Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Just an Animal

“So it’s you who orders the beating of a living person without hesitation, yet now you’re suddenly grieving over an animal?” Qi Shu Xian’s voice grew colder as he spoke.

He hadn’t intended to let Meng Yang learn of this. Knowing her gentle and kind nature, she would undoubtedly shoulder the blame. But how could she be at fault? If anyone was to blame, it was Sheng Zhi Wan herself, with her ruthless and cruel heart. This was merely karma returning to her.

“Hah… Died for a worthy cause indeed.” Sheng Zhi Wan lowered her eyes and laughed faintly. Then, expressionless, she asked, “From whom did you learn that dog’s blood could ward off evil spirits?”

“My lord…” Meng Yang gazed at him with tear-filled eyes, “So it was for my sake. Princess, if you must blame someone, blame me. It’s my fault. Please, spare the others.”

“I asked you!” Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze never left Qi Shu Xian.

Qi Shu Xian glanced downward. “Everyone knows.”

“Everyone knows…?” Sheng Zhi Wan swept her gaze around, noticing Qing Liu from yesterday was absent. She looked pointedly at Meng Yang. “Meng Concubine, I’ll remember clearly what happened today.”

Meng Yang bit her lip, looking innocent and pitiful. “Yes, it’s all my fault for falling gravely ill and losing consciousness…”

“What does this have to do with you?” Qi Shu Xian interrupted harshly. “Sheng Zhi Wan, it’s just an animal. Stop your hypocrisy!”

An Zhi and Ting Lan’s eyes were red with anger.

Sheng Zhi Wan, however, curled her lips slightly. “Indeed, it was just an animal. But your entire arm, my lord, isn’t worth as much to me as this animal’s life.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Qi Shu Xian’s expression darkened terribly as he stared after her retreating figure.

“Princess…” Meng Yang tried to speak, but Qi Shu Xian stopped her. Meng Yang, confused, asked softly, “My lord, why are you stopping me? Could the Princess really have ruined your arm?”

“No need to beg her! Without her, do you think I can’t find someone else?”

He never knew Sheng Zhi Wan understood acupuncture points. Likely, she’d only learned some basics while applying pressure treatments for his mother over these past two years. Such superficial knowledge couldn’t cause serious harm.

Qi Shu Xian promptly left the residence without delay.

Returning to Pinglan Residence, Sheng Zhi Wan instructed Ting Lan to dig a deep hole beneath the Osmanthus tree. All the maidservants and nannies saw Lai Fu’s small, lifeless body. Many secretly wiped away tears. Ting Lan covered her mouth, holding back sobs.

An Zhi placed Lai Fu into the pit. She was about to fill it when Sheng Zhi Wan stopped her.

“Bury its little quilts, bibs, and yarn balls too,” Sheng Zhi Wan said softly. These were Lai Fu’s favorite things in life. Hopefully, even beneath the earth, it could still keep the comforts it cherished.

“Yes,” An Zhi replied. Only when gathering these items did they realize the tiny creature had accumulated quite a collection. The pit had to be enlarged again before everything fit.

Sheng Zhi Wan quietly watched until the pit was completely filled, then returned to her room without a word.

That night, the cold poison flared again. Sheng Zhi Wan slept until noon the next day. Opening her eyes, the yard felt unusually quiet.

Right… Lai Fu was gone.

She thought for a moment, then rose, dressed, and ate.

Throughout Pinglan Residence, everyone spoke in whispers, their spirits subdued. Seeing everyone’s sadness, Sheng Zhi Wan suddenly stood, clapped her hands, and spoke clearly, “Alright. Since it’s happened, being sad won’t bring Lai Fu back. If it could see us, it wouldn’t wish for this either. Life must go on as usual.”

“Yes.”

“Yes…”

Although still subdued, the servants’ moods improved somewhat after hearing her words.

Sheng Zhi Wan turned, her expression icy, and retrieved two vials of medicine she’d stored away two years ago from a hidden compartment in her room. “An Zhi, Ting Lan, come with me to see Huan Zhu.”

Huan Zhu’s small courtyard was next to Endless Courtyard, called Fragrance Gathering Garden. It was modest, nowhere near as lavish as Pinglan Residence or Endless Courtyard, even overgrown with weeds.

When Sheng Zhi Wan arrived, an elderly nanny with drooping eyes hurried over. “Heir Consort is here!” she greeted. Turning sharply toward the room, she added harshly, “Has the concubine gone deaf or become lame? Why isn’t she coming out? Does she really think becoming a concubine makes her a true master?”

“Princess…” A thin figure emerged slowly, her eyes red and teary.

Sheng Zhi Wan observed her. In just half a month, Huan Zhu seemed entirely transformed. When she served Sheng Zhi Wan, she lived as comfortably as a wealthy young lady, her hands untouched by cold water, her skin pampered by expensive lotions.

Now?

Sheng Zhi Wan noticed her swollen, cracked hands and hollowed cheeks, and smiled faintly. Turning to the nanny, she said, “I have something to discuss with Concubine Huan Zhu privately. An Zhi, take the nanny out for a stroll.”

An Zhi quickly stepped forward. The nanny opened her mouth to protest but stopped upon glimpsing the golden melon seeds in An Zhi’s hands.

Her drooping eyes lit up immediately. “Then this old servant won’t disturb Heir Consort any longer.”

As the nanny departed, Huan Zhu finally summoned the courage to face Sheng Zhi Wan. Her voice was bitter and resigned. “Has Princess come to mock this servant?”