Chapter 26: A Calamity Descends from the Heavens, Beset by Schemes

Just as Ziyi was reeling in shock, the young woman walked up to her, offered a shy smile, and said softly, "I am Suqing. I was rescued by the Prince and brought into the estate. His Highness, in his benevolence, has permitted me to stay here temporarily. I have come to pay my respects to the Princess. Could you please convey this message for me? I am truly grateful for your assistance."

Ziyi’s heart skipped another beat. The Princess really was as prescient and extraordinary as one could imagine, managing to find someone identical to the girl in the painting. Even though she had been mentally prepared, she was still stunned.

"This servant greets you, Miss Suqing. You have come at an unfortunate time. The Princess is feeling unwell today; she has just taken her medicine and has fallen asleep. Perhaps you might try again another day." Following the Princess’s instructions, Ziyi used an excuse to turn away everyone who came calling.

Suqing frowned slightly, clearly not having expected the Princess to refuse her. After a moment of silent contemplation, she reached out and handed a palm-sized brocade box to Ziyi, smiling gently. "In that case, I shall not disturb her. Please tell the Princess that Suqing came to pay her respects. This is a sachet I embroidered myself, filled with medicinal herbs to calm the mind and soothe the spirit. I hope you will present it to the Princess on my behalf. Thank you, miss."

"This..." Ziyi hesitated, unsure whether to accept it or not.

"Please, do not worry. It is merely a sachet I made with my own hands. Let the Princess take a look; if she does not like it, I shall change the colors next time. I am counting on you." Suqing seemed a bit anxious, stepping forward to place the box into Ziyi’s hands. Her expression carried such pleading and her eyes were so sincere that Ziyi found it impossible to refuse.

"Very well... I shall accept this gift from you on behalf of the Princess." Ziyi took the box and, after watching Suqing’s slim and graceful figure depart, turned back to enter the house.

Once she left, Suqing did not immediately return to the room Long Xiaoyan had arranged for her. Instead, she bypassed the He Garden and made her way familiarly to the back gate of the estate, where she used a stone to mark a strange symbol on a corner of the wall before cautiously returning to her quarters.

...

"Princess, I encountered a young woman at the gate earlier. She said her name is Suqing, and she looks exactly like the person in the painting in the Prince’s study. Princess, do you think there is some conspiracy here? Why else would the Prince’s beloved suddenly come looking for you?"

Ziyi had returned with the box, and once Yan Ziyu had dismissed the other servants, leaving only the two of them, Ziyi recounted everything that had just happened.

"Exactly like the portrait..." A sharp light flashed in Yan Ziyu’s eyes as she murmured to herself.

Suddenly, she furrowed her brows and looked at Ziyi. "Ziyi, what else did she say? Tell me everything, word for word, including how she was dressed."

"Princess, Miss Suqing didn't say anything special, and her attire was quite plain. Oh, she insisted I give this to you, saying it is a handmade sachet." Ziyi placed the brocade box on the table in front of Yan Ziyu.

The brocade box... the sachet...

Yan Ziyu frowned and waved for Ziyi to step out.

After a moment’s hesitation, Yan Ziyu reached out her slender, fair hand and opened the box. She pulled out the pale purple sachet embroidered with butterfly orchids. As the box opened, a pungent scent of medicinal herbs filled the air.

This scent...

Yan Ziyu’s expression changed instantly, her eyes turning sharp and icy.

Soul-Devouring Powder—

It was the scent of Blood-Gall Grass. Yan Ziyu closed her eyes and took a deep breath, steadying her fury before slowly opening them again.

Blood-Gall Grass was an essential catalyst for refining Soul-Devouring Powder, a poison brewed from hundreds of medicinal herbs. Those poisoned by it would, in mild cases, become muddled and easily manipulated without their own awareness; in severe cases, they would become walking corpses, losing their souls and consciousness. It was a terrifying poison. Long ago, someone had tried to use it to manipulate the royal family and seize the throne, resulting in a bloodbath before they ultimately failed. At that time, the Blood-Gall Grass needed for the powder was burned to ashes.

For hundreds of years since that incident, there had been no news of Soul-Devouring Powder. Now, it had reappeared, and someone was using it against her. Could this be a coincidence?

Yan Ziyu gripped the box tightly, her mind in chaos.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes wide, jolted as if struck by lightning!

*I... how do I know all of this?*

The moment she smelled that scent, the name "Soul-Devouring Powder" had appeared in her mind, followed by the story of the Blood-Gall Grass, appearing out of thin air in her memory. It was startling!

*Could these be the memories of the original owner of this body?*

Thinking it over, Yan Ziyu realized this was the only explanation. Her heart settled slightly, but this brought a new wave of doubt.

What kind of secrets was the original owner of this body hiding? Could it be that she herself truly knew nothing about them?

That shouldn't be possible—

Just as Yan Ziyu was deep in thought over the appearance of the poison, she had no idea that another conspiracy was already closing in on her...

* * *

For some reason, Concubine Qian had been fine during lunch, but she had suddenly been struck by agonizing abdominal pain. The estate physician was at a loss, and the courtyard was in chaos, with people rushing back and forth to fetch medicine and brew decoctions.

"I greet the Prince..." Concubine Yu saw the Prince approaching in a hurry and hurried to meet him, bowing slightly.

"Enough. How is Qian'er?" Long Xiaoyan interrupted her, not even sparing her a glance.

Being ignored stung, and a flash of malice crossed Concubine Yu’s eyes, though her face remained gracefully composed. "Your Highness, rest assured. The physician has already seen her, and she is out of danger after the medicine."

"Did the physician say what caused it?" Long Xiaoyan’s cold gaze fell upon her, piercing and seemingly capable of reading one's soul.

Concubine Yu instinctively avoided his eyes, stammering for a long time without forming a coherent sentence, which only fueled Long Xiaoyan’s anger.

"Speak!"

His voice was cold and commanding. Even though she was used to his indifference, the chill in his tone made her heart ache.

With a look of feigned sorrow, she began, "The physician said... she ate something wrong. The kitchen used saffron in the lunch, and it was that dish that nearly caused her to miscarry. Fortunately, she has had a poor appetite lately, or the child would have been lost. The consequences would have been unthinkable!" *Why is that child still alive? How infuriating...*

Concubine Yu certainly could not tolerate the child in Concubine Qian’s womb. If it were a girl, that would be one thing, but if it were a boy? She would never allow a concubine to give birth before her. Concubine Qian was lucky today that there was thousand-year-old ginseng in the estate to save the pregnancy, but she wouldn't be so lucky next time!

Eating the wrong thing, saffron...

*More of these filthy schemes!*

A fierce light flashed in Long Xiaoyan’s eyes. He sneered coldly, "Ate something wrong? How novel. I would like to see just how one 'eats the wrong thing.' Where is the cook responsible for the meal?"

"The cook died suddenly just a moment ago. The physician checked and said he died from ingesting a large amount of arsenic."

"How is there a large amount of arsenic in my estate? How are you managing the inner household? To think such a lethal poison could be found here, hmm?" *To have arsenic ready and then claim it was 'eating the wrong thing'? Does she think I am a three-year-old child to be so easily deceived?*

Concubine Yu’s face changed. She dropped to her knees, weeping, "Your Highness, please forgive me! The arsenic is kept to poison rats; we use it every summer to prevent the plague. I had no idea someone would use it to harm others..."

"How do you know it wasn't an accident?" Long Xiaoyan interrupted, his eyes like blades.

"This..." Concubine Yu hesitated, unsure if she should speak.

"Speak!"

After a moment, as if making a firm decision, she looked up at Long Xiaoyan. "Your Highness, after the cook died, I questioned the others in the kitchen. A laborer told me that the cook had some connection to the Princess's courtyard. I did not intend to hide this from you, Your Highness. Please, forgive me."