Seeing Yanzhi run out in a fluster, Gu Ying finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She sat back down by the bedside, looking at the dizzy Huo Qiyun, praying in her heart that the Eldest Prince would come back soon, otherwise, with Cheng and Zhao Changxing guarding her day and night, how could she, a half-baked doctor, cure this hook-lipped viper venom...
But if the Eldest Prince really came back...
She was also worried that the Eldest Prince would believe Cheng and Zhao Changxing’s words that she had harmed Huo Qiyun...
Under her wide sleeve, she clenched her fist tightly, her heart thumping chaotically.
...
Not long after, Yanzhi came running back, panting as she carried two large white geese.
“Mistress, I’m back!”
Yanzhi was quite clever, she had tied up the geese with ribbons so they couldn't flap their wings about.
Gu Ying didn’t care for niceties. With her bare hands she grabbed one of the big geese, drew out her Qilin Dagger from her waist, and cleanly sliced across the goose's neck.
Blood instantly sprayed over her face.
Her originally snow-white complexion and exquisite brows and eyes, with these winding bloodstains as contrast, made her look like some bewitching demon of the dark night, stunning everyone in the room.
Cheng pointed at the bloodthirsty-looking Gu Ying, stammering in confusion, “What are you trying to do!”
Gu Ying completely ignored her. Time was of essence, saving a life took precedence over everything, she calmly held up the goose's neck, “Yin Lan, Yanzhi, hold Qiyun down.”
The two servant girls answered in unison, “Yes!”
After speaking, Gu Ying promptly poured all the goose blood down Huo Qiyun's throat. Caught off guard, she struggled violently, “Mm mm mm!”
Gu Ying's eyes darkened, not letting her spit it out, only after forcing all the goose blood down did she tightly cover her mouth.
The onlooking crowd was already shocked speechless. To them, this was clearly not saving someone, it was outright murder before their very eyes!
Of course Cheng didn't dare let Huo Qiyun actually die. She cried out anxiously, “Why are you all still standing there stunned! Hurry and save her!”
Only then did people hurriedly rush over to drag Gu Ying and her two servants off.
“Gu Ying, you dare commit murder! Aren't you afraid Du would find out and have you killed!”
But amidst the chaos, as soon as those words fell.
The door of the courtyard was suddenly kicked open.
A blast of cold northern wind swirled inside, pure white snowflakes flying about everywhere.
The old maid keeping watch outside, her voice trembling as she looked upon the sinister face of the man standing at the doorway, cried out in fright, “Prince...the Prince has returned!”
Everyone in the room froze, scrambling in panic to move away from the bedside.
Covered in blood, her hair in disorder, Gu Ying now finally had the chance to look at the man who had appeared at the door...
But before she could make out his expression, with great swiftness he strode towards the bed in a few large steps. His big hands, like iron claws, grabbed her slender arm and pulled her up from the bedside.
After the recent battle of wits, Gu Ying was already weak all over.
Being hauled up so forcefully by him now, she was like a fragile doll, the pain in her arm felt as if it would break.
In panic she raised her eyes, finally seeing the Eldest Prince's piercingly cold pupils...
"Du..."
But he didn't look at her, instead he turned his head and sternly ordered.
"Huai An!"
His eyes were covered by a layer of icy frost, his jawline hard and taut, his expression so coldly ominous it made one gasp.
After Huai An rushed in,
he firmly gripped her arm with his big hand, his eyes clouded with penetrating chill, "Take Huo Qiyun out!"
"Yes!"
Huai An carried the bloodstained Huo Qiyun up and swiftly disappeared from the courtyard entrance.
Cheng was quite displeased with the Eldest Prince's arrangement, but seeing the bone-chilling expression on the man's face, in the end she didn't dare utter a word.
An oppressive atmosphere permeated the entire courtyard, the killing intent more palpable than the snowstorm outside.
The wintry cold seemed to assault from all directions. An enormous sorrow, like tidal waves, surged and suffocated.
Looking into the Eldest Prince's detached, icy eyes, Gu Ying's heart quivered lightly...and her eyes instantly turned red.
She moved her lips, wanting to offer an explanation, but she couldn't think of what to say.
Cheng spoke up, hesitating a little before saying, "Du, it's good you've returned...this whole affair today, if you want to blame someone you can only blame your wife... If she hadn't poisoned Qiyun, how would Qiyun have ended up like that? What's more, just now she even nearly smothered Qiyun to death. Just look at the pool of blood on the bed and you'll know, if not for us, I'm afraid Qiyun would truly be dead."
"With such a venomous heart, when she's only been married here a few days, yet dared commit such cruelty against Qiyun. Speaking frankly, my heart is still thumping wildly..."
"It's best you divorce such an ill-omened woman early on..."
Cheng's voice gradually faded. Gu Ying was at a loss for words, her mind blank, complex emotions tangling and coiling like vines within her heart.
Zhao Changdu suppressed his anger, fists clenched tight. He turned to look at the woman beside him, his jet black, murky brows and eyes exuded a chilling aura that made one's scalp tingle.
His silent intimidation pressed down on everyone in the courtyard. Many dared not even steal a glance at the Prince's face.
Cheng smacked her lips, still wanting to add more venomous words.
But Zhao Changdu spat coldly, "This matter, I will get to the bottom of it myself, it's not your place to gossip so."
Cheng forced a smile, speaking drily, "I didn't mean anything by it. The affairs of the inner residence should indeed be my responsibility, or else the Duke would take offense..."
Zhao Changdu's icy eyes shifted, pinning Cheng with his bone-chilling stare. "There's been an poisoning attempt on an esteemed lady of this household. Where is the physician you summoned?"
Cheng faltered, "I...I haven't had the chance yet..."
But Zhao Changdu had no more patience to entertain her. His tone devoid of warmth, "Someone come, give a full account of today's events to Zhao Hui!"
Cheng instantly froze up, vision going dark.
Zhao Changdu's face gloomy, he forcefully dragged Gu Ying out of the courtyard.
The Duke's Residence had tall enclosing walls everywhere, the heavy chill of winter crept into one's bones.
Gu Ying's back ran cold. Stumbling a few steps in the snow, her legs soon went soft, unable to walk any further.
Yanzhi and Yin Lan carefully followed some distance behind, anxiously watching their master and mistress up ahead.
Zhao Changdu sneered. He turned back to look at the bloodstains on her face and her dishevelment. His pair of jet black, icy eyes stared fixedly at her stubborn expression without blinking once. "Nothing to say to me?"
Gu Ying knew he must harbor intense hatred for her right now.
She bit her lip, a flash of sorrow in her heart, still wanting to defend herself, "I didn't poison her."
A hint of chilling malice appeared at the corner of Zhao Changdu's eyes. "If you didn't, then who did?"
Gu Ying suppressed the bitterness in her heart, raising her thick lashes. Her pair of bright dark eyes, the light in them tenacious yet tender, "When Huo Qiyun's situation was critical, I didn't have time to investigate the poisoner."
