Ning’s face turned pale as a paper at those half-true, half-false words. Though her master had spoken with ulterior motives, she knew that regardless of whether she was claimed to be the King’s person or not, he would truly kill her for harming Ji Yingying.
She could still feel the warmth of her master’s grip on her hand. Just hours ago, his words had echoed in her ears as she dreamed beautiful dreams. Ning lowered her head as tears streamed down her face.
Chihu couldn’t bear to watch and said softly, “Ning, listen to the master’s words and remove the poison worm from Lady Ji. For the King’s sake, the master won’t be too harsh with you.”
Sheng Fengze’s cold gaze swept across his face. Chihu’s heart trembled, and he fell silent.
“Yes, I will remove the poison worm from Ji Yingying,” Ning responded with a trembling voice as she walked to the bedside.
She drew out a small knife. With her back to everyone, Ning stared at Ji Yingying’s sleeping face, wanting to cry out in anguish. She truly wanted to mar that face with one slash of her blade. She closed her eyes and ran her finger along the knife’s edge.
A string of bright red blood droplets welled up from the wound. She placed her finger into Ji Yingying’s mouth.
Sheng Fengze explained, “Usually, poison worms are raised by their masters from birth, fed with blood. Sensing their master’s fresh blood, the worm will naturally emerge.”
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ning’s face suddenly turns white. She pried open Ji Yingying’s mouth and quickly withdrew her finger.
A bright red centipede about an inch long came out, still biting her finger. Ning took out a jade box from her robes and tapped her finger against its edge. The centipede fell into the box. She held it out for the two men to see: “The poison worm has been extracted. She’ll be fine after some rest.”
Thinking about this living centipede having crawled inside Ji Yingying’s body, Yang Jingyuan’s arms broke out in goosebumps. He snatched the box and smashed it to the ground, crushing the centipede to powder under his foot.
“What are you doing?!” Ning cried out in distress.
“I’m sparing you only for the White Prince’s sake,” Yang Jingyuan said harshly. “If she wakes up with any problems, don’t expect to leave Yizhou City alive.”
The poison worm she had raised for so many years! Ning bit her lip in anger.
Sheng Fengze said coldly, “Whether she’s truly unharmed remains to be seen when she wakes. Chihu, lock Ning up for now.”
Ning lowered her head and obediently followed Chihu out of the room.
Sheng Fengze said to Yang Jingyuan, “Wait until she wakes and confirm she’s unharmed before sending her home. I’ll have someone send word to the Ji family so they won’t worry. This matter arose because of me; it’s my fault. If you’re concerned, you may stay here with her.”
Without giving Yang Jingyuan a chance to refuse, Sheng Fengze turned and left.
Only Yang Jingyuan and Ji Yingying remained in the room. Yang Jingyuan sat by the bed, watching her while resting his chin in his hand. After confirming no one was outside, he couldn’t help himself and pinched her cheek: “Zhao Xiuyuan is one thing, being attracted to your skills. Even Zhu Erlang makes sense, being childhood friends. But look at you—how could that face of yours, stupid beyond belief, capture the heart of the mighty White Prince of Nanzhao at first sight? Don’t make me laugh.”
Her face, squished by his pinching, looked chubby and cute. Yang Jingyuan couldn’t help but sigh again: “I’m talking to you. Stupid to death. If I hadn’t come tonight, who knows if Sheng Fengze come to silence you or truly save you.”
Various questions slowly rose in his mind.
“Sheng Fengze always gives me a strange feeling.”
Yang Jingyuan turned his head toward the window, remembered something from his childhood, and smiled mischievously.
The light in the room remained lit. Yang Jingyuan’s shadow stayed projected on the window. After hearing his subordinate’s report, Chihu said, “Keep watching.”
He walked along the corridor into Sheng Fengze’s room.
In the dim lamplight, Sheng Fengze supported his chin with one hand, his fingers habitually tapping the table. Chihu knew his master was deep in thought. Would it be about how to deal with Ning? Chihu knelt on one knee: “Master. It was Chihu’s fault. I misunderstood master’s intentions, thinking… thinking you wanted to take her as yours.”
Sheng Fengze stopped tapping. A storm brewed in his eyes. Having held back for so long, triggered by Chihu’s words, Sheng Fengze suddenly erupted: “So that gives her the right to follow this king and arbitrarily poison Ji Yingying?”
“Master!” Chihu took a deep breath and said, “Ning was chosen for the White Cliff Palace at age ten, and has loved master ever since. She was just confused for a moment, please be lenient!”
“If I weren’t mindful of old ties, I would have killed her already!”
Everything had been under control. Yet Ning had to use Nanzhao’s unique poison worm on Ji Yingying.
Like most Nanzhao people who were straightforward by nature, Chihu was no exception. He stubbornly looked at Sheng Fengze and said: “Master has revealed intentions before the Ji family before. Ning wanting to kill the entire Ji family was also for master’s sake. Why must the master save Ji Yingying? Has master fallen for her?”
Sheng Fengze slammed his palm on the table: “Insolent!” He took deep breaths to calm himself, “Sparing her life is because she’s useful. Would this king disregard the greater situation for a woman?”
Chihu lowered his head in shame.
Sheng Fengze calmed down and asked, “Is Yang Jingyuan still in the room?”
Chihu replied softly, “The light hasn’t been extinguished. I’ve had men watching; his shadow remains on the window.”
“A beauty’s charm is a hero’s tomb. Otherwise, I wouldn’t feel at ease leaving him in the courtyard. Pass down the order—everyone must be careful with their words. Yang Jingyuan will be watching us, and all Tang officials will be watching us.” Sheng Fengze spoke more casually, “On the way back, this king noticed Yang Jingyuan grew suspicious, and we lost the chance to act. His horse is quite conspicuous. We can’t move against Yang Jingyuan and Ji Yingying now. More actions mean more mistakes. Tomorrow when Yang Jingyuan wants to take Ji Yingying away, just send them off. No need to bid this king farewell.”
Chihu hesitated before saying, “Master says Yang Jingyuan has grown suspicious. Could he have already detected our intentions?”
“The diplomatic mission is about to leave for Chang’an with tributes. Who would believe Nanzhao is preparing to attack Yizhou? This king will admit to having feelings for Ji Yingying. Yang Jingyuan? Just a spoiled young man jealous in love.” Sheng Fengze said coldly, “Send Ning back to Nanzhao early tomorrow morning. Tell her this king does not need people who act on their initiative.”
“Yes. I’ll tell her now. Master should rest early.”
Chihu withdrew and closed the door. After instructing the guards outside to stay alert, Chihu looked left and right before walking toward the back courtyard.
Yang Jingyuan crouched in the shadow of the roof’s windbreak wall, pinching his thigh hard, the sudden pain making him grimace. The conversation he had just overheard wasn’t a dream.
He carefully left, climbing through the back window of the side room. The high-backed chair by the bed draped with his robe had fooled the Nanzhao guards with its shadow. This was a trick he often used when sneaking out of the mansion as a child.
Standing against the corner wall, looking at the still-sleeping Ji Yingying from afar, he murmured, “He revealed intentions before the Ji family? Could all those lawsuits and debts of the Ji family have been Sheng Fengze’s doing? Silly girl, do you know or not?”