Chapter 49: He Must Not Be Allowed to Investigate

Fang Zhenzhen was flustered and irritated, her tone sharp.

Her voice unconsciously rose, “I know! I want him to marry me as soon as possible too! But that wretched woman, Consort Liang, insists on this demand. Prince Qi, not wanting to go against her, will surely do everything he can to investigate that matter. How can we stop him?”

She gripped the handle of her spoon tightly, scraping it against the bottom of the bowl in frustration, her anxiety bringing her to tears.

Zhou Huajin consoled her briefly, then fell silent for a moment before making a ruthless decision.

“Right now, the only way is to make sure the two of you become husband and wife as soon as possible. That will disrupt his focus and divert his attention.”

Fang Zhenzhen froze, her face turning slightly red. She stomped her foot under the table, a mix of embarrassment and frustration flashing across her face.

“But he is quite proper and respectful. He would never do such a thing. Even the few intimate gestures we’ve had were initiated by me.”

Zhou Huajin pondered for a moment. “In a few days, it will be your birthday. Prince Qi will surely take you out to celebrate. You must seize this opportunity to get him drunk and then claim that he acted under the influence.”

“By then, for the sake of the royal family’s reputation, they will have no choice but to arrange a swift marriage for you.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Zhenzhen’s brows smoothed, and she wiped away her tears. But in the next moment, concern flickered in her eyes.

“But… I’m not sure if I can do it. If anything goes wrong, we’re finished.”

“Look at you, cowardly like a mouse! A woman who wishes to marry up must take risks!”

Zhou Huajin increasingly felt that her daughter was not as capable as she had been in her youth.

Had she not endured and schemed back then, her father might have married her off to some insignificant household.

Zhou Huajin’s expression grew stern. “Then you can sit back and wait for Prince Qi to uncover the truth and throw our entire family into prison.”

“No!” Fang Zhenzhen hesitated, then said, “Tonight, let’s discuss this with Father and see if this plan is feasible.”

Zhou Huajin immediately refused, sneering coldly. “He’s been complaining about the exhaustion from moving houses these past few days. That wretched woman, Wei, has fallen ill. Every time your father comes home, he spends all his time in her courtyard. He doesn’t care about you, doesn’t care about our family—so why even ask him?”

Wei was a thorn in her throat.

Previously, with the old Madam Meng around, she hadn’t dared to act rashly.

But now things were different. Sooner or later, she would make Wei suffer.

She had grown up watching her mother be suppressed by a concubine, swallowing her pride and enduring humiliation. She had once sworn she would never end up like that.

Yet Fang Kun had brought Wei into their home, showering her with endless affection, stabbing Zhou Huajin in the heart repeatedly. She could barely contain her rage, constantly quarreling with Fang Kun over it.

If her daughter could marry into the royal family soon, she would finally be able to hold her head high and teach Wei a lesson. That wretched woman had mocked her every day ever since Zhenzhen’s engagement was called into question.

Zhou Huajin’s tone softened slightly. “No matter what, you are still Prince Qi’s savior. That is our greatest safeguard. At worst, he won’t be able to truly harm us.”

“Did he not say that the jade pendant allows you to make three wishes?”

Fang Zhenzhen’s eyes flashed, and she bit her lip before nodding.

She needed to plan carefully to ensure there were no mistakes.

---

After Fang Kun finished work, he recalled how Wei had furrowed her brows slightly while drinking her medicine. Changing his route, he stopped by a shop to buy some plum candy for her.

Just as he stepped out, a man dressed in black, wearing a bamboo hat, blocked his path.

“I have a way to resolve all the misfortunes in your household. Do you want to hear it?”

Fang Kun narrowed his eyes, immediately on guard. “Who are you?”

The man spoke mysteriously, “You do not need to know that. I ask for no payment. Just tell me—do you want my help or not?”

Fang Kun hesitated, deep in thought, before giving a cautious nod.

The past few days had been a nightmare for his family.

The only good news was that his mother had entered the marquis’ household. But his father had lost his title.

In the end, his mother had failed to become the marchioness.

He was curious—what exactly was this man planning?

The man continued, “I can send an otherworldly spirit to save your entire family and elevate you to great wealth and power. But he will need an identity. In simple terms, one of your family members must switch souls. Are you willing?”

Fang Kun was stunned, hardly believing what he had just heard.

“Who exactly are you?” he pressed.

“Consider me a deity who cannot bear to see human suffering and has come to offer salvation by fate,” the man replied.

Logic told Fang Kun that he shouldn’t believe this, but he couldn’t suppress the excitement stirring within him.

What if it were true? He had nothing to lose.

“Have you decided?” The man urged. “Tell me the birth date and time of the person you choose.”

Fang Kun’s mind first went to Zhou Huajin, but then reconsidered. If this so-called spirit was truly powerful, he should choose someone with a direct blood tie for it to be most effective.

He immediately ruled out Zhou Huajin’s two sons and, thinking that Fang Zhenzhen still had the possibility of marrying Prince Qi, settled on his youngest daughter, Fang Qiqi.

Making his decision, he provided her birth details without hesitation.

“Understood. Just wait,” the man said before turning and disappearing into the night.

---

Fang Xunli had recently graduated from the Imperial Academy and was now studying at home, preparing for next year’s spring examination. His schedule was relatively free.

Qin Xuan had picked a day to take her son and two daughters to the Xu household to fetch Xu Wanyin, planning a leisurely outing.

She wanted to furnish the western courtyard but was unsure what styles the two children preferred, so she brought them along to choose for themselves.

She had also promised Fang Yuean a sugar painting and some trinkets of her choice.

Additionally, with Zhiyi returning soon, she planned to prepare the childhood treats she loved.

Thus, she had arranged for them all to go out today.

Lately, she and Madam Liu had maintained a strange balance—testing and observing each other without open conflict.

Even the Dragon Shadow Guards had failed to uncover Liu’s true identity, so Qin Xuan had stopped probing.

For now, she could only remain vigilant and focus her attention on the second household, searching for an opportunity to eliminate them in one swift move or find the perfect leverage.

Inside the carriage, Qin Xuan was casually chatting with Xu Wanyin.

Fang Yuean was unusually quiet, resting her small chin on her hands, brows slightly furrowed.

【Huai Ze, I have a feeling… something dangerous is approaching.】

As soon as she voiced her thoughts, she regretted it.

Had she just let something slip?

Huai Ze’s voice sounded in her mind: 【Then there’s nothing we can do. Fate has already been altered—I can no longer predict anything. Who knows what schemes others may be plotting?】

His tiny paws, mid-scratch, paused. His round eyes flicked toward Fang Yuean with sudden wariness.

【Wait…! Your spiritual energy hasn’t recovered much. Your ability to sense the world around you is practically nonexistent. How could you have foreseen danger?】

He immediately checked Fang Yuean’s seal.

It was perfectly intact.

Demons cultivated by absorbing human resentment and hostility.

Before she entered reincarnation, the Celestial Lord had personally sealed her demonic energy to prevent her from feeding on worldly grievances.

Huai Ze regularly inspected it—nothing had changed.

Fang Yuean averted her gaze, keeping calm as she slowly replied, 【This ability… is natural. I can’t help it.】

【Even without spiritual energy, I have a stronger-than-average foresight.】

She couldn’t pinpoint exactly where the danger lay within the household, but she knew a benefactor would soon arrive, ensuring they would narrowly escape disaster.