Chapter 10: The Strategy of the Ants

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Meng Yuxi suddenly realized that the fragrance was laced with poison. She immediately shouted loudly in a stern voice.

“Zhang Long! Zhao Hu!”

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming’s face filled with terror as she immediately hid on the bed, curling up in the corner.

But for a long while, there was no sound.

“It’s you two! Come out now!”

Meng Yuxi yelled again, but this time there was no response.

“Hahaha, is the heir’s last resort really the Fourth Young Master?”

Qin Ming’s expression was like a cat playing with a mouse, full of mockery and amusement.

“Fool, don’t you know that the Encircled Spring Fragrance chamber is the best soundproof room in all of Su City? Do you know how much gold the Crown Prince spent to create this secret communication chamber?”

Qin Ming jumped down from the bed, speaking proudly, her eyes filled with scorn.

“Wretched woman, stop boasting here. Don’t think I don’t know this is the Eighth Prince’s steward’s Fragrance Pavilion. Don’t fake the Crown Prince’s title to fool me!”

Although Meng Yuxi couldn’t move, she still retorted sharply.

“The Eighth Prince is such a useless fool, and his men are all greedy and lustful. They don’t look capable of achieving anything. How can they be compared to the Crown Prince?”

As Qin Ming spoke, she fumbled to unfasten Meng Yuxi’s sword and tossed it aside.

“You want me to touch you? Have you never touched a man before? Come on, if you dare, keep touching—this Young Master has a big treasure for you to feel!”

Meng Yuxi cursed vehemently.

“Hahaha, you’re so limp now, what big treasure? Ridiculous. You’re a stubborn fool, huh?”

Qin Ming was about to continue searching when Meng Yuxi’s curses made her straighten up abruptly. She pressed her soft jade-like foot hard against Meng Yuxi’s face, her expression full of resentment.

“Keep cursing! Haven’t you always wanted to touch my foot? Now you get to eat your fill. And just so you know, it’s me who’ll kick you into the water! Soon, you’ll be dead!”

“Bah, bah, bah! What business do your Crown Prince and Eighth Prince have with me, Meng Yuxi? Why do you want to kill me?”

Meng Yuxi asked defiantly.

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“Heh, fool is still a fool. That old Meng Hongchang, the Crown Prince has repeatedly extended olive branches, yet he all but ignored them. Meanwhile, he holds the richest piece of weaving business in the country, rich beyond measure. And you’re so favored by that old man. Who knows if after his death, most of the wealth will be left to you?”

“Innocent men bear the guilt of treasure. Don’t you understand that? For ants like you, death should be accepted. But you came back to life, enjoyed this mortal wealth for a few hours, then die again—is it worth it?”

Qin Ming finished speaking and turned to draw a gleaming dagger from under the zither.

“We had no grudge before, and I would have given you a quick death. But just now I suddenly realized your mouth is truly annoying. Perhaps I should cut your flesh inch by inch. Where do you want me to start? How about your big treasure? Hehehe.”

Qin Ming laughed again, her exquisite face reflected in the cold blade like a ghost.

Meng Yuxi was a little afraid but smiled.

“Miss, please be reasonable. Could you please negotiate with the Crown Prince? Meng Hongchang is strong and healthy; after so many years, I might not even be relevant. Not worth this moment.”

Qin Ming laughed.

“Hehe, would the Crown Prince care about a mere ant like you? Don’t flatter yourself. Anyone in Meng House who doesn’t follow the Crown Prince must be eliminated. You’re just unlucky to be first. And do you think Meng Hongchang will live long?”

“The Crown Prince is the finest among men. The more he’s under house arrest, the more he strategizes and deceives.”

“And shallow lustful fools like you could never understand his greatness.”

Qin Ming said with some admiration.

“I have only one last question: Miss Qin Ming, why isn’t such a beauty serving close to the Crown Prince, but instead sent to the Fragrance Pavilion to work as a prostitute? Could it be because you talk too much and the Crown Prince finds you loose-lipped?”

Meng Yuxi lay on the ground and laughed.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming’s beautiful face instantly twisted in rage. She stabbed the dagger toward Meng Yuxi’s heart, shouting,

“Fool, you’re asking for death!”

Meng Yuxi rolled aside, drew her sword, and with a gust of wind, swung the blade down toward Qin Ming’s head with a whoosh.

Unfortunately, Meng Yuxi had no martial arts skill. Although the sword was empowered by divine force, her aim was off and she had no follow-up moves, so Qin Ming easily dodged.

Still, Qin Ming let out a startled cry.

“How did your poison wear off so quickly?”

“Guess!”

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Meng Yuxi shouted and then slashed three times in quick succession. She knew her skill was far inferior to Qin Ming’s. These three strikes were not aimed to injure but to keep Qin Ming at bay. Qin Ming wielded a broken blade, and if she closed in, Meng Yuxi would likely die within a single round.

Qin Ming regained her composure and understood Meng Yuxi’s intention. Each time she dodged, she stepped closer. Even if Meng Yuxi was no longer poisoned, Qin Ming was confident she could kill her within a few rounds. Her demeanor was cooler than before; she knew the Crown Prince’s secret was too important to let Meng Yuxi leave alive.

Meng Yuxi slashed and retreated, growing increasingly weak, watching the murderous gleam in Qin Ming’s beautiful eyes as she fixed them on Meng Yuxi’s vulnerable shoulders, chest, and waist, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

“Damn it, stop pretending! This is killing me! If I don’t move soon, I’m dead. Then let’s see how you explain this to your master!”

Meng Yuxi shouted loudly.

Qin Ming’s heart tightened at these words. Her mind raced—Meng Yuxi’s maid had seemed quite skilled just now in the main hall. Meng Yuxi had given wine to the maid earlier—could she have slipped the antidote to her in advance? No wonder Meng Yuxi fought while retreating, maneuvering so that Qin Ming’s back was turned toward the maid. Meng Yuxi was indeed very cunning!

Then, who was this maid’s master? Possibly someone with the same status as Qin Ming herself? No wonder she was sabotaging her!

With these thoughts, Qin Ming quickly calculated her position, withdrew the dagger to guard the vital points behind her. But even that might not be enough. She glanced sideways.

What she saw shocked her—the maid lay there unharmed. Suddenly, a chill hit her chest.

A long sword pierced through her body, entering her chest and coming out the back. The sword was withdrawn, and a burst of blood mist clouded Qin Ming’s sight.

Meng Yuxi was so crafty, so vicious. This entire game had been laid out since the moment she entered the Fragrance Pavilion, designed to lure Qin Ming into the trap. Until her death, Qin Ming was fully outplayed.

Qin Ming collapsed weakly to the ground, blood bubbles spilling from her mouth, her beautiful eyes losing all their luster.

“Damn, what rotten luck. This crazy woman bit me and drew blood. I don’t know if I’ve caught some hidden disease!”

“Later, ask Zhao Hu if he has any cure for hidden ailments.”

Meng Yuxi took out the cloth pouch Zhao Hu had given her and rummaged through the medicine bottles inside. Besides the antidote for the poison, there were many other medicines. But the usual martial arts traveling kit only listed names without explaining their uses—who knows what they were for?

“Ah, old Meng hasn’t gone out yet, has he?”

Meng Yuxi hoisted the limp Xiao Cui and headed toward the door.