Xizi Ke’er stared into the maidservant’s eyes and spoke slowly, “Having been by my side for many years, you should know what happens to traitors.”
“This bowl of bird’s nest… you ate it. As for your parents and siblings, considering the master-servant relationship we had, I will send someone to check on them in prison. If what you say is true, that your family has been controlled…”
“This palace promises you, I will do my best to help you, and rescue them. But…this palace cannot guarantee success.”
After all, you are well aware that the one who attacked this palace this time is the current Emperor. What does His Majesty want to do? Few in this world can stop him.
Her tone held a hint of resignation.
It’s truly helpless, and what I said was the truth. After all, this capital city is ultimately under the rule of the Empress of Xiliang.
Whom the Queen wished to kill, whom she wished to spare, who could stop her?
The maid also knew this, but she also knew that the young lady sitting before her now had ambition and was no longer the naive and innocent girl she used to be. So she still placed some hope in her.
So when Xizi Ke’er said these words, she was deeply moved and excitedly wanted to thank him.
But obviously, Xizi Ke’er no longer wanted to waste too much time on her. At this time, she looked at the guard holding the bird’s nest.
The guard nodded slightly, not giving the maidservant a chance to speak, and squatted down directly, handing her the bowl.
The maid looked deeply into Xizi Ke’er’s eyes, her gaze filled with tears.
Knowing that the moment she poisoned herself, she would die without a doubt, now this was already the best possible outcome. She bit her lip and finally swallowed the bird’s nest in one gulp.
After finishing her drink, she placed the bowl on the ground and kowtowed heavily to Xizi Ke’er. “Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness over the years. As a servant, I can only repay you in my next life by being your ox or horse.”
She finished her words, and under Xizi Ke’er’s gesture, the two guards dragged her away.
After everyone had come in and cleaned the house, the maid named Xiaohua had also been rescued.
As soon as she stepped inside and saw the unharmed Xizi Ke’er, her heart, which had been hanging heavy with worry, eased a little. She walked up to Xizi Ke’er and knelt down with a thud, wanting to confess her wrongdoings.
Had she not been so trusting of the maidservant’s words earlier, she would not have nearly put her mistress’s life in danger.
Xizi Ke’er wouldn’t give her a chance to speak. With a slightly tired gesture, she raised her hand and rubbed her temples. Before the other could utter a word, she said, “Don’t waste my time, this palace is going to bathe. Go prepare.”
“……” Xiaohua’s words, which had almost reached her throat, were choked back with difficulty. Tears welled up in her eyes as she softly replied, “Yes, Your Highness.”
……
Xizi Ke’er was bathing, and Xiaohua was by her side, serving her. She rubbed Xizi Ke’er’s shoulders to relieve fatigue and then kneaded her temples to ease the headache.
But just then, the commotion of the evening wasn’t completely over.
Before Xi Zhier could emerge from the bathtub, the sound of fighting once again echoed from outside the courtyard.
Xizi Ke’er hummed, “Don’t worry about it. Fangcai was Mother-in-law’s person, and now it’s Xizi Pan’er’s turn. Besides, only the two of them want to harm me, what’s there to be nervous about? It’s not the first time anyway.”
Her tone was full of self-deprecation, yet it was oddly heartbreaking to hear.
Actually, everyone around Xi Zi Ke’er knows that her Royal Highness values family above all else. Before she knew about Xi Zi Pan’er’s actions, she greatly loved this elder sister of hers.
He would always be right behind Xi Zi P’er, calling her “eldest sister” this and “eldest sister” that. No matter what Xi Zi P’er asked him to do, he would happily comply.
Even, if Xi Zi Panger just gave her a small birthday present, she would be happy for days, even if the gift Xi Zi Panger gave was not worth much at all.
But her highness said that no matter what the gift, it was her elder sister’s heart.
So, here’s the situation: the two people Her Highness cares about most are vying to take her life, each more determined than the other. How can she possibly change her mindset in the face of this?
This must make it hard for these maids, serving so close to the prince.
Xizi Ke’er seemed to know that the guards outside were enough to deal with those who tried to break in, so she was still leisurely bathing.
After about a quarter of an hour, she felt the water getting cold, so she got up.
After dressing up, the noise outside the yard had also subsided.
The guards knocked on the door at that moment, “My lord, we have captured two people. Would you like to interrogate them personally?”
Xizi Ke’er turned and walked toward the bed, “No need, kill if you must, and also…go see how that maid is doing.”
The person outside bowed and said, “Yes.”
……
Xizi Ke’er sat by the bed, Xia Hua stood in front of her and gently wiped her hair dry.
For a long while, the two remained silent. Finally, Xiaohua couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness, don’t you want to know who sent those people?”
Xizi Ke’er’s lips curled into a sneer. “Besides Xizi P’an’er, I can’t imagine anyone else, especially my mother, who would be so brazen.”
Xiaohua pursed her lips, and from then on, she didn’t dare to speak again, afraid that if she accidentally said something, it would hurt the Lord’s heart.
Having served by the prince’s side for many years, she understood better than anyone how much the prince valued Her Majesty and Princess Xi Zi.
She thought to herself, at this moment the young lady’s heart must be filled with pain.
In a short while, the guard who had gone to check on the maid’s situation knocked on the door and entered.
She curtsied. “Your Highness, the maid foamed at the mouth and died.”
“!”
As expected.
Xi Zi Ke Er’s eyes darkened slightly, and before she received a definite answer, no one knew that there was still a faint anticipation in her heart.
She hoped her mother’s poison wouldn’t kill her, she was waiting for the most serious consequence – paralysis, so that she would be harmless.
But upon hearing of the handmaiden’s death, she knew that all her hopes had finally come to an end.
Her mother-in-law indeed wanted her dead.
Ah… this is human nature.
As expected, the royal family is truly heartless. Born into such a family, she still dares to yearn for something called affection.
It is because she is too naive and too innocent.
Seeing the sadness and distress on her companion, Xiaohua clenched her lips, contemplating whether to offer comfort. But fear held her back—the fear of saying the wrong thing and causing further pain to her princess. In the end, she chose silence.
After Xizi Ke’er consumed herself for a while, the next instant her entire aura seemed to undergo a drastic change.
She seemed to have grown colder, the feeling of connection in her heart finally let go at this moment. Her eyes held a newfound determination, as if she had made up her mind to do something.