Chapter 109: The Most Poisonous Woman's Heart

Zhao Mingwu, distraught and disoriented, stumbled into Huang Xian’er’s courtyard. Noticing his unusual demeanor, Huang Xian’er stepped forward, grasping his hand. “Mingwu, what’s wrong with you?”

With a mournful expression, Zhao Mingwu replied, “You are the lady of the county magistrate, yet you never told me. Now it’s too late—our affair has been discovered by the magistrate himself. What am I to do?”

“What?” Huang Xian’er’s face paled. “How did he find out?”

The last shred of hope in Zhao Mingwu’s heart vanished. He began to weep bitterly. “So you really are the magistrate’s woman. I have brought upon myself an unbearable disaster. I don’t want to die!”

Unlike Zhao Mingwu, who was a coward, Huang Xian’er quickly regained her composure. “Everyone in this household is loyal to me. The news should not have leaked. Liu Ziyuan must be grasping at shadows. Otherwise, with his temper, he would have already sent men to kill us.”

Only then did Zhao Mingwu calm down slightly. Hesitantly, he asked, “Then what should we do?”

Huang Xian’er’s face twisted into a fierce snarl. “The next time he comes, I will probe him with words. If he suspects me, I will poison him. You must go to the nearby pharmacy and buy half a pound of arsenic.”

Zhao Mingwu collapsed to the ground in terror. “To kill an official is a grave crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations!”

Huang Xian’er sneered coldly. “If Liu Ziyuan does not die, and he uncovers my affair, do you think you will live? Either way, it’s death for us. If we kill Liu Ziyuan, we still have a chance to escape and survive. Whether you buy the arsenic or not is up to you.”

Though timid, Zhao Mingwu was not a fool. He understood that killing Liu Ziyuan was their only hope. Staggering to his feet, he rushed out of the house with a grim, ruthless expression. When life and death are at stake, even the most cowardly can summon a savage will.

Chen Hao had been hiding outside Huang Xian’er’s residence. Seeing Zhao Mingwu leave, he quietly followed him. Zhao Mingwu entered a pharmacy and emerged with a package of medicine. Observing this, a smile spread across Chen Hao’s face—his plan was about to succeed.

After watching Zhao Mingwu return to Huang Xian’er’s home, Chen Hao sought out Bai Yutang, instructing him to spread rumors at the county office about Huang Xian’er’s liaison with Zhao Mingwu. Bai Yutang did not fully grasp Chen Hao’s intentions but, after extorting twenty silver coins from him, he promptly went to the county office.

Most of the officials at the county office knew of the relationship between Huang Xian’er and Liu Ziyuan. Once the gossip about Huang Xian’er and Zhao Mingwu reached them, they whispered among themselves. Soon, the information reached Liu Ziyuan’s trusted adviser, Sun Guangyin.

Sun Guangyin approached Liu Ziyuan hesitantly. “Sir, I have overheard much talk in the office that Huang Xian’er of the Eastern City and Zhao Mingwu are involved in an illicit affair. This is quite improper, so I came to report it to you.”

Liu Ziyuan was taken aback but soon his face darkened with anger. “Is this true?”

Sun Guangyin shook his head. “It has not been confirmed. It is likely fabricated. You may wish to send someone to investigate.”

Liu Ziyuan waved his hand dismissively. “I will handle this myself. You may leave.”

After Sun Guangyin left, Liu Ziyuan slammed his fist heavily on the desk. Rising to his feet, he ordered his trusted captain of the guards, Liu Er, to prepare the carriage and change into plain clothes. He then departed the office.

Upon arriving at Huang Xian’er’s residence, Liu Er knocked on the door. The maid, upon seeing Liu Er, knew the magistrate had come and quickly led them inside.

“Qiuju, have any strangers come to this house recently?” Liu Ziyuan asked the maid.

Huang Xian’er had warned Qiuju to be prepared for Liu Ziyuan’s interrogation, so she answered calmly with a smile, “Only grandmother and my sisters live here. Uncle hasn’t visited in a long time. There have been no strangers.”

Liu Ziyuan followed Qiuju with suspicion. Soon, Huang Xian’er appeared, batting her eyes coquettishly. “Master, you haven’t visited in so long.”

Liu Ziyuan snorted coldly. “You’re secretly hoping I’ll never come again, so you can freely cavort with other men.”

Huang Xian’er’s heart tightened, realizing Liu Ziyuan had caught wind of the rumors. In that instant, she resolved to act decisively. She burst into tears, wailing, “How can you say such things? Since I came to you, I’ve stayed within these walls day and night, waiting for your arrival. And now you accuse me unjustly—I don’t want to live anymore!”

She then made a move as if to dash her head against the wall, but Qiuju and two other maids held her firmly. Liu Ziyuan, who had only heard hearsay until now, was struck by her display. He thought to himself, “Could I have wrongly accused her?”

He stepped forward, embracing Huang Xian’er’s delicate form with feigned tenderness. “I was only joking. Why do you take things so seriously? Stop crying. Let the maids prepare some wine and food, and we’ll have a little drink.”

Wiping away tears, Huang Xian’er looked aggrieved. “You love to listen to these baseless rumors. I wait for you day and night, yet you come only to reproach me.”

Soon the maids brought out food and drink, but Huang Xian’er tilted her head away, refusing to eat or drink. Naturally gifted at acting, she deceived Liu Ziyuan once again. He personally poured two cups of wine, handing one to her. “Xian’er, I was wrong to suspect you. Drink this and let your anger subside.”

Pouting, Huang Xian’er said, “I won’t drink. This wine is poisoned. Neither should you.”

Thinking she was merely sulking, Liu Ziyuan smiled apologetically. “If it’s wine prepared by Xian’er, even if it were poisoned, I would accept it. Please don’t be angry.”

“You smooth talker,” Huang Xian’er giggled. “If I hear such idle gossip again, I will ignore you forever.”

“All right, all right.” Liu Ziyuan tilted his head back and drained his cup. Huang Xian’er followed suit. Taking the wine jar, she said, “Master, you haven’t visited me for nearly a month. I miss you terribly.”

Liu Ziyuan pulled her into his arms. “I have been busy with official duties, so I come less often. I will try to visit more frequently.”

Huang Xian’er snorted coldly. “You’re busy keeping your other wife company! I don’t care. You must visit at least three times a month, or I won’t obey you.”

While speaking to distract him, she covertly twisted the mechanism on the wine jar, pouring a cup of poisoned wine for Liu Ziyuan. Holding the cup to his lips, she said, “Master, you’ve been so harsh today. I’m punishing you with three drinks.”

“I accept my punishment, I accept,” Liu Ziyuan said, downing the poisoned wine without hesitation. Fearing one cup would not suffice, Huang Xian’er poured two more cups, tricking him into drinking them as well.

“Kill me if you must!”

Soon, Liu Ziyuan was writhing on the floor, clutching his stomach in agony. Huang Xian’er approached with a face full of sorrow. “Master, I warned you the wine was poisoned. Why didn’t you listen?”

“You wretched woman...” Liu Ziyuan gasped, his words cut short as he succumbed to the poison.

Meanwhile, in the woodshed, the maids had also tricked Liu Er into drinking poisoned wine. Thus, two lives were claimed by the deadly plot.

Huang Xian’er had long since prepared her gold and valuables. After poisoning Liu Ziyuan, she summoned the hiding Zhao Mingwu, gathered the maids, and departed Penglai County in the magistrate’s carriage.