By now, the sky had begun to grow faintly light. Seeing a stunning beauty suddenly approach, Situ Jing’er remained on guard.

Still, she couldn’t help but privately admit this woman was truly gorgeous—the most beautiful person she’d ever seen.

Situ Jing’er was usually rather carefree and bold, practically a spitting image of the young Yelu Qianqian. But she had one advantage over her—though carefree on the surface, her heart remained careful and considerate.

Seeing Consort Li approach, she didn’t speak first.

“This young lady… you know His Majesty, don’t you?” Consort Li asked, taking the initiative. She’d been watching from the side just now—this wretched girl daring to lock horns with His Majesty like that, was she tired of living?

After all, even she herself didn’t dare cross His Majesty.

His Majesty?

Situ Jing’er mused to herself—this woman must be referring to Jun Buli as “His Majesty.” Addressing him this way, she must be one of his consorts.

Situ Jing’er was momentarily startled, but then found it unsurprising after all—a beauty this stunning, only someone like Jun Buli could handle her.

Still, why would Jun Buli bring a consort along while out on business outside the palace? This woman didn’t look particularly skilled in martial arts—wouldn’t keeping her close just be a hindrance?

Could it be that Jun Buli simply couldn’t do without a woman around?

Situ Jing’er found her mind wandering unbidden. Seeing her not answer, Consort Li asked again, “Miss, what happened with His Majesty just now? He left in such a hurry, I didn’t even have time to call out to him.”

Seeing Situ Jing’er still lost in thought, Consort Li continued, “Miss, why don’t you come sit in my tent? You look utterly exhausted—didn’t sleep a wink all night, did you?”

Only then did Situ Jing’er snap back to attention. She looked Consort Li over and said, “Are you talking to me?”

Consort Li’s warm enthusiasm was instantly doused with cold water. A flicker of embarrassment crossed her eyes, and she laughed. “Of course I’m talking to you—is there anyone else here?”

Only then did Situ Jing’er smile, her tone turning somewhat teasing. “Beautiful lady, you’re Jun Buli’s consort, aren’t you!”

“Indeed I am. My name is Li Qinqin. Miss, you must be a friend of His Majesty’s?” Consort Li asked again, eager to figure out this wretched girl’s background.

But Situ Jing’er didn’t answer, instead asking, “Are you two staying nearby?”

“There’s a tent up ahead. If you don’t mind, please come have a cup of tea, rest a while,” Consort Li said politely.

Situ Jing’er was sharp as a fox—she could tell Consort Li was deliberately trying to get close to her, no doubt hoping to pry information about Jun Buli out of her. Palace consorts were all the same!

“No thanks, I have things to do.”

Situ Jing’er turned to leave, but suddenly Consort Li stumbled and fell, clutching her stomach and crying out in pain. “Ouch, it hurts so much—my stomach, my stomach suddenly hurts terribly, Miss, please help me!”

Situ Jing’er turned back, frowning deeply, muttering to herself, “Is Jun Buli some kind of lecher, picking women based on looks alone with no regard for brains?”

This kind of childish, laughably transparent tactic for detaining someone might work on men, but trying it on her?

Situ Jing’er walked over deliberately, pulling a pill from her sleeve. “My dear consort, hurry and take this medicine—guaranteed to stop the pain.”

Consort Li didn’t dare take medicine so carelessly, deflecting, “Miss, if you could just walk me back to my tent, it’s not far… I have medicine there.”

“Look at you, in so much pain already. If you died halfway there, Jun Buli would come after me for it—I couldn’t afford that.” As Situ Jing’er spoke, she gently tilted Consort Li’s chin up, speaking gently, “Come now, this pill is a universal remedy. Be a good girl and take it, guaranteed to fix you right up.”

Consort Li didn’t want to take it, but just as she opened her mouth to protest, Situ Jing’er seized the moment her mouth was open and abruptly shoved the pill in, pressing her palm to force it down her throat!

“You! What are you doing!” Consort Li, too startled to keep up her act, hastily reached in to try to dig it out.

Only then did Situ Jing’er stand up leisurely, smiling cheerfully. “See, I told you it’d be fine once you swallowed it. Beautiful consort, I won’t disturb your rest any longer. I’ll be off!”

Consort Li had no time to worry about Situ Jing’er, desperately trying to dig the pill out but unable to vomit it up no matter what she did. Before long, Situ Jing’er’s retreating figure hadn’t even gone far when Consort Li involuntarily let out a loud fart, and at the same moment, her stomach began gurgling ominously, twisting with sharp cramps!

This was clearly the precursor to an urgent need for the bathroom. Consort Li went pale with horror, furious and mortified all at once, clutching her stomach, half-crouching, and turned to flee.

Meanwhile, Situ Jing’er, already some distance away, hummed a cheerful little tune as she walked back toward the Xiao family estate. She wasn’t one to hold grudges for long, quick to anger and just as quick to forget.

Thinking of Consort Li’s self-inflicted misery, she couldn’t help laughing to herself, entirely forgetting her earlier unpleasant encounter with Jun Buli!

Of course, in her own way, tormenting Consort Li had also served as a bit of payback against Jun Buli!

In any case, the little girl was in an excellent mood.

Meanwhile, Jun Buli and Baili Weisheng had already arrived at the westernmost courtyard of the Xiao family estate, sitting together on the rooftop, both frowning deeply.

The previous night’s commotion had prompted the Xiao estate to reinforce security with additional guards, and by the time they’d arrived, the sky had already begun growing light. Numerous servants were already at work in the courtyard, so they’d only managed to scout two bedrooms, finding nothing at all.

“I’ve been to this courtyard before—it’s the residence of a young woman named Xiao Xiao, the Xiao family’s ninth young lady,” Baili Weisheng said in a low voice.

“Anyone else?” Jun Buli asked. He’d already investigated every corner of the Xiao estate, including this one, and knew this was Ninth Young Lady Xiao’s residence—but if the sheng music had come from here, there had to be something significant hidden within!

“No one else, just some servants,” Baili Weisheng said.

“We’ll come back tonight, starting with the servants,” Jun Buli said coldly. Now that they had a lead, he preferred swift, decisive action—even if it meant resorting to extreme measures, he wouldn’t hesitate!

As for the Xiao family, he’d never once feared them.

Baili Weisheng nodded, secretly hoping for progress tonight—otherwise he’d genuinely start worrying about his disciple’s safety!

Because after searching for so long without any trace of her, it was entirely possible she was no longer among the living.

The two were about to leave when, across the way, a door slowly opened, and a woman in white robes stepped out. She was extremely slender, appearing somewhat sickly, her face pale, lending her already delicate features an even more ethereal quality.

Baili Weisheng and Jun Buli both froze simultaneously—they’d only ever seen the Ninth Young Lady lying in bed before, never once seen her walking on her own feet!

It was rare indeed for her to venture outdoors this year.

The moment the Ninth Young Lady stepped out, a servant hurried over to hold a parasol for her.

Baili Weisheng grew suspicious—was this woman’s constitution really so frail that she couldn’t even bear the morning sunlight?

What illness could she possibly be afflicted with?

A flicker of curiosity crossed Jun Buli’s eyes. A hidden weapon slipped from his sleeve into his palm—he intended to test this woman.