When she returned to Wutong Courtyard, Ying Tao was pacing back and forth at the entrance. Seeing Yun Li return, her face lit up with joy: "Miss, you're finally back! I was terrified when I saw Madam heading over earlier. Huh, where's Zhao Momo? I've already tidied up her room?"
Yun Li thought for a moment and decided it was more appropriate to keep Zhao Momo in the space. Firstly, she could give her a thorough check-up, and secondly, the environment inside the space was far better than outside, which would help her recover quickly.
Over the next couple of days, she planned to look around outside, buy a house, and hire a few maids and guards. Once that was done, she would settle Zhao Momo outside. Regardless of why Su Meixian wanted Zhao Momo dead, as far as the Prime Minister's Residence was concerned, Zhao Momo was already dead. If she reappeared, her safety would be at risk…
"I've settled Zhao Momo outside. It's not safe for her in the residence! I'll take you to see her in a few days!"
Ying Tao was surprised but nodded: "Alright, Miss!"
"It's getting late, Ying Tao. You should go to bed!"
"Okay, Miss. You should rest early too!"
Although she had a million questions for her mistress, if Yun Li didn't bring it up, she wouldn't ask.
Back in her room, Yun Li closed the door and slipped into the space.
First, she washed Zhao Momo in the bathroom of the medical room, changed her into clean patient clothes, and then carried her to the hospital bed. She performed a full-body check-up using the instruments, hung an IV drip of nutrients, and fitted her with an oxygen mask.
After completing all this, Yun Li felt sore and exhausted. She stretched her limbs, took a few sips of Spiritual Spring Water, and her fatigue vanished instantly.
Glancing at the time, she felt it was about right. Tonight was when Yun Ran's poison would flare up—there was a good show to watch, and she couldn't miss it!
As if remembering something, a dark glint flashed in her eyes. She changed into a black night suit and this time applied a human skin mask resembling an ordinary man.
She slipped out of the space. Outside the window, moonlight bathed the ground, and the surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the chirping of birds and cicadas.
First, she went to Su Meixian's courtyard, where a grand and spacious compound came into view.
Pengxian Pavilion! Seeing the name, Yun Li's lips twitched, and she couldn't help rolling her eyes, muttering:
"Tsk tsk~ Why not call it Penglai Island? Are you cultivating immortality in there? Ugh!"
This time, she didn't enter through the gate. Instead, she circled to the rockery behind the courtyard, used it to climb onto a large pillar, and then scaled the pillar to the rooftop.
This body was truly weak—just these few movements left her panting heavily. No, she had to nourish herself properly later, exercise more. With the help of the Spiritual Spring Water, she could restore it to her modern-day agility.
Lying on the rooftop, she pried open the tiles one by one until she found Su Meixian's room.
Su Meixian was currently bathing, sitting naked in a bathtub, surrounded by swirling steam.
Yun Li's beautiful eyes flickered. She took out a bottle of medicinal powder from the space and sprinkled it into the bathtub through the gaps in the tiles.
Originally, tonight's grand show was prepared for Yun Ran, but since Su Meixian had stumbled into it, it was her own fault. Blame it on the fact that neither mother nor daughter were peaceful souls. In that case, one more wouldn't make much difference, right? The more, the merrier…
With that done, she climbed down from the rooftop and made her way to Yun Ran's courtyard with familiar ease. She climbed onto the roof, lifted a tile, and saw Yun Ran already lying in bed, twisting and turning under the covers.
Yun Li snickered to herself—the drug was starting to take effect… This particular concoction of hers was especially tormenting to the mind, slowly stirring up desire until one felt restless and utterly consumed by it.
In just moments, Yun Ran’s face had flushed red. Feeling hot, she threw off the covers, unbuttoned her clothes, and couldn’t help but let her hands wander over her own skin…
“Biyao, come in.”
“What does the young mistress need from this servant?”
Yun Ran got up, wrote a few lines at the table, sealed them in an envelope, then whispered something into Biyao’s ear. Biyao took the envelope and left.
After Biyao was gone, Yun Ran paced back and forth in the room, fanning herself incessantly and gulping down an entire pot of water.
What was wrong with her tonight? Why did she crave a man so intensely… Could it be that she had grown too lonely from staying secluded in her chambers?
Her mother had said she was destined to become the Crown Prince’s consort—she must remain pure and untouched to marry the Crown Prince. But she simply couldn’t bear the loneliness any longer.
After Yun Ran’s maid left, Yun Li descended from the roof and followed the messenger maid. At a corner, while the maid was distracted, Yun Li sprinkled a handful of knockout powder over her head. The maid instantly collapsed. Yun Li retrieved the envelope from her, opened it, and read its contents.
What she saw shocked her, and she couldn’t help but marvel—Yun Ran had truly surprised her.
She had actually instructed her maid to secretly deliver a letter to Prince Duan, arranging to meet him in a private room at Yayun Pavilion.
Yun Li had assumed Yun Ran, unable to restrain herself, would seek out a guard from the residence… Who would have thought she had an affair with Prince Duan…
Prince Duan was Helian Qi, the second son among the current emperor’s six princes.
Why go to such lengths? Sneaking around outside couldn’t compare to being caught in the act right here in the Prime Minister’s Residence.
Well, since things had already come this far, she might as well put in a little extra effort. Since she was doing a good deed, she might as well see it through—she could handle the heavy lifting for Yun Ran. She didn’t mind making an extra trip for her…
So she scaled the wall and left the Prime Minister’s Residence, making her way to Prince Duan’s manor. The guards at the entrance had no time to speak before she knocked them out with a sprinkle of knockout powder.
Entering the courtyard, she dosed everyone she encountered with knockout powder, instantly incapacitating a large group.
Arriving at the rear courtyard, she located Prince Duan’s bedroom. Tsk, tsk—Prince Duan was quite the playboy. Inside, two beauties were nestled against him, drinking and playing music.
Yun Li knocked on the door a few times. “Tap, tap, tap, tap.”
The interrupted Prince Duan responded with an impatient voice, “What is it?”
Yun Li disguised her voice and said, “Your Highness, the eldest young mistress has sent this subordinate to deliver a letter to you.”
Prince Duan paused for a moment, then stood up, pushing away the beauties clinging to him, and opened the door.
Yun Li handed him the letter. Prince Duan opened and read it—it was indeed Yun Ran’s handwriting. Meeting at this hour? Could there be something important?
“Did your young mistress have any additional message?”
“The young mistress only said to hurry, nothing else.”
“Very well, let’s go!” After speaking, he glanced at the two beauties in the room. “Both of you, return to your rooms and rest.”
Then, without looking back, he strode into the courtyard. Yun Li sprinkled knockout powder onto his face and, with a wave of her small hand, stored Prince Duan into her space.
Back at the Prime Minister’s Residence, she scaled the wall into Yun Ran’s courtyard. First, she entered her space in a secluded corner, sprinkled a handful of Mihuan Powder onto Prince Duan, then tossed him out of the space. After waking him, she made her way toward Yun Ran’s bedroom.
Mihuan Powder can make one forget their surroundings, only remembering what happened at the time. For instance, now he only knows that Yun Ran is looking for him, and when he enters Yun Ran's room, the powder on him will cause Yun Ran, upon contact, to also fall into an illusion, believing herself to be in Yayun Pavilion…
Then the two will naturally…
Behind the rockery, Yun Li's eyes curved like a successful little fox, sparkling with cunning brilliance.