"Don't forget the Yun family is still fighting to the death with the Xiliang army at Fengya Pass. Her actions today were just to test if I'm truly foolish or pretending.
"Secondly, it's to reassure the Emperor and stop him from dwelling on this matter. Oh, my mouth hurts so much, that medicine was truly potent." Yun Xiao spoke a few words, her brows furrowing slightly from the pain, and she gasped for breath, waving her hand as if remembering something.
"Wan Wan, find one of those red pills and give it to me."
"Yes," Wan Wan rose nimbly and walked to a cabinet. Among the various bottles and jars, she found a small transparent bottle containing red pills. She didn't know their purpose, but she poured one out and brought it over, serving it to her mistress.
"Your Highness, does it hurt a lot?" Wan Wan began to cry. When she had seen the Empress Dowager's swollen marks earlier, she knew her mistress's mouth must be injured. The more she thought about it, the sadder she became, eventually weeping loudly.
After taking the medicine, Yun Xiao took a few deep breaths and reached out to pull Wan Wan's hand, gently comforting her.
"It's alright, Wan Wan, it's not a serious matter. The medicine isn't as severe as they say, don't worry."
"Not only did they poison Your Highness, but the Emperor almost choked you to death. How can their hearts be so cruel?" Wan Wan sobbed, tears flowing uncontrollably.
She had promised the Prince to protect her mistress well, but as soon as the Prince left, they all came to deal with her Highness.
"Which royal person isn't cruel? They are simply ambitious wolves. They used the Yun family and then pretended to be benevolent. Today, I have made a desperate gamble. Now they must believe I am a fool. If I hadn't acted like this, do you think they wouldn't be suspicious?"
"But I feel so distressed seeing Your Highness like this. I also promised the Prince to take good care of Your Highness."
Wan Wan felt she had failed in her duty and became even more distressed. Although she stopped crying, her eyes were still red.
Yun Xiao turned over and looked at Wan Wan. Her usually carefree personality rarely showed such sadness.
This time, she seemed truly upset. She gently patted the girl's hand. "Alright, don't be sad anymore. I took the medicine and I'm fine. However, I won't let the person who hurt me off the hook. They will pay for what they have done."
Yun Xiao smiled darkly.
Wan Wan blinked her eyes, not stopping her mistress for once. Xiu Xiu, listening, felt utterly confused, her unease growing stronger.
Why would the Emperor want to choke the Empress to death? The Empress was not someone to be easily dealt with. It was likely that there would be further actions.
Xiu Xiu felt like a crow flew over her head, casting a dark shadow...
Yun Xiao released Wan Wan's hand and turned to look at Xiu Xiu, pouting her lips slightly and speaking softly, "Xiu Xiu, I'm hungry. Go and prepare some snacks for me."
"Yes, Your Highness, please wait."
Xiu Xiu behind her immediately nodded, her previous unease completely forgotten. She quickly darted out. Once she had left, Yun Xiao turned and sat cross-legged on the soft couch, her expression cold and solemn, and spoke softly, "Liuxing."
She could now sense Liuxing's presence and knew if he was near.
Liuxing responded and emerged, clad in a black robe. A gust of wind blew as he landed. His handsome features were etched with a stern expression, and he was filled with anger.
Earlier, when his mistress entered the main hall, he had hidden his presence and stayed in a tree outside, not daring to approach too closely. This was because Shangguan Yao was no ordinary person; his martial arts were formidable. If he had gotten too close, he would have been detected.
However, he still witnessed everything inside the hall from the tree outside.
The Emperor had almost choked his mistress to death. He had intended to intervene, but he hadn't expected Shangguan Yao to let his mistress go later. Still, his mistress had indeed suffered a loss.
"Your Highness?"
"Take this and put it into the tea of all the concubines in their respective palaces," Yun Xiao smiled as she took out several packets of medicine and gestured for Liuxing to handle it. With his skills, it would be a simple matter to administer the medicine to all the concubines.
"Yes, I will attend to it immediately."
"Don't forget the one in Zhaoyang Palace. She is the first one to bear the brunt of this."
"Understood," Liuxing replied respectfully.
Yun Xiao nodded in satisfaction. When she wasn't angry, she was smiley, adorable, and harmless, making anyone who looked at her instantly fond of her. However, this was only on the surface. Those who had truly interacted with her knew she always got revenge.
"Also, have Jingyun come to the palace to see me. The palace will be a bit livelier in the coming days. You two keep a close watch on the situation in the palace."
"Yes," Liuxing took the medicine and flashed away as he heard someone entering from outside the door.
After Liuxing left, Wan Wan couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "Your Highness, who is Jingyun?"
"He's an imperial guard, just like Liuxing. They are a pair. My father thought I was foolish, so he only assigned Liuxing to me."
Yun Xiao spoke calmly. She didn't hide anything from Wan Wan, believing Wan Wan to be a truly loyal maid.
"Oh," Wan Wan didn't say much more, but thinking of the medicine her mistress gave to Liuxing, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "Your Highness, what is that medicine?"
"Aphrodisiac," Yun Xiao laughed, as if she could already see an absurd drama unfolding in the imperial palace.
The Emperor was incompetent, and many concubines in the harem had taken the aphrodisiac. Let's see how the Emperor would handle himself. This insult was tangible. This was the first gift she sent him. Would there be a second, a third?
Shangguan Yao, just you wait. I remember everyone who has offended me, and I will have my revenge.
Yun Xiao smiled happily. Her pale complexion was tinged with a hint of crimson, like a seductive red petal on a canvas, swaying in the boundless wind, a solitary bloom of fragrant snow...
The cold night pierced to the bone.
There was not a trace of light in the sky, the darkness like a vast curtain, pressing down heavily. The north wind howled, penetrating the layers of layered eaves. Palace lanterns swayed, emitting a dim, yellowish glow.
In the dark and cold night, snow began to fall, dancing gracefully in the air.
In Jinhua Palace, Yun Xiao wore a thick dark-patterned blue cotton jacket, her entire person bundled up like a little snowball, revealing a delicate pink face. Her large eyes occasionally darted about, sizing up the two people in the sleeping chamber.
Liuxing and Jingyun.
She had met Liuxing before. He was handsome, with clear eyebrows and fine eyes, but his personality was somewhat cold, and he preferred to wear black clothes. As an imperial guard, he was meant to hide in the shadows.
And black was the most advantageous color. Coupled with his cool, expressionless demeanor, he was quite a remarkable man.
As for Jingyun, this was the first time Yun Xiao had seen him.
He wasn't very tall, but rather sturdy. His skin was very dark, which made his eyes exceptionally expressive. As she appraised him, he was also appraising her, his eyes full of wonder, a sunny smile gracing his face, revealing a set of white teeth, making him incredibly endearing.
"Miss, you're not foolish anymore."
The opening remark was also endearing. Yun Xiao and Wan Wan couldn't help but chuckle. Liuxing, standing beside them, spoke sternly, "Jingyun."
Yun Xiao raised her hand, unconcerned. Who said subordinates had to be expressionless, like wooden puppets? She found Jingyun's personality quite charming.