Chapter 40: Vicious, she wants to kill (1/2)

As long as Han Yunxi died, the position of head wife would be forever empty. After Murong Wanru became the secondary wife, she could enjoy all the benefits of a consort and forget about her nightmarish status as a woman of low birth. When they finally reached the woodhouse door, the calm Murong Wanru almost couldn’t wait any longer. As soon as the guards unlocked the doors, she pushed her way inside. In the room filled with firewood, an icy-blue figure lay paralyzed in the sogon grass, weak and frail as if a single puff of wind could blow her away.

“Heheh, I knew she had fainted,” Grand Concubine Yi gave a cold snort. “Someone, go wake her up.”

The guard immediately brought over a bucket of water. Murong Wanru knew exactly how things stood and suppressed her rising emotions as she spoke. “Mufei, the water’s so cold. Why don’t I go wake up sister-in-law instead?”

Grand Concubine Yi gave her a grudging look. “You’re still so softhearted!”

Murong Wanru was filled with exultation as she quickly stepped forward, pretending to push Han Yunxi. “Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, wake up. Mufei’s here…sister-in-law. Sister-in-law, be good and admit your wrongs to mufei, she’ll forgive you then.”

While she pushed, she used her body to block the view of the people behind her while her other hand trembled involuntarily. She was both excited and a bit fearful, but still went to check for Han Yunxi’s breathing beneath her nose. As the finger drew closer, her heart clenched. She already knew what to shout after discovering that Han Yunxi had died, and exactly what to say.

But!

Murong Wanru’s hand didn’t even reach Han Yunxi’s nose before the latter opened her eyes to stare at her.

“I’m not dead yet. What are you doing?” Although she was already extremely weak, Han Yunxi hadn’t lost consciousness. Her innate cautiousness made her stand on guard right now like a hedgehog, her phoenix eyes giving Murong Wanru a glare as sharp as a knife. Startled, Murong Wanru gave a shrill cry of ‘Ah!’ and tumbled backwards.

“Wanru! What’s wrong?” Grand Concubine Yi cried out in alarm. Two guards immediately rushed over to hold Han Yunxi in place.

Taking Murong Wanru by the hand, Grand Concubine Yi looked disdainfully down at at Han Yunxi. “What did you do to Wanru?”

“I haven’t eaten for days…mufei, what do you think I could still do to her?” Han Yunxi mocked in return.

Grand Concubine Yi was speechless for a while, before flying into a rage out of humiliation as she kicked aside the rancid food. “Even a dog of the house can eat but what, you can’t?”

Was this insult to say that she was less than even a dog?

Han Yunxi raised herself up with difficulty. “Mufei…chenqie will, will place a bet with you, how’s that?”

Grand Concubine Yi was unhappy but still curious. “What other things could you have? Say it for us to hear.”

Han Yunxi used great effort to lift the bowl of clear water by her side. “Mufei…I bet that even the dogs of the house won’t drink this water.”

Murong Wanru was astonished. “Sister-in-law, why are you betting with mufei like this? Mufei was just too angry, that’s why she used dogs as an example. The younger generation shouldn’t try to match wits with the older one.” So speaking, she seized the water from Han Yunxi’s hands and angrily poured it out. In response, Han Yunxi carried a cold smile in her heart. She was so weak that it took effort to even talk, much less argue with Murong Wanru. All she wanted was to verify her guess. With Murong Wanru acting so nervous, she was certain without a doubt that the poison was hers!

As Han Yunxi looked at her, her white lips drew into a ridiculing smile. Murong Wanru seemed to have gotten an electric shock and hastily avoided her gaze. She held onto Grand Concubine Yi’s hand instead. “Mufei don’t be angry, give sister-in-law a little more time. Sister-in-law will definitely admit her mistakes.”

Han Yunxi smiled coldly. Murong Wanru was afraid that she’d apologize, right? She feared that she and Grand Concubine Yi’s relations would warm up, didn’t she? Murong Wanru was like a mediator in a quarrel, hurriedly trying to drag Grand Concubine Yi away. Compared to the likes of her, who acted meek and subservient to get to Grand Concubine Yi’s good graces, Han Yunxi had a bargaining chip that no woman of this time period possessed. She looked icily at Murong Wanru, her lips quirked in that perpetually mocking smile.

Right at this moment, Gui mama suddenly rushed in from outside. “Grand Imperial Concubine! Grand Imperial Concubine, it’s not good! Not good!”

“What’s made you so flustered?” Grand Concubine Yi said unhappily.

“Grand Imperial Concubine, Princess Changping’s arrived!” Gui mama said in a rush.

With these words, Han Yunxi’s smile widened as she saw Murong Wanru grow suddenly fearful.

“Princess Changping?” Grand Concubine Yi was flabbergasted. This spoiled princess of the empress dowager and empress had never come to the Duke of Qin’s estate before, what did she want?

When there was nothing going on, the grand concubine never visited the imperial halls. It had been a long time since she’d formally faced off against the empress dowager’s people. In a moment, Grand Concubine Yi was filled with high spirits as she pushed Han Yunxi’s matter to the back of her head.

“So what if she’s come? Why are you so flustered? Even if the empress dowager comes, it’s the same thing! Let her wait, I don’t have time to see her,” she gracefully waved a hand. “I’ll go soak in a hot bath first, then take a nap. Aye, it’s still the hot springs at home that are comfortable.”

Upon seeing this, Gui mama was laden with grief. She didn’t dare speak, yet she couldn’t not say it, either. “Grand Imperial Concubine…Princess Changping said…she said she wants to see Qin Wangfei!”

What?

Everyone was shocked by those words. So she’d come to find Han Yunxi. Murong Wanru was greatly alarmed and looked with dread at Han Yunxi. Grand Concubine Yi’s face was burning with shame and anger as she kicked Gui mama with her foot. “Useless thing, you can’t even report things properly! What does Princess Changping want to see her for?”

“Your servant doesn’t know. Princess Changping is very anxious. She says if she doesn’t see her, she’ll stay here overnight,” Gui mama replied quickly.

Only then did Grand Concubine Yi turn to look at Han Yunxi with a cold scoff. “What does Changping want you for?”

Han Yunxi withdrew her smile and pretended to shake her head weakly. She didn’t reply. Grand Concubine Yi narrowed her eyes but didn’t ask further, only delegating Gui mama. “Go tell her that Qin Wangfei has no time, and to let her wait.” Since the empress dowager had dared to issue an arrest warrant for the Duke of Qin’s people behind her back, of course she’d seize the opportunity to show strength against Princess Changping.