Chapter 206: Encounter an Assassin? Li Qingluo Bravely Blocks the Sword!

Doctor Du: "Your Highness, this is a rare poison brought from the Western Regions. It can keep a person's face completely free of any expression of pain, even in the final moments of agony."

"Moreover, the cruelest part of this toxin is that, even when the body is in extreme pain, the victim cannot utter a single sound. It's as if the senses are numbed, yet the pain remains clearly felt."

"Because those poisoned by it always wear a calm, compassionate smile, it is called the Maitreya Poison."

Li Qingluo's heart jumped sharply.

"What a vicious poison."

"So, Miss Twelve was literally dismembered while still alive?"

"Because of this poison, she couldn't make a sound, and her face stayed so tranquil, right?"

Doctor Du: "The young lady is correct; according to the coroner's assessment, Miss Twelve was indeed brutally dismembered while still alive."

Li Qingluo stepped back half a step, but Que'er and Deng Mama caught her, preventing her from losing composure.

On the other side, Aunt Guan, upon learning the truth, vomited a mouthful of blood.

She let out a wail: "My Jia'er—Jia'er—who on earth could do this to you, to slaughter you so brutally—!!"

After that cry, having endured the whole night, she was near exhaustion; she closed her eyes and fainted to death.

"Aunt!!"

The maid, holding the fainted Aunt Guan, shouted, while Pei Yuan rushed forward and lifted her in his arms.

His face was filled with sorrow and pain, clearly his inner anguish was no less than that of the one in his arms.

But he still could not fall.

Pei Yuan stepped forward, cradling Aunt Guan, and knelt before Prince Su.

"Prince Su, if you can clear Jia'er's injustice, uncover the truth of my only daughter's tragic death, then my life, Pei Yuan, from now until death, is yours!"

Having said that, he rose, embraced his "wife", and strode away.

The Pei household members cleared the way, and only after Pei Yuan had gone far did the murmurs begin to rise.

"What on earth is happening? How could there be such a bizarre poison?"

"This is from the Western Regions, what's strange about that? I heard one of the top ten poison kings of the West is called 'vicious poison', so this is nothing…"

"But who would do such a cruel act to this concubine girl? It can't really be someone from our household, can it?"

The Pei Duke's manor roared, "Impossible! Is there anyone in our household who could obtain this poison? Moreover, who would harbor such hatred toward a concubine girl to this extent?"

Duan Rongshi saw them quarrel, but did not intervene.

Instead, he rose and walked into the main hall, silently staring at Nan Jia's corpse for a long while.

It lasted so long that Li Qingluo began to think perhaps he already knew the truth.

Duan Rongshi's face showed no expression, but his eyes were extremely cold.

He suddenly let out a cold laugh: "Poison of the Western Regions."

"I, the king, do not trust any coincidence."

"Sha Lei, Leng Dian, go investigate!"

"Question every person in this household, from the Duke down to each householder, and even the lowest servant, thoroughly!"

"Those who refuse to speak honestly will all be met with severe punishment."

He was never a soft‑hearted, lenient person.

Sha Lei and Leng Dian received orders and immediately led men to take the Pei Duke's manor and others down.

Outside, naturally, there were shouts; the servants had never experienced such anger, let alone the masters.

Each person was shoved away like a criminal; the Pei Duke roared several times, and Sha Lei personally stepped forward, saying, "Duke, the one who died today is your household's lady, not the silent slaves you usually dispose of."

"If you wish to keep your innocence and have some stability in the manor, it's best to cooperate honestly with the investigation today; otherwise, the next master to fall victim to the Maitreya Poison could be anyone."

"If not, the whole of Jinling City will know, and that would be no good for your usually low‑key, secretive Pei Duke's manor."

Each accusation darkened the Pei Duke's face another inch.

But he ultimately said nothing more, swallowing his anger and being taken away with Sha Lei.

The other masters, seeing this, each became honest.

Moreover, dozens of officials who came to the Pei manor today, all under Prince Su's command, were not afraid of trouble.

Duan Rongshi, however, took Li Qingluo alone to the old Duke's courtyard.

Li Qingluo: "Your Highness wants to see the old Duke personally? Do you think he truly is also suspect?"

Duan Rongshi: "The Pei Duke's manor appears weak and shabby on the surface, but do you really think so?"

He doesn't believe; she is such a foolish girl.

She would be deceived by the Pei Duke's outward appearance.

Li Qingluo twitched her pale lips: "Of course not!"

This Pei Duke's manor is far from the mediocrity it appears to be.

Since the war ceased thirty years ago, three of the Pei Duke's sons have left, and one has returned.

Since then, the Pei Duke voluntarily relinquished military command; in recent years he has been erratic, constantly angry, and rarely leaves the house.

The entire Pei Duke's manor rapidly declined; its descendants no longer pursue martial arts, and even those who study literature and take imperial exams are few—now only Pei Yuan of the second branch remains notable.

Today the Pei Duke's manor remains one of Jinling City's most prestigious families, yet it seems merely a façade, rapidly fading from the city's power center.

But is that truly the case?

A girl's death can make them so indifferent.

Li Qingluo cannot forget how they stood at the courtyard entrance, looking at Nan Jia's remains, pointing and whispering, their expressions numb, showing no trace of compassion.

It seemed as if Nan Jia's death was part of their calculations.

The old woman who once gossiped said that in this Pei manor, eyes are everywhere.

Li Qingluo now looked around the stark, shadowy surroundings and wondered where this could be called a home?

It's basically a man-eating demon's lair!

Upon entering the senior duke's courtyard, everywhere was desolate and dilapidated, a scene of decay.

It's hard to imagine that this is actually where the senior duke lives!

Li Qingluo followed behind Duan Rongshi; as soon as they entered the gate, a white-clad woman leapt out with her sword.

"Who dares trespass this courtyard!? Seek death—!"

Li Qingluo rushed forward at near-flash speed, shielding Prince Su behind her, and quickly raised her hand to draw the sleeve arrow.

"Whoosh—"

The white-clad woman raised her hand to block the sleeve arrow with her sword, but still tore her sleeve and grazed her arm.

"I'll kill you—!"

Li Qingluo did not retreat an inch; her small frame still stood before Prince Su as she shouted loudly: "This is Prince Su, Your Highness, also the Minister of Justice—get back at once!"

"Stop!"

A shout followed closely from inside the house, and the white-clad woman who had wanted to step forward halted her steps abruptly.

Yet the cold fury in her eyes locked firmly onto Li Qingluo.

Li Qingluo could not possibly say she wasn't nervous or afraid.

But with Prince Su behind her, she felt completely assured.

Pei Sanlang walked out from inside.

"Yun Yi, this is Prince Su, Your Highness—get back at once!"

Saying this, he quickly stepped forward and bowed: "Pei San, greetings to Prince Su, Your Highness."

Pei Sanlang being here was no surprise to Li Qingluo.

Because just now, his figure was nowhere to be seen in the crowd.

But Pei Sanlang should be the one in the Pei manor who has the best sibling relationship with Pei Nanjia.

Unknowing of Nanjia's death, what would his feelings be?

Li Qingluo sized up Pei San, and Pei San naturally saw her as well.

He didn't know the identity of the masked woman, merely feeling her brows and eyes were vaguely familiar, but he didn't think much of it.

Duan Rongshi didn't even lift his eyes.

He remained lowered, looking at the brave little maiden who had just recklessly thrown herself in front of him.

"Why are you blocking for the prince?"

Only then did Li Qingluo realize that Pei Sanlang was kneeling before her, while Prince Su was asking her.

Clearly this was not the time to reply, but knowing Prince Su's temperament, she had to steel herself and say: "Commoner girl has heard that the Princess of Nanping said Your Highness had recently been afflicted with a complex poison, so..."

Duan Rongshi snorted: "Could it be that I, the prince, still can't handle a female assassin?"

She inwardly cursed: "Could it be that my flattery landed on the horse's leg?"

But she had actually acted without much thought, merely recalling that she owed him a favor, so she wanted to exert a bit more effort...

Who knew it would still make him unhappy?

Li Qingluo: "Your Highness, please forgive me. If my meddling just now displeased Your Highness, then the commoner girl will dare not do so again..."

Duan Rongshi let out a barely audible sigh.

Still next time!

Really a clueless, foolish girl.

In the blink of an eye, he drew his sword, flashed forward, and pierced Yun Yi's chest with a single thrust.

Blood droplets continually fell from the long blade onto the snow and sand.

Pei Sanlang almost couldn't restrain himself from acting, but ultimately he held back again.

Li Qingluo's heart also shuddered from being frightened by Prince Su's action.

Indeed, it's still him... he never gives those who offend him another chance to catch their breath.

Thinking back to when they first met at the foot of Green Pine Temple, Li Qingluo realized this was indeed the modus operandi of Prince Su, the Yanluo Slaughter God.

Duan Rongshi drew his long sword, blood splattered everywhere, and Yun Yi stared wide-eyed before collapsing straight down.

"How dare this woman assassinate the prince? Who gave her the courage? Is it you—Pei San?"

The entire Pei Duke's manor is in this state; Pei San could not possibly have heard nothing of it.

So he knew full well that the Imperial Court of Justice would come.

Yet Yun Yi still rushed out sword in hand—whose order did she receive?

He perhaps never imagined that Duan Rongshi would personally make this trip.

Pei Sanlang expressed great alarm: "Your Highness, please understand—this woman Yun Yi is the attendant of my maternal great-grandfather; she usually runs errands for my grandfather, guards the manor, and no one in the Pei Duke's manor besides my maternal great-grandfather can command her, so this misunderstanding occurred."

"However, she did indeed offend and attempt to assassinate Prince Su, Your Highness; her crime deserves death, and she ought to die."

"Subject, I have nothing to say."

Pei San's words, Duan Rongshi didn't believe a single word.

He wiped his long sword clean in the snowdrift, then looked toward Pei Sanlang.

"All the men of the Pei manor have been taken for questioning; why are you still here?"