Abandoned Woman Busy Farming
Chapter 1472 - 1573: Luring the Snake out of Its Hole_1

Chapter 1472: Chapter 1573: Luring the Snake out of Its Hole_1

The next morning, when Bai Ruozhu re-entered the palace, Hao Mu quietly told her that the Virtuous King and the Virtuous Queen had visited the palace last night, and the Virtuous Queen had cried for a long time in Cining Palace. When they left the palace, they took Princess Yuwei with them, but both of Princess Yuwei’s middle fingers were broken.

"Why?" Bai Ruozhu asked in surprise.

Hao Mu looked at her with disdain and said, "Don’t tell me you don’t know. Aren’t you also a disciple of the Astrology Tower? It is said that to abolish the cultivation of someone practicing Magic Techniques, their middle fingers are to be broken."

It was then that Bai Ruozhu realized the emperor must not have allowed Princess Yuwei to learn Magic Techniques from someone like Duanyan, harming others, or perhaps it was a punishment for Princess Yuwei, thus his abolishment of her cultivation.

Such punishment wasn’t considered too severe; after all, her life was spared, but to ruin her practice of Magic Techniques was deemed fair and strict.

Master Hao Feng had already prepared everything and was waiting for her. She emphasized once again to Master Hao Feng her need for privacy, and her wish not to be disturbed or spied upon, before starting the Ancient steaming method on Fen Wan.

The medicine soup was prepared by Master Hao Feng, and Bai Ruozhu checked it, finding the dosage was quite accurate. Fen Wan had already been soaking in the wooden barrel, looking like a shelled egg, nowhere near resembling someone in her twenties.

Perhaps all women envy eternal youth, but what’s the point if the price is potential death at any moment, or eternal slumber? Eternal youth means nothing under those circumstances.

For caution, Bai Ruozhu still sealed off Fen Wan’s senses, then poked a small hole in the window paper and stood at the hole, leading Fen Wan into Space with her mind and placing her in a small area within the Hot Spring.

Then she turned on the "big screen," which allowed her to see the outside through the hole in the window paper.

She was waiting for someone to fall into her trap, but she felt it was unlikely to be Duanyan—more likely a spy planted in Cining Palace.

Hao Feng was drinking tea at a stone table a certain distance from the door outside, his sharp eyes closely watching Fen Wan’s Room, fearing someone might appear and disturb Bai Ruozhu.

At that moment, a figure flashed by, moving swiftly. If Hao Feng hadn’t years of practice evading the pursuit of the Holy Hall, having developed keen eyesight, she might have thought she was seeing things.

"Who’s there?" Fearing disturbing Bai Ruozhu inside, she asked in a subdued voice.

Suddenly, a Fire Talisman was flung towards her. Hao Feng’s eyes revealed a seriousness as she dodged the attack and chased after the figure.

Those with such abilities were either Duanyan or other expert practitioners of Magic Techniques. She dared not refrain from pursuing, worried that the attacker might directly assault Fen Wan and others inside the Room.

With her view limited from inside the Space, Bai Ruozhu heard noises and saw the Fire Talisman. She saw Hao Feng giving chase, but couldn’t make out who the assailant was.

After a while, a little maid came along, carrying a basin of hot water. She headed straight for the Room door and said, "Sir Bai, your hot water is here."

Suddenly, a dark guard emerged from a hidden spot and quickly hit the maid’s acupoint, asking coldly, "Who sent you?"

The maid, terrified, went pale and said, "Wasn’t it Sister Hao Mu who said Sir Bai ordered more hot water? I really am just following orders."

At that moment, the maid’s expression changed again. Unable to move, she could only bulge her eyes in horror and exclaimed, "Sir, look, there’s no one in the Room, Sir Bai and they are gone!"

It turned out that the little maid had just caught sight of the hole in the window paper and seen what was inside through the peephole!

Bai Ruozhu inwardly cursed, but she quickly regained her calm, thanks to the magic techniques she had learned, which made coming up with excuses much easier.

The dark guard didn’t dare to look inside the room casually; after all, Fen Wan was a woman, but seeing that the little maid’s expression didn’t seem fake, he had no choice but to take a quick glance and immediately ordered someone to report to the authorities.

Bai Ruozhu estimated the time, and when it was about right, she hurriedly took Fen Wan out of the Space, then put her back into the medicinal bath barrel.

Soon, the authorities arrived with people in tow, and the Empress Dowager hurried over as well, while Hao Feng also returned, recounting the incident of the recent assault. Everyone gazed at the charred patch on the ground with shock in their hearts.

At that moment, Bai Ruozhu’s voice came from inside the room, "Master Hao Feng, it’s done."

Hearing Bai Ruozhu’s voice, the little maid was as scared as if she had seen a ghost, and the Shadow Guard who had looked inside was equally stunned; he had just peered through the peephole and had clearly seen every corner of the room.

Seeing Bai Ruozhu push the door open and walk out, the little maid cried out in terror, "How is that possible? There was nobody in the room just now, you, you must be a ghost!"

"I have instructed that no one should disturb us during the treatment, yet you appeared without authorization and even peeped inside the room. Who sent you here?" Bai Ruozhu asked sternly.

"No one sent me; it was Hao Mu who said you needed hot water. If you don’t believe me, ask Hao Mu!" the little maid cried out.

Everyone looked around and found that Hao Mu was actually not there. Bai Ruozhu was somewhat puzzled in her heart, but she felt it was unlikely that Hao Mu was involved since she had had considerable contact with her and had a good impression of her.

"Ruozhu, what exactly happened just now?" the Empress Dowager asked, puzzled.

"Your Highness, I was treating Fen Wan when someone suddenly attacked Master Hao Feng outside, and she was lured away. Fearing another surprise attack, I used curse magic to make both Fen Wan and myself invisible. I didn’t expect to witness this little maid’s inexplicable appearance," Bai Ruozhu explained.

By then, someone had found Hao Mu and brought her over. Hao Mu glared at the little maid and asked, "You said I instructed you to bring hot water, but where did you meet me and receive your orders?"

"I was doing chores in the little kitchen; it was you who came to the kitchen and gave me the orders," the little maid said.

"And when did I instruct you?" Hao Mu pressed.

"Just now, after I received the orders, I hurriedly carried water over," the little maid continued.

Hao Mu sneered and looked at another palace maid, "You found me in my room just now; I was still sleeping because I had worked the night shift. The distance from the little kitchen to my room is quite long; I wouldn’t have had enough time to run back and go to sleep again, would I?"

The little maid began to sob loudly, "I didn’t lie; it was really you who instructed me. Hao Mu, why are you framing me? What have I done to offend you?"

Bai Ruozhu felt that the little maid seemed to not be lying and asked, "When you saw Hao Mu just now, was she wearing these clothes?"

Hao Mu usually wore the palace clothes issued based on rank, but today, perhaps having woken up in a rush, she was only wearing a simple cotton blouse.

The little maid looked at Hao Mu, trying to recall, "No, not these clothes; it was the green set."

Hao Mu broke into laughter, "There, now my innocence is proven. That outfit was soiled last night and I sent it to the Laundry Bureau; the old woman responsible for delivering clothes can testify."