That letter, like a piece of red-hot iron, scorched my heart with panic. The blood-red handwriting felt like a mockery of my own incompetence. "Do not investigate further"? Investigate what? I hadn't even begun to investigate anything!
Could it be... could it be that the truth about me transmigrating into this book has leaked out? That’s impossible. I’ve kept that secret tighter than my own measly stash of private savings! I clutched the letter, turning it over and over, desperately trying to find some hidden meaning.
Shen Li was also terrified, her face pale, eyes wide as saucers. "Your Ladyship... what... what should we do?"
What should we do? As if I knew! I was even more bewildered than she was. I irritably tossed the letter onto the table and rubbed my temples. This damn bead had thrown me into this hellish place without even a manual, and now I’m receiving death threats? Are they playing games with me?
"Your Ladyship, could it be... could it be the Empress?" Shen Li whispered, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum.
The Empress? I let out a mocking laugh. If that old hag really wanted me dead, would she bother with such devious methods? Wouldn't she just send someone to drag me out and beat me to death? If she went to the trouble of writing a threatening letter, does she think she’s a horror novelist?
But... having said that, besides the Empress, who else would want to harm me? I am a stranger in this deep palace, and I haven't offended anyone... wait! Could it be... Lu Zhao? Does he suspect me? Suspect that I am... an impostor?
The more I thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. His strange behavior today, bringing me books and showering me with concern—perhaps he was just testing me! Damn it! I was too careless!
Just as I was lost in my frantic thoughts, a fragrance wafted in. Mammy Li walked in, smiling, carrying a bowl of bird's nest porridge. "Your Ladyship, the Empress specially ordered this bird's nest porridge for you. Do drink it while it's hot."
Bird's nest porridge? I looked at the steaming bowl, my internal alarm bells ringing loudly. I hadn't even settled the score from last time, and now she’s being all sweet again? She definitely had ill intentions!
I calmly took the bowl, pretending everything was fine. "Thank you, Mammy."
"You are too kind, Your Ladyship. It is only my duty." Mammy Li’s face was full of obsequiousness, but a fleeting, imperceptible glint of malice flashed in the corner of her eyes.
I sneered internally. Old hag, trying to play tricks on me? You're still too amateur! I stirred the porridge gently with a spoon, pretended to sniff it, and frowned. "This porridge... why does it have a bitter taste?"
"Bitter?" Mammy Li hesitated for a moment, then laughed. "Perhaps I accidentally added too many lotus seeds while cooking. Please, don't mind it, Your Ladyship."
Lotus seeds? I scoffed in my heart. Bullshit! This is clearly the smell of poison! So, the old hag intends to feed me chronic poison to slowly torture me to death, does she? Hmph, in your dreams! I’m not so easily manipulated!
I pretended not to notice anything unusual and acted weak. "I haven't been feeling well lately; I don't think I can finish this."
"Your Ladyship..." Mammy Li tried to urge me to drink it, but I waved her away. "Mammy, you may go first. I want to rest for a while."
Seeing my insistence, Mammy Li had no choice but to retreat resentfully. As soon as she left, I immediately poured the porridge into a small porcelain bottle and hid it. I had to find an opportunity to send this to the Imperial Hospital and have the doctors test it to see exactly what kind of poison it was.
Shen Li saw my expression and asked anxiously, "Your Ladyship, are you all right?"
"I'm fine," I smiled at her. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
For the next few days, I continued to act as if nothing was wrong, drinking the bird's nest porridge Mammy Li delivered every day. Seeing me drink it obediently, Mammy Li assumed her plan was working, and the smile on her face grew more smug. I watched her movements in secret, calculating how to strike back.
Finally, the opportunity arrived. Today, Mammy Li brought the porridge again. I pretended to take a few sips and then suddenly clutched my stomach, groaning in pain. "Ow... my stomach... it hurts so much..."
"Your Ladyship! What’s wrong?" Mammy Li feigned concern, though she was likely overjoyed inside.
"I... I don't know... it just happened..." My face turned pale, and beads of cold sweat broke out on my forehead.
"Quick! Go call the Imperial Physician!" Mammy Li shouted, putting on a show of urgency.
I suppressed a smirk, thinking to myself: Old hag, your real show is just beginning!
By the time the Imperial Physician arrived, I had "fainted." Shen Li followed my instructions, took out the hidden porridge, and handed it to the doctor for testing. After examining it, the physician’s face changed dramatically. "This porridge... has been laced with chronic poison!"
"What?!" Mammy Li cried out in feigned shock. "This... how is this possible? I personally prepared this porridge myself..."
"Mammy, the evidence is irrefutable. Do you still intend to lie?" I suddenly opened my eyes and looked at her coldly.
Mammy Li’s face turned deathly pale instantly, her lips trembling, unable to speak.
"Someone, drag Mammy Li away and make her taste this bird's nest porridge herself!" I ordered coldly. As she was being dragged away, her face was filled with fear and despair.
I watched her pathetic state without a hint of pity. "Mammy Li," I said slowly, "you had better think clearly about who you are slaving away for."
I looked down at her as if she were a lamb ready for the slaughter, my voice cold enough to freeze blood. "Mammy Li, a brain is a good thing; I hope you possess one. This time, I’m just giving you a small lesson. Next time, heh, I guarantee you’ll regret ever being born."
Old hag, fighting me? You're still too green!
Mammy Li shook like a leaf, falling to her knees and sobbing as she begged for mercy. "Spare me, Your Ladyship! I won't dare do it again! I was forced into this!"
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such acting—it’s a pity she isn't an actress.
"Forced?" I sneered. "If the Empress told you to eat excrement, would you do that too?" I wasn't buying her nonsense.
"I... I wouldn't dare..." Mammy Li was green with fear, kowtowing repeatedly.
"Get out and tell your master," I waved my hand as if shooing away a fly, "stop these futile struggles, or else..." I intentionally left the sentence hanging, letting her draw her own conclusions.
Mammy Li scrambled away, looking as if a demon were chasing her. I watched her retreating figure with a cold smirk. Old hag, we shall see!
But... I felt a lingering sense of unease. That old hag isn't someone to be trifled with; having suffered such a setback, she certainly wouldn't just let it go. What kind of evil scheme is she cooking up now?
I rubbed my brow, suddenly feeling a palpitation in my heart—a foreboding, ominous premonition. No, I must...
"Your Ladyship, your hand..." Shen Li’s trembling voice interrupted my thoughts.
I looked down and saw that my hand... was actually... glowing?