Chapter Thirty-One: Poison

Prince Pingyi entered his study, lighting only a single candle. He picked up a book from beside him and forced himself to read a few lines, but quickly grew irritated and tossed it aside.

"Your Highness has just remarried his former wife today. Why are you still so angry?"

As his fury mounted, a woman's gentle and refined voice sounded from the shadows, beyond the candle’s reach.

"Hmph, what happened today is a humiliation for me. Are you here to mock me as well?" Prince Pingyi replied with a furious snort, showing no surprise at the question.

"Your servant would not dare."

A figure emerged from the darkness, clad in night robes. The wavering candlelight illuminated her face—it was Zhao Xiyan, the Mistress of the Penglai Pavilion. Though she wore no adornment, her beauty was striking. The candlelight, like a golden veil, cast shifting shadows across her delicate features; her eyes seemed almost to capture the soul.

To become Mistress of the Penglai Pavilion, Zhao Xiyan had her share of talents. Not only was she skilled in martial arts, but her beauty was unparalleled. The Penglai Pavilion, once an assassins' guild, had under Prince Pingyi’s rule shifted its focus more toward intelligence gathering. And in this world, none were more adept at intelligence than women. In Zhao Xiyan’s case, her beauty itself was a formidable weapon.

Prince Pingyi glanced at the kneeling Zhao Xiyan and merely grunted coldly before slowly rising to stand before the candle. Staring into the flickering flame, the resentment in his eyes reflected the leaping light, as if a raging fire had ignited within them.

"Since Your Highness is unwilling to marry the Grand Chancellor’s daughter, why not..." Zhao Xiyan’s words, trailing into the air as she looked up at his back, carried a chill she could not disguise.

At her suggestion, Prince Pingyi’s broad shoulders trembled slightly. He had certainly considered removing the Chancellor’s daughter from the equation; but as she was the daughter of such a powerful minister, should she die within his household, especially under the current circumstances, it would bring disaster upon his own head.

"It is not that I haven’t thought of it, but I fear bringing trouble upon myself. If something were to happen to her, even my abilities would not suffice to undo the consequences," Prince Pingyi replied, turning around and motioning for Zhao Xiyan to rise.

There was a trace of uncertainty in his voice.

"Your Highness worries too much. Have you forgotten what the Penglai Pavilion excels at?" Zhao Xiyan said as she stood, her every word laced with seduction, as if she were discussing mundane matters rather than murder.

"I am well aware of your methods. If you can do this well, it would set my heart at ease," Prince Pingyi said, unmoved by her charms. Feng Yewu was now like a dagger suspended above his head—no matter how stunning a beauty Zhao Xiyan was, he could not be swayed.

"Remember, the failed assassination of His Majesty has already brought calamity upon me. If the Chancellor’s daughter also meets misfortune, even if I were ten times more capable, I could not turn the tide." At last, Prince Pingyi voiced his deepest fears—he could not afford to lose again. Though he was tempted by Zhao Xiyan’s plan, two failed assassinations would leave him with nothing left to wager.

"Your Highness, I did not propose this lightly," Zhao Xiyan explained. She had been present at the banquet held at Feng Yewu’s residence, disguised in another’s face as only the Mistress of the Penglai Pavilion could manage. In fact, she had observed everything as it unfolded. Before Prince Pingyi had even returned to his study, she had already paid a visit to the Chancellor’s estate and left measures in place.

"You have a plan?" Prince Pingyi caught the implication in her words and quickly pressed for details.

"Before you came to the study, I had already been to the Chancellor’s residence."

He showed no surprise, knowing well Zhao Xiyan’s mastery of stealth—such a feat might be impossible for others, but for her, it was mere routine. This was one of the reasons he valued her so highly.

"I have already tampered with the Chancellor’s daughter’s food and drink."

At this, Prince Pingyi’s eyes did not light up with delight, but instead, a cold murderous intent flickered within them. This was done on his behalf, yes, but he detested actions taken without his command. That Zhao Xiyan had acted on her own to poison the Chancellor’s daughter displeased him greatly.

Sensing his displeasure, Zhao Xiyan hastily knelt and explained, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. I only acted because I was certain of success."

"Hmph, at least you know your place," he responded, signaling her to continue.

"During the banquet, I disguised myself as a palace maid, originally to ensure your safety."

At this, some of his irritation abated.

"But did you consider that since the banquet was over, if the Chancellor’s daughter did not eat upon her return and someone else consumed the poison, it could cause unforeseen trouble?" He voiced his concern, still finding her actions reckless and lacking foresight.

"While His Majesty was bestowing the marriage, I made my way near the Chancellor’s servants and, through casual conversation, gleaned much information," Zhao Xiyan explained.

Prince Pingyi, knowing her prowess in intelligence, nodded for her to continue.

"I learned that every night before she sleeps, the Chancellor’s daughter drinks a bowl of pearl powder porridge—ground pearls for beauty. She never goes a night without it."

"Oh?" Prince Pingyi asked, still skeptical. "Not even once?"

He recalled the Chancellor’s daughter at the banquet—her skin so delicate, and when she fell into his arms, he had felt its softness and smoothness.

"Yes. Even after drinking wine, she always has her porridge before bed. In fact, to counteract the effects of alcohol, she sometimes takes extra," Zhao Xiyan confirmed. This tidbit was what prompted her plan to poison.