My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

A hint of hesitation flickered across her face, but Qin Qingluo still smiled and strode forward with a hearty demeanor.

"Prince…"

Qin Qingluo's figure halted, her serpent-like pupils narrowing slightly.

She glanced at Chen Yi briefly, then discreetly pulled her robe tighter. Just as she was about to head out, she looked down and saw a slip of paper inscribed with prophetic words. Casually, she picked it up and slipped it into her palm.

At this moment, Min Ning, perhaps out of worry or something else, couldn't wait any longer for a reply and suddenly rushed into the bedroom.

Her form, transformed into the likeness of Zhu E, barged into Qin Qingluo's sight.

Qin Qingluo's heart sank.

The disheveled bedroom entered her view as Min Ning exclaimed in astonishment:

"This… what happened here?"

Qin Qingluo's gaze grew deeper, then she said casually:

"It's nothing serious. Princess asked me to deliver the soup, and here it is."

Min Ning, unsure of what game this was, noticed Chen Yi remaining silent and hurriedly stammered a few responses of "Oh."

Qin Qingluo accepted the bowl of contraceptive soup, her only thought being to have the red-robed figure in front of her leave as quickly as possible. Though she detected something off, she chose not to probe.

The bitter soup slowly slid down her throat.

Yet, for some reason, the initial bitterness was overwhelming, but the more she drank, the more a faint sweetness emerged.

Qin Qingluo couldn't help but feel puzzled. As she set the bowl down slightly and concentrated her gaze, she suddenly froze.

Inside the half-finished "contraceptive soup," a small golden gleam of chicken wing hovered above the liquid.

Was there… chicken wings in the contraceptive soup?

Qin Qingluo's head shot up abruptly, staring in astonishment at the woman in red.

At first, Min Ning didn't notice, but then she suddenly realized the faint glow around her was gradually dissipating.

"Zhu Yu, Zhu Yu, the illusion technique is unraveling!"

She silently shouted in her heart, but there was no response from Zhu Yu. It seemed that Zhu Yu was too exhausted to sustain the illusion.

In the tent, Qin Qingluo watched as the figure of Zhu E gradually morphed back into Min Ning, piece by piece.

"This… What is going on?"

Min Ning, sensing the situation had gone awry, hastily explained: "This, this was… the Princess told me to bring it, and this…"

As the words reached her ears, Qin Qingluo still didn't understand. She lowered her head, staring at the bowl of contraceptive soup in her palm.

The so-called contraceptive soup… was fake?

Could it be that she had never truly drunk any contraceptive soup at all…

But why?

A sudden thought struck Qin Qingluo, and she slowly turned her head to look at Chen Yi.

That man's face bore a faint smile, so calm and composed. He was gazing back at her steadily, just like he had during the banquet.

Just like he had during the banquet!

Qin Qingluo's serpent-like pupils suddenly contracted, and a dreadful realization surfaced in her mind. She wanted to push it away but was abruptly reminded of Zhu E's unusual behavior.

Zhu E had returned the First Wife's hairpin to her, instructing her to keep it for the next First Wife…

These two had been aunt and niece for so many years, their thoughts understood without words. Why would Zhu E suddenly act this way?!

Zhu E had given her the silver hairpin from a certain person and taken away the golden hairpin…

In the eyes of ordinary women in inner chambers, wasn't this equivalent to exchanging favor and affection?

Zhu E had already treated her niece as no different from an official concubine of that man...

But hadn't she stated clearly before that she would keep him at a distance, never letting him get close?

Aunt Zhu would never have insisted, not under those circumstances.

Unless… she could no longer keep him at a distance…

Qin Qingluo suddenly turned back, pieces of evidence piecing themselves together, forming a whole. All at once, everything clicked—Chen Yi's meaningful glances, Zhu E's erratic actions, and the fake contraceptive soup…

Her serpent-like pupils widened in shock...

Her tall frame began to tremble violently, akin to a wounded lion roaring in muted agony before death, her muscles tensing and twitching one by one. She seemed ready to collapse at any moment, her throat producing guttural noises, as though something were lodged, making it impossible to breathe!

An invisible sword had pierced through her heart!

As if summoning her final ounce of strength, she shakily extended her hand.

The slip of paper trembled in her palm, like a heartbeat.

The Palace of Spouses, Sun transforming into Malefic...

A marriage in name only!

It wasn't Zhu E's child,

But… her child!