Susu led the way, and Madam Mu followed closely, her feet seemingly quickening.
Her expression was blank, her lips pressed tightly together, the corners of her mouth turned down deeply, and large beads of sweat had already formed on her forehead.
As they neared the courtyard of the guest rooms, everyone suddenly heard cries for help.
"Help! Help! Is anyone there!"
Madam Mu, with her sharp eyes, immediately spotted County Princess Mu Jin sitting on the ground not far away. Two of her maids were also sitting on the ground like her, while the third stood nearby, holding a branch.
"Jin'er!" Madam Mu called out her daughter's name and ran over quickly.
The others, looking on with amusement, hurried to follow. No one noticed the surprised expressions that appeared on Susu, King Wu, and Wei Yu’s faces.
King Wu immediately looked at Susu, his gaze filled with coldness.
Susu’s face turned pale, and she shook her head blankly. She had no idea what had happened. When she had left, County Princess Mu Jin and the other two had been lying unconscious on their beds.
Madam Mu rushed to County Princess Mu Jin’s side, and tears immediately welled up in the county princess’s eyes. This was genuine; she was truly terrified.
"Mother!"
Madam Mu, heartbroken, pulled County Princess Mu Jin into her arms and asked with concern and anxiety, "What happened? Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. With Mother here, you have nothing to fear."
County Princess Mu Jin sobbed, unable to speak clearly.
The maid who was standing said, "Madam, it's like this. Just now, the County Princess and the Consort of King Ding'an agreed to change clothes in the carriage. Who knew the County Princess suddenly felt unwell in her stomach, so she asked the Consort to go first. When the County Princess felt better, and we were about to go to the carriage, a large python suddenly sprang out from the grass. It was as thick as a bowl and had coiled around the County Princess's and Fei Wei's ankles, and seemed to have bitten them. I wanted to call for help, but I was afraid the python would return, so I could only hold a branch and protect the County Princess... Fortunately, you arrived in time, Madam..."
The maid speaking was named Dai Tao. Her expression was panicked, but her words were very clear. She spoke the whole story without a single stutter, quickly explaining everything.
Wang Qingyao had been hiding in a concealed spot. She only emerged at the very end when the crowd arrived, so everyone assumed she had come with the main group.
At this point, she walked to the front and said, "No wonder the County Princess has been delayed. There's a large python in King Wu's mansion!"
She looked at King Wu with a half-smile.
King Wu's face was grim. How could there be a large python in his mansion? If this news spread today, who would dare to visit his mansion in the future? He met Wang Qingyao's gaze, his expression turning somewhat sinister, a stark contrast to his usual innocent and kind demeanor!
When everyone heard that there was a python in King Wu's mansion, their expressions changed in alarm. They looked around cautiously.
Madam Mu, hearing that her daughter might have been bitten by a snake, turned deathly pale. "Quick, call a doctor! Your Highness, please trouble you to send someone to fetch a doctor!" She then cast a resentful glance at Susu, "Why are King Wu's maids so flustered when something happens, unable to even speak clearly? If you had informed my daughter about being startled by a python earlier, wouldn't the doctor have been called by now?"
Susu blushed, her head and neck lowered, not daring to say a word.
King Wu, with a dark expression, sent someone to fetch a doctor.
Everyone assumed his grim expression was due to his fiancée's injury.
County Princess Mu Jin and Fei Wei were moved inside—the very room where they had been drugged earlier.
Wei Yu subtly scanned the room. Nothing seemed out of place. So, what exactly had happened? Was the sleeping incense not strong enough? Had they woken up early? No, that was impossible. She had tested it; the incense was potent enough to keep a bull unconscious for a day and a night without an antidote.
She exchanged a silent glance with King Wu.
The doctor soon arrived, and all unnecessary personnel were asked to leave.
County Princess Mu Jin said, "Consort of King Ding'an, can you stay and keep me company?"
Wang Qingyao nodded naturally.
As the fiancé and master of the mansion, King Wu also stayed. However, County Princess Mu Jin needed to remove her shoes and socks for examination, so he retreated behind a screen.
After a thorough examination, the doctor said, "Madam, please rest assured, the County Princess was not bitten by a snake. She is merely overly frightened. I will prescribe some calming medicine, and she will be fine." He then examined Fei Wei and found her to be unharmed as well.
It seemed that both of them were encountering such a situation for the first time and had panicked momentarily.
"Thank heavens! Thank heavens!" Madam Mu clasped her hands together and bowed repeatedly to heaven and earth.
King Wu emerged from behind the screen, a hint of relief in his smile. "It's good that nothing serious happened."
He needed to go out and appease the other guests. County Princess Mu Jin seemed to have something to say to him, but Wang Qingyao stopped her with a look.
After King Wu closed the door and left, County Princess Mu Jin grabbed Wang Qingyao's sleeve. "Consort, this time..."
Wang Qingyao glanced at the door and made a shushing gesture, then smiled, "This time you were very lucky. You should burn incense and pray to Buddha when you get back."
Although Madam Mu didn't understand Wang Qingyao's gesture, she strongly agreed with her words.
"Yes, yes, we must burn incense and thank the Buddha for protection when we return."