Chapter 25: As Expected, He Is Heartless

Lu Huaijin approached, reeking of blood, and pinched Su Yao’s chin with a large hand. "Do you really think Chu Yao can protect you?"

Su Yao’s pupils contracted sharply.

"Speak!"

"This matter started because of me; it has nothing to do with Brother Chu Yao."

"Brother Chu Yao?" Lu Huaijin chuckled.

He gripped the back of her neck with one hand, his scent of cedarwood mingling with the stench of blood as he forced his way into her mouth.

A violent kiss, heavy with the metallic tang of blood.

She was pressed against the carved wooden...

Previously, neither he nor Old Ten had considered the Eighth Brother, thinking it entirely impossible. They had only secretly investigated the origin of the medicine; if someone else had tampered with it, there would always be traces left behind. But since nothing was found, the conclusion was clear: only the master of the house could have executed such a flawless scheme.

"How dare you?!" Liang Rujing snapped back to reality, seeing Shen Shengze walking toward her with deliberate, menacing gestures.

Just then, Chen Fei’s phone rang. He glanced down and saw it was a call from Juliet. Could it be that after not seeing him for a few days, this beauty had started missing him?

"Reporting to Her Majesty the Empress, a letter has arrived from home." Nanny Wen, the Empress’s wet nurse, was one of her most trusted confidantes.

"Everything has changed, and all is lost. No, Yue’er, you cannot treat me this way. You know how much I love you. Yue’er, didn’t we promise never to part? Didn’t we?" Nangong Chenxun stared intently at Lan Ziyue, refusing to believe she could have a change of heart.

Ji Gongsheng shuddered from head to toe. In the past, he would never have shown such deep longing for Bao Si upon his return. But the thought of her waiting bitterly for him in the solitude of her chambers for two years made his heart ache, and he could not bear to let her suffer any further injustice.

After much wrangling, Mu Yun made the final decision to stop them from bickering endlessly.

Nian Pingchong and Long Qianyin exchanged a knowing look, signaled to each other, and taking Lan Yiyi with them, the three flew out of the palace.

From the position Lu Wan was sitting in, if one were to look down, one could certainly see the beautiful scenery hidden beneath her short skirt. It would be impossible for a man not to be tempted.

"Today, let tea substitute for wine. Let us toast to your departure. I wish for the two of you to grow old together; do not fail the kindness of the marriage I have bestowed upon you!" Ji Gongsheng said. Zheng Boyou and Nian Qi quickly raised their cups, thanking him once more.

After Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, the crowd sighed with emotion. Everyone had originally thought that Liu Haizhong, as the Second Master of the courtyard, had been spared out of leniency.

Inside the bedroom, Wang Anran dared not linger. She fixed her hair, grabbed a crossbody bag, and headed out.

The result was that the two of them were knocked to the ground before they could even touch Huang Xiuzhen. Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui had not even grasped the situation yet.

Yuan Xi suddenly recalled that Zhong Xiaoyi’s mother was Gu Hanchen’s nanny. Since Zhong Xiaoyi lived in Gu Hanchen’s house with her mother, it was inevitable that she would have to look after him whenever he was drunk.

Wang Anran quietly crept closer and peered around the tree trunk. It was none other than Lin Fanghong and her younger brother, Lin Liping.

It wasn’t that he had any romantic interest in Gemma, but she was the only employee who had taken the initiative to greet him. Jing Nan found her pleasant enough, so he added her as a friend.

Setting aside whether she even had the authority to make such a decision, even if she did, why would she release someone who wanted to frame her?

She was the key to the opposition between the Holy Tree and the Shadow, but this also meant she could be the bridge that connected them both.

"You’re right. I’ll send a WeChat message to Han Xiaowu right now." Zhang Yumin felt that Xu Dongmei’s suggestion made sense.

Shuisheng knew that Yun Qing was trying to probe him, but he couldn't be bothered to say much, merely offering a faint reply.

Lu Bu refused to give up. He wanted to find his long blade, greatsword, or spear, but there was nothing—it seemed they had all been confiscated.