Baizhi hadn’t noticed anything strange at first, after all, she didn’t know Feng Caiyin. But when Qi Yuan’s expression suddenly changed, and she began to carefully feel around Feng Caiyin’s face, Baizhi finally gasped belatedly: “Miss! Isn’t… isn’t this the same Miss Caiyin who just went to the back mountain with our Young Master Changting?!”
Even Baizhi now realized something was wrong. She clutched Qi Yuan’s sleeve nervously: “Miss, what do we do now?”
Qi Yuan remained calm and expressionless. She pressed a finger to the philtrum under Feng Caiyin’s nose, quickly took out a gold needle, and pricked Feng Caiyin’s fingertip to let blood. Before long, Feng Caiyin slowly regained consciousness.
She was groggy at first. When she saw Qi Yuan and Baizhi, she instinctively tried to struggle, but her limbs were too weak, and she collapsed again.
“You were drugged,” Qi Yuan said as she put the needle away and glanced at her. “How are you feeling now?”
Feng Caiyin clutched her aching head and pressed a hand to her neck. After a moment, she could finally see their faces clearly and quickly sat up to thank them.
Qi Yuan shook her head. “It’s nothing. Miss Feng, you know what you came to the mountain for, don’t you?”
A flash of embarrassment crossed Feng Caiyin’s face, but she nodded and said softly, “I… I came to burn incense with my second grandaunt.”
That grandaunt was Madam Feng.
Qi Yuan nodded and raised an eyebrow. “And then?”
Feng Caiyin winced at the pain in her head, but still tried to recall, “Then… then Grandmother said she was going to offer longevity lamps for my brother and Cousin Caiwei, and told me to go rest in the meditation quarters…”
She returned there, but Madam Feng never came back.
Instead, she had a little monk bring her some snacks and tea.
After she ate, someone came saying Madam Feng wanted her to go to another meditation room in the front hall.
She started walking… and then everything went dark.
Feng Caiyin was not a gullible girl. Thinking back now, her hair stood on end.
Even if it was just to offer longevity lamps, couldn’t she have gone with them?
Wasn’t this whole trip meant to let her meet a potential match?
And why wasn’t she allowed a maidservant with her?
Why did she pass out right after eating?
Feng Caiyin suddenly grabbed Qi Yuan’s wrist tightly. “Miss, please, I beg you, help me! I need to see my great-uncle! I want to see my grandparents!”
Seeing how quickly she had pieced things together, without breaking down or wailing, Qi Yuan couldn’t help but think of the Feng Caiyin from her past life.
She truly was a good girl.
Which was why she didn’t deserve to die in that cold, merciless sea.
She had fought to the death to protect the people but her husband had defected to the japanese pirates.
But all that no longer mattered now.
Qi Yuan nodded gently. “Alright.” Then she looked to Baizhi: “Take Miss Caiyin to Master Feng. I’m heading out for a bit.”
Baizhi saw how urgent things were and quickly helped Feng Caiyin up, taking her to find Feng Yuzhang.
Qi Yuan, meanwhile, went straight to the back mountain.
Whether the one with Changting was the real Feng Caiyin or a fake didn’t matter.
What mattered was, Feng Yuzhang truly wanted to build this marriage alliance. So this could not have been his doing.
Which meant, if someone else had sent a fake Feng Caiyin to meet Qi Changting, it could only be with malicious intent.
What better way to sabotage the Qi family than to ruin this engagement?
Qi Yuan, being a killer by trade, naturally approached the problem with a killer’s logic. Her eyes turned cold, and she immediately sped off toward the back mountain.
—
Feng Yuzhang was currently having tea with Second Master Qi.
He laughed and said, “Who would’ve thought? Our families becoming in-laws, it must be fate!”
Second Master Qi felt uneasy. After all, the engagement wasn’t confirmed yet. Who knew what might happen?
He shook his head cautiously. “It depends on whether the children get along. Marriage is a big deal, it’s not something to rush.”
Now that the Qi family held the reins, whatever they said went.
Feng Yuzhang naturally wouldn’t argue. He smiled and agreed, though deep down, he felt confident.
Unlike Caiwei, Caiyin was truly an exceptional young lady.
She loved to read, and she had a strong sense of justice.
Even as a child, if she saw her younger cousins being bullied, she’d always stand up for them.
A girl like that, he was certain Qi Changting would like her.
—
Qi Changting was currently stiff and awkward, not even sure where to put his hands.
The Qi family had always been extremely strict about young men and women.
Even the troublemaker Qi Yunting had never dared cross the line.
As for Qi Changting, he did nothing but study. He’d never even thought about girls, let alone how to talk to one.
After agonizing for a while, he finally forced out a conversation starter: “Miss Feng, d-do you think these murals… resemble the style of Dunhuang?”
The ‘Feng Caiyin’ beside him gave him a sideways glance, a faint sneer tugging at her lips. “Has Third Young Master ever been to Dunhuang?”
Qi Changting replied honestly, “No, I haven’t but I’ve read about it, and I’ve seen rubbings. The artistry is breathtaking, truly a national treasure!”
As he spoke, his face lit up with enthusiasm. Smiling, he continued, “I heard there are deserts out there, camels, and even the lost kingdom of Loulan. I’ve always wanted to see it.”
Though the back mountain was quiet, there were still a few old monks guarding the area.
‘Feng Caiyin’ gave a perfunctory “oh” and then said, “Shall we go to the Thread of Sky to see the Wealth God Temple?”
Feilai Peak got its name from its unique terrain.
At its narrowest point, only one person could pass through, earning it the nickname Thread of Sky.
Beyond that path lay the Wealth God Temple. Local legend said that the martial deity, moved by the spirit of the land, had transformed into Feilai Peak itself.
The people wholeheartedly believed this.
Despite the narrowness of the path, visitors came in droves every year.
Seeing her take the initiative to speak, Qi Changting sighed in relief and smiled. “Sure! I’ve always wanted to see it.”
He took the lead to clear a path ahead.
‘Feng Caiyin’ looked visibly impatient. After descending twenty steep steps, they finally reached the Thread of Sky. As she watched Qi Changting marvel at the scenery ahead, a flicker of killing intent appeared in her eyes.
Then, suddenly, she pulled out a dagger and stabbed it straight at Qi Changting’s back.
Qi Changting had just spotted light ahead. He turned and smiled: “Miss Feng, look! The path clears up ahead, we’re almost at the Wealth God—”
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