Chapter 129

Chapter 129: Grand Gift

If anything truly happened to the Princess…

An Zhi drew a deep breath and pretended nothing was amiss as she stepped outside.

That night, Sheng Zhi Wan followed her usual routine, reading a little after taking the pear honey paste before finally retiring to bed. Gradually, the entire Pinglan Residence sank into quietness.

Outside the courtyard wall, however, a sneaky shadow deftly flipped over and landed silently.

As the most handsome young scholar from Pear Radiance Garden, Jiang Shao’an had seen many ladies from noble houses, but this was the first time someone dared to invite him so openly.

It wasn’t too surprising; after all, she was a Princess.

Rumors said she and Heir Apparent Qi had never gotten along, so seeking comfort from another man wasn’t entirely unexpected.

Still, she was bold enough to arrange this rendezvous during the mourning of Duke Qi’s Young Miss.

As Jiang Shao’an mused to himself, he followed the instructions he received and carefully opened the door. “Prin—”

But before he could utter the next syllable, a wooden stick descended upon him.

His body crumpled, knocked unconscious by Liu Shang’s blow.

Inside, the lamps were relit.

Sheng Zhi Wan stood fully dressed, calmly gazing down at the intruder.

“Princess!” An Zhi gasped. “This seems to be the young scholar from Pear Radiance Garden, the one Madam invited to sing at the mourning today.”

Sheng Zhi Wan raised an eyebrow. “Tie him up, gag him tightly, and give him a good beating!”

“Yes!” Liu Shang replied eagerly. It had been too long since she’d last beaten someone.

Shortly, the handsome and romantic young scholar was reduced to a swollen-faced lump, completely unconscious.

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan say, “Liu Shang, carry him. An Zhi, Ting Lan, we will go seek an explanation from Madam.”

“Yes!” Ting Lan immediately followed.

An Zhi stood frozen in place, her face pale. Sheng Zhi Wan looked back and saw her standing still.

“Princess, it’s all this servant’s fault! If you hadn’t been vigilant and discovered something wrong with the pear honey paste, even death wouldn’t absolve my guilt…” An Zhi trembled with lingering fear.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled gently. “It’s not your fault. Who would have guessed someone could tamper with pears?”

“Princess…”

“Enough. If you truly feel guilty, just be more careful in the future,” Sheng Zhi Wan said reassuringly.

An Zhi nodded firmly.

Soon after, the mistress and her servants dragged Jiang Shao’an, limp as a dead pig, toward the Evening Tide Courtyard.

Meanwhile, Madam Cui hadn’t yet slept.

She was carefully calculating the time. The poisoner she’d bought the drug from had warned it would take effect slowly but last a long time. By now, it should certainly have begun working.

Moreover, the young scholar had already been sent in nearly a quarter of an hour ago…

Taking a deep breath, Madam Cui applied layers of white powder to her face until even her lips appeared ghostly pale. She turned to Nanny Fan beside her, asking, “Yueru, how do I look?”

Nanny Fan paled in response. Madam’s plans today had truly frightened her. But at this point, she had no choice but to nod reluctantly. “Madam’s face looks deathly pale and terribly ill.”

“Good. Now go outside and call for help. Tell everyone I vomited blood again and fainted. Summon Shu Xian here immediately.”

“Madam, isn’t this too unlucky?” Nanny Fan hesitated.

“Unlucky?” Madam Cui sneered. If her Fei Yan didn’t have to go alone, everything was worth it. “Go do as I say!”

Madam Cui lay down, closing her eyes firmly.

Nanny Fan had no choice but to hurry out, calling loudly, “Help! Quickly! Madam has fainted!”

Evening Tide Courtyard erupted into chaos.

When Nanny Fan opened the courtyard gate—

“Oh, Nanny seems to have predicted my arrival?” Sheng Zhi Wan stood smiling cheerfully just outside.

Nanny Fan froze, her hand clutching the gate. Her eyes landed on Liu Shang, who was holding Jiang Shao’an’s limp body. Her face twisted in horror. “Heir Consort… why are you here?”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled. “Didn’t you see clearly, Nanny? It’s late at night, and yet I’ve caught a daring little thief who actually managed to enter my courtyard. I thought I should inform Mother that the guards in Duke’s Manor are truly useless. Perhaps we should sell them all and get new ones.”

Nanny Fan paled further. Her husband was in charge of those guards and had specifically moved patrols away from Pinglan Residence tonight. If Sheng Zhi Wan sold them off, he would be included!

“Oh, what were you shouting about just now? Mother fainted again?” Sheng Zhi Wan asked casually.

“Yes, yes,” Nanny Fan replied hastily, “I was just going to fetch the Heir Apparent.”

“Then you should hurry. I’ll go see Mother first.” Sheng Zhi Wan stepped forward.

Ting Lan swiftly pushed away Nanny Fan’s hand and aggressively followed Sheng Zhi Wan into the courtyard.

Inside, Madam Cui lay on her couch, debating when to ‘wake up,’ but before she could decide, she heard a maid’s astonished voice, “Heir Consort!”

[Sheng Zhi Wan?]

Madam Cui almost opened her eyes in shock. Footsteps quickly approached, and she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her arm.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s angry voice resounded, “It’s true! Mother vomited blood again and fainted. It’s only been a short time, yet Mother is so terribly weak. How exactly are you serving her?”

Madam Cui forced her eyes shut again tightly.

The servants of Evening Tide Courtyard trembled.

Sheng Zhi Wan sighed irritably. “Previously, I personally cared for Mother with Pressure Techniques. I’ve only been away two months, and you’ve allowed her condition to worsen this badly. All of you, go kneel outside. You may return only after Mother wakes up!”

Madam Cui nearly jumped up in fury at Sheng Zhi Wan’s audacity. Yet suddenly she realized something was wrong.

[Why didn’t Sheng Zhi Wan succumb to the poison? If she didn’t, my plan tonight is wasted!]

“Mother,” Sheng Zhi Wan whispered close to her ear, “I gladly accept your generous gift tonight. It would be rude not to reciprocate. I wonder if you can withstand my return gift?”

Smiling faintly, Sheng Zhi Wan pressed sharply against a spot on Madam Cui’s neck.

Madam Cui felt a wave of intense pain ripple outward from Sheng Zhi Wan’s finger. Her eyes flew open involuntarily, saliva dribbling uncontrollably from her mouth.

“Mother!” Qi Shu Xian and Meng Yang rushed in at that very moment, witnessing the scene.

Qi Shu Xian was enraged, moving swiftly to push Sheng Zhi Wan away. But she had already stepped aside.

Madam Cui gasped heavily, the pain lingering.

“What were you doing, Sheng Zhi Wan?!” Qi Shu Xian demanded furiously.

“Princess, even if you resent Mother, this is too cruel,” Meng Yang chided gently.

“Cruel?” Sheng Zhi Wan sneered. “Are you both blind? Mother was fainting. If not for my Pressure Technique, she might’ve stayed unconscious and worsened. If you don’t believe me, call the House Physician to check.”