After Li Hao escorted Hui An away, Liu Cheng’s knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground. If it weren’t for using Wang Qiancheng’s leg as a support, he would have flopped down completely.
“I was so scared, so scared!”
Thinking back on the scene, Liu Cheng grew more fearful. If the patrol guards hadn’t arrived in time, his and Wang Qiancheng’s small frames wouldn’t have been able to withstand the rush of the common folk. They would have surely met the same fate as Nan Yuan’er.
He looked up at Wang Qiancheng, clutching his trouser leg, trying to stand, but failing. He felt weak not just in his legs and hands, but all over.
“I never realized you had such courage!” Liu Cheng was truly astonished today. They were usually good brothers who went to brothels, gambled, drank heavily, and boasted together. How had he suddenly transformed into a brave warrior, calm in the face of danger and turning the tide?
So, he was the only genuine fop, while you were just playing at being one?
If you had possessed this courage that day at Yipin Residence, why would you have been so terrified by Feng Luan that you ended up on the gambling platform?
Liu Cheng couldn’t help but ask, “If you have this kind of courage, why are you still afraid of Feng Luan?”
Wang Qiancheng lowered his head to look at Liu Cheng. Perhaps due to the angle, Wang Qiancheng’s eyes were filled with a murderous glint.
“How can that be the same?” Wang Qiancheng gritted his teeth. “You dare to fight a living person, but do you dare to fight the living King Yama?”
Liu Cheng: “……”
Alright, you have a point!
Liu Lan walked over to Wang Qiancheng and scrutinized him from head to toe. The young girl’s eyes held a sharpness that seemed to pierce through his skin and directly into his soul. Wang Qiancheng felt his flesh tighten and his scalp prickle again.
He lowered his head, looking at her, and with a roguish flourish, raised his eyebrows at her. “What, are you captivated by my handsome face?”
For once, Liu Lan wasn’t swayed by Wang Qiancheng’s charm. She looked at him seriously, reached up on tiptoe, and pinched his face hard, pulling it outward.
“Ow, ow, ow, don’t pinch, it hurts!” Wang Qiancheng cried out in pain.
Liu Lan released his face and stared into his eyes, saying with utter seriousness, “I just wanted to see if you were wearing a mask.”
Wang Qiancheng rubbed his face, half-laughing, half-crying. “Where can you find such a smooth, seamless mask?”
Liu Lan said, “There is, why wouldn’t there be?”
Wang Qiancheng thought she was referring to a human skin mask and wondered how a sheltered young lady like her would even know about such things. Then he heard her continue, “An invisible mask, naturally, its origins cannot be discerned, nor can it be removed. Even if you were to cut off your skin and reveal a bloody, mangled face, it would still be on your face!”
Wang Qiancheng paused slightly. Was she implying he was living with a mask on, unwilling to show his true self to her? But after wearing a mask for so long, how could one distinguish between the mask and what was beneath it?
He pondered this, then chuckled again, deciding not to argue. Instead, he asked, “What do you mean by tangible or intangible? Then, do you think I’m wearing a mask?”
Liu Lan was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly grinned. Her smile was open and spirited, her eyes sparkling. “Who isn’t?”
Wang Qiancheng looked at her, momentarily lost in her gaze.
…
“Your Highness, the matter is handled!”
Xuan Yi relayed what had happened on Yunlan Street to Nan Shiying. However, Nan Yuan’er’s current plight was more severe than they had anticipated. If the patrol guards hadn’t arrived in time, Nan Yuan’er would truly have died.
Nan Shiying picked up a piece of fuzhou cake and popped it into her mouth, asking casually, “How is Nan Yuan’er?”
“Nan Yuan’er had two chest bones and one rib bone broken, along with her right wrist. The fractured chest bones pierced through her skin, but fortunately, no internal organs were injured. Although her injuries are severe, they are not life-threatening… However, the bones in her wrist seem to be severely shattered, so her right hand will likely be unusable.”
As Xuan Yi spoke, he couldn’t help but sigh. It wasn’t out of pity for Nan Yuan’er, but rather thinking that all of this was orchestrated by the Princess Consort, and considering her methods of manipulating everyone like puppets, he felt a chilling fear.
Nan Shiying hummed and glanced down at her own right hand. Even after being soaked repeatedly in liquid before her arranged marriage, there were still several faint, semi-diamond-shaped scars on her right wrist.
These were the tooth marks left when Nan Yuan’er had set dogs upon her.
Nan Yuan’er’s injury was also to her right hand!
She curved her lips, a smile spreading across her face. Even without seeing the smile on Nan Shiying’s face, Xuan Yi sensed a palpable malice.
“Very good!” Nan Shiying murmured softly.
With that, she looked up again and instructed Xuan Yi, “Have someone look after the commoners who were imprisoned in the Dali Temple because of this incident. Since Nan Yuan’er is not dead, the law will not punish the masses!”
“Yes, your subordinate understands!”
…
Nan Residence.
“What did you say? Say it again?” Upon hearing the sudden bad news, Madam Liu almost fainted on the spot. What did she mean, severe injuries that would be difficult to heal and might leave her with a disability?
The servant who came to deliver the news trembled under Madam Liu’s bloodshot gaze but had to repeat, “Madam, the young lady was trampled by the enraged common folk. Although she was sent to the medical hall in time, her wrist injury is simply too severe. I fear, I fear the young lady’s hand will be permanently disabled.”
“You’re talking nonsense!”
Liu Shi was furious. She strode forward and slapped the servant hard. Her eyes bulged like a suddenly roused beast.
The servant felt dizzy from the blow, and blood seeped from his lips, but he dared not show any displeasure, fearing that in her rage, Madam Liu might grab the scissors nearby and stab him.
Qing’er helped support Madam Liu and couldn’t help but remind her, “Madam, please don’t panic. The physicians outside are naturally not as skilled as those in the palace. You should request the master to go to the palace and invite an imperial physician to treat the young lady!”
“Yes, you are right!”
Liu Shi turned and ran out, madly making her way towards the study in the front courtyard.
Wang Shi, upon hearing the news, was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. She laughed so hard she couldn’t catch her breath, tears streaming down her face. Her laughter continued for a long time, so long that the servants thought their mistress had encountered something evil, and her laughter made their scalps tingle.