NOVEL NEXT Chapter 58
In the eastern part of the imperial city, tension hung heavy in the air within the Jun family’s courtyard.
Lady Shangguan, her expression dark, fixed a harsh gaze on the servants kneeling before her. “You are all utterly useless! Not one of you can apprehend Jun Jiu. Am I squandering my resources on you for nothing?”
“Lady, please, remain calm!”
Calm down? How could she possibly be calm? Each day without capturing Jun Jiu felt like a thorn piercing her heart.
Just then, Qiuyu entered and announced, “Lady, Miss has returned.”
A smile brightened Lady Shangguan’s face as she turned her attention to Jun Yunxue. She was immensely satisfied with her daughter. Jun Yunxue possessed not only exquisite beauty but also grace and an extraordinary demeanor. Even if she were not the country’s foremost beauty, her daughter could easily claim that title. Who could compare to her?
However, as Jun Yunxue approached, Lady Shangguan noticed the furrow on her daughter’s forehead and sensed her displeasure. Lady Shangguan inquired, “What’s troubling you? Xue’r, you should be delighted after accompanying the Crown Prince to the Alchemy Pavilion, shouldn’t you?”
“Mother, I encountered a servant girl named Jun Jiu at the Alchemy Pavilion.”
“What!” Lady Shangguan was taken aback.
She dismissed the servants and seized Jun Yunxue’s hand, urging her to explain. Jun Yunxue recounted the events at the Alchemy Pavilion.
Jun Yunxue had a nagging feeling that Jun Jiu would bring trouble.
Lady Shangguan furrowed her brow, deep in thought. “Xue’r, the servant girl you mentioned, Jun Jiu, appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen years old, correct?”
“Yes. Mother, you don’t genuinely believe that she’s an alchemist, do you? That useless girl couldn’t possibly be an alchemist. Jun Jiu couldn’t have orchestrated today’s incident. She’s like a frightened mouse, cowering in a corner and crying.”
“No,” Lady Shangguan did not dispel her doubts. She had sensed something amiss from the information brought back by Jun Waner and Jun Cheng.
At this point, even the slightest doubt couldn’t be ignored.
Lady Shangguan promptly ordered Qiuyu, “Go! Qiuyu, investigate Jun Jiu’s whereabouts. Whether it’s her or not, bring her to our residence. If she’s innocent, consider it an opportunity to make friends with an alchemist. But if it is her, eliminate her!”
“Yes,” Qiuyu complied.
However, as she reached the door, a figure barged in, knocking her to the ground. “Oh!”
“Lady, please, save me! I don’t want to die! Lady, please, save me!” Jun Waner rushed in, dropped to her knees, and her voice quivered with fear and panic.
“Outrageous! How dare you… Ah!” Qiuyu got up and was about to see Jun Waner’s face when she screamed in horror.
Jun Waner’s face had begun to decay and was particularly horrifying.
Jun Waner covered her face and sobbed, “Lady, it’s Jun Jiu’s poison, and the alchemists can’t cure it. Lady, please, save me!”
“Guards, remove her!” Without even sparing a glance for Jun Waner, Lady Shangguan ordered her to be taken away.
Jun Yunxue took a deep breath and spoke, “Mother, is that Jun Waner from the Fengluo City branch of the Jun family? How did she end up like this, and why did she claim that Jun Jiu’s antidote couldn’t heal her?”
“Xue’r, the Fengluo City branch of the Jun family was annihilated, and Jun Jiu was responsible! The poison afflicting Jun Waner is also from her. Do you now understand why I wanted to bring that Jun Jiu here?”
“Jun Jiu slaughtered the Fengluo City branch of the Jun family and poisoned Jun Waner! How is that possible?”
“Mother suspects that the Yun family aided her!”
…
Jun Waner was dragged away, and Qiuyu, her eyes filled with disdain and contempt, glared at her. “Jun Waner, if you dare to cross our lady again, be cautious about your life!”
“I didn’t offend her. Lady promised to heal me!” Jun Waner’s eyes gleamed with hatred as she stared at Qiuyu.
Qiuyu was unnerved by her gaze and grew even more irate. “Who knows what kind of poison Jun Jiu used on you. If it can’t be cured, it can’t be cured. You’re just a branch family’s young miss. You have no right to waste our alchemists’ time. Now, get out!”
Jun Waner seethed with resentment. She clawed at the ground. In half a month, she would succumb to the poison!
As she reached for her face, she felt the slimy residue of the rot. Trembling with fear, she promptly stood up and dashed out of the Jun residence. She needed to find Jun Jiu!
However, Jun Waner had no idea where Jun Jiu might be. She ran through the streets and alleys of the imperial city, searching tirelessly all day. Exhausted, she finally collapsed on the ground.
As she fell, she heard a “thud.” When she touched her face, she felt a piece of flesh falling off.
“Ah! Ah! Ah!”
Amidst her terrified screams, a pair of feet appeared in front of Jun Waner. She looked up and saw Biluo. Biluo’s eyes were vacant and devoid of life. “Miss Jiu wants to see you.”
“Where is she? Where is she? Take me to her quickly!”
Jun Waner was brought to a private room in a teahouse. She immediately knelt down. “Jun Jiu! I’ve delivered the message. You promised me the antidote. Where is it? Please, give me the antidote!”
“You’re too loud.”
Jun Waner quickly covered her mouth. She noticed that her fingers had decayed down to the bones. She quivered with fear.
Too terrifying!
She had heard that Jun Lei had transformed into a mass of rotting flesh, with even his bones deteriorating. Once the alchemists were unable to save her, Jun Waner lived in constant dread and despair.
She anxiously peered at Jun Jiu. She realized that Jun Jiu had become even more exquisite compared to when they were in Fengluo City. It was as if she had shed her ugly duckling appearance to reveal her true self. Meanwhile, Jun Waner was trapped in a living nightmare.
“The antidote.”
Jun Jiu flicked a pill with her fingertips, and Jun Waner hastily retrieved it and swallowed it. As the pill entered her stomach, she let out a sigh of relief. She was saved!
“Jun Waner.” Jun Jiu’s voice was cold, and Jun Waner shuddered.
She gazed at Jun Jiu in terror. The latter was seated in a chair, leisurely savoring a pastry. She looked down at Jun Waner with a scornful expression, as though she were sne
ering at an ant.
Jun Jiu spoke, “Now, I want you to undertake a second task.”
“What… what task?”
“Keep an eye on the Jun family. Record their movements and actions. Biluo will come here every three days to collect the information. If I don’t see you or if you tip off the Jun family, your fate will be worse than Jun Lei’s.”
Jun Waner trembled uncontrollably.
She no longer dared to defy Jun Jiu. Her life was entirely in Jun Jiu’s hands, and she had no desire to die. She had to comply.
Trembling, Jun Waner stammered, “Jun Jiu, I overheard Lady Shangguan and her daughter discussing a plan to invite you to a banquet, but in reality, they intend to harm you!”
“Oh?”
“It’s absolutely true! I’m not lying to you.” Jun Waner attempted to please Jun Jiu.
Jun Jiu didn’t doubt Jun Waner’s words. Lady Shangguan had encountered her, and when she returned, she would undoubtedly inform Lady Shangguan. Given Lady Shangguan’s relentless vindictiveness, she wouldn’t let go of any leads or opportunities.
Nonetheless, Jun Jiu had no intention of attending the banquet. She would let Lady Shangguan fret over her inability to locate her.
Jun Jiu had more important matters to attend to, such as auctioning her elixirs.
Her notoriety had spread far and wide after the incident at the Alchemy Pavilion. When the Yun family proudly auctioned her elixirs, they were snatched up without hesitation, no matter the price. People couldn’t help but sing praises for Saintly Hand Jun Jiu when they discovered that her elixirs surpassed their expectations and outperformed anything they had previously purchased.
No one mentioned the rumors of the Jun family being wastrels anymore. Instead, everyone was now singing the praises of Saintly Hand Jun Jiu.
Lady Shangguan, unable to locate Jun Jiu, was left fuming.