"What do you think, sister-in-law?"
Zheng Wei didn't immediately agree to Grand Princess Zande's words, but looked at Shen Xiaoyan for her opinion.
Shen Xiaoyan smiled and said to Grand Princess Zande, "Princess, you are right. It's just that we don't know Miss Baili well either. Given her temperament, it's unlikely she can change overnight. For us adults, it's fine, but we have four infants at home who cannot withstand any accidents."
"What, you all have children? You too, A'Han?" Grand Princess Zande looked surprised.
Shen Xiaoyan inwardly scoffed. She couldn't believe that when the guards reported back, they wouldn't have mentioned this to her.
"Yes, Auntie," Sima Han admitted.
"Then you must be careful. Children need to be cherished," Grand Princess Zande said, then turned back to Shen Xiaoyan. "What do you want then?"
"It's nothing much. I gave Miss Baili a pill. It's not poison. It's just that when the pill takes effect, she'll break out in sores all over her body. The way to stop it from taking effect is also very simple: take an antidote pill once a month."
Shen Xiaoyan said this very casually, but to Grand Princess Zande and Baili Ziyun, it was anything but.
"You're talking nonsense! How could such a medicine exist?" Baili Ziyun shrieked. This concerned her directly, and she couldn't help but be anxious.
Although she hadn't seen such a disgusting scene, just hearing Shen Xiaoyan's description made her skin crawl.
If she were to become like that, she would rather die.
"Wife, show some mercy. I advise you not to push your luck. Even if the medicine you speak of is real, I may still be able to find someone to concoct an antidote. At that time, you will have lost more than you gained." Grand Princess Zande's face turned cold. This was the first time she had encountered someone who dared to blackmail her.
"Then Princess, you can try. You should pay attention, though. You only have a month. Oh, no, you have 28 days left now." Shen Xiaoyan shrugged nonchalantly, not showing any signs of panic.
The pills given to Jiang Hong and Baili Ziyun were developed by Zheng Wei using the herbs from his spatial dimension. The most crucial ingredients were derived from seeds of an unknown origin.
Zheng Wei discovered the properties of these herbs when a small animal in his dimension accidentally ate them and died. This prompted him to research them further.
Shen Xiaoyan wasn't proficient in medicine and had no desire to learn. Fortunately, Zheng Wei had some knowledge from his previous life, and picking it up again was not difficult.
This was the first poison Zheng Wei had developed, and he hadn't found a test subject. Unexpectedly, Baili Ziyun walked right into it, becoming a free trial subject along with Jiang Hong.
"Mother, what should I do? Mother, I don't want to become such an ugly monster..."
Baili Ziyun was terrified by Shen Xiaoyan's demeanor. She finally realized Shen Xiaoyan wasn't bluffing and immediately burst into tears, kneeling at Grand Princess Zande's feet.
"Go and promise your Sister Su that you won't cause any more trouble in the future, and your Sister Su will give you the antidote." Grand Princess Zande said as if it were a joke, and even nodded at Shen Xiaoyan.
Shen Xiaoyan felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing her words. Sister Su?
Was she referring to her?
Shen Xiaoyan really wanted to say, "Don't be ridiculous!"
But the timing was wrong, so she could only remain silent, calmly observing Grand Princess Zande and Baili Ziyun, a faint smile on her lips.
"Mother..."
Baili Ziyun looked up, her eyes darting nervously at Grand Princess Zande, completely unsure of what to do.
Grand Princess Zande, meanwhile, was staring at Shen Xiaoyan without speaking.
Baili Ziyun finally bit her lip, stood up, walked over to Shen Xiaoyan, and lowered her head, saying, "Sister Su..."
"No, I don't have a sister like Miss Baili. I can't afford to be so honored," Shen Xiaoyan calmly interrupted Baili Ziyun.
A flush of anger surged across Baili Ziyun's face, but she suppressed it. "Miss Su, I was wrong earlier. Please don't hold it against me, considering my youth and ignorance. In the future, I promise I won't bother your lives or stir up any more trouble."
Shen Xiaoyan looked at Baili Ziyun's face for a long moment, then a bright smile spread across her own.
"Alas, it is a great virtue to correct one's mistakes. However, it's not that I don't want to give you the antidote, it's just..." Shen Xiaoyan trailed off, looking somewhat embarrassed as she glanced at Zheng Wei beside her.
"My skills are lacking. I can only create poisons. As for an antidote, it might take some time. However, I do have a medicine to suppress the symptoms," Zheng Wei said without changing his expression. He took out a white porcelain bottle and placed it on the table, continuing, "This bottle contains six pills. Take one every month, and you'll be safe for half a year. I will develop the antidote within these six months, so it won't delay Miss Baili's entry into the palace next year."
"You..."
Baili Ziyun stared at Zheng Wei in disbelief.
She thought that even if Zheng Wei disliked her, he wouldn't hate her this much.
Yet, he could give her a poison without an antidote. What if he couldn't develop the antidote within six months? Would she die?
Grand Princess Zande's face was also extremely grim. She hadn't expected such a response from Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei, despite her words.
However, since things had reached this point, there was nothing more to say.
"Very well, we will wait for six months. I hope, by then, A'Han, you can deliver the antidote," Grand Princess Zande said, not looking at Shen Xiaoyan or Zheng Wei, but only addressing Sima Han.
Sima Han stood up and bowed, "Auntie, rest assured."
"Ziyun, let's go."
Grand Princess Zande said, stood up, and led the way out.
Baili Ziyun gave Zheng Wei a complicated look before following her.
Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei didn't move, watching their figures disappear. Sima Han, however, stood up and walked out with them.
"Can you develop an antidote in six months?" Shen Xiaoyan asked Zheng Wei skeptically.
She had been present when Zheng Wei concocted the poison. Mixing those jumbled herbs together, could there truly be an antidote?
What Shen Xiaoyan doubted the most was, was it really a poison?
After all, the symptoms of the poison's effects were all things she had casually fabricated.
She hadn't expected Zheng Wei to cooperate so well, following her lead and even producing a pill to suppress the symptoms.
"Who knows? We'll see when she gets poisoned," Zheng Wei said, shrugging indifferently.
Seeing Zheng Wei like this, Shen Xiaoyan couldn't help but burst into laughter. She had never seen Zheng Wei like this before.
Shortly after, Sima Han strode back in.
"Did they leave?" Zheng Wei asked.
"Yes, they've gone," Sima Han nodded.
"When Grand Princess Zande got into the carriage, did you see what the man inside looked like?" Shen Xiaoyan asked, full of curiosity.
"I didn't see. I only saw the hem of his robe," Sima Han shook his head.
Indeed...
Should she say he was very well hidden?
But why didn't Baili Hao appear? This was his daughter. Wasn't he worried? Was he so confident that Grand Princess Zande could handle this alone?
Shen Xiaoyan pondered this, growing increasingly puzzled. However, without knowing the truth, she couldn't make any definitive judgments.
The three of them exchanged glances, then got up and headed back.