Qiao Zhao walked back slowly, supported by A’Zhu.

Favors were hard to repay, and owing a favor to someone who harbored special feelings for her was even harder to repay. But compared to a living life, it was worth it.

In the future, she would do everything in her power to repay this debt to him.

Princess Zhenzhen returned to the palace, where Consort Li was waiting for her.

“Did you give the thing to Miss Li?” After dismissing the palace maids, Consort Li asked impatiently.

Princess Zhenzhen nodded.

“Put it in food?”

“I made rose date cakes.”

“If she doesn’t eat them—” Consort Li was somewhat worried.

“Then what can I do? Force the date cakes into her mouth?” Princess Zhenzhen sneered back.

Consort Li was startled, murmuring: “Zhenzhen, why are you speaking to Mother Consort like this? Are you blaming Mother Consort?”

Princess Zhenzhen turned away, forcing back the tears welling up: “No. Mother Consort, I want to rest. Please go back.”

“Then rest well. Don’t overthink things—it’s all over now.” Consort Li patted Princess Zhenzhen’s shoulder. Knowing her daughter was unhappy at the moment, she quietly left.

Princess Zhenzhen lay back on the bed, taking out a white porcelain bottle from her chest. Opening the stopper, she found it empty inside.

She placed her hand on her chest as a single tear slowly trickled from the corner of her eye.

She was going to die soon. She wondered where she would go after death, or if she would just turn into a handful of yellow earth, knowing nothing at all.

She didn’t want to die. She was only seventeen, living carefully in the deep palace, relying on pleasing the Empress Dowager to have today’s life. She still wanted to marry a prince consort who had only her in his heart, to grow old together with white hair, surrounded by children and grandchildren.

But what else could she do if she didn’t die?

She could dance with long sleeves and please her elders, but she couldn’t do something as despicable as repaying kindness with enmity.

She was a princess of Great Liang. Rather than use such base methods for herself, she would rather die.

It would be best if she died—she wouldn’t harm Miss Li, wouldn’t put Mother Consort in a difficult position, and all troubles would be gone.

The next day dawned bright and clear. Princess Zhenzhen rose early and asked the palace maid, combing her hair: “I remember there’s a cluster of purple lilacs in the Imperial Garden. Are they blooming now?”

The palace maid smiled: “Spring came early this year. This servant saw that lilac tree blooming yesterday—the clusters of purple and white flowers are so beautiful.”

Princess Zhenzhen stood up: “This palace wishes to admire the flowers.”

Two palace maids accompanied Princess Zhenzhen to the Imperial Garden.

The lilac cluster was indeed blooming, its fragrance wafting from afar.

Princess Zhenzhen walked to the lilac cluster, closed her eyes to inhale the scent, then suddenly began coughing.

“Princess—”

Princess Zhenzhen waved her hand, stopping the palace maid’s inquiry, saying lightly: “You don’t need to follow so closely. This palace wants to be alone for a while.”

The two palace maids retreated to stand at a distance. Princess Zhenzhen sat down beside the lilac cluster.

One palace maid’s lips moved slightly, wanting to speak up in discouragement, but was held back by the other.

“Forget it. I can see the princess isn’t in good spirits. We’d better not say much.”

“But if the princess acts improperly like this and is seen by someone with ulterior motives, they’ll gossip again.”

As Princess Zhenzhen’s palace maids, they knew very well that being a princess wasn’t easy. Setting aside other things, just sitting casually on the ground like now would invite ridicule if word got out. Those female officials might even report it to the Empress Dowager.

“No masters come to stroll in the garden at this time. We’ll just keep watch.”

Princess Zhenzhen glanced lightly toward the two palace maids. Even though she couldn’t hear clearly, she knew what they were worried about. But at this moment, she didn’t care anymore.

She was going to die anyway—let all those damned rules and etiquette go to hell.

Thinking about it now, Third Miss Li lived much more freely than she did. No matter how the world talked or slandered her, she still lived happily and boldly.

With this thought, death no longer seemed so frightening.

Perhaps in her next life, she wouldn’t be a princess but just an ordinary girl, and that might make her happier.

“Princess—” A low voice came from within the lilac cluster.

Princess Zhenzhen’s expression changed slightly. Looking toward the sound, she saw a thin young eunuch hiding in the flower cluster, winking at her to signal not to make noise.

Having perhaps accepted the fact of her impending death, Princess Zhenzhen had never been so calm. Her bright eyes gazed at the young eunuch indifferently.

Seeing that Princess Zhenzhen didn’t scream, the young eunuch was relieved and handed over a small bottle.

Princess Zhenzhen didn’t reach out to take it, watching him silently.

“Your Highness, this is from the young lady you visited yesterday, sent through someone.”

Princess Zhenzhen’s eyes flashed with surprise as she asked softly: “What is this?”

“Antidote pills.”

Princess Zhenzhen’s expression changed dramatically as she lost her voice: “She—how does she know—”

The young eunuch didn’t answer Princess Zhenzhen’s question, lowering his voice: “That young lady said death is easier than life. The living can choose to die, but the dead cannot come back to life. She’ll wait for Your Highness to visit her again.”

“You, whose person are you?”

“Your Highness needn’t ask about that. The item has been delivered, and this servant must go.”

The young eunuch placed the porcelain bottle in Princess Zhenzhen’s hands, quietly slipped out from the other side of the lilac cluster, and quickly disappeared.

Princess Zhenzhen stared at the porcelain bottle in her hands. What had just happened seemed like a dream.

So Miss Li had guessed everything—guessed that her Father Emperor and Mother Consort were plotting against her life to recruit a good prince consort, guessed that she had been forced to take poison.

“Princess, someone’s coming.” The palace maid standing in the distance hurried over to remind her.

Princess Zhenzhen stood up, saying expressionlessly, “Let’s go back.”

A light laugh came: “Why does Ninth Sister leave as soon as she sees me?”

Princess Zhenzhen looked steadily at Eighth Princess and smiled: “Because you’re too ugly.”

“What did you say?” Eighth Princess was stunned.

Her ears must be having problems, right?

Princess Zhenzhen walked past Eighth Princess, saying lightly: “Because you’re too ugly and also hard of hearing, so I don’t want to talk to you.”

Princess Zhenzhen finished speaking and drifted away, leaving Eighth Princess with her pretty face flushed a liver-colored.

Had Ninth Sister gone mad to say such outrageous things!

No, she had to go find Imperial Grandmother to discuss this.

“Your Highness, just now you—” The two palace maids following Princess Zhenzhen looked shocked.

Princess Zhenzhen curved her lips in a cold smile: “I’ve wanted to tell her the truth for a long time. It’s a pity I only got the chance today.”

Less than half an hour after returning to her chambers, a palace maid from Cining Palace came to invite Princess Zhenzhen to Cining Palace.

“Tell the messenger that I’m ill and don’t want to move.”

“This—” The palace maids looked at each other.

“Go! Or do you want this palace to go tell them personally?”

After dismissing the palace maid, Princess Zhenzhen lay by the windowsill, staring outside in a daze.

No matter who Miss Li had asked to deliver the medicine to her, she accepted this kindness.

But—

Princess Zhenzhen took out the porcelain bottle, poured out a pale red pill, and stared intently at the pill in her palm.

She could take the antidote to save her life, but what about Mother Consort?

If she lived, Mother Consort would have to bear Father Emperor’s thunderous fury. Taking Mother Consort’s life would be just a matter of the Father Emperor saying one word.

Princess Zhenzhen smiled bitterly and threw the pill forcefully out the window.