Chapter 74: Vanished Without a Trace

Once Uncle Duan’s illness is brought under control, the power dynamics in Qingning’s court will shift dramatically. That’s why so many people hope he never recovers. To assassinate him outright is too risky, so most of them will turn their attention toward you.

Tan Qingjiu narrowed her eyes. She was well aware that many coveted Uncle Duan’s life; she sensed it on her last visit to the palace. But to target her?

“Because I might be able to cure him, and since they cannot kill him, they’ll kill me instead?”

Shen Xiao nodded. “Otherwise, dear sister, why do you think so many physicians who went to treat him mysteriously disappeared afterward?”

“It wasn’t Uncle Duan’s doing?”

Shen Xiao couldn’t help but scoff. “Uncle Duan is no fool. If a doctor could truly cure him, he’d welcome it. Why would he kill his own chance at recovery?”

Tan Qingjiu regarded Shen Xiao with suspicion. “Why are you telling me this, Prince Ding’s heir? Is it a warning? If I wish to preserve my life, should I stop treating Uncle Duan? Are you among those who hope he never recovers?”

Shen Xiao’s eyes widened and he stared at her for a moment before breaking into a laugh. “Oh, you’re jesting, sister. I’m merely an heir, not even a prince—why would I wish Uncle Duan ill?”

“I simply came to warn you, that’s all. After all, you’re so beautiful; if anything happened to you and your life was wasted, I’d feel quite regretful.”

“Besides, I’m rather curious about your secrets.”

Shen Xiao licked his lips, his gaze bold and predatory. “I’m very curious about those two children you brought, who look exactly like me. Are they really wearing human-skin masks?”

“Why do they resemble me so much? And how did you survive being drowned previously? How did you become a renowned physician in just a few short years?”

“There are so many mysteries about you, sister. If you were to die, all those secrets would be buried with you.”

Having said this, Shen Xiao drew a folding fan from his sleeve and flicked it open. “I’ve nothing more to say. I’ll be going now—you needn’t see me off.”

Tan Qingjiu watched his retreating figure, raising her brows slightly. Those who harbor secrets aren’t limited to herself.

Shen Yingjue, Shen Xiao—do any of them not keep secrets?

She hadn’t expected that Shen Xiao, who had warned her only that afternoon, would see assassins visit her by night.

Just after midnight, Tan Qingjiu had barely fallen asleep when she heard a faint breath at the window.

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The window—breath.

It brought to mind countless dramas she’d seen, where someone poked a hole in the paper window, slid in a bamboo tube, and blew knockout smoke inside.

Tan Qingjiu held her breath and stilled her heart.

Soon after, she heard a quiet creak as someone pushed the window open and entered.

In the darkness, she saw several shadows slip in through the door, the window, and from the roof.

By the faint moonlight, she glimpsed the cold glint of daggers.

In moments, the assassins gathered at her bedside. Tan Qingjiu suddenly raised her hand and swept her sleeve, scattering the poison hidden there.

The assassins had not expected her to be awake and entirely unaffected by the smoke, so were caught off guard.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Several bodies fell in succession.

The assassins who hadn’t yet reached the bedside sensed something was wrong and lunged at Tan Qingjiu with raised daggers.

But before they could reach her, they were ambushed from behind.

Two groups clashed fiercely.

The outcome was clear in less than a quarter hour.

Qing Dai lit the lamps and surveyed the corpses littering the floor, her brows knitting. “Mistress, what should we do with these? Shall I have them dragged to the mass graves outside the city?”

Tan Qingjiu narrowed her eyes at the bodies, frowning deeply. “There may be accomplices outside, or spies watching for news. If we send the corpses to the mass graves, the target becomes too obvious—we risk exposing ourselves.”

She stroked the blanket in thought, silent for a while before speaking again. “Then let’s make sure none of them ever return.”

“Wait a moment.”

Tan Qingjiu went into the inner chamber, then entered her system’s disposal room, retrieving a vial of highly corrosive fluoroantimonic acid, and hurried back.

Fluoroantimonic acid is tens of thousands of times more corrosive than sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid can eat away flesh but not dissolve bone.

But fluoroantimonic acid can.

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Tan Qingjiu returned, instructing Qing Dai and the others to stand back, then poured the acid over the corpses. In moments, the bodies melted into foul-smelling pools.

Qing Dai stared wide-eyed at the substance in Tan Qingjiu’s hand. “Mistress, is this...”

“The legendary corpse-dissolving water?”

Tan Qingjiu’s lips curled slightly. Given its potency, fluoroantimonic acid deserved such a name.

When Qing Dai moved forward to help clean up, Tan Qingjiu quickly stopped her. “Let me handle it. This stuff is extremely dangerous—if ordinary people touch it, not even their bones will remain.”

Qing Dai quickly stepped back, horror in her eyes.

Tan Qingjiu narrowed her gaze. “Let’s pretend this night never happened. These assassins never came. No matter who asks, we know nothing.”

“I want everyone to know that no matter how skilled an assassin, none will leave my house alive. In fact, the ones sent will vanish entirely from the world.”

“Whether they suspect or fear, only when they panic will their true colors show.”

Qing Dai nodded. “Understood.”

Once Qing Dai was dismissed, Tan Qingjiu fetched more supplies from the disposal room to clean up the remaining stains.

At dawn the next day, in Prince Duan’s manor.

Chi Xiao’s expression was grim. “We saw the assassins enter Doctor Tan’s courtyard with our own eyes, but soon after, the lights inside her house were lit.”

“Later, those assassins never came out. This morning, Doctor Tan rose early, and her maid attended her as usual, but the assassins were nowhere to be seen—as if they’d never entered.”

Shen Yingjue narrowed his eyes. “So you’re saying that after entering Tan Qingjiu’s chambers, the assassins simply vanished?”

“No sign of life, no sign of death?”

“Yes.”

Shen Yingjue narrowed his eyes further. “Intriguing. Someone who can disappear without a trace?”

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