A musty smell?
Nonexistent.
What I smell now is the scent of freedom—the aroma of an impending comeback!
I gripped that bead once more, thinking to myself, "Get me out of this godforsaken place!"
In that instant, I felt as if I were riding a crazy mouse, or rather, an upgraded, time-traveling roller coaster!
Dizziness couldn’t begin to describe the sensation; all manner of strange, contorted colors exploded before my eyes, and I nearly failed to keep from throwing up yesterday’s dinner.
When I opened my eyes again, familiar moonlight was spilling onto my face, and the air was filled with the faint scent of bamboo leaves.
I had actually returned to the Heir's Estate!
I pinched myself, wincing at the sharp sting.
Excellent, it wasn't a dream!
This bead was simply my Doraemon pocket—anything I wanted, it could provide!
"Miss Su, are you alright?" A familiar voice came through. I looked up to see Xiao Jingming.
He was as serious as ever, yet his eyes held a glimmer of concern.
"Commander Xiao, why are you here?" I asked curiously.
"His Highness the Heir ordered me to wait here, just in case."
At that moment, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows—it was Lu Zhao.
He still wore his icy expression, but his eyes were noticeably softer.
"It’s good that you’re unharmed," he said flatly, though his tone carried an undetectable trace of tenderness.
"Thanks to His Highness the Heir, I am perfectly fine!" I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest.
It seemed this Lu Zhao wasn't so cold-blooded after all!
We held a brief discussion regarding our next strategy.
Since the Empress failed to finish me off this time, she certainly wouldn't let it rest.
Instead of sitting back and taking the hits, it was better to strike first and gain the upper hand!
"By the way, Your Highness the Heir, I can't help but feel there is a larger conspiracy behind this," I said, furrowing my brows. "I must get to the bottom of this impersonator business!"
Lu Zhao nodded, his gaze turning profound. "I will help you."
Just as we were deliberating, Shen Li rushed over.
"Miss, it's terrible! Mammy Li is at it again!"
"Oh? What sort of wicked scheme has she cooked up this time?" I raised an eyebrow, a cold smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.
"She... she intends to poison your food so that you’ll make a fool of yourself in front of everyone!" Shen Li said indignantly.
"Heh, it seems the Empress is truly determined to ruin me!" I sneered, though I was secretly overjoyed.
I had been fretting over how to find an opening for a counterattack, and they had delivered it right to my doorstep!
"Shen Li, come closer..." I whispered a few words into her ear. After listening, Shen Li beamed.
"Miss, just watch! This time we'll make sure they trip over their own feet!"
The next day, Mammy Li arrived with a "lunch of love," just as expected.
Her aged face was plastered with a hypocritical smile that made me want to gag.
"Miss Su, this is a meal the old servant prepared especially for you. You must eat plenty," she said with feigned concern.
"Many thanks for your trouble, Mammy," I smiled as I took the food, sneering inwardly.
Rest assured, I would "enjoy it thoroughly"!
I made a show of eating a few bites, then began clutching my stomach, moaning in feigned agony.
"Oh... my stomach... it hurts so much..." I groaned, rolling on the bed, my acting skills reaching Academy Award levels.
Seeing me in this state, Mammy Li was thrilled.
She pretended to be concerned and asked, "Miss Su, are you alright? Would you like me to summon a physician?"
"No need... I... I just need to rest..." I gasped in pain, silently counting down the seconds.
Seeing me "succumb to the poison," Mammy Li smiled triumphantly and hurried off to report to the Empress.
"Your Majesty, it’s done! That Su Mingyue has fallen for the trap; she’s currently writhing in agony!"
Upon hearing this, the Empress’s lips curled into a smirk. "Good! Make arrangements at once to bring her before the others. I want her to make a fool of herself in public!"
Soon, I was "escorted" to the Empress’s sleeping quarters.
By then, a crowd had already gathered, all there to watch me make a mockery of myself.
The Empress sat high upon the phoenix throne, looking down at me with disdain.
"Su Mingyue, what do you have to say for yourself?" she asked with a cold laugh.
I struggled to lift my head, saying weakly, "Empress... I... I am being framed..."
"Framed? Hmph, do you think I believe you? Guards, bring out the evidence of her crimes!" The Empress scoffed, and Eunuch Zhao immediately presented a list of "evidence."
I glanced at the so-called "evidence"—it was all complete nonsense.
It seemed they were absolutely determined to see me dead!
"Empress, these are all fakes! I am being framed!" I shouted.
"Framed? The evidence is ironclad, and you still dare to quibble? Guards, slap her face for me!" the Empress bellowed.
Just as the guards were about to move, I suddenly stood up and shouted, "Empress, wait! I have something to say!"
My voice was loud and forceful, instantly drowning out the murmurs of the crowd.
Everyone was stunned, the Empress included.
"Su Mingyue, what kind of trick are you trying to pull now?" the Empress asked, frowning.
"Empress, I am not being framed. The one who truly poisoned the food is Mammy Li!" I pointed at the mammy standing to the side and declared loudly.
"You... you’re spouting nonsense!" Mammy Li’s complexion changed drastically as she shrieked.
"Whether I am spouting nonsense or not, Mammy knows best!" I sneered, pulling a small porcelain bottle from my sleeve. "Inside this is the poison Mammy Li put in my food! If you don't believe me, you can have a physician test it!"
The moment these words were out, the entire room erupted in an uproar.
Everyone stared at Mammy Li and the Empress in disbelief.
The Empress’s face turned ghastly; she never expected me to turn the tables on her.
"You... you are slandering me! I’ll have you killed!" the Empress roared in a fit of rage.
"Empress, if you are determined to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext! But I only wish to ask: what wrong have I committed to warrant you going to such lengths to frame me?" I looked directly at the Empress, unflinching, and demanded an answer.
My voice echoed through the vast hall, tinged with determination and anger.
Everyone was struck by my intensity, the Empress included.
Just as the Empress was fuming, I suddenly remembered something, and a mysterious smile played on my lips.
I still had a grand gift to present to the Empress, one guaranteed to leave her so "surprised" she wouldn't be able to speak.
"By the way, Empress, there is one more thing. I wonder if you might be interested..." I teased, watching her with a playful glint in my eyes.
Heh heh, want to know?
Then I’ll be merciful and tell you!
I cleared my throat and, in a voice that carried clearly across the room, said: "Empress, do you remember how you ascended to the position of Empress all those years ago? In this inner palace, walls have ears. Some things, once done, always leave a trace."
As soon as those words left my lips, it was as if a deep-sea bomb had gone off, throwing the crowd into a frenzy.
Everyone began whispering and discussing, curiosity piqued to the max.
The color of the Empress’s face was spectacular—shifting from ghastly to ashen, then to a bruised purple, like a dye shop in full swing.
Her body trembled slightly, her eyes filled with terror and unease.
"You... you’re lying! I don’t know what you’re talking about!" she shouted, her voice shrill and shaky.
"Is that so? Would you like me to provide more details? For instance, the concubine who had an 'accidental' fall into the water, or perhaps, the last will and testament that was swapped..." I deliberately dragged out my words, each syllable like a blade piercing the Empress’s heart.
Seeing the Empress in such a state of panic was incredibly satisfying!
Hmph, trying to fight me?
You're still too green!
But then again, let the soldiers come and the earth block them; let the water come and the soil cover it! I, Su Mingyue, am not to be trifled with!
I smiled triumphantly, walked up to the Empress, and whispered in a voice only the two of us could hear: "Empress, the good show has only just begun! You had best be prepared!"
With that, I turned and walked out of the sleeping quarters, leaving the Empress trembling alone.
I knew that a far more intense drama of palace intrigue was about to unfold!
"Shen Li, let's go. There’s a good show waiting for us..."