Minister Mu quickly left with Wei Hanqiao.

In Mu Lingzhu’s bedchamber, only Su Biqing, Third Madam Luo Ningyu, Mu Xiarou, and several physicians remained.

Luo Ningyu and Mu Xiarou had been standing in the corner since their arrival, unable to interject anything. Now that Minister Mu and Wei Hanqiao had left, Luo Ningyu finally dared to speak hesitantly.

“Sister, our Mu family has always been wealthy and prominent. I don’t know who would be so reckless as to harm the Second Young Master and Fourth Young Lady,” Luo Ningyu said.

Hearing this, Mu Xiarou, who stood beside Luo Ningyu, immediately began to sob, tears streaming down her face. “Yes, Fourth Sister is such a good person, yet someone has tampered with her, causing her to lose the championship. If possible, Xiarou would gladly suffer in Fourth Sister’s place.”

“Enough, you should both return now. I can watch over her,” Su Biqing, tired of the mother-daughter pair’s pretense, directly dismissed them.

Luo Ningyu nodded, then left with Mu Xiarou.

After they departed, Su Biqing turned to look at the physician, her tone cool. “Have you discovered the cause?”

“The Fourth Young Lady had the powder of the fish-tail palm fruit sprinkled on her. That fish-tail palm fruit is quite potent—anyone who comes in contact with it will certainly experience skin itching. This is why the Fourth Young Lady scratched so many bloody marks on her face and neck.”

…

…

“What?” Su Biqing frowned, recalling the scene.

“Now the powder has mostly dissipated. The Fourth Young Lady only needs to drink a few bowls of calming medicinal soup. Madam need not worry too much about anything else,” the physician said.

Su Biqing nodded slightly, her mind filled with questions.

Meanwhile, in Baiyang Pavilion.

Wei Hanqiao looked at Mu Yiyang, who lay unconscious on the couch, and immediately burst into tears. “My lord, you must seek justice for Yiyang!”

Minister Mu was now extremely agitated. With two of his children having suffered misfortune in succession, a surge of anger rose in his chest, with nowhere to vent.

“Li Ping, how did you discover the Second Young Master?” Minister Mu directed his gaze at the servant who had just reported the news.

The servant who had been named startled, then lowered his head and spoke, “This humble one was passing by the entrance of Shihua Pavilion when I saw the Second Young Master collapse at the door. This humble one thought the Second Young Master was drunk, so I went to call out to him several times, but the Second Young Master did not respond, so this humble one knew something was wrong.”

“Shihua Pavilion? Isn’t that where the Third Young Lady lives?” Wei Hanqiao caught the information in Li Ping’s words and directed an inquiring gaze toward Minister Mu.

Upon hearing the words “Shihua Pavilion,” Minister Mu’s brows knotted together, but he instinctively replied, “It can’t have anything to do with that girl. She doesn’t have that capability.”

“That’s true,” Wei Hanqiao immediately dismissed Mu Yunjin as a suspect. That girl was usually only bullied by her son; how could she possibly have done this to him?

A moment later, Minister Mu seemed to have made a decision and beckoned a guard. “Go and bring back everyone who participated in today’s Literary Battle Competition. I want to question them one by one.”

“Yes, Minister.”

……

The next day, Mu Yunjin again slept until late morning. When she opened her eyes and awoke, she looked around, then sat up.

“Zixiang.” Mu Yunjin called softly.

“This servant is here.” Zixiang immediately pushed open the door and entered. Seeing that Mu Yunjin was awake, she said with a smile, “This servant estimated that the Young Lady would be waking up now and has already prepared water for washing your face.”

Mu Yunjin nodded, got out of bed, wiped her face, and then looked at Zixiang. “Has the matter in the manor been resolved?”

Zixiang naturally knew which matter Mu Yunjin was referring to, so she paused and spoke softly, “The master has reported this matter to the palace, saying he wants to question all those who participated in the Literary Battle Competition one by one. The Emperor has agreed.”

“Now all the participants have been detained in the manor, including this year’s champion, who has also been brought back for detention.”

Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow. “It’s been escalated to the Emperor?”

After speaking, Mu Yunjin changed the subject. “It seems they’ve directly excluded me from suspicion. How boring.”

Zixiang pouted, somewhat helpless, but also secretly delighted and relieved.

“Young Lady, you are ordered to enter the palace tomorrow. Originally, the Fourth Young Lady was also commanded to go with you, but now that she’s injured, she won’t be able to go,” Zixiang said.

“That’s not necessarily true.” As Mu Yunjin spoke, she rubbed her chin. “Speaking of her injury, wouldn’t I, as her sister born of the same mother, be expected to visit and see how she’s doing?”

When Zixiang heard that Mu Yunjin wanted to visit Mu Lingzhu, her heart immediately tensed. “Young Lady, you absolutely must not. In the past, the Fourth Young Lady never showed you any kindness and never treated you as a real sister. Why should you visit her now?”

“You just said she never treated me as a sister. Since that’s the case, now that she’s rarely injured, how could I miss such an opportunity to kick her while she’s down?”

Thinking of this, Mu Yunjin felt somewhat excited. After dressing, she walked out of the bedchamber.

Despite Zixiang desperately trying to hold her back, Mu Yunjin showed no intention of changing her decision. Instead, she reached out and poked Zixiang’s forehead. “You little girl, can’t you be a bit braver!”

“Young Lady…” Zixiang pouted, not daring to say more.

“All right, wait for me to return.”

With that, Mu Yunjin walked out the main door of Shihua Pavilion and headed toward Mingzhu Tower.

……

Inside Mingzhu Tower, compared to the previous day, Mu Lingzhu had recovered a fair amount of vitality. However, looking at the bloody marks that had appeared on her face, she was so angry that she smashed three bronze mirrors.

Tomorrow was the day to enter the palace and meet Empress Qin, and she might even see the Sixth Prince, whom she had been thinking of constantly. But now, with such a face, she was even more reluctant to see the Sixth Prince.

“Pearl, calm down. The physician said the bloody marks on your face will heal and won’t leave scars,” Su Biqing comforted, looking at Mu Lingzhu, who had maintained a gloomy expression since waking.

“Tomorrow I’m supposed to enter the palace to see Empress Qin, but with my face ruined like this, I’ll miss a golden opportunity.” When Mu Lingzhu thought about being unable to enter the palace, she felt a surge of frustration.

Seeing her normally composed daughter so agitated now, Su Biqing couldn’t help but sigh. She sat on the edge of Mu Lingzhu’s bed and reached out to hold her hand. “Pearl, rest assured, what you cannot obtain, Yunjin can obtain even less.”

“Mother, if that’s the case, do you have any way to detain that empty-headed fool tomorrow and prevent her from entering the palace?” Mu Lingzhu looked at Su Biqing as if grasping at a lifeline.

Hearing this, Su Biqing smiled mysteriously and took out a porcelain bottle from her bosom. “In this bottle is the powder of the fish-tail palm fruit. The manor has not yet found the true culprit who harmed your second brother and you. Having one more victim would be quite normal.”

Su Biqing’s words brightened Mu Lingzhu’s eyes. She had experienced the potency of this fish-tail palm yesterday, and fortunately, her father had rescued her in time, avoiding any serious complications.

But if this fish-tail palm fell on Mu Yunjin, with no one to rescue her, wouldn’t her heavenly beauty be ruined as well?

Thinking of this, Mu Lingzhu could not hide her excitement and exhilaration.

Just then, a maidservant entered and curtsied to Su Biqing and Mu Lingzhu. “Madam, the Third Young Lady has heard about the Fourth Young Lady’s situation. She is now standing outside the door, wishing to see the Fourth Young Lady.”

“Mu Yunjin has come?” Mu Lingzhu was somewhat surprised, but glancing at the bottle of fish-tail palm powder, she immediately exclaimed excitedly, “Quick, let her in.”

Su Biqing also agreed with Mu Lingzhu’s approach. She immediately stood up, poured the entire bottle of fish-tail palm into a silk handkerchief, wrapped it up, and clutched it tightly in her hand.

Mu Yunjin soon entered Mu Lingzhu’s bedchamber. As soon as she entered, before Mu Yunjin could speak, she saw Mu Lingzhu, who was lying on the bed, address her: “Elder Sister, you’ve come.”

The word “Elder Sister” sent a chill through Mu Yunjin’s heart.

“Sister, I heard you were injured. Is it not too serious?” Mu Yunjin decided to play along with Mu Lingzhu, walking to the bedside and looking at Mu Lingzhu with a face full of concern.

To the side, Su Biqing rarely brought over a chair. “Yunjin, sit down. Pearl is in low spirits, and you, as her elder sister, should keep her company and chat with her.”

Mu Yunjin nodded, her peripheral vision imperceptibly glancing at Su Biqing’s fist, which had remained tightly clenched since she entered.

“Elder Sister, look at me. I suffered yesterday.” Mu Lingzhu sat up, leaning against the headboard, and affectionately took Mu Yunjin’s hand.

Mu Yunjin’s eyes showed concern, but deep within them lay hidden meanings. Her attention remained on Su Biqing, who was slowly circling behind her.

These mother and daughter were so warm to her today—it would be strange if there wasn’t some trick.

“Oh dear, how pitiful. But I’ve heard that Father has already begun investigating this matter. Surely the person who harmed you will be caught soon.”

“And when that happens, I’ll be the first to not let them off.” Mu Yunjin said with a smile, looking at Mu Lingzhu.

Mu Lingzhu nodded with a smile, a faint smile appearing on her face. Her gaze shifted up and down, occasionally looking behind Mu Yunjin, appearing somewhat uncomfortable.

Sensing that the person behind her was slowly unclenching her fist and her hand was gradually moving upward, Mu Yunjin’s lips slowly curled into a smile, the amusement in her eyes intensifying.

When Su Biqing’s hand had reached above Mu Yunjin’s head, Mu Yunjin, who had been sitting, suddenly pointed behind Mu Lingzhu and exclaimed:

“Oh my, what a huge insect!”

As she spoke, with lightning speed, she grabbed the blanket covering Mu Lingzhu, swung it over her head, and flung the entire blanket onto Su Biqing behind her.

“Mother!” Mu Lingzhu screamed, looking behind Mu Yunjin, somewhat unable to react.

“Oh dear, Mother, are you all right?” Mu Yunjin turned around, pretending to pick up the blanket, then sighed slightly. “I was trying to swat away that big insect, but the blanket was a bit heavy, and I couldn’t hold it properly, so it landed on Mother.”

“Aaaaaaahhh!!” At that moment, before Mu Yunjin could remove the blanket, Su Biqing’s screams came from beneath it.

Mu Yunjin started, backing away a step in feigned surprise. “Mother, what’s wrong?”

“Mu Yunjin, what are you still standing there for? Get out now!” Mu Lingzhu hysterically shouted at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin shrugged helplessly, blinking her eyes with an innocent face. “Lingzhu, I didn’t deliberately throw the blanket on Mother. Why are you so angry? Can’t I help Mother pick it up?”

“Get out! Get out now! Someone, drive her out for me!”

“Fine, I’ll leave on my own.” Mu Yunjin sighed slightly, pretending to be hurt, and slowly walked out of the room.

The moment she stepped out of Mu Lingzhu’s door, she heard Su Biqing’s long-suppressed howls and Mu Lingzhu’s screams—

“Quick, find a physician!”