Chapter 129

Chapter 129: A Grand Gift

If something had really happened to Princess, An Zhi thought, even death would not wash away An Zhi’s guilt.

An Zhi took a deep breath and went out, acting like nothing was wrong.

That night, Sheng Zhi Wan did everything as usual. After drinking Honey Pear Paste, Sheng Zhi Wan read for a while before going to sleep.

The entire Ping Lan Residence gradually fell into silence.

Outside the courtyard wall, a sneaky figure moved with nimble ease and flipped inside.

As the most handsome young performer in Li Hui Garden, Jiang Shao An had seen plenty of women from deep mansions. But someone bold enough to send a message to Jiang Shao An like this was a first.

It was not strange, either, since the other party was a Princess. Rumor said Princess and Qi Shi were already on bad terms as husband and wife, so it was not strange if Princess sought a man for comfort.

Still, Princess truly was daring, choosing the night when the Duke Manor’s Eldest Miss was having funeral songs sung.

Thinking that, Jiang Shao An followed the message and felt the way in. Jiang Shao An started to speak, “Your-”

In the next instant, a wooden club dropped from above.

Before Jiang Shao An could finish the second word, Liu Shang smashed Jiang Shao An unconscious.

The lamp inside was lit again.

Sheng Zhi Wan stood there fully dressed, looking down at the person in front of Sheng Zhi Wan.

An Zhi said in shock, “Princess! This man seems like the performer Madam invited into the manor this afternoon to sing funeral songs for the Eldest Miss, someone from Li Hui Garden.”

Sheng Zhi Wan raised an eyebrow and said, “Tie him up, gag him tightly, and beat him.”

Liu Shang answered with excitement, “Yes!”

Liu Shang had not beaten anyone in a long time.

Very soon, the handsome, charming young performer was beaten until Jiang Shao An looked like a pig’s head, then fell completely unconscious.

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan say, “Liu Shang, carry him. An Zhi, Ting Lan, we are going to find Madam and demand an explanation.”

Ting Lan answered at once, “Yes!” and hurried after them.

An Zhi’s face turned white, and An Zhi stood frozen in place. When Sheng Zhi Wan turned back, Sheng Zhi Wan realized An Zhi had not moved.

An Zhi choked out, “Princess, it was all my carelessness! If you had not been alert and smelled something in the Honey Pear Paste, then even if I died, I could never atone…”

An Zhi still felt terrified.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled and said, “It is not your fault. Who would have thought someone could tamper with pears?”

An Zhi said, “Princess…”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “All right. If you feel you owe me, then be more careful in the future.”

An Zhi nodded hard.

Master and servants quickly dragged Jiang Shao An, limp like a dead pig, to Wen Xi Courtyard.

In Wen Xi Courtyard, Madam Cui was still awake.

Madam Cui was calculating the time. The Poison Master Madam Cui had hired said the drug was strong, but slow to take effect and long-lasting.

But no matter how long, it should have started by now.

Besides, it had already been most of a quarter-hour since Madam Cui had someone send that young performer over.

Madam Cui took a deep breath, got up, and layered white powder over Madam Cui’s face in front of the mirror, until even Madam Cui’s lips were painted pale.

Only then did Madam Cui ask Nanny Fan beside Madam Cui, “Yue Ru, how is it?”

Nanny Fan’s face was white.

What Madam had done today truly frightened Nanny Fan, but things had already reached this point, so Nanny Fan could only nod stiffly and say, “Madam looked pale as yellow paper. You looked very unwell.”

It was more than unwell. Madam Cui looked like someone who had been dead for half a day.

Madam Cui said, “Go outside and call for people. Say that I just vomited blood again and fainted. Tell Shu Xian to come to my courtyard right away.”

Nanny Fan hesitated and said, “Madam… this is too inauspicious.”

Madam Cui sneered and said, “I am not afraid of bad luck.”

As long as Yan’er did not have to leave this world alone, everything would be worth it.

Madam Cui snapped, “If I tell you to shout, then shout!”

After that, Madam Cui lay back on the bed and closed Madam Cui’s eyes.

Nanny Fan had no choice. Nanny Fan rushed out with a panicked look.

Nanny Fan shouted, “Someone! Hurry, someone! Madam is not well! Madam fainted!”

After only two shouts, Wen Xi Courtyard became lively at once.

Nanny Fan then opened the gate of Wen Xi Courtyard.

Sheng Zhi Wan stood outside with a bright smile and said, “Oh? Nanny was truly prophetic and knew I was coming?”

Nanny Fan’s hand stiffened on the doorframe.

Nanny Fan froze, and when Nanny Fan saw the shadowy figure in Liu Shang’s hand, Nanny Fan’s pupils shrank hard. Nanny Fan stammered, “Heir’s Wife… why did you… come?”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled and said, “Nanny, did you not see?”

Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “In the middle of the night, I caught a little thief bold enough to break into my courtyard. And, well, he really did get in.”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “So I came to Mother to let her see. The Duke Manor’s household guards are truly useless. We might as well sell them off and replace them with a new batch.”

Nanny Fan’s face went even whiter.

Nanny Fan’s husband was the one who managed the household guards, and tonight, Nanny Fan had personally told him to move the guards away from around Ping Lan Residence.

If Sheng Zhi Wan sold them off, would that not mean Nanny Fan’s husband would be sold off too?

Sheng Zhi Wan added, “By the way, what were you shouting just now? Mother vomited blood and fainted again?”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes swept over.

Nanny Fan hurriedly said, “Yes, yes… this servant was just going to call the Heir Apparent over.”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Then Nanny should hurry and go. I will go see Mother.”

Sheng Zhi Wan stepped forward.

Ting Lan shoved aside the hand Nanny Fan had braced against the gate, then stormed into Wen Xi Courtyard, following behind Sheng Zhi Wan with fierce momentum.

Inside the room, Madam Cui lay on the couch, thinking about when it would be best to wake up later.

Before Madam Cui could decide, Madam Cui heard a maid’s startled cry, “Heir’s Wife!”

Madam Cui could not believe it and was just about to open Madam Cui’s eyes.

Footsteps had already entered the room. Then Madam Cui suddenly felt pain in Madam Cui’s arm, and Sheng Zhi Wan’s angry voice rang out, saying, “So it is true! Mother vomited blood and fainted again. In such a short time, how could Mother become so worn down? You people, how did you serve her?”

Madam Cui could only clamp Madam Cui’s eyes shut again.

All the servants in Wen Xi Courtyard trembled.

Sheng Zhi Wan said with displeasure, “Before, I was the one who pressed Mother’s acupoints and cared for her. Now I have not watched over things for just a bit over two months, and you served Mother into this state.”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Enough. All of you go kneel outside. Do not come back in until Mother wakes up!”

Madam Cui wanted to explode.

What status did Sheng Zhi Wan have, that Sheng Zhi Wan dared to punish Madam Cui’s people?

Madam Cui wanted to wake up at once and curse them all, but then Madam Cui suddenly felt something was wrong.

Why had Sheng Zhi Wan not been drugged?

If Sheng Zhi Wan had not been drugged, then Madam Cui’s plan today would have been a complete waste.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice brushed against Madam Cui’s ear as Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Mother, I accepted the grand gift you sent tonight. It would be rude not to return it.”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled and continued, “I just wonder whether my gift is something Mother can endure.”

Sheng Zhi Wan pressed down hard with Sheng Zhi Wan’s fingers on a spot on Madam Cui’s neck.

Madam Cui felt sharp pain explode from that spot and spread outward in an instant.

Madam Cui’s eyelids bulged, and Madam Cui could no longer hold it. Madam Cui’s eyes flew open, and drool spilled uncontrollably from Madam Cui’s lips.

At that moment, Qi Shu Xian and Meng Yang hurried in and saw that scene.

Qi Shu Xian’s eyes went red with fury, and Qi Shu Xian rushed forward, about to shove Sheng Zhi Wan away.

But Sheng Zhi Wan had already stepped aside first.

Madam Cui gasped in huge breaths, and the pain from earlier seemed not to have faded yet.

Qi Shu Xian supported Madam Cui and demanded angrily, “Sheng Zhi Wan, what were you doing just now?!”

Meng Yang bit Meng Yang’s lip and said, “Princess, even if you are dissatisfied with Mother, you should not do something like this…”

Sheng Zhi Wan laughed coldly and asked, “Something like what?”

Sheng Zhi Wan sneered and said, “Concubine Meng and Heir Apparent truly are blind in the same way.”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Mother was unconscious just now. If I had not used an acupressure technique to wake Mother up, Mother might have remained unconscious. If it went on too long, it could cause even worse harm to the body.”

Qi Shu Xian froze.

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Madam Cui and said, “If Heir Apparent does not believe it, then you can ask the House Physician to check the acupoints I pressed.”