Quick Transmigration: Kitten's Healing Handbook - Chapter 54
Chapter 54: Raccoon Dog! To Combat! 9
Zhou Qingyan stood up and placed the hairpin in Mu Wanyin’s hair bun. This brief closeness caused Mu Wanyin to blush considerably. This was the first time she had been so close to a man other than her family, and he was so handsome; how could it not make her heart flutter?
Mu Wanyin watched the various Misses leave one after another and then stood up to take leave.
Before leaving the Imperial Garden, Mu Wanyin couldn’t help but look back at the man still in the pavilion. Although Zhou Qingyan’s eyes lacked affection, he was watching her. Perhaps it is true that the colder and more frosty a person is, the more heart-pounding they are when their ice and snow melt, and the more one wants to be the person who can make them burn hot.
After smiling and bowing to Zhou Qingyan, Mu Wanyin turned and left, determined to obtain him. It didn’t matter that Zhou Qingyan didn’t understand love now; she could make him understand.
Upon returning to the Prince’s Mansion, Zhou Qingyan instructed Mo Shu to investigate the Qi family Miss who had fallen into the water that day—the daughter of Minister Qi of the Ministry of Revenue.
After all, he had already betrothed himself to the Imperial Chancellor’s eldest daughter as his legal wife. For a concubine to then marry the Minister of Revenue’s daughter, even if she were an illegitimate daughter, would likely not be smooth.
The incident involving Minister Qi’s daughter today offered him a good choice.
Soon, Mo Shu reported his findings to Zhou Qingyan: Qi Yu, the Qi family’s unfavored illegitimate daughter—to say she was unfavored was an understatement; she was truly ill-treated.
Whether her fall into the water was intentional, whether she was favored or not, whether she was legitimate or illegitimate—Zhou Qingyan didn’t care. As long as she was a Qi family woman, it would suffice.
The next day, Zhou Qingyan entered the palace to meet the Emperor and Empress: “Greetings, Father Emperor, Mother Empress. ”
The Emperor and Empress had already learned the general outcome from the palace attendants present the previous day. The Emperor did not ask him to rise but directly asked, “Imperial Son, did you find a Miss you favor at yesterday’s Flower Appreciation Banquet? ”
Zhou Qingyan was accustomed to this and replied while kneeling, “Your Son favors Minister Mu’s eldest daughter, Mu Wanyin, and wishes to marry Miss Mu as his legal wife. ”
The Emperor had long expected this outcome and waited a quarter of an hour before saying, “Minister Mu’s eldest daughter is his treasure. It’s a good match that you have mutual affection. I approve. ”
Zhou Qingyan continued, “Thank you, Father Emperor, for your approval. At yesterday’s Flower Appreciation Banquet, Miss Qi Yu, the Qi family’s illegitimate daughter, fell into the water. Your Son pities her weakness and wishes to marry her as a concubine. ”
The Emperor glanced at Zhou Qingyan, raised an eyebrow, and said, “I permit it. Imperial Son, do you have anything else? If not, you may withdraw. ”
The Empress added, “My lady will have the Ministry of Rites arrange the wedding matters. ”
“Thank you, Father Emperor, thank you, Mother Empress. Your Son takes his leave. ”
Two Imperial Marriage Edicts soon arrived at the Mu Mansion and the Qi Mansion.
At the Mu Mansion, Mu Wanyin learned that the edict had been issued. While outwardly blushing, she secretly pondered the matter of poisoning.
She understood that this was her father’s way of showing loyalty to the Crown Prince. As the legal wife, even if Zhou Qingyan became bedridden due to the slow-acting poison in her fiefdom, her status would not be affected. But she had fallen in love, and she remained somewhat hesitant…
When her daughter returned home yesterday, Minister Mu summoned her to the study to discuss the matter. At that time, he could see that his daughter was hesitant, but he did not force her. Although he firmly supported the Crown Prince, the Third Prince was not entirely without a chance.
Zhou Qingyan wanted to marry his daughter, and the Emperor had issued a marriage edict; he couldn’t possibly refuse.
But today, along with the edict, he also learned from the eunuch that Minister Qi’s illegitimate daughter had simultaneously received an edict to be betrothed as a concubine. This was clearly something the Emperor intentionally let him know.
Minister Mu again summoned his daughter to the study. Seeing her suppress her joy, he felt a pang of reluctance. Since his daughter had failed to marry the Crown Prince as his legal wife, he had never considered letting his daughter become involved in the court’s conflicts, but at this point, he had no choice: “Wanyin, do you know that another marriage edict has been sent to the Qi Mansion, betrothing Minister Qi’s illegitimate daughter as the Third Prince’s concubine? ”
Mu Wanyin’s joy instantly dissipated. It had only been a vague fondness, and now it had almost completely vanished. She could certainly accept a man having multiple wives and concubines, but she couldn’t accept the fact that the man who had just pledged his love to her yesterday was simultaneously marrying another person today.
“Father, I agree to poison Zhou Qingyan. ”
“Wanyin, I’m telling you this not for that reason. Father just wants you to be mentally prepared. Whether or not you administer the poison will not affect Father’s status at court. Father primarily hopes that you live a good life. ”
Wanyin’s eyes reddened, and only now did she feel the reluctance of a fledgling bird leaving its nest: “Father, rest assured. Daughter will consider it carefully. ”
Liuli, seeing Mu Wanyin leave her boudoir, leaped from the window into the bedroom. Last night she had seen from the roof that Mu Wanyin had hidden the poison in the compartment of her dressing table.
Liuli looked at the medicine packet’s clearly unique knot and intentionally made crease with a headache. How was a cat supposed to replace the powder inside and perfectly restore the knot and creases on the medicine packet!
Replacing the medicine was clearly something she had thought too simply…
Just as Liuli was at a loss, Tuanzi quickly spoke up, “Madam, put the medicine packet into your Spiritual Sense Space. Tuanzi can help. ”
Liuli pressed her paw on the medicine packet, and the packet of poison was thrown into her Spiritual Sense Space: “Considering your eagerness this time, Tuanzi, I won’t bully you when we return to the Initial Space. ”
“Hehe, Tuanzi will also work hard to help Madam in the future! ”
After the medicine exchange was successfully completed, Liuli rushed to the Qi Mansion.
At the Qi Mansion, Minister Qi, upon receiving the edict, respectfully dismissed the eunuch who delivered it, but his heart burned with anger. Before the Flower Appreciation Banquet, he had repeatedly urged Qi Yu to behave discreetly; their Qi family absolutely could not get involved in this murky water. This incident of Qi Yu falling into the water was truly embarrassing!
But he hadn’t expected such a crude method to lead to his illegitimate daughter becoming Zhou Qingyan’s concubine: “Lock Qi Yu in the woodshed. Don’t give her any food before her marriage; give her only water every three days to keep her barely alive. ”
Minister Qi arrived at the woodshed. Seeing Qi Yu’s unconcealed fear, he sneered and said through gritted teeth, “You’re lucky! Since you disregarded the family’s prosperity and dragged your family members to be sacrifices, then you must live until your wedding day! ”
Qi Yu lowered her head, concealing the hatred in her eyes. After Minister Qi left, she curled her lips into a mocking smile. This time, she would surely live up to his expectations and live until her wedding day!
When Liuli reached the roof of the woodshed in the Qi Mansion, she saw Qi Yu pull out a steamed bun from her chest, tear off a small piece to eat, and then lean against the corner to close her eyes and rest.
Didn’t the Book of Fate say that Qi Yu died of starvation…
Liuli checked the Book of Fate again. The information shown had changed slightly. Because Liuli had switched the slow-acting poison, Zhou Qingyan had avoided his poisoning disaster, and Qi Yu would successfully marry Zhou Qingyan. However, the reason for Qi Yu’s change was clearly not something that could be found in the Jianbing’s Book of Fate.