me here to keep you company isn't so bad, right?"

The man continued to glare at her, but when his gaze landed on the small, plum-blossom-shaped crimson birthmark on her arm, a dark glint flashed through his eyes.

One day, he would certainly make this woman know the consequences of provoking him.

Feeling that the strange sensations in her body had subsided, Qin Zi'er quickly climbed out of the tub and put on her clothes. As she left, she glanced at the man in the tub, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and gave a wicked smile. "You have a great physique. If I accidentally get drugged with an aphrodisiac again next time, I’ll definitely come looking for you."

Under the man’s ice-pick-sharp gaze, Qin Zi'er waved her hand and made a quick exit. Although he couldn't move right now, that didn't mean there was no danger. If the poison in his system happened to clear up and he regained his mobility, Qin Zi'er wasn't confident she could escape unscathed.

After exiting the neighboring residence, Qin Zi'er stood beneath the wall of her own courtyard. She sorted through the original owner's memories before turning to head back to her room.

Today’s events were definitely premeditated. Otherwise, even if this courtyard was remote, outsiders wouldn't have been able to get in, let alone have the time to drug her and lure away the only maid she had.

As for who was plotting against her, Qin Zi'er couldn't be certain yet, but it definitely had something to do with the people in this mansion. If no one inside had helped, how could an outsider have gotten in?

Qin Zi'er leaned against the headboard, feeling somewhat exhausted. Although the drug had been purged, it had still taken a toll on her body. Furthermore, the original owner’s body was malnourished, and after being busy for most of the day, she was naturally tired.

However, Qin Zi'er knew she couldn't rest yet; there was surely another act to follow.

Today was the birthday of the old master of the mansion. By rights, she, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence, should have been in the front courtyard celebrating his birthday. But the current Prime Minister’s wife, Madam Zhang, had used the excuse of her being unwell to keep her confined to this dilapidated little courtyard.

The goal was simply to keep her from appearing in front of everyone, to make Qin Zi'er’s reputation even worse—lacking talent, virtue, and beauty, coupled with a sickly constitution.

Like this, even with her betrothal to the current Emperor’s fourth son, Prince Su, she would likely never be able to marry into the Prince Su residence.

All that would await her was the annulment of the marriage.

In ancient times, how many women who had their engagements annulled could live well?

Her stepmother was truly as venomous as a scorpion.

The former Qin Zi'er had been manipulated by her stepmother at every turn because she was weak and incompetent. Now that the soul inside had been replaced by her, if anyone dared to harm her even a little, she would definitely make them pay it back tenfold, a hundredfold.

She hadn't even closed her eyes for a quarter of an hour when the sound of hurried footsteps came from the front courtyard. Before the people arrived, a sharp voice rang out.

"Catch the assassin! Catch the assassin!"

Qin Zi'er opened her eyes, dark glints flowing in their depths. Her lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. The dignified Prime Minister’s mansion actually had an assassin infiltrate it on the day of the old master’s birthday—should she say the guards of the Prime Minister’s mansion were all good-for-nothings?