Seeing that Mu Lingzhu had already scratched her neck and face to the point of drawing blood, Minister Mu, who had been seated below, immediately rushed up and shouted to the servants standing to one side, “Quick, take the young lady back home!”

“It’s so itchy, so itchy…” Mu Lingzhu continued to mutter, struggling to tear off her outer garments, but fortunately, the Mu family servants stopped her in time and took her away.

The entire Mu family entourage rushed out of the Literary Pavilion together.

On the second floor, Mu Yunjin watched the scene below and immediately burst into laughter, doubling over. Through her veil, her star-like eyes curved with mirth, unable to conceal her excellent mood.

“So this is why you were certain Mu Lingzhu wouldn’t win today?” From the side, the purple-clad man looked at Mu Yunjin, the corners of his mouth containing a hint of a smile, his words light.

“Thank you for providing me with this good spot today. I must be going now.” Mu Yunjin didn’t directly answer the purple-clad man’s question. She stood up, preparing to leave.

Seeing his master’s words ignored again, Ding Xian flashed in front of Mu Yunjin, his face displeased. Just as he was about to speak, he saw his master displaying indifference again, forcing him to close his mouth tightly and step back.

As Mu Yunjin passed by Ding Xian, she glanced at him, her eyes revealing a trace of smugness, then slowly descended the stairs.

After Mu Yunjin left, Ding Xian immediately walked to where she had been sitting and said to the purple-clad man, “Your Highness, that woman just now was too disrespectful. Would you like me to teach her a lesson?”

…

…

Hearing this, the purple-clad man gave Ding Xian a calm look. “She’s like a little fox; you may not be her match.”

As he finished speaking, his peripheral vision caught sight of something, causing him to pause slightly.

At the place where Mu Yunjin had been sitting, there now lay a white jade pendant, bound with gold and silver threads, exceptionally delicate—a woman’s possession.

The purple-clad man picked up the jade pendant and examined it carefully. He saw that around the pendant, a faint white light occasionally flickered, and there were two characters—

Yunjin.

The purple-clad man’s expression suddenly darkened, his hand gripping the pendant a bit tighter. Collecting himself, he asked, “Ding Xian, how many women in Diehua City are named Yunjin?”

Ding Xian was also startled. He scratched his head, thinking for a long while, before sheepishly replying, “In response to Your Highness, as far as this servant knows, there is only the Third Young Lady of Minister Mu’s household…”

……

Mu Yunjin had just snuck into Shihua Pavilion when she saw Zixiang standing in the garden, her hands clasped tightly together, anxiously pacing back and forth.

“I’m back.” Seeing this, Mu Yunjin spoke lazily, reaching up to remove the veil from her face.

Upon hearing Mu Yunjin’s voice, Zixiang immediately took a deep breath and went to meet her. “Young Lady, you’ve finally returned. This servant was so worried, fearing that someone might suddenly come to Shihua Pavilion.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin slightly raised her eyebrows but said nothing as she walked toward the inner chamber.

Zixiang also followed Mu Yunjin inside.

“Young Lady, just now when this servant was returning from the kitchen with food, I saw Third Young Lady being carried back, looking quite disheveled. The master and madam were also there, and their expressions weren’t very pleasant…” Zixiang said, glancing at Mu Yunjin, wanting to continue but not quite daring to.

Mu Yunjin naturally knew what Zixiang wanted to say next, but seeing how timid the girl was, she merely said, “Is that so? I know nothing about this matter.”

After speaking, Mu Yunjin took out a paper-wrapped package from her bosom and tossed it to Zixiang. “These are pastries I bought on the street just now. Try them.”

Zixiang caught the package and, seeing that the matter of Mu Lingzhu had nothing to do with her mistress, immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She stood to the side, holding the pastries, and began to eat.

Mu Yunjin sat in her bedchamber, pondering the events that had just occurred at the Literary Pavilion, a slight smile curling her lips.

She had never expected that mere itching powder would have such a powerful effect on the delicate-skinned Mu Lingzhu.

In high spirits, Mu Yunjin stretched lazily, covered her mouth for a yawn, and then lay down on the couch, deciding to take a good nap.

Just as she closed her eyes, she heard footsteps entering Shihua Pavilion, heading directly toward her bedchamber.

Soon after, Zixiang’s panicked voice sounded from outside the door—

“Second Young Master, the Young Lady is resting inside and is not convenient to see you. Perhaps you could come another day.”

“Get lost! There’s no one in this mansion that I can’t see. You little cheap maid, do you dare block my way? Do you not want to live anymore?” A man’s angry shout erupted outside the door.

“Second Young Master, this is the Young Lady’s private chamber. If you wish to see her, at least allow this servant to go in and announce you.” Zixiang’s voice, mixed with a sob, came from outside.

“Get out of my way now! Otherwise, do you believe this young master will beat you to death, you cheap maid?”

As the two were pushing against each other, the tightly closed door suddenly opened. Mu Yunjin leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking at a man dressed in fine clothes with a jade crown, his body carrying a hint of alcohol.

Zixiang had just called him Second Young Master, so this must be the son of the Second Madam, Mu Yiyang.

She never imagined that Minister Mu, a man so concerned with face, would indulge such an overbearing scoundrel. Could it be simply because he was a son?

Thinking of this, Mu Yunjin gave a cold laugh and glanced at Zixiang, whose eyes were red. “Zixiang, go inside first.”

Zixiang immediately shook her head, standing between Mu Yunjin and Mu Yiyang, refusing to budge.

Seeing this, Mu Yunjin was somewhere between laughter and tears. She grabbed Zixiang’s shoulders and pulled her behind her.

“Well, well, acting out the deep bond between master and servant? Mu Yunjin, you little slut, have you changed your ways? Didn’t you always hide behind this cheap maid in the past? Have you eaten a leopard’s gall today that you dare to stand up?”

Mu Yiyang’s words caused Mu Yunjin’s lips to curl upward. She moved close to Mu Yiyang and spoke carelessly, “Yes, I’ve eaten a leopard’s gall. It tastes quite good. Would you like to share some with your Second Brother?”

“You little slut, you dare talk back to me?”

“Mu Yunjin, let me tell you, don’t think I’m afraid of you just because you have Empress Qin backing you! How many more years can that old woman live? And do you think the Sixth Prince would marry you? Stop daydreaming. With your notorious reputation as an empty-headed beauty, you could only be sold to a brothel to earn some money for your family. Would the Sixth Prince ever look at you?”

“If you’re smart, you’ll be obedient like always today and give me the jewelry that Empress Qin recently bestowed upon you to cover my gambling debts. Then I’ll spare you. Otherwise, I’ll report to Father that you offended me, your brother, and then you’ll be whipped dozens of times again.”

“Those scars from last time haven’t healed yet, have they?”

After finishing his speech, Mu Yiyang gave an alcoholic burp, then extended his palm, indicating that Mu Yunjin should hand over her jewelry.

“Second Brother, do you have a poor memory? I just said that I’ve eaten a leopard’s gall today. So, you won’t be getting any jewelry today. But as your sister, I can’t let you leave empty-handed…”

As she finished speaking, Mu Yunjin flew forward, raising her foot to strike directly at Mu Yiyang’s groin, kicking him several meters away. Mu Yiyang immediately foamed at the mouth and fainted on the spot.

“Ah—” Seeing this, Zixiang screamed in terror.

Mu Yunjin yawned and looked at Zixiang. “Don’t worry, I didn’t kick him to death.”

“But this guy is weak. One kick and he’s like this. With such qualities, it seems he could only bully the previous me.” Mu Yunjin shook her head helplessly and walked forward a few steps.

After reaching Mu Yiyang, who had fainted on the ground, Mu Yunjin delivered another kick, sending him flying out of the main door of Shihua Pavilion.

Seeing Mu Yiyang’s body arc through the air like a projectile and land on the lawn outside, Mu Yunjin could hardly contain her amusement. “I didn’t realize my leg strength was so good.”

By now, Zixiang was completely dumbfounded. If she had found it hard to believe when Mu Yunjin easily repelled the troublemaking Mu Lingzhu and Mu Xiarou earlier, then watching her kick Mu Yiyang flying with one foot was enough to make her jaw drop.

Could the Young Lady be… possessed?

“Young Lady, Second Young Master has fainted at our door. What if someone discovers him?” Zixiang looked at the main door that Mu Yunjin had already closed, frowning as she spoke.

But Mu Yunjin was unconcerned, shrugging her shoulders. “Second Young Master fainted? I know nothing about that…”

“Young Lady, you…” Zixiang was finally amused by Mu Yunjin, suddenly feeling that her mistress’s current temperament was quite nice—at least she wouldn’t suffer abuse for nothing.

“I’m going back to my nap.” Mu Yunjin reached out and pinched Zixiang’s face, then walked toward her bedchamber.

Zixiang smiled and continued eating the pastries that Mu Yunjin had given her.

……

At that moment, Mingzhu Tower was in chaos.

Mu Lingzhu lay on the couch with her eyes tightly closed. Her face, neck, and arms were covered with faint bloody scratches. Several physicians stood beside her, brows furrowed tightly as they treated her.

“Physician, have you found anything?” Su Biqing looked at one of the physicians who was taking Mu Lingzhu’s pulse.

After a while, the physician shook his head. “Her pulse shows no abnormality, but for the Fourth Young Lady to suddenly scratch herself like this, someone may have tampered with her body.”

“Can you tell what kind of tampering?” Su Biqing continued to ask.

The physician sighed. “Allow this old man to observe further.”

To the side, Minister Mu’s face was gloomy. He glanced at Mu Lingzhu, then frowned as he looked toward Su Biqing. “For Pearl to suffer misfortune at the Literary Battle Competition, it must be the work of some jealous person!”

“My lord, this matter not only made Pearl publicly lose face and forfeit the champion position of the Literary Battle, but it also made our Minister’s household a laughingstock. This matter must not be tolerated. We must find the culprit behind this,” Su Biqing said.

“Yes, sister is right. Who knows who did this? They truly have no regard for their lives! My lord must thoroughly investigate this matter,” the Second Madam, Wei Hanqiao, who was present, chimed in at the appropriate moment.

Just as Minister Mu was about to speak, a servant rushed in from outside, calling to Minister Mu, “Master, something terrible has happened to the Second Young Master!”

“What?” Minister Mu and Wei Hanqiao exclaimed simultaneously.

“Second Young Master was found foaming at the mouth, unconscious in front of Shihua Pavilion…”

As the servant finished speaking, Wei Hanqiao staggered, then threw herself into Minister Mu’s arms. “Wuwuwu, my lord, something has happened to Yiyang too. Someone is trying to harm our Minister’s household!”

Su Biqing glared at Wei Hanqiao, who was hiding in Minister Mu’s embrace, and spoke coldly, “Hanqiao, why are you crying here? Hurry and see how Yiyang is doing.”

“Yes, I’ll go check right away. My lord, please come with me to see Yiyang.”