Good heavens!
He’s actually cornering me!
Although I was currently "naked," soaking in the tub wearing nothing but a bodice, as a modern woman who has seen her fair share of storms, I tried my best to maintain a composed exterior.
"His Highness the Heir jests. I was merely thinking that in this Heir's Estate, there are always a few bad apples trying to spoil the rules." I spoke while sliding further into the tub, trying to cover as much of myself as possible without making it too obvious.
Lu Zhao looked at me with great interest, his eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny. "Oh? And what has the Crown Prince's Consort discovered?"
I cursed silently: *No kidding! If I hadn't discovered something, would I be playing riddles with you here?*
However, on the surface, I had to keep up the appearance of being harmless. "It’s nothing much, really. Just a feeling that some people aren't content to keep to themselves and are always looking to stir up trouble."
"Is that so?" Lu Zhao smiled meaningfully. "Then the Crown Prince's Consort had better be careful, lest those little troubles end up hurting you."
"Many thanks for your concern, Your Highness. I shall." I quickly replied.
Inside, however, I thought: *Ha! Do they really think they can hurt me with those petty tricks? What a pipe dream!*
After shooing Lu Zhao away, I decided to speed things up; I couldn't just sit here and wait to be attacked! Over the next few days, I began to keep a secret watch on Mammy Li. I have to say, this old witch was quite deep. If I hadn't possessed my "Eagle Eye" skill, I might not have caught her flaws.
For the past few days, Mammy Li loved hovering around me, fussing over me; if you didn't know better, you'd think she cared about me deeply! Furthermore, she constantly pried into my eating habits and daily routines, asking what I liked to eat and what I preferred to use, acting more attentive than my own mother. Not only that, but I always felt her gaze was strange, as if she were hiding some unspeakable secret.
*Hmph, trying to pull stunts in front of me? She's still too amateur!*
That day, as I was sunning myself in the courtyard, Shen Li quietly walked up to my side and whispered, "My Lady, I’ve discovered that Mammy Li has been getting very close to the people around the Empress lately."
My heart skipped a beat when I heard this. Sure enough, that old hag was sent by the Empress!
"I understand. Continue to keep an eye on her and report to me immediately if there are any developments," I ordered calmly.
"Yes, My Lady." Shen Li acknowledged and quietly retreated.
It seemed that the great drama of this household battle had officially begun! *Hmph, you old crone of an Empress, since you want to play, I’ll play along with you!*
A few days later, Mammy Li brought over a steaming bowl of soup and said with a smile, "Crown Prince's Consort, this is a nourishing soup I’ve prepared specifically for you. It will do wonders for your health."
Looking at that blackish soup, I sneered inwardly. This wasn't a nourishing soup; it was clearly poison!
"Mammy is very thoughtful," I said, putting on a look of gratitude. "However, I’ve just finished eating and my stomach feels a bit bloated. Let’s leave the soup here for now; I’ll drink it when I’m hungry."
Mammy Li’s smile stiffened, but she quickly recovered. "No matter, the Crown Prince's Consort can drink it whenever she likes." With that, she set the soup on the table and withdrew.
Once she was gone, I immediately took out my silver needle and carefully inserted it into the soup. A moment later, the needle actually turned black! I stared at the blackened needle. *Very good, Mammy Li, you actually dared to poison me!*
However, I didn't make a scene. Instead, I quietly called Shen Li over. "Shen Li, take this bowl to the kitchen and say I want the cook to check the ingredients in this soup."
"Yes, My Lady." Though Shen Li didn't know what I was up to, she followed orders obediently.
Soon, Shen Li brought the soup to the kitchen. I followed behind and intentionally said in a loud voice, "This soup smells so good! Mammy is truly thoughtful to know that I enjoy this kind of tonic."
My voice was loud enough for almost everyone in the kitchen to hear. People gathered around, looking at the bowl with curiosity.
"Crown Prince's Consort, what kind of soup is this? It smells wonderful," one of the cooks asked.
"Indeed, My Lady, you are truly blessed to have Mammy Li care for you so much," another servant added.
I smiled and said, "This is a nourishing soup Mammy Li prepared just for me, saying it’s good for my health!"
Just then, I pretended to be clumsy, my hand slipped, and the bowl of soup spilled onto the floor. "Oh my!" I exclaimed, quickly squatting down to wipe it up.
But it was too late. Everywhere the soup touched, a large swarm of ants immediately gathered. The ants struggled frantically, and within moments, they were all dead.
Silence fell over the kitchen. Everyone stared in shock at the dead ants on the floor. I stood up, dusted off my hands, and said lightly, "Oh, what a pity. Such good soup, wasted by me."
With that, I turned and left the kitchen, leaving behind a group of terrified servants.
*Hmph, Mammy Li, this is only the beginning. The real show is yet to come!*
(The incident spread through the estate quickly; everyone knew the soup Mammy Li had brought was poisoned...)
Word traveled fast! Across the entire Heir's Estate, from the steward down to the cleaning staff, everyone knew that what Mammy Li had delivered wasn't a "nourishing soup," but a genuine "death potion."
I played the part of the innocent, saying, "Oh my, I had no idea," with an expression of complete guilelessness.
As for Mammy Li, she was livid, trembling with rage, and unable to defend herself. Wanted to explain? Ha! Look at the ant corpses on the floor—that was "irrefutable proof!"
When the news reached Lu Zhao's ears, the look in his eyes—tsk, tsk, tsk—became even more complex. He probably hadn't expected me to hide such a "calculating little universe" within my small frame. He didn't say much, but he silently ordered his men to increase my security level, fearing I might be assassinated.
Thanks to this "poisoning incident," my status in the Heir's Estate rose dramatically. The servants who used to be sarcastic or cold toward me now bent at ninety-degree angles whenever they saw me, calling out "Greetings, Crown Prince's Consort" so often that my ears were about to grow calluses.
However, I knew very well that this wasn't over. Behind Mammy Li stood that old hag of an Empress. Since she had gone to such lengths to plant Mammy Li by my side, she certainly wouldn't give up so easily.
Sure enough, a few days later, I received a gold-embossed invitation. It read: "The Empress's Birthday Celebration; The Crown Prince's Consort is invited to grace us with her presence."
I held the invitation, my lips curling slightly. *Ha, a trap? How interesting...*
Shen Li asked cautiously from the side, "My Lady, are we going?"