Qi Yuan took the handkerchief and carefully wiped away the powder from her eyes, little by little.
Xiao Yunting had originally been calm and collected, but as Qi Yuan remained silent, he began to grow uneasy. Fortunately, there were wells dug in these courtyards. He quickly went to draw some water, dampened the cloth, and couldn’t help but stop Qi Yuan as she was about to leave.
Qi Yuan turned back with a puzzled look.
The powder hadn’t been fully cleaned off her face, so her vision was still a little blurry, and the corners of her eyes were stinging badly. Her entire face was flushed red.
Xiao Yunting had wanted to tease her, but seeing her like this, he suddenly found himself unable to say anything.
How much suffering must this girl have endured to be forged into someone so unyielding?
That powder was pungent enough to choke even him from afar, yet Qi Yuan had taken it directly to the eyes and hadn’t even made a sound—hadn’t uttered a single cry of pain.
After a pause, he said softly, “You haven’t finished cleaning that off yet. How are you going to kill anyone like this?”
As he spoke, he handed over the damp cloth.
Qi Yuan wiped her eyes again, and sure enough, it felt better. She seriously replied, “No need to kill anyone now. Who else is left to kill?”
Then, she paused slightly and said in a low voice, “Your Highness, you saw what happened today. These girls… they’re all pitiful.”
Falling into a brothel was already a misfortune. But to end up in Yihong Courtyard, a place even worse than ordinary brothels?
Even if they were free now, that freedom was only temporary. Who knew what awaited them?
They needed a place to go.
But there were too many of them. She didn’t yet have the means to support them.
She looked up at Xiao Yunting, visibly hesitating—something rare for her.
Because she knew full well, even for Xiao Yunting, this request was no small ask.
Xiao Yunting understood her meaning. After a long silence, he furrowed his brows and said, “This matter has already become public. The authorities also bear responsibility for turning a blind eye to such a place. I will petition His Majesty to provide some silver in compensation, so that these girls can choose whether to return to good standing.”
That was already quite generous. Qi Yuan let out a deep breath and thanked him earnestly.
Xiao Yunting felt a bit uncomfortable at her formality. He gazed at her and suddenly asked, “Why are you so familiar with this place?”
So familiar it was as if she had lived there for a long time.
Qi Yuan smiled and said jokingly, “Didn’t I tell Your Highness before? I’ve lived a second life. Just think of it as me having come here in that past one.”
Xiao Yunting was left speechless and simply followed her out. In the open space outside, they found Qingtao.
Qingtao had been terrified. The moment she saw Qi Yuan, she burst into tears.
She had just been sold to Yihong Courtyard not long ago. Every day she was beaten and scolded. If she dared disobey, the madam had countless ways to punish her. She no longer knew how to live normally—didn’t even know where she could go.
Qi Yuan held her hand and found it icy cold. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “Do you want to go home?”
“I don’t have a home!” Qingtao sobbed. “It was my own father who sold me. I don’t have a home anymore. Even if I go back, they’ll just sell me off again.”
Qi Yuan listened carefully, then asked, “How about staying at my manor in the outskirts for now?”
It wasn’t about being softhearted, but once fate brought them together, she couldn’t just watch her suffer.
She only killed those who wanted to harm her.
But that didn’t mean she was a bloodthirsty demon devoid of compassion. Heaven cherishes life. Since she had the chance to live again, she ought to do some good.
Of course, this didn’t apply to her enemies.
Qingtao gratefully agreed.
Qi Yuan arranged for someone trustworthy to escort Qingtao to the Qi family villa on the outskirts of the capital.
By the time everything was done, daylight had broken.
Baizhi, who had been taken away by Liujin earlier, hadn’t slept a wink. She’d been worrying all night, afraid that something might happen to Qi Yuan.
When she finally saw her return, she broke into sobs.
Qi Yuan smiled and patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. With His Highness around, nothing could go too wrong.”
Xiao Yunting inwardly scoffed.
He couldn’t tell at all that he held any special place in her eyes.
Still, he had no time to bicker. Yihong Courtyard was burning now—and it wasn’t going to be extinguished easily.
He beckoned Babao and whispered, “Pressure the magistrate of Baodi County. Order a full-scale manhunt for the fugitive, Hong Xiao!”
After a pause, he added, “Your people keep a close watch on her too. Don’t let her die—but don’t let her live comfortably either. Understood?”
Last night, Qi Yuan obviously hadn’t really been blinded by Hong Xiao’s powder. Not with him nearby—how could he have let Hong Xiao escape?
They had let her go on purpose.
Hong Xiao was Zhan Wenhui’s lover. For years, Zhan Wenhui had neglected his wife and doted on her deeply, and she returned his devotion.
Now, Qi Wang had silenced Zhan Wenhui, and was cleaning house—wiping out Yihong Courtyard too.
Given Hong Xiao’s personality, how could she possibly swallow this?
Now that things were in chaos, she would be the sharpest blade.
Babao, normally all jokes and grins, instantly understood the gravity of the situation and agreed without hesitation.
Only then did Xiao Yunting turn back to Qi Yuan.
After a night of turmoil, her clothes were in disarray and her hair a mess.
He coughed and finally remembered something serious. “You were out all night. At home, they must be…”
Qi Yuan raised her brow and looked at him as if it were only natural: “Your Highness, I was out all night because you invited me out to Yihong Courtyard. So you should smooth things over for me, right?”
After all, for a woman of the inner court, not returning home for a night was no small matter.
She wasn’t afraid—but she didn’t want to waste time dealing with rumors and interrogations.
Besides, this whole mess had been stirred up by Xiao Yunting. He should take care of it.
Xiao Yunting didn’t object. He nodded and actually escorted her home himself.
At that moment, Qi Zhen and the old Marquis were already beside themselves with worry.
Qi Zhen, furious, barked, “I’ve been far too indulgent! She’s simply…”
Completely out of control!
The old Marquis, by contrast, was more composed. Watching Qi Zhen pacing in a frenzy, he frowned and snorted, “Enough. What use is all this fuss? She’s never been an ordinary noble daughter. Didn’t you already know that?”
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