Chapter 599 - 602: Poisoning

Chapter 599: Chapter 602: Poisoning

Ever since he had reunited with his father, Li Ji had deliberately avoided mentioning his own parentage.

In his eyes, no matter who his biological father was, he only recognized Duke Zhen as his one and only dad.

He didn’t want to bring up the past, afraid of touching that third rail in their father-son relationship.

At this moment, Li Ji was filled with immense regret.

’I shouldn’t have said that so rashly.’

He didn’t dare look at his father’s reaction and was about to change the subject when he heard Li Liao laugh and reply.

"If I’m not your real father, then who is? Did you spring from a rock or something?"

He was so relaxed and casual, as if he hadn’t taken Li Ji’s words to heart at all.

Li Ji secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, he felt a pang of guilt.

’It seems Dad still doesn’t know the truth of what happened back then.’

His father had risked life and limb for the Great Zhou Dynasty, nearly dying for it, yet the Emperor he served so loyally had defiled his wife.

Li Ji didn’t dare tell his father this truth.

He was afraid his father wouldn’t be able to withstand the blow.

Li Ji replied vaguely.

"I was just talking nonsense."

The carriage stopped at the entrance to Jasmine Alley.

Hua Manman helped Yue Niang out of the carriage and walked her all the way to her doorstep.

"Go on inside."

Yue Niang tried to return the cloak she was wearing, but Hua Manman stopped her by placing a hand on hers.

Hua Manman said, "This is for you. If you wear it when you go out from now on, you won’t be so cold."

Yue Niang felt the hand holding hers was scorching hot.

The warmth spread all the way to the bottom of her heart.

After much hesitation, she finally extended an invitation.

"Since you’re all here, why not come in for a bit and have a cup of tea?"

Hua Manman was tempted. "We wouldn’t be disturbing your family, would we?"

Yue Niang: "No, I live with my grandmother.

My grandmother is old, and her hearing and eyesight aren’t what they used to be.

She usually stays in her room and rarely goes out.

Even if you come inside, you won’t see her."

Hua Manman said, "In that case, please excuse our intrusion."

Yue Niang unlocked the door and led the three of them inside.

"Please, have a seat. I’ll go check on my grandmother and then brew a pot of tea for you."

Hua Manman nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."

As soon as Yue Niang entered her grandmother’s room, the so-called grandmother with poor hearing and eyesight immediately jumped out from behind the door, slammed it shut, and grabbed Yue Niang’s hand, demanding in a low voice.

"Why did you bring them to our house?"

Yue Niang explained in a whisper.

"They walked me all the way to the door. If I hadn’t invited them in for a bit, it would have easily aroused their suspicion."

Seeing her red eyes, the grandmother asked suspiciously.

"Have you been crying? What happened?"

Yue Niang dodged the question. "It’s nothing. I just shed a few tears to make them pity me. Let’s not talk about that. A moment ago, I saw the government officials pull two bodies from the river. Weren’t those the assassins the Second Master sent out last night? How did they end up dead?"

The grandmother sneered. "They went to kill those two outsiders, but the outsiders didn’t die. Instead, the two of them did. Now tell me, who do you think could have done that?"

Yue Niang’s face paled, and she didn’t dare say another word.

A vicious look appeared in the grandmother’s eyes.

"It seems we’ve underestimated those two outsiders.

The Second Master was originally planning to send more men to take care of them tonight, but I didn’t expect them to deliver themselves to our doorstep today.

Since it’s come to this, we might as well go all the way and just kill them here and now!

It’ll solve a small problem for the Second Master.

When the Second Master is pleased, he might even promote us to serve in the Prince Mansion."

The more she spoke, the more excited she became, her old face filled with anticipation for the future.

But Yue Niang’s hands and feet grew cold, and her heart pounded with panic.

That young gentleman had been so kind to her. She didn’t want him to die.

The grandmother shoved a small paper packet into Yue Niang’s hand.

"In a moment, put this in the tea and have those three outside drink it."

Yue Niang asked with a trembling voice, "W-What is this?"

The grandmother let out a sinister chuckle. "What else could it be? It’s a gut-rotting poison that can take a person’s life, of course."

Yue Niang frantically shook her head. "No, I can’t do this."

The grandmother’s smile vanished instantly. She grabbed Yue Niang by the throat and threatened viciously.

"You damn girl, you dare defy my orders?

Have you forgotten who pulled you out of a pile of dead bodies?

Who was it that fed you, clothed you, and raised you to be this big? You ungrateful brat!

Now I’m just asking you to do one small thing, and you dare refuse?

Believe it or not, I’ll kill you right now and send you to reunite with your dead parents in the underworld!"

Her throat was squeezed so tightly that Yue Niang couldn’t breathe. A look of agony crossed her pretty face, and tears welled up in her eyes reflexively.

She struggled to speak, her voice thin and weak.

"I was wrong... I’ll never... dare again..."

Only then did the grandmother release her grip.

Yue Niang collapsed to the floor, clutching her aching throat and gasping for air, her face a mask of terror from her near-death experience.

The grandmother watched her with cold eyes. "Don’t think that just because you’re grown, you can fly from my grasp. I raised you, and I can take your life at any moment."

Yue Niang recalled her grandmother’s methods of punishment and couldn’t help but shiver.

Her face pale, she replied, "I’ll do whatever you say."

Satisfied, the grandmother’s tone softened slightly.

"Once this is done, I will report your merits to the Second Master.

This is a great opportunity for you.

If you can catch the Second Master’s eye, you’ll be able to soar from the branches and become a phoenix.

You had better not disappoint me."

Yue Niang nodded vigorously. "I know. I won’t let you down."

The grandmother waved a hand dismissively. "Go on. I’ll be here waiting for your good news."

Yue Niang left the room and went into the kitchen.

She moved almost mechanically, pouring water and lighting the fire.

As steam began to rise from the teapot, Yue Niang’s heart was in turmoil, torn by conflict.

In the end, she took out the small paper packet.

Her emotions were in such a state that her fingers trembled violently, and she almost couldn’t hold it steady.

The white powder fell into the water and dissolved quickly.

Yue Niang grabbed a handful of tea leaves and tossed them into the pot, her voice tinged with tears as she spoke.

"I’m sorry, I’m so sorry..."

She didn’t want that person to die, but she had no choice.

Her life was in her grandmother’s hands; she could only do as she was told.

In the main hall.

Hua Manman was examining the room’s furnishings when she suddenly heard Li Liao say meaningfully.

"What do you think? Will Yue Niang poison the tea?"

Li Ji said coldly, "Don’t eat or drink anything she gives us."

Hua Manman nodded in agreement.

Just then, Yue Niang walked in carrying the teapot.

Her eyes were still red, but she seemed to have calmed down.

"I’m sorry to have kept you waiting."

She poured three cups of hot tea, placed them in front of them, and said apologetically.

"We don’t have any fine tea at home. Please make do."