If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

Xi Lingxian didn't have time to be amazed and overjoyed at her newfound life for long.

In her previous life, Yu maintained her hypocritical facade for over a decade. Would someone with such unfathomable cunning only poison bird's nest porridge?

She's always been a picky eater, and she doesn't drink bird's nest porridge every day. How could Madam Yu not have thought of that?

If she has another trick up her sleeve, then wouldn't everything in her house be a suspect?

Thinking back to her past life, she was increasingly irritable and easily angered, especially when it came to matters involving Wang Jue and Xie Wanyi. Even the smallest things could turn her into a hysterical, resentful woman.

She always thought it was just her being jealous, possessive, and narrow-minded, never imagining that someone had poisoned her with something unclean.

"Where is Ah Song?" Ling Xian asked.

Taozhi: "It seems Second Master went out drinking with someone."

"Have someone call him back and tell him I have something urgent to discuss with him."

Counting the days, this younger brother, who was ruined by the Yu family in the previous life, is now almost completely useless.

Xi Lingxian rubbed her temples, feeling a surge of despair.

If only I could have come back a few years earlier.

The thought flashed through her mind, and she quickly put her hands together and said "I'm sorry."

Having such an opportunity is already a blessing from heaven; how can we be greedy for more?

It's more important to think about how to get that little good-for-nothing back on track as soon as possible.

A quarter of an hour later, the servant who had been sent out came to report the news.

"Please forgive me, young lady, but the Second Master is having a long chat with a friend and is really unable to leave right now. I have sent you with this message: if you have anything important to say, please wait until he returns."

Xi Lingxian: "Where are they now?"

"A new restaurant has opened on the Qinhuai River. The Third Young Master is hosting a dinner party and has invited many young masters from prominent families."

She frowned and asked, confirming, "What are you drinking at such a young age?"

Peach Blossom shrank back and said, "Young lady, I heard that those people don't just drink alcohol, they also... they eat other things. Second Master, will you...?"

"Peach Branch!" Granny Zhou shouted sternly, "Stop talking nonsense! Second Master is not a fool."

Lingxian knew what Taozhi was going to say: Five-Stone Powder.

Those extremely wealthy young men will stop at nothing to seek pleasure, and I wonder who came up with this harmful and self-destructive thing.

In his previous life, Xi Song wasted most of his life on this.

After becoming addicted to Wushisan (a type of drug), he did little more than eat, drink, and have fun, and never read any serious books, becoming a complete wastrel.

"Someone, prepare the car."

The servant was ordered to prepare the carriage.

Granny Zhou: "Is the young lady going out?"

Xi Lingxian gave a casual "hmm," and Taozhi brought over a cloak and a veil.

Cailing: "Is the young lady going to see the Second Master?"

Xi Lingxian pulled out a short knife from under her pillow and a soft whip from the dressing table drawer.

Taozhi's eyes widened: "...Miss, what are you going to do?"

Granny Zhou rushed forward, grabbing Lingxian's sleeve. "Young lady, don't be reckless! How can a young lady like you go to such a place filled with all sorts of shady characters?"

Lingxian pulled out her sleeve, her face hidden under the veil, her expression unreadable, but her voice was cold.

"Let go."

Granny Zhou was startled and subconsciously relaxed her grip.

But they quickly caught up.

"Young lady, if anything were to happen to you, how would this old servant explain it to the master?"

Xi Lingxian ignored her and walked straight outside.

Outside the door, the carriage was already prepared. Lingxian stepped onto the carriage using a stool, lifted the curtain, and glanced back.

Granny Zhou stood there, her expression complex.

Lingxian smiled slightly.

The driver cracked the whip and set off.

The carriage stopped on the banks of the Qinhuai River. Xi Lingxian, supported by Taozhi, got out of the carriage. At a glance, Zuixianlou was right in front of her.

The three-story pavilion is decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, and strings of red lanterns hang under the eaves.

The sounds of string and wind instruments and the melodious singing of a female singer drifted from inside the building.

As Lingxian stepped into the Zuixianlou, her gaze swept across the lobby on the first floor, where she saw several young men in fine clothes embracing and joking with singing girls.

Behind the counter, the shopkeeper, who was in his forties, saw the newcomer and his eyes lit up immediately.

Judging by his overall demeanor alone, he is by no means inferior to ordinary people.

"Sir, would you like to dine or listen to music? There are private rooms upstairs; shall I arrange one for you?"

"I'm looking for someone."

The shopkeeper paused for a moment, then a familiar yet meaningful smile appeared on his face. His tone was somewhat teasing. "Which lady is here to arrest her husband this time? Don't worry, our place is a respectable one. We don't have any of that dirty business here."

Lingxian glanced at him through the veil of her veil.

The shopkeeper inexplicably felt a chill creep up from the soles of his feet.

"Which is the private room for the third young master of the Xi family?"

The shopkeeper pleaded, "Oh, sir, please don't make things difficult for me. The Xi family is not someone I can afford to offend. I advise you not to offend them either. Lord Xi is not even afraid of the emperor."

Lingxian took out the waist tag from her waist and showed it to the person opposite her.

The current emperor is weak and powerless, like a puppet, while powerful families control the government. Those who walk in Jiankang may not recognize the emperor, but they cannot be unaware of the waist badges of the major powerful families.

Those who can hold the waist tokens of various aristocratic families are all the most valued and trusted children of the family heads, whose status is incomparable to that of ordinary people.

The innkeeper didn't dare to make excuses anymore. He pointed upstairs and said, "Second floor, the 'Spring' room. The second and third young masters are drinking inside."

Lingxian lifted her foot and climbed the steps.

Second floor, room with the character "Spring".

Before even reaching the door, one could already hear the commotion coming from inside.

The sounds of drinking games, laughter, string and wind instruments, and the alluring voices of female singers urging others to drink were all present.

Tao Zhi stepped forward and knocked on the door.

dong dong dong.

The noise inside quieted down for a moment, then the door opened with a languid "Who is it?"

A strong smell of alcohol mixed with the scent of cosmetics wafted towards her, causing Xian to frown in disgust.

The person who opened the door was an unfamiliar young man, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with his clothes half-open and his eyes unfocused. He looked Lingxian up and down, then turned and called into the house, "Whose wife is here to arrest someone again?"

A burst of laughter erupted from inside the room.

Xi Lingxian ignored these people and looked past the slumped figures into the room.

The private room was large, with a round table in the center, cups and plates scattered about, and wine pots lying crookedly.

Two female singers were sitting by the window, but they had stopped playing their instruments and were now huddled in a corner watching the commotion.

Although Xi Lingxian was wearing a veil, Jiankang City was only so big, and she was a noble lady from a top-tier family, so she was quickly recognized.

"Miss Xi, my apologies for not recognizing you sooner! What brings you here?"

"That's right, Miss Xi, we few are not capable of inviting Young Master Wang here. If you've come looking for Young Master Wang, you've come to the wrong place."

Xi Lingxian was the daughter of the Duke of Xi, and was incomparably beautiful. She fell in love at first sight with the eldest son of the Langya Wang clan and insisted on marrying him. Even if the officials in Jiankang did not know the Empress, they could not possibly not know Xi Lingxian.

Xi Lingxian's gaze fell on the left side of the main seat.

The moment she looked over, the person seemed to be stung by something, and suddenly sat up straight.

"Come here," she said.

Xi Song slowly stood up, spilling wine from his glass all over his hand, but didn't bother to wipe it off.

Xi Hui also got up.

After the two stopped, they bowed to Lingxian and said, "Elder sister."

Just then, someone nearby whispered, "That's the young lady Xi who was chasing after the Wang family's son..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was poked.

Ling Xian ignored him, lifted her foot, and walked step by step toward Xi Song.

Everyone in the room fell silent, not uttering a single word.

Xi Song asked curiously, "Sister, what brings you here?"

Lingxian looked at the boy in front of her, trying her best to suppress the soreness in her nose, "Come back with me."

"I haven't finished drinking yet. I'll go home after we leave. If there's nothing important, sister, you should go back too. This isn't a place for you."

Lingxian looked straight at him. "I'll say it again, come back with me."

Having been spoiled by Madam Yu for years and never restrained by anyone, Xi Song's face showed some impatience when suddenly questioned: "Sister, I haven't done anything to offend you. You had a bad time with your brother from the Wang family, so there's no reason for you to take it out on me, is there?"

Xi Hui smoothed things over, saying, "Sister, please forgive me. Today I'm hosting a gathering of my close brothers and relatives. My second brother got a little carried away and drank a few too many cups. I'm keeping an eye on him, nothing will happen. Sister, you don't need to worry."

Lingxian looked at Xi Song, "From what I'm saying, you're not leaving?"

"I'm not leaving! I'm telling you, I..."

"Girl".

Xi Song was interrupted by Tao Zhi's scream before he could finish speaking.

Turning his head, his expression immediately changed.

"Sister!"

Suddenly, Xi Lingxian covered her forehead, her slender body swaying precariously like a white flower in the rain.

"Sister, where do you feel unwell?"

Lingxian said weakly, "I..."

Before he could finish speaking, everything went black, and he collapsed onto Xi Song.

Xi Song was stunned by this sudden turn of events. After regaining his senses, he hurriedly ordered his servant, "Quickly, go and fetch a physician."

He then asked the innkeeper to prepare a clean guest room and personally helped Lingxian there.