Chapter 118: Severed Ties (Second Update)

The Third Princess of the Ninth Master’s family had passed away. It was on the third day after the Ninth Master returned to the capital that he took a small garment to seek out Mu Jingyuan. Upon hearing the news, the Ninth Master was utterly stunned. Though he had never been deeply attached to his previous daughters, they were still his children—flesh and blood, bound by heart.

Without hesitation, the Ninth Master intended to go to the Wanyan residence, but was unexpectedly stopped by the imperial physician who had arrived. After careful inquiry, he learned that the Third Princess had died of smallpox. Immediately, the Ninth Master sensed that something was amiss; the Fourteenth had clearly stated that the Third Princess had already been vaccinated, which should have granted her immunity.

Suspicious, the Ninth Master glanced toward Dong’e. Dong’e appeared nervous and stammered, “Master, you said the Third Princess was vaccinated, so how could she still contract smallpox?”

Coincidentally, the imperial physician attending to the prince’s residence that day was the very one who had vaccinated the Third Princess. Hearing Dong’e’s words, he seemed to recall something strange but hesitated to speak, glancing toward the Ninth Master.

The Ninth Master, seeing the physician’s demeanor, knew he had something to say. Casting a sweeping glance at Dong’e, he instructed, “Go quickly to the back courtyard and make arrangements. Smallpox infection is a serious matter. No one in the Wanyan residence is to leave without orders.” Dong’e nodded and left.

Once Dong’e had departed, the Ninth Master had Wang Quan’er bring a stool for the physician. The doctor was hesitant to sit, politely declining, but the Ninth Master did not insist. With a grave voice, he asked, “Do you know why the Third Princess still contracted smallpox?”

The physician pursed his lips and glanced at Wang Quan’er, who obediently left the room. Only then did the doctor speak, “Master, I suspect that the Third Princess’ previous two outbreaks were not smallpox but merely common rashes. Though I had my doubts, since the vaccination garment was personally prepared by the Consort and the Secondary Consort, I did not think further.”

The Ninth Master suddenly slammed the table, his voice rising sharply in anger. “You didn’t think further? As an imperial physician, how could you not think about such matters?”

The doctor hastily knelt down, trembling with fear, “Master, I had tried to persuade the Secondary Consort that our Imperial Medical Institute’s inoculation method was highly advanced. But she insisted on using the garment she had found herself, and the Consort agreed. So I said no more. The Third Princess wore the garment and developed a fever on the tenth day, which aligns perfectly with the vaccination timeline. The only difference was that her rash was very sparse, just a few spots, and she recovered quickly.”

Only then did the Ninth Master understand why the Fourteenth had asked him for the inoculation method—it was because the Third Princess’ vaccination period had seemed stable. Narrowing his eyes, he looked at the physician once more and said gravely, “You mean the reason the Third Princess’ vaccination failed was because of that garment?”

The physician nodded. “Master, it was a blue garment. May I take it back to the Imperial Medical Institute for testing?”

The Ninth Master’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You said what color was the garment?”

The physician, puzzled by the reaction, replied, “Master, it was a blue little garment embroidered with a carp.”

As soon as the physician finished, the Ninth Master strode out of his study. The physician stood up in confusion, unsure whether to follow. Wang Quan’er, however, timely brought the physician a cup of tea, signaling that it was time to take his leave.

Meanwhile, in a room within the Ninth Master’s residence, Mu Jingyuan was examining the small garment the Ninth Master had brought. Though half of it had been burned away, a faint medicinal fragrance lingered. Mu Jingyuan found the scent familiar but could not immediately identify it—it certainly should not have appeared in the Qimeng Garden.

Before Mu Jingyuan could investigate further, the Ninth Master arrived with yet another small garment, nearly identical to the half-burned one in his hand. Even as a foreigner, Mu Jingyuan could sense something suspicious.

At this moment, the Ninth Master fully realized the truth: the stories of Yan Yan’s secret escape or fleeing with the child to avoid confinement were lies. The most likely explanation was that someone intended harm to his child. In desperation, Yan Yan had no choice but to flee, which also explained why Wu Tong and Cui’er had run away together. Both were born in the household and had family there; it was unthinkable they would abandon their kin’s lives so recklessly.

Having pieced together these matters, the Ninth Master immediately sent for the wet nurse who had taken Dong’e back home and questioned her thoroughly. Then, filled with rage, he stormed to the residence of the Eighth Prince.

Indeed, the Ninth Master did not seek out Dong’e’s misfortune in the backyard but went with a chilling expression to the Eighth Prince’s mansion, where he kicked a young servant who had come to meet him so hard that the boy spat blood. Seeing the severity of the situation, Wang Quan’er hurriedly ordered the royal guards to follow the Ninth Master closely and slipped away to find the Tenth Prince.

The Eighth Prince had already received news and stepped outside. Upon seeing the Ninth Master’s face, he smiled, “Oh, Ninth Brother, what has vexed you so? Come in and tell me.”

The Ninth Master glared fiercely, unsettling the Eighth Prince, who gestured for the attendants to leave before offering a warm smile. “What is it, Ninth Brother? Could it be you’re angry because I didn’t accompany the Tenth Brother to visit the Yan family? I must say, no matter how good the Yan family is, you must keep some measure. Your father-in-law even came to my residence recently as a guest, and between the lines, he was not very pleased with you.”

The Ninth Master’s anger grew. He slammed the table before him, glaring at the Eighth Prince, “Is it because of this that you want to harm my child with Yan Yan?”

The Eighth Prince was stunned by the outburst, his expression hardening. “Ninth Brother, don’t be absurd. What are you saying?”

“Absurd?” The Ninth Master sneered coldly. “Be frank—only you know what you made your cousin do. I never imagined that because Yan Yan’s business dealings offended a few iron-capped princes, you would resort to such ruthless measures. Truly, you are a wise prince.”

The Eighth Prince was utterly bewildered, looking at the Ninth Master in disbelief. “Ninth Brother, you must not say such things lightly. Do you really think I am capable of such deeds?”

The Ninth Master smiled darkly. “You know full well, Eighth Brother. No need to play games with me. From today, we are no longer brothers; we sever all ties and never wish to see each other again.” Saying this, he snatched the Eighth Prince’s sword, cut through his own robe, and turned to leave.