Gu Liu Yue felt the hair on the base of her neck stand up as she gazed into the eyes of her niece.
"Liu Yue, your niece can speak now!", Chu Li Fen said excitedly to her sister-in-law.
In coordination with her mother Song Li Ling spoke.
"Hello, Aunt.", she said, hiding the underlying hatred in her voice.
Gu Liu Yue gave her brother and sister-in-law a stiff smile, trying to hide her malice. She would have to find a different way to torment this niece of hers and get rid of her. She stretched her arms towards Li Ling.
"Good child, come, let Aunt hold you.", she said.
"Father, hold me... ", Song Li Ling said and stretched her little hands.
Unable to resist her, her father took her into his arms and went back to sit behind his desk. Over his shoulder, Li Ling gave her aunt a smirk. Dear Aunt would be the first target of Song Li Ling's wrath.
The glittering eyes and smirk of her niece sent a jolt through Gu Liu Yue, her subconsciousness felt her impending doom. Sitting in her father's lap Song Li Ling looked like any other innocent child. No one could fathom that this child would one day rule the continent.
*
Li Ling had expected her aunt to turn hostile after the shocking news she received in the morning and she was right. That afternoon as the family sat for lunch she noticed her bowl and chopsticks were coated in snake venom. This would not kill her but, daily doses would result in severe abdominal cramps and progressive paralysis.
From the memories of this body, she concluded this work was done by her aunt's closest maid Zhu'er. Zhu'er had joined her aunt on more than one occasion to torture Song Li Ling and soon she would suffer the consequences of her misdoings right alongside her mistress.
Gu Liu Yue sat smugly across the table, eyeing Li Ling's bowl and chopsticks, waiting for her to take the first bite to her doom. Unfortunately for her, this was not the past Li Ling. She would no longer cower nor bend to anyone's coercion. This was Luna, the top assassin of the 21st century who was well versed in poisons.
Song Li Ling watches as her aunt's smile widened as her chopsticks came closer to her mouth. Just as Gu Liu Yue could celebrate the beginning of her plan to get rid of her niece, the chopsticks paused.
"Mother...Ling'er wants to eat the lotus seed porridge that mother makes.", Song Li ling said, puffing her cheeks and making puppy dog eyes at her mother.
"You naughty child", her mother said pinching her cheeks, "You know mother can't resist that sweet little face!"
"Then, Ling'er wants mother to feed her!"
"You've spoilt the child.", the general commented, earning a glare from his wife.
"Like you haven't.", she said. "Alright, mother will feed you. What do you want to eat first?"
"Braised pork"
Li Ling opened her mouth as her mother fed her braised pork. She glanced at her aunt who was trying to hide her angry expression behind her bowl of rice and almost choked with laughter.
This was only the beginning.
*
The rest of the day went by fast as Li Ling accompanied her mother who was making medicine in bulk to donate to the needy.
That night Li Ling laid in her bed, she began devising a plan. She had gotten a rare chance at life and this time wasn't going to waste it. From what she had gathered from all her memories past and present, she had to take a few steps to build a strong foundation in these first few years and cultivate to rise to the peak. In the end, she would reach a place where she wouldn't need to fear or bow down to anyone, she'd live a long life and protect her loved ones.
She had a photographic memory so it wouldn't be hard for her to study, but she had to find subordinates and masters to help her gain a wide network. Before anything else, she had to expel the poison in her bones. Tomorrow she would access her mother's medical books and medicine room. Since her mother was a renowned alchemist, she was bound to have some poisons to make medicine stored in the house.
Song Li Ling's little brain had run a hundred miles per hour and soon she fell asleep.
In her dream, she found herself in a little piece of land. There was a little hut, a well, and a field. The sun was shining and a little farther away she could see a little hill. From inside the hut, she saw some light. It was her dream so there was no harm in exploring.
She followed the little path and pushing the door, entered the dusty hut.