Mu Baiyu’s vision darkened with pain, and in a daze, he saw the emerald figure approaching.
"Young Master, what's wrong?"
As she drew nearer, Lan Yue'er finally noticed something amiss. Mu Baiyu’s appearance was not one of affection, but of clear agony!
The sounds around him seemed to be trapped in a jar, echoing and then returning, making them unclear.
He pressed his hand to his head with force. The蛊 (gu) worm sealed within his veins thrashed violently. The more it struggled, the deeper the silver needles penetrated his acupoints, constricting his veins and allowing only a trickle of blood to reach his brain. His eyes, bloodshot from oxygen deprivation and pain, were filling with red veins.
A suppressed roar vibrated in his throat. Mu Baiyu raised his head, his bloodshot eyes sending a chill down Lan Yue'er's spine.
No, what was happening?
Lan Yue'er was confused. This shouldn't be happening. How could the love蛊 (gu) cause him such distress?
Perhaps she should take him away first!
With this thought, Lan Yue'er reached out to help Mu Baiyu.
Nan Shiying's gaze sharpened, and she gracefully walked towards the pavilion.
"Young Master Mu..."
A clear, cold voice sounded from behind. Lan Yue'er's hand, supporting Mu Baiyu, stiffened slightly.
Without releasing Mu Baiyu's arm, she turned around. She saw Nan Shiying and the Grand Li princess approaching together, one after the other. A flash of murderous intent flickered in Lan Yue'er's eyes.
Although Lan Yue'er's murderous intent was fleeting, Nan Shiying still detected it. She raised an eyebrow, suddenly recalling the deep-seated enmity between Miao Jiang and Grand Li.
No wonder this woman harbored killing intent.
"Your servant greets the Princess Consort and Your Highness the Princess." Lan Yue'er lowered her gaze and curtsied to Nan Shiying and the Grand Li princess.
"Who are you?" Nan Shiying asked, feigning ignorance.
"Replying to Your Highness, your servant is a palace maid." Lan Yue'er answered without hesitation.
"Oh?" Nan Shiying glanced at her with a half-smile, a sharp, chilling glint emanating from her slightly raised eyelids. The icy, blade-like gaze fell upon her, making Lan Yue'er feel as if she were being seen through her skin, her soul laid bare. She tightened her grip on Mu Baiyu's arm, her lowered head sinking even lower.
"What is wrong with Young Master Mu?" she suddenly asked, withdrawing her gaze.
Lan Yue'er replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, your servant is not entirely sure. Your servant merely saw that this young master seemed unwell, so she came forward to check."
"You are quite astute."
Nan Shiying praised her in a dismissive tone. She glanced at Lan Yue'er, then at the almost fainting Mu Baiyu. No matter what, she could not let this woman take Mu Baiyu away. Who knew what she would do after taking him away? Fortunately, Nan Chaoyin's hidden guards were unaware of this蛊 (gu) master's existence. Even if she ruined Nan Chaoyin's plan today, he would have no grounds to blame her, his 'hidden guard'.
With this thought, Nan Shiying turned and instructed Lu Wan, "Go and invite Young Master Wei."
Lu Wan acknowledged with a sound and went to the main hall to fetch Wei Yuan.
Nan Shiying smiled and said to the Grand Li princess, "Princess Hui'an, please."
Saying this, she sat on the stone stool first. Princess Hui'an glanced at Nan Shiying and then sat opposite her, lifting her skirt.
From beginning to end, a faint smile played on her lips.
"Your Highness..."
Lan Yue'er, supporting Mu Baiyu, was in a dilemma, unsure whether to move or stay. She was anxious. If not for fear of ruining the plan, she would have already made a move to knock out these two bothersome nuisances.
No, not knock out.
Kill them!
Did she really have to miss this rare opportunity and let the Grand Li princess go?
If the Grand Li princess died in the Lin Yuan Imperial Palace, then even if Grand Li feared Ji Jinmo, they would definitely dispatch troops to denounce Lin Yuan. At that time, when Lin Yuan and Grand Li clashed and a major war erupted, how could her clan's revenge not be achieved?
The more Lan Yue'er thought about it, the more she felt that this was the perfect moment to strike.
With this thought, her hand, hanging at her side, was slightly raised.
Damn it!
Nan Shiying sensed Lan Yue'er's movement and felt a prickle of unease. She didn't fear an opponent who had planned meticulously, but one who played recklessly. This woman was clearly acting on impulse, but now...
Nan Shiying tapped the tabletop with her hand, and a silver needle suddenly appeared between her fingers.
She steadied her breathing and suddenly glanced at the Grand Li princess.
The Grand Li princess blinked in surprise. Before she could react to the meaning of the glance, she felt a fierce gust of wind brush past her ear.
Lan Yue'er suddenly let go of Mu Baiyu and, using her hand like a blade, slashed towards the Grand Li princess's neck.
"Princess!"
Bao Lan let out a cry of alarm.
Nan Shiying flicked her wrist, her fingers, holding the silver needle, rapidly aimed at Lan Yue'er's wrist.
If this needle pierced, Lan Yue'er's wrist would be instantly pierced. A flash of cold light appeared before her eyes. Lan Yue'er's hand suddenly stopped, and with her other hand, she quickly lunged to grab Nan Shiying's wrist.
One stop, one grab, one thrust, one block.
Lan Yue'er and Nan Shiying touched and separated.
"Mu Baiyu!"
Lan Yue'er let out a sharp, low roar. She fully channeled the蠱 (gu) worm within her, connecting them and stirring up the蛊 (gu) worms in Mu Baiyu's body. The蛊 (gu) worms in his body struggled desperately, splitting in half at the point where they were sealed by the silver needles.
"Pfft!"
The蛊 (gu) worm within Mu Baiyu shattered, and Lan Yue'er spat out a mouthful of blood.
The shattered蛊 (gu) worm did not die. It dragged its broken body towards Mu Baiyu's heart.
His neck no longer ached, but Mu Baiyu's heart felt as if it were pierced by a sharp sword, instantly producing a tearing pain. Then, he looked at Lan Yue'er.
Seeing her blood-stained lips, his heart ached intensely.
"You..."
His voice was hoarse, as if scraped by sand. Although Lan Yue'er didn't know what went wrong, seeing the tender affection in Mu Baiyu's eyes, she waved her hand and shouted at him, "Mu Baiyu, kill her!"
She pointed at the Grand Li princess.
Mu Baiyu blinked. His mind sent a piercing warning, but his heart told him to do it, to do as she said!
Nan Shiying's heart lurched. She knew it was bad.
The love蛊 (gu) had broken free from her seal.
"What are you waiting for? Run!"
Nan Shiying looked at the Grand Li princess, who was frozen in place, and felt a throbbing pain in her head. What was she still looking at?
Hearing Nan Shiying's shout, the Grand Li princess finally reacted. She decisively turned and ran in the opposite direction.
Lan Yue'er's eyes widened in fury. This perfect opportunity had been ruined by that damned Nan Shiying. How could she know martial arts? Why did she know martial arts?
Nan Shiying, I won't forget you!
Lan Yue'er cast a deep glance at Nan Shiying, then shouted at Mu Baiyu, "Stop her."
With that, she turned and ran in the opposite direction.
"Xuan Yi!"
Only after the Grand Li princess had left did Nan Shiying say to Xuan Yi, who was hiding in the shadows, "Bring her back to the princely estate!"