The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 86 - 85

Chapter 85

While the Imperial Academy was in the midst of chaos, bracing for the storm of Duan Wang’s fury, a thin man made his way through the alleys towards his destination in another part of the bustling commercial district of the capital.

This man was none other than the one who had just reported the news to Duan Wang Palace!

After completing his mission at Duan Wang Palace, he had changed out of his Imperial Academy uniform into regular clothes and used his lightness skill to navigate discreetly through the streets, avoiding the eyes of passersby. He stopped at the back door of a mansion.

Knock, knock~

The thin man raised his hand and knocked twice, a woman opened the door shortly after. When he stepped inside, the door was promptly shut behind him. This medium-sized, inconspicuous mansion was well hidden from outsiders, surrounded by various inns and taverns, making its presence unnoticed.

Following the maid through the mansion, he arrived at a courtyard used for martial arts training and gatherings. There, he saw a small figure standing with a bow, aiming at a distant target with a relaxed demeanor. Her serene face betrayed no hint of her thoughts.

“Miss, I have delivered the news to Duan Wang Palace as per your orders,” the thin man bowed to his young mistress and reported his progress.

Swish!

Thud!

Mu Yingying squinted at the target for a moment before releasing the arrow, which flew across the courtyard and hit the ninth ring of the target. Although the arrow did not hit the bullseye, it was only slightly off to the side.

“That’s good...What’s the situation at the Imperial Academy?”

She placed the bow on the table and walked to a large chair nearby, where she sat and drank tea offered by a maid to quench her thirst, a mischievous smile appearing on her small face.

“The Imperial Academy is quite chaotic now. I believe Duan Wang has already arrived.”

“The people who were waiting have all gathered now. The rest is up to Sister Qingxuan to perform her part...” Mu Yingying nodded, a mysterious smile spreading across her face. This smile sent a shiver down the thin man’s spine, making his hair stand on end.

“Send someone to inform my eldest brother as well. Tell him to act immediately. This time, we’ll catch them all and deal with our enemies!”

“Yes, Miss,” the thin man replied promptly before turning and leaving to carry out her orders immediately.

When the courtyard was empty except for Mu Yingying, she let out a cold smile. Her big, round eyes sparkled with amusement, and her small face showed a mischievous and cunning expression. She had been in a good mood since morning because something good was about to happen, and indeed, these good things were quite entertaining.

Unfortunately...the fun today did not involve her participating directly; she was merely the director and a keen observer behind the scenes!

The main characters in this drama were Meng Liting and Mu Qingxuan. Mu Yingying hoped that both would enjoy this grand performance. Even as an onlooker, she found herself thoroughly entertained by the unfolding drama.

Just thinking about the smug faces of her two enemies, believing everything was going according to their flawless plan, made Mu Yingying feel even more amused. Her little heart tingled with anticipation to see their expressions when they realized it was all just a staged act!

Ah...their faces would certainly be a sight to behold.

Imperial Academy

After the headmaster arrived to greet Duan Wang, who was waiting in his office, he immediately felt the immense pressure emanating from the middle-aged man seated there. Despite Duan Wang being in his forties, he still retained a handsome and sharp appearance. His expression was colder than a thousand-year-old ice block.

The headmaster’s face turned pale instantly as he sensed the pressure. He took a deep breath and tried to approach Duan Wang as closely as possible, clasping his hands in a respectful greeting.

“Greetings, Duan Wang.”

“Headmaster...where is Ben Wang’s daughter?” The cold voice cut through the air without any pretense. When the headmaster glanced at Duan Wang’s grim face, his heart sank. He quickly responded in a trembling voice.

“Your Highness, M...Miss Fei Yang is in the lounge next to the cafeteria.”

“Take Ben Wang there!”

Duan Wang ordered sternly. His sturdy frame rose swiftly as he marched out of the room. The headmaster, regaining his composure, hurried to follow. Even though he was following from a distance, he still felt the unyielding pressure from the other man.

It was clear that this time, Duan Wang would not let them off easily!

It wasn’t long before they reached the lounge beside the cafeteria. Guards from Duan Wang Palace moved in to clear the crowd gathered around the room, making way for Duan Wang to enter without hindrance. They also stationed themselves outside to ensure no one approached the area.

“Greetings, Duan Wang!”

All the teachers in the room bowed in respect to the newcomer, their faces filled with fear. Their hearts were heavy with the events that had transpired. Mu Qingxuan and Wan Ningtong, who were nearby, also bowed in respect.

Duan Wang did not even glance at them. The only thing he cared about at that moment was his daughter’s condition. His robust figure quickly moved past everyone in the room and went straight to the large bed behind the screen. When the sight of his daughter came into view, his heart ached immediately.

“L...Liting.”

His deep voice called out to his daughter with a tremble. His sharp eyes revealed a look of distress. The legs that had been striding confidently suddenly froze, unable to take another step. He could only stand and look at his daughter lying unconscious on the bed. Although Meng Liting was now out of immediate danger thanks to the tireless efforts of the three doctors, the thick red rash on her body and face remained glaringly obvious, showing how serious her condition still was.

“How is she?”

Duan Wang gritted his teeth and forced the question through his clenched jaw, causing the three doctors to tremble with fear. One of them turned and reported the situation truthfully.

“Your Highness, Miss Fei Yang experienced a severe allergic reaction, which caused her to suddenly lose consciousness. It seems this reaction was much more severe than any previous ones, causing her body to respond sharply and resulting in her serious condition. If we had arrived any later, the young miss might have...”

The elderly doctor swallowed hard and lowered his head, not daring to continue. But even without him finishing the sentence, Duan Wang could infer what it meant. If the doctors had been delayed just a bit longer, he might have lost his daughter forever!

Duan Wang pressed his lips tightly together and closed his eyes to suppress the mix of emotions in his heart: anger, relief, and sorrow over what had happened. Even though he was lucky this time not to lose his daughter, what about next time...? Who could say if she would be as lucky again?

“Continue treating her! If you need anything, inform Ben Wang’s people immediately!”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

The three doctors responded with relief, reassured that at least they would not face Duan Wang’s wrath for what had happened. Their immediate task was to focus on treating Miss Fei Yang’s condition and restoring her health!

After giving the doctors his orders, Duan Wang turned and walked back outside. His eyes scanned the teachers with a fierce look, making many of them feel their hearts race with anxiety.

“What exactly happened here?”

“We still do not know the full details, Your Highness,” the headmaster replied with a troubled expression, then glanced at the two students standing on the other side. “You two were present during the incident, correct? Come and explain the details to His Highness immediately!”

Mu Qingxuan and Wan Ningtong, who had been called forward by the headmaster, stepped forward to bow to Duan Wang and explain what had happened. “Your Highness, earlier the young miss dined with us at the cafeteria. Everything seemed normal, but after finishing the meal, she suddenly fainted,”

Wan Ningtong recounted truthfully, her beautiful face showing genuine confusion. She herself was bewildered by the sudden turn of events; Miss Fei Yang had been fine just moments before, so how could she suddenly fall ill? And the condition was so serious!

Duan Wang did not respond but listened silently. When he looked at Mu Qingxuan, he immediately recognized her as the young miss from the Mu family who was quite close to his daughter. His stern expression softened slightly.

“Young Miss Mu, what do you think happened? What caused Ting’er to fall ill?”

“Your Highness, as Young Miss Wan mentioned, everything was normal before. There was nothing to worry about until after the meal. If there is anything suspicious, it would be the food we eat. However, what is strange is why only the young miss fell ill if the food was the problem?”

Mu Qingxuan shared her thoughts, causing Duan Wang to consider something. He turned sharply to look at the headmaster. “Headmaster, you haven’t forgotten what I emphasized, have you?”

“N...no, absolutely not, Your Highness!”

The headmaster quickly denied, recalling the crucial warning Duan Wang had given him about Miss Fei Yang’s peanut allergy, which was a secret. He had made sure to instruct the kitchen staff of the academy that under no circumstances were peanuts to be included in any meals!

All of this was to prevent any incidents involving Miss Fei Yang...

“Then how do you explain what happened? Ting’er’s symptoms clearly indicate a severe allergic reaction. Do you still deny it?”

Duan Wang narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint in them. Despite his prior warnings, the negligence of these old men who failed to take proper care of their students had led to this incident!

“Go get the food and have it inspected!”

Following Duan Wang’s command, the guards immediately headed toward the kitchen. The headmaster could only pray that the situation wasn’t as Duan Wang suspected, for if it were, he feared he wouldn’t be able to escape responsibility.

Meanwhile, Su Baimiao and Jiao Fangniang, who had returned, were kept outside the room, unable to enter. They watched the guards coming out with confused expressions. The chatter among the people around them was nonstop. Seeing that the people inside were from Duan Wang Palace, Su Baimiao’s long eyebrows furrowed deeply, and her eyes momentarily flashed with tension. Her palms, hidden beneath her sleeves, were damp with sweat from the pressure, and she clenched her fists to control her emotions.

She never imagined that Duan Wang Palace would hear the news so quickly!

Initially, she thought that by the time Duan Wang Palace found out, Meng Liting would be in such a critical condition that her life couldn’t be saved. However, it seemed that her plan would definitely need to change!

Earlier, Su Baimiao had sent someone to instigate the headmaster, prompting him to call a meeting for the teachers about the upcoming competition. This was to buy time and prevent anyone from helping Meng Liting in time. She had also arranged for her people to block the academy’s entrances and exits to prevent anyone from delivering the news to Duan Wang Palace.

So, who was it that managed to sneak out and inform Duan Wang Palace?

Who was it that sabotaged her plan!?

Su Baimiao took a deep breath to suppress the raging anger within her. She had no time to regret what had gone wrong; she could only move forward. Since Duan Wang Palace now knew, Meng Liting would likely be out of danger. Her next concern would undoubtedly be about tracing the mastermind behind this.

As Su Baimiao scanned the area outside the room, she spotted Cheng Fuyuan. Her thin lips curved into a sly smile, and her eyes glinted with a chilling coldness.

Fortunately, she had prepared everything in advance. If something went wrong, the one who would take the fall for everything would be Cheng Fuyuan. All operations, contact with the cooks, and all the evidence—Su Baimiao had meticulously framed Cheng Fuyuan for everything. If an investigation ensued, Cheng Fuyuan would unquestionably be the one blamed for it all!

Realizing this truth, the pressure that Su Baimiao had felt vanished completely, leaving only smug satisfaction, confident that she would not be at a disadvantage. If anything happened, she still had the Su family backing her...

Meanwhile, Cheng Fuyuan, who was watching the events unfold with amusement, was completely unaware of the impending disaster. She never once doubted her ally, Su Baimiao. The young woman simply watched the unfolding drama with satisfaction.

She silently prayed for Meng Liting to die!

Soon, the guards from Duan Wang Palace brought the lunch prepared by the kitchen to be examined before their master. Duan Wang ordered the doctors treating Meng Liting to inspect the food for the cause.

As expected by Duan Wang, the food from the kitchen was indeed the cause of Meng Liting’s severe allergic reaction!

“Your Highness, as you mentioned that Miss Fei Yang is allergic to peanuts, although none of these dishes contain whole peanuts, upon examination, we found that every dish contains finely ground peanut powder.”

The headmaster turned pale upon hearing the report from the doctor. The worst news he feared had turned out to be true...

“Bring all the kitchen staff here!”

Duan Wang’s authoritative voice boomed, his already stern face growing even more intense. Being a clever man, he could surmise part of the situation. If it were merely a cook’s negligence, why would they use finely ground peanut powder that was nearly colorless and odorless?

Moreover, based on the doctor’s words, these dishes were originally made without needing any peanut ingredients. Therefore, there was absolutely no reason to add finely ground peanut powder. It seemed more likely that someone had done it intentionally.

It took less than fifteen minutes for Duan Wang Palace’s guards to bring the kitchen staff into the room. Now, over ten kitchen workers were kneeling on the floor, their bodies trembling. Many of them bowed fearfully before Duan Wang, akin to frightened little birds.

"Confess! Who put the ground peanut powder in the food!?"

Duan Wang demanded sternly, causing them all to flinch in terror. The head chef, who had received strict instructions from the headmaster, was somewhat aware of the gravity of the situation. He hastily denied the accusation.

"Ground peanut powder? N...no, Your Highness. There is definitely none. How could there be any peanut powder? It...it’s impossible, Your Highness!"

"None?" Duan Wang repeated, his cold smile widening. "Are you all certain?"

"Ben Wang isn’t a patient man. If no one confesses, then all of you will be held accountable for negligence, which has endangered the young miss’s life!"

As soon as Duan Wang finished speaking, the kitchen staff’s faces filled with panic. The penalty for harming the young miss could be as severe as death!

With just one sentence, Duan Wang had sown discord among the workers. They began interrogating each other, pressuring one another to identify the real culprit. Duan Wang didn’t need to lift a finger, as the fear among them would eventually force the true perpetrator to reveal themselves...

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