Chapter 69

  Murong Feng couldn't help but smile.

  "Simarui, I see Yuetiao is dead, you don't seem to be grieving?" asked Empress Li.

  Simarui gazed coldly into the distance, "She's already dead, what's the use of being sad? Can it bring her back to life? No! Now I just want to make sure she didn't die in vain, at least give her justice. She's gone, there's no more sorrow or pain, living unhappily in this reality is perhaps a good thing for her. But for the living, it's hard to avoid nostalgia and regret, so I must give her justice!"

  Lihui didn't speak, and Murong Feng also remained silent. For a moment, the room suddenly fell quiet.

  Princess Yalai was not a fool, and she wasn't someone who didn't have any suspicions. The first people she suspected were Sima Qiang and Hongyu, because only they could bring the special poison from Wumeng country, especially this kind of poison that was rarely used even in the imperial palace. So, the first place she went to visit was the residence of the Second Prince.

  She was the imperial concubine of the emperor, and everyone in the second prince's mansion had to pay their respects to her, including Sima Qiang and Hong Yu.

  At first, Hongyu did not recognize Xiao Wu. At this time, Xiao Wu had changed into a clean and tidy servant's attire, which added a few points to her elegance and gentleness. Although she was not a beautiful person, her eyebrows and eyes looked clear and delicate, with two buns on her head, standing quietly there.

  Lì Fēi sat there, smiling and said: "Hóng Yù, what are you busy with?"

  Hongyu's face slightly smiled, and she bowed her head in courtesy, but in her heart, she was extremely annoyed. A small princess from the Wumeng Kingdom had become the Emperor's concubine, and could actually call out her own name so directly. Yet, she couldn't help but maintain a basic level of etiquette. "Hongyu has seen Concubine Li. Nothing urgent, just that it's been some days since returning to the palace, and I was preparing to pack my things and head back to the border."

  Xiao Wu Yi saw Hong Yu, his face changed immediately, and he trembled slightly, as if he had been stimulated. He subconsciously leaned towards Li Fei's side. Li Fei noticed it immediately, and so did Hong Yu. She looked away, her face changing slightly, and she lowered her head, no longer making a sound.

  Li Fei glanced at Hong Yu with one eye, then looked at Xiao Wu and smiled: "This little five is really something, his courage is so small. The second prince's wife is a gentle and magnanimous person, never gets angry with anyone, how did you scare him into this state, it's really embarrassing for me."

  Hongyu lowered her head and said softly: "Hongyu saw that there was a new maid beside Empress Li, hadn't seen her before."

  Lihui smiled, "You've only seen me a few times, and you saw me once in the Lihui Garden. How did you remember? This little five was given to me by the Empress Dowager. She said that I'm alone in the palace and feel lonely, so she specially chose a quiet and considerate little maid for me. It's really face-saving. Little Five, meet the Second Prince's Consort."

  Xiao Wu quietly walked up to Hong Yu with a slightly tense expression, bowed respectfully and said in a soft voice: "Xiao Wu has seen the Second Prince's Consort."

  It was this woman, the one I met on that rainy day. She looked gentle and kind, and spoke in a soft tone. But it was she who had tampered with the medicine I bought for my mistress, and I didn't even know when she did it. If I hadn't overheard the conversation between the Fourth Prince, the Imperial Physician, and Empress Lihua, I wouldn't have known that it was my own carelessness that caused my mistress to be poisoned, and ultimately take her own life!

  It was the young lady who picked me up on the road, if it wasn't for her, I might have starved to death on the streets by now. My life was given by the young lady, the mistake was mine, and I must avenge the young lady.

  The Fourth Prince also said that as long as he recognized who had poisoned him, he would deal with it himself. The Fourth Prince said, "Xiao Wu, although you are still young, you have been following Yueliang for half a year now, and you should understand more things than ordinary children. I will arrange a suitable master for you, and you can think about it yourself. If something happens, I will take the blame for you."

  She remembered every word the Fourth Prince had said, and she kept thinking about what she should do.

  Hongyu lowered her head, thinking to herself, how did this girl end up here? What was her purpose in coming here? Was it Yu Jiao who arranged for her to come in? How did she end up following Li Fei? Was her appearance auspicious or ominous?...

  Xiao Wu turned around to pick up a cup of water and handed it to Li Fei. Hong Yu gently lifted her head, with a warm and peaceful smile on her face, softly saying: "I'll do it."

  Hong Yu looked at Xiao Wu, her smile made people feel warm, but Xiao Wu shuddered from the bottom of his heart.

  At this time, Sima Qiang walked in from outside and saw his wife about to take a tray with tea cups from an unfamiliar maid. He also saw Li Fei, and silently cursed "Despicable!" in his heart. On the surface, he was cold and calmly greeted her: "Li Fei Niangniang, how do you have time to come to my mansion?"

  It was either his sudden voice or something else that startled Xiao Wu, causing her hand to tremble and the tray to fall from her hands. Hong Yu was also startled and instinctively dodged. Xiao Wu apologized anxiously: "Xiao Wu is going to die! Xiao Wu is going to die! Xiao Wu will clean up now!"

  As she spoke, she hurriedly helped Hongyu wipe the tea water that had splashed onto her collar. Her hand holding the handkerchief trembled with tension, and the more tense she was, the more accidents happened. She heard Hongyu let out a soft "ouch" as she stroked the back of her right hand with her left, revealing a faint blood stain. Xiao Wu was so frightened that he immediately knelt on the ground, "Xiao Wu didn't mean to, please forgive me, Second Princess!"

  Lihui took a look and found that it was Xiao Wu who accidentally scratched Hongyu's right hand with a purple jasmine-shaped ring on her finger while wiping the tea stains from Hongyu's collar, leaving a shallow blood mark. This little girl looked honest but seemed to be very clumsy due to being new in the palace. However, it was just a small scratch and wouldn't be fatal. Just as she was about to scold Xiao Wu, she heard several crisp sounds of "slap! slap!"

  "You scoundrel! Looking for death!" Sima Qiang slapped several loud slaps on Xiao Wu's face, scolding furiously, "No eyes, huh? Come on, drag him out and beat him to death with a stick!"

  "Empress Li stared at the blood flowing from Xiao Wu's mouth, her face immediately swelling up, even her hair was disheveled. She was furious and shouted loudly: "Simarong! What do you think you're doing? You need to consider the master when beating a dog, yet you dare to discipline my servant in front of me? Your audacity is not small, and Xiao Wu is also a gift from the Empress Dowager to me. Even if you don't put me in your eyes, can't you see the people of the Empress Dowager? Is it necessary to make such a big fuss just because your precious Hongyu's hand was scratched a bit? Do you want to beat me to death with a stick? You're really relying on your master's power! As for the crown prince, you're only a second son. In terms of generation, I'm still your elder. Xiao Wu, get up, let's go! Simarong, I'll give you an hour. Either take your precious Hongyu to Liyuan to apologize, or we'll see each other at the Empress Dowager's place!"

  After finishing speaking, she got up and walked to Hongyu's side, saying viciously: "Wei Hongyu, listen to me carefully. I, Princess Yalai, am a narrow-minded person. My downfall today is all related to you two. As long as my identity as the Imperial Concubine remains for one day, I, Yalai, will not coexist peacefully with you!"