The Stunning Mad Empress: The Useless Third Miss - Chapter 44

“Wow! Master, can this poison powder be neutralized?”

Little Pearl, seeing Xiao Qingcheng’s serious expression, asked anxiously.

Xiao Qingcheng squinted her eyes and examined the powder for a long time before nodding slightly: “It can be! However, it’s extremely difficult.”

With a sigh, Xiao Qingcheng leaned back, looking a bit annoyed.

Little Pearl quickly jumped over and used her paws, which had just been licked, to massage Xiao Qingcheng’s head.

“Does Master feel better now?”

“Yeah, thank you!”

“Master is so polite! A clever and adorable divine beast like me won’t mind.”

Hearing this, Xiao Qingcheng suddenly opened her eyes: “I can identify nine of the ingredients in this poison powder. The last one seems familiar, but I can’t quite figure it out!”

“What should Master do then?”

Xiao Qingcheng glanced back at Little Pearl’s paws, which had regained their color, and said with a squint: “You’re an animal with a layer of fur on your skin, which makes detoxification much easier. For humans, it’s probably not so easy!”

“Knock knock! Miss San, are you ready? Nan Gong’s matriarch will be here soon.”

Before Little Pearl could respond, there was another knock on the door.

Xiao Qingcheng quickly picked up Little Pearl, tucked her into her sleeve, and walked out the door.

“Miss San, I can wait, but the madam and Nan Gong’s matriarch can’t. Miss San, to be honest, no matter how you dress up, you won’t look as good as the eldest or second miss.”

Xiao Qingcheng looked at the maid with an unpleasant expression and suddenly said: “Huh? Is your face swollen? Hehe, how ugly!”

The maid, realizing her cheek was itchy, rushed into Xiao Qingcheng’s room and let out a scream: “Aaaaaaaaaaaah!” that echoed through the sky.

Ignoring the scream, Xiao Qingcheng walked towards the front gate of the Xiao residence with her hands behind her back, in a leisurely manner.

On the other side,

From the city gate of Xiao Family Town all the way to the entrance of the Xiao residence, petals were flying everywhere.

Guarded by soldiers on both sides, a high-quality red carpet was laid in the middle.

A luxurious beaded carriage was traveling on the carpet, flanked by elite guards.

The imposing presence made the onlookers stop and admire.

“Nan Gong Feng greets the matriarch!”

Standing ten meters in front of the Xiao residence, Nan Gong Feng was fanning himself with a folding fan, a cold smile on his face.

He didn’t bow, kneel, or perform any formal greeting—just a casual greeting.

Meanwhile, Xiao Feng and Lin Fen, along with their daughters Xiao Qingxue and Xiao Qingqing, were already kneeling on one knee.

“No need for formalities, Feng. Where’s Yu?”

The voice came from inside the beaded curtain, steady and competent with a touch of crispness.

“Heard that you haven’t been eating well lately, Mother, so he went to buy some special pastries from Xiao Family Town. He should be here soon,” Nan Gong Feng replied, narrowing his eyes and looking through the curtain at the person inside.

“This boy is still so impulsive. Feng, you should guide and restrain him more!”

Nan Gong Feng didn’t respond, and the atmosphere became slightly awkward.

Xiao Feng then spoke up: “Xiao Feng and his family greet Nan Gong’s matriarch.”

“No need for formalities. We’ll be family soon,” the matriarch said.

As she spoke, the sound of hooves approached: “Mother! Mother!”

Nan Gong Yu, looking dashing and spirited, reined in his horse right in front of the matriarch’s carriage.

“Whoa! Mother, I’m late.”

As soon as he spoke, the beaded curtain was lifted by a pair of delicate hands: “Yu, come here and let me see you!”

The urgency in her voice was a stark contrast to her previous composure.

With the curtain swaying, a woman in splendid attire appeared before everyone.

Her hair was elegantly coiffed, adorned with jingling jade hairpins.

She wore a brocade dress, accentuating her waist,

Her well-preserved and exquisitely made-up face looked no more than early thirties.

Compared to Lin Fen, who was of similar age, Nan Gong’s matriarch didn’t look “old” at all!

“Oh dear, haven’t you been resting well lately? Why do you have dark circles under your eyes?”

Fu Yingsi looked at Nan Gong Yu with great concern.

Nan Gong Yu had dressed up carefully today.

He wore a black robe with intricate embroidery, standing tall and distinguished.

Though he was slightly less handsome than Nan Gong Feng, he was still an exceptional-looking man.

The dark circles under his eyes were merely a result of indulgence in the past few days.

“I’m fine, Mother. You must be tired from the long journey. Mother, please be careful getting out of the carriage.”

Fu Yingsi smiled, her eyes filled with relief and maternal love.

“Alright, as Yu says.”

After a pause, Fu Yingsi turned and looked at Nan Gong Feng with a knowing smile: “Feng, I heard that the second young master from the Xiao family’s main branch will be coming here soon to see Miss Xiao San. Is that true?”

Nan Gong Feng nodded: “Yes, it is.”

“Alright, then your mission is done. There’s no need to stay in Xiao Family Town for long. Go there as soon as possible.”

Upon hearing this, Nan Gong Feng instinctively looked back.

As expected, he saw the person he most wanted to see at that moment.

“Yu, I’ve seen you, the person I wanted to see the most. Now, it’s time for me to meet Miss Xiao San, whom I’ve heard so much about but never met!”

Nan Gong Yu’s face turned cold upon hearing this: “What’s there to see in that fool? She’s so ugly; I don’t want to marry her.”

While helping Fu Yingsi out of the carriage, Nan Gong Yu complained.

Not far away, Nan Gong Feng nodded slightly at Xiao Qingcheng, who had just arrived at the gate.

Xiao Qingcheng, with a sallow and grayish face, gave Nan Gong Feng a faint smile in return.

Then, Nan Gong Feng turned around, mounted his horse, and left with his entourage, marching on the red carpet and disappearing from everyone’s sight.

Fu Yingsi completely ignored this and glanced at Xiao Qingcheng through Lin Fen and Xiao Feng.

“Is that Miss Xiao San?”

As soon as she spoke, everyone turned to look at Xiao Qingcheng.

Nan Gong Yu followed with a disdainful remark: “That’s the idiot!”

“Ah, you mustn’t speak like that. Yu, she is, after all, your fiancée,” Fu Yingsi said.

“I can’t possibly marry her. I like Qingxue,” Nan Gong Yu interrupted, giving Xiao Qingxue a meaningful look.

Xiao Qingxue immediately stepped forward respectfully and greeted Fu Yingsi with a slight bow: “Qingxue greets the matriarch.”

Fu Yingsi narrowed her shrewd eyes and examined Xiao Qingxue closely.

Especially when she noticed a faint red mark on Xiao Qingxue’s collarbone, she frowned slightly.

Then she glanced at her son’s earlobe and unconsciously curled her lips into a smile.

Lin Fen, who was observing carefully from a distance, sensed Fu Yingsi’s thoughts and felt a chill in her feet.