The Stunning Mad Empress: The Useless Third Miss-Chapter 3 - The Mysterious Man

Xiao Qingcheng got up from the ground and, with a cold face, rummaged through the dilapidated house for a while. After finding a semi-old dress and changing into it, she dragged her exhausted body and lay down on the hard wooden bed nearby. Narrowing her eyes, Xiao Qingcheng, with her left hand on her right wrist, spoke coldly, “There’s hidden severe poison and a type of curse inside my body. I’m also severely calcium-deficient and malnourished.”

Sighing, Xiao Qingcheng sat up again and began to examine her body. If it weren’t for the fact that she was only twelve years old, this body would probably be truly wasted.

“The curse was probably planted in early childhood. So the previous foolishness wasn’t congenital, but man-made. The severe poison in my body has only entered in the past three years. If it’s not resolved, I’ll definitely be at death’s door within three years.

It seems that someone has made thorough preparations. Even if Nan Gong Yu doesn’t break off the engagement, this body won’t live to the day of marriage.”

After another sigh, Xiao Qingcheng got up and walked to the broken window, glancing outside. Today, she had deliberately scratched Xiao Qingxue’s chest, which would surely leave some bloodstains on that woman. In order to treat these external injuries, Xiao Qingxue and her mother would temporarily have no time to deal with her.

With a cold laugh, Xiao Qingcheng returned to the bed and took a nap. It wasn’t until nightfall that she fumbled her way out of her courtyard and quietly made her way to the backyard of the Xiao residence alone. According to her fragmented memories, Xiao Qingcheng remembered that there was a small courtyard for growing medicinal herbs in the backyard. This courtyard belonged to Xiao Qingqing, the second miss of the Xiao family.

The eldest miss of the Xiao family, Xiao Qingxue, was extremely skilled in both combat and internal energy cultivation, so naturally, Xiao Qingqing had to choose to avoid her sharp edge and focus on medical skills and learn how to refine medicines. It should be known that one of the most popular professions on the Phoenix Singing Continent is the pharmacist and the curse master. Such people often hold the lifeline of others. If a family can have an especially powerful pharmacist or curse master, that family can stand firm on the Phoenix Singing Continent, where the strong rule.

Thinking of this, Xiao Qingcheng, with her hands behind her back, sneered coldly. By chance, she was a saint of both medicine and poison. The ten years of being tormented by her master in the previous life finally came in handy at this moment.

Following her memories, Xiao Qingcheng smoothly found the herb garden. After quietly picking some of the herbs she needed and some for backup from the garden, Xiao Qingcheng was about to leave Xiao Qingqing’s courtyard and go back to detoxify herself.

“Mother, the injuries on elder sister’s body are just minor wounds, nothing serious. However, I think these scratches seem very deliberate.”

“Sigh, today I heard from Qingxue that the fool was supposed to be silent after falling into the water, but unexpectedly, she suddenly jumped out of the water and went crazy, which threw elder sister into confusion and gave that fool a chance to take advantage.”

“Mother, do you think Xiao Qingcheng might not be foolish anymore? After all, I have indeed read in ancient books that people may regain their intelligence after drowning.”

“Humph! Her foolishness is because of that child’s curse. The curse in her head was personally placed in her ear by me. How could it be cured? Qingqing, don’t think too much.”

“But the child’s curse only confuses her mind and doesn’t deprive her of her memory. Mother, I still feel unsafe. We must get rid of Xiao Qingcheng as soon as possible.”

“Today, elder sister miscalculated, and probably there’s no chance to kill her for the time being. If that wretch Xiao Qingcheng doesn’t die, you two will always be known as concubine-born. If it weren’t for the fact that the young master of the Nan Gong family is fond of elder sister, we would be in a very passive situation now.”

……

Xiao Qingcheng glanced back at the dimly lit room in the distance and sneered coldly. She would definitely take revenge for some grudges one day!

With her hands behind her back, no longer listening to the conversation between Xiao Qingqing and the matriarch of the Xiao family, Xiao Qingcheng avoided the patrolling guards in the residence and turned back to her own courtyard.

When she stepped into the courtyard, she smelled a faint scent of blood. Among the blood, there seemed to be a trace of sandalwood.

Frowning slightly, Xiao Qingcheng closed the courtyard gate with her hands behind her back and walked towards her main room as if no one was there.

With a “creak,” she pushed open the door.

Xiao Qingcheng subconsciously looked at the corner of the dim bed. At this moment, the tattered gauze curtain fluttered with the wind. In the dim and dark night, it seemed casual and ordinary. However, the shadow that did not conform to the law of light and shadow still made Xiao Qingcheng aware.

With a smile, a hint of playfulness flashed in Xiao Qingcheng’s cold eyes: “Since you’ve come in, you’re a guest. What’s the point of hiding behind the curtain?”

Anyone who could hide here must not be from the Xiao family or the Nan Gong family. Since they were not locals, it didn’t matter.

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After hearing the sound, the man with his hands behind his back slowly walked out from behind the gauze curtain. Hearing the steady footsteps beside his ear, Xiao Qingcheng casually sat in front of the only round table in the room. She picked up a cup of water, took a sip, and then looked over again.

The man, dressed in a dark purple robe and wearing a silver-gilded mask, exuded an extraordinary aura. Despite his masked appearance, Xiao Qingcheng could tell he was no ordinary person. He seemed far more profound than Nan Gong Yu.

“Everyone says that Miss Third of the Xiao family is foolish and weak-minded. It seems the rumors are quite baseless.”

The man, with his thin lips slightly curled, spoke in a magnetic and pleasant voice, filled with teasing and a hint of playfulness. He sat opposite Xiao Qingcheng, also picked up the teapot, and poured himself a cup of water.

“My foolishness or not is none of your business. However, if you don’t treat your injuries, you might be in mortal danger.”

Xiao Qingcheng raised an eyebrow, looking into the man’s deep and enchanting eyes, and said in an extremely calm manner.

“No problem!”

The man simply replied with two words.

His slender, jade-like hand held the tattered porcelain teacup, and he took a sip with utmost elegance, as if savoring the finest tea in the world. There was no sign of decay or desolation in his every move.

Xiao Qingcheng, with a smile, rarely showed a hint of surprise in her eyes: “Then why did you come to my dilapidated courtyard?”

“I just thought this place, being undisturbed, was suitable for a brief rest. This jade pendant, consider it as an apology and payment for the tea.”

“Wait!”

As the man was about to leave, Xiao Qingcheng stopped him with a raised hand.

“The trace of blood on you is faint, and the sandalwood mixed in it is somewhat strange. It’s a rare poison. If not treated soon, it will cause great trouble later.”

With that, Xiao Qingcheng untied the small cloth bag on her body and casually took out a few herbs.

“These are the stems and leaves of the mandrake flower, and this is the rare blue-core grass. Grind these two herbs together and take them with fresh deer blood to temporarily alleviate the poison in your body.”