Reborn, the daughter of the Marquisate went crazy

The night is slightly intoxicating, and the moon is above the willows.

Xie Qingli had just stepped into the courtyard when she suddenly saw a white figure swooping down from the wall. With a flick of her fingertips, three silver needles were already tucked between her fingers, a cold light flickering.

"Junior sister." The man called softly with a clear voice.

Xie Qingli's fingertips paused, and she looked up, only to see Wuyou, clad in a white Taoist robe, shrouded in mist in the night. She put away her silver needle, a look of surprise still lingering in her eyes. "Brother? How did you find yourself here? Could it be... that Master has some news?"

Taking a few steps closer, Xie Qingli finally saw that Wuyou was carrying a divination banner slung across his back, inscribed with the words "Divine Calculations." She couldn't help but frown and asked, "When did Senior Brother... start doing this? What trouble has he run into?"

"I..." Wuyou was about to explain when he suddenly heard a long, gurgling sound from his stomach. The normally dignified Taoist priest, Wuyou, froze in place, his ears visibly turning red.

"Puchi..." Xie Qingli quickly covered his lips with his sleeves, but couldn't hide the smile in his eyes: "Brother, please follow me." As he said that, he led the man to the flower hall, turned around and told the maid to prepare the meal.

Wuyou ate two bowls of rice before putting down his chopsticks, his expression slightly relieved. "Yesterday, while practicing, I got a divination, and it indicated that it would be a good day to travel. I also observed the sky and saw that the Purple Star was dim..." He pointed to the divination pen leaning against the wall and said helplessly, "I've been carrying this thing around all day."

Xie Qingli held the kettle and poured him a cup of tea, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes: "Did you meet anyone interesting?"

Wuyou took a sip from his teacup. "Most of them are ordinary people seeking wealth and fortune. But... since noon, someone has been secretly following me. When dusk fell, I pretended to close my stall, and then the man appeared. He was a wealthy man dressed in cloud-patterned brocade."

He put down his teacup, his expression growing serious. "That man stopped me and asked if I could break the spell. I said I wanted to see it with my own eyes, and he immediately wanted to take me back home. I had to use the excuse of having something to do at home and agreed to visit again tomorrow, and that's how I got away."

Witchcraft? Xie Qingli's eyes flashed: "Where is the meeting?"

"The back door of Prince Zhong's mansion." Wuyou lowered his voice and said, "Three quarters past midnight."

Xie Qingli abruptly stood up, a cold glint in her eyes. If her suspicions were correct, Prince Zhong's move was intended to break the Prince of Qi's control over the Celestial Emperor. But Prince Zhong had always been a laid-back prince. Why hadn't the Queen Mother and Empress Meng taken action yet, when he had taken the initiative?

She poured another cup of tea and told him her speculation that the King of Qi controlled Emperor Yingtian.

"This..." Wuyou's pupils shrank suddenly, and he almost dropped the teacup in his hand. "But Master clearly said that on the eve of the snow disaster ritual, he found Master's uncle's hiding place in the palace. Knowing that Master's uncle had committed serious sins, Master had already cleansed the door and sent his soul into reincarnation. How could it be..."

He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white. "If it really is my uncle, with his cultivation level, I'm afraid I won't be able to resist..."

Xie Qingli's brows were filled with unresolved worry: "Brother, why don't you send a message to Master..."

"No need." Wuyou suddenly raised his head, and with his Adam's apple rolling, he drank the remaining tea in one gulp. He said sternly: "Since the hexagram led me into this game, it is my karma."

He stood up, picked up the hexagram banner on the corner, and said softly: "Don't worry, junior sister, I will make all preparations..." Before he finished speaking, he left gracefully.

Xie Qingli's fingertips unconsciously traced the rim of the cup, her thoughts in a mess. The palace walls were high and the guards were tight. How could she sneak into the palace in broad daylight without being noticed and help her senior brother?

As she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard the soft rustle of the pearl curtain behind her. Turning back, she saw Leng Shuang standing silently beside the screen, whispering, "Miss, I just heard that the Empress Dowager suffered a sudden emergency yesterday, and the Imperial Hospital was helpless. Today, the Third Prince's Mansion sent someone to Miaoxin Hall, specifically requesting Young Master Wuwang to come into the palace for treatment."

"The Third Prince's Mansion?" Xie Qingli paused, a hint of surprise flashing across his eyes. "When did the Third Prince return to the capital?"

Leng Shuang took a half step forward, her voice lowered. "This morning, as soon as the city gates opened, the Third Prince quietly entered the city with a small entourage. I think he heard the news that the Emperor had found the Prince of Qi, so he rushed back day and night without even finishing his disaster relief work."

Xie Qingli pursed his lips, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Are the other princes going to return?"

Leng Shuang leaned forward slightly, her voice calm and composed, "The Second Prince is merely a figurehead, his duties are all handled by the Meng family. Luozhou, where he's headed, is less than a hundred miles from Shengjing. If word gets out, he can be back in half a day. The Fifth Prince doesn't seek merit in his duties, but only wants to avoid mistakes. Disaster relief efforts rely entirely on the intervention of prefectural officials, so I'm afraid he won't return to the capital early to wade into this mess."

"As for His Royal Highness..." She paused briefly, looking into her young lady's calm eyes. "The two states His Royal Highness is visiting have suffered the most severe damage and are also the farthest from Shengjing. I'm afraid he won't be able to return for a while."

Xie Qingli had a faint sneer on the corner of his lips. Well, these few people in the capital are enough to put on a big show.

She raised her eyes to look at Leng Shuang, the corners of her lips raised slightly: "Have Miaoxintang reply to the Third Prince's Mansion and tell them that Young Master Wuwang has accepted the offer and will enter the palace to see the Empress Dowager tomorrow."

Leng Shuang frowned, "Miss, there are murderous intentions within the palace walls. You are putting yourself in danger without any backup. I'm afraid you will be plotted against. It's better to wait until His Royal Highness the Crown Prince returns..."

"I can't wait." Xie Qingli tapped his fingertips lightly on the table and whispered, "If that madman Lingxuan really gets this kingdom, I'm afraid this world will turn into a living hell. Brother, as a novice, is willing to enter this vortex of power and intrigue. How can I let him fight alone?"

……

The next morning, when it was dim, the carriage from the Third Prince's Mansion was already waiting outside Miaoxin Hall.

Xie Qingli was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, his hair tied with a jade crown, and a long white silk tassel at his waist, looking just like the legendary doctor Wuwang Gongzi, renowned throughout the capital. Leng Shuang had also changed into the attire of a servant, but his expression was fierce.

"Young Master, it's getting late." Leng Shuang reminded softly.

Xie Qingli took his time, picked up the teacup and took a sip before slowly standing up.

At the entrance of the alley, a luxurious carriage, gilded with gold and silver, was parked quietly. Four servants in blue, like stone sculptures, stood on either side, waiting for half an hour without a trace of impatience on their faces. Upon seeing the two men emerge, the leader immediately bowed and saluted, "Young Master, please step aboard."

Xie Qingli lifted his skirt lightly and stepped onto the riding stool. His peripheral vision passed over the motionless figures, and a ripple of emotion appeared in his eyes. In his previous life, the Third Prince was able to aspire to the throne. It seemed that he not only relied on the power behind him, but also had a truly extraordinary ability to control his subordinates...

The carriage curtain lifted, revealing a man in a dark blue, cloud-patterned uniform. He looked up at the sound, a gentle smile spreading across his jade-like face, his gaze, like a deep pool, piercing hers.

Xie Qingli had not expected the Third Prince to come in person. Slightly startled, he hurriedly bowed, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you. I was unaware of your presence and failed to greet you. This is truly disrespectful. I hope your Highness will forgive me."

"Young Master, there's no need to be so polite." The Third Prince raised his hand to support her, his voice as gentle as jade. "I've always known your rule of not visiting patients in person, but it's just that the Empress Dowager is seriously ill and can't get up. The Imperial Hospital is helpless, so I had no choice but to come and ask for your help. Young Master is willing to break this rule for me, and I'm very grateful. How can I blame you?"