Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 275: Why Not Ask Him?

"Ah——"

A scream came from outside, and Zhao Zhao dashed out frantically, drawing curious glances from nearby maids and servants. They wondered why he acted thus.

"Madam, are you alright?"

The old nanny, concerned for Xue Mingzhu’s safety, quickly approached and gently knocked on the door.

"It’s nothing, everyone leave!"

Xue Mingzhu’s voice sounded, reassuring the nanny that nothing was amiss, allowing her to leave.

Inside the room, Xue Mingzhu wore a chilly smile as she glanced at the teapot on the desk beside her.

The tea had been poisoned, but not with ordinary poison—it was a kind of poisonous insect from the Western Regions. Whenever Zhao Zhao mentioned her to outsiders, he would feel stabbing heartache.

If he insisted on speaking out, he would die instantly!

Even if, in the end, it was discovered he died due to poisonous insects, what then? Could it be traced back to her? Ha ha ha...

"Madam, the owner of Xu Jinji is here!" came the respectful voice of a nanny from outside. "I let him wait."

"Hmm, tell him to come back in half an hour!"

The old nanny retreated; Xue Mingzhu removed her gown and stepped with her jade-like feet into the warm pool.

Her body slowly sank into the pool, inch by inch, until even her head was completely submerged.

"Splash!"

After a quarter of an hour, she emerged from the water.

Instantly, the once enchanting and beautiful face cracked and became a bloody mess, horribly mangled!

Before her was a copper mirror, and as she gazed at her own horrific reflection, she let out a series of sharp, icy laughs.

"Hehe... hehe... Qi Imperial Family, the sins you bestowed upon our Chen Imperial Family will one day be repaid in full, haha... hahaha..."

...

Zhao Zhao fled from the Lady of the Southern Country’s mansion in utter panic, constantly looking back to see if anyone pursued him. Instead, he saw people on both sides looking at him as if he were a fool.

As fear gradually dissipated and reason returned, he stopped.

"Was... was she scaring me?"

Zhao Zhao paused, puzzled, suspecting he was being frightened.

He wiped away the sweat on his forehead, repeatedly checking behind him to confirm there was no one trying to kill him, finally feeling at ease.

Still, he dared not be careless and went straight home.

"Father!"

Upon entering Zhao Mansion, he headed to his father’s study, Zhao Mengran.

The same Zhao Mengran who had previously interrogated Wang Dazhi’s case, the Capital Governor, was troubled these days with the murder case in Tianxiang Pavillion still unresolved. He frowned upon seeing his son entering: "What’s wrong? Why the panic? Any rules?"

"Father, your child has something to ask you!"

"What is it?"

"It’s about my cousin’s matter. Didn’t he die in Jiangling County five years ago? It remained an unsolved case. Father, do you know who did it?"

Thinking of his nephew, Zhao Mengran’s brows furrowed; he felt guilt for his death in Jiangling County, chased by assassins.

He truly didn’t recall offending anyone, and always maintained a low profile, avoiding imperial succession struggles, thus should have no enemies.

He shook his head: "Don’t know. The culprits fled after the murder, leaving no black-clad survivors. How can it be investigated? Anyway, I haven’t done anything disastrous. There’s no reason for enemies."

"Father, you’re looking in the wrong direction!" Zhao Zhao finally understood why his father expended so much effort without finding the murderer—the wrong approach!

It wasn’t a vendetta; it was a crime of passion!

"Father, it was the Southern... Uh..."

Zhao Zhao just began to say "Lady of the Southern Country Xue Mingzhu," but as soon as he uttered the first word, he felt searing pain in his heart, and even his breathing stopped.

"My son, what’s happening?"

Seeing Zhao Zhao suddenly turn blue, Zhao Mengran panicked; the son he cherished had spent much effort on from a young age.

Noticing his unnatural complexion, he quickly shouted: "Someone, fetch the doctor!"

"Father, I’m... I’m fine..."

Cold sweat poured from Zhao Zhao’s forehead, but the chest pain wasn’t as severe as before.

He tried speaking the Lady’s name again, but even just forming the mouth shape caused unbearable heart pain.

"So that’s how it is..."

Zhao Zhao finally comprehended Xue Mingzhu’s words—she hadn’t intended to kill him, but had tampered with him so mentioning her name caused stabbing heartache.

Could he endure the pain to force it out? What would happen?

Zhao Zhao wanted to try, but survival instinct told him not to.

"Son, don’t scare your father. Mention anything discomforting quickly. Never mind, let’s have the doctor look!"

"Father, I’m really fine!"

Zhao Zhao shook his head, but Zhao Mengran was adamant and summoned a doctor to check Zhao Zhao’s pulse.

After checking, the doctor said nothing was wrong, just the person was frail, and prescribed three warm-nourishing prescriptions before leaving.

"Oh right, child, about your cousin’s death, did you get any clues?"

The nephew was the only son of his brother’s branch, now dead; the Capital Governor still couldn’t find the killer, which was unfair to his brother’s family—if there were news, it would be good.

Zhao Zhao hesitated, not planning to reveal, but since father asked, he replied: "Father, why not inquire those students in Qingtian County who knew my cousin? I remember Li Qingmu from Qingshui Village—why not ask him for clues?"

Zhao Mengran suddenly slapped his forehead: "Yes, he’s in the Capital now. How did I forget this? Son, thanks for reminding, alright, I’ll visit him soon."

"Father, why not just summon him? Why visit? He’s merely a Sixth Rank officer—you overly esteem him!"

Zhao Zhao disapproved of his father’s humility.

Zhao Mengran shook his head: "That person is a bit uncanny. Despite facing peril, he escaped death several times; such people have fortune—they’re not to be trifled with. Anyway, it’s an opportunity for a walk. I’ll visit his place tomorrow."

Recalling his fair judgment in the case, Zhao Mengran hoped asking would yield answers.

"By the way, father..."

"Hmm, anything else?"

"That..."

Remembering Lady of the Southern Country’s words made Zhao Zhao’s back sweat. But the marriage arrangement with Prime Minister Pei Mansion was settled—was unilateral cancellation appropriate?

After thinking, he decided temporarily not to mention it; anyway, it’s four months until next half-year, plenty of time yet.

"Nothing, be cautious when visiting!"

"Haha, do you truly think he’s fierce? Silly son, father knows well!"

The next day, Zhao Mengran visited the Imperial Censorate looking for Li Qingmu.