After Hongyue departed, a hidden figure dressed in a silver robe dropped out from a tree nearby. A jade-like profile with a gold mask concealing half of his face. He had ruby red lips and coal-black hair along with hazel eyes.

He had arrived at the general's manor along with his sibling but disappeared halfway due to the tiresome chatter about warfare. He didn't want to waste such a good day to listen to nonsense. However, because the two brothers were required to meet somewhere together after the talk, he decided he would take a short rest nearby and wait it out. Who knew he'll get to see such an entertaining show. Didn't they say the general's manor only had a worthless 'normal'?

He was awakened sometime earlier when the concubine started screeching. Overseeing from his spot, he had noticed Hongyue was behind the whole breakdown, but he still didn't understand how she managed to achieve it. He sprang forward from his spot to feel the dead body. His fingers moved about the dead maid, trying to analyze what magic that little devil used but only came up empty-handed.

There was no indication of any magic at all; however, there was some sort of oppression that had been in play inside the body. He smirked. His eyes shone in excitement.

It seemed like today's trip hasn't been an entire waste, after all. The figure then examined the unconscious concubine and found that she appeared to be free of any magical influences as well.

He frowned. That little devil really has a lot of mysteries. He glanced up one last time, and he started to chase in the same direction Hongyue went. From elsewhere, a bird shook its wings and headed in a different direction. However, the eyes of the bird were dull, unlike how the condition in which it arrived.

Not long after, Lan'er arrived at the scene out of breath and found her mother crumpled on the ground. What? She was surprised her sister was nowhere to be detected. She looked about and didn't notice any external forces. Turning her attention to the weirdly collapsed body of the maid, she observed the dead body and discerned that the limbs had been forcefully moved about. Confused, Lan'er chanted a spell and drove her power into the earth to try to see what else she missed but came up empty-handed. Turning to her bird puppet, she sighed at its lack of response. What was going on today?

Lacking answers, she attempted to rouse her mother.

----------

Meanwhile, Hongyue was stumbling around. She was really trying to keep herself upright, but she really couldn't see at all at this point. She winced at each step she took. Bitter, she leaned her weight against a nearby tree. Her chest heaving, sweat started to run down her neck.

Weak.

So damn weak.

This body couldn't handle the extensive usage of her mythic ability, and the poison was beginning to rebel against her control. Hongyue could also feel something else resisting against her, along with the poison inside this body. Hongyue wheezed, striving hard recollect herself. Her eyes repeatedly dilated as she focused on breathing.

"This general's manor really isn't simple as it seems, won't you say so too?" A crisp voice rang out from behind her.

Hongyue narrowed her eyes. She was in critical condition right now. If it was just the poison, she probably could manage it somehow. However, there was something internally eating away at her that was out of her control. She steadied herself and stood up straighter. She didn't want to show any weaknesses. While Hongyue couldn't tell who the other person was, she figured it had to be an outsider who witnessed most of the performance she created.

If she couldn't fight, she could still reason for the stranger to leave. Tsk, why was it down to this?

Hongyue coughed, she could taste a sweet liquid coming up her throat. She forced it down and smiled.

"Is it?" She replied.

The man frowned, "What magic did you use?"

Hongyue rolled her eyes, lying with ease, "Magic? What can a 'normal' like me do? I merely used poison that was given to me. You truly flatter me. I'm honored."

The man's frown deepened at her response. Was there someone else moving pawns in the manor?

"How did that dead body move?"

Hongyue chuckled, amused.

The man froze. Her laughter startled him. Was this little devil not afraid?

"What moving dead body? Has anyone heard of it? Can you prove it? You know," she hesitated before she started to speak softly, "Maybe there really was a ghost."

Whatever can he say? No one has seen a corpse that moved by itself so no one would accept his words.

Clever girl.

She knew his words held no weight over hers. He stared hard at her, hoping to catch anything out of place. He noted she was shaking, and she didn't seem stable. Her eyes were also strangely dull. Was she blind? He shook his head. How could she be blind?

"You're right, but what if I tell others about your little mask? If they knew the eldest miss wasn't a stupid idiot, what would they say?"

Hongyue laughed carelessly.

"It doesn't matter. People always want someone else beneath them. Even if it's the truth, they'll play it off until it becomes a lie. The more you say it, it better sounding it becomes to the ears. Even if you have proof, they'll continue to say I'm the little incompetent 'normal' eldest miss. Since they all want a fool, I'll play that fool for them."

The man couldn't help but admit she was right. Who would be willing to listen to him say a useless 'normal' was all-powerful all of a sudden? He would be wasting his time.

Hongyue suddenly staggered forward, blood sprayed out of her mouth. She couldn't restrain her stance anymore and collapsed forward. The world faded from its blurriness into darkness. The man stood frozen, startled at the sudden development.

He quickly reacted and caught her in his arms.

Before he could do anything else, a figure in pale floral robe suddenly appeared and aimed for his head. The man quickly avoided it, retreating back all the while clinging to Hongyue.

"Third Prince! Let my sister go!"