readytorunbook Chapter 822 Deadly Poison
Chapter 822 Deadly Poison
Lu Yangyang stared in astonishment.
I just couldn't hold it in anymore.
She never expected that not only would she have overheard Xue Wanyue's private affairs, but she would also have heard gossip about the Third Prince and the Heir Apparent of the Duke of Xiao.
Sister Ruoxue is truly extraordinary!
Besides the Third Prince and Prince Xiao, there's also my own second brother, that heartbroken puppy!
Lu Yangyang couldn't even imagine what a chaotic scene it would be if her second brother, with his habit of never going through the main gate, were to sneak up at night and run into the Third Prince or Prince Xiao.
Off topic.
Lu Yangyang quickly pulled herself out of her reverie, coughed awkwardly, and glanced at Xue Wanyue.
At this point, there was no need for Xue Wanyue to explain further; Lu Yangyang understood her thoughts.
Sure enough, Xue Wanyue smiled as she looked at her. "Everyone treats me like a pawn. Ever since I was born with this face, I've lived for over a decade just to be sent out and sold for a good price. I can only pretend to be weak and stupid to put their minds at ease. I don't even have the ability or the opportunity to plan another path for myself."
Ever since she was discovered to resemble the late empress, her only remaining purpose has been to enter the palace.
Whether she enters the palace directly or changes hands several times before entering, it doesn't matter. At most, it's just a matter of valuation back and forth, unless she chooses to die.
But why should she die?
Those who exploited her and wanted to sell her for a good price are all doing well. In order to make her obedient, not only did they restrict her and dictate her life, but they also used her aunt, who had only lived with her for a few years. They first made the aunt have another child, and then used the lives of the aunt and her brother to brainwash and threaten her. What was the point?
To prevent her from having any other ideas, she didn't have a single copper coin on her. What could she do if she disobeyed?
“From a very early age, I knew I had no other choice, but they used me, and I was waiting for my chance,” Xue Wanyue said calmly. “My eldest sister snatched me away from Father, but she was too greedy and ended up reaping what she sowed. The Third Prince sent me to the palace, and even used affection as bait to have me pass messages to him and spy on the Emperor. His Majesty knew perfectly well that I was offered up, and that someone was plotting against me, but he has always been arrogant and thought he had everything under control. He even used some tender and caring tricks to try to make me love and respect him like the late Empress. How ridiculous! I was just a substitute, and these two, father and son, still dared to try to win my heart.”
Xue Wanyue's eyes were full of mockery. Everyone wanted her to be their stand-in, yet they still wanted her to get into character.
Lu Yangyang looked at Xue Wanyue in front of her, and she had almost no resemblance to the timid and cautious little girl in her memory.
But the air of confidence that emanated from his eyes seemed familiar.
She suddenly remembered that when she was ridiculed at the academy, Xue Wanyue was terrified, but she still rushed up to speak up for her.
Although I am destined to walk a lonely path, I am full of passion and want to have a lot of enthusiasm and friends.
Lu Yangyang had never met the late empress, but she had heard many rumors about her.
But she made a clear distinction: Xue Wanyue was Xue Wanyue, and no matter how similar they looked, she would never be the former empress.
"Why did you come to me?" Lu Yangyang asked her.
"I want freedom. My only chance is to live until the new emperor ascends the throne and grants me permission to leave the palace. I don't know about others, but if it's the Third Prince who succeeds, my fate will probably be to stay in the palace under a different name. Regardless of his civil and military achievements, the Third Prince has only superficially learned from His Majesty when it comes to women." Xue Wanyue raised an eyebrow. "The reason I say superficially is because His Majesty is manipulative and suspicious. He never truly trusts any woman and can sacrifice his own at any time. The Third Prince is different. He prides himself on being affectionate. Although he uses her, he always feels that he has given his heart and deserves everyone's unwavering love for him. If he ascends the throne, not only me, but all the women who used to have entanglements with him, including my older sister who once offered herself to him, will probably be rescued by him and become my best friends."
“So none of these people can be trusted, and I will not get what I want.” Xue Wanyue looked at Lu Yangyang: “But you are different. You keep your word. No matter who ascends the throne in the future, if you can promise me, you will definitely give me back my freedom.”
Lu Yangyang hadn't expected that she would trust her so much.
Or perhaps it's not so much that you believe in her, but rather that you believe in the deposed crown prince Zong Que behind her.
Xue Wanyue was very discreet; she didn't mention Zong Que, nor did she actively inquire about any information.
Xue Wanyue's current position has given her some opportunities, allowing her to temporarily gain favor with His Majesty and appease the Third Prince, but these are not long-term solutions.
Take the death of the Tenth Prince as an example; she almost got implicated and lost her life.
She didn't have enough time to protect herself in the long palace intrigue. His Majesty was capricious, and she, as his substitute, seemed to have a life of luxury, but in reality, her life was precarious.
Unless she finds a powerful backer who can truly help her.
That's why she chose Lu Yangyang.
Having thought things through, Lu Yangyang stopped beating around the bush with Xue Wanyue and agreed to her cooperation: "It's a deal. As long as you do your best and don't betray me, I will find a way to give you your freedom no matter who ascends the throne in the future."
Upon hearing this promise, Xue Wanyue's entire being seemed to bloom like a flower, brightening instantly.
She took out a box and pushed it towards Lu Yangyang: "Here are the clues I've collected about the cause of the late Empress's death. The most crucial thing is a poison called Ice Soul. You should know very well what this is."
Lu Yangyang did indeed know that she had to thank Wen Qingqing. The Ice Soul poison, if used alone, wasn't fatal because its toxicity was weak; like ice entering the body, it would quickly melt away. At most, it would cause a headache and weakness for a while, and the toxicity would completely disappear within two or three days. However, if it was used after contracting a cold, it would rapidly damage the body's functions, potentially leading to death or, at best, ruining the body's foundation and confining the patient to bed for more than a year.
This poison may seem harmless, but it can kill people silently.
Therefore, it is also a deadly poison.
"During the previous Jing Dynasty, the emperor was licentious and tyrannical, and the harem was full of secret medicines. This Ice Soul originated from the previous dynasty's palace and is insidious and treacherous," Xue Wanyue said.
Lu Yangyang nodded: "Later, when the Great Zhao Dynasty was established, all these secret medicines were destroyed in order to cleanse the harem."
Xue Wanyue opened the box and tapped the papers inside. "I asked around among the old palace staff. Although it's been a long time, there are still a few old people in the Cold Palace. The late Empress was in good health. It was only after she miscarried due to the Empress Dowager's mistreatment that her health began to weaken. The imperial physicians repeatedly examined her pulse and could only diagnose that the late Empress's health had been ruined by the miscarriage. I compared the late Empress's pulse records and found that she had caught a cold during the miscarriage. She recuperated for a long time, but her health only deteriorated, and she eventually fell seriously ill."