"Father, rest assured, everything has been arranged with Aunt Liu," Li Yaoqin said.
Li Sinian frowned slightly upon hearing this. "Yao'er, why didn't you handle it yourself?"
Li Yaoqin looked at him and said softly, "Father, you probably forgot that my daughter recently had a conflict with the Empress. My not handling it personally is to prevent the Empress from blaming Father in any way."
Li Sinian nodded. "It's good that Yao'er thinks things through."
Li Yaoqin replied, "Father, your daughter has grown up now and cannot be immersed in her own personal affections and implicate the household."
Li Sinian sighed with emotion, "Yao'er, you truly have grown up."
Li Yaoqin smiled and remained silent. She knew she had to grow up. Otherwise, she wouldn't even know who killed her, let alone avenge her mother.
Her mother's death would not be in vain. She swore it.
"His Majesty arrives! The Flower King arrives! The Cold King arrives!" boomed the voices from outside.
Li Sinian and Li Yaoqin were both startled.
It was one thing for the Empress to come, but the Flower King and the Cold King had also arrived together.
This was a tremendous honor.
Li Yaoqin stepped out first, and upon reaching the main entrance, she saw the Emperor's imperial carriage parked outside.
"Kneel..." someone shouted.
Everyone in the mansion immediately knelt, and in unison, they declared, "Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"
Amidst the cheers, Li Yaoqin felt someone descend. A pair of cloud boots embroidered with dragon totems appeared in her line of sight.
It could only be the Empress.
"Arise," a clear, melodious voice slowly sounded.
Li Yaoqin stood up and prepared to step aside, but then a voice sounded before her. "Miss Li, please help me!"
Li Yaoqin trembled all over. Even the maids beside the Empress were stunned and were about to speak when the Empress stopped them. "What, Miss Li is unwilling?"
Her voice was as cold as frost, as if daring Li Yaoqin to utter a refusal would result in her punishment.
It was impossible for her to disagree.
She had no choice but to brace herself and say, "Your subject obeys the decree!"
She felt that the Empress was doing this intentionally, knowing full well that the Empress wished to torment her.
She approached the Empress, bowed, and extended her hand. She thought the Empress might be hesitant, but to her surprise, the Empress unceremoniously placed her hand on Li Yaoqin's arm. No, she placed her entire body's weight on Li Yaoqin.
Having been pampered and spoiled by her father and mother since childhood, she was not good at serving others. She swayed slightly, feigning frailty, hoping the Empress might decide she didn't need to be supported.
However, before the Empress could speak, she felt a gaze from the abyss behind her.
It was a call of death, as if a single misstep would result in her being bathed in blood.
She knew the Empress had hidden guards, and any small movement from her would cost her life.
To preserve her own life, she had to be cautious.
"It is the utmost honor for His Majesty to visit," Li Sinian said.
"Madam Li and I had a brief encounter, so it is only natural for me to remember her," Li Yaoqin heard the Empress's voice.
It was faint and light. If others had said this, she would have found it insincere, but for some reason, coming from the Empress, it sounded perfectly natural.
"You may withdraw," the Empress said slowly.
Li Yaoqin quickly stepped back. Only then did she dare to secretly lift her eyes and realize that the Empress was walking slowly, without anyone's support.
Standing slightly to the left, she saw the Empress's large belly and suddenly remembered that it carried the child of His Majesty, the Cloud Emperor, and the Empress.
She couldn't quite describe the feeling.
She watched the Empress take three incense sticks and pay respects three times. She hadn't expected the Empress to actually do so.
No one in the mansion had expected it either.
After paying her respects, Li Sinian, her father, invited the Empress to the main hall for tea and later for a meal.
Finally relieved of supporting the Empress, Li Yaoqin hurried to the kitchen. From the morning, she had instructed Yan Xin to guard the kitchen closely.
Although she didn't know when Aunt Liu would make her move, guarding the kitchen meant guarding the safety of the mansion.
At the very least, the Empress's safety was of paramount importance.
Yan Xin shook her head at Li Yaoqin, as if to say the kitchen was fine.
Li Yaoqin breathed a sigh of relief. While she had hoped Aunt Liu would make a move, she also didn't want her to.
After all, Aunt Liu had been in the household for so many years. Despite their constant disagreements, in a way, she was like family.
Suddenly, she saw Lian Xin hurrying over. "Eldest Miss, Aunt Liu is serving tea to the Empress."
Li Yaoqin was startled and quickly said, "Let's go."
Arriving at the study, she saw Aunt Liu placing a cup of tea before the Empress.
The Empress's maid picked up the teacup and tested it with a silver needle. There was no poison.
Li Yaoqin breathed a sigh of relief, but her tension quickly returned. If not in the tea, then where?
"Eldest Miss, are you here to check out of concern?" Aunt Liu asked as she saw her in the courtyard after leaving the room.
"Aunt Liu, you know that the fate of the household is at stake this time, so I must be cautious."
Aunt Liu nodded. "Eldest Miss speaks wisely. But rest assured, your concubine will be careful."
After the tea was consumed, the household's meal was also prepared. Li Yaoqin tested all the dishes that were to be served with silver needles.
Seeing no abnormalities, she then had them served. However, she harbored doubts. Would Aunt Liu not make her move here?
Li Yaoqin watched Aunt Liu, unable to believe that she would pass up such a golden opportunity. Then, where would she strike? Could it be somewhere she hadn't anticipated?
Suddenly, a pot of soup was brought forth. Aunt Liu stood up and curtsied, saying, "The sweet soup is here."
Ping'er lifted the lid. Li Yaoqin's eyes were fixed on the pot of soup. Could it be here?
She stared intently at the silver needle in the Empress's maid's hand. Suspiciously, the needle remained unchanged.
She felt a wave of dejection. Had Aunt Liu known something in advance and therefore wouldn't make a move?
"Yao'er, what's wrong?" Li Sinian whispered.
He sensed that Yao'er was somewhat unusual today.
Li Yaoqin shook her head slightly, merely contemplating that if Aunt Liu didn't make her move now, there might be no other opportunity. If that were the case, the entire scheme would be meaningless.
After the meal, the Empress rose to leave. "It is time for me to return. Miss Li, please continue to assist me."
Li Yaoqin curtsied and approached the Empress.
"What? Have you lost confidence because you saw her not poison the tea?"
Xue Zi Ning looked at Li Yaoqin's dejected demeanor, comparing her to a once proud and spirited rooster that had been defeated and now lay listless.
"Doesn't Your Majesty feel regret?" Li Yaoqin asked, looking up at her.
"Why should there be regret? I believe she would not give up such a good opportunity."
Li Yaoqin blinked, unsure where the Empress's confidence stemmed from, to be so certain that Aunt Liu would make a move.
"Your Majesty, you are almost out of the mansion," Li Yaoqin said.
Suddenly, a muffled groan came from behind. Li Yaoqin trembled all over and turned around to see many people collapsing behind her.