“You’ve sent her away?” Qiao Mu didn’t even raise her head as she flipped over a page in her book.

  “Mhm. She left!” Shaoyao giggled. “The old biddy was so terrified by the poison that Miss bestowed to her! This time, she probably won’t dare to say anything after returning.”


  “She stares at me every time with that loathing and disdainful gaze. She thinks I don’t see it?” Qiao Mu reached over to take the medicinal bottle that Shaoyao was handing over as she continued impassively, “If she doesn’t behave, then she can slowly go blind. Since her eyes don’t seem to be doing too much for her.”


  While covering her mouth, Shaoyao chuckled. “That’s right.”


  Qiao Mu didn’t say any more after that. She simply leaned against the small divan and continued to flip through the handwritten medicinal practice records that Long Chengyun had left behind.

  Long Chengyun had travelled to many places and was well-versed in not only the art of the pill, but she was also proficient in the art of poison. Reading her manuscripts truly benefited her a lot, allowing her to learn about many actual case studies in medicinal practice.

  When night fell, Crown Prince Mo came over.

  Upon walking into the small courtyard in Qiao Mu’s Nanzhu Garden, he flicked his robe in a huff as he sat down on the edge of her small divan. “Royal Father is simply ugh!”


  “As for who can make you this angry, it must be your old man being muddle-headed again.” Qiao Mu set down her poison classics manuscript. She then swept Crown Prince Mo a glance before handing him a small teacup in passing. “Tell me.”


  Crown Prince Mo took the teacup with eyes full of indignation. “That muddled-headed geezer. After randomly getting fooled around with, he relented again.”


  Qiao Mu shot up before gazing at him curiously. “Could it be Courtesan Zheng? She got released from the Cold Palace again?”


  “Actually, no.” Mo Lian grasped Qiao Mu’s small hand and squeezed it gently as he said, “But it’s not much different.”


  By a curious coincidence, it turned out that the king, for some reason, had passed by Chonghua Palace’s backdoor today; however, he just so happened to see Courtesan Zheng, who was dressed in plain white clothes, sitting underneath a withering old tree and piously copying something.

  Apparently, the scene at time was so enchanting that the king just stared fixedly at Courtesan Zheng.

  She was still so charming even when dressed in what looked to be mourning clothes! Courtesan Zheng’s gentle and beautiful white-robed image thus entered the king’s heart again.

  The king quietly alighted from the royal carriage and went over to steal a glance. Oh my, it turned out that Courtesan Zheng was copying the Original Vows of the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra with all her heart, secretly praying for the kingdom’s, the queen dowager’s, and the king’s good fortune.

  The king secretly inquired about it from Nanny Su, and it turned out that Courtesan Zheng had been copying sutras day and night under this tree to pray for good fortune. It had been three days already, and she neglected sleep and food, showing a very pious attitude.

  Nanny Su even wiped away her tears as she told the king that Courtesan Zheng had already realized her former mistakes. She would definitely turn over a new leaf and treat others well.

  The king was very deeply moved as he looked at the pile of hand-copied sutras next to her. Even though she was thinly clad, only adorned with a plain hairpin, she looked extremely beautiful and gentle, and his desire couldn’t help but be aroused.

  Qiao Mu listened to the crown prince recount what happened as if she were listening to a story. When the crown prince was done, she involuntarily widened her eyes curiously and confirmed, “And then the king brought Courtesan Zheng out?”


  “He didn’t.” Mo Lian snapped, “He wanted to, but if he really did, it’s all on whether he is shameless enough to bring her out right now!”


  ——