Chapter 24: Where Is My Wife?

"Get out!"

Qin Lang’s fury burned through every fiber of his being. He barely restrained the urge to strike Yuan Xinran dead with a single blow.

"I won't." Yuan Xinran, convinced that her scheme had finally succeeded, was too overjoyed to feel the sting of his rejection. "I had the Sixth Prince lace your wine with 'Joy of Meeting.' It’s the most potent aphrodisiac; just a single drop is enough to..."

"Give me the antidote."

Qin Lang seized her by the throat. His usual air of elegant dissipation had vanished, replaced by an aura of murderous, chilling intent.

"It’s an aphrodisiac... there is no antidote..."

Yuan Xinran’s face turned a ghastly shade of blue. Only when she felt the brush of death did she finally know true fear. Seeing that Qin Lang was truly intent on killing her, she didn't even have the breath to scream for help. She kicked her legs in a frantic struggle, sobbing, "Qin Lang, I just fancy you! I just wanted one night with you. You’re a man; you wouldn't lose anything. Why won't you just grant my wish? Would you really kill me over such a trivial thing?"

Qin Lang had no patience for her drivel. Upon hearing there was no antidote, he flung her aside.

Yuan Xinran crashed heavily into a curio cabinet, bringing both herself and the furniture down in a heap. She vomited blood, too pained to even crawl. "You... are you mad? How could you treat me so violently?"

Princess Baojia had never been subjected to such treatment in her life. If a common rake were reported to the censors for harassing a respectable woman, he would be punished by the Emperor; at the very least, his elders would give him a token beating. But she, Princess Baojia, was an exception. After all, everyone held the tacit belief that in matters of romance, a woman could never be the one to take advantage of a man. There was no law that explicitly dictated how to handle such a situation.

Yuan Xinran had been bullying others for a long time, accustomed to getting whatever she wanted. She had always relied on this tactic, never imagining it would fail with Qin Lang. Getting on his bad side was like kicking an iron plate.

Qin Lang turned his back to her, ignoring her entirely. The effects of the "Joy of Meeting" were taking hold rapidly. The heat coursing through his veins was becoming unbearable, and his senses were blurring. The doors and windows seemed to spin, making it impossible to distinguish direction.

He shattered a vase nearby and used a shard of porcelain to cut his left palm, channeling his internal energy to force the drug out. Blood dripped onto the white carpet, blooming like red plum blossoms against the snow.

Having regained a modicum of clarity, he kicked the door open and charged out.

"There’s such a racket in there! Let me hear—"

Yuan Ping had been eavesdropping outside, musing that his cousin had surely succeeded after pining for Qin Lang for so long. He imagined they were like dry kindling meeting a fierce flame. Just as he pressed his ear to the door panel, it was kicked open from within.

The Sixth Prince had no time to dodge; the door struck him squarely. Before he could react, Qin Lang, storming out, grabbed him by the collar.

"Yuan Ping!" Qin Lang’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice roaring with rage. "Look at what you’ve done!"

"Second Brother... Second Brother, let’s talk this over calmly! There’s no need for violence!"

Seeing the blood staining Qin Lang’s hands and robes, Yuan Ping’s smile vanished instantly. The Sixth Prince had thought his cousin was obsessed to the point of madness. Since Qin Lang was already married, she could never enter the Prince of Zhenbei’s estate. She would be leaving for the fief with Prince Liang in a few days, and she might never see her beloved again. After her repeated entreaties, he had agreed to help her fulfill this wish.

Besides, Qin Lang and his new bride were not on good terms. Moreover, what man in this world didn't stray outside his marriage? Princess Baojia, though her reputation was poor, was undeniably beautiful; it wasn't as if he were wronging Second Brother.

But... looking at Qin Lang now, it wasn't just a matter of being wronged—it was a humiliating insult.

"You, as a brother, would scheme against me like this?"

Qin Lang slammed a fist into Yuan Ping’s face, casting all notions of courtly etiquette to the winds. The punch landed solidly. It sent Yuan Ping flying into the railing, where he tumbled down the stairs. He lay there for a long time, unable to crawl up, his face bruised and bleeding.

"My two young masters, why are you fighting like this for no reason?"

The staff of the Furong Pavilion were terrified, rushing forward to mediate. Yuan Ping sat on the floor, not daring to show anger, let alone fight back. The truth was, even if he tried, he couldn't beat him.

Qin Lang leapt down from the second floor, landing on the ground floor and hauling Yuan Ping up by his collar.

"That’s enough, Qin Lang. There are outsiders watching. Besides, how can you call this a scheme?"

Yuan Ping had wanted to argue, but one look at Qin Lang’s expression made him swallow his words. He lowered his voice. "Second Brother, you’ve already hit me. Calm your anger..."

The Sixth Prince’s attendants rushed over to intervene. "Young Prince Qin, please calm your rage. His Highness meant well. Even if you don't appreciate it, you cannot strike a Prince!"

"Shut up."

Yuan Ping didn't dare use his status as a Prince to pressure Qin Lang right now. If he provoked him further, the consequences would be even more severe. Was the fate of Li Er only a few days ago not a warning?

Qin Lang’s handsome face was dark. He pushed Yuan Ping aside and turned to leave.

"Second Brother! Where are you going in this state?" Yuan Ping grew anxious, clutching his waist as he hurried to catch up. "The most important thing right now is to quench that fire in your body. If you don't like Xinran, I’ll find you a few other clean beauties..."

"I don't want anyone!"

With that, Qin Lang stepped out of the Furong Pavilion, forcing himself to walk briskly toward his horse. He had to get home. He had to find Shen Ruojin. Only she could help him.

...

Meanwhile, at the Prince of Zhenbei’s estate, the sky had grown dark and the lanterns were lit under the eaves.

Steward He paced back and forth before the gate, sweat beading on his forehead. "The Young Mistress has been out for so long; why hasn't she returned?"

He Cheng looked toward the street repeatedly, hoping to see the Heir returning with her from the Prime Minister’s estate. Instead, he saw the Second Master galloping home alone.

The Second Master’s face was flushed, his expression erratic, and his robes were stained with blood. Fortunately, his horse knew the way and had protected its master, bringing him home.

"Second Master, what happened?"

He Cheng rushed forward to help him dismount. Qin Lang was burning up and had no desire to speak. He tossed the reins to a guard and walked toward the inner courtyard, eyes half-closed, tugging at his collar. "Where is my wife?"

"Young Mistress... Young Mistress..." He Cheng stammered.

Qin Lang realized that something must have happened to Shen Ruojin. His muddled mind was struck as if by lightning, suddenly becoming crystal clear.

He opened his eyes, his gaze turning sharp and piercing. "What happened to her? Speak!"

Steward He knelt down with a thud. "Second Master, please listen. Two hours ago, the Second Young Mistress of the Prime Minister’s estate sent a calling card. But when she saw our Young Mistress, she suddenly suffered a complication with her pregnancy and asked the Young Mistress to escort her home..."

The event had happened so suddenly that the Young Mistress had asked the guards to inform the Prince and Princess. Just as the guards went to report, the Heir returned. The Prince, having learned that the Second Master had gone out, was already furious. He had ordered the Heir to send men to the Prime Minister’s estate to bring the Young Mistress back.

The Prince of Zhenbei’s estate and the Prime Minister’s estate had been at odds for generations, and the younger ones were no different. They feared that the younger Li son, holding a grudge from his previous beating, might do something disgraceful.

"The Heir went to the Prime Minister’s estate himself to fetch her, but they claimed they had never seen our Young Mistress. Now the Heir has gone to the Capital Magistrate’s office to ask for help in searching for her..."

"It’s that Li Er again!"

For the first time in his life, Qin Lang hated that he hadn't been ruthless enough. Why hadn't he beaten Li Er to death that day?

As soon as he entered the gate, he turned around and shouted, "Zhuifeng!"

The black horse, just led away by a guard, kicked off its restraints and galloped toward its master like a bolt of lightning.

A cold wind hit his face. Qin Lang gripped his wounded left hand, the pain helping to sharpen his mind.

Two days ago, the Prime Minister’s estate had sent gifts, claiming the Prime Minister was displeased with Li Er’s behavior and had chased him out. If Li Er wasn't staying at the Prime Minister’s estate, where could he go? The wretch had been disfigured; he wouldn't dare wander in public. Once out of the estate, there was only one place... the Li Garden.

Having concluded this, Qin Lang leaped onto his horse, pulled the reins, and galloped off.

"Second Master... Second Master! You’re injured! Where are you going?"

Steward He and the guards tried to stop him, but they couldn't hold him back. Qin Lang rode his steed like a whirlwind through the major streets.

"Isn't that Young Prince Qin? How is he faster than us?"

The Capital Magistrate, having been summoned by the Heir of Zhenbei, Qin Qi, along with a hundred guards to demand the Young Mistress from the Prime Minister’s second son, was shocked to see Qin Lang racing down the street toward the Li Garden.

Qin Qi hadn't expected Qin Lang to arrive so quickly. His expression shifted, and he whipped his horse, ordering his guards, "Quick, follow him."

By now, the night had completely swallowed the world.

The gates of the Li Garden were shut tight, with eight burly guards standing watch with staves. Seeing Young Prince Qin arrive on horseback, they attempted to use their numbers to stop him.

Qin Lang didn't even dismount. He snatched a staff from one of the men with his bare hand. Once the staff was in his grip, he wielded it like a silver spear. In the blink of an eye, he had beaten the guards to the ground, leaving them sprawled in every direction.

By the time Qin Qi and the Magistrate arrived, he had already shattered the gate with a single palm strike.

The shockwave of his internal energy caused the flowers and leaves of the surrounding trees to wither and fall in an instant.

"Second Brother, wait!"

Fearing that Qin Lang’s impulsiveness would lead him to kill Li Er the moment he entered, Qin Qi shouted to stop him.

The gates of the Li Garden crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Qin Lang surged inside, his long staff in hand, radiating a murderous aura. However, upon witnessing the scene before him, he suddenly froze...