Chapter 35: Killing with a Borrowed Blade (Part II)

Exposed so openly by Anran’s question, Qin Fu’s face showed a hint of embarrassment. “You murdered a maid of the Qin household—there are witnesses and evidence. Don’t try to deny it!”

“Qin Fu, your household invited me here for a consultation. If anything happens to me in this residence, how will you explain it?” Anran demanded sternly.

“Explain?” Qin Fu sneered. “You’re just a commoner. What if you’re killed? With the Qin family’s current status, taking your life is as easy as crushing an ant!”

He stepped back a few paces, raised his arm high, and brought it down fiercely with a shout: “Release the arrows!”

The household guards naturally obeyed Qin Fu’s command. One after another, they drew their bows. The arrows sliced through the air with a subtle whistling sound, like the cry of the wind. The poison smeared on the arrowheads gleamed even more ominously in the sunlight. Anran understood at once: even if the poison was not instantly lethal, it was certainly potent enough. The intent was clear—they wanted her to leave this place as a corpse.

Anran couldn’t help but admire Leng Yiyun’s cleverness in using others to do her dirty work. Had she acted herself, suspicion would have immediately fallen upon the Lu family, putting them in a precarious position. But with the Qin household taking action, it was a different matter entirely. Any crime could easily be pinned on Anran, and with Consort Zhen’s current influence, even the Emperor would not spare Anran a second glance.

Arrows rained down. In a blur, a pale pink figure seemed to leap into the air like a wisp of cloud. Like a phantom, Anran landed lightly, one arm cradling the little fox, the other clutching a dozen poisoned arrows.

Anran was just about to return the arrows in kind when a voice, clear and gentle as a mountain stream, sounded softly: “Miss, please show mercy.”

She paused, turning around, her cold and distant eyes meeting Qin Ruoyang, who approached with a slight smile. He wore a dark, patterned silk robe, a cerulean sash at his waist, his hair flowing elegantly, his eyes as blue as the stars, his frame slender—a figure of extraordinary grace, worthy of legendary beauty.

“Greetings, young master,” came the chorus.

Qin Fu quickly composed himself, nerves jangling as he led the others in bowing to Qin Ruoyang.

“Very good,” Qin Ruoyang replied, his smile gentle as ever. He regarded Anran with refined courtesy. “Miss, let mercy temper justice.”

Anran found his words amusing. Mercy? Had he not just witnessed their attempt on her life? Had she no skill, or if her martial arts were mediocre, there would already be another cold corpse on the ground. Who would have pitied her then?

With a cold snort, Anran flung the arrows back at Qin Fu without hesitation. His legs gave out beneath him, and the force of the arrows pinned him to a wooden pillar by his clothes. Qin Fu was so terrified he lost control of himself, and a foul stench quickly spread through the air.

Anran cast an indifferent glance at the ashen-faced Qin Fu, then looked at Qin Ruoyang. Turning to the little fox in her arms, she said, “Clearly, the Qin household does not welcome us. There’s no need for you to see us out, Young Master Qin. We’re leaving.”

A dozen or so grown men shivered in fear. Had the young master not appeared, they would likely have ended up gutted on the spot. Their nerves were so rattled, they forgot to sneer at Qin Fu’s sorry state.

Qin Ruoyang’s deep eyes lingered on Anran, his gaze thoughtful, his smile broadening. “Miss, as it happens, I have invited an imperial physician to examine my mother. Would you accompany us?”

Only now did Anran follow his gaze. The elderly physician standing at a distance was already pale with fear.

“Young master, you must seek justice for Zihong! It was this vicious girl who poisoned her!” Qin Fu shouted, desperate to prevent Anran from leaving unpunished.

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