As dusk fell and lanterns began to glow.
Having dealt with numerous matters throughout the day, Ye Wushuang felt weary. Leaning against her bed, she contemplated the flower banquet scheduled for the next day.
After much deliberation, she resolved to seize the opportunity tomorrow to pledge her allegiance to the Imperial Grandson.
Originally, she had intended to wait a few more days, planning to offer her loyalty only after helping the Imperial Grandson avert an impending disaster, believing this would secure a greater chance of success.
However, after weighing the pros and cons, she abandoned this idea.
After all, it was a meticulously planned assassination attempt, and relying solely on herself offered no guarantee of emerging unscathed.
Thus, the safest approach was to inform Ye Langting in advance, allowing him to prepare—this was the wisest strategy.
No sooner had she made this decision than her door swung open without a breeze.
Turning her head, she saw Mama Zhao entering with a serene blue porcelain bowl, a syrupy smile plastered across her face.
How peculiar.
This afternoon, Mama Zhao had been haughty and dismissive, so why was she now oozing such obsequiousness?
Abnormal behavior always harbors ill intentions—Ye Wushuang instantly concluded that this old hag was up to no good.
She neither responded nor moved, maintaining her composure as she sat quietly.
Mama Zhao, seemingly oblivious to her cold demeanor, presented the bowl to her.
“The young mistress is attending the flower banquet tomorrow. This is chicken soup specially prepared by Madam for you—it’s excellent for nourishing the skin. Please drink it while it’s hot.”
The soup was rich and fragrant, its aroma quickly permeating the room, a clear indication it had been simmered to perfection.
As Ye Wushuang gazed at the soup, ripples of recognition stirred within her.
It was the familiar color, the familiar scent.
The chicken was of fine quality, the soup expertly brewed, but the added ingredients held a secret.
It contained a tonic herb. On its own, mixed into chicken soup, it posed no issue.
However, they had consumed a rare medicated diet earlier that evening. When combined, these two substances would cause red rashes to break out all over one’s body.
The first night, it would merely itch, easily mistaken for hives.
But by the next morning, the face would fester and pus.
In her previous life, having never encountered such delicacies in the countryside, she had gratefully thanked Mama Zhao, gulped down the soup, and even devoured the chicken meat inside.
Being secretly mocked by the servants was trivial compared to the distress of her facial reaction the following day.
Already burdened with insecurity, she was deeply saddened by the unsightly condition of her face.
Though raised in rural simplicity, she still possessed a sense of shame. With her face so disfigured, she was unwilling to go out and begged her mother to let her stay home.
Yet her mother insisted that, having just returned home and with the Minister’s residence specially inviting her, she could not disrespect their kindness; refusing would be seen as ill-mannered.
Unable to sway her mother, she had no choice but to attend the banquet wearing a veil.
But upon arriving at the Minister’s residence, Ye Jintang schemed to yank off her veil.
Her grotesque and horrifying face sent the noble young ladies shrieking in terror.
Su Yun stood by, repeatedly apologizing to others, explaining that her daughter came from the countryside, lacked manners, and had disturbed the banquet.
A poised princess expressed her displeasure, “If she hasn’t learned proper etiquette, she shouldn’t be brought out in public. Isn’t it embarrassing?”
Su Yun sighed helplessly, “Ah, this child acted on her own. I was puzzled why she wore a veil when going out. She claimed she’s always been allergic to pollen, so I indulged her.”
She bowed again in apology, her expression extremely awkward, “It’s my fault for startling everyone.”
While Ye Jintang comforted her friends, Su Yun slandered her own daughter. This mother-daughter duo, performing in harmony, pushed her into an inescapable abyss.
From that day on, in the capital, besides her reputation as a country bumpkin, she was also branded with the infamous label of “the ugly toad.”
After studying medicine, she began to see clues and speculated that the two types of food she had consumed that day must have interacted to produce toxins, leading to such consequences.
She had never understood why, in her previous life, her mother would harm her so deeply even when she was already in such a wretched state.
In this life, through the wisp of Black Aura on Su Yun’s forehead, she could somewhat make sense of it.
But the harm had long been done—she could not forgive, nor would she ever forgive.
Mama Zhao was still holding the bowl of soup, a trace of impatience already showing on her face.
Suppressing her anger, she pushed the porcelain bowl forward again.
“Young Miss, the soup won’t taste good once it cools.”
Ye Wushuang spoke in a cold tone:
“My stomach is upset. Just leave it on the table.”
Mama Zhao’s face was full of disapproval, as if patiently advising a junior:
“As the old saying goes, one must not refuse what an elder bestows. Young Miss, do not disappoint Madam’s thoughtful intentions.”
Ye Wushuang was skilled in medicine. She had a basic antidote pill prepared in her bosom and could easily neutralize the toxin.
But all medicine carries some toxicity, let alone such a terrifying poison.
To please others at the expense of her own health—this was a losing trade she was unwilling to make.
Taking the chicken soup, she didn’t even pretend, directly letting the bowl fall to the ground.
The porcelain bowl shattered into pieces, just like the relationship between her and Su Yun—even the finest craftsman could not restore it.
Without a hint of apology on her face, she said softly, “My apologies, Mama, I didn’t hold it steady.”
Unexpectedly, Mama Zhao showed no trace of anger. She smiled mysteriously, a look of understanding in her eyes as she turned and left the room.
Soon, she returned with another bowl of chicken soup.
“This old servant came prepared. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of soup and bowls to go around! What an elder bestows must not be refused!”
Ye Wushuang smiled, but her eyes were as cold as a frozen spring. She stared fixedly at Mama Zhao. “In that case, I bestow this bowl of soup upon you. What a master bestows must not be refused either.”
By now, Mama Zhao had run out of patience, especially when she recalled the embarrassment she had suffered that afternoon in the Ink Garden. She felt a wave of shame.
She spoke sinisterly, “Since Young Miss refuses to appreciate the favor, don’t blame this old servant for offending!”
She straightened up and stepped forward, intending to force the matter, but the bowl in her hand was suddenly snatched away.
Startled, she tried to grab it back, but an iron-like hand clamped tightly around her jaw.
The savory chicken soup was poured into her mouth. Mama Zhao pressed her tongue hard against her palate, trying to block the soup from going down.
Ye Wushuang located an Acupoint on her back and pressed firmly. Mama Zhao lost control and involuntarily swallowed the soup.
Once the bowl was emptied, Ye Wushuang released her.
Freed, Mama Zhao turned pale. Without bothering to scold Ye Wushuang, she hurriedly stuck her fingers down her throat, vomiting up everything in her stomach.
Ye Wushuang’s hatred was undisguised. She shoved Mama Zhao down, pressing her face firmly into the filth.
“Isn’t it something good? How dare you, a wretched servant, disdain what Mother has so kindly prepared?”
Ye Wushuang’s strength was overwhelming. Mama Zhao struggled several times but couldn’t break free. The foul smell rushed into her nostrils, making her vomit again.
“You insolent slave! How dare you act so boldly in my room? Clean this up at once!”
After much more commotion, the room was finally tidied.
Disheveled and without even washing her face, Mama Zhao hurried away.
Of course, this time she stumbled five times before she could even reach the courtyard gate.
Eventually, she didn’t dare to stand upright, crawling all the way to the gate before fleeing back to her quarters as if she had seen a ghost.
That series of maneuvers was simply too slick. The maids serving in the room were so impressed they nearly knelt in admiration. Shu Lan stood to the side, arching her eyebrows, her captivating phoenix eyes filled with curiosity.
Ye Wushuang waved her hand, dismissing the servants to rest.
Li Momo and the others sighed with relief, but one maid hesitated, looking extremely conflicted.
Noticing Xia He’s reluctance to speak, Ye Wushuang called out to her,
“Do you have something to say?”
Xia He bit her lip tightly. After everyone else had left, she gritted her teeth, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed.
“Young Miss, this humble servant has something to report.”
She pulled a small undergarment from her bosom and handed it over.
“This was given to me by the Madam. She instructed me to plant it on a servant boy at the Minister’s residence tomorrow.”
So, she was here to pledge her loyalty.
Ye Wushuang looked at the undergarment, her heart surprisingly calm.
Perhaps she had grown accustomed to such schemes.
“Why are you betraying the Madam?”
“This servant has no parents. After witnessing your capabilities today, I am certain you have a bright future ahead. I am willing to take this gamble.”
Her words sounded sincere. Ye Wushuang did not comment but gave her some silver and sent her away.
The night was dark, the wind howled, and the estate was eerily quiet.
In the main courtyard, Mama Zhao, now cleaned up, stood beside Su Yun, recounting in detail the events that had just transpired in the Ink Garden.
Su Yun’s expression grew increasingly grim.
“Is she really so wary, even guarding against her own mother? If that’s the case, does she even hold me, her birth mother, in her heart?”
Mama Zhao’s face twisted with resentment. Having suffered repeated humiliations that day, she seized the opportunity to disparage Ye Wushuang.
“In this old servant’s opinion, the Young Miss has now latched onto the Marquis as her powerful ally and truly does not regard you with any respect.”
Observing Su Yun’s rising anger, she continued to fan the flames:
“I am your loyal servant. If the Young Miss respected you even a little, she would never have humiliated me so today. Look—the Second Young Miss would never act this way!”
As a longtime confidante of Su Yun, she knew exactly how to manipulate her mistress’s temper.
Watching Su Yun’s face darken further, she felt a sense of satisfaction, already anticipating Ye Wushuang’s downfall.
Su Yun rubbed her temples weakly and murmured, “Let’s hope Xia He proves capable.”
“Rest assured, Madam. Her younger brother is in our hands—Xia He would never dare defy your orders!”
Shortly after, a servant knocked on the door. Mama Zhao stepped out briefly and returned with a pleased expression.
“Madam, Xia He has sent word—the task is accomplished!”
Su Yun’s brow finally relaxed slightly. She let out a long sigh.
“Prepare thoroughly for the visit to the Minister’s residence. Everything must return to the way it should be.”