Zhao Jingyi stepped out of the room, feeling it was the right time to leave for her brother’s pride.
She sent for Physician Jiang, Zhao Jingheng’s trusted confidant. As dusk deepened, the assassin’s play had concluded.
Learning of Zhao Jingheng’s condition from Physician Jiang, Zhao Jingyi trembled with rage.
Tears streamed down her face. After weeping, she ordered the bodies of the dark guards to be fed to the dogs.
“Brother, did you encounter any strange people or events? Have Ling Yi and the others been poisoned? This matter is too bizarre, and I am in a state of panic.”
“I don’t know. The only possibility is the Empress. She is the only newcomer to this palace, an unexpected element. We’ll discuss everything once my injuries heal. This woman is quite peculiar; she endured such humiliation without a fuss. Yi’er, do not confront her rashly.”
Zhao Jingyi’s red lips parted slightly, and she said nonchalantly, “Yi’er has already prepared a grand gift for Empress sister-in-law.”
Zhao Jingheng smiled and nudged her forehead. “You, you truly love to stir up trouble.”
“Brother, are you concerned? If so, Yi’er will be sad.”
“My little princess, your acceptance of me is my greatest honor. Yi Yi, do you truly not mind?”
Zhao Jingyi feigned anger. “What do you take me for, Brother? Brother is the most wonderful person. How could he possibly fancy those ordinary mortals? As long as Brother still loves me, I am willing to do anything for you.”
“Silly girl, having you in this life is enough for me.”
…
Shui Wa: “Tsk tsk tsk, this is truly world-shattering love.”
Jun Jiuli: “Don’t insult love. Those are two disgusting creatures. Do you think he will get hemorrhoids and AIDS in the future? Those are difficult to treat, aren’t they?”
“Probably not. I see he has rectal damage and some inflammation. With the medicine Physician Jiang gave him, it’s hard to see him recovering quickly. He might not be able to control one of his bodily functions soon. He’s an emperor with a rather… fragrant situation.”
“Zhao Kingdom holds court every five days, with a three-day leave for marriage. Tsk tsk tsk, this must be hard on the court officials.”
…
In the deep silence of the night, Zhao Jingyi had fallen asleep. She suddenly felt unable to breathe and tried to claw at her neck with her hands.
The chilling sensation startled her awake. She opened her eyes to see a crimson canopy above her. As she tried to sit up, she found her body weak, as if something was restraining her.
She stiffly turned her eyeballs and saw her body entwined with black snakes. Her scalp tingled, and her body stiffened. She dared not move, opening her mouth to call for help.
A black snake, as thick as a child’s wrist, seized the opportunity and slithered inside. She desperately mustered all her strength and rolled off the bed.
She used her hands to pull at them ferociously, vomiting continuously. The room was dim, making it impossible to move freely.
Her entire body was constricted and bound by the black snakes. The deadly pain and weight overwhelmed her. Overcoming her fear, she desperately crawled towards the door.
Startled, the black snakes wriggled and moved, their rustling sounds making her limbs go soft.
“Help! Someone, quick!”
Before she could utter two cries, she was silenced again. She wound the snakes around her hands, loop by loop, and pulled outward with all her might.
Due to resting, she was only wearing a plain white inner garment. The snake repellent was locked in the cabinet.
The tranquilizer drugs she usually kept for self-defense were under her pillow. When she reached for them, she felt only coldness.
Shui Wa: “She’s not going to die, is she?”
Jun Jiuli: “Wouldn’t that be letting her off too easily? This is just us reciprocating, a hundredfold. I think she’d be quite happy; she seems to like these little things.”
Shui Wa shivered internally and silently vowed not to banter with the great boss in the future, lest she hold a grudge and retaliate.
These snakes were all non-venomous. After her frantic struggles, they began to attack.
The pain sharpened Zhao Jingyi’s mind. Dragging the snakes on her body, she forcefully slammed herself against the door.
She rammed repeatedly with all her might. Some snakes were flung away. The noise also startled the maids and eunuchs, who rushed towards her with lanterns.
“Princess, Princess.”
Hasty cries came from not far away. Seeing the approaching firelight, Zhao Jingyi finally stopped struggling, revealing her first smile of the night.
Upon witnessing such a horrifying sight, the group was completely terrified. Some young eunuchs quickly lit the roadside lamps, and someone went to find the guards.
Xiang Xiang: “Quickly go to the Imperial Hospital to fetch a physician and find realgar! Hurry! And you, go to the small kitchen and find some firewood to light a fire.”
“Yes.”
The group acted swiftly. Zhao Jingyi was doused with realgar. Several snakes still bit into her flesh and refused to let go. She personally used a dagger to sever them from their seven-inch mark.
She yanked the damn heads off and threw them into the burning fire. Xiang Xiang wrapped her in a cloak and took her to clean up.
The imperial physician had already examined the snakes and confirmed they were harmless. They would apply medicine and bandage her wounds later.
The candlelight flickered, and Zhao Jingyi stared intently at Xiang Xiang, twirling the bloodstained dagger in her hand.
Xiang Xiang’s legs felt weak, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead. However, she dared not make any mistakes, carefully bandaging Zhao Jingyi.
“Was it you?”
Xiang Xiang almost knelt. “Master praises this servant too highly.”
“Heh, it’s best if that’s the case. Deal with all the traces cleanly, lest I have to teach you a second time.”
“Yes, Master, rest assured.”
Zhao Jingyi was bandaged up like a zongzi. When Zhao Jingheng received the news, he wished he could rush over to see her.
However, at such a late hour, it would be detrimental to her reputation. In her current state, his presence would be of little use.
Without the help of his dark guards, he could do nothing without being observed by the watchful eyes of the palace. It was better to stay in his own palace and avoid trouble.
These snakes were all bred by Zhao Jingyi. She used to throw people she disliked to the snakes to be bitten to death.
She didn’t raise venomous snakes because she wanted to watch people suffer, struggle, and die in agony.
The reason for such a large number was that Jun Jiuli had caused all the snake eggs to hatch prematurely.
She also wanted the person in question to experience this feeling and see if she would still be happy.
With the snakes dead, their breeder and the basement would naturally be dealt with.
At this point, if they could enter Zhao Jingyi’s room, she would not trust anyone. She would rather kill a hundred by mistake than let one go.
Shui Wa: “Tsk tsk tsk, a woman not ruthless, her status not stable. She and Zhao Jingheng are birds of a feather, a wolf and a jackal. No wonder they can sympathize with each other so well.”
Jun Jiuli: “A woman being ruthless does not mean she can harm others casually. Shui Wa, why have you started using idioms so well?”
“Hahaha, I want to be a cultured system. Times are changing, and systems must progress.”