C70 Idiot

A sudden burst of crimson mist sprayed like a blooming flower against the lattice window of the inner chamber, the vivid red startling Dugu Rou into a desperate dash for the door.

"Ah!" Just as Dugu Rou flung open the hall doors to escape, another burst of blood mist hit her square in the face.

Terrified, Dugu Rou stumbled backward, collapsing to the floor. Fortunately, Mo Hua quickly shut the doors, slamming the bolt into place with force.

Outside, a sharp, eerie noise pierced the air. Mo Hua, trembling with fear, rushed to her mistress's side, clinging to her tightly.

"Who dares to play tricks outside? Show yourself!" Mo Hua shouted, her voice barely steady. As soon as she spoke, another spray of blood mist splattered against the hall doors.

"Help! Someone, please help us!" Dugu Rou cried, as if the nightmares that haunted her countless nights had come to life. Dugu Yan, wielding the Wind Slash Sword, seemed to appear before her, slashing wildly, demanding retribution. "No, save me... someone, please save me!"

"Don't be afraid, my lady..." Mo Hua whispered, holding Dugu Rou close, both of them shaking like leaves in the wind.

In the imperial garden, Feng Tiange noticed a group of guards rushing toward the Heaven Obeying Hall. Her heart tightened, and she quickened her pace, only to collide with Beiming Yuan at the corner.

"Tiange?" Beiming Yuan had also heard the news and was on his way to the Heaven Obeying Hall.

"Greetings, Your Highness," Feng Tiange said, a fleeting chill in her eyes quickly concealed as she lowered her gaze.

Beiming Yuan recalled the warmth he felt when they accidentally collided earlier, a strange emotion stirring within him. "What brings you here?"

"I heard General Bai was harshly treated by the Royal Grandma last night, and I feared she might do something drastic," Feng Tiange replied respectfully, her words deliberate.

She aimed to guide Beiming Yuan's perspective on Bai Yushuang's stay at the Happiness Prolonging Hall. The Royal Grandma wasn't protecting Bai Yushuang but was trying to restore the dignity of their realm.

Coincidentally, Lee Chengrui had previously speculated the same, making Beiming Yuan more inclined to believe it.

"How did the Empress treat her?" Beiming Yuan asked, gesturing for her to follow.

Whether by fate or coincidence, they walked the same path she had once fought fiercely on with the Thirteen Sects' leader towards the Heaven Obeying Hall.

The stone-paved ground showed no trace of blood, yet all she saw was a river of it. Despite the cold air, the scent of blood lingered in her senses...

"Last night, the Royal Grandma bested General Bai in ten rounds of strategy games. She's just gone to sleep now..." Feng Tiange suppressed the urge to lash out at Beiming Yuan, responding calmly.

His death wouldn't be enough to repay the debt.

Beiming Yuan glanced sideways. "The Empress needs to curb Bai Yushuang's arrogance."

Feng Tiange remained silent, fearing that any more words would betray the hatred in her voice, unnecessarily arousing Beiming Yuan's suspicion.

Fortunately, Beiming Yuan didn't press further, and the two of them headed towards the Heaven Obeying Hall.

The hall was bustling with activity. Over a hundred guards surrounded Bai Yushuang, who was sitting on the steps, while Dao Wu stood in front of him, sword drawn.

"Keep crowing! Keep crowing!" Bai Yushuang taunted as he plucked feathers from a chicken. Once the neck was bare, his knife flashed, and a spray of blood splattered across the opposite door.

Inside, a master and servant pair had shouted themselves hoarse, their cries echoing with despair.

Below the steps, the guards exchanged uneasy glances, hesitant to act. After all, Bai Yushuang was an envoy from Zhao Country, a person of high status, and he was only slaughtering chickens, not people...

Just then, Beiming Yuan approached, his voice cold and sharp. "What is General Bai doing?"

Having sent the tenth chicken to its fate, Bai Yushuang finally sheathed his knife. "When did the Crown Prince arrive?"

Beiming Yuan's expression was stern and unyielding, offering no response.

"What are you all doing? I'm just here to check on Dugu Yan and drop off some chickens for her. What's the big deal?" Bai Yushuang descended the steps with a puzzled expression, pulling Dao Wu behind her. "I'm telling you, this place is haunted. When I was delivering the chickens, I heard Dugu Yan screaming inside. It was terrifying!"

"But she deserves it for being a corrupt concubine, right, Crown Prince?" Bai Yushuang grinned as she approached Beiming Yuan.

Beiming Yuan's face was stern. "General, are you unaware that my vice consort currently resides in the Heaven Obeying Hall?"

"No idea." Bai Yushuang shook her head vigorously. "Is someone in there?"

Behind her, Feng Tiange struggled to keep a straight face, barely suppressing a smile. Bai Yushuang sure had a knack for getting herself into trouble.

Suddenly, the hall doors burst open, and Dugu Rou, looking frantic and covered in chicken blood, ran out. "Crown Prince, help me!"

Seeing Dugu Rou rushing over, Bai Yushuang wisely stepped aside.

Beiming Yuan let Dugu Rou cry in his arms, gently patting her back. "It's okay now."

"Misunderstanding, total misunderstanding! Vice Consort, really, if you were inside, why didn't you say something to alert me? I wasted ten chickens... I was going to give them to Dugu Yan." Bai Yushuang sighed deeply. "Never mind, Dao Wu, take those ten chickens to the royal kitchen later. Have the chefs make a good stew for the Vice Consort to help her recover. Listen to her voice; it's completely hoarse from all that screaming."

Just as Bai Yushuang was about to leave, Dugu Rou suddenly grabbed her sleeve and shouted, "Your Highness, you can't let her go; she did it on purpose!"

Surprisingly, Bai Yushuang didn't resist and simply looked at Beiming Yuan.

Beiming Yuan pulled Dugu Rou back. "General Bai, you should be more careful. After all, this isn't Zhao Country."

Bai Yushuang laughed. "I admit my mistake, but I didn't expect the Crown Prince's vice consort to be so useless."

On the side, Feng Tiange quietly breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that Beiming Yuan didn't pursue the matter further.

After Bai Yushuang left, Feng Tiange bowed to Beiming Yuan and followed her.

"Your Highness, she clearly..."

"With your intelligence, you should realize she could only do so much. Do you really think she'd dare to rush in and harm you?" Beiming Yuan's mood was slightly affected by Bai Yushuang, his voice cold.

Dugu Rou's tears hadn't dried, but her heart felt chilled.

"I panicked and didn't think it through..." Dugu Rou wiped her tears, her voice choked and low.

"Forget it, I still have reports to review..." Beiming Yuan dismissed the guards and paused for a moment before turning away. "Get some rest tonight."

Watching Beiming Yuan's resolute figure fade from view, Dugu Rou's tear-stained eyes suddenly filled with a cold, eerie light.

With Dugu Yan gone, she's of no use anymore, is she?

On the way back to the Happiness Prolonging Hall, Feng Tiange, after much contemplation, caught up with Bai Yushuang. "I know a bit about the former Crown Prince Consort. She didn't seem to like chicken."

Bai Yushuang scoffed, "And why do you think I sent her ten chickens?"

Feng Tiange suddenly stopped, a realization hitting her like a bolt of lightning. She finally understood why Bai Yushuang insisted on sending chickens whenever she lost—it was to disgust her, even if she wouldn't eat them!

At that moment, Bai Yushuang turned back, "I remember you. You were sitting with that fool Rong Qi last night, weren't you?"

Why do fools trouble fools? With your level of intelligence, you have some nerve calling others foolish!