The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

The woman's voice was low and hoarse, making it impossible to identify who it was. Qiu Lingfeng wasn't stupid; she naturally understood that the woman was disguising her voice. Her eyes were fixed on the porcelain bottle in the woman's hand, but she still asked warily, "Do you think I would believe you have no ulterior motives? Besides, how do I know if this is genuine? Or is it just a charade to embarrass me in front of the Crown Prince?"

Upon hearing this, the woman sneered, "Why should I do something pointless? Who do you think is behind your appearance here? Do you think the Crown Prince cares about your safety?"

Qiu Lingfeng, you are a smart person. The Qiu family has lost its value to Murong Chuan. The Shangguan family has been implicated and destroyed because of this. Therefore, there is no need for the Qiu family to exist. As for you, apart from your good looks, I really can't think of anything else that Murong Chuan could find attractive.

But now, you've lost even your most prized asset. Tell me, do you really still hold a place in his eyes? Wake up! He's the Crown Prince. Even if he once liked you, he wouldn't want a withered flower. So, your death is actually a good thing for Murong Chuan.

Qiu Lingfeng turned pale as she listened to what was said. How could she not have thought of these things? But she just didn't want to believe them. She would rather keep herself in the dark and live in the lies she had woven than believe that these things were real.

Because she truly loved Murong Chuan; she had fallen in love with him the first time she saw him as a child.

Seeing the struggle in her eyes, the woman suddenly smiled and said, "Since you don't believe what I say, nor the miraculous effects of this medicine I have, then I'll leave. After all, I'm not the one who needs to gamble."

As the woman was about to leave, Qiu Lingfeng hurriedly got up and ran to the prison cell door, saying, "Wait!"

The woman turned around, and Qiu Lingfeng lowered her eyes and thought for a moment before suddenly raising her eyes and biting her lip, saying, "Give me the medicine."

The woman smiled and said, "You suspect I have ulterior motives?"

"There is definitely a purpose behind this, but this gamble is beneficial to me."

Qiu Lingfeng chuckled self-deprecatingly and said coldly, "You're right. Right now, I'm a prisoner, a rat in the street. You're not getting anything out of framing me."

Although I don't know who you are, or whether we know each other or have any grudges, right now, this is the only option I have to live, isn't it?

"Since that's the case, what harm is there in taking a gamble? My only condition is that whatever you ask me to do, I must promise to always stand by Murong Chuan's side."

The woman smiled slightly and said softly, "You will."

Jian Yue had been living in dire straits these past few days. She never imagined that after Black Wind kidnapped her, he would not take her directly to the mysterious Ironclad Warriors' camp or base, but instead to a beggar's den.

Located about a hundred miles outside the capital, in a small county town, this beggar's den was situated in a dilapidated temple on the west side of the county town.

Now, cold and hungry, she squatted in the corner, glaring angrily at Hei Feng, who was squatting beside her, watching others eat with relish.

"What exactly do you want? It's been three days, are you going to starve to death here with me?"

"No, it's not us, it's you. You're going to starve to death here."

Black Wind chuckled as he spoke, his eyes still fixed on the beggar eating beside him. The beggar felt uneasy under his gaze, glanced at him subtly, and then moved his bowl far away from Black Wind.

Seeing this, Hei Feng even gave the other person a smile that he thought was friendly.

Jian Yue stared at Hei Feng for a long time as if he were an idiot, before suddenly standing up dejectedly and saying, "Since you don't plan to eat, then don't stop me from going out to find something to eat. You're right, I'm going to starve to death. I can't starve to death, so I have to eat."

Jian Yue walked towards the outside of the dilapidated temple, but Hei Feng stood up and blocked her way, smiling wickedly, "There are many ways to find something to eat. Tell me how you're going to find it first?"

Jian Yue frowned: "Naturally, we'll buy it with money."

"Buy? Heh, do you even have a penny left on you?"

Jian Yue paused, about to speak, when she suddenly felt a lightness on her head. Looking up, she saw Hei Feng playing with the gold hairpin he had just pulled from her hair and laughing, "This is nice, but from now on, it's mine."

Jian Yue was taken aback, then realized what she meant, and suddenly burst out laughing: "So you mean I'm not allowed to take a single penny to find something to eat? Not even jewelry?"

Black Wind shrugged. "Whatever. As long as you can beat me and take the hairpin back."

This guy is really doing this on purpose. Jian Yue forced down her breath, turned around abruptly, and walked outside. Hei Feng smiled when he saw this and called out, "Want to eat something? It won't be too easy. You'd better be careful."

"Go to hell! You bastard."

Jian Yue cursed under her breath without turning her head. She estimated that even if the two of them had spent decades together, they might not be able to figure out what kind of person Hei Feng was, let alone that this was only their second meeting.

Although Hei Feng is nominally Jian Yue's master, he hasn't said anything to Jian Yue yet.

Jian Yue had no intention of learning; instead, she was always thinking about how to escape his control.

But Black Wind was just too powerful; even a single glance from him could send chills down one's spine, let alone escaping from his side.

Therefore, Jian Yueming was not in a hurry. She quietly followed behind Hei Feng and even came with him to this dilapidated temple, where she joined a group of beggars. What was most hateful was that these beggars all had food, while she had been starving for three days and could only watch helplessly as these beggars ate with great relish.

So, she couldn't bear it any longer, got up and left, heading towards the county town.

She had no money on her, and her jewelry had been stolen by Hei Feng. After thinking for a moment, she sighed and took off a jade pendant from her waist. But before she could even step into the pawnshop, she suddenly felt her hand go empty. Jin Ge looked up and saw the familiar Hei Feng with a triumphant smile on his face.

"I told you before, you can't do this. None of your belongings can be exchanged for money. Otherwise, I would have taken everything from you, including your clothes."

Hei Feng's words were so infuriating that Jian Yue bit her lip, wanting to curse.

"you……"

"What? I mean, disciple, what else do you have on you? Hand it over now, otherwise when I come back to take it, you won't even have a chance to go out and find something to eat."

Hei Feng shook the golden hairpin in his hand and disappeared from Jian Yue's sight like a gust of wind. Jian Yue was stunned for a moment, then kicked the wall next to her in anger.

The heavy earthen wall collapsed rapidly with overwhelming force, and before Jian Yue could react, she was already engulfed by a huge mushroom cloud of dust.

After a long while, the dust finally settled, and Jian Yue huffed and puffed as she got up from the ground. She looked around, disheveled and dirty, then looked down at herself, and said with a wry smile, "Damn it, now I really look like a beggar."

Staggering step by step, Jian Yue walked towards the county town. She headed towards the clinic, but was stopped by the gatekeeper when she reached the entrance.

The boy said with disgust, "A beggar comes to see a doctor? Do you have money? If not, get lost. We don't welcome you here."

Jian Yue frowned and said seriously, "Aren't beggars human beings under heaven?"

Upon hearing this, the child suddenly laughed and said, "What do you mean by 'people'? Where do you think this is? This isn't a relief center. If everything were free, how would we make money?"

Before Jian Yue could say anything more, she saw the child turn around and walk towards the other side of the queue, smiling as he said to the people there, "Everyone, Dr. Lu's appointment slots for today are all filled. Those who haven't seen their patients yet, please hold onto your number tags. Tomorrow, those with number tags will have priority for seeing a doctor."

That attitude was completely different from when he spoke to Jian Yue earlier, making Jian Yue feel that the breath Hei Feng had given her earlier was much easier to catch.

She turned and left the clinic, heading to a nearby tavern.

When the tavern owner saw Jian Yue arrive, he quickly told the waiter to turn her away, just like the doorman had done before.

Jian Yue was so angry that she didn't want to talk anymore. Without asking anything, she turned around and left.

However, she didn't go into a single shop all afternoon, because she was a penniless and filthy beggar.

Dragging his weary body back towards the dilapidated temple, Hei Feng saw Jian Yue's appearance and smiled, asking, "How did it go? Was it alright?"

Jian Yue rolled her eyes at him and sneered, "What do you think? I don't believe you didn't have someone behind me. How about it? Are you satisfied now?"

Black Wind raised an eyebrow: "Not bad, but still not quite there."

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue looked at Hei Feng. Her clothes were dirty, so she simply took them off and sat down next to Hei Feng wearing only her undergarments. She said, "Fine, then tell me, what exactly did I fall short of? Wasn't your desired outcome to get revenge for me breaking the agreement and to see me make a fool of myself? Now, you've got what you wanted, and you're still not satisfied?"

Hei Feng immediately crossed his legs, a straw dangling from his mouth, and stared listlessly at the roof of the dilapidated temple, saying, "Angry? Why would I be angry? I say, disciple, what kind of deep-seated grudge could there be between master and disciple? Are you overthinking it? Or is it that failing to become the Crown Prince's consort has triggered some kind of mental breakdown?"

Jian Yue was too exhausted to complain. After three days of hunger and today's ordeal, all she wanted was to lie down and rest.