The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 352 From Pretense to Reality

The night was as dark as ink, spilled across the crisscrossing alleyways of the capital.

Murong Peifeng clutched his left arm and staggered away. The poison from the silver needles spread through his blood vessels, and with each step he took, it felt as if thousands of tiny needles were piercing his flesh and bones.

His vision had long since blurred into a double image, his chest heaved with blood and qi, and a metallic taste rose in his throat again and again, only to be swallowed back down by force.

He could faintly hear the footsteps of the search party behind him; the sound was like a death knell, making his heart pound wildly.

He knew he couldn't run far; the poison had taken hold, his limbs were growing cold, and even the hand holding his wound was trembling.

"thump--"

Murong Peifeng collapsed heavily in a secluded corner, a pebble slicing his forehead, warm blood mixed with cold sweat flowing down.

He strained to lift his eyes and saw the lantern light at the alley entrance growing brighter.

The closer they got, the more eerie and terrifying the shadows cast by the firelight on the wall became.

"So be it..." He gave a bitter laugh, closed his eyes, and what flashed through his mind was Jing Rou lying on the wedding bed, her skirt stained with blood, and that desperate "my child."

A sudden, sharp pain shot through my chest, even more intense than when the poison took hold.

Just then, a dark figure swept past like a ghost, bringing with it a biting wind, and instantly dealt with the pursuers.

Murong Peifeng opened his eyes alertly, but due to the effects of the poison, he didn't even have the strength to lift his hand.

What a tragic fate!

A deep, angry sigh rang out, carrying a sense of disappointment and frustration.

Upon hearing the voice, Murong Peifeng turned his head with difficulty. When he saw the person's face clearly, his pupils suddenly contracted. "Teng...Prime Minister Teng?"

The visitor was none other than Teng Hui.

Despite his advanced age, Teng Hui was still quite robust. Dressed in a dark night suit, his face was ashen. He bent down and grabbed Murong Peifeng, his tone cold and hard, "For a woman, you'd risk your life?"

Murong Peifeng opened his mouth, as if to say something, but only coughed up a mouthful of black blood.

Teng Hui frowned, checked his pulse, and his face grew increasingly grim. "That old bastard Ji Kun poisoned his silver needles; we can't delay any longer."

He said no more, half supporting and half carrying Murong Peifeng, his figure moving like lightning, weaving through the night.

Murong Peifeng was in a daze. He only felt the sound of the wind suddenly stop in his ears. He squinted and saw that he was still in the basement of the Pingchang Marquis's mansion, the place he had come from.

Murong Peifeng's lips curled into a cold smile. He had been hiding for so long, in a place he thought was like a rat in a sewer, but unexpectedly, it would save his life.

Teng Hui squatted down and tore open the shirt on his left arm. The silver needle was still embedded in the flesh, and the surrounding skin had turned black.

He took out a silver needle, deftly removed the poisoned needle, and applied an antidote ointment. His movements carried an undeniable authority. "In the end, he's still young and impatient!"

"Her child..." Murong Peifeng's voice was hoarse, with a tremor he himself was unaware of.

Murong Peifeng closed his eyes, feeling as if a huge rock was pressing down on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

He recalled Jing Rou's desperate eyes, and a metallic taste rose in his throat again.

……

Meanwhile, deep within the palace, candlelight flickered.

Consort Li sat upright in front of the mirror, listening to her trusted nanny's report, a pleased smile playing on her lips.

She reached out and touched the red gold and pearl hairpin at her temple, her tone laced with a lazy smugness, "So, Jingrou really did miscarry?"

"Your Majesty, it is absolutely true." The old woman bowed and replied, "The Prince Su's mansion is in complete chaos. The physician said that the pregnancy has ended and Princess Rou will probably need to rest for several months before she can get out of bed."

"Very well, very well!" Consort Li chuckled, a ruthless glint in her eyes. "That scoundrel Qi Zhi poisoned my medicine that day, almost causing my death along with my unborn child. I've held this grudge for a long time, and now I'm simply giving him a taste of his own medicine."

The medicine mixed into the wedding cakes was specially prepared by her; it was colorless and odorless, and specifically effective for pregnant women.

The old nanny was from Consort Li's family. After Jing Anle reminded Consort Li last time, Consort Li discussed the matter with her mother who had come to the palace to take care of her. There were many prescriptions for causing women to miscarry in the inner courtyard of the palace, and they were kept quiet and unknown to anyone.

However, the atmosphere inside the main hall of Yongfu Palace was completely different.

Jing Anle sat upright on the soft couch, holding a white jade chess piece in his hand. As he listened to Mu Ping's report, his expression first showed astonishment, then turned into a cold indifference.

"What did you say? Jing Rou... she's really pregnant?"

"Absolutely true." Mu Ping nodded.

"The news came from the Prince Su's residence. I heard that many doctors have been invited. Prince Qing petitioned His Majesty to invite the imperial physicians to come to the palace. It can't be fake."

The chess piece in Jing Anle's hand fell to the ground with a "thud" onto the chessboard. She sat there blankly, her mind a complete mess.

She knew all along that Jingrou's wedding was destined to be anything but peaceful, that Murong Peifeng would definitely cause a huge scene, and that he would be killed by Qi Zhi.

She orchestrated all of this, originally intending only to make Jing Rou fake a pregnancy, but she never expected that Jing Rou would actually be pregnant.

The morning sickness wasn't caused by medication, and the pulse wasn't a lie reported by the imperial physician. Her carefully laid scheme unexpectedly stumbled upon the truth.

Now that Jing Rou has actually miscarried, the fake miscarriage has become real, which has actually helped her a lot.

“Since Princess Rou has suffered a miscarriage and harmed her health, it seems that Qi Zhi will not be able to return to Qi Kingdom so soon,” Mu Ping said.

Jing Anle agreed, "If Qi Zhi can't return to Qi Kingdom, Prince Qing's plan will naturally fall through."

"Moreover, Qi Zhi was tricked by Prince Qing and harbors resentment. He would never sincerely help Prince Qing. Now that Jing Rou has miscarried, it has fulfilled his wishes."

Afang leaned forward, blinked, and asked, "So what will Qi Zhi do next?"

Jing Anle made another move and said coldly, "Run!"

Mu Ping and A Fang exchanged a glance, then repeated in unison, "Run?"

“Yes,” Jing Anle continued, “Qi Zhi was already suspected of persecuting Consort Li and her son, but he temporarily quelled the matter because he was the Crown Prince of Qi and for the sake of peace between the two countries.”

"Now that Jing Rou has miscarried, he will definitely find an excuse to return to Qi Kingdom."

"Will Prince Qing let him go back?" Afang asked, puzzled.

Mu Ping agreed, "Yes, if we let him go back, he will definitely be out of Prince Qing's control, since Jing Rou is not suitable to travel at the moment."

Jing Anle chuckled, "Qi Zhi longs for Prince Qing's help to seize the throne, but he hates being coerced even more. A rabbit will bite when cornered, and Prince Qing isn't the only one who can help Qi Zhi!"

"Does the princess mean that Qi Zhi is likely to sever ties with Prince Qing?"

"Not only that." Jing Anle placed another jade chess piece, the game was now decided. "He even went so far as to end it all for revenge!"