The next day!
Early in the morning!
The scholars who passed the imperial examination went to the palace to meet the Emperor!
At this moment in the Qin manor!
Qin Yun woke up groggily!
Her head still felt a bit dizzy and painful!
She had celebrated too happily last night and drank too much.
At this moment, Qin Yun had completely forgotten everything that happened last night!
She only knew that she had to go to the palace to meet the Emperor today!
With the help of Xiao Ju!
Qin Yun quickly washed up, got ready, and resumed her elegant young master appearance!
As per Qin Yuanzhang's request, Qin Yun ate a hearty breakfast and was full.
Before leaving, Qin Yuanzhang did not forget to give Qin Yun some ginger tea!
"Yun'er, this is ginger tea that Father specially asked the kitchen to brew. It dispels dampness and cold, and is good for your health!"
"Everything in here are tonics, beneficial and harmless!"
Qin Yun took the cup of tea and brought it to her nose, sniffing gently.
She smiled softly. "Father is very thoughtful. This child will surely drink it!"
Qin Yun looked up at Qin Yuanzhang, but her gaze swept around the hall. There were quite a few servants in the hall, and there must be someone here who wanted to harm her!
"Drink it and go to the palace soon. I heard that this year's top scholar can be assigned a good official position! A high-ranking one too!" Qin Yuanzhang said happily, stroking his gray beard.
"Yes, Father!" Qin Yun lowered her head, looked at the ginger tea in front of her, then picked it up... and drank it in one gulp!
"Father, this child will take her leave now!" Qin Yun put down the bowl and turned to leave.
In the corner, the man saw Qin Yun finish the ginger tea, then smiled with satisfaction before disappearing.
Qin Yun did not go out of the manor immediately. Instead, she quickly entered her small courtyard!
Upon entering the room, Qin Yun instructed Xiao Ju to close the door.
Then she went to the wooden basin and began to induce vomiting.
Qin Yun extended her index finger into her throat, forcing herself to vomit out all the ginger tea she had just drunk!
To avoid alerting the enemy, it was a last resort for her just now!
Otherwise, she would never have endured such suffering!
"Gag... gag..." Qin Yun placed her left hand on her stomach, tightening her abdomen.
She repeatedly inserted her right index finger into her throat to induce vomiting!
After vomiting several times!
She completely vomited out all the food she had eaten for breakfast!
Xiao Ju patted Qin Yun's back. "Young Master, what's wrong? You were fine just now, why are you vomiting now?"
Qin Yun stood up weakly and said to Xiao Ju, "Go and prepare some salt water and white wine!"
"Young Master, are you alright?"
"Don't ask so many questions, hurry up!" As Qin Yun said this, she grabbed Xiao Ju's arm and said, "Absolutely do not leak anything about me inducing vomiting just now. Keep this matter to yourself!"
"Yes, this servant understands!" With that, Xiao Ju went to prepare.
Soon!
Xiao Ju brought the salt water and white wine into the room.
Qin Yun first drank a bowl of salt water, and a few seconds later, began to induce vomiting again.
Xiao Ju sighed. "Young Master, why are you putting yourself through this?"
"Salt water can sterilize, and white wine can disinfect. I am forced to do this!" Qin Yun said weakly. Vomiting several times was indeed uncomfortable!
Then she picked up the white wine, frowned, took a small sip, and then drank some plain water!
Immediately followed by another round of torturous vomiting!
After inducing vomiting, Qin Yun felt even weaker.
Xiao Ju quickly stepped forward to help her.
She had just undergone a major stomach lavage!
"Young Master, it's getting late. You have to go to the palace to meet the Emperor!"
"I know! You and Madam Tian should also be careful during this period. The other party has started to make their move!"
"This servant will definitely be careful, and will also inform Madam Tian to be cautious!"
"Once I hold an official position, I will eradicate these tumors in the Qin manor one by one!" Qin Yun clenched her fists, then slowly walked out of the manor.
Exiting the main gate of the Qin manor, Qin Yun got into the pre-arranged carriage.
After the carriage started!
Qin Yun held her stomach with both hands, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Although she had vomited out the poisoned ginger tea, her throat and stomach had also suffered greatly.
The carriage traveled on, and Qin Yun was weak and about to lie down to rest for a while.
The carriage suddenly stopped!
Qin Yun frowned, a bad premonition creeping into her heart.
She lifted the curtain, and saw an unfamiliar alley in front of her, with the surroundings extremely quiet.
Qin Yun had no time to think and was about to jump out of the carriage!
Just then, the coachman took out a hemp rope from under the cushion, wrapped it tightly around Qin Yun from behind, and then looped the rope around Qin Yun's neck, strangling her tightly!
Qin Yun struggled non-stop, biting down hard on the coachman's arm with her white teeth!
"Ah..." The coachman cried out in pain and quickly let go of Qin Yun.
Qin Yun turned and ran!
Who knew that after running a few steps, she was caught up by the coachman again!
Seeing the coachman draw a large saber and preparing to strike a fatal blow!
Hong Fu flashed into existence, swatting the saber from the coachman's hand with a palm strike. With a side flip, she kicked the coachman to the ground!
The coachman, seeing that he had encountered a tough opponent, tried to get up and escape, but was wrapped all over by Hong Fu with red cloth strips!
With a strong pull, the coachman fell to the ground, now resembling a cocoon!
"Mistress, I apologize for startling you!" Hong Fu knelt down to confess her guilt.
Qin Yun coughed violently. Her Adam's apple was originally formed by the effect of medicine. Just now, when the coachman choked her, the area around her Adam's apple ached as if it were shattering!
"Mistress?" Hong Fu frowned, feeling a bit guilty. She had still arrived a step too late!
Qin Yun waved her hand! Her eyes looked coldly at the coachman on the ground. "Why did you try to harm me? Who sent you?"
The coachman was a little nervous. He knew that... if he failed his mission today, he would be finished upon returning.
"Are you new to the manor? I haven't seen you before!" Qin Yun had investigated and was familiar with the people in the manor.
"Stop the nonsense. It's my bad luck to fall into your hands. Kill me or hang me, as you please!"
Qin Yun, enduring the pain in her throat, slowly approached the coachman and asked in a very low voice, "The second branch sent you to kill me, didn't they? I really want to know, who else in the Qin manor belongs to the second branch?"
The coachman sneered. "Don't ask. I won't say anything!"
Qin Yun sized up the coachman's appearance. "At your age, you must be married with children. Instead of staying home with your wife and kids, you come out here to do someone else's bidding, and it's even murder. It can't be a pleasant feeling, can it!"
The coachman frowned slightly!
But in a moment, he returned to his usual self.
Qin Yun accurately caught every expression on the coachman's face. "Did someone use your wife and children to threaten you into killing me?"
The coachman looked at Qin Yun in shock, about to speak!
A dart flew from somewhere, piercing the coachman's throat!
Seeing this, Hong Fu leaped forward, shielding Qin Yun behind her!
The coachman died on the spot!
Qin Yun watched this scene, her brows knitting tighter and tighter!
Did the other party want her dead that badly?
"Hong Fu, this one-strike-kill technique... the opponent is likely an expert!" Qin Yun sighed slightly as she looked at the coachman's corpse.
"Mistress, don't worry, this servant will protect you!"
For a moment, both of them were extremely vigilant.
Hong Fu, protecting Qin Yun, said, "Mistress, you still need to go to the palace to meet the Emperor. Today is very important for you. You cannot be delayed further!"