Chapter 6: Such Audacity

Qiao Qingyun, who had been assigned to Tingzhu Courtyard, sprawled on the large bed with her arms and legs flung wide. The sudden waft of fragrance startled her. She jerked upright, quickly got off the bed, and lifted the covers to take a closer look...

"Well!" she exclaimed.

So this was the crown prince’s residence—no wonder! Qiao Qingyun thought to herself in admiration. Even such fine sandalwood was used to make the bed? Impressive!

“Miss?” A maid entered, dressed in green, her hair simply adorned, obediently carrying a basin of hot water as she approached Qiao Qingyun with a hint of timidity. “Miss, would you like to wash your face? Or shall I prepare hot water and assist you with your bath?”

Qiao Qingyun glanced at the girl. “What’s your name?”

“I am called Qingluo, miss.”

“Qingluo?” Qiao Qingyun repeated the name a few times, then nodded approvingly. “A lovely name. Will you be serving me from now on?”

“Yes.” Qingluo hadn’t expected to be sent to Tingzhu Courtyard herself.

When she was first brought here by the steward, she hadn’t realized anyone would be living here. It was only at the door that she discovered she was to serve the woman sent by Yuan Zaichun.

Looking at Qiao Qingyun, she didn’t seem like a wealthy young mistress, but more like a carefree girl. How had she ended up entangled in the crown prince’s affairs?

“Very well, then. Go prepare the water. And remember, apart from you, only assign the others to do menial work.”

Qiao Qingyun had just arrived, but she’d long since witnessed the covert power struggles within the palace while at Yuan Zaichun’s side. Besides, all those palace dramas hadn’t been watched for nothing!

“Yes, miss.” Qingluo was both startled and delighted, immediately bowing and hurrying out to give instructions.

When she returned, she had changed into a more conspicuous pink outfit and even wore a jade pendant at her waist, which puzzled Qiao Qingyun.

It wasn’t until she stepped into the wooden bath barrel and enjoyed her bath in solitude, with only Qingluo attending, that she asked quietly, “Why did you change your clothes?”

“Miss… I told the steward your instructions. He said I am now the head maid of this courtyard, so I must change my attire accordingly.”

“Head maid? Very well.”

Qiao Qingyun hadn’t expected that a single word from her would elevate this little maid to head maid.

Regardless, the palace’s strict hierarchy meant that the head maid enjoyed far better treatment than an ordinary maid, even the courtyard she lived in was second only to the mistress’s.

Knock, knock, knock.

A sudden series of knocks sounded at the door. Qiao Qingyun froze, instinctively turning her back. “Who is it?”

Qingluo glanced outside, halted her motions, quickly stepped down from her stool, and ran out.

Opening the door to see the steward standing there, Qingluo grew more respectful. “Is there a message from the prince?”

“The prince has urgent business and asks Miss Qiao to come at once.”

Sensing the warmth within, the steward understood Qiao Qingyun was bathing and left it at that.

Inside, Qiao Qingyun had heard everything clearly.

“Understood. Please relay my reply—I’ll be there shortly.”

“Yes, miss.” The steward departed, and Qiao Qingyun stepped out of the bath, swiftly donned her clothes, and let Qingluo help her change into fresh attire.

One had to admit, the crown prince’s residence was truly luxurious—even the clothes were Suzhou embroidery.

“Miss Qiao, you are so beautiful—no wonder the prince is taken with you.”

Qiao Qingyun nearly choked on her own saliva at Qingluo’s remark, hastily waving her hands. “Don’t speak such things carelessly.”

Chastened, Qingluo nodded. “Yes, miss. I understand.”

When Qiao Qingyun arrived at Yuan Zaichun’s room, she found a strange and unsettling silence. A sense of foreboding crept over her.

“Your Highness?” she called tentatively.

“Come in.”

A low, dangerous voice responded. Qiao Qingyun smoothed her clothes, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

The sharp smell of blood hit her instantly. She shut the door in a hurry, even leaving Qingluo outside.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Qiao Qingyun attempted a clumsy curtsy, but Yuan Zaichun had no patience for formalities. He frowned, gesturing toward the man lying on the floor. “Save him.”

“Oh…” If Yuan Zaichun didn’t mind, then neither would she.

With that thought, Qiao Qingyun immediately knelt beside the black-clad figure, frowned, and took his pulse.

“Poison?” she asked, slightly startled. The color of his lips had already suggested as much, but she still checked carefully.

“That’s right.” Yuan Zaichun confirmed.

Qiao Qingyun raised an eyebrow. Wasn’t this the perfect moment to negotiate?

“And what will Your Highness offer me in exchange?”

At the sly glint in her eyes, Yuan Zaichun’s face darkened. He had been pacing in agitation, unsure what to do, but now he turned and sat down heavily.

“What do you want?”

“Why, the position of crown princess, of course.”

Indeed, if she settled for a consort’s rank, who could say if she’d ever be repaid with gratitude? After all, the death of a secondary consort was no great matter, but if it were the crown princess herself, things would be different.

“Oh? You have quite the audacity.”

Yuan Zaichun’s expression grew so dark it might have dripped ink; clearly, he was truly angry. Who would have thought Qiao Qingyun would still be bargaining at a time like this?

She cast a fleeting glance at the man on the floor—his attire was far finer than the other guards’. Clearly, his relationship with Yuan Zaichun was not trivial.

If so, then her path to becoming the crown princess was practically assured.

“This man must mean a great deal to you, Your Highness, or perhaps he holds important secrets. If I were the crown princess, saving him would be only right. But if not…” Qiao Qingyun’s tone was deliberately ambiguous, “Who knows where my needle might land.”

“How dare you!” Yuan Zaichun gritted his teeth.

Qiao Qingyun waved her hand dismissively. “On the contrary, Your Highness, we both stand to gain. For instance…”

As she spoke, she drew from her waist a vial from her medical kit—the antidote to deadly arsenic!

Indeed, arsenic could be neutralized by dimercaprol, turning it into a harmless substance the body could expel.

“Right now, many must be falling victim to arsenic poisoning. With this antidote, within one hour of ingestion, lives can be saved.”

“Is that true?” Yuan Zaichun’s pupils contracted sharply.

Qiao Qingyun nodded. “Your Highness should well remember what happened with the Seventh Prince. Had I not intervened then, he would have been doomed.”