Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace

“So it’s really you, there’s no mistaking that voice!”

The said courtesan shrieked while shaking the window. It seemed that she wanted to break the window to get to where Yui Mei’s group were.

“What are you doing! Calm down!”

The officials came running soon after. They captured her and tried to pry her away from the window. 

“Let go, I said let go!”

“Jian Qing…”

Xu looked grief stricken as she stared at the frenzied woman being pushed down the floor.

The woman’s name was Jian Qing, apparently.

“Isn’t this place supposed to be safe?”

Libin unwittingly grumbled as he watched the situation, and blood drained from the escort’s face.

“Er, she shouldn’t be able to see us here, so why…!?”

Based on what the frightened lad said, it seemed that Jian’s route had been purposely been set away from where Xu was, but for some reason, she still managed to sense where Xu was and had broken free from her escorts to rush to her.

“Hmm~”

Libin rubbed his chin in thought.

“Judging from what she said, maybe she heard our voices from over here? That’s a good ear she has then, if that’s the case. Perhaps it’s to be expected of a musician, but still, what a waste of talent.”

“Yes, I agree.”

Libin sighed while saying that, and Yui Mei couldn’t help but agree with his opinion.

Still, why did the officials let Jian escape? She’s already that weak, so there’s no way she could’ve put up a fight against those officials. 

Yui Mei wondered about it as she paid attention to the place beyond the woman. It seemed that there was a ruckus, and the groans and the sound of several footsteps running around could be heard.

“What happened over there?”

“They’re definitely not calm.”

Yui Mei unwittingly muttered. Chen frowned.

The officials wrapped Jian tightly in rope to the point that she could no longer walk on her own. Nevertheless, she kept on flailing about, rocking her body while glaring at Xu.

“Youuuu…! It’s because of you!!”

The babbling woman looked different from when they saw her last.

She looked like a ghoul with her pale and witheringly thin body, and her bright eyes that were glaring at them.

‘It’s been a few days, so the effects of the poppy juice should be more obvious by now.’

It seemed that the poppy juice’s effects had already manifested in Jian. 

If that was her original disposition and personality, she would be treated as a dangerous person, and there would be no way that she could be admitted to the Jiaofang.

From what Xu said, Jian had already been consuming poppy juice for a long time. However, they could see that she was suffering from the symptoms of poppy juice consumption, either because she had a constitution that was easily affected by poppy juice, or she had taken a huge dose in one sitting.

“You’re the one who framed me, you’re just jealous of me because you fell so low! I’m the number one player here, but the elders don’t summon me anymore!”

The officials tried to stuff her mouth with a cloth to stop her from talking, but they were having a hard time because she had been struggling violently.

They seemed to be inexperienced in dealing with berserk people because they couldn’t suppress her well.

‘Did something happen to the people who are used to dealing with this kind of situation?’

The officials stationed in the penitentiary should be dealing with criminals on a daily basis, so it was strange that they weren’t familiar with restraining techniques.

Upon closer look, it seemed that the people holding Jian were young men.

They were probably older than the lad guiding Yui Mei’s group, but they were still lacking when it came to handling situations at a moment’s notice.

The escort talked to Xu as if trying to soothe her.

“Ahm, please don’t mind it. That person spouts out abuse round the clock, making the officials be fed up with her.”

It seemed Jian’s condition continued day by day, so she too must’ve been tired by now.

“Is that so.”

Xu muttered after hearing the lad’s words, then she took a step closer towards the window where they could see Jiang.

“Ah, don’t come closer, it’s dangerous…!”

“It’s fine, it’s only up to here. I just want to say something to her.”

The flustered lad tried to make her go back, but Xu raised her hand to stop him.