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Xia Mei stated, “I am the main maid of the young master, and they are the younger sisters of the young master’s wife. Yuan Shan has done something recently, and we’re here to verify it.”

Dai Su, her voice laden with tension, protested, “Yuan Shan hasn’t done anything. You shouldn’t accuse her unjustly.”

“How can you be so sure she hasn’t done anything?” Xia Mei retorted with a cold expression. “You’d better let her come out, or you’re just putting her in more trouble.”

I would never harm my daughter. It’s you who wants to harm her, you!” Dai Su shouted back.

The man, protective of his daughter, stepped in front of the trio, “What did Yuan Shan do?”

“Just let her come out, and you’ll know,” Xia Mei replied.

Suddenly, Dai Su said, “Wait here, I’ll go get her.”

Yuan Shan was huddled in a corner of the room, trembling, her body tensing even more with each step she heard approaching.

Dai Su cautiously entered the room, scanning her surroundings before approaching Yuan Shan, “Quick, run out the back door. Find a place to hide, and I’ll come find you once they’ve left.”

Sweat covered Yuan Shan’s face as she swallowed hard, fearfully asking, “Can we really escape?”

“We have to try. We’ll worry if we can’t escape later.”

Yuan Shan burst into tears, filled with regret, “Mother, I’m sorry.”

Dai Su hugged her daughter, her eyes reddening, “Go now, we can talk later.”

With determination, Yuan Shan got up and ran towards the back door.

At the back door, a serene voice called out, calm yet compelling, “Are you Yuan Shan?”

Yuan Shan couldn’t help but stop in her tracks and turn around. A figure in light green stood under a tree, her eyes as captivating as the stars and a face so beautiful it was enviable, “Who are you?”

“I’m Chu Qingzhi,” came the gentle reply.

Yuan Shan immediately panicked, stepping back in disbelief, “How did you get here?”

Chu Qingzhi answered, “I knewyou would run, so I waited here for you.”

Yuan Shan looked around then dashed to the left, but she didn’t get far before she saw Chu Qingzhi standing in front of her. She stopped, shocked.

Chu Qingzhi’s gaze held a teasing glint, like a cat toying with a mouse.

Yuan Shan, like a startled bird, took a few steps back then turned to run in the opposite direction, only to find Chu Qingzhi ahead of her once again.

Feeling utterly defeated, Yuan Shan gave in, her face ashen, “I’ll go with you.” Chu Qingning and Xia Mei were waiting on the route back to the Ning mansion and soon saw Chu Qingzhi coming with Yuan Shan.

Chu Qingning exclaimed in surprise, “We actually caught her. Fifth Sister, you really have foresight.”

After Dai Su left, Chu Qingzhi, along with Chu Qingning and Xia Mei, also departed from Yuan Shan’s house. Chu Qingzhi had instructed them to wait on the inevitable route while she went to catch Yuan Shan, and to their surprise, she succeeded.

Yuan Shan looked despairingly at Chu Qingning before lowering her head.

“Let’s talk back at the mansion,” Chu Qingzhi said.

At the Ning Residence.

Yuan Shan knelt before Ning Yuting and Chu Qingyue, apologizing, “Young Master, I’m sorry.”

Ning Yuting’s voice was icy, “Why did you do it?”

Yuan Shan burst into tears, taking a while before she could speak, “Young Master, Chu Qingyue doesn’t deserve you. You should marry someone of higher status.”

Ning Yuting, furious, slammed the table, “So you made poisonous sachet for Qingyue?”

“I had no choice,” Yuan Shan sobbed, a mess of tears and snot. “I couldn’t stop you from marrying Chu Qingyue, so I thought if she couldn’t bear children, you would grow to hate her, abandon her, and stop loving her…”

Ning Yuting was livid, wanting to kill Yuan Shan on the spot.

Chu Qingzhi asked, “And who do you think is worthy of our Young Master?”

Yuan Shan blurted out, “His cousin.” Looking up at Ning Yuting, she added, “She is well-read, beautiful, and has been waiting for you. But you married someone else.”

“Who is she?” Chu Qingning inquired.

Yuan Shan looked as if she had been brainwashed. “She is the niece of the third madam. She has always adored the Young Master, and the third madam promised her that she would speak to the Young Master about marriage when the time was right. Since your marriage to Chu Qingyue, she has been in tears daily. As her close friend, I couldn’t stand by and do nothing…”

Chu Qingzhi confirmed that this cousin was a schemer, having brainwashed Yuan Shan and then manipulated her into harming others, “You’ve helped her, so why hasn’t she come to save you?”

Yuan Shan was stunned for a moment. She turned around and suddenly understood something.

The truth about the sachet was finally out.

Lord Zhang’s Estate.

The butler entered the study to report, “My lord, the princess consort has returned.”

Lu Lizhang immediately got up and walked towards the room where the princess consort was staying with an expressionless face.

The princess consort sat in the courtyard, waiting for Lu Lizhang, dressed in monastic robes, her face as serene as ever, embodying the Buddhist detachment from worldly matters.

Chu Qingzhi sat at the side. The princess consort asked someone to place many

of Chu Qingzhi’s favorite pastries on the table.

Upon entering and seeing the princess consort in such a state, Lu Lizhang’s anger somewhat subsided. His gaze shifted to Chu Qingzhi, “Miss Chu truly lives up to your reputation and successfully brought back the princess consort.”

Chu Qingzhi stood up. “I didn’t let you down.”

Lu Lizhang, wanting Chu Qingzhi gone, dismissed her, “You may leave now.”

Chu Qingzhi took a piece of sugar-steamed cheesecake, smiling, “The pastries are delicious, princess consort. I’ll visit again.” Then, as she walked past Lu Lizhang, she paused, “I hope you won’t lose the princess consort again.” She continued on her way out.

Lu Lizhang said nothing, but his face visibly darkened.

The princess consort stood up, facing Lu Lizhang with a cool demeanor, “Do

you need something, my lord? If not, I’m going to pray.”

“Do you really wish not to see me that much?”

The princess consort didn’t respond, silently moving her prayer beads, letting her silence speak for her.

Lu Lizhang, frustrated and threatening, blurted out, “If you oppose me, I’ll kill LuYichen!”

The princess consort paused, looking at Lu Lizhang, “A tiger does not eat its cubs. He’s your own son. Why would you do that?”

“My own son?” Lu Lizhang scoffed, “Because he’s my son, and his fate is cursed, bringing misfortune to our Lu family. If it weren’t for him, would I, a lord, be in such a state?!”

“Do you truly believe your misfortunes are caused by Yichen?”

Isn’t it?” Lu Lizhang challenged, “Since his birth, our household has declined.

My sons died one after another, and even Yice had to drink fresh blood to survive. My dear wife, you’re so good at bearing sons…”

The princess felt a deep sense of powerlessness, looking at Lu Yichen and said softly, “You never should have married me.”