After Spending a Passionate Night with the Eldest Princess - Chapter 23

Only after she was the only person left in the study did Qin Muqiu tiredly close her eyes.

Imperial Physician Liu had once served as the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, and his medical skills were unparalleled in the world. If he could determine what exactly was going on with that dream, then the problem would be easily solved.

If even he could not see through it, that would be the real trouble.

Before long, a maid with delicate, pretty features walked in. As soon as she entered, she asked with concern, “Your Highness, Imperial Physician Liu is already waiting outside. Where are you feeling unwell? Sister Qiuyue was acting all mysterious and wouldn’t explain clearly. This servant was almost worried to death.”

The person speaking was Xiangzhu.

Qiuyue and Xiangzhu were both born from the hidden guards. The year Qin Muqiu came of age, the late emperor bestowed them upon her as personal maids.

The difference was that Qiuyue’s personality was rather reserved, so the late emperor had her train more in the hidden guard camp. Only in the past two years had she begun working by Qin Muqiu’s side. She was steady in her work and highly skilled in martial arts.

As for Xiangzhu, her personality was lively without lacking cleverness, so the late emperor ordered her to remain by Qin Muqiu’s side. For the past ten years, she had always stayed in the princess residence, responsible for Qin Muqiu’s food, clothing, and daily needs. Because of this, her martial arts were somewhat inferior to Qiuyue’s.

Also, she talked more than Qiuyue.

Qin Muqiu lowered her eyes, hiding the emotions within them. “This palace is fine. Invite Imperial Physician Liu in. You go guard outside.”

Once bitten by a snake, one would fear the well rope for ten years.

With Tang Er’s betrayal happening first, Qin Muqiu suddenly found herself unable to trust her personal maids as she had before.

She did not doubt her imperial father’s intentions, but she feared that her imperial father had been deceived by the State Preceptor during his lifetime.

Xiangzhu opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing more. She obediently stood guard outside the study. After this trip outside, Her Highness seemed to have become distant from her.

She had accompanied Her Highness from the age of sixteen to twenty-six. Although they were master and servant, their feelings were as close as sisters. Her Highness had never hidden anything from her, but this time…

Xiangzhu inexplicably felt melancholy. Her Highness had worries now…

Just then, a servant came to report, “Miss Xiangzhu, the State Preceptor requests an audience with Her Highness.”

Xiangzhu nodded. “Invite him to the front hall first.”

If she remembered correctly, before Her Highness left on this trip, the State Preceptor had come to say some strange things. He had spoken of finding some person descended from the heavens, and repeatedly emphasized that Her Highness must bring that person back.

Now Her Highness had only just returned to the residence, yet in the middle of the night, the State Preceptor could not even wait until morning… Wait. Her Highness did not seem to have brought anyone back. And there was one person missing too—the princess residence’s guard commander, Tang Er.

Xiangzhu thoughtfully glanced at the room door. Had Her Highness already encountered the person the State Preceptor was looking for?

And why was Her Highness feeling unwell? Could it be related to that person?

As she was thinking, Imperial Physician Liu came out.

Xiangzhu hurriedly stepped forward. “Imperial Physician, this servant will see you off.”

Imperial Physician Liu waved his hand. “This old man will be staying in the princess residence for the next few days. Miss Xiangzhu, go attend to your duties.”

Xiangzhu could not help frowning. What exactly was wrong with Her Highness’s body, for the Imperial Physician to have to stay in the residence?

But Her Highness was unwilling to say, so she could only worry anxiously.

Xiangzhu sighed softly, patted her face, forced herself to focus, and walked into the study. “Your Highness, the State Preceptor requests an audience. He is in the front hall.”

Hearing this, Qin Muqiu’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

She abruptly rose, then seemed to think of something and sat back down.

“Tell him this palace has already retired. Ask the State Preceptor to come another day.”

“Your Highness, your health…” Xiangzhu hesitated. She was truly worried and could not help asking.

Qin Muqiu lowered her brows. “This palace is not seriously unwell. Go.”

“Yes.” Seeing her expression darken, Xiangzhu did not dare ask more and quickly walked out.

Qin Muqiu sat behind the desk, still as a clay statue, not moving for a long while.

Just now, although Imperial Physician Liu had not diagnosed anything, after hearing her recount the matter, he had put forward a guess.

She was not ill. That dream might have originated from the art of witchcraft and gu.

Qin Muqiu’s first reaction was that it was the State Preceptor’s doing. The State Preceptor of Xidao was surnamed Yun, and no one knew his full name or origins.

What everyone knew was that State Preceptor Yun had accompanied the late emperor since the late emperor was still crown prince, and that he was most skilled in witchcraft and gu arts. After the late emperor passed away, he rarely involved himself in court affairs and lived in seclusion.

State Preceptor Yun had been loyal to the late emperor, but he had no intention of serving Emperor Qin’an. He also had very little contact with Qin Muqiu, the Eldest Princess.

This trip outside the capital had been the only exception.

Qin Muqiu frowned in thought. Since State Preceptor Yun dared make moves behind her back, even if she met him, he certainly would not admit anything.

In other words, she was in a very passive position.

For now, the only plan was to find Xin Yuan first.

Before that, she did not plan to meet State Preceptor Yun. She also had to spread word that she had indeed encountered a girl who descended from the heavens on the way back to the capital, using this to stabilize State Preceptor Yun.

Because her instinct told her that State Preceptor Yun cared greatly about Xin Yuan. Therefore, Xin Yuan’s escape had to be concealed as much as possible.

Qin Muqiu rubbed her fingers together, feeling somewhat troubled. She hoped Jiang Si’s side would bring good news.

At dawn the next day, after bidding farewell to Xin Yuan, Guo Xiaowu rode back to the capital.

After entering the city, she headed straight to the inn. She had paid yesterday, yet still had not stayed even one night. No matter how she thought about it, it felt like a bit of a loss.

After returning to the inn, Guo Xiaowu instructed the innkeeper to quickly serve good wine and good dishes. Only then did she feel a little better.

She strolled to the door of her room. The moment she opened it, a blade was laid across her neck.

“Hero, spare me…” Guo Xiaowu instinctively raised both hands. But just as her plea left her mouth, the blade at her neck swiftly turned over, and the back of the blade struck her hard on the back of the neck.

Her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.

When Guo Xiaowu woke, she found herself tied to a chair, her hands and feet unable to move.

Her heart jolted in fear. Before she even had time to see clearly where she was, someone pressed down on her neck and forced her head up.

In her vision, a crimson figure gradually approached.

Guo Xiaowu’s mind had not yet reacted to what was happening, but her mouth had already surrendered first.

“This commoner Guo Xiaowu pays respects to Your Highness the Princess. Your Highness, spare my life. This commoner has never done anything bad in my life. If I stepped on an ant, I would chant scriptures for three days. Your Highness, spare my life…”

“Shut up!” Jiang Si struck the back of her head and then revealed the blade again.

Guo Xiaowu immediately did not dare make another sound. Her eyes blinked and blinked as she looked at Qin Muqiu, aggrieved and pitiful.

Qin Muqiu sized her up for a moment before speaking. “Where is Xin Yuan?”

As soon as Guo Xiaowu heard this, her mouth moved faster than her brain. “This commoner knows where Xin Yuan is. Your Highness, spare my life.”

“Where?” Qin Muqiu heavily spat out two words.

Guo Xiaowu paused, then mustered her courage and said, “Your Highness, spare my life. This commoner will say everything. It’s just… could you first have Big Brother Jiang Si move the blade away?”

She could reveal Xin Yuan’s whereabouts, but she had to preserve her own little life.

Otherwise, once she explained everything clearly, what if the Eldest Princess killed the donkey after it finished grinding the mill? Then she would have nowhere to cry.

Qin Muqiu looked at her coldly. “Speak.”

Under that sharp gaze, Guo Xiaowu immediately felt her scalp go numb, fear rising in her heart.