This damn weather was truly enough to roast a person alive.
She still had to finish the mission quickly and return to report back to the princess.
Her name was Cuizhu, a personal maid serving by Princess He’an’s side.
The princess had promised her that once this task was completed, not only would she receive a large sum of money upon returning, but she would also be arranged a very good marriage.
Thinking of this, Cuizhu felt even more eager and heated inside.
She glanced toward the house again. Seeing that no one was paying attention, she quietly moved toward the water vat.
At this moment, she never would have thought that the instant she turned her back, two pairs of eyes in the kitchen were already fixed tightly on her.
That’s right—Madam Zhou had already noticed something was wrong with this woman.
The situation was urgent, and Qin Suining had no time to explain much.
Perhaps it was a mother-daughter bond—just a simple glance from her, and Madam Zhou seemed to understand.
At that very moment, Qin Suining personally saw the woman sprinkling powder into the water vat, finally confirming the truth of those mysterious words.
Madam Zhou also drew a cold breath and steadied herself, quickly stirring the mung bean soup in the pot.
“I remember we still have some brown sugar at home. Adding some will make the mung bean soup taste better……”
She bent down and searched through the cabinet, soon pulling out a small blackened jar.
“Daughter, go to my room and get two eggs. I’ll make a bowl of egg tea for the guest to fill her stomach first.”
As she spoke, she lifted the lid of a small pot nearby and picked up a water ladle, heading toward the water vat at the door.
“N-no, there’s no need……”
Cuizhu, just after finishing her deed and sitting back down, was so frightened that she jolted up again.
“Madam, I—I really don’t need it. I have urgent matters and must hurry on my way, so I’ll—”
Before she could finish, just as she turned around, a water ladle smashed straight onto her head.
Qin Suining also rushed out, holding a pitch-black fire poker, striking down without restraint.
After a chaotic struggle, Cuizhu didn’t even have a chance to cry out before she was beaten until she bled and collapsed unconscious.
“Daughter, get rope—we need to tie her up first……”
Although Madam Zhou had acted fiercely earlier, now that she had calmed down, her whole body felt weak, and her voice trembled uncontrollably.
After all, she was just an ordinary rural woman. In all her life, this was the first time she had ever hit someone.
Qin Suining was also afraid, but compared to her life, this fear meant nothing.
If someone had to die today, it would naturally be better if it wasn’t them.
There were straw ropes in the kitchen. She quickly fetched a bundle, and together with Madam Zhou, they tightly bound Cuizhu.
Only then did they finally breathe a little easier.
Without wasting time, Qin Suining hurried to lift the lid of the water vat.
The poison powder had already dissolved completely and was invisible, but upon closer inspection, fine white residue could still be seen around the edges.
Madam Zhou leaned in to look, then turned to search Cuizhu’s sleeves, soon finding a piece of oil paper.
Inside the oil paper were traces of white powder—identical to what was on the water vat.
“She… we have no grudges against her, why would she try to poison us?”
Madam Zhou collapsed onto the ground in shock, her face full of fear and confusion.
In her limited understanding, she truly could not comprehend why such a thing would happen.
Qin Suining said nothing, only staring blankly into the empty space before her eyes.
“Hmm… it seems this unlucky mother and daughter have realized something……”
“Even if they realize it, it’s useless. If Cuizhu doesn’t return to report, Princess He’an will just send someone else……”
“Exactly. That princess isn’t killing them just to steal a man, but also to take their cheat ability……”
“She’s a transmigrator, and now she’s powerful and wealthy. Ordinary people trying to fight her are basically walking into death……”
The floating text continued to scroll.
Just moments after feeling relieved, Qin Suining felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar—her whole body turning stiff and cold.
What is a transmigrator?
What is a cheat ability?
She didn’t understand, but instinctively knew these were extremely powerful and extraordinary things.
But the Qin family was so poor—what kind of “cheat ability” could they possibly have?
Looking at the two dilapidated rooms, Qin Suining felt completely lost.
Madam Zhou recovered her breath and began dragging the unconscious Cuizhu into the house.
They lived right by the main road. If anyone passed by and saw this, it would be impossible to explain.
Qin Suining quickly helped, and together they finally dragged Cuizhu inside.
After tightly shutting the door, they both slightly relaxed.
The strange floating subtitles were too eerie, and Qin Suining didn’t know how to explain them to Madam Zhou.
“Daughter, look at this.”
Madam Zhou continued searching Cuizhu’s belongings and found not only a bulging money pouch but also a black wooden token.
“Princess He’an’s residence, maid Cuizhu……”
After years as a scholar’s wife, Madam Zhou could recognize some characters. She read the inscription aloud after examining it.
Qin Suining also took the token, her heart tightening so much she could barely breathe.
She was now certain that those strange words appearing before her were all real.
That meant Princess He’an would not give up—she would soon send more people.
With no strength or power, how could their mother and daughter possibly resist a powerful princess?
Qin Suining felt like crying but had no tears. She struggled to think of how to explain it so Madam Zhou could accept it.
“I’ve heard of this Princess He’an before. She seems to be a widow whose husband died, and her reputation isn’t very good……”
Madam Zhou turned the token over and over, still unable to understand why such a noble princess would target a poor rural family like theirs.
“Could it be… your father offended this princess, and she’s taking it out on us?”
After all, so far, neither Madam Zhou nor Qin Suining had ever been to the capital, nor had any connection with that high-ranking princess.
Realizing she couldn’t easily convince her mother, Qin Suining thought for a moment and then slapped Cuizhu awake.
“Tell us everything you know. If you lie even once, I’ll force you to drink a bowl of cold water.”
The poison in the water vat had been planted by Cuizhu herself—Qin Suining didn’t believe she would dare actually drink it.