Chapter Ninety-Four: The Consequence of the Gaze

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Wei Shao Qianyu followed Feng Jinye out of the War Prince’s mansion. Ahead, a group of palace attendants approached, bearing a gleaming imperial edict.
“Please, War Princess, receive the decree,” the lead attendant called sharply.
“Read it,” Wei Shao Qianyu said, puzzled as to why the young Emperor Yun Shuo would issue an order at this moment.
“By imperial summons, the War Princess is to enter the palace immediately to pay respects.”
The edict was brief, and Wei Shao Qianyu suspected it might be a prank by Yun Shuo.
The attendant handed over the edict, explaining, “Princess, His Majesty wishes to see you, but with the current unstable court situation, he fears false orders might be spread, hence this formal decree.”
“Why does His Majesty want to see me?” Wei Shao Qianyu asked.
“He has been ill these past few days and said he misses his elder sister, the Princess…”
Wei Shao Qianyu couldn’t verify the attendant’s words, but since Yun Ming’s incident, she hadn’t had the chance to meet Yun Shuo, who had now ascended the throne. A sense of worry took hold of her heart.
“Tomorrow, I will take the Princess to the palace,” Feng Jinye declared, snatching the edict before pulling Wei Shao Qianyu along.
She looked up to see three signal bamboo flares light up the sky—an ominous sign.
Turning back, she instructed, “Tell Yun Shuo to wait for me.”

Outside the eastern city, in the hills, Lu Yanran had already arrived ahead, ignoring the arrival of the edict.
She watched Mei Ji’s battle, utterly astonished—she had never known Mei Ji’s swordsmanship to be so exquisite.
Suddenly, realization dawned, and Lu Yanran’s brow furrowed as she appeared under a tree in an instant.
Mei Ji frowned, spitting a mouthful of dark red blood onto the ground.
“She’s suffering from poison flare-up,” a killer noted.

Lu Yanran could already tell that Mei Ji was about to succumb to the poison; she had endured such torment many times before leaving the Twilight Pavilion.
Lu Yanran stepped forward, blocking Mei Ji from behind for the first time.
“Mianyin?” Mei Ji asked in confusion.
Without turning around, Lu Yanran replied, “Long time no see, Sister Mei Ji.”

The assassins were stunned, but even more shocking was the presence of Ye Shi not far behind Lu Yanran and Mei Ji.
Wasn’t she the legitimate daughter of the Lu Marquis’s household and sister to their War Princess?
“I am Mianyin. It’s been a long time since I last killed. Today, I’ll trouble you all to accompany me in practice…” Lu Yanran said.
She knew this group was formidable and could only buy time for Feng Jinye and Wei Shao Qianyu to arrive with reinforcements.

Everyone knew Mei Ji was far stronger than Mianyin, and the assassins were not particularly wary of Mianyin, with many eager to engage her.
Lu Yanran said slowly, “Do you know the poison from the Twilight Pavilion on me has been cured?”
Her words fell like thunder in the hearts of the killers.
“Mianyin!!!” Mei Ji tried to stop her but was overcome by a violent cough.
“She’s stalling. If she were truly cured, why would she speak as if seeking death?” one assassin suddenly realized and shouted.
Lu Yanran’s tone grew stern, “I can tell you who gave me the antidote!”
Turning, she helped Mei Ji up and handed her to Ye Shi, saying, “Give her a pill to detoxify.”
Mei Ji shook her head, “It’s useless.”

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Knowing her end was near, Mei Ji wished to see that girl one last time and asked who she was.
In a small bamboo grove, Feng Qingxuan suddenly felt unease, as if something crucial was slipping away, leaving her inexplicably melancholic.
Gazing at the sickbed where Yun Ming lay, Feng Qingxuan found herself unable to leave.
Suddenly, she spat a mouthful of blood.
Raising her head and wiping the blood from her lips, her eyes flickered with a different personality.

On a small hill, Mei Ji lay dying.
“Mianyin… I have one last favor…” she whispered.
“Xuan’er’s illness was caused by the Xuanyuan family’s ‘Eye Capture’ technique…” Mei Ji murmured.
“The only way is… to kill Wei Shao Qianyu.”

Feng Jinye and Wei Shao Qianyu arrived just as Mei Ji finished speaking, then she fainted.
Wei Shao Qianyu froze, standing rooted to the spot at those words.
Feng Jinye had no time to ponder and engaged the assassins.
Wei Shao Qianyu, feeling a chill, approached and checked Mei Ji’s pulse. “She won’t survive long. Is this the Twilight Pavilion poison?”
Lu Yanran nodded, and Wei Shao Qianyu immediately thought of the possibility of Gu poison.
“She’s beyond saving,” Wei Shao Qianyu said coldly.
Thinking of her connection to the Xuanyuan family, and that perhaps she was spared for Feng Qingxuan to kill, yet knowing Mei Ji might be one of Feng Jinye’s few remaining relatives, Wei Shao Qianyu found herself unable to abandon her.
“Feng Jinye, spare the two women. I have questions.” Wei Shao Qianyu commanded.
“Ye Shi, bring Cold Ling here and have him prepare this medicine.” She broke a branch and wrote the name of the medicine on the ground, signaling Ye Shi not to speak it aloud.
Ye Shi, seeing the medicine’s name, thought Wei Shao Qianyu was devising a cure for Feng Qingxuan and immediately obeyed.
“Wait…” Lu Yanran started to speak but was cut off by Wei Shao Qianyu’s glare.

At the small hill east of the city, the danger closed in step by step.

Inside the palace, a group of palace attendants hurried back to report to the War Prince and Princess, exaggerating that the War Princess had disobeyed the imperial decree.
The West Earl’s mansion and Dingyuan Marquis’s mansion, along with the Qu family, all harbored deep hatred for Feng Jinye and Wei Shao Qianyu.
On the day of the eastern city incident, Qu Kun had been disarmed by Wei Shao Qianyu and pushed into the palace by Luo Shuqing.
“Your Majesty, I’ve heard that the War Princess defied the imperial edict, showing contempt for royal authority. Such behavior must not be tolerated. I beg Your Majesty to punish her!” Qu Kun declared with righteous indignation.
Though only eight years old, Yun Shuo was calculating. He did not wish to harm Wei Shao Qianyu but must avenge his brother.
Seeing Yun Shuo unmoved, Qu Kun continued, “The Imperial City Guards have learned that rogue elements are causing chaos east of the city. The War Prince took the War Princess there…”
Qu Kun stopped, glancing at the West Earl beside Yun Shuo.
“Shuo’er, Feng Jinye’s camp is in the western suburbs, and the martial forces have always remained separate from the court. Feng Jinye would never lead troops there. Today, the War Princess defies the imperial order; we must send soldiers to capture her lawfully!” the West Earl said.
“Indeed. Martial forces causing unrest in Yue Du must be subdued for the people’s good!” Qu Kun added in agreement.
Yun Shuo pondered long and hard, finally commanding, “Let Captain Qu take three thousand Imperial City Guards to the east and suppress the bandits!”

Outside the eastern city, Wei Shao Qianyu suddenly recalled a major event before the eastern city incident: the Empress Dowager’s death, rumored to have been avenged with blood to save the Emperor.
Now, it seemed entirely possible.

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When Ye Shi returned with Cold Ling, Feng Jinye was still fighting fiercely. Ye Shi observed his lord’s swordsmanship, noting it was identical to Mei Ji’s earlier.
“Princess, this Mei Ji’s swordsmanship is exactly like the Prince’s,” Ye Shi reported.
“Yes, she is your lord’s relative,” Wei Shao Qianyu replied calmly.
Ye Shi was stunned, suddenly realizing that the Prince’s relatives seemed intent on killing the Princess.

“Cold Physician, come and check her pulse,” Wei Shao Qianyu called without looking at Ye Shi.
Cold Ling stepped forward, carrying his medicine box, feeling Mei Ji’s nearly imperceptible pulse with a puzzled expression.
“This…”
“If I give her the medicine you brought, can it buy her another half hour?” Wei Shao Qianyu asked.
“Yes, but Princess…” Cold Ling was interrupted by Wei Shao Qianyu. “Give me the medicine.”

Mei Ji, dazed, heard Wei Shao Qianyu’s voice and felt comforted. Though she could not meet her again in life, at least Wei Shao Qianyu was here to see her off.
Wei Shao Qianyu fed Mei Ji the medicine.
Lu Yanran, Cold Ling, and Ye Shi were all baffled.

Half an hour later, Mei Ji’s body grew cold. Feng Jinye effortlessly threw two female assassins to the ground.
“Light a dry leaf!” Wei Shao Qianyu instructed Cold Ling.
A dagger appeared from her sleeve, and with a swift cut, she sliced open Mei Ji’s wrist.
Feng Qingxuan emerged from the bamboo grove, having hidden behind the trees, and seeing Wei Shao Qianyu cut Mei Ji’s wrist, she rushed forward and shoved Wei Shao Qianyu aside.
“Xuan’er!” Feng Jinye shouted angrily, barely catching Wei Shao Qianyu.

Feng Qingxuan, with Mei Ji’s personality and Mianyin’s memories, ignored Feng Jinye and approached Mei Ji’s cold body. She drew Ye Shi’s sword and swung it toward Wei Shao Qianyu.
Wei Shao Qianyu sighed, telling Feng Jinye, “Hold her back for half an hour.”
“Hold me back?” Feng Qingxuan looked at Feng Jinye.
“He harmed you, harmed Brother Yun Ming, harmed Sister Mei Ji! You want to stop me?” Feng Qingxuan accused fiercely.

Feng Jinye frowned, recalling Mei Ji’s words: “Xuan’er’s illness was caused by the Xuanyuan family’s Eye Capture… The only way is to kill Wei Shao Qianyu.”
“Xuan’er…” Feng Jinye was helpless.
“Don’t call me Xuan’er! If you protect her, then you’re no brother of mine!” Feng Qingxuan screamed, heart-wrenching.

Feng Jinye listened in silence.
Wei Shao Qianyu frowned and ignored Feng Qingxuan’s frenzy. She walked to the two unconscious assassins and swiftly sliced their wrists.
Blood gushed from the wounds. Following Wei Shao Qianyu’s orders, Cold Ling placed all three hands into the same basin.
Instantly, countless tiny, blood-red gu insects crawled out from Mei Ji’s wrist, transferring into the two assassins’ bodies.
Cold Ling was dumbfounded but soon understood: since Mei Ji was dead and could no longer host the parasites, they transferred to the assassins, who were also poisoned and could harbor the gu.
Cold Ling looked at Wei Shao Qianyu with admiration, nodding repeatedly.
Only when no more blood beads crawled from Mei Ji’s wrist did Wei Shao Qianyu sprinkle medicine powder over the three.
“Give her the antidote,” Wei Shao Qianyu said coldly.