Chapter 22: Thanks to the Old Man in Red (2)

Bizhu blinked, unable to help herself. What was an old pervert? And what did "pervert" even mean?

Soon, Chang Ge-Yue’s breathing evened out into a steady rhythm.

While Chang Ge-Yue rested, the entire Chang Ge Manor fell into chaos. The fifth daughter of the primary wife, Chang Ge-Yujiao, who was usually showered with favor, had been beaten to within an inch of her life. It was said that when she was carried back, Madame Zhuge stared at her for a long time before throwing herself over the girl to wail.

After waking up, Chang Ge-Yue gave a soft laugh. "She was beaten so badly that even her own mother wouldn't recognize her."

"Miss, will this bring trouble upon us?" Over the years, Bizhu had been intimidated into terror by Madame Zhuge.

Chang Ge-Yue poured herself a cup of tea without haste. "No." Because once Chang Ge-Yujiao woke up, she would remember nothing. Moreover, Madame Zhuge’s primary concern now would be restoring her daughter's appearance; she would have no spare attention for them.

"Then, Miss... won't the Fifth Miss's face be just like yours from now on?" Bizhu asked, filled with worry. She wasn't sure if she should be happy, or happy, or perhaps just happy.

Chang Ge-Yue set down her teacup. "No."

Chang Ge-Yujiao was different from her. Her own face had been tainted by toxins while still in the womb, making it incurable to ordinary physicians. As for Chang Ge-Yujiao, given the wealth, resources, and influence of the Chang Ge family, healing her was merely a matter of time.

Bizhu felt a sudden sense of disappointment.

Observing Bizhu’s bottomless gloom, Chang Ge-Yue curled her lips slightly. "Bizhu, it is immoral to build your own happiness upon the suffering of others."

Bizhu pouted. It wasn't as if the Fifth Miss's suffering wasn't caused by the Miss herself, though, honestly, it still felt quite satisfying.

In the afternoon, Chang Ge-Yue slipped out of the Chang Ge Manor via a trail behind the mountains. To purge the poison from her face, she needed not only silver needles to draw out the toxins but also specific medicinal herbs for support. These were not difficult to obtain, but the subsequent maintenance required the King Pearl of Taihu Lake.

The King Pearl of Taihu was the most precious of all pearls, found only in Taihu Lake. It took ten years to form and thirty years to produce a single specimen, making it the most prized tribute to the court. Since the founding of the Dongmo Dynasty forty years ago, there had been only two such tributes. One had been used as medicine by the late Emperor Dong’s most favored Imperial Concubine Liu, and the other was kept in the Bishui Cold Pool, thirty miles outside the city.

Chang Ge-Yue’s lips curled upward. Since Concubine Liu was dead, she couldn't exactly pry the pearl from a corpse's mouth, so the one in the Bishui Cold Pool was hers for the taking!

As night descended, Chang Ge-Yue perched in a large tree not far from the Bishui Cold Pool, watching the soldiers rotate shifts. She noted the positions and the gaps in their patrol, a cold sneer playing on her lips.

Wen Qingyan of the Wen family had a tiny scar on her temple. Even though it was invisible to others, she considered it the greatest regret of her life and had begged Prime Minister Wen countless times to obtain the King Pearl for her treatment, but alas...

Chang Ge-Yue smiled faintly. Alas, Wen Qingyan could stop dreaming of that pearl for the rest of her life!

Chang Ge-Yue drifted down from the tree like a phantom, her figure beneath the veil as graceful as a celestial being, white robes and dark hair shimmering like the bright moon. With a flick of her wrist, she sent silver needles flying to incapacitate the outermost guards. She moved with light, lotus-like steps, but suddenly, she heard a series of screams echoing from the interior guards of the Bishui Cold Pool.

Chang Ge-Yue frowned slightly. Had someone beaten her to it?

Suddenly, her heart stirred. Instinctively, she turned her head. There, in the moonlight, stood a man in red, as exquisitely beautiful as a demon, his facial features flowing with liquid grace, the corners of his mouth pulled into an almost imperceptible smile.