V1: Chapter 20: Be My Good Dog

The doctor rushed over, carrying a box, losing a shoe in the process, looking utterly disheveled.

When he opened the door, he saw Miranda sitting by the bed, tears streaming down her face, and Liang Di in a wheelchair, her face filled with sorrow, while Liang Lin stood far away, bewildered and at a loss.

"Doctor! Doctor, please come quickly, what's wrong with my husband?"

Auston's face was already turning purple. The doctor tentatively reached under his nose and found he was still breathing faintly.

“Everyone except Madame Miranda and Young Master Edwin, please leave. I need to examine him.”

Liang Lin, Liang Di, and Bellica were ushered outside.

“What’s wrong with him…? An infectious disease? If it’s infectious, I’d better stay away from him.”

Liang Lin words were full of disgust.

Having been startled awake early in the morning by the maid’s screams, Liang Lin’s heart was still pounding.

“I don’t know. Let’s wait for the doctor’s results,” Liang Di mused. “I’ve already sent for the Knights. They’re probably on their way. Father’s condition is quite frightening.”

Liang Lin didn’t seem to care much, yawning and pacing casually down the corridor.

“Well excuse me.”

From inside the room, the doctor opened the door.

“How is he, Doctor? Father…” Liang Di pushed past Liang Lin, her eyes brimming with tears.

Liang Lin: “?”

This woman is such a good actress. Just a few days ago she was sneering at Austin.

“Duke Auston has been poisoned, his life isn’t in danger… but…” the doctor hesitated, “but… his bodily functions are rapidly declining, even if he wakes up, he… doesn’t have much time left.”

“Ah…”

Liang Di’s face turned ashen, and she collapsed into her wheelchair. Bellica also staggered, barely managing to grab the doorframe. Inside, the pitiful cries of Miranda and Edwin echoed.

Only Liang Lin’s eyes widened in confusion, her mouth forming an X: What? Should I faint too?

“Poison? Who poisoned Austin!” Miranda finally reacted, screaming, completely lacking the composure of a noblewoman, almost frantically tearing at her long hair.

Liang Di comforted her: “Lady Miranda, don’t be sad. I’ve already notified the Knights; they’ll be investigating soon.”

“I’ll make they pay with their life! Pay with their life!”

Miranda’s screams were piercingly loud.

The news of Duke Auston’s poisoning reached the palace with astonishing speed.

Doris paused in her tea-drinking, frowning. "Auston was poisoned, but Liang Di is perfectly fine? But my medicine doesn't harm ordinary people at all..."

"So, it wasn't our medicine that poisoned Auston."

Inside the Langwendi mansion.

"According to our investigation, the broken bottle of milk outside the window and the milk residue in the cup on the Duke's desk contain the same substance."

The Grand Master of the Knights held the milk cup.

Liang Lin froze, her eyes widening suddenly. A chill ran down her spine.

She was impulsive, perhaps a little naive, but she wasn't stupid.

In that instant, she realized she had fallen into a massive conspiracy. She forced herself to remain calm, slowly turning her head to look at Liang Di.

Liang Di's figure was hidden in the shadows. She noticed Liang Lin watching her.

Liang Di raised her index finger to her lips. Her eerie smile seemed to hint at something, sending shivers down one's spine.

"Shh~"

"Then~ search, everyone's room, every corner, don't miss a thing~" Liang Di said.

Liang Lin's body tensed.

This was the first time in so many years she had felt so tense.

If her poison was discovered, she would be left speechless, unable to explain, utterly unable to explain!

This was someone deliberately framing her!

Murdering a Duke would probably land her in an imperial prison for life.

That would ruin her life!

What difference was there between that and a death sentence?

Yes, Liang Di.

Liang Di's malicious smile and strange tone just now, could it be… her?

The knights dispersed, leaving only Liang Lin, Liang Di, and Bellica in the room.

"Sister Liang Lin, don't you have anything to say?"

Liang Di gave Bellica a wink.

Bellica nodded, walked to the door, closed it, and stood outside.

"Even if I said it wasn't me, you'd still insist it was, right?"

Looking at Liang Di's sly smile, Liang Lin understood everything.

A surge of anger welled up in her chest, and Liang Lin wanted to unleash it.

She couldn't hold back any longer.

"You knew all along! You schemed against me!"

Liang Lin grabbed Liang Di's collar, gritting her teeth, the flames of rage burning within her like a raging beast violently pounding against her heart.

Liang Di stared directly into Liang Lin's eyes, her gaze fixed on an endless expanse of green.

"Hey~ Sister, what are you talking about? I don't understand. Oh~ if I remember correctly, that night, you brought me milk, and then threw it out the window, right?"

Liang Di smiled brightly.

"So, you knew the milk was poisoned all along, but you didn't have the heart to kill me, so you killed Duke Austin instead?"

Didn't have the heart to kill her?

She now wished Liang Di dead, wished Liang Di to be torn to pieces, wished she could sever Liang Di's head with her sword.

“Liang Di, I shouldn’t have been so soft-hearted…”

Liang Lin wanted to slap herself.

“I know, that potion is on you. If I have the Knights search everyone now, they can find it on you. Then…”

Liang Di laughed heartily, the demon within her finally unleashed, “What will happen to you then? Your reputation will be ruined, you’ll be locked in the Empire’s prison, and you’ll never see the sunlight again!”

“So I said, my dear sister…” Liang Di’s laughter lingered.

She raised her hand, gently rubbing Liang Lin’s cheek with her fingertips, and like a pervert, breathed into her ear, “I’ll give you a choice. You become my dog. Kneel down now, bark twice, call me master, and I’ll help you hide that potion, okay?”

“You…”

Liang Lin’s voice trembled.

She was humiliated.

She was humiliated by this seemingly harmless silver-haired girl before her.

"Do you think I'd choose to die standing, or live kneeling?" Liang Lin grabbed Liang Di's neck.

"At worst, we'll die together!"

Liang Di remained motionless, seemingly enjoying the suffocating feeling.

"Naughty dog, you need to be punished..."

"Cough!"

Liang Lin coughed up saliva. She felt a heavy blow to her stomach and instantly knelt on one knee, drool dripping from her chin.

What hit her?

Liang Lin steadied herself and saw a green tentacle emerging from under Liang Di's skirt.