Chapter 423.2: Strike Back
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.]
O R A N G E S T A R
[Fazzienaz] [K.Rom] [Manon] [Smurfinbatik] [Tori D.] [Ziana K.-P.]
Y E L L O W S T A R
[Chlaudette P.] [Gwyneth T.] [Passerby] [Scorpion Princess] [Xena]
G O L D S T A R
[Ava C.] [Cindy] [Jamie H.] [Lord_Wolve] [Nanashi D. Y.] [Nevy] [Nicole]
R A I N B O W S T A R
[Allie] [BritnaeM] [Debra W] [Kiiayame] [Leticia P.] [Peggy F.]
T H E S U N
[Christigale M.] [Haruka N.] kuroneko_chan] [Lily J.]
[Lulu] [Malinkat] [Michelle K.] [onepiece]
Also, many thanks to everyone who bought me coffee (*≧∀≦*)
Gu Jiao's predictions were correct. After realizing that Yuan Tang wasn’t an easy target, Ning Wang didn't take any further action against him for the time being.
Though the incident hadn't been exposed, it wouldn’t be easy to completely block the mouth of the Rui couple. Ning Wang had two options: one was to stage another act, letting Rui Wangfei discover the "real man behind the artificial rockery." Ning Wang could select another person as a scapegoat and get away with it.
However, this required cooperation from the Crown Princess, and considering what Gu Jiao observed today about the relationship between them, the Crown Princess might not be willing to participate.
Moreover, even if they found a new scapegoat, what would happen next? Would they truly expose the act of the Crown Princess and the scapegoat? Would Ning Wang be willing to let the Crown Princess’s reputation be ruined?
The second option was to kill Rui Wangfei.
Rui Wangfei was an eyewitness, just like Gu Jiao, but Gu Jiao didn't care about this matter. Unlike Rui Wangfei who had a feud with the Crown Princess and wouldn't easily let go of this opportunity to watch the Crown Princess's downfall.
"Young Miss Gu, shall we return to the medical hall?" Little San asked on the carriage.
"Go to Ning Wang Residence." Gu Jiao replied.
"Alright!"
Little San drove the carriage to Ning Wang Residence.
Ning Wangfei met Gu Jiao in her courtyard. She had the servant bring tea for Gu Jiao and said, "Young Miss Gu, are you here today to reexamine me? I remember the follow-up consultation is in three days.”
The implied meaning was that Gu Jiao seemed to show up for no reason or without any specific purpose.
Gu Jiao wasn’t embarrassed and said straight to the point, "Wangfei, can I trust you?"
Ning Wangfei’s hand paused while holding the tea cup.
……
Ning Wang and the Crown Prince were busy at the cabinet until late. When Ning Wang returned home, it was already deep into the night.
Ning Wangfei was sitting in a pavilion drinking tea.
Ning Wang walked over while pressing his forehead. A servant drew the curtain for him, and then he noticed Rui Wangfei was also there.
He froze for a moment when he saw Rui Wangfei, but quickly regained his composure and greeted her warmly, "Suxin, I'm back, and third sister-in-law is also here."
"Eldest brother-in-law!" Rui Wangfei turned her head when she heard his voice, stood up, and smiled as she gave a curtsy, "Eldest sister-in-law said she was feeling bored, so I came here to accompany her for a few days. Eldest brother-in-law, you don't mind, do you?"
"How could I mind? Having you accompany Suxin, I couldn't be happier." Ning Wang said with a smile. He moved to sit beside Ning Wangfei and said, "I'm sorry, there were so many matters at the cabinet today that I couldn't make it back to accompany you for the play."
Ning Wangfei poured him a cup of flower tea, "It's alright, third sister-in-law kept me company and we watched it together."
Ning Wang glanced at both of them and asked, "Which play did you watch? Was it good?"
Rui Wangfei nodded enthusiastically, "It was ‘Moon-Worshipping Pavilion,' it was so wonderful that I even cried!"
Ning Wang chuckled and looked at Ning Wangfei with fondness, "Did Suxin cry too?"
Ning Wangfei retorted, "Does Your Highness want me to cry?"
Ning Wang was momentarily taken aback but then held her hand and asked, "How could I? I promised Suxin that I would never make you shed tears in this lifetime."
Ning Wangfei pulled her hand back from his grasp and pushed the cup of tea towards him, "Have some tea, Your Highness."
"Alright."
The three of them sat in the pavilion for a while, but as the hour grew late, Ning Wang suggested, "It's getting late. Let me escort you both back to rest."
As they stood up and walked down the steps, suddenly, Rui Wangfei let out a sharp scream, and her body leaned forward as if about to fall.
Ning Wangfei was in between Ning Wang and Rui Wangfei, leaving no time for Ning Wang to react, but then he saw Ning Wangfei grabbing Rui Wangfei and pulling her back, stabilizing her form.
Then Ning Wangfei herself lost her balance and tumbled down the steps.
"Suxin!"
"Sister-in-law!"
Ning Wangfei fell so badly that her left arm was dislocated.
After the physician reset her arm and bandaged her, she was asked to rest in bed.
Rui Wangfei couldn't help bursting into tears, "I... I don't know what happened, I suddenly slipped..."
Ning Wangfei comforted her, asking Rui Wangfei not to dwell on it and to rest in her room.
Ning Wang stayed to feed Ning Wangfei medicine.
Ning Wangfei didn't take the medicine; instead, she looked straight at him and said, "Your Highness, tell me, why did third sister-in-law slip? Did she step on something?"
Ning Wang slightly paused.
Ning Wangfei continued, "I clearly had the pavilion cleaned very thoroughly. Who placed something that shouldn't be there?"
The look in her eyes made Ning Wang frown, "How would I know?"
Realizing his tone wasn't very pleasant, Ning Wang took a deep breath and said, "If Suxin wants to know, I will have someone investigate."
Ning Wangfei tugged at her lips and replied, "Your Highness better make sure to find out."
Naturally, Ning Wang did find out. Such a thing wasn’t difficult for him.
However, the result almost made his expression crack on the spot!
"Yes, it was… Wangfei who ordered this… this servant... to, to, smear some lard on the stairs." The servant trembled and could hardly speak clearly.
God knows why the usually gentle and virtuous Ning Wangfei would suddenly act this way, trying to harm Rui Wangfei by spreading lard on the stairs. And yet, she ended up injuring herself...
Ning Wang clenched his fists tightly, making cracking sounds, "Get out! Go and receive your punishment!"
"Yes... Yes... Yes!" The servant hurriedly rolled away, afraid that if he hesitated even for a second, his master might change his mind and ask for his head instead.
Although Ning Wangfei was injured, it didn't affect her sleep.
She slept until the break of dawn while Rui Wangfei had already been awake for quite a while.
She went to Ning Wangfei's room.
Ning Wang arrived as well. He had something to discuss with Ning Wangfei, but he found it difficult to talk with Rui Wangfei present.
He looked deeply at Ning Wangfei before going to the cabinet to deal with official affairs.
But what he never expected was that, before he could even warm his seat in the cabinet, the steward from the prince’s residence came to report that Ning Wangfei had been poisoned!
Ning Wang choked on his breath, almost feeling like he was being choked to death!
"Your Highness, later..." A high-ranking official of the cabinet walked over, intending to discuss important matters with Ning Wang, but he saw Ning Wang stand up all of a sudden without even looking at him and urgently rush out!
The high-ranking official: "..."
When Ning Wang entered the room, Ning Wangfei was sitting at the bedside drinking medicine. Her face was very pale, but she seemed nonchalant.
Ning Wang expressionlessly clenched his hand into a fist and said, "All of you, leave."
"Yes!" The servants quickly exited the room.
Ning Wang closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, and then sat down by the bed, gently looking at her, "Give it to me."
Ning Wangfei handed him the medicine bowl.
Ning Wang tasted a sip first, confirming that it was neither cold nor hot, before scooping a spoonful to feed her.
"It's aconite." Ning Wangfei said after drinking the medicine.
Ning Wang's motion of scooping the second spoonful of medicine halted.
Ning Wangfei said with a smile, "Originally, it was a sour apricot meant for the third sister-in-law. Curious, I tasted one first, but unexpectedly, it was poisoned. Your Highness, who do you think could be behind this?"
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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