Chapter 82: The Flower Party Invitation and The Death
Wang Gege stood before the bronze mirror, carefully straightening the sleeves of her robe before giving the sash around her waist one final tug.
Satisfied, she lightly dusted off the nonexistent wrinkles on her dress before patting her stomach with a contented smile.
"Okay." She nodded to herself. "My stomach is full, my body is clean..."
She clapped her hands once.
"Now we can go meet Chuntao."
Qing’er gave her a gentle smile.
"Yes, Young Madam."
Just as Wang Gege strode toward the door, Mini’s voice suddenly echoed in her mind.
’Host... Mini senses a misfortune.’
Wang Gege’s footsteps instantly came to a halt.
Qing’er, who had already opened the door, turned around in confusion upon seeing her suddenly stop.
’Misfortune?’
’Mm... Misfortune.’ Mini’s voice became noticeably quieter. ’Mini can sense misfortune... Mini believes Host should not go to the Punishment Courtyard.’
Wang Gege’s brows gradually furrowed, ’Why?’
Mini remained silent for several seconds before replying, ’Mini... cannot tell. The feeling is very strong... Very... very strong.’
Before Wang Gege could respond to Mini, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard.
Another maidservant quickly entered through the gate before respectfully bowing.
"This servant greets Young Madam."
Qing’er turned toward the newcomer, "What happened?"
The maid respectfully raised both hands, holding a beautifully embroidered invitation card wrapped in a pale pink silk cover.
"A guard from the front residence has just delivered this." She carefully presented it to Wang Gege. "It is an invitation from the Princess Consort Jing."
Wang Gege blinked, "For me?"
"Yes, Young Madam." The maid nodded.
"The Princess Consort will be hosting a Flower Banquet three days from now and has invited the noble ladies of the capital to attend."
Qing’er’s eyes immediately widened. "The Princess Consort personally invited Young Madam?"
The maid smiled, "The guard said the invitation was specifically addressed to the Young Madam of the Xie Residence."
Wang Gege accepted the invitation with both hands before carefully opening it.
Inside was a neatly written invitation.
She skimmed through it before muttering under her breath, "A Flower Banquet?"
Qing’er smiled, "Young Madam, this is wonderful news."
Wang Gege looked up. "It is?"
"Of course." Qing’er nodded. "Only the ladies of prominent households receive invitations from the Princess Consort. Since Young Madam has recently married into the Xie family, this is also an opportunity to officially introduce Young Madam to the noble ladies of the capital."
Wang Gege slowly nodded in understanding.
"So..." She looked at the elegant invitation once more, "It’s basically an ancient version of networking."
Qing’er blinked,"Net... working?"
Wang Gege coughed lightly. "I mean... making friends."
Wang Gege nodded gently before carefully closing the invitation.
"I understand."
She handed it back to Qing’er.
"Keep it safely for me."
"Yes, Young Madam."
The maidservant bowed once more before quietly taking her leave.
Only after she had disappeared beyond the courtyard did Wang Gege let out a small sigh.
"Well then..." She gently stretched her arms above her head before turning toward Qing’er, "Let’s head to the Punishment Courtyard."
Qing’er immediately lowered her head.
"Yes, Young Madam."
The two of them left the courtyard at an unhurried pace, with Mini quietly following behind in Hidden Mode.
As they walked deeper into the Xie Residence, the atmosphere gradually became quieter.
The lively chatter of servants slowly disappeared, replaced by rows of heavily guarded corridors leading toward the secluded punishment courtyard.
Not long afterward...
The tall wooden gates of the Punishment Courtyard came into view.
Several guards stood outside with swords hanging from their waists.
The moment they noticed Wang Gege approaching, all of them immediately straightened before cupping their fists.
"This subordinate greets Young Madam."
However, one of the guards looked up in surprise.
"Young Madam..." He hesitated for a brief moment before asking respectfully, "May this subordinate ask why Young Madam has come to the Punishment Courtyard today?"
Wang Gege looked at him in confusion. "Chuntao requested to see me."
The guards exchanged glances with one another, "Requested to see Young Madam?"
"Yes."
The guard frowned, "This subordinate has not received any instructions from the Young Master regarding Young Madam’s visit."
Another guard stepped forward and respectfully added, "Without the Young Master’s order... this subordinate does not dare open the gates."
The smile on Wang Gege’s face gradually disappeared. She glanced at Qing’er, who looked just as confused.
"But..." Wang Gege frowned slightly. "Didn’t one of you send word to my courtyard this morning that Chuntao wished to see me?"
The guards exchanged puzzled glances.
"This subordinate did no such thing."
Silence.
Wang Gege slowly turned toward Qing’er, "Qing’er... which one of them informed you this morning? Show me."
Qing’er immediately looked toward the guards standing before them. Her eyes swept across each familiar face. One by one.
Yet... The longer she searched, the paler her face became.
"Young Madam..." Her voice trembled slightly. "This servant... don’t see him."
Wang Gege’s brows instantly knitted together. "Are you certain?"
Qing’er nodded repeatedly.
"Yes." She looked around once more before adding anxiously, "This servant remembers clearly. He was dressed exactly like the guards standing here, but... but that person isn’t among them."
The guard captain immediately stepped forward.
"Young Madam, every guard assigned to the Punishment Courtyard has remained at this post since dawn. None of us has left without the Young Master’s permission."
Wang Gege’s expression gradually turned serious.
If that was true... Then who had gone to her courtyard this morning?
At that very moment, Mini’s anxious voice echoed inside her mind once again.
’Host... The feeling of misfortune is becoming stronger.’
Wang Gege’s heart suddenly sank.
"Open the gates." She looked directly at the guard captain. "Immediately."
"Young Madam..." The guard hesitated before exchanging a glance with the guards beside him. "This subordinate cannot allow Young Madam to enter without the Young Master’s permission."
"Then ask him now!" Wang Gege’s voice rose for the first time. "Immediately!"
The guards looked at one another but remained rooted to their spots.
Wang Gege took a deep breath before raising her voice once more.
"Mo Yan!"
Silence answered her.
Qing’er nervously looked around, while the guards lowered their heads, not daring to utter another word.
Only after several breaths did a dark figure silently descend from the rooftop.
Mo Yan landed steadily before Wang Gege and respectfully cupped his fist. "Young Madam."
Wang Gege looked straight at him. "Open the gates."
Mo Yan looked at the tightly shut wooden doors before shifting his gaze back to Wang Gege.
Although he did not know what had happened, he could clearly see the urgency in Wang Gege’s expression.
After a brief pause, he calmly ordered, "Open the gates."
The guards were visibly startled.
"But... Captain Mo..."
Mo Yan’s gaze swept across them, "If the Young Master asks, this captain will bear the responsibility."
The guards immediately lowered their heads.
"Yes!"
Moments later, the heavy wooden gates slowly creaked open.
Without another word, Wang Gege hurried deeper into the Punishment Courtyard.
"Young Madam!"
Qing’er quickly followed behind, while Mo Yan and the guards exchanged uneasy glances before rushing after her.
Wang Gege’s footsteps echoed through the unusually silent courtyard.
The further she walked... The heavier the uneasiness in her chest became.
She knew the way. The last chamber, that was where Chuntao had been confined.
When she finally stopped before the familiar wooden door, her breathing had already become uneven.
The guard immediately stepped forward.
"This subordinate will open it." His hands moved quickly to unlock the heavy iron lock.
The wooden door slowly creaked open.
Wang Gege instinctively looked inside and the moment her eyes landed on a figure her pupils suddenly contracted.
"Chuntao!"
She rushed into the room without another thought.
Chuntao no longer sat upon the wooden bed as she had the day before. Instead, her body had collapsed forward beside it.
Her forehead rested against the edge of the bed, while streaks of dark red blood flowed from the corner of her mouth, staining the front of her clothes and dripping onto the cold stone floor below.
The entire room fell deathly silent.
Wang Gege froze where she stood.
"No!"