Wang Qingyao opened her eyes. A dazzling beam of light pierced through the gray mist and into her eyes.
She frowned and blinked.
The light gradually softened, and the blurry vision in front of her slowly cleared.
It was her clairvoyant eyes, sensing the damage to her vision and transforming from an active skill to a passive one.
Her eyes were indeed blind.
Yet, she could also indeed see.
"Yaoyao, what's wrong?" The attentive Zuo Yun noticed her frowning and asked with concern.
Wang Qingyao did not announce the recovery of her sight.
She said, "It's nothing, just a slight lingering pain in my eyes, but it's much better now."
Zuo Yun breathed a sigh of relief.
"Consort Ding'an should just wait for Prince Ding'an," Wei Yu said hypocritically. "His Highness is likely not fast."
"There's no need to specifically wait for His Highness," Wang Qingyao said calmly. "I can go home myself."
She extended her hand, and Zhenzhu immediately offered her arm for support.
Wang Qingyao bid farewell politely, holding Zhenzhu's arm, and walked step by step out of the East Palace.
Feng Jiangduo and the others also took their leave. They were all Wang Qingyao's friends and refused to leave first, only following slowly behind her.
Wang Qingyao walked slowly, stopping every few steps. Zhenzhu by her side kept speaking softly.
When she reached steps or obstacles, her pauses became even longer, and her lifted steps were no longer as confident.
Trembling, tentative.
Before Zhenzhu could even warn her, she kicked a stone.
Wei Yu watched from a distance, the smile in her eyes growing uncontrollable.
She had long sensed something was off with Wang Qingyao, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly what.
It seemed to be related to Wang Qingyao's eyes.
She seemed to be able to see things others couldn't...
Just like that time when she tried to frame an assassin to fake an assassination attempt on the Crown Prince and kill Wang Qingyao in the chaos. The assassins were perfectly concealed, leaving no trace, yet Wang Qingyao acted as if she had seen it with her own eyes.
It was rather unbelievable...
But not impossible.
So this time, after Wei Yu, Grand Tutor Wei, and the Crown Prince discussed it, they devised this flawless scheme.
She invited Wang Qingyao's friends, making it easy for Wang Qingyao to let down her guard.
The beam was above. Based on usual habits, even with some caution, Wang Qingyao would hardly think to check the ceiling beam.
Furthermore, when the beam broke, Wei Yu had pulled Wang Qingyao aside.
On the surface, Wei Yu had even saved Wang Qingyao's life. If she hadn't pulled Wang Qingyao in time, the beam would have crushed her!
So, who would suspect Wei Yu?
Even if Wang Qingyao knew Wei Yu had deliberately harmed her, what could she do?
Without evidence, could a consort dare to challenge the Crown Princess?
Xiao Yun arrived quickly.
Wang Qingyao walked slowly. Before she had completely left the East Palace, Xiao Yun galloped on his horse.
Riding horses was naturally forbidden within the palace. However, Xiao Yun was anxious about his wife's safety. Upon hearing that Wang Qingyao had met with trouble in the East Palace, he disregarded everything else.
The guards at the palace gate dared not stop him. They weakly reminded him, but Xiao Yun ignored them, riding his horse straight through. They dared not utter a single word of objection.
Upon reaching the East Palace gate, the guards there tried to stop Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun directly whipped them, showing no mercy. Several guards were sent sprawling.
"Prince Ding'an, this is the East Palace, not a place for you to run wild!" A guard who disapproved of Xiao Yun's behavior confronted him.
Xiao Yun sneered, "I run wild wherever I please. How dare you block me!"
Xiao Yun had already raised his whip. Seeing Wang Qingyao walking out from a distance, he abandoned the idea of punishing the guards and dismounted, rushing towards her.
"Yaoyao, what happened? Are you injured anywhere?"
The person Wei Yu sent to deliver the message had spoken ambiguously, only saying that Consort Ding'an was in trouble, without specifying what kind of trouble.
Now, seeing Wang Qingyao intact, with no missing limbs and her complexion normal, Xiao Yun couldn't help but feel confused.
Where was the trouble?
What trouble?
As soon as Zhenzhu saw Xiao Yun, she immediately knelt with a "thump."
"Your Highness, I failed to protect the Consort. Please punish me."
Zhenzhu's face was pale, her eyes were red, as if Wang Qingyao had suffered a grave misfortune.
Xiao Yun was frantic.
"Yaoyao, what exactly happened to you?"
Wang Qingyao said calmly, "Oh, I went blind."
Xiao Yun: "...Stop joking, be serious."
Wang Qingyao: "I'm not joking. I'm truly blind. The beam of the main hall in the East Palace, used to entertain guests, suddenly broke. It had snake venom on it, which accidentally entered my eyes, and now I can't see. The imperial physicians examined me just now and said I will have to live in darkness for the rest of my life."
Xiao Yun was stunned for a moment, unable to accept it.
Wang Qingyao's calm demeanor did not seem like that of someone who had lost their sight.
Feng Jiangduo and the others gathered around.
Despite their different personalities, at this moment, they all wore expressions of pity and sorrow.
Xiao Yun opened his mouth, then grasped Wang Qingyao's hand. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
He led Wang Qingyao's hand outwards, babbling, "I'm telling you, those imperial physicians in the palace are not truly skilled. They are afraid of this and that, and prefer conservative treatment. I know some people in the martial world, we'll find a folk divine doctor..."
Wang Qingyao stopped.
Xiao Yun looked back at her, his eyes red, and said anxiously, "Did I walk too fast?"
Wang Qingyao shook her head, a look of sorrow on her face. "I will be a blind person from now on. Will you dislike me?"
"Silly girl, how could I dislike you?" Xiao Yun's heart ached with both distress and pity. He ignored the public gaze and pulled Wang Qingyao into his embrace. "Even if you were turned into a human pig, I wouldn't dislike you."
Wang Qingyao seized the opportunity and whispered in his ear, "I had an accident in the East Palace. Won't Your Highness smash the East Palace to vent my anger?"