The dishes served at the palace banquet were sumptuous and exquisitely prepared, but the portions were tiny. Cheng Yao felt that each plate held barely a single bite; even if she polished off every last morsel, it would only be enough to leave her half full.
She didn’t dare eat too much, merely making a show of it while inwardly suffering.
Once all the dishes had been served, the palace maids came forward with soup. The moment a bowl was placed in front of Cheng Yao, she caught a faint medicinal scent.
Her senses were far sharper than an ordinary person’s thanks to her supernatural ability. She immediately realized that there was something wrong with the soup!
The bastard emperor had ordered Zhan Haoting into exile, so why would he poison them now?
Zhan Haoting’s reputation was extraordinarily high. If he died mysteriously in the palace, not only would his subordinates revolt, but the common people and soldiers would lose faith in the imperial court and might rise up in fury.
That sanctimonious bastard emperor could never do something so reckless.
But if it wasn’t poison, then what exactly had he put in it?
Thoughts raced through Cheng Yao’s mind as she gave Zhan Haoting a meaningful glance.
Whatever it was, it certainly couldn’t be anything good. The best course was simply not to drink it!
She lifted the bowl and took a small sip. Before she could swallow, she suddenly choked and began coughing violently. She hurriedly pressed a handkerchief over her mouth, but the more she coughed, the worse it became.
Zhan Haoting immediately set down his spoon and anxiously patted her back. As his sleeve brushed past, it knocked over the bowl, and the soup spilled across the front of his robe.
He frowned and scolded Cheng Yao, “How could you be so careless and make a spectacle of yourself in His Majesty’s presence?”
With tears in her eyes, Cheng Yao coughed so violently it sounded as if she were about to hack up a lung.
The scene was terribly awkward.
Looking both annoyed and helpless, Zhan Haoting clasped his fists toward the emperor in apology before saying, “Your Majesty, my wife is unwell. Please allow this subject to take her home.”
The emperor was a man with a severe aversion to filth. Seeing Cheng Yao coughing until her face was streaked with tears and mucus, he had already lost his appetite. The disgust in his eyes was impossible to conceal. He waved his hand as though shooing away a fly.
“Granted.”
Zhan Haoting’s expression turned grim. He turned the wheels of his chair with one hand and seized Cheng Yao’s wrist with the other, dragging her away in a fury.
The emperor watched their retreating figures, then tilted his head toward the Grand Eunuch Li Peiyun beside him.
“Was it administered?”
Li Peiyun bent at the waist until he was nearly at a ninety-degree angle.
“To answer Your Majesty, it was put in the soup.”
“The soup?” The emperor narrowed his eyes. “Cheng Yao started coughing after taking a sip. Was she pretending?”
Li Peiyun thought for a moment. “This medicine is colorless and tasteless. From the way the War King reacted, he clearly noticed nothing. The Princess Consort Zhan would naturally be even less likely to detect it. She should have truly choked.”
The emperor stroked the thumb ring on his finger. His eyes half closed as he fell into silent contemplation.
…
The carriage slowly departed from the imperial palace and headed toward North Street.
Cheng Yao moved closer until she was pressed tightly against Zhan Haoting and asked in a low voice, “Did you also realize there was something wrong with the soup?”
Zhan Haoting’s eyes were deep and inscrutable. “I didn’t notice anything.”
Cheng Yao stared at him in surprise. “You had no idea what was happening, but when I gave you that look, you still played along?”
“I trust you.”
There were too many little tricks from the emperor. Zhan Haoting had long since grown accustomed to them.
Since she had sensed that something was wrong, he would simply follow her lead and leave the palace first.
Cheng Yao’s brows curved slightly. This man was surprisingly good at placating her.
“I smelled medicine in the soup.” Cheng Yao took out the damp handkerchief. “Let’s have the physician examine it when we get back.”
Zhan Haoting did not respond to that. After a moment of silence, he said, “Perhaps I should give you a divorce letter.”
“Why?”
Zhan Haoting’s Adam’s apple shifted. “His Majesty is suspicious of me. Staying by my side is dangerous for you.”
For a moment, Cheng Yao didn’t know what to say.
No matter what sort of drug the bastard emperor had given them, it showed that his determination to eliminate Zhan Haoting was absolute. No one could stop him.
If Cheng Yao told Zhan Haoting what fate awaited him, then aside from rebellion, he would have no other way out.
But he had no military authority. Even if he wanted to rebel, he had no chance of success.
She would leave him, but not now.
“The next time you enter the palace, put a steel plate over your heart,” she could only say.
Zhan Haoting’s gaze sharpened with inquiry. “Do you know something?”
Cheng Yao’s expression grew solemn. “I just think that since he drugged both of us today, perhaps he can no longer tolerate you. You need to be careful.”
So hurry and make some preparations. This is all I can do to help you.
Zhan Haoting’s expression was unreadable. The corners of his lips pulled into a faint, sorrowful curve. Cheng Yao couldn’t tell whether he was mocking himself or mourning his own fate.
…
The Zhan family’s mealtime rules suited Cheng Yao perfectly.
Each branch of the family lived in its own separate courtyard. When it was time to eat, their servants went to the kitchens to collect the food. They could also prepare their own meals. Everyone lived independently, gathering together only during festivals and holidays.
As for Cheng Yao’s side, neither Madam Zhan nor her son and daughter had come over. Cheng Yao had no idea whether they were trying to give her and Zhan Haoting some private time together or simply didn’t want to see her.
Whatever the reason, she was more than happy with it. A little peace and quiet was a rare luxury.
The cooks at the prince’s residence were excellent as well. The savory, crispy fried pork was wonderfully appetizing; the pickled-cabbage fish and sweet-and-sour ribs were delicious with rice; every dish was a treat. The braised chicken feet were especially tender and succulent. With the slightest suck, the meat slipped right off the bone, leaving it perfectly clean. Cheng Yao ate to her heart’s content.
In the apocalypse, acid rain fell from the sky, corroding everything in its path. The air was filled with poisonous substances.
A strange disease spread among the population, followed by waves of zombies. Countless people died in despair.
Yet some managed to awaken supernatural abilities while struggling to survive. Cheng Yao was one of them.
Her combat ability was mediocre, but she possessed a rare portable space. All the supplies her small team scavenged were stored with her, so she had never lacked food.
Now that she had entered a different era and taken on a different identity, if the War King didn’t restrict her and gave her a little more freedom, she wouldn’t necessarily mind staying with him and enjoying this life of silks and fine food.
Wait. No, that wasn’t right…
They were about to be exiled!
The food in Cheng Yao’s mouth suddenly seemed to lose some of its flavor.
No. She had to do something for the War King. Otherwise, she would always regret it.
After dinner and a bath, she shut the door tightly and went to sleep. Then she teleported directly to the Zhan family’s storeroom.
The Zhan family had accumulated astonishing wealth over several generations. Everywhere she looked, the room was filled with dazzling treasures.
The betrothal gifts had been extraordinarily generous as well. It had taken twenty or thirty carts to transport them, and every item was a genuine treasure.
Her dowry, however, consisted entirely of worthless things such as furniture, books, and bedding. Although it appeared to fill thirty-six carrying poles, it was really just a collection of shoddy goods meant to deceive and disgust her.
For the moment, she left it all untouched. She had come to inspect the ledgers, land deeds, and similar documents, so she could find out where the Zhan family’s properties were located. That way, it would be easier to take action later.
…
Zhan Haoting was discussing state affairs with his advisers in the study. Cheng Yao had already left the storeroom and was curled up on the chaise longue beneath a blanket, reading a volume on geography.
By the time he finished washing up and returned to the room, she was already asleep.
The young woman slept deeply, completely unguarded.
Her cheeks were flushed and rosy, her skin delicate enough to seem as though it might break at a touch, and a subtle fragrance drifted from her body.
Zhan Haoting’s eyes grew dark and deep, while a spark of heat flared in his chest.
She was beautiful to begin with, but asleep, she looked like an exquisite water lily.
He reached out and brushed his fingers against her cheek, intending to wake her. But she reacted as though startled, springing awake in an instant.
The moment her eyes opened, she looked like a ferocious beast emerging from sleep. Murderous intent flashed through her gaze, and she twisted around, clamping one hand around Zhan Haoting’s throat.
