Chapter 63: Love Silk Pulls
Li Zhao’s pupils darkened, his expression changed.
But he did not erupt in fury as Xue Sui had guessed, nor did he attack her on the spot. Instead, he released the hand that held her, letting it hang by his side, trembling slightly, his voice cold.
“You’re toying with me?”
Xue Sui did not answer, her clear black and white eyes fixed on him.
It was an admission.
It was the most ruthless provocation and disregard for Li Zhao.
There was a moment of silence in the room.
The two, both poisoned by the Love Silk Lure, looked at each other, their quietness so profound that it was as if no one else existed, save for the movement of their eyelashes and breaths.
After a while, Li Zhao let out a low laugh.
It was the helplessness of a favored son of heaven who had stumbled in a gutter.
“So bold. Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you in my rage?”
“It’s too late.” Xue Sui replied with utter composure.
With that, she slowly sat up straight, smiling as she tidied her clothes and smoothed her disheveled hair, as if nothing had happened, her lips pursed lightly.
“Your Highness just drank the larva of the Gu worm used to make the Love Silk Lure, also known as the ‘Love Silk Gu’. Your Highness’s precious body naturally wouldn’t wish to be entangled with a woman to detoxify. Therefore, using poison to counter poison is the only method. You take the male Gu, and I take the female Gu. From this day forward, Your Highness and I will share one life. If I die, Your Highness will also perish.”
Li Zhao’s expression shifted slightly.
He had never believed in supernatural or strange things before. Although he had heard of the witchcraft of the Southern regions, he had only ever treated it as absurd and fantastical tales.
But after drinking the half-cup of clear water mixed with their blood, the surging heat in his body gradually subsided, and his uncontrollable physical reactions slowly calmed down…
The torment he had endured was finally relieved, forcing him to believe that Xue Liu’s words were not false.
He asked, “Then what will happen to you if my life is short?”
Xue Sui thought for a moment, “My Senior Sister can make poisons and control Gu worms, so I imagine she would have a way to protect me…”
Seeing Li Zhao’s pupils contract sharply, as if he couldn’t believe it, she smiled sweetly.
“Your Highness need not worry. With someone to share life and death, Your Highness is not at a disadvantage, and Xue Liu’s loyalty is evident.”
Li Zhao grabbed her and pulled her over, pinning her by the back of her neck, his voice hoarse and gritted.
“Xue Liu! How dare you?”
Xue Sui, full of smiles, listened to the heavy gasps from his throat. She slowly pushed his arm away, gently placed her fingers on his wrist, lowered her gaze, and spoke in a clear, unruffled voice.
“Your Highness can call me Ping An. May fortune and peace be with you, and may you be safe and sound. This is my wish, and from now on, it should be Your Highness’s wish as well.”
Li Zhao looked down at the slender fingers on his wrist, and a strange feeling suddenly arose in his heart.
She was, of course, beautiful.
But as the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, what kind of beauties had he not seen? How could he be easily moved?
Yet, as if by some curse, Li Zhao found himself thinking that Xue Liu, as she focused on taking his pulse, possessed a beauty that was unique and unparalleled in the world.
He couldn’t even muster anger, despite being schemed against like this.
Was this the effect of the “Love Silk Gu”?
One poison was removed, and another was introduced.
Li Zhao’s heart was shaken and uneasy, his fists clenching slightly.
Xue Sui seemed not to notice his reaction, withdrew her hand, and even wiped her fingertips with a handkerchief. Then she said gently, “The Gu worm larva is still small, and it will take some time to completely remove the residual poison. Your Highness may have to endure a little for these few days…”
After saying this, she seemed to think of something, and the corners of her lips curved slightly.
“Of course, if Your Highness doesn’t wish to endure, that’s also an option. The Eastern Palace is not short of beauties. However, I must remind you to be careful of the Gu worm acting up. If you cannot find a suitable woman and force it, the Gu worm may become dissatisfied and retaliate, and Your Highness will suffer some hardship.”
Li Zhao’s eyes sharpened, “What do you mean by that?”
Xue Sui smiled, “Literally.”
Li Zhao’s handsome face instantly turned pale, as if struck by lightning.
What she meant was that the Love Silk Gu on him would only be attracted to her? If he forced it with another woman, he would suffer a backlash and be in even more unbearable pain?
Wouldn’t that mean he was destined for Xue Liu for the rest of his life?
Li Zhao was so angered by her that he almost laughed.
“Xue Liu, you dare! You really dare?”
Xue Sui stood up and gave him a slight bow.
“Your Highness, Xue Liu has offended you this time, but as an orphan, I am only seeking survival. Your Highness has wanted to kill me for a long time, and my current situation is precarious, so I had to make plans early.”
Li Zhao’s face was stern, his eyes filled with a cold smile.
Xue Sui looked at him steadily.
“Judging by the time, they will be here soon. If we are seen, even if we did nothing, it will be difficult to maintain our innocence.”
Li Zhao curled his lips, his expression a half-smile.
“Between you and me, is there still innocence to speak of?”
Xue Sui’s lips, soft as flower petals, pursed slightly. She said earnestly, “I am innocent. If Your Highness feels you are not so innocent, I cannot be responsible for you. Next month, on Prince Duan’s birthday, I will enter Prince Duan’s Mansion. We will still be as usual, supporting each other, acting as each other’s arms.”
Li Zhao’s throat tightened with anger, wishing he could crush her.
“Very good!”
“Your Highness need not be too nervous. By the time Xue Liu’s plan succeeds, the Love Silk Gu will have fully matured. Once the Gu worm’s lifespan ends, it will naturally die, and Your Highness will regain freedom that day…”
Xue Sui finished with a smile, glanced at him, and slowly walked towards the closed window. She pulled hard, but it wouldn’t open. She then gently tapped on the window frame.
Li Zhao watched her impassively, “No need to struggle. Since Ping Le dared to do something so against the Heavenly Dao, she must have made thorough preparations. If she doesn’t show herself, we won’t be able to get out.”
Xue Sui turned back.
Seeing Li Zhao’s calm expression, a sudden unease arose in her heart.
“Aren’t you afraid of being seen?”
Li Zhao’s pupils were dark, “Since it has come to this, let us accept it.”
What a “since it has come to this, let us accept it.”
Xue Sui was slightly startled, sensing something unusual in Li Zhao’s words.
How could a Crown Prince, who had always navigated crises and remained in the Eastern Palace with ease despite the powerful pressure from Consort Xiao and the Xiao clan, attend a banquet without attendants and so easily fall into Ping Le’s trap?
Xue Sui’s expression gradually turned cold, and her smile became stiff.
“I am different from Your Highness. Your Highness is a favored son of heaven, capable of handling everything. I have no one behind me, no support, so I must plan seven steps ahead for every step I take, never leaving things to fate.”
Li Zhao said, “Xue Ping An, you are truly pitiful and detestable!”
–
The banquet at Chang Chun Pavilion was still ongoing.
Several young ladies were chatting and laughing around Ping Le.
An old woman approached and whispered a few words to Ping Le, who then showed a look of joy on her face.
“Good!”
She smiled and looked at the young ladies and women beside her.
“We’ve been sitting for a long time. You must be tired. Come with me for a walk.”
Those young ladies were all followers of hers from the Women’s Society in Ping Le Square. Without needing to be told explicitly, they exchanged glances and, smiling, rose one by one. They pleaded with the Empress, saying they had eaten too much and needed to sober up and digest.
Empress Xie smiled slightly, “Go ahead.”
Ping Le, holding her four-year-old daughter, swayed her hips as she walked ahead, followed closely by the young ladies, forming a grand and ostentatious procession.
As she left, it felt as if half the people at the table had vanished.
Empress Xie’s expression remained unchanged, as if she hadn’t noticed their disrespect. She calmly remained seated behind her table, raising her cup for a sip and chatting softly with the remaining noblewomen.
In less than a moment, a palace servant rushed in.
“Your Ladyship, something’s wrong…”
Empress Xie’s expression darkened slightly, and she placed her cup heavily on the table.
“What’s the panic? Speak properly.”
The palace servant was startled. Under Empress Xie’s stern gaze, she dared not directly utter what Princess Ping Le had said, “The Crown Prince and a young lady are indulging in private pleasure,” but instead said tactfully:
“Your Highness is drunk and resting in the Bamboo Forest study. He hasn’t come out for a long time. Just now, Princess Ping Le and a group of young ladies went over, and a nanny reported that there seemed to be a woman’s voice in the room… Your Ladyship, please go and see…”
She raised her eyes meaningfully. Empress Xie’s expression changed, but only for a moment.
The next moment, she nodded with a smile and returned to her usual composure, saying calmly, “Perhaps the Crown Prince cannot hold his liquor. I will go and see. Everyone, please relax and enjoy your drinks…”
Empress Xie then calmly left the table.
The noblewomen at the table exchanged glances, their hearts chilling.
Su Xiu Wan, who had just gone out to join the fun, returned and whispered to Madam Fu, as if afraid others wouldn’t know, “Minister’s Wife, I heard it’s your family’s young lady who has achieved something good… Congratulations.”
Madam Fu frowned, looking at Xue Yue E and Xue Yue Man beside her, and couldn’t help but be startled.
Could it be that that useless Xue Liu had disgraced the Minister’s Mansion?
Madam Fu said nothing, stood up, and followed the ladies who were leaving in small groups.
Xue Yue Chen, upon hearing the news, also felt flustered. “Fei Cui.”
Fei Cui responded. Xue Yue Chen gave her a look, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and followed behind Madam Fu, discreetly heading towards the Bamboo Forest study outside the eastern flower garden of the Imperial Garden.
She didn’t believe Xue Liu would do such a thing.
Last time, for Consort Xiao’s plan, Sixth Sister had helped her. Knowing how deeply the Xue family was tied to Prince Duan’s Mansion, why would she try to cling to the Eastern Palace?
What could the Crown Prince give her?
How could Li Zhao compare to Li Huan?
Thinking this, Xue Yue Chen felt a little more at ease.
“It definitely wasn’t Sixth Sister. Let’s walk faster.”
Li Zhao: Come on, come on, everyone come and see how Xue Ping An and I are being illicit.
Xue Sui: Nonsense, I am pure and innocent. You are willing to submit, but I am not.
Li Zhao: Brilliant!
