Zheng Taifei, seeing Xu Yuqing’s forehead cracked and her fair skin stained crimson by blood, finally relented.
“Remember your promise. Today, for the sake of your husband and your daughter, I’ll spare your wretched life and give you the antidote… If you ever misbehave again, dare to stir up trouble, cause a scene, or create any more problems, I guarantee you’ll die a terrible death! Though I’ve been eating vegetarian and reciting Buddhist scriptures for years, and haven’t killed anyone in a long time, I killed plenty when I was in the palace! You should all know that when I was a Consort, I managed the harem, a place where people died daily. I executed disobedient masters and servants every day.”
Xu Yuqing nodded quickly, “Thank you, Grandmother, for your mercy. Please give me the antidote!” She extended her hand towards Huangfu Yue.
Zheng Taifei winked at Huangfu Yue, who took out a pill and handed it to Xu Yuqing. Xu Yuqing eagerly took the pill and swallowed it. Just as she was about to relax and breathe a sigh of relief, she heard Huangfu Yue’s voice…
“This medicine is an antidote, but it doesn’t completely neutralize the poison you previously ingested. It only suppresses it. If you don’t want the poison to flare up, to have your intestines rupture, your orifices bleed, and to die in excruciating agony, you must take one of these antidotes on the first day of every month. So, you’d best remember what you promised Grandmother earlier, otherwise don’t expect to get your monthly antidote.”
Huangfu Yue smiled sweetly at Xu Yuqing, her voice equally sweet, but it sent a chill down Xu Yuqing’s spine, making her body go cold. It was over! She would have to beg them for the antidote every month, or she would die, and die horribly! That wretched Huangfu Yue was truly insidious and wicked! Xu Yuqing gnashed her teeth in hatred but dared not lash out at Huangfu Yue. She could only plead with her now.
“Yue’er, please give me the antidote that can completely detoxify me. I promise I’ll keep my word and absolutely will not violate the promise I made to Grandmother earlier, I…”
“Sister-in-law, I’m sorry, it’s not that I intentionally won’t give you an antidote to completely detoxify you, it’s just that I don’t have it… I only have medicine to suppress the poison in your body.” Huangfu Yue looked innocent.
Seeing Xu Yuqing’s despairing expression, Huangfu Yue “kindly” consoled her, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. As long as you behave well and do as you promised, I will give you the antidote on time every month to suppress the poison. Once Lingping is stable, I will specifically develop a complete antidote for you.” As if!
Xu Yuqing, who was already in despair, suddenly showed a flicker of hope and nodded quickly, “Alright. Yue’er, you mustn’t lie to your sister-in-law! You must give me the antidote on time every month to suppress the poison, and when we reach Lingping, you must develop a medicine to completely detoxify me.”
“Don’t worry, as long as you keep your word, I’ll keep mine!” Huangfu Yue nodded.
Xu Yuqing let out a sigh of relief, feeling a bit more at ease, and the resentment she felt towards Zheng Taifei and Huangfu Yue surged again. These two snake-hearted, venomous descendants dared to treat her this way, she wouldn’t let them off! She would definitely get revenge! However, her life was now in their hands. She had to endure for now, pretend to be obedient, and strive to please them to obtain the antidote smoothly. It wouldn't be too late to seek revenge once she obtained the complete antidote! As the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold, and a gentleman’s revenge is never too late, even after ten years! She had to be patient now!
Zheng Taifei said to Huangfu Yue, “Help her up.”
Huangfu Yue reached out and pulled Xu Yuqing up. Xu Yuqing immediately thanked them, “Thank you, Grandmother, thank you, Yue’er.”
“Sit down.” Zheng Taifei’s expression had softened considerably. She gestured to Xu Yuqing’s original seat. Seeing the fresh blood on Xu Yuqing’s forehead and lips, she said to her granddaughter, “Treat her wounds.” The thunder had struck; now it was time for the gentle rain.
Huangfu Yue nodded, not refusing, and immediately began to treat Xu Yuqing’s injuries. She was smart enough to understand her grandmother’s intentions.
“Thank you, Grandmother, thank you, Yue’er.” Xu Yuqing thanked them again, her face full of gratitude.
“Don’t you all think that because the Prince of Dai’s mansion has been raided and exiled, and is ruined, you can cause trouble and scheme amongst yourselves… Let me tell you, as long as Yue’er is here, the Prince of Dai’s mansion will not fall!” Zheng Taifei declared loudly, surveying all her granddaughters-in-law with a domineering air.
“Now I, Zheng Shuyu, state this clearly: our Prince of Dai’s mansion will, sooner or later, rise again, and we will be even better and more majestic than before! All of you, behave yourselves, mind your own duties, unite, be of one mind towards the Prince of Dai’s mansion, raise the children well, and assist Yue’er. When the Prince of Dai’s mansion rises again, I, Zheng Shuyu, will not mistreat you; I will definitely reward you all for your contributions.”
As she spoke, Zheng Taifei took out several pieces of jewelry from her embrace, jewels that were clearly treasures. “These are items I wore when I was a Consort in the palace. Each one is a treasure, and each one is priceless. If you want them, perform well, and I will reward them to you in the future.”
Seeing the jewelry Zheng Taifei produced, Huangfu Yue was unfazed; after all, she had looted the national treasury and possessed countless treasures. However, her sisters-in-law’s eyes widened. Although they were all from noble families, were daughters of aristocrats, and had married into the Prince of Dai’s mansion, possessing many beautiful and luxurious jewelry, those pieces paled in comparison to what was before them. Zhu Jiayi, Xu Yuqing, Zhong Liangshu, and Yang Wanqian were all deeply covetous and desired the jewelry Zheng Taifei displayed.
“Yue’er, give me a few of the poison pills you gave Xu Yuqing earlier.” Zheng Taifei’s expression suddenly changed, becoming cold and terrifying, emanating a strong killing intent. Zhu Jiayi and the other sisters-in-law were taken aback, looking at Zheng Taifei in confusion, unable to understand why she suddenly wanted poison from Huangfu Yue.
Huangfu Yue, however, understood immediately. She paused her treatment of Xu Yuqing and handed Zheng Taifei a few pills, identical to the ones she had given Xu Yuqing. Zheng Taifei placed the pills beside the sparkling, dazzling jewelry.
She said coldly, “But if any of you dare to cause trouble, try to harm the Prince of Dai’s mansion, or betray the Prince of Dai’s mansion, these poisons await you.”
“You’ve all witnessed Yue’er’s abilities. For Yue’er to make you swallow these poisons is as easy as turning over her hand… Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, she can catch you and make you swallow these poisons, making you suffer and die in agony.”
Zhu Jiayi, Xu Yuqing, Zhu Liangshu, and Yang Wanqian all shivered, their eyes filled with fear. They all knew Zheng Taifei wasn’t bluffing. The four of them, in unison, nodded and said together, “We dare not harm the Prince of Dai’s mansion or betray it. Grandmother, please rest assured.”
Zheng Taifei smiled, looking pleased. Huangfu Yue also smiled. Grandmother was amazing.