Qiao Shu, who had known the news, was throwing things in her room, "How is it possible? How could it be possible? Yang Zijin... You're such a coquette. You took Shuo Ling away from me!"

"No... I won't let it happen... I must wreck this marriage. I won't let them be together." Face covered with tears, Qiao Shu shook her head.

She couldn't just sit and see Shuo Ling marry Yang Zijin. It was worse than killing her.

It was all Mu Yunong's fault. If she succeeded in doing that case, the Emperor wouldn't grant marriage to Yang Zijin and Shuo Ling.

Thinking of this, she suddenly had an idea, "Oh... Right... Mu Yunong, I can turn to her, I can make Mu Yunong help me."

Now it was late and she had to go to bed, but she would go for Mu Yunong early tomorrow morning.

In the study of the mansion of Marquis Shuo, Shuo Ling was awake, waiting for the news from Zhou Ji.

Hearing the sound outside, Shuo Ling stood up immediately, "How is it going?"

"Just as what you expected, My Lord. It's not that simple." Zhou Ji skittered into the study.

Shuo Ling's face became colder, "Go ahead."

"My Lord, the marriage between you and Infanta Qingcheng was procured by the Empress Dowager. However..." Shuo Ling went on before Zhou Ji had finished.

Shuo Ling went on, "His Majesty is going to disrupt the wedding furtively because he is afraid."

"You are right, My Lord. A finger man in the palace said that His Majesty failed to dissuade Empress Dowager from granting marriage for you. After Empress Dowager left, he issued a secret order to his guard. We found out upon investigation that he is going to ruin the wedding by all means!" Zhou Ji continued.

Shuo Ling snorted. Chushi Youtian's style was the same as before.

Chushi Youtian was afraid, but how could he admit that he was afraid? He was the Emperor of a country, so he wanted to kill everyone he thought would stand in his way.

In those days, Shuo Ling's father swore to defend Dongling to the death and made countless military exploits. However, look at what Chushi Youtian had done! He plotted to kill this great hero, and adopted Shuo Ling to win the praise of others!

But why did he prevent Yang Zijin from marrying him? Did he know the card left by Princess Royal? Or did he take part in the murder of Princess Royal? Perhaps that's what he was afraid of. Thinking of this, Shuo Ling clenched his fists.

He spoke to Zhou Ji, "Go ahead. Report Chushi Youtian's movements to me in time."

"Yes, My Lord." Zhou Ji answered and left.

Shuo Ling immersed himself in thought, eyes closed.

For whatever reason, he would never let anyone hurt Yang Zijin!

Qiao Shu came to the gate of the mansion of Duke Mu the next day morning.

A guard saw her and asked, "Lady, who are you looking for?"

"I'm the imperial doctor Qiao Yanlin's daughter. I'm coming to visit Miss Yunong. Please take a message for me and let her know I'm waiting for her in the first room of the Guibin Hotel." Qiao Shu gave a sweet smile to him.

The guard was charmed by her beauty and refined behavior. He gawked at Qiao Shu, "It's Miss Qiao. I will pass on your words to her."

"Thank you. I'm going to the Guibin Hotel to wait for her." Qiao Shu nodded at the guard.

The guard answered, "You are welcome."

He watched Qiao Shu until she was out of sight, and thought that it was rare to see such a beautiful and polite woman.

He asked his colleague aside, "You stay here. I'll be right back."

Then he headed to Mu Yunong's place in the mansion.

Mu Yunong just got up at this time. Yesterday the Imperial Edict was announced, so all the people in this mansion became busy. She didn't want to get extra sleep as well.

As she came out of her room, she saw a guard coming over, "Your Ladyship, a Miss Qiao is asking to see you."

"Tell her I'm busy and have no time to meet her." Mu Yunong thought it must be Qiao Shu, so she refused.

The guard added, "Your Ladyship, Miss Qiao said she would wait for you in the first room of the Guibin Hotel."

"I see. Go ahead." Mu Yunong frowned. What did Qiao Shu want from her?

She didn't ask Qiao Shu for an explanation about the case last time, while Qiao Shu came for her.

It seemed that she had to make it clear with Qiao Shu. Mu Yunong spoke to her maid Luo Lan, "Let's go to the Guibin Hotel."

"Yes, My Ladyship." Luo Lan answered.

They left the mansion for the Guibin Hotel.

In the Guibin Hotel.

Qiao Shu paced back and forth anxiously in the room and cast a glance at the doorway from time to time. She was waiting for Mu Yunong. The wedding was two days away, and Shuo Ling was going to marry that disgusting Yang Zijin.

It made her antsy.

"Luo Lan, wait for me at the door. I'll be out soon." Mu Yunong found the first room. She stopped at the door and told Luo Lan.

Qiao Shu heard the sound outside and hastily sat down. She put on a calm look to hide her inner panic.

"You are coming." Qiao Shu greeted Mu Yunong.

Mu Yunong went straight up to her and sat down, "What do you want this time?"

"I'd like you to do me a favor." Qiao Shu looked at Mu Yunong.

Mu Yunong snorted, "A favor? Favor of a few innocent lives?"

"What do you mean by that, sister Yunong?" Qiao Shu said quickly.

She felt Mu Yunong wasn't the same as before.

Mu Yunong looked at Qiao Shu, "Sister Qiao, you know better about the drug you gave me last time than I do."

"You must have misunderstood me. Did Yang Zijin slandered me?"

Mu Yunong was angry at Qiao Shu's buck-passing, "Don't play dumb, sister Qiao. The drug you gave me last time was not knockout drops. That was a poison. You almost turned me into a murderer!"

"Sister Yunong, the drug I gave you was indeed knockout drops, and the child of the Blossoming Peach was still alive, right?" Qiao Shu avoided eye contact with Mu Yunong. She was sure she could persuade Mu Yunong to help her.

Mu Yunong stood up and leaned away from her. She raised her voice, "I won't trust you anymore."

"Don't you wish Yang Zijin to disappear from your life? Don't you hate her for taking what you should have?" Qiao Shu was unwilling to give up.

Mu Yunong spun around to face her, "I won't listen to you again."

"We are on the same boat, Mu Yunong. If you don't help me this time, I'll give it out." Qiao Shu replaced persuasion with threats.

However, Mu Yunong changed her attitude, "Well, go and get it out. You can even carry it further. Anyhow, the drug is made in the imperial hospital."

"Don't forget that you are involved in, too!" Qiao Shu retorted, staring at Mu Yunong.

Mu Yunong wasn't scared. She went on speaking, "Yes, I did that because I'm incited by you. You are the chief plotter, and what you have done will also implicate your father. As a daughter of a humble imperial doctor, you will die awfully, while my father will keep me from punishment and I just have to suffer a little loss of reputation."

Of course, if she hadn't seen Yang Zijin before she went out, she might have scared by Qiao Shu's words. Luckily, Yang Zijin gave her some advice.

Yang Zijin happened to see Qiao Shu at the gate of the mansion of Duke Mu. She snorted and soon discovered what did Qiao Shu want to do.

As she had expected, Mu Yunong left the mansion soon after.

She stopped Mu Yunong at the door of the Guibin Hotel.

"Sister, how come you are here?" Mu Yunong was puzzled.

Yang Zijin told her, "If you don't want to be threatened by Qiao Shu again, then do as I say."

Mu Yunong thought for a moment and nodded.

Yang Zijin whispered to her about what to do later.

Yang Zijin's idea was quite effective. Qiao Shu discarded her good manner and pointed at Mu Yunong, shouting, "Mu Yunong, you..."

"You cheated me to give poison to the child in the Blossoming Peach out of ill intent. Were it not for sister Qingcheng, you would have made the mansion of the Duke Mu a laughing stock among people." Mu Yunong continued.

Qiao Shu looked at Mu Yunong as if she were going to eat her.

Mu Yunong wasn't afraid of Qiao Shu. She went on speaking, "Two days later is the wedding day of Marquis Shuo and sister. I'll be glad to see you at the wedding feast."

"Now all the people in my family are busy with the wedding. I'm going to see if there's anything I can help with. Excuse me, sister Qiao. I'll take my leave." Mu Yunong turned and walked to the door.

Qiao Shu gnashed her teeth with anger, "You... You're..."

Leaving Qiao Shu behind, Mu Yunong opened the door and asked Luo Lan, "Let's go home."

Then They left the Guibin Hotel.

At this time, Mu Yunong admired Yang Zijin amply. As Yang Zijin had told her, Qiao Shu would threaten her.

It was her fault to be incited by Qiao Shu and kept conspiring against Yang Zijin.

Thinking of this, Mu Yunong changed her direction.

Luo Lan reminded her, "Your Ladyship, you are going in the wrong direction. The mansion is... on the other side."

"I'm not going back." Mu Yunong said.

Luo Lan was confused, "Then where are you going, Your Ladyship?"

"To the best jewelry store in Jing City!" Mu Yunong smiled.

Luo Lan scratched her head, "Ah... Oh!"

"Wake. Come on." Mu Yunong said.

She was going to choose a nice gift for her elder sister!

...

On the other side, Yang Zijin arrived at the gate of the mansion of Marquis Shuo. The mansion of Marquis Shuo had been decorated with red cloth. Yang Zijin hesitated for a while before she came into the mansion.

She always felt that all this had come too suddenly, which made her uneasy.

She decided to ask Shuo Ling if he knew why.

As soon as she walked in, Yang Zijin heard the guards, who used to be taciturn, greet her.

"Good morning, madam."

Yang Zijin was speechless. She and Shuo Ling were not married yet. Was it alright to call her "madam"?

However, she had to reply to them with a smile, "Good morning."

On the way to Shuo Ling's residence, Yang Zijin mended her pace.

Shuo Ling was sitting on the stone bench in the yard, reading a letter. He put the letter into the envelope as he saw her.

He smiled at Yang Zijin, "Can't wait to see your husband?"

"Keep dreaming. I have something serious to discuss with you." Yang Zijin retorted.

Shuo Ling stood up and went up to her, looking at her in a pampering way, "Just tell me about it."