Su Xi-er wore a smile on her face, bringing the bowl of soup to her lips as her gaze discreetly darted towards Old Maidservant Zhao’s face. There is definitely something wrong with this bowl of chicken soup. Old Maidservant Zhao usually doesn’t have such an expression.
“Look at you. Your body is weak. The palace maids in the Palace Side Quarters must be more robust. Only then can they carry out more manual labour. You can’t disclose the matter of you drinking this bowl of chicken soup. If the other palace maids find out, they will mock me for being unfair.” Although Old Maidservant Zhao’s tone was calm, her eyes were firmly fixed on Su Xi-er’s slightly opened mouth.
She had originally planned on leaving a way out for Su Xi-er, enjoying an entertaining show in the process. However, He Ying, the Empress Dowager’s favourite, had mentioned more than once that this person can’t be kept. He Ying’s idea is the Empress Dowager’s idea.
Aw, Su Xi-er, don’t blame me. You can only blame yourself that beautiful women suffer tragic fates. There are many problems when you are good-looking.
“Old Maidservant Zhao, you’re so nice to me. How can I enjoy this bowl of chicken soup alone? Why don’t you drink a little too?” Su Xi-er placed the white bowl in front of Old Maidservant Zhao.
She had carefully smelled it and recognised the scent of herbs mixed in the chicken soup. The scent wasn’t that of a medicinal chicken soup, but from a special herb that had been added. If I’m not wrong, that herb is Heartbreak Grass.
One would fail to notice any effects for up to two days after consuming it. On the third day however, one would suddenly die, and die in a ghastly manner at that.
When killing someone, it would be better to leave the person with an intact corpse, yet this method causes a person to die in such a painful manner. It looks like the person behind Old Maidservant Zhao is extremely ruthless.
“This was purposely simmered for you to drink. If you don’t drink it, it will signify that you’re not giving me face.” Old Maidservant Zhao gave her a dirty look and smacked the table. Her tone had become stern.
“Old Maidservant, don’t be angry. I’ll drink it now.” A subtle glint flickered across her eyes. There have been countless attempts on her life as Ning Rulan in my previous lifetime. I have a way to deal with a mere Heartbreak Grass.
After watching Su Xi-er raise her head to drink a mouthful of chicken soup, Old Maidservant Zhao became relieved. It’s alright as long as she has drunk it. As long as she takes one mouthful, it is already sufficient to take her life!
“This servant pays her respects to Imperial Bodyguard Wu. You are here to…” A palace maid’s anxious voice could be heard. Immediately after that, Su Xi-er’s door was pushed open, revealing Wu Ling standing outside with a stern countenance.
“Su Xi-er, make a trip with this imperial guard.”
His tone was calm but Old Maidservant Zhao’s heart was trembling. Why is Imperial Bodyguard Wu here again? Didn’t Empress Dowager order for this matter to not be investigated anymore?
A smiling look flitted across Su Xi-er’s eyes. Imperial Bodyguard Wu has come just at the right moment!
“Old Maidservant…” Su Xi-er pretended to be flustered, the white bowl in her hands trembling along with her hands. Then, it dropped onto the floor and the chicken soup spilt all over the floor.
As Wu Ling looked at the chicken soup on the floor, the look in his eyes involuntarily became profound.
“Su Xi-er, what’s wrong with you? You lacked in manners before Imperial Bodyguard Wu. Quickly go out!” Old Maidservant Zhao was afraid that Wu Ling would discover something and pushed Su Xi-er out with both of her hands.
Actually, Su Xi-er hadn’t drunk a mouthful of that chicken soup. She had simply made a swallowing motion as her lips had moved close to the chicken soup.
Su Xi-er looked at Wu Ling and appeared to be very unwell, her voice quivering. “Imperial Bodyguard Wu, this servant suddenly feels that my body doesn’t feel comfortable. I don’t know why, but I feel dizzy, and my breathing is unsmooth.” At the same time, she pressed her hand at her chest.
Old Maidservant Zhao was panicking. The Heartbreak Grass’s effects won’t set in so quickly! What on earth is going on? If Su Xi-er faints right now, I won’t be able to free myself from responsibility!
Although the death of a palace maid in the palace is an inconsequential matter, if their investigation reveals that I privately caused someone’s death without an appropriate reason, I will suffer the consequences as well! Furthermore, maybe Su Xi-er is the woman who seduced Prince Hao last night!
Wu Ling glanced at Su Xi-er before walking into the room. He crouched down, reached out for the white bowl and brought it before his nose.
Old Maidservant Zhao clenched her hands tightly in nervousness. Prince Hao’s subordinates are all highly skilled. Wu Ling is his personal guard and is even more powerful. He will definitely spot that there’s something amiss with the chicken soup!
“Old Maidservant Zhao, this chicken soup…”
Old Maidservant Zhao adjusted her state of mind and changed to an expression of doubt. “Imperial Bodyguard Wu, is there something wrong with this chicken soup? That’s impossible. I personally simmered it.”
Standing outside the door, Su Xi-er seized an opportune moment. “The chicken soup Old Maidservant Zhao personally simmered won’t have any problems. It’s my constitution that is weak. The chicken soup is too nourishing and my body couldn’t bear such a sublime tonic. I should be fine in a while.”
There was clearly an overtone in her words. While no faults could be picked out on the surface, Su Xi-er’s statement was in fact secretly mocking Old Maidservant Zhao.
Wu Ling turned to Old Maidservant Zhao, his tone stern. “Old Maidservant Zhao, I don’t care who you take orders from, but you can’t touch this servant right now. If you have any doubts, feel free to go and ask Prince Hao.”
Old Maidservant Zhao was startled. It was the Empress Dowager on one hand and Prince Hao on the other. Intelligent people knew where they should stand. I really can’t touch Su Xi-er now.
“Su Xi-er, make a trip with this imperial guard.” Wu Ling walked forward.
Within an hour, the matter regarding Su Xi-er being taken away by Wu Ling had spread throughout the Palace Side Quarters. Although Mu Tao was also taken away with her, the attention they paid to Su Xi-er was far greater.
In a desolate palace northwest corner of the imperial palace, Su Xi-er and Mu Tao stayed in separate rooms.
The wind outside the room grew stronger and howled as it blew at the doors and windows, producing a clattering sound.
The lighting in the surroundings was very dim. While Su Xi-er looked around and carefully observed her surroundings, she was frightened by a man’s voice which suddenly popped out of nowhere.
“Woman, come here.”
The voice was deep and low, overflowing with a terrorising power.
Su Xi-er’s face darkened. She could identify from the voice that he was Prince Hao!
However, she knew that she definitely couldn’t let him know that she recognised him.
Su Xi-er deliberately revealed a terrified expression. “Who…who are you?”
Pei Qianhao chuckled. “Come here.”
No choice. I must pretend to be a weak and timid palace maid right now.
Hence, she walked towards him while her body trembled.
However, before she had managed to get very close to him, a long arm suddenly reached out and held her waist.
“You…It is improper for men and women to have physical contact.” Su Xi-er cursed him a dozen times in her heart but still feigned a scared appearance.
Pei Qianhao lowered his head, his breath spraying the tip of her nose. “You were in the woods beside the Palace Side Quarters last night.”
His tone was with conviction and domineering.
“Don’t malign this servant. This servant isn’t the person who offended Prince Hao. Who exactly are you?” Su Xi-er restrained herself from trying to push himself away and intentionally made her body tremble instead.
“Why don’t you follow this prince to the Beauty Palace?”
Su Xi-er intentionally widened her eyes. “You…you are Prince Hao?”
“Isn’t it great for you to serve this prince together with your good sister?” Pei Qianhao chuckled lowly and held her waist tightly.
“This servant didn’t offend you. I don’t want to go to the Beauty Palace and don’t want to see He Xiangyu.”
“What a great ‘I don’t want’.” A dangerous glint appeared in Pei Qianhao’s eyes. He was simply sounding her out just now.
This woman is so afraid, while the woman in the woods was extremely bold.
These two people are not similar in this aspect.
“Prince Hao, there’s the sound of a woman weeping from outside.” Su Xi-er purposely changed the topic.
Prince Hao listened carefully. There’s indeed the sound of a woman weeping.
“The Cold Palace is not far away from here. You’ll hear the sound of women weeping in the night.” Prince Hao slowly explained and observed Su Xi-er.
In every nation, the northwest corner of the palace was the most gloomy and sombre place; the reason for this being that the Cold Palace was always located there.
“The ones shut in there are the imperial consorts of Emperor Shimin. Many imperial consorts die in there without rhyme or reason. At night, there will…” He stopped and looked at her. She had closed her eyes out of fear.
Su Xi-er knew that Emperor Shimin was the previous emperor of Beimin.
This emperor was open. There was no longer the sound of a woman weeping, but rather the sound of Mu Tao’s voice.
“It’s me. I was in the woods beside the Palace Side Quarters last night!”
She had barely finished her declaration when a swift and fierce arrow flew over and directly penetrated Mu Tao’s heart.
Pei Qianhao knitted his brow and let go of Su Xi-er. He walked out of the room and arrived at the courtyard.
What on earth happened in the other room? Why did Mu Tao suddenly dash out and claim that she was the woman in the woods beside the Palace Side Quarters last night?
Su Xi-er walked out of the room. When her gaze landed on Mu Tao’s face, her body involuntarily stiffened as she stared blankly at the arrow wound. The sharp arrow had hit Mu Tao’s heart right on the mark.
Shooting with great precision. Heart-Penetrating Arrow… Various scenes assailed her mind. The boundless sea of blazing flames and the Heart-Penetrating Arrow!
