C8 Unworthy

Chu Ping lay under a brown velvet blanket, and it was only at this moment that Tiange noticed he had no legs. A large burn scar marred the left side of his face, adding a fierce edge to his once-handsome features.

"You saved me, and now Beiming Yuan has one more enemy in this world," Tiange said, her gaze not lingering on Chu Ping's legs, her tone calm and composed.

When she had fought with the guards, Tiange wasn't certain, but while dodging Dugu Jin's hidden weapons, she sensed something was wrong with her body.

Chu Ping remained silent, raising a hand to check Tiange's pulse. After a moment, he frowned slightly. "You've been poisoned. To be precise, your mother was poisoned, and the toxins were passed to you in the womb... It's remarkable you've survived this long."

Tiange was secretly shocked. If County Princess Chu Yue was poisoned, then did Silver Mask die in the Silk Garden due to the poison's effects?

"I'll prepare some medicine for you. From now on, come to the Virtue Helping Hall daily to get your dose. In half a month, the toxins will be cleared from your body," Chu Ping said, withdrawing his hand. As he pressed a mechanism, his wooden wheelchair turned back, and he continued grinding herbs.

"Thank you," Tiange replied, unsurprised by Chu Ping's generosity. She understood that his kindness stemmed from a deep-seated grudge, and she knew that living well was the best way to repay him.

After Tiange left, another hidden door in the stone chamber opened with a rumble. Rong Qi, with a graceful demeanor, walked out and sat directly on the desk. "Is she really poisoned?"

“Is she really the Silver Mask?” Chu Ping asked coldly without turning around.

“How else would you explain the eldest daughter of the South Suppressing Marquis, known as the ugliest woman in the land, Feng Tiange, having a grudge against Beiming Yuan?” Rong Qi picked up a purple porcelain bottle from the desk. “Even the wisest can make a fatal mistake, but Beiming Yuan's oversight is particularly deadly.”

“He's no wise man, just a petty person,” Chu Ping's hands paused, his eyes filled with a chilling intensity.

“Even petty people have their strengths; otherwise, why isn't he the one who died?” Rong Qi opened the bottle, releasing a pungent herbal smell that made him frown. “For a renowned Ghost Doctor, you sure make some awful-tasting medicine. Aren't you ashamed?”

“Tasty medicine is for cooks!” Chu Ping retorted with a cold snort.

“Let's go.” Rong Qi gracefully leaped to the ground, his white robes fluttering elegantly, exuding a striking charm.

As Rong Qi reached the stone door, Chu Ping suddenly spoke, “You and Feng Tiange are quite alike, both poisoned in the womb, carrying toxins from birth.”

Rong Qi stopped, his attractive eyes narrowing slightly, a chill in their depths...

Feng Tiange left the secret chamber, instructed the innkeeper to prepare two doses of warming foot soak medicine, and then took a stroll through the Nether Market before heading to the Silk Garden to change clothes. Afterward, she returned to the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion.

By then, the mansion was already in chaos.

In the courtyard, Crescent was slapped several times by the old lady's attendant, Ms. Zhou. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she knelt on the ground, trembling.

"Still not talking?" The elderly woman in fine silk seated above cast a cold glance at Crescent. Her slightly sunken eyes, a deep brown, were filled with anger.

"Madam, I truly don't know where the young lady has gone. Please, have mercy!" Crescent pleaded, bowing low and choking back sobs.

"Enough. If you can't even keep track of your own mistress, what use are you?" The old lady's eyes flashed with severity. Ms. Zhou immediately understood and ordered the servants to drag Crescent out and beat her to death.

Nearby, Xueyao stepped forward with concern. "Grandmother, if you punish this girl, my sister will surely be upset."

The old lady's expression darkened further at these words. "What, do I need to consider that ugly girl's feelings when dealing with a servant?"

Across from Xueyao, Feng Qing, who had been silent, looked up. "Mother..."

"Be quiet. I told you not to marry that worthless Chu Yue, but you wouldn't listen. Now look at the mess—she left us with an ugly child who only causes trouble! The Commander searched the house on the Crown Prince's orders, and she dares to interfere!"

The old lady grew angrier, glaring at Crescent. "Get her out of here!"

At that moment, Tiange walked in from outside, paused, and greeted, "Hello, Grandmother, Father."

The atmosphere was a bit awkward, and the two servants holding onto Crescent hesitated, unsure of what to do.

Tiange, with an innocent look, glanced over, "What are you doing?"

The two servants, startled by Tiange's ghostly appearance, shivered in fear.

Crescent, enduring the pain, immediately broke free and ran over, her thin face as pale as paper, "Miss..."

Seated, the old lady looked on with disdain, not even sparing Tiange a glance, and turned to her son.

"Tiange, Yao said you refused to let the guards search the Silk Garden and even injured Mr. Dugu?" Feng Qing, a military man, was tall and imposing, his skin a bronze hue from years of training, adding to his ruggedness.

"Because he doesn't deserve it," Tiange said, pulling Crescent behind her and lifting her head.