Chapter 33: Not Sweet

Zhao Yuming’s death was too sudden, to the point that Yu Lingxi couldn’t react for a moment.

Seeing the maid’s expression, which didn’t seem like a joke, she furrowed her brows and asked slowly, “How did she die?”

Hutao said, “According to the Zhao family, she died suddenly from a sudden illness.”

“How is that possible?” Yu Lingxi had known Zhao Yuming for two lifetimes and had never heard of any serious illness.

“Yes, this servant is puzzled too. The Zhao family is short-staffed, so they asked for some servants from our house to help with the arrangements. I took the opportunity to inquire, and they said that this morning, the palace eunuch came to take Miss Zhao into the palace. They went to urge her to get ready, only to find that she was already gone.”

Hutao continued, “According to the informed people in their house, Miss Zhao was found under the bed, lips purple, not looking like sudden death but more like poisoning.”

Poisoning? Zhao Yuming, even in her past life, dared to plead for mercy while watching her entire family being killed. She valued her life more than anything, so how could she easily commit suicide? Moreover, it happened just before she was about to enter the palace to serve the crown prince.

And yesterday when she came to the Yu Mansion, she appeared weak but was actually displaying strength. It didn’t seem like she would choose to end her life.

There were too many doubts. Yu Lingxi subconsciously glanced at Ning Yin beside her. Ning Yin leaned against the shadows, expressionless. When Yu Lingxi looked over, he slightly tugged at the corner of his mouth.

A cold smile.

Sensing that he was not happy, Yu Lingxi lightly opened her lips, unsure of how to ask. She pressed her lips together, didn’t think too much, and turned to Hutao, saying, “Prepare the carriage; I need to visit the Zhao residence.”

“What?” Hutao blinked, quickly advising, “Miss, your health is not good; you shouldn’t go to such a place.”

Zhao Yuming’s death was too suspicious, and Yu Lingxi was afraid of involving Ning Yin. She made up her mind and ordered, “Prepare incense and paper money.”

Leaving the pavilion, she looked back. Ning Yin was still leaning against it, half of his face covered in shadows, revealing no emotions.

Yu Lingxi took a deep breath, returned, took a candy Ning Yin had given her, and looked at his eyes that were dark and unpredictable, saying, “Wait for me to come back, Wei Qi.”

Ning Yin watched her leave for a long time, then put the candy in his mouth, chewing it with a bone-crushing sound.

Ugh, it tastes bad.

…

Zhao Mansion.

This mansion had not been expanded, not as grand as it was in the past, and the beast-headed door ring had lost its paint. The faded “Fu” character on the door revealed a sense of desolation.

Experiencing life and death twice, entering the Zhao Mansion again, Yu Lingxi did not feel as resentful and indignant as she had imagined.

The thin wooden coffin and the white silk in the hall seemed to mock Zhao Yuming’s self-imposed predicament.

In just half a month, the Zhao family’s adopted son died suddenly, followed by the death of the legitimate daughter. Mrs. Zhao had fainted, and Uncle Zhao was indifferent, finding his son and daughter embarrassing, not even showing his face, only wanting to quickly seal the coffin and bury the matter.

The memorial hall was cold and empty. Yu Lingxi took the incense basket from Hutao, scattered paper money into the charcoal basin.

But she never expected that before the coffin could be sealed, when she stood up, she saw Zhao Yuming lying inside.

First, there was astonishment, then her breath stopped.

Her pupils shrank, unable to believe what she saw!

Those deliberately forgotten memories surged like a tide, swallowing her calm composure. The pale face, rosy lips, the black bloodstains not yet wiped from the corners of the nose and lips…

That face blurred and merged before her eyes, finally turning into herself lying on the ice coffin in the secret room.

At this moment, she seemed like the wandering soul of the past, floating in mid-air, examining her own tragic corpse.

A chill crawled up her spine.

“Miss? Miss!”

Hutao sensed her stiffness and quickly reached out to shield her eyes, saying with concern, “I should have stopped you earlier. It’s too frightening.”

The enveloping warmth in her palm brought Yu Lingxi back to her senses. This wasn’t the secret room of her past life, and the person lying in the coffin wasn’t her.

She was still alive, determined to live well with her family and uphold the pride of the Yu Mansion. Closing her eyes, Yu Lingxi took a few deep breaths. With a firm resolution, she pulled down Hutao’s hand covering her eyes.

Now was not the time to be afraid. She had to confirm whether Zhao Yuming had succumbed to the same hidden poison as her.

If so, what kind of poison was it, and who was behind it?

Despite her trembling fingertips, Yu Lingxi’s thoughts were clearer than ever.

When she opened her eyes again, she had regained her composure. Standing before the floating ashes of paper, she thought for a moment before turning to Hutao and saying, “Hutao, do something for me…”

Fifteen minutes later, Hutao handed some silver coins to a maid from the Zhao Mansion who had been asking questions. She then walked towards Yu Lingxi, who was waiting in the carriage.

“Miss, I’ve inquired thoroughly.”

Hutao got on the carriage, fanning herself with her hand as she gasped for breath. “Miss Zhao seemed uneasy after returning to the mansion yesterday. She stayed alone in her room, lost in thought for a long time.”

“Yesterday afternoon?”

Yu Lingxi thought for a moment. Zhao Yuming had come to the mansion to find her yesterday and had left no later than noon. How could she have returned in the afternoon? Could she have gone somewhere else during those three hours?

“Yes, indeed, she returned in the afternoon. I confirmed it several times.”

Hutao continued, “At night, around evening, Miss Zhao mentioned feeling abdominal pain and fatigue. After drinking a stomach-soothing decoction, she went to sleep. The maid extinguished the lamp around late at the night, and there was no further sound from the room. In the very early morning, the eunuch from the palace came to deliver the decree to take her to the palace. When the maid entered to call her for dressing, she found that she… she was already gone.”

Yu Lingxi’s heart sank, and she asked, “Did she vomit blood?”

“Yes, yes, she did!”

Hutao nodded frantically, “It’s said that she vomited a large pool of black blood. The clothes and curtains were splattered with it. The maids and old women who rushed in first all saw it! Some say she died of poisoning, but the palace physicians came, and they couldn’t determine the cause of death.”

“What about the clothes stained with blood?”

“Master Zhao deemed it unlucky and ordered the clothes, curtains, and other items to be burned early on.”

The more Yu Lingxi listened, the colder her heart became. All the symptoms were so similar to her past life.

Since even the palace physicians couldn’t identify the poison, it must be something beyond the capabilities of ordinary people. Yu Lingxi became more convinced that Zhao Yuming didn’t die by suicide; otherwise, if she had such a potent poison, she would have used it on Yu Lingxi first.

Perhaps the person who killed Zhao Yuming was the same as the one who killed her in her past life.

But what was the reason for the murder?

Yu Lingxi felt as if she stood in front of a vast mist, with the truth just a step away.

Collecting herself, she recalled a crucial question, “After Zhao Yuming left the Yu Mansion, did she meet anyone midway?”

Hutao shook her head, “We inquired as per your instructions, but at that time, Miss Zhao only had Hongzhu accompanying her.”

“Hongzhu, where is she?”

“After Miss Zhao had an accident, Hongzhu seemed a bit strange, as if she lost her mind. When others questioned her for a long time, all she repeatedly said was ‘I don’t know.’ Later, perhaps feeling pressured, she slammed her head against the wall…”

At this point, Hutao clasped her hands together, saying, “Although she didn’t die, it’s almost the same. There’s a hole in her head, and she still lies in the woodshed unconscious.”

Regardless, Hongzhu was the only person who could be useful; she couldn’t let her die.

She needed to find a way to wake Hongzhu and question her properly. And about that poison even the palace physicians couldn’t identify…

Yu Lingxi’s eyes brightened as she remembered someone.

Initially, when she needed the “Nine Abyss Fragrance” as a lure, she searched the entire capital and couldn’t find a trace. Only the disfigured apothecary in the Black Market of the Immortal City could provide such medicine.

Even though the Immortal Realm City no longer existed, perhaps the apothecary was still around.

Thinking of this, she lifted the carriage curtain, summoned a guard, and sent him to investigate.

Upon hearing that they had to inquire about a slave of the Immortal Realm City of Desire, the guard hesitated and bowed, “Miss, please forgive my ignorance. At that time, the Immortal City was in a big fire. Even if the people inside weren’t burned to death, they fled, and those exiled were sent to the border. There’s simply no trace to be found.”

The gleam in Yu Lingxi’s eyes dimmed.

Hutao didn’t understand why her mistress was so concerned about Zhao Yuming’s death and hesitated, “How about, Miss, you look for someone else?”

Someone else? Who else would know about the apothecary in the Realm of Desire…

A sudden realization hit, and Yu Lingxi sighed resignedly, “Let’s go back to the mansion.”

Half an hour later.

Yu Lingxi dismissed the attendants, carrying a lacquered food box, and stepped into the covered room.

In the backyard, the towering white magnolia tree had finished flowering, with only a few scattered remnants decorating its branches.

Ning Yin leaned against a stone bench in the courtyard, playing with a sprig of catnip, teasing the well-groomed flower cat in his hand. In his other hand, he held a celadon wine cup, not drinking but idly playing with the cup.

Approaching softly, Yu Lingxi walked past him. As if he hadn’t seen her, he didn’t lift his eyes and remarked, “After inspecting the scene, is the young lady here to interrogate me?”

His tone was cold, cutting like an icy blade.

Yu Lingxi inexplicably felt a bit guilty, gently placing the food box on the table and sitting across from him. She said, “What am I interrogating you for?”

“Miss suspects that woman from the Zhao family, thinking I killed her, right? Humph, the way you looked at me before leaving.”

Ning Yin sneered, lips curled in a cold tone, “I am the great villain; all the evil deeds in the world are my doing. Is the young lady satisfied?”

His sarcastic tone made it clear to Yu Lingxi that he had no connection to the matter at hand. If Ning Yin had really done it, he would be calm and indifferent, not using this tone.

Moreover, he couldn’t have used the same poison from her past life to poison Zhao Yuming.

“I did have some suspicions earlier because of your actions towards her yesterday, and you always mention ‘killing’ so casually. Can’t blame me, can you?”

Softening her tone, Yu Lingxi patiently explained, “Besides, since you said it like that, I felt relieved.”

Ning Yin smiled exquisitely, “Relieved? Maybe I did kill her.”

Resting her chin on the handle of the food box, Yu Lingxi looked up at him with a smile, “Even if you killed her, it must have been to protect me.”

The remaining white magnolia petals fell, landing on the table and scaring away the timid cat.

Playing with the cup, Ning Yin, with narrow eyes, looked at her for a long time before sneering, “No matter how beautiful the young lady’s eyes are, they can’t replace a mouth. If you have something to say, just say it.”

Indeed, he could see through any hidden motives.

Yu Lingxi decided to be honest, opening the food box and said, “Today, I encountered a problem, a problem that can only be solved with the help of the Immortal City.”

Ning Yin paused in playing with his cup, placing it on the stone table after a moment of thought.

He remained silent, so Yu Lingxi took out the chilled lychees from the food box, offering them politely, “Have some lychees; they’re sweet.”

Ning Yin didn’t even look at the lychee flesh. Absently, he tapped his finger, tipping the celadon cup over, then righting it, and tipping it over again.

He seemed to enjoy it. The little madman remembered grudges.

Yu Lingxi had no choice but to peel a lychee herself. With delicate fingertips, she peeled the deep red lychee skin bit by bit, then held the crystal-clear and cool lychee flesh, offering it to Ning Yin’s mouth.

She held the lychee for a long time before Ning Yin reluctantly turned his dark eyes, tilting his head. He opened his mouth and took the lychee flesh from her fingertips. His slightly cool lips brushed directly against her fingertips, taking a bite. Only a small piece of lychee flesh, held between her fingers, remained.

With a bite and a roll, the juice overflowed, moistening his pale, thin lips.

Yu Lingxi was stunned; she originally wanted him to use his hands, not expecting him to bite directly. Well, as long as he’s willing to help, biting is fine.

Just as she thought that, Ning Yin shook his head, saying calmly, “This one isn’t sweet.”

After saying that, his gaze fell on the remaining lychees in the food box, his eyes flickering at the corner.

“…,”

Yu Lingxi lowered her eyes, pursed her lips, and patiently peeled another lychee, offering it to Ning Yin’s mouth. “Is this one sweet, Wei Qi?”

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