The two soon fought in the air. Despite the commotion they made, the person in the bed remained sound asleep.
This was the scene Qin Feng saw when he rushed over. There was nothing he could do but fly up into the air to help Xiao Xiao block some attacks.
Seeing the person who had just recovered from a serious illness being injured again because of him, a flicker of self - reproach flashed across the man's eyes, but there was more annoyance.
"General, do you know what you're doing? The person you're protecting might well be the mole helping Concubine Rui all along."
Hearing this, Qin Feng glanced at Xiao Xiao and replied almost without hesitation.
"Absolutely impossible! Xiao Xiao is a well - known person. Haven't you known her well enough? She was injured many times while protecting the Empress Dowager. If she were really Concubine Rui's person, she wouldn't have hidden her true colors for so long. Why are you so muddled, National Master?"
Hearing his words, the man pondered for a moment and was somewhat touched. But just at this moment, Qiao Meng timidly spoke up, breaking the calm.
"Aunt Xiao, I saw you writing letters before. You must have writing tools. Could you lend them to me?"
The man's suspicions, which had just been dispelled, immediately resurfaced.
He remembered clearly that Lord Huang only provided writing tools for a few masters' rooms. The writing tools in Shi Muwǎn's room had never been touched. Logically, Xiao Xiao shouldn't have such things.
None of the people present were stupid. They quickly understood the ins and outs from these few words.
They exchanged a look. Before the two of them could react, the man simply waved his hand.
The shadow guards disappeared in a flash. Only the sound of rummaging came from Xiao Xiao's room, as if someone was searching for something.
Hearing the sound, she rushed to her room in a hurry, trying to drive the person out, but was stopped halfway.
"Aunt, you'd better explain why there are writing tools in your room. And who was the letter you wrote to? Concubine Rui or someone else?"
Xiao Xiao thought it was ridiculous. Sure enough, bad things always happened whenever she met Qiao Meng.
"There are many things important to the Empress Dowager in my room. How dare you be so presumptuous! National Master, you've gone too far today. I'll tell the Empress Dowager the truth when she wakes up."
"Do as you please, but let's wait until the things are found first."
Seeing his certainty, Xiao Xiao suddenly calmed down. She wanted to see this man be proven wrong. She knew better than anyone what was in her room.
"Fine, then let's wait and see."
Just as she finished speaking, the shadow guards came back holding something. But Xiao Xiao had never seen the things on it before.
"This is the letter just found in your room, Aunt. It's been confirmed that the reply was written in Concubine Rui's handwriting."
Cui Qizhou glanced at it. "What else do you have to say now?"
"This isn't mine. Someone must be framing me. Is it you, Qiao Meng!"
Her gaze then fixed on the innocent - looking woman at the door. She had been loitering around her door today, and now she realized that everything had been a well - calculated trap.
Qiao Meng played the innocent card to the end and would never admit what she had done. Besides, Xiao Xiao didn't catch her in the act. As long as she didn't admit it, she would be fine.
"I just wanted to borrow some writing tools from you, Aunt. What's wrong with that? I wasn't here when you were doing things just now. I don't know what happened. Now you're putting all the blame on me. Are you feeling guilty?"
"Such a good accusation of being guilty! You're all in this together. I knew your appearance was too coincidental at that time. You just stayed here directly and don't look like an injured person at all now."
As she spoke, Qiao Meng seemed to be hit on a sore spot and got a bit excited.
"I didn't! Everyone saw that I was injured for my brother. Even the people here can testify for me. I hate being wrongly accused the most. If you keep saying this, Aunt, don't blame me."
"Humph, you're finally showing your true colors. See, I've always said she's not a good person. Only the National Master has been kept in the dark foolishly."
Seemingly aware of her over - reaction because of Xiao Xiao's words, Qiao Meng then burst into tears, looking extremely aggrieved.
"Brother, I just asked what I was wondering. Is that wrong? Aunt is just feeling guilty and misunderstanding me. Don't you think so, brother?"
"Calling 'brother' all the time. Do you think you're a hen laying eggs here, Miss Qiao?"
"Vulgar! You're just like your master before. Take her away at once. I'm going to interrogate her properly."
After the man finished speaking, the shadow guards were about to act, but Qin Feng had recovered a bit by then. He stepped forward first.
"Run!"
Xiao Xiao wasn't a timid person. Seeing that the situation was bad, she immediately flew away.
Qin Feng followed, and the two quickly disappeared outside.
Seeing this, the man could only order the shadow guards to chase after them with a gloomy face.
Qiao Meng curled her lips where the man couldn't see. Everything that was happening was going according to plan.
When she saw the man looking over, she quickly stepped forward.
"Now that Aunt has escaped, there's no suitable person to take care of the Empress Dowager for the time being. I don't want you to worry too much, brother. How about I stay and take care of the Empress Dowager? It can also relieve your concerns."
Her words made the man relax his brows. The problem he had been worried about was solved.
"You're the best to me, Meng'er. Then I'll leave the Empress Dowager in your care. I still have other things to deal with."
"Don't worry, brother. Go ahead."
As soon as Cui Qizhou left, Qiao Meng came to the bedside.
She looked down at the person with closed eyes, and her face gradually distorted.
"The Empress Dowager was so proud on weekdays. Why is she lying here unconscious now? Oh, I almost forgot. The Empress Dowager is worse than a living corpse now. At least a living corpse can know what's going on outside. You know nothing and can only lie in bed at my mercy. Now there's no one around you, and even your most protective brother has left. Let's see how you can escape from my palm."
The silver needle in her hand glinted coldly and was directly inserted into Shi Muwǎn's head. The sleeping girl seemed to sense the danger and frowned tightly, but she couldn't wake up in the end. It was all in vain.
Watching her eyelashes flutter slightly as she struggled, Qiao Meng felt indescribable pleasure. Finally, she had defeated her.
After everything was done, Qiao Meng retrieved the silver needle and quietly left when no one was around. She murmured to herself.
"We'll meet again."