Chapter 13: Coming to Stir Up Trouble (Part Three)

Before the new emperor, he had only managed to protect Leng Yiran alone, though he had no intention of pleading for her. The rest of the Leng family met with execution or exile to the frontier. She, bearing a striking resemblance to Leng Yiran—seven parts alike—chose to kill her radiant younger sister in order to survive, then assumed her place.

To keep the secret of that night, apart from Nanny Gu, herself, and Lu Anrong, all others were silenced by her hand. The girl before them was no more than fourteen or fifteen, yet her careless words carried a weighty undertone—who was she really?

Nanny Gu was her wet nurse, trustworthy beyond doubt, and Lu Anrong would never speak of that matter. Was this mere coincidence, or did she truly know something?

Anran curled her lips into a cold smile; she had already anticipated Leng Yiyun’s conflicted mind, doubting yet disbelieving. The sight delighted her.

She neither confirmed nor denied, letting a thread of deep hatred shimmer in her gaze. “Heh... it was just an offhand remark, Madam Prime Minister. Why so agitated? Could it be that Madam Lu harbors some unspeakable secret?” Anran laughed coldly, her eyes sharp. “Madam Lu, I am busy finding food for my little fox!”

Now, Anran had no patience to spar with her, and the little fox cooperated, nudging its head and fixing a fierce stare on Madam Leng, ready to leap and bite at any moment.

Madam Leng felt her breath catch. This girl dared compare her to a fox—indeed, she seemed less than the beast cradled in Anran’s arms. “You wretched girl, you injured my son, broke his leg, and crippled him. The laws of Moon City clearly state: if you break someone’s legs, yours will be broken as punishment! Do it yourself!”

“Again with ‘wretched’? Heh... The legitimate daughter is noble, the concubine’s daughter is lowly—who is noble, who is base? Does Madam Lu not possess a scale in her heart?” Anran scoffed, leaned close to whisper in her ear, then withdrew with the fox in her arms, declaring aloud:

“If the law is so, then I am only executing justice! The noble son’s actions were witnessed by all the townsfolk. I acted out of righteous indignation—does Madam Lu condone her second son’s disregard for law, his malicious harm? And tell me, is his leg truly crippled? Who made such a declaration—a useless, incompetent doctor?”

Anran’s methods were unique. Ordinary physicians were helpless; Lu Junfan’s legs were indeed doomed. Yet she alone possessed the skill to heal him—if her conditions were met.

Her barrage left Madam Leng reeling. She could neither defend her son’s conduct nor admit that she had allowed it, lest the entire Lu family be drowned in public scorn.

“What? His legs aren’t crippled?” Hearing this, Madam Leng’s heart leapt with joy. If he could not be healed, it was only Doctor Shen’s conclusion. The Imperial Hospital boasted countless skilled physicians—could none of them cure him?

“Yes, not yet crippled! If help comes swiftly, perhaps there’s still hope!” Anran glanced at the sky, her words casual, yet they sent Madam Leng running.

“Hurry, hurry, back to the manor! We’ll settle with her later!”

The crowd, seeing Madam Prime Minister depart, dispersed in clusters after casting curious glances at Anran. The girl was indeed audacious!

Anran watched Leng Yiyun’s retreating figure, gently stroking the fox’s head, a cold smile curling her lips. Leng Yiyun, the game has only just begun.