Volume One, Chapter 15: Forcing Her with Poison

“Get lost!”

Ye Yuntang tore off the thing wrapped around her neck and threw it to the ground. Looking closely, she realized it was just a piece of waterweed.

Trying to scare her with something like this? Did they really think she was so easily frightened?

Sang Zhi came out trembling, “Your Highness, are you alright?”

“Hmph! Child’s play.”

Ye Yuntang looked at Sang Zhi and said, “Don’t be afraid. There are no such things as ghosts in this world. The people in this cold palace just don’t want us here and came up with this trick to scare us.”

Sang Zhi was indignant, “This is going too far!”

Ye Yuntang smiled silently. “The more displeased she is, the more we must stay here comfortably and drive her mad!”

The cold palace was quiet and peaceful, so Ye Yuntang managed to get a good night’s sleep.

Although Sang Zhi was frightened and developed a high fever, Ye Yuntang took advantage of the guards delivering meals to exchange the gold hairpin on her head for some medicinal herbs.

Just after the exchange, she saw several eunuchs hurriedly carrying a stretcher pass by.

“What’s that about?”

The young guard who helped her with the medicine shrugged, “Just a palace maid who died. It’s quite pitiful. She was about to reach the age to leave the palace, but somehow offended the emperor and was beaten to death.”

“Offended the emperor? For what?”

Though Ye Yuntang hadn’t spent much time with Xie Chenyuan, she knew he wasn’t the bloodthirsty tyrant the rumors described.

The guard said, “It was that night of your grand wedding. The emperor called all the palace maids who served him in the middle of the night. Later, that maid was dragged away. Didn’t you know?”

“Probably because she didn’t serve him well. Our emperor is prone to fits of rage, often beating and killing palace maids on a whim…”

“What are you doing? Hurry up and leave!”

After the guard left, Ye Yuntang recalled the poisoning incident that night. If her guess was right, that palace maid must have been the poisoner.

She was new here and hadn’t offended anyone, so the maid’s target wasn’t her. Then the only person the maid wanted to kill must have been Xie Chenyuan.

That meant there were many in the palace who wished him dead.

So, did he send her to this cold palace to protect her?

Ye Yuntang smiled bitterly and shook her head.

She was just an orphan, without support. He had never helped her, so why would he protect her?

She was being vain.

But since she was here, she’d make the best of it. No matter what he thought—it didn’t matter!

Ye Yuntang was determined to take him down.

Sang Zhi’s health gradually improved after the medicine, and the person who had been pretending to be a ghost never appeared again.

They passed many quiet days.

One day, while Sang Zhi was eating heartily, she suddenly clutched her stomach in pain and dropped half a bowl of rice porridge onto the ground.

A few stray cats came over and licked up the porridge.

Before long, the cats left.

Sang Zhi’s complexion had turned a frightening shade of dark purple—clearly poisoned.

Ye Yuntang was frantic.

She pounded on the door, calling for help, but no response came.

In her desperation, she suddenly shouted into the courtyard:

“I know it was you! Come out! As long as you give me the antidote, I’ll do whatever you want.”

After a moment, a white figure emerged like a ghost from the half-collapsed side hall.

In the dim light, the figure looked blurry.

Ye Yuntang smirked—this person sure knew how to hide well!

To remain unseen here for so many days, they must have had great patience.

“How do you know it was me who poisoned Sang Zhi?” the woman’s voice came softly, tinged with doubt.

“Enough talk. Save my maid first,” Ye Yuntang interrupted firmly.

“You haven’t agreed to my terms. Why should I save her?” the woman dragged her words, attempting to manipulate Ye Yuntang.

“I promise, no matter what you ask, I’ll agree!” Sang Zhi’s life was in grave danger. Any delay could be fatal.

“Good,” the woman said, clearly satisfied. She lifted her hand and tossed the antidote to Ye Yuntang.

Ye Yuntang administered the medicine to Sang Zhi and saw her color begin to return.

Only then did her heavy heart lighten a little.

“Now tell me—who exactly are you? Scaring people with ghosts and poisoning to force me into submission.”

Ye Yuntang knew this woman’s appearance was no accident.

She had already been drawn into a mysterious conflict and had to uncover the truth quickly to find a way to survive.

“I am Bai Yanran, the virtuous consort of Xie Chenyuan,” the woman said, lifting her head slightly. Her eyes revealed a trace of pride and loneliness, as though recalling past glory.

“I see,” Ye Yuntang replied indifferently.

“She was his first consort, his childhood sweetheart, his youthful love…” Bai Yanran’s voice softened, her eyes reflecting tender memories.

“Wait, I have no interest in your love story. Just tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it,” Ye Yuntang cut her off again without hesitation.

She had no time or energy for such sentimental tales. Her only concern was the safety of herself and those around her, and how to survive in this perilous environment.

Bai Yanran paused, then said coldly, “I want you to kill Xie Chenyuan.”

“Who?”

Ye Yuntang blinked, as if hearing a ridiculous joke.

“Afraid?”

Bai Yanran narrowed her eyes, her gaze cold and sharp.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to kill him—that’s what I’m afraid of!”

Ye Yuntang was certain now that this woman’s arrival was to assassinate Xie Chenyuan.

“You want to kill him too?” Bai Yanran asked, puzzled.

Ye Yuntang laughed loudly. “Why the act? You deliberately made me see that palace maid’s death and scared me so I’d know how many restless spirits haunt this palace. All just to make me hate Xie Chenyuan more for his cruelty, right?”

“You’re clever,” Bai Yanran said, suddenly admiring Ye Yuntang. She was indeed smart and resolute, and quite striking in appearance.

Becoming Xie Chenyuan’s favored consort was only a matter of time!

She wanted him to taste the bitterness of being betrayed by the one he loved!

Ye Yuntang shrugged, “Being clever doesn’t help. I’m locked in this cold palace with no way to protect myself. Now, killing him is out of the question; even getting out is difficult!”

Bai Yanran raised an eyebrow with a calculating smile.

“You just need to do as I say, and I can help you regain his favor.”

“And then?”

“You help me kill him,” Bai Yanran’s eyes flashed with venom.

“Did he slaughter your entire family? You hate him that much?”

Ye Yuntang sat down casually, picking up a small packet of sunflower seeds she had hidden, which Sang Zhi hadn’t finished. She cracked a seed and flicked the shell aside as she spoke.

“How do you know?”

Bai Yanran’s admiration for Ye Yuntang grew. She knew now she had not misjudged her.

“It’s a guess.”

Bai Yanran continued, “I helped him rise to power with the strength of my entire clan, but he discarded me like a broken bow and killed all the loyal members of the Bai family…”

“Isn’t Xie Chenyuan the one who murdered his own brother and father to seize the throne?” Ye Yuntang spat out another seed shell. “You all conspired with him to usurp the kingdom. How dare you call yourselves loyal and righteous?”