Yan Yusuan lowered her eyes, calmly eating the pastry, while intentionally or unintentionally maintaining eye contact with Yan Ruoxu, seemingly full of doubt, not understanding Yan Ruoxu's previous actions.
"Is it tasty?" Yan Ruoxu pretended not to notice, raising her eyebrow and asked softly.
"…" Yan Yusuan, clearly unable to stand the taste, still acted as if nothing was wrong, "It's delicious, sister doesn't want to taste it, what a pity."
"Since it's delicious, enjoy it."
After saying this, Yan Yusuan's expression became even more unpleasant. Yan Ruoxu lightly smiled, secretly thinking, "You can't resist after just a few bites. In my previous life, I ate half a plate of poisoned pastries under your deception."
The pastry in front of her was exquisitely made, with a rich aroma that made it tempting.
However, this seemingly delicious pastry was mixed with a large amount of croton powder. Eating it could cause severe stomach pain and continuous diarrhea.
"Sister, I don't feel well, I'll go down first."
As expected, shortly after, Yan Yusuan showed signs of discomfort and hurriedly left, holding her stomach.
Yan Ruoxu watched her hasty departure, feeling a hint of helplessness. She thought that being reborn meant avoiding troubles and living freely, but it seemed like a luxury. Those with malicious intentions are always around.
Cocooning oneself, I can't blame anyone but myself.
Yan Ruoxu sighed. In her previous life, she ignorantly ate a pastry with croton. This time, Yan Yusuan intended to harm her. It was all for the upcoming grand funeral of the Empress Dowager. Many royal relatives, as well as Xu Yichen, Yan Ruoxu's cousin, would attend.
She did not want Xu Yichen to meet Yan Ruoxu. The Xu family had a tradition of marrying into the royal family of Dayan. Xu Yichen, as the outstanding young talent of the family, was admired by many eligible women from the royal family, including Yan Yusuan.
With her lowly identity in the Prince Rong's family, she would not be prioritized in the matchmaking, but she did not want to rely on others for the rest of her life. The background and family behind Xu Yichen matched her desire for wealth and status.
Marrying Xu Yichen was not an easy task.
Yan Ruoxu had become her first imagined enemy. After all, they were born to match each other, even Empress Xu had hinted at the desire for further ties with them.
Yusuan, you are still young and yet so calculating for yourself. But you should not harm others. There were no residual feelings between me and Xu Yichen. If it were not for your cruelty, I might have helped you with the match.
Until the next day, at dusk, Yan Yusuan, who had not appeared at the grandmother's funeral, was reported to be suffering from continuous diarrhea and needed rest.
Yan Ruoxu called her maid Zui'er, "I heard that sister Yusuan is unwell. Let's go see her."
Zui'er, only a few years older than Yan Ruoxu, had been serving her for many years. She was straightforward and never concealed her thoughts. After hearing Yan Ruoxu's words, she frowned, "Princess, it's better not to go. What if she's contagious."
"It's alright," Yan Ruoxu stood up. She had long known that Zui'er did not like Yan Yusuan and had blamed her for her disrespect in the past. It seemed that she did not understand people's hearts.
Yan Yusuan was still laying on the bed, about to doze off, when she suddenly felt the room dimming. When she opened her eyes, she saw Yan Ruoxu standing in front of the bed, looking at her with a smiling face.
"Sister is here, why didn't anyone inform me?" Yan Yusuan seemed puzzled for a moment, then quickly pretended to be angry, loudly scolding the maid who was next to her.
Yan Ruoxu heard her loud and clear voice, which did not seem weak from illness. It seemed like she was pretending to be sick to gain sympathy. Her scolding was evidently directed at her.
Then, Yan Yusuan struggled to get up and bow, it seemed like a full act.
"No need," Yan Ruoxu didn't want to see her pretend, and signaled Zui'er with her eyes.
Zui'er immediately understood and, with a hint of satisfaction, brought a large food box and announced to the confused Yan Yusuan, "The princess is concerned about your illness and specially instructed the royal kitchen to prepare many pastries for you to have, to nourish your body."
Yan Yushuan widened her eyes, clutching the brocade quilt, and looked at Yan Ruoxu from the moment Zui Er started speaking. The anger in her eyes could no longer be concealed.
Yan Ruoxu had come to visit Yan Yushuan, but why did she give her so much cheese? Was she implying that she already knew there was something in that cheese from the other day?
"Try it. It's even tastier than what you ate that day." Zui Er had already opened the food box and presented it to Yan Yushuan without a good expression.
"How dare you! You are a servant, how can you be so disrespectful to the princess!" Yan Yushuan's maid, Song Mama, couldn't stand it and intervened to stop Zui Er.
As Yan Ruoxu watched the wrinkled face, she remembered that this Song Mama was not a simple person; much of Yan Yushuan's scheming and cunning were taught by her.
"It is indeed disrespectful." Yan Ruoxu said sternly, her expression very serious, "I came to visit Yushuan, why didn't you notify her earlier?"
Upon hearing this, Song Mama hastily knelt down. She, more perceptive than Yan Yushuan, keenly sensed that the princess in front of her was different from before; she feared there might be some discord between the princess and her own mistress. "It's my fault, please forgive me, Your Highness."
"It is your fault." Yan Ruoxu looked down at her and then smiled at Yan Yushuan on the bed. "Song Mama was neglectful, so I'll have her kneel as punishment for two hours. Sister, do you mind?"
"No... I don't mind." Yan Yushuan's shoulders trembled slightly as she almost spat out those words from between her teeth.
With a wave of her wide sleeves, Yan Ruoxu turned and left with Zui Er.
The sunlight in the courtyard was particularly warm, and the palace's every plant and structure seemed especially beautiful.
After leaving Yan Yushuan's bedroom, Yan Ruoxu suddenly became interested and climbed a viewing tower in the southwest of the palace. The elevated position provided a broad view, allowing her to almost overlook half of the palace city.
She stared at every inch of land before her and thought to herself how peaceful and serene it would be if things remained calm like this, without any future conflict. The citizens could live and work in peace, which would be wonderful.
Zui Er followed Yan Ruoxu, unable to conceal her satisfation after teasing Yan Yushuan earlier. "The princess finally sees the true nature of the county princess. I always said she's not a good person."
Yan Ruoxu smiled, not really hating Yan Yushuan. She simply gave her a taste of her own medicine.
"Zui Er, go and pass on a message for me and ask Ninth Brother to come into the palace."
Yan Ruoxu toyed with the sachet at her waist as she told Zui Er with a serious expression.
"The young lord?" Zui Er tilted her head and said with a smile, "Princess, didn't you always find the young lord noisy? Why do you want him today?"
The person they mentioned was Yan Zhe, Yan Ruoxu's cousin, who was only fourteen years old. His father, Duke Xue Yang, passed away early, so he inherited his father's title at a young age, and everyone called him the Young Lord.
"Speak seriously." Yan Ruoxu scolded Zui Er with a glance.
Zui Er stuck out her tongue, but she could still tell right from wrong. She seemed to realize that Yan Ruoxu took this matter very seriously, saying, "I'll go myself, Princess, rest assured."
It was almost the seventh day of July, and Yan Ruoxu was secretly planning. If she could clarify the case of the Feng family before the seventh of July, and make the emperor believe in their innocence, he would not order thirty thousand troops to hide by the border city and execute the guardian Feng Shouyi at night.
As long as the Feng family remains intact, the fierce Di people who eye the border near the city will not disturb the border, and the peace and tranquility of Da Yan will not be so easily broken.
She needed to contact Lu Yuanzhe, who was guarding the Yaoji Mountains thousands of miles away. Regardless of the reason for him gathering information in the capital, Yan Ruoxu was certain that he was not an ambitious traitor and that he would be able to help her.
As Yan Ruoxu pondered, she remembered that in her previous life, after her brother ascended the throne, there was turmoil in Da Yan, with many influential and noble families openly rebelling and mustering troops in their own fiefdoms, refusing to obey the emperor's orders. However, Lu Yuanzhe, the eldest son of the Lu family, faithfully performed his duties and protected peace in the harsh cold of the Yaoji Mountains.
Her ninth brother, Yan Zhe, was already serving in the military, and he must be able to contact Lu Yuanzhe.
This time, she just wanted to protect her loved ones.
Author's Note:
Lu Yuanzhe: My lady, you finally came to find me~ great!
Yan Ruoxu: Eugh...