Zhao Yunfei immediately shook his head, "Such a dangerous place, you really shouldn't go."
Wu Caiwei pouted a little defiantly. She had tried all sorts of persuasion, but he simply wouldn't agree.
They had only just reunited and were already facing separation. Though reluctant, if they didn't return, they feared unforeseen circumstances might arise in the palace that they wouldn't be able to handle.
Wu Caiwei quickly prepared a batch of various medicines she had concocted herself, labeling each bottle with its effects. Having traveled through so many lifetimes together, he could tell the efficacy of each medicine just by its name.
Tucking the medicines into his embrace, he took Wu Caiwei's hand and said earnestly, "Wait for me." He then bestowed a kiss upon her forehead and turned to leave, afraid that if he looked back, he wouldn't be able to bear to go.
Wu Caiwei was destined to have a sleepless night. She was happy. She had thought that after being in this world for so long without encountering him, their lives would have missed each other. To her surprise, he had arrived long ago, retaining the memories of their past lives. He had found out about her existence but had been unable to meet her openly.
The Prime Minister's mansion, having lost two young masters in succession, treated the remaining children like the apple of their eye. Security was heightened both inside and outside the estate.
Despite these precautions, Lin Sizhe still encountered two extremely perilous situations. The first was when he was strolling alone by a pond. Someone suddenly emerged from nowhere and pushed him into the water. Although he was quickly rescued by the people secretly protecting him, the terror of falling into the pond, the choking sensation, and the feeling of helplessness left him traumatized. He developed a high fever that night.
Madam Liu stayed awake all night, her eyes red-rimmed from exhaustion, her heart filled with resentment.
The person who pushed him was quickly apprehended. Knowing their plot had been discovered, they bit down on the poison hidden in their mouth and soon succumbed to it. No one knew their name or where they lived, giving them the aura of a trained assassin.
The second incident occurred when he had a minor argument with a classmate. It was a trivial matter, but the other party incited all the classmates to gang up on him, beating him severely. He nearly died in the classroom. The sheer number of assailants made it difficult to hold anyone accountable, a thought that sent shivers down one's spine.
Madam Liu was so frightened that she guarded him day and night, forbidding him from going to school, fearing for her son's safety.
The Prime Minister suspected his wife was behind these events. Lacking any proof, he issued a verbal warning. Regardless, they were still descendants of the Lin family. Anyone who caused him to mourn the loss of another child would not be forgiven.
The second son of the Prime Minister, Lin Zhanjin, had been living a rather stifled existence lately. His mother, terrified by the death of his elder brother, had ordered him and his younger brother to not leave the house. This greatly distressed him. So, taking advantage of his mother's inattention, he snuck out.
He had heard that a new top courtesan had arrived at Cuihong Tower and was eager to see her, his desire becoming unbearable.
Along the way, he lifted the curtain of the carriage to scan the street for any attractive young wives he could later charm. As he was engrossed in his search, the carriage suddenly lurched forward.
He was thrown onto his face. Just as he was about to curse, he realized the carriage showed no signs of stopping. Sensing that something was wrong, he yelled for help while secretly regretting not listening to his mother.
The horse, suddenly startled, sent pedestrians scattering. Wherever it went, goods were strewn about. A young master, dressed in discreet luxury, was looking around for something interesting to see. Hearing the commotion not far ahead, he became curious and wanted to witness the spectacle.
The young master ran towards the noise, his servants chasing after him. Suddenly, the crowd parted, and a runaway carriage burst through. The young master's mind went blank, and he stood frozen in the middle of the street. A servant leaped forward and threw himself over the young master. The horse trampled over the servant, and the carriage wheels quickly ran over both of them, eliciting immediate screams.
The other attendants witnessing the scene trembled, not from the gore, but from the knowledge that if the young master was injured, they would all be punished.
Lin Zhanjin, seeing that no one could control the runaway horse for so long, thought he was doomed. After a huge jolt, the carriage finally stopped.
Certain he wasn't dreaming, he scrambled out of the carriage. He saw the horse's head had been severed with a single stroke of a blade, blood still gushing from its neck.
It turned out to be the people secretly protecting him. Upon realizing he was missing, they had quickly pursued him. Witnessing the scene, they did not hesitate, drawing the swords from their waists and putting all their strength into the attack.
This time, Lin Zhanjin didn't need anyone to tell him to stay put. He voluntarily confined himself to the mansion, no longer daring to venture out. Although he longed for wine, visits to courtesan houses, and games of chance, these were trivial matters compared to his own life.
While his son had been spared, the Prime Minister found himself in a predicament. It turned out that the young master the carriage had run over was the youngest son of the Minister of Personnel. Having had a son late in life, he cherished him dearly. Now, the boy was paralyzed from the waist down and would spend the rest of his days in bed.
The Minister of Personnel had examined the slain horse with his men and found a needle in its hindquarters, concluding that it was not an accident but a murder. He demanded that the Prime Minister investigate thoroughly and provide an explanation.
The Prime Minister was in a difficult position. He knew without a doubt that Madam Liu was likely responsible. As the saying goes, "A family's shame should not be aired publicly." Although he was furious, he did not want outsiders to interfere.
Seeing his hesitation, the Minister of Personnel understood his thoughts. Although the Prime Minister's wife managed the household strictly, and no rumors had leaked outside, how could such significant events as the consecutive deaths of two young masters in the Prime Minister's household go unnoticed? Especially since their deaths were suspicious, clearly the result of a struggle between wives and concubines.
"If Prime Minister cannot give me a satisfactory answer, I will take this matter to the Emperor and beg His Majesty for an investigation, even if it means sacrificing my reputation," the Minister threatened.
The Prime Minister sighed. It seemed he could no longer protect her. The Minister had so many daughters, and now in his old age, he had a son. It was understandable how precious the child was, and he himself would not have been able to tolerate it either.
The Prime Minister resolved to thoroughly investigate the people around Madam Liu. He discovered that his wife's assessment was correct. People do change. She was no longer the kind and innocent young girl she once was. Her actions were increasingly heinous and terrifying. This incident was also orchestrated by her, where she had bribed a martial artist through her trusted maid. After learning the truth, he felt no sympathy for her, believing she deserved her fate.
After a discussion between the Prime Minister and the Minister of Personnel, Madam Liu's health deteriorated day by day. Wu Caiwei, disguised, ignored the objections of those in the courtyard and insisted on entering.
Upon seeing Wu Caiwei, Madam Liu became extremely agitated, her mouth opening and closing, unable to utter a sound for a long time.
"Do you want me to save you? If so, blink your eyes," Wu Caiwei asked urgently. Madam Liu blinked her eyes forcefully.
"Did the Prime Minister harm you to this state?" Madam Liu blinked again.
"Don't worry, I will help you," Wu Caiwei assured her. A glimmer of hope shone in Madam Liu's eyes.