Chapter 31: If You Marry Feiyan…
As evening approached, a quiet settled over the room. Huang Junyi sat at a nearby table, sipping peach blossom wine from a silver cup, her face flushed.
The sweet, mellow fragrance of the wine filled the air, complementing Huang Junyi’s alluring appearance. If Mingyan were a better artist, he would have been tempted to capture this scene on a canvas.
Even cultivators like Huang Junyi didn’t spend all their time cultivating. Mingyan sensed a playful, almost carefree attitude in her, but he wondered if she harbored hidden worries.
Huang Qingfei’s coma must be one of them.
Huang Feiyan’s voice called from outside. “Second Aunt, Mingyan, are you in there?”
“Come in,” Huang Junyi said softly, her voice carrying a playful lilt in addition to its usual seductive quality. She glanced at Mingyan, a playful smile on her lips. He ignored her and looked towards the door.
Huang Feiyan entered and closed the door behind her.
She bowed to Huang Junyi, then approached Mingyan, her fragrance wafting towards him. “I examined the poison on the needle. It’s a snake venom, from the Red-Spotted Feathered Serpent, a highly venomous beast in the Eastern Continent. This venom can even kill Yang Tomb Realm cultivators, but it’s been diluted. Now, it only causes paralysis and unconsciousness…”
“There are many cultivators in the outer courtyard who are knowledgeable about poisons. That makes the range of suspects quite large.” Huang Junyi’s smile faded slightly, her gaze turning cold. “But if someone is trying to frame An Ran, we can narrow it down. Is there anyone in the outer courtyard who has a conflict with her?”
An Ran had informed the Huang family about the stolen veil and Mingyan’s attack that afternoon. Huang Feiyan, knowing the veil belonged to An Ran, replied, “I’ve investigated. An Ran is gentle and avoids conflict. She doesn’t have any serious enemies in the outer courtyard. However, her maidservant can be outspoken and might have offended someone…”
Mingyan’s eyes flickered, deep in thought.
“So, it could be someone who has a conflict with her maidservant?” Huang Junyi swirled the wine in her cup, then took a sip, some of it trickling down her chin and onto her neck. She set down the cup, her face flushed, and smiled.
Huang Feiyan was used to this. Her second aunt enjoyed drinking, but as a seventh-stage Rotating Core cultivator, half a step into Human Gateway, she wouldn’t get drunk from peach blossom wine. It simply made her face flush, enhancing her allure. “It’s possible.”
“When I met An Ran and her maidservant, Yu Zhu, today, I found it strange. The maidservant seemed to be deliberately provoking me.” Mingyan said after a moment of thought. “Logically, since An Ran and Yu Zhu are so close, and considering An Ran’s situation, Yu Zhu wouldn’t abandon her. Their relationship should be very strong. Yu Zhu should be considerate of An Ran and understand that her outspokenness could cause trouble…”
Huang Junyi rested her chin on her hand, her eyes slightly unfocused as she looked at Mingyan. “So, you suspect the maidservant?”
“Although it’s unlikely, I was wondering… Could it be that she became curious about Feiyan’s attention towards me, discovered some secret about me, and tried to drug me and take me away for examination? The veil was a backup plan in case she failed, a way to connect me to An Ran?”
Huang Feiyan considered this. “There are Red-Spotted Feathered Serpents near Xiu Hu. And Yu Zhu is a Yang Tomb Realm cultivator… It’s possible…”
“If she succeeded, she could have examined me, taken some blood, and left. If I reported it, she could use the missing veil as an excuse to clear her name…” Mingyan stroked his chin. Yu Zhu’s earlier behavior had been quite hostile, and she hadn’t seemed to care about An Ran’s reputation, even in broad daylight. Although they were alone, and no one else could hear them, Mingyan hadn’t suspected anything at the time. It was possible she was simply spoiled and arrogant, relying on An Ran’s favor.
But after hearing about An Ran’s situation from Huang Junyi, he felt Yu Zhu’s behavior could cause trouble for her mistress. Learning that she was also outspoken made him even more suspicious.
If this was the maidservant’s plan, then her aggressiveness was a deliberate act…
A way to clear her suspicion in situations like this.
“But this is just speculation. It’s just a thought.” Mingyan felt he might be overthinking. Planning so far ahead for such a contingency seemed exhausting.
Huang Feiyan pondered. “I think it’s quite possible. I’ve looked into An Ran and Yu Zhu before. From what I know, An Ran’s personality has always been like this, but Yu Zhu used to be much more discreet. She’s completely different now.”
Huang Feiyan enjoyed making friends. Although Mingyan was her only male friend, she had many female friends. She had wanted to befriend An Ran and had therefore done some research. Although Yu Zhu’s change in behavior was strange, no one would pay attention to such things normally… But now, it seemed suspicious.
Huang Junyi smiled at them, saying nothing.
“But we can’t be certain…” Huang Feiyan pondered. “The outer courtyard is for guests. We can’t conduct a large-scale investigation. Since the attacker wants something from you, they might try again. No one knows Second Aunt is here to protect you. All we can do now is wait…”
Investigating this thoroughly would be easy. Huang Junyi could simply capture Yu Zhu and use a soul-searching technique to examine her memories. However, such a method could damage Yu Zhu’s cultivation, potentially even causing mental impairment. And if she turned out to be innocent, the Huang family’s actions would be questionable. Besides, the attacker hadn’t tried to kill Mingyan, and they hadn’t lost all hope of finding the culprit, so there was no need for such drastic measures.
If the attacker had intended to kill him, they would have acted differently. No one could get away with murder in the outer courtyard, especially not against Huang Feiyan’s friend, someone who could potentially save Huang Qingfei. If anything happened to him, Huang Feiyan, Huang Junru, and Huang Junyi would turn the outer courtyard upside down.
Mingyan nodded silently.
After Huang Feiyan left, Huang Junyi smiled. “If we confirm it was Yu Zhu, will you still help An Ran?”
Mingyan thought for a moment. “Even if Yu Zhu didn’t intend to harm me, she did plot against me. I don’t think I can help An Ran without resentment.”
Huang Junyi nodded. “Good. Although I admire your kindness, not everyone deserves your help.”
Mingyan smiled faintly. “Seco… cough… Sister, don’t worry. I know who deserves my help and who doesn’t.”
Huang Junyi smiled seductively. “Were you about to call me Second Aunt again?”
“No, you misheard, Sister.” Mingyan denied it firmly.
“Giggle, you can call me Second Aunt. If you marry Feiyan, it would be perfectly appropriate.” Huang Junyi’s smile was playful and suggestive.
Mingyan paused. “I have no such intentions towards Feiyan. Besides… Didn’t Feiyan say the women of the Huang family don’t marry outsiders?”
“Yes, they don’t marry out or allow men to marry in. But there are always exceptions. Perhaps you’ll be the exception.” Huang Junyi’s smile didn’t waver. Mingyan couldn’t bear to look at her and quickly averted his gaze, thinking “temptress.”
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