Xiuxiu, feeling nervous, forgot that the master before her was no longer the pitiful child she remembered. She reached out to pull Yun Xiao aside to dodge, but Yun Xiao flicked her hand away and whispered, "What are you doing? Let go."
"Ah," Xiuxiu snapped back to reality, startled and quickly released her hand. She had forgotten that Her Majesty the Empress was no longer foolish. Should she be worried about Consort De now, rather than the Empress?
As the two spoke, a group from afar had arrived before them.
The woman at the forefront wore a magnificent dress of silver beads and red, with exquisite peonies embroidered on the hem and collar, exuding nobility and luxury. A white cloak draped over her, adding infinite charm.
Her features were captivating and beautiful, her brows like a curved willow, her eyes like the bright moon. Her fair skin was now tinged with a faint pink, suggesting she was quite angered, and a cold smile played on her lips.
"This bitch," she spoke fiercely. Before she could finish, she saw someone blocking her path and her face immediately darkened. She angrily demanded, "Who are you?"
Xiuxiu, Xiao Yuan, and Xiao Zhao quickly and cautiously bowed, "Greetings, Consort De."
Everyone in the palace knew that Consort De was still the Emperor's mother's own niece, and thus the future Empress. Therefore, in this palace, besides the Empress Dowager, Consort De held the greatest authority.
At this moment, Consort De, Ye Su Xue, finally saw clearly that the person before her was that fool. She was indeed unharmed. Seeing Yun Xiao's current appearance sent a shiver down Ye Su Xue's spine. She couldn't help but take a step back, her face sullen, and pointed at Yun Xiao.
"You useless servants, why didn't you watch her properly? Why let her out to scare people?"
"This?" Xiuxiu was speechless. Who would dare stop the Empress? It would be suicidal. Yet, facing Consort De's reprimand, she didn't know how to reply.
However, Yun Xiao didn't make it difficult for her. She looked at Consort De with her dark eyes, opened her mouth, and smiled, revealing a row of pearly white teeth. She let out a chilling sound, "Sister?"
Consort De Ye Su Xue couldn't help but tremble, goosebumps erupting all over her skin. Unable to bear what her eyes beheld, she rushed to the side, leaning on the white jade railing, and vomited.
Yun Xiao's pupils flashed, and she stepped forward again, seemingly kindly asking, "What's wrong, Sister?"
In that critical moment, a needle from her hand was sent out, hitting Consort De's ear acupenters with perfect accuracy. Ye Su Xue felt a chill in her ear and her vision went black. Dizzy and unable to stand, she tumbled backward from the railing and fell into the koi pond.
With a splash, the water flew high into the air. The koi in the pond, startled, scattered in four directions. The icy pond water jolted Ye Su Xue back to a semblance of clarity. She shivered, and in her dishevelled state, called out towards the edge of the pond.
"Quick, help me up."
The people at the edge of the pond came to their senses. The eunuchs and maids from Zhaoyang Palace hurried over, their hands reaching out to help their mistress.
At this moment, Xiuxiu was pushed to Yun Xiao's side. She murmured softly, "Your Majesty, Consort De's bracelet is yours."
Yun Xiao looked up and saw that on Consort De's fair arm was a translucent blood jade bracelet, its color vibrant and its luster dazzling. It was clearly a fine piece of ancient jade.
How shameless of this woman to brazenly wear someone else's belongings! Did she think she could be bullied so easily?
Yun Xiao let out a cold laugh and raised her foot, aiming at the eunuchs by the pond. One, two, three, four, five...
With several splashes, the eunuchs and maids by the pond were all kicked into the pond.
"Ah, ah," the koi pond descended into chaos. Consort De was knocked over and plunged into the pond again. It took a long time for her to struggle to her feet, dripping wet, her face ashen. Her eyes were wide open, burning with fierce flames, and she raged at the shore.
"You lunatic, what exactly are you doing?"
On the shore, Xiuxiu, Xiao Yuan, and Xiao Zhao watched everything that unfolded, their mouths agape and forgotten to close. At this moment, they wished they could dive into the pond themselves. What was Her Majesty doing?
Yun Xiao opened her mouth wide like a blood basin, her face contorted, and with a sinister smile, she reached out to Consort De in the pond, "My bracelet, my bracelet, give it back..."
Ye Su Xue stood in the pond, shivering from the cold, and glared at the fool reaching out a hand. She was both angry and anxious, but helpless.
Her aunt had repeatedly warned her that it was best not to provoke this fool at the moment, and that it was not the opportune time to act.
After some consideration, Ye Su Xue decided to endure the insult. She nimbly removed the valuable blood jade bracelet from her wrist and said unhappily,
"Take it."
Yun Xiao reached out and took the bracelet, then slipped it onto her own wrist. A faint warmth rose from her arm, enveloping her in a comfortable feeling.
This bracelet was indeed a good item. With the bracelet in hand, her mood seemed to improve considerably. She reached out again and said softly,
"Sister, shall I pull you up?"
Although her smile was somewhat terrifying, her attitude was sincere. Ye Su Xue in the pond was wary and dared not reach out.
However, no one came to the edge of the koi pond for a while, and her attendants were all in the pond. They urged her from all sides,
"Your Majesty, get up, lest you catch a cold."
"Your Majesty, you've given her the things, hurry and get up."
Ye Su Xue thought it made sense. Didn't this fool just want the jade bracelet? She had already given it to her, and surely she wouldn't trouble her further? She reached out and took Yun Xiao's hand.
Yun Xiao's pupils flashed, and a cold glint quickly darted through her eyes. She wasn't trying to help this woman, but to retrieve the embroidery needle behind her ear.
She had seen this embroidery needle in her jewelry box earlier and had casually taken it to use. If an imperial physician examined it and discovered it, it would undoubtedly cause unnecessary trouble.
And she didn't want any complications. There were many things she didn't want to be clarified. Even Xiuxiu, Xiao Yuan, and Xiao Zhao only knew that she wasn't foolish, and knew nothing else about her.
She didn't want them to know either.
In the palace, the fewer troubles, the better. This was also the prerequisite for them to protect themselves.
"Sister, come," Yun Xiao seemed very kind and pulled Ye Su Xue upwards with all her might. As Ye Su Xue neared the railing, Yun Xiao quickly reached out with her other hand. To outsiders, it seemed like she was trying to help Ye Su Xue up, but in reality, she was merely going for the embroidery needle. xxs壹贰
As soon as the embroidery needle was in hand, Yun Xiao's pupils suddenly darkened. Her smile widened, and with a sudden flick of her hand, she shrieked,
"My hairpin, where is my hairpin?"
After saying that, without even looking at Ye Su Xue, who had once again fallen into the pond with a splash, she turned and fled at top speed, leaving the koi pond...
Xiuxiu and the two young eunuchs cried out in their hearts. They didn't dare to look at Consort De in the pond, the poor woman. Why did she encounter such a treacherous master? They quickly chased after the person in front, calling out, "Your Majesty, wait for us, wait for us!"
In the koi pond, there was another commotion. Consort De finally stood up, her face as pale as paper. Even if her acupoints weren't affected, an ordinary person couldn't endure such torment. Thinking of this, she could no longer hold back and screamed towards the sky.
"Ah, ah, you fool, if I don't get revenge, I swear I will not be human!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?" Amidst the chatter, fortunately, the commotion attracted other eunuchs. Someone soon rushed over to rescue Ye Su Xue and the others. Because she had been soaked in cold water for too long, Ye Su Xue fell ill...