Chapter 58 He Really Is Such a Clever Little Sprite

Right! This damned Yang Wei refuses to admit it, but he can use his actions to prove that what he said is true!

Oh, my goodness!

To think that in such an urgent crisis, he could come up with such a brilliant idea!

And amidst all the chaos, he accurately seized the other party's talisman water, catching the thief red-handed!

He really is a clever little devil!

"Fine, fine, fine! You won't admit it, right?"

The man's eyes lit up. With the force of Mount Tai, he sat right on top of Yang Wei, pried open his mouth, and began pouring the medicine straight down his throat!

"Didn't you say this talisman water cures a hundred poisons and heals all diseases? Didn't you say it could turn my mother into a blooming maiden of eighteen? Today, I'll let you taste what it's like to vomit blood, suffer bellyaches, and meet King Yama!"

"Glug, glug—you—you scoundrel!"

Yang Wei was furious. Being a delicate and frail pretty boy, he wanted to retort: "You motherfucker, didn't I turn your mother into a blooming maiden? Directly reincarnated, right into her next life! How dare you stand here and blame me!"

However, the current situation was too critical for him to voice any of this nonsense. The talisman water was being forced down his throat in loud gulps, and despite his best efforts, he still swallowed the greater part of it.

Not good!

Yang Wei's face turned instantly pale. Summoning strength from unknown origins, he kicked the man flying, then shoved his fingers down his throat to induce vomiting.

"Blech—"

"Oh, go on! Look at you throwing up now! Since you claimed this talisman water cures everything, even if you aren't sick, drinking it should still strengthen your body, right? Why were you too scared to drink it?"

Seeing this, everyone present understood the truth instantly. The talisman water Yang Wei had given out was clearly problematic. They grew furious and cursed him out:

"Shame on you, you unscrupulous charlatan! To think we trusted you so much. Previously, when I drank the talisman water you gave me, I was vomiting and purging non-stop. I suspected my own weak constitution before I ever doubted that you were an absolute beast!"

"Good thing I always judge by appearances. I had a feeling the young gentleman from earlier looked handsome and that his words were far more trustworthy than an ugly freak like you!"

"If you ask me, not only is the talisman water fake, but that so-called upgraded version of your scar-removal and whitening cream with lead powder must be poisonous too!"

"Everyone held you in high esteem, yet you made such a fortune of black-hearted money! Give us back our hard-earned silver, Yang Wei, or I'll beat you to death!"

"..."

The crowd was utterly incensed, waving their fists and threatening to beat Yang Wei to death on the spot. It took the intervention of the patrolling guards to hold them back.

***

They finally managed to pull Yang Wei away.

Yang Wei was weeping and begging, "If I have committed a crime, please just drag me off to the yamen for execution in the autumn!"

Anything would be better than letting that crazy woman use her fingernails to viciously scratch his face and practically tear off his skin!

The crowd followed the guards as they left, glaring fiercely, determined to get back the silver they had been cheated out of.

Meanwhile, the young girl who had almost drunk the talisman water stopped Lin Zhaozhao in her tracks.

"Please don't leave just yet, young gentleman!"

Though her face was pale, she looked relieved, pressing a hand to her chest as she said, "Thank you so much for your righteous intervention today. If not for you, I'm afraid..."

Her health had been frail since childhood compared to other girls. While others might simply fall slightly ill after drinking the talisman water, she might well have been sent straight to the gates of the underworld!

Thus, she spoke up, "Young gentleman, are you busy right now? If not, I'd like to invite you to sit for a while at the teahouse next door!"

Inviting him to sit was merely an excuse; naturally, she still had a favor to ask.

After all, while others might think Lin Zhaozhao was too young to possess any real skills, Jun Wuyou was different!

As a princess raised in the imperial palace, she could tell from the other's demeanor and speech that there was more to him than met the eye.

Especially since her imperial parents had taught her that a person's age and their true ability do not always go hand in hand.

The fact that the youth could accurately predict that drinking the talisman water might lead to meeting King Yama showed he had profound knowledge of medical principles. Furthermore, being able to recognize lead powder at a glance proved he was well-versed in cosmetics and powders as well.

Perhaps he could resolve the predicament she currently faced.

Lin Zhaozhao caught the look in the other's eyes and guessed her intention. She nodded and followed her steps directly into the teahouse.

Yet, the moment she stepped inside, she had a lingering sensation that someone was watching her.

When she turned back to look, however, she saw no one at all!

"Could it be that I've been reading too many books lately and my head is getting a bit fuzzy?"

Meanwhile, parked in a dim alleyway nearby was a black carriage.

Inside the carriage, the pair of slender, neatly articulated fingers that had been fixing their gaze on Lin Zhaozhao finally lowered the carriage curtain after she entered the teahouse.

The person picked up a cup of tea from the pearwood table and took a sip.

***

Sitting opposite him, a man dressed in red waved a folding fan and addressed him, "Your Highness, since the princess has followed that person inside, she surely won't fall for the tricks of those street charlatans anymore.

Still, that little blockhead actually possesses some genuine skill. She saw through the poisoned talisman water in a single glance and even knew there was lead powder in that ointment! If I hadn't tested lead powder on mice a while back, I wouldn't have known about these tricks myself!"

The two men were none other than the Third Prince, Jun Wuhen, and his strategist, Zhou Heyu.

They had come here to investigate a serious matter. Jun Wuhen had been ambushed during his relief mission for disaster victims because of a traitor within his own Imperial Guard. Zhou Heyu had received intelligence that the mole would meet someone at the black market. Originally, Zhou Heyu could have handled the arrest alone, but he discovered that the young princess had sneaked out as well.

During the lifetime of the late Empress, Jun Wuhen and his mother had received much care and kindness from her.

And so, Jun Wuhen had tagged along to watch the spectacle.

As for happening upon Lin Zhaozhao—who was disguised as a man—and watching her coincidentally expose Yang Wei, it had actually saved Jun Wuhen the trouble of disciplining the little princess himself!

Seeing that Jun Wuhen remained silent, Zhou Heyu muttered to himself, "Still, the little princess seems rather fond of her. And she really does have some talent. I originally thought she just happened to cure that snake venom by fluke, but she actually understands so much theory. Next time we meet, I simply must spar with this little blockhead!"

"Are you very smart?" Jun Wuhen raised his eyes.

The youth's cold, detached gaze felt like the frost of June.

This startled Zhou Heyu, who was always used to talking to himself without receiving a response, and he blurted out, "Ah?"

Wasn't he just being clever?

"Isn't it true that I usually love gossiping about others behind their backs like this?"

You never tried to stop me before!

Why are you suddenly starting to police it now?

Besides, "I'm just curious! The little princess invited her over certainly to have her treat her scars, but even I couldn't heal the scars on her body. Do you think this little blo—cough!"

Under the chilling, death-glare of the prince, he hurriedly corrected himself: "Do you think this Lin Zhaozhao can cure her?"

"Are you so bored that you have time to chatter about things that don't concern you?" Jun Wuhen glanced at him sideways and said, "Get out of the carriage. It's time to close the net."

With those words, he lifted the carriage curtain. His dark, mysterious robes draped naturally as he stepped down, ignoring Zhou Heyu, who was making a face behind his back, and strode toward the teahouse.