After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 266 He's Here (Part 4)
Contrary to what the Prince of Huai had imagined, Bai Wanqing was dressed in white, with a calm and serene expression, showing no signs of being the kind of woman who would use such ruthless methods.

No wonder the Fang family fell, and now the Fang family has fallen too. How interesting, how truly interesting!
The Prince of Huai's scrutinizing gaze was blatant, and the deep meaning in his eyes sent chills down Bai Wanqing's spine. An unprecedented pressure swept over her.

Is this the Prince of Huai? Is this the majesty of the imperial family?
Bai Wanqing forced herself to calm down, suppressed the fear in her heart, and stared back.

The Prince of Huai slightly twitched the corners of his mouth, and in his heart, he actually began to admire the woman in front of him. It was just a pity that such a woman had entered the Lin family.

Otherwise, wouldn't it be quite interesting to snatch her back and make her a concubine?

Zhuang Qi, who was standing to the side, seemed to see through the Prince of Huai's thoughts and quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, it is more important to find someone first."

The Prince of Huai then put aside his other thoughts and ordered, "Men, search the place!"

Although Meng Zhan hesitated, he still led his soldiers to rush into the courtyard.

"Wait!" At this moment, Bai Wanqing, who was standing in the middle of the courtyard gate, finally spoke again.

Meng Zhan and his soldiers were stunned, while the Prince of Huai behind them raised his eyebrows slightly, looking at the audacious woman in front of him with some anger.

Bai Wanqing stepped forward and bowed respectfully to the Prince of Huai.

“Your Highness, my husband cannot see anyone right now. Please understand.”

"Oh? What do you mean? I came to the Lin family in person, so why can't Lord Lin even see me?"

"Are you looking down on me?" the Prince of Huai asked in a low voice.

"I wouldn't dare!" Bai Wanqing quickly replied in a low voice.

"It is a great honor for our Lin family that His Highness the Prince of Huai has come to our humble abode to see my husband."

“But right now, it is really inconvenient for my husband to see anyone.”

"I am acting in Your Highness's best interest. If Your Highness were to fall ill from your husband's influence, it would be a grave sin for the Lin family."

Meng Zhan and the soldiers behind him couldn't help but shudder when they heard this, especially the soldiers who had seen Lin Yunche's miserable state at the gate earlier. They leaned back, afraid that the sickness in the courtyard would affect them.

After hearing this, the Prince of Huai looked at Bai Wanqing and chuckled twice.

"Oh? Judging from what Madam Lin says, it seems that Lord Lin is indeed quite ill."

"However, I am not afraid. I am a member of the royal family and have the blood of the dragon. Ordinary diseases cannot harm me."

"Mrs. Lin, there is no need to worry."

As he spoke, His Highness Prince Huai walked over in person, a smile on his face, and stepped into the courtyard.

Zhuang Qi and the Prince of Huai's personal guards naturally followed quickly, while Meng Zhan, standing at the door, was filled with fear.

Should he go? That's a strange disease that even a miracle doctor can't cure; if he doesn't go? Then he probably won't get any benefits from the Prince of Huai in the future.

Meng Zhan glanced at Bai Wanqing, hesitated for a moment, and finally led his men inside.

"Madam," Ruixin said in a low voice with some concern.

"It's alright, let's go in and take a look!"

With that, Bai Wanqing told Fengniang to stay outside the courtyard and keep an eye on those people to prevent them from harming Cui Shi and Lin Feiyun, while she took Ruixin and went into the other courtyard.

Not long after the Prince of Huai and his entourage entered the villa, they smelled a strong medicinal aroma.

The Prince of Huai's expression changed slightly, and he turned his head slightly to look at Zhuang Qi beside him.

"What's going on? Is there really a sick person here?" Prince Huai asked quietly.

Zhuang Qi frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "Your Highness, this woman is not simple. When Lord Meng came before, he probably already alerted her. Now she is just putting on a show. It is not difficult for her."

The Prince of Huai nodded, but did not move his feet. Instead, he turned around and scanned the crowd behind him until his gaze fell on one person.

“Lord Meng, you are the only one who has spent time with Lord Lin here.”

"You should be the person who knows Lord Lin best. Why don't you go in and see how Lord Lin is doing?"

Meng Zhan was startled, but he had no choice but to obey, saying, "Yes!"

He then steeled himself and walked to the door. Meng Zhan nervously closed his eyes, held his breath, and pushed hard with both hands.

The door to the room was easily pushed open, and the smell of medicinal soup, twice as strong as before, immediately followed.

Because Meng Zhan was holding his breath, he didn't smell it, but everyone else in the courtyard, including Prince Huai, couldn't help but frown.

Prince Huai covered his nose with a handkerchief and asked impatiently, "Lord Meng, what's the situation inside? Is Lord Lin there?"

With nowhere to retreat, Meng Zhan had no choice but to force himself to open his eyes.

A pig's head, its clothes torn and its face a deep purplish-red, lay quietly on the couch. What's more, the red marks covering its arms beneath the tattered clothes left Meng Zhan speechless with shock.

"Plague! Plague!" Meng Zhan was so frightened that he took more than ten steps back.

The Prince of Huai looked at the terrified Meng Zhan with disdain and winked at Zhuang Qi.

Zhuang Qi had Meng Zhan dragged aside, and then led two doctors into the house. The scene inside was indeed horrifying.

Even though Zhuang Qi was mentally prepared, she couldn't help but feel a wave of nausea rising in her stomach.

The two doctors weren't much better off than Zhuang Qi. They looked shocked, but having experienced the plague firsthand, they quickly recovered.

Both of them covered their mouths and noses with burlap, and one of them gave Zhuang Qi a piece of burlap as well.

Zhuang Qi took the burlap and tied it around his head, then slowly followed the two doctors.

This person was tall and handsome, with striking features, but now that he was so swollen, it was hard to tell whether he was Lin Yunche or not.

Zhuang Qi frowned, stepped forward and said gently, "Lord Lin, the Prince heard that you have been ill for a long time, so he specially ordered me to find two doctors to examine you."

After Zhuang Qi finished speaking, without waiting for the person on the bed to respond, he waved for two doctors to come over and take his pulse.

Two doctors, carrying medicine boxes, took turns checking Lin Yunche's pulse, but after checking his pulse, they both gently shook their heads.

"How is it?" Zhuang Qi asked.

“Mr. Zhuang, Lord Lin’s illness is indeed strange. Judging from his pulse, Lord Lin’s body is severely weak, but it seems to have nothing to do with the red sores on his body.”

"It could be one disease, or it could be two diseases."

"Or perhaps," the two doctors exchanged a glance, not daring to say anything more.

"What is it? Doctors, please speak freely."

"Or perhaps this disease is a new epidemic that we have never seen before."

Upon hearing this answer, Zhuang Qi laughed, leaving the two doctors somewhat puzzled.

Why is Mr. Zhuang laughing instead? This is a deadly plague! Everyone avoids it like the plague, so why is Mr. Zhuang treating it like a treasure?

The doctors were puzzled, but Zhuang Qi took off the burlap tied around her head.

"Mr. Zhuang, it's dangerous!" one of the doctors kindly warned.

Zhuang Qi waved her hand gently, "It's alright! This disease is not contagious!"

The two doctors found it even more unbelievable; they had never seen this disease before. Could it be that Mr. Zhuang had?

Mr. Zhuang walked directly to the bedside and whispered in Lin Yunche's ear, "Lord Lin, His Highness the Prince of Huai has taken a liking to Madam Lin. If you don't get up soon, Madam Lin will no longer be your wife."

At this moment, Cui Jingcheng, lying on the bed, was terrified, especially when he heard Zhuang Qi say that the Prince of Huai had harbored illicit feelings for Bai Wanqing. He sprang up from the bed, opened his eyes, looked at Zhuang Qi, and sneered, "Oh! So many people!"

Zhuang Qi carefully examined Lin Yunche in front of her. He had an outstanding temperament and showed no fear even in the face of such a situation.

This is something that ordinary people can't do, so this person's identity is probably not simple.

Zhuang Qi was suspicious, but he believed more in the news that Ma Yu had brought back that this person was definitely not Lin Yunche.

However, Bai Wanqing is too unpredictable, having completely transformed this person's appearance. It will not be easy to expose Lin Yunche's true identity.

"Lord Lin, His Highness the Prince of Huai requests your presence. Please come out to meet him!" Zhuang Qi said politely.

Cui Jingcheng knew that if he didn't show up today, the Prince of Huai would probably not let the matter rest.

He reached out and touched his pig-like head, thinking that even if he stood right under the nose of the Prince of Huai, he wouldn't recognize him now.
Cui Jingcheng clutched his chest, coughed violently for a while, and then shakily got out of bed.

"His Highness has arrived! This humble official must see him!"

"Just please don't be too forward, Your Highness!"

Cui Jingcheng spoke haltingly, and if Zhuang Qi hadn't suspected him, she would have thought he was about to pass out.

Zhuang Qi called over two people who carried Cui Jingcheng off the bed.

When Cui Jingcheng's face was revealed to everyone, they were all so shocked that their jaws nearly dropped.

Is this...is this even human?
Good heavens, this disease is so bizarre, could it be an upgraded version of leprosy!
Everyone, including the Prince of Huai, couldn't help but take a step back.

Cui Jingcheng's eyes flashed with a sly glint as he said to the soldier carrying him, "Go, take me to His Highness Prince Huai. I need to explain things to the Prince properly."

So the soldiers carried Cui Jingcheng to the Prince of Huai. Just as the Prince of Huai was about to start cursing, he heard Zhuang Qi say something in his ear.

“Your Highness, this person is of extraordinary status. Although he is not Lin Yunche, he is not an ordinary person either.”

"Why don't you take him back, Your Highness, and interrogate him at your leisure?"

The Prince of Huai finally calmed himself down. He looked carefully at the man in front of him, and the smile on his lips slowly widened.

Bai Wanqing noticed the expression on the Prince of Huai's face and suddenly felt a sense of unease.

Prince Huai slowly walked up to Cui Jingcheng. Cui Jingcheng was puzzled and looked at Prince Huai approaching with some panic.

As the Prince of Huai was about to reach him, Cui Jingcheng nervously swallowed.

"Jingcheng! You're getting more and more naughty."

"They actually dared to play house with me!"

"You greatly underestimate me!"

"Have you forgotten who saved you when you were on the verge of death? And who brought you to the Zhaonan Marquis's residence?"

As he spoke, the Prince of Huai patted Cui Jingcheng's head.

Cui Jingcheng's head throbbed with a loud bang, and a giant hand flashed into his mind. He frantically shook his head, "No! No! Don't kill me!"

The Prince of Huai said gently, "Be good, as long as you are good, you will not die."

Cui Jingcheng retreated step by step, and then his whole body began to tremble. He squatted on the ground with his hands covering his head and shouted loudly.

"I didn't kill anyone!"

"I didn't kill him!"

"I didn't kill anyone!"

Cui Jingcheng seemed to have lost his mind, muttering to himself incessantly.

Bai Wanqing rushed forward to check, but was stopped by the Prince of Huai's men.

Prince Huai walked up to Bai Wanqing with a half-smile and said, "Lady Lin, your poison skills have indeed impressed me."

"But no matter how exquisite the poison technique, it cannot poison the heart."

"Why did you have to ask this kid for help?"

"As far as I know, he is not the husband that Madam Lin is so fond of. He is Cui Jingcheng, the young master of the Zhaonan Marquis's mansion."

Bai Wanqing stared at Prince Huai in shock. She hadn't expected that Prince Huai would be able to see through Cui Jingcheng's identity.

Prince Huai was very pleased to see Bai Wanqing's shocked expression.

He liked it when people looked at him with that kind of expression, just like the way Lin Sishu looked at him back then.

The others weren't much better off than Bai Wanqing.

After all, Cui Jingcheng was completely unrecognizable now, and the Prince of Huai recognized him at a glance.

The Prince of Huai is indeed no ordinary man.
Bai Wanqing quickly recovered from her shock and looked at Prince Huai.

"Your Highness, I did this all by myself!"

"Please punish me, Your Highness, but spare the young marquis and the rest of the Lin family."

Prince Huai glanced coldly at Bai Wanqing, then turned to announce to the crowd.

"Lin Yunche has abandoned his post and left Huaizhou City without permission, which is a crime of deceiving the emperor."

"Bai Wanqing, tell me now where Lin Yunche is, and I will grant your request to release Young Marquis Cui and the others," the Prince of Huai asked coldly.

"This humble woman does not know!" Bai Wanqing replied calmly, her eyes revealing determination.

Prince Huai knew that Bai Wanqing wouldn't tell, and this was the perfect opportunity for him to eliminate the Lin family, a potential threat.

Just as Prince Huai was about to take Bai Wanqing away, a soldier ran in from outside the courtyard and handed a letter to Prince Huai.

The Prince of Huai unfolded the letter, quickly glanced at its contents, and then threw it directly at Bai Wanqing's face.

"What a fine example of Bai Wanqing, who always talks about saving lives and helping the world; what a fine example of the Lin family, who always talk about worrying about the country and its people."

"They were nothing but a bunch of traitors who betrayed their country and colluded with the enemy!"

Bai Wanqing didn't know what the Prince of Huai was talking about. Just as she was about to retort, she saw Meng Zhan pick up the letter that the Prince of Huai had thrown on the ground.

The text details Lin Yunche's secret affairs while he was not in Huaizhou City, but in the Northern Dynasty.

Most importantly, Lin Yunche re-colluded with Lin Sishu, a traitor in the Northern Dynasty, and established an anti-Shang organization in the Northern Dynasty.

Meng Zhan unknowingly read aloud what he had seen.

The crowd erupted in uproar!
Only then did Bai Wanqing realize that it all seemed to be a trap set by the Prince of Huai.

The message that Lin Sishu sent was to lure Lin Yunche to the Northern Dynasty. Now that the fact that Lin Yunche is not in Huaizhou City has been exposed, could it be...?
Bai Wanqing turned around in disbelief to look at Cui Jingcheng, who was in a daze.

Cui Jingcheng met Bai Wanqing's gaze, and he lowered his head in bewilderment.

A bitter smile appeared on Bai Wanqing's lips. Yes! Even Cui Jingcheng was...
Bai Wanqing knew that this time, the Prince of Huai would not let the Lin family off the hook, nor would he let her off the hook.

But she was unwilling to give up. She had not yet received any news from Lin Yunche, nor had she waited for her husband to return.

(End of this chapter)