Qing Ming believed him without question and immediately said, "The Emperor has decreed that it is not to be mentioned, so no one in the manor has uttered a word about it."
"Then... even the Fourteenth Prince hasn't mentioned it?"
Chu Feixue was not very familiar with the people in the Xuan Prince's Manor, but she had heard that the Fourteenth Prince was extremely loyal to the Xuan Prince.
"Since it was the Emperor's decree, the Fourteenth Prince would naturally not disobey."
Chu Feixue hesitated before saying, "Qing Ming, someone must be attending to the Prince for these three days, right?"
"Miss Feixue means..."
"Of course, I'm only thinking of Huaiyu sister... Sister Huaiyu. If Lord Qing Ming could convey that it was Sister Huaiyu taking care of the Prince..."
"Apologies, I cannot lie to the Prince!"
Although he wished for Chu Huaiyu to gain the Prince's favor, his loyalty to the Prince was absolute!
"That's not what I meant, I just..."
Chu Feixue bit her lip and lowered her eyes, quickly strategizing.
A moment later, she looked up and smiled at him, "Huaiyu has indeed been thinking of taking care of the Prince, but she was always bullied by Chu Qianli and driven away."
"Lord Qing Ming, you only need to mention that Huaiyu often visits the Prince. This is not deception, is it?"
Qing Ming remained silent, his brow furrowed slightly.
Chu Feixue continued, "Huaiyu is gentle and kind. You and I both wish for her well, don't we?"
Qing Ming looked at her.
After a long while, he nodded, "I naturally wish for Miss Huaiyu's well-being!"
...
"Although Grandpa's condition has improved, his toxins have not been completely cleared. Coupled with his age, these toxins remaining in his body will eventually worsen his condition."
After taking Grandpa Chu Buqu's pulse, Chu Qianli and Steward Han walked to the outer room to discuss in hushed tones, avoiding Chu Buqu.
"Steward Han, I need a medicinal ingredient, but I haven't thought of one yet. Give me a few more days."
"These few days, you should still keep a close watch on Grandpa's diet. All food must be personally tested for poison. Do not give that person any further opportunities."
"I understand." Steward Han nodded.
The person behind this was hidden so deeply.
If they couldn't expose him this time, the Duke's Mansion would never have peace in the future.
... Chu Qianli gave a few more instructions before leaving the Duke's Mansion.
However, she did not get into the carriage this time and instead took the back door.
Qing Ming was filled with frustration, "People from our manor never use the back door!"
"Then you can take your people through the front door. I'm not stopping you." Anyway, she didn't consider herself part of the Xuan Prince's Manor.
What did their family's affairs have to do with her?
"You!" Qing Ming was furious!
This demoness was simply relying on the fact that he couldn't make things difficult for her!
Although he was angry, since she had already gone through the back door, there was no point in going back to the front door.
Qing Ming strode forward and blocked Chu Qianli, "Miss Li, please get into the carriage!"
He wanted to send her back quickly and dump her in Qianyun Pavilion. After that, her affairs would be none of his concern!
But unexpectedly, Chu Qianli suddenly took two steps back. She pulled out a dagger from somewhere, its tip pointed at her own heart!
"You've always bullied me, and I've had enough!"
As she spoke, she raised the dagger and plunged it towards her heart.
This was sheer madness!
How could Qing Ming have expected her to suddenly become so frantic!
No matter how much he disliked her, he could not let her get hurt! If she was going to die, she should die in Qianyun Pavilion after returning. If she died here, it would become his responsibility!
Without thinking, Qing Ming rushed forward to snatch the dagger from her.
But as he reached Chu Qianli, he inadvertently saw a meaningful smile playing on her lips.
What did she... mean?
With a *swish*, the dagger grazed Qing Ming's arm, cutting deeply and viciously!
Qing Ming was completely stunned, staring blankly at Chu Qianli, forgetting to react.
"Lord Qing Ming!" Several guards quickly stepped forward, shielding him and glaring fiercely at Chu Qianli.
Their faces were ashen with anger, but they didn't know what to do.
They couldn't hurt her, nor could they let her get hurt! Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to answer to the Prince!
Chu Qianli slowly sheathed the dagger and glanced at Qing Ming.
Her thin lips curled into a cold sneer, "I don't have many virtues. My only virtue is being petty."
She strode forward, "I want to walk back. If you have the guts, kill me and carry me back. Otherwise, stop the nonsense!"
Petty! She had never seen anyone so shamelessly justify being so excessively petty!
Was it because Lord Qing Ming had helped Chu Feixue hurt her shoulder at the Duke's Mansion earlier?
The guards exchanged glances, their gazes finally falling on Qing Ming.
"Lord Qing Ming, the wound... is not shallow."
Qing Ming frowned, and only then did he seem to feel the pain.
He looked down; blood was gushing from the wound on his arm.
This damned demoness!
The wound was so deep, she was truly insane!
"Lord Qing Ming, hurry and find a doctor to bandage it," his subordinate reminded him.
Qing Ming took a deep breath, his brow furrowed. The wound truly hurt!
"It's nothing," he gritted his teeth and walked into a nearby medical clinic.
After having a doctor hastily bandage it, he came out and indeed saw the demoness still wandering on the street.
"Miss Li, please get into the carriage immediately!" Qing Ming said through gritted teeth.
Chu Qianli glanced at the bandage on his arm and smiled, "What? Do you want to get stabbed again?"
"Do you think I'll save you again?" I was just caught off guard earlier. Now, even if she self-harmed, he wouldn't care! At most, he would report it truthfully to the Prince upon his return! Moreover, this demoness was extremely greedy; would she easily harm herself? He would never believe it again.
"Believe it or not, if I still want to hurt you, it will still be very easy?"
Chu Qianli's smile was not only sarcastic but also contemptuous, "I don't believe it. Try provoking me again!"
Qing Ming felt a blockage in his chest. He wasn't truly afraid of her. But why did her gaze... give him a strange sense of fear? It was so cold it made his scalp tingle.
He didn't want to cause further trouble and simply said, "Miss Li, please get into the carriage! We must return to the manor!"
"I never said I wouldn't go back, but I prefer to walk. If you're unhappy, you can go back first." After all, he wouldn't dare to hurt her. Therefore, Chu Qianli ignored him and turned to leave.
Holding the medicine bottle, she walked along, lost in thought.
What medicinal ingredient was she still missing? If she tested for the toxins one by one, it would take a long time. Was there any way to shorten this process?
Chu Qianli was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice someone walking directly towards her. In a moment of carelessness, they collided. The bottle in Chu Qianli's hand fell to the ground with a clatter and shattered!
"Sorry!" Startled, she was about to pick up the bottle.
However, the person she bumped into suddenly grabbed her arms, their voice trembling with excitement, "Mingyue, you're really alive! Did you give birth to a princess for my Imperial Brother? Where is the little princess now?"