First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

After Su Li left, Murong Yuan stood there, staring at the white handkerchief that had fallen to his feet.

After a moment, he bent down and picked up the white handkerchief.

Looking at the fresh blood that had just been stained on it, Murong Yuan recalled Su Li's earlier denial and became even more certain that Su Li was the little girl he had met in the dilapidated temple when he was a child.

"What could possibly make a little girl kill a group of beggars older than herself without batting an eye and with a smile? And what kind of opportunity led to this devilish little girl turning into a village girl who never leaves her home? What secrets are you hiding?"

"No matter what secrets you hold, the person controlling you is definitely somewhere nearby!"

Murong Yuan clenched the blood-stained handkerchief in his hand, his sharp gaze sweeping around.

He hadn't forgotten the look of struggle and reluctance on Su Li's face when she helped him impersonate Gu Junxi and drugged him. Clearly, a hand was controlling Su Li back then.

Now, those who can break into the Ningyuan Marquis's residence and harm Su Li must be the guests who can normally enter and leave the Ningyuan Marquis's residence today.

He needed to tell Gu Junxi and Ning Hanshuang about this as soon as possible.

Murong Yuan made up his mind.

He admitted that he was trying to escape because he was unwilling to talk about it or think about it deeply before.

Escaping the devilish little girl she encountered in the dilapidated temple as a child is also escaping her useless self from her childhood.

However, the blood on the handkerchief and Su Li's increasingly abnormal condition made him realize that he could no longer run away, otherwise things would become increasingly out of control and unpredictable.

Murong Yuan thought to himself and quickly left the place.

After dealing with Leng Xuanjue and some ministers who came to offer their congratulations, Mu Lingye returned to Ning Hanshuang's courtyard with Zuo Chengfeng.

Ning Hanshuang had finished dressing and changed into her bridal attire.

Su Li returned to her room, as if nothing had happened during her absence, and sat alone in a chair, lost in thought.

"Your Highness, your medicine is ready." A maid brought the medicine to Mu Lingye.

Mu Lingye glanced at it; the white jade porcelain bowl contained a dark, unidentifiable medicinal liquid.

Wen Gu explained, "Your Highness, this is medicine that the young master instructed someone to brew for you a few days ago. It was prepared by a special person and simmered for two full hours. It has the effect of nourishing qi and blood and is very nourishing for the body."

Wen Gu is Ning Hanshuang's personal maid and has a deep affection for Gu Junxi. Even though Gu Junxi has been married to Mu Lingye for some time, she still habitually refers to Gu Junxi as the Crown Prince.

Upon hearing that the medicine was prepared by Gu Junxi, Mu Lingye immediately lowered his guard, his gaze meeting Gu Junxi's. A sweet aroma wafted through the air.

Mu Lingye's thin lips curved slightly as he picked up the medicine bowl.

Su Li's dazed eyes flickered, and she straightened up from her reclining position.

Mu Lingye's movements slowed down little by little in her eyes.

Her lips parted slightly, the white jade bowl brushing against Mu Lingye's lips, but in the end, Su Li closed her lips and couldn't bring herself to stop him.

Because it was Gu Junxi who had the medicine brewed, Mu Lingye tasted the medicine as if it were honey, and drank every last drop.

The empty medicine bowl was placed back on the tray.

The maid carried the bowl of medicine out of the room.

Su Li stared intently at Mu Lingye and noticed that apart from a slightly flushed face, Mu Lingye appeared unchanged after drinking the medicine. However, her understanding of Gu was beyond that of ordinary people, and she could see things that ordinary people could not.

For example, she saw Mu Lingye drink the medicine, and the moment he swallowed it, there were tiny pulsations in the blood vessels in his neck.

That's the first step for the Gu worm to come into contact with the mouth, dissolve on the tongue, take root, and enter the bloodstream.

The poison has been swallowed; to undo it now would be difficult...

Su Li lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers.

Mu Lingye taking medicine was just an ordinary little thing in his daily life, and it soon passed without anyone paying attention to it anymore.

A stewardess came in from outside and stammered as she approached Aunt Wen: "Aunt Wen, has something happened to General Qin?"

"Why do you ask that?" Aunt Wen frowned.

An accident happening to the groom on such a joyous occasion is certainly not a good omen.

Although Wen Gu and the old woman spoke softly, Gu Junxi still noticed them.

After all, the auspicious time was approaching, and every little thing had to be done perfectly, so extra attention was paid to the people coming in and out.

Gu Junxi walked over: "Manager Qin, what exactly happened?"

As Gu Junxi asked the question, everyone in the room looked over.

Seeing that everyone already knew, the old woman had nothing more to hide and simply told them openly.

"Your Highness, it's Lord Gu. He was telling the guests at the gate of the mansion that General Qin wouldn't be coming to fetch the bride, that General Qin doesn't value the Marquis at all, and that the Marquis is just throwing himself at you."

"Many guests believed Lord Gu's words, and the onlookers sympathized with you, praising Lord Gu for his loyalty and righteousness! This old servant has come to ask, since the auspicious time is almost here and General Qin has not yet come, is it really as Lord Gu said? If so, then we must make plans early. We can't let everyone laugh at us."

The servants in the Marquis's mansion had seen clearly how Qin Yue had treated Ning Hanshuang these past few days, and they all felt that Qin Yue's feelings for Ning Hanshuang were genuine.

However, they couldn't withstand Gu Yuanbai's instigation and the rumors circulating outside.

"Mother, the auspicious time is almost here and Uncle Qin has not yet appeared. Could it be that something has really happened to him? Perhaps I should send someone to check on him."

Gu Junxi believed that Qin Yue would not disregard Ning Hanshuang, and she subconsciously felt, just as Qin Pozi had thought, that something had happened to Qin Yue.

"No need, Qin Yue really won't be coming today!" Ning Hanshuang stood up from the dressing table.

Gu Junxi was stunned: "Mother, what do you mean by that?"

At the entrance of the Ningyuan Marquis's residence, thanks to Gu Yuanbai's instigation, the discussions grew louder and louder, and more and more people waited to watch the spectacle.

The place was bustling with activity, and even the guests who had already entered the mansion and taken their seats came out again to watch the excitement.

Gu Yuanbai stood at the very front of the crowd, surrounded by admirers, even more so than the groom.

The three Gu brothers felt that Gu Yuanbai's behavior was inappropriate, but none of them spoke up to stop him.

They offered their blessings for Ning Hanshuang's marriage, that was the public opinion, and that couldn't be changed. But in the shadows, there was still a secret desire for Ning Hanshuang not to get married.

In this way, their mother will always be their mother.

Even if she divorces Gu Yuanbai, she will still be called Gu Ningshi, not Ningshi with another man's surname added before it.

This time, they were not the perpetrators, but bystanders.

Things have changed, but the changes are not complete.

That's true; perceptions aren't something that can be changed overnight.

"The auspicious hour is almost here, but there's not even a glimpse of the wedding procession. Could it be as Lord Gu said, that General Qin wants Marquis Ning to walk to General Qin's mansion by himself?!"

“Walk there? I’ve never heard of a bride walking to her husband’s house on her own. That would be too shameful. Lord Ning is a marquis, after all.”

"So what if you're a marquis? A woman must obey her husband after marriage. Even a princess must listen to her husband after marriage."

Among the onlookers were men who had long resented Ning Hanshuang, a woman, inheriting a title. They seized this opportunity to suppress and belittle her.