Lan Qingqing's expression shifted as her hidden intentions were exposed, but she quickly regained her composure. "Princess Consort, Qingqing's status is humble, and she dares not aspire to too much. She only wishes to stay by the Prince's side every day."
If anyone else had said this, they would have been in an impossible situation.
But Gu Qianying coldly flicked Lan Qingqing's chin away and turned to Nangong Mo. "My Prince, if you wish to take Miss Lan as a concubine, this consort will arrange it immediately. If not, then this consort can only follow the rules of the manor and expel this deluded person."
She learned from Steward Qi that Lan Qingqing resided in the Ninth Prince's manor because her father had saved Nangong Mo many years ago. Lan Qingqing's parents had also been killed due to saving Nangong Mo, leaving Lan Qingqing as the sole survivor.
Nangong Mo had brought Lan Qingqing into the manor to repay the kindness, allowing her to live comfortably in the Ninth Prince's manor for many years.
Gu Qianying couldn't bring herself to kill such a person. To remove her, she had to first drive her out of the manor.
As for anything else, it mattered little to a dying person whether she lived or died.
Moreover, she was confident that Nangong Mo would not take Lan Qingqing as a concubine. Otherwise, Lan Qingqing would have long since become an imperial concubine in the Ninth Prince's manor.
"Sever Lan Qingqing's wrist tendons, expel this person from the manor, confine her to the outer residence, and imprison her for life!" Nangong Mo said coldly.
He had promised the Lan couple that Lan Qingqing would live a life free from want by his side, and he would fulfill that. However, he would not allow this malicious woman to continue causing trouble in the manor.
"My Prince!" Lan Qingqing exclaimed, her face filled with disbelief.
No! Nangong Mo wouldn't be so cruel to her, he wouldn't!
"My Prince~, why don't you dare to boldly admit that you like Qingqing? Qingqing is also the most suitable person to be the Ninth Prince's Consort, right? My Prince! It must be Gu Qianying, this lowly woman, who has bewitched you, right? Yes, it's her, it must be this lowly woman..."
"Slap!"
"Shut up! How dare you insult the Princess Consort! Twenty slaps!" Nangong Mo's gaze was as cold as ice. He spoke again.
His words shattered Lan Qingqing's last hope.
Cai Xia stepped forward, grabbed Lan Qingqing's hair, and slapped her again. Her left cheek was still swollen from the previous blows, and now her right cheek began to swell.
"Hahaha, hahaha," Lan Qingqing, having been repeatedly slapped and facing Nangong Mo's ruthless judgment, became wildly enraged. She pushed Cai Xia aside, supported herself on a chair, and staggered to her feet. Pointing at Gu Qianying, she said, "Gu Qianying, you lowly woman, don't celebrate too soon. My fate today will be yours tomorrow, hahaha."
Two guards entered, grabbed Lan Qingqing, and prepared to drag her away. Gu Qianying walked up to Lan Qingqing. "Lan Qingqing, we are both women. This Princess Consort advises you. Using others and poisoning them to induce hallucinations is indeed a good method, but this method causes the person who cherishes you with such devotion to discard that pure affection. Your actions are deeply hurtful to others and will eventually lead to the consequences you deserve."
"Hmph, Du Chun, that idiot, is honored to be used by this lady. Unfortunately, he failed to kill you. Even an idiot is useless waste. It's truly unfair of heaven to let such waste and a hateful lowly woman like you exist in this world!"
Gu Qianying was referring to her manipulation of Du Chun. Now that she was being expelled from the Ninth Prince's manor, she had nothing to lose.
Suddenly,
A gust of wind blew, and the door opened.
A white figure moved instantly, appearing before Lan Qingqing and delivering a palm strike.
Lan Qingqing's eyes widened in shock as the strike hit her. She spat blood and fell to the ground, barely alive.
To her death, she never knew where she had gone wrong.
Nangong Mo looked at Du Chun, who was on the verge of madness.
Du Chun's wrists were red and swollen from the handcuffs as he delivered the palm strike. When he entered, his gaze had been fixed on Lan Qingqing's face, never wavering.
"Why did you lie to me, why?" he slowly walked towards Lan Qingqing, crouched down, and looked at her with eyes full of pain.
"Just because of you... you deserve this lady's... affection... You are merely... a dog by this lady's... side, haha..." Lan Qingqing's voice was intermittent, a cruel smile on her lips.
"Damn lowly woman!"
Du Chun's eyes turned red with rage. He grabbed Lan Qingqing's neck with one hand and tightened his grip.
Lan Qingqing gasped for air, her cheeks turning red. Before she could utter a word, her breath ceased.
Gu Qianying looked at the deceased Lan Qingqing, her heart filled with a complex emotion.
She shifted her gaze to Du Chun, observing his emaciated figure, and her feelings grew even more somber.
This Du Chun reminded her of her past life.
In her previous life, at the moment before her rebirth, she had been as grief-stricken as Du Chun. The only difference was that she had been reborn into her past life, while Du Chun was much luckier, at least regaining his senses before it was too late.
The next day,
A bizarre event occurred at the Ninth Prince's manor.
Lan Qingqing's body had mysteriously vanished.
However, given the crimes Lan Qingqing had committed, even if her body had disappeared, no one would investigate. It would merely be discussed as idle gossip.
The news of Lan Qingqing's death quickly reached Madam Shi. Madam Shi only sent people to inquire about superficial matters and did not ask for further details.
After this incident, Madam Shi's attitude towards Gu Qianying underwent a significant change. Things she previously disliked were now tolerated, and she even sent people with exquisite pastries as gifts to Gu Qianying's quarters. She also invited Gu Qianying several times, expressing a desire to foster a closer relationship in her courtyard.
Furthermore, she specifically sent people to the Gu manor to inquire about Gu Qianying's favorite foods and belongings.
Du Chun was also released from the dungeon after Lan Qingqing's death. Nangong Mo had initially intended for Du Chun to remain in the manor as his physician. However, Du Chun, feeling he had failed Nangong Mo, chose to resign from his position as the Ninth Prince's manor physician and leave.
Seeing that Du Chun was determined to leave, Nangong Mo agreed.
As Du Chun departed, Nangong Li brought several jars of wine to see him off. Bai Qi, pushing Nangong Mo, was also present. However, Nangong Mo did not touch any alcohol, as all the wine in the manor had been hidden by Gu Qianying's people. It was through this that he learned Gu Qianying disliked him drinking.
Since his wife disliked him drinking, he naturally would not touch a drop.
Two days later,
In the study of the Ninth Prince's manor,
Nangong Mo sat in his wheelchair with a stern expression. On his desk were several sheets of Xuan paper with confidential content.
Bai Qi stood beside him and asked cautiously, "My Prince, should we continue investigating the Princess Consort, or...?"
"Snap,"
Nangong Mo's hand slammed onto the desk. With a sweep of his sleeve, the papers before him instantly turned to ash.
"No need to investigate! Inform everyone that from today onwards, whatever the Princess Consort wishes to do, you will cooperate fully."
Bai Qi walked to the center and knelt on one knee before Nangong Mo. "I implore Your Highness to reconsider. This subordinate feels this is inappropriate. We know the Princess Consort has ulterior motives, so why are we still shielding her?"
He was dissatisfied and filled with doubt, thus speaking out despite the risk of disrespect.
"Because this Prince is willing!"
Bai Qi was stunned into silence.
That evening, under the cover of darkness, in a thatched hut in a desolate wilderness.
On the bed lay a woman with her entire upper body covered in silver needles.
The woman wore a pink thin shirt, her chest open, revealing glimpses of her skin.
Beside the bed sat Gu Qianying, dressed in night-blooming attire.
Gu Qianying had a beautiful face and a cold expression.
After half an incense stick's time,
Gu Qianying carefully removed the silver needles from the woman on the bed and then put on her clothes. She then called out towards the door, "The person is about to wake up. You may come in."