Chapter 22: The Innocuous Princess Consort of Beiyang Versus the Beiyang Prince Who Maims His Own Siblings 22

Liu Yangjiang patted her back gently, his voice soft and soothing as he whispered, "I don't blame you anymore. Don't run off like that again..."

Wen Ruwei nodded. "I won't run off again."

She stood in his embrace for a few seconds before pulling away. "I need to go to the kitchen now..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a commotion erupted outside. Moments later, voices reached the doorway: "Something has happened! Help! The Second Young Master is dead!"

At these words, Wen Ruwei froze, her gaze fixed intently on Liu Yangjiang. He was equally stunned.

Dead... No, that was impossible! He had just seen him lying perfectly fine in bed!

"It's impossible..." Liu Yangjiang shook his head and moved toward the door, but Wen Ruwei grabbed him. Her voice echoed in his ears: "You can't go out now. It's our wedding night, and I am here with you..." She paused, then added, "If people find out, what would they think of us?"

Liu Yangjiang frowned slightly. "I understand."

Hardly had he spoken when the door creaked open. Startled, the two quickly ducked behind a screen behind the bookcase. Crammed into the narrow space, they listened to the sound of footsteps outside.

"What happened? Tell us, what is going on?"

"We aren't sure. The noise in the room stopped tonight, so the maid knocked to ask if they wanted to bathe. There was no answer, and the Junior Mistress made no sound either. When the maid pushed the door open..."

The sentence remained unfinished, but everyone already understood.

"What do we do now? My son..."

"Someone must have murdered the Second Young Master!"

"Exactly! We were all here tonight. If no one with malicious intent had snuck in, how could he have died?"

"What do we do now? The Second Mistress is missing too..."

"We must report this to the authorities. We have to catch the killer!"

As the voices continued outside, the two held their breath, listening. Wen Ruwei could hear every word clearly. The space was stifling; if it weren't for the gravity of the situation, she would have opened the door and told them to get lost. She had no desire for further contact with him.

Liu Yangjiang glanced at Wen Ruwei, recalling her earlier words. A flash of cruelty crossed his eyes. He clenched his fist against his lips and coughed—a faint, flickering sound. He wasn't sure if those outside had heard.

"Cough..."

The voices outside fell silent. After several seconds, someone entered. "My Lord, the men from the Inspectorate have arrived."

The Inspectorate? Liu Yangjiang narrowed his eyes. Could it be...

Once they were alone again, Wen Ruwei tried to leave, but Liu Yangjiang gripped her wrist tightly. His strength was immense, and her wrist throbbed with pain.

"What are you doing?"

"You are my brother's concubine, my sister-in-law. What do you think I should do with you?"

"Now that he is dead, according to the laws of Great Kang, a concubine must be sent to a brothel. Tell me... what should I do, Second Junior Mistress?"

He smiled, but his eyes were cold. That sinister gaze pierced her like a frozen arrow, striking straight at her heart. Wen Ruwei panicked. What did he mean?

"What are you talking about?"

"Whatever you think I mean is exactly what I mean," he said grimly, the smile on his lips growing increasingly grotesque. He looked down at her and reached out to hook his finger under her chin, his voice barely a whisper for only the two of them to hear: "My brother—you killed him, didn't you?"

Wen Ruwei’s eyes widened in terror. Her trembling lips moved, but for a long time, no sound came out.

"It was you, wasn't it?" He pressed, looming closer.

She shrank back, her face deathly pale. As he drew near, her scalp tingled and sweat beaded on her forehead.

"What, was sleeping with you just too much to bear, so you had to kill him?"

His voice suddenly rose, ringing in her ears. In the next second, his hand slid from her chin to her throat. He clamped his thumb against her windpipe and asked with a cold laugh, "Speak! Was it you?"

His tone was terrifyingly icy, as if he longed to tear her limb from limb. "Speak!"

His grip tightened, cutting off her breath, and the taste of blood flooded her mouth.

"Tell me! Did you kill my brother?" he roared, as if he intended to crush her neck.

Wen Ruwei’s face turned ghastly white. Her eyes bulged, her pupils dilated rapidly, and she could see almost nothing. She felt as if the world were receding, and darkness began to consume her vision.

Finally, she heard him roar in her ear: "I told you to speak! Did you hear me?"

The words sounded like a thunderclap in her mind. She opened her mouth, coughed up a spray of blood, and went limp.

Seeing this, Liu Yangjiang’s expression shifted. He quickly released her, caught her in his arms, and checked her pulse. He had been too rough; fortunately, she had only fainted, and the injury to her throat was not fatal.

"We found her! The Second Junior Mistress is here!"

A maid ran out from the kitchen, and Xiao Qing rushed in first.

Dazed and weak, Wen Ruwei lay on the floor. Before her, someone was kneeling. The figure was clad in rags, hair disheveled, and covered in filth. Specifically, a knife was plunged deep into the person's abdomen.

Blood flowed from the wound. She felt terrified, but her vision grew increasingly blurred.

Finally, she heard the person murmuring to himself: "Why... why did you... why... did you kill me..."

When she heard him say "kill me," the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. She felt a surge of relief and joy.

She struggled to raise her hand, wanting to touch the wound to see if it was really bleeding. But at that moment, she heard Xiao Qing’s voice: "Young Mistress... are you alright... Young Mistress..."

As the voice grew clearer, Wen Ruwei lost consciousness entirely.

Last night, Xiao Zexuan had not returned. Wen Yurou did not drift into a fitful sleep until the sky began to pale. She had intended to ask 027 what had happened, but exhaustion overtook her.

Less than an hour later, she was awakened by an argument in the courtyard.

"Get out of my way! I am her mother; I will see her whenever I please!"

Madame Wen was shouting in the courtyard, surrounded by maids trying to block her path.

"Madame Wen, please return. The Princess Consort has not yet risen. If you shout like this, I fear..."

Before the maid could finish, Madame Wen slapped her across the face.

"What Princess Consort? I am a mother seeing her own child—it is only natural!"

"You..." The maid, stung by the slap, was about to retaliate, but was stopped by someone standing nearby.