Good news: Sheng Zhao had transmigrated into another world and hadn’t died.
Bad news: She had been handed a disastrous opening.
“Once that little wretch wakes up, force this medicine down her throat. We must kill her before the general returns to the capital.”
“Don’t worry, Madam. She won’t live to see tonight.”
Her legal mother had sent people to wait for her to open her eyes, intending to poison her to death.
She didn’t dare wake up. She absolutely did not dare wake up.
Her brain throbbed unbearably as a flood of memories surged into her mind. Before she could process them, an excited voice rang out directly in her head.
[Host, you’re finally awake! I’m your Gossip Assistant, Zhizhi. Aren’t you surprised? Aren’t you delighted?]
Sheng Zhao was startled by the voice’s overflowing energy.
She roared inwardly, [Do none of your systems receive training before going on duty? I’ve only just transmigrated, and I’m already about to be poisoned to death!]
The system replied, [Relax, relax~ I specifically chose this moment to bind with you. Isn’t it thrilling? Look at those two nannies. The one with the mole at the corner of her mouth is Nanny Kong. She secretly ate a roast chicken from the kitchen last night. The other one is Nanny Sun. She and the stablemaster spend every night—]
[Stop, stop! Can you deal with the fact that I’m about to be poisoned first?]
The system said, [Oh, don’t worry, Host. According to the plot, you won’t die today. Someone’s coming to rescue you very soon.]
Sheng Zhao was confused. What plot?
Only then did she come to her senses and carefully digest the memories she had just received.
[Damn!]
She remembered everything. Everything!
She had transmigrated into the novel The Maid’s Path to the Phoenix. She was a cannon-fodder supporting character in the book: the youngest daughter of Concubine Cui in the General Anbei’s residence. Her name was also Sheng Zhao. She was the fifth child in the family and twelve years old.
Her mother had died when she was born, while her father spent most of his time away fighting wars. As a daughter born to a concubine, life in the inner residence was incredibly difficult.
The person who most enjoyed making things difficult for her was her legal mother, Dai Yunshu. She was the legitimate daughter of a second-rank official, the Minister of Revenue, and came from a powerful family.
Next was Dai Yunshu’s daughter, the legitimate fourth young miss of the Sheng family, Sheng Ruyi.
Dai Yunshu knew that she had been able to marry into the General’s Residence entirely because of her illustrious family background. In General Sheng’s heart, however, the woman he truly loved was still his favored concubine, Concubine Cui. And Sheng Zhao looked exactly like her mother.
As for Sheng Ruyi, she had fallen for He Yunxiao, the eldest son of the Minister of Revenue. Yet He Yunxiao just happened to treat her half-sister exceptionally well.
Jealousy could make people utterly unrecognizable.
Mother and daughter joined forces to plot against Sheng Zhao.
Whenever General Sheng was away fighting, they would employ every underhanded scheme they could think of. Sometimes they ordered people to set fire to her courtyard and disguised it as an accident. Other times, they secretly poisoned her and pretended that she had suffered a sudden illness.
According to the letters that had been sent back, the army had won a great victory at the front, and the general was currently on his way back to the capital. He was expected to arrive home tomorrow.
That was why the two women had grown anxious and decided to finish off this eyesore today.
What a hopelessly doomed identity! Sheng Zhao felt like crying.
Could the original female lead possibly be her elder half-sister, Sheng Ruyi?
Wrong! Completely wrong!
The true female lead of the novel was Guanyue, a maid in Sheng Ruyi’s courtyard.
The story centered on Guanyue, a low-ranking servant girl in the General’s Residence. Because of her outstanding beauty, she was constantly ostracized, while her mistress beat and cursed her at every turn.
When the Crown Prince visited the residence, he happened to encounter her and was moved by her beauty and sincerity.
After that came a series of chance encounters and flirtatious push-and-pull. Guanyue also possessed the halo of a female lead, stumbling into one fortuitous opportunity after another. She and the Crown Prince weathered hardships together, journeyed side by side, and gradually developed feelings for each other.
Of course, the protagonists’ success could not have come without the sacrifices of the supporting characters. The General’s Residence was the greatest victim of all.
The Crown Prince belonged to a different political faction from the Sheng family. In order to eliminate the powerful ally that stood in his way, he secretly worked with Guanyue to forge secret correspondence between General Sheng and the generals stationed at the border. He also manufactured numerous coincidences, eventually causing the Sheng family to be accused of treason.
The evidence was conclusive, and the entire family was imprisoned.
Guanyue, having earned merit by reporting the treason and provided the Crown Prince with considerable assistance, was freed from her status as a slave. With the Crown Prince staunchly defying all opposition, she became the Crown Princess.
It was a perfect ending. The couple rode off into the sunset together.
Sheng Zhao: “Bah! How vicious!”
Hearing voices from inside the room, Nanny Kong and Nanny Sun exchanged a glance.
“She’s awake?”
They immediately carried the bowl of medicine into the room.
Sheng Zhao: …Was it too late to pretend to still be unconscious?
“The Fifth Young Miss is awake. Madam is concerned about you and specially ordered us to prepare this medicine. You must drink it while it’s hot.”
Sheng Zhao watched the bowl draw closer and forced a smile.
“Please thank Mother for thinking of me, but I’m already feeling much better. I don’t think I need to drink the medicine.”
Nanny Kong sneered inwardly, though nothing showed on her face.
“Fifth Young Miss, are you planning to spurn Madam’s kindness?”
As she spoke, she brought the bowl to Sheng Zhao’s lips, waiting for her to open her mouth.
[System, Zhizhi! Wasn’t my third brother supposed to come and rescue me in the plot? Why isn’t he here yet?]
The system replied, [Host, according to the original plot, you’re still unconscious at this point. You woke up early.]
Sheng Zhao: …
[Then what do we do? Think of something quickly! If I die, you won’t survive either!]
The system said, [Host! I’ve got it. I have a shop function. We can buy a Pill of Immunity to All Poisons. Then you won’t have to worry!]
[Buy it! Buy it right now!]
The system hesitated. [Um… Purchase failed. It seems we don’t have any points…]
What a useless system!
[Why don’t you stall for time first? Your third brother will be here any moment.]
“Nanny, this medicine is very hot. Let it cool for a while before I drink it.”
“It’s not hot, Young Miss. It’s already cooled down. It’s only warm.”
…
“It’s bitter. I’ve been afraid of bitter things since I was little. I’m afraid I won’t be able to swallow it.”
Sheng Zhao put on a look of resistance and searched desperately for another excuse.
The next second, Nanny Kong produced two candied fruits.
“This old servant has already prepared some candied fruit. You can eat one after drinking the medicine to take away the bitterness.”
They had clearly come prepared!
Sheng Zhao nearly burst into tears. If she drank the medicine, would she simply vomit blood and die on the spot?
“Oh, how about I eat one first to moisten my throat…”
Nanny Sun snatched the bowl away, her face full of impatience.
“Why are you wasting time talking to her? Hold her down. I’ll force it down her throat!”
!!!
A horse that refuses to eat grass can be forced to swallow it, and a person who doesn’t want to die can be forced to drink poison?
They weren’t even pretending anymore!
Sheng Zhao’s eyes widened. She was forcibly pinned down, unable to move. All she could do was cover her mouth and shake her head frantically. During the struggle, she “accidentally” knocked over the bowl, sending the medicine splashing across the floor.
[Thank goodness, thank goodness! That was a close one. My life is safe for now!]
“You keep an eye on her. I’ll go back to the kitchen and get another bowl.”
Nanny Sun shot Sheng Zhao a vicious look before leaving the room.
All right, all right… They were really going to chase her down and kill her?
“Zhaozhao, I heard from the servants in your courtyard that you were ill. How are you?”
Sheng Yanshu hurried into the room. The first thing he saw was his full sister, pale-faced and half-propped against the bed.
The second thing he saw was the shattered bowl on the floor and the medicine spilled everywhere.
He had finally arrived!
Why were Sheng Zhao’s eyes brimming with tears? Because waiting for her third brother had been so difficult!
“Third Brother!”
As if she had grasped a lifeline, Sheng Zhao let out a loud cry.
A flicker of panic appeared on Nanny Kong’s face.
“Third Young Master, the young miss was throwing a tantrum and refused to drink her medicine. She even smashed the bowl.”
Sheng Yanshu frowned at Sheng Zhao, but his eyes held a trace of tenderness.
“You’re sick. How can you refuse to take your medicine? Zhaozhao, you’re being spoiled again.”
“Bro! They’re trying to poison your little sister, and you’re actually urging me to drink it! Are you my real brother or just my cousin!?”
Sheng Yanshu paused mid-motion and immediately looked at his sister, then glanced around the room.
Who was speaking?
His sister clearly hadn’t opened her mouth.
Ahhh! Was he seeing a ghost in broad daylight?!
