"I'll go!" Cui Yi rarely avoided discussing important matters with Chi Ying in front of the servants. Xiaoqiu, being intelligent, knew they were discussing something crucial and decided to handle it herself to avoid any mishaps.
Xiaoqiu hurried out, while Nong Yue confirmed she had left the yard. She glanced at the maidservants tidying up and commanded, "Hurry up, even the items not taken should be neatly packed. These are fine materials; don't damage them." The maidservants complied without looking up. Nong Yue took a deep breath and secretly pulled out a small paper packet from her sleeve.
Chi Ying quietly returned through the side door, approaching the window sl*t and peering inside.
Nong Yue held the packet, closed her eyes, and muttered something before making a praying gesture. Then, trembling, she opened the packet and sprinkled its contents onto the precious thousand-year-old ginseng.
Cui Yi had guessed correctly; Nong Yue was an insider. Chi Ying sighed and covered her forehead.
Chi Ying pretended nothing happened, confirming the luggage was ready and sending everyone away. She instructed Xiaoqiu to secretly take the box of ginseng to a local pharmacy to identify the substance Nong Yue had added.
An hour later, Xiaoqiu returned, looking grave. "The doctor said it's likely arsenic."
"What should we do next?" Cui Yi had heard Chi Ying describe Nong Yue's actions earlier. Perhaps because he already suspected her, he wasn't shocked or angry upon hearing the confirmation.
Chi Ying calmly sat in a chair. "Wait."
Both were puzzled. "Wait for what?"
"Wait for her to commit suicide," Chi Ying's eyes gleamed with confidence. "If she has a reason, she will definitely kill herself by tomorrow morning at the latest."
The long night passed, and neither Chi Ying nor Cui Yi slept, keeping vigil by the lamp. As dawn approached, the wick drooped again.
Chi Ying trimmed the wick, and Cui Yi followed her movements, rubbing his tired eyes. "How can you be so sure Nong Yue has a reason? She doesn't seem like Xie Yong. Deep palace women are often inscrutable. She might appear harmless until something happens, then become venomous."
"I can't explain it, just a feeling," Chi Ying, exhausted from the sleepless night, rested her head on the table. "Nong Yue gives me a different impression than Xie Yong. Since uncovering Duanfei's and the Empress's plot, I felt Nong Yue had a reason. Otherwise, with her maturity, she wouldn't have exposed her helplessness when escorting me to Hanfu Palace."
Cui Yi remained unconvinced. He believed his mother initially placed Nong Yue in the palace to scheme against Chi Ying, but Chi Ying trusted her. Whose intuition was right?
At daybreak, Xiaoqiu knocked on the door, "Your Highness, my lady, may I come in?"
Chi Ying sighed, resting her head on her hand. "Have I made a mistake?"
As Xiaoqiu pushed open the door, a maid's piercing scream came from the neighboring courtyard. "Ahh!!!"
The sound jolted Cui Yi and Chi Ying awake, and they rushed to the scene. The maid sat trembling on the threshold, covering her mouth in terror. Cui Yi entered to find Nong Yue hanging from the beam, clutching the sheet with her feet kicking.
"Help her down!" Cui Yi shouted. Servants rushed in to lower her.
Nong Yue collapsed, coughing and crying. Xiaoqiu helped her breathe, and after calming down, she tearfully looked at Chi Ying and knelt, pressing her forehead to the cold floor.
Chi Ying signaled the servants to leave, leaving only the four of them.
"I saw what you did yesterday," Chi Ying's tone was unusually calm. "I have one question."
Nong Yue curled up, her thin frame shaking. "Since you've decided to work for the emperor, why commit suicide before we leave?"
Tears streamed down Nong Yue's face as she bowed repeatedly. "Forgive me! I never intended to betray His Highness for the emperor. He threatened to kill my father and siblings. I had no choice. Your Highness and Lady have been kind, and I couldn't bear to betray you. Last night, overwhelmed with guilt, I chose death to atone!"
Cui Yi sighed, "You were right."
Nong Yue continued bowing, her forehead bruising. Xiaoqiu, moved, shot Chi Ying a pleading look.
Chi Ying asked, "Who is 'he,' the emperor or someone else?"
Nong Yue sobbed, "Not the emperor, but someone calling himself Scholar Banxia. I never heard of him before receiving a letter from home, thinking it was a family letter. It turned out to be a threat, demanding I poison the herbs you take back to the capital. I..."
Chi Ying was surprised. This Scholar Banxia was unexpected. In her previous life, she never heard of him near Cui Jie. His strategies combined high-level foresight and meticulous detail, preferring to watch them knowingly step into traps.
"Yan Prefecture is rich in ginseng and snow frogs. He anticipated we'd take valuable herbs if we decided to return," Cui Yi's voice was low and angry. "Lacking virtue, he resorts to despicable threats."
Chi Ying pondered the matter further. Nong Yue spoke again, "Lady, there's one more thing..."
Chi Ying interrupted, "Releasing Xie Yuchan?"
Nong Yue lowered her head. Xiaoqiu immediately flared up, "You released that witch? Whose side are you on?"
"Probably Duanfei's letter asking for your help?" Chi Ying asked.
Nong Yue nodded, ashamed. "Lady Xie's family intended to defect to the emperor but lacked a legitimate daughter. She hoped to deceive Xie Yuchan back and offer her to the emperor. I thought the Xie siblings caused trouble and freeing them seemed better. I didn't expect them to kidnap the lady! If I knew, I'd rather lose my hands than release them!"
With this, Duanfei's illness and desire to see Cui Yi were confirmed as a trap. Chi Ying waited for Cui Yi's decision.
Cui Yi sat silently, his gaze dark and ominous.
"My lord," Chi Ying approached, "let's return. If you're unsure, let's consult Master Bai Li."
Cui Yi remained silent. Nong Yue whispered, "Her Majesty mentioned you in her letter, saying she always cared for you and hoped I'd serve you well. Despite the Xie family's decision, she wishes you well."
Cui Yi exhaled heavily, wiping his face, and slammed his fist on the table. "Set out!"
Chi Ying immediately followed, instructing Xiaoqiu, "Watch Nong Yue and prevent her from committing suicide. Follow Master Bai Li's instructions."
Outside, the servants awaited orders. Hearing about Nong Yue's suicide attempt, they trembled. Chi Ying instructed the maidservants, "Prepare the carriage. Take care of Miss Xiaonian. If anything goes wrong, you'll be held accountable."
Everything was loaded, and Cao Qian waited outside. Seeing their weary faces, he was puzzled but dared not ask. He opened the carriage door for them.
Two carriages, a thousand soldiers, and they set off. Soon, Cui Yi ordered, "Stop!"
The carriage halted. Cao Qian rode up, "Your Highness, what's your command?"
Cui Yi gestured to Chi Ying, "Get out."
Chi Ying and Cao Qian were confused.
"Get out, go back," Cui Yi's tone was calm. "Knowing it's a trap, we shouldn't both jump into it. Return and protect Xiaonian. If I don't make it back, govern Yan Prefecture. Seek revenge for me if you can."
Cao Qian turned pale. "Why say such things?"
Cui Yi shook his head, "Return. Either I stay here or ride ahead. You go back."
Chi Ying grabbed his wrist, tears welling up. "My lord, we must go together."
Cui Yi sighed, "Alright, let's proceed."
Go alone to a perilous place like that? What a joke! If anyone should return, it should be General Cao; I must follow the Prince."
Cao Qian immediately said, "Wherever Her Highness goes, I will go. Be it a dragon's den or tiger's lair, even hell itself, I wouldn't blink an eye!"
Ji Cui was half-risen but was pulled back, struggling internally. Chi Ying firmly pressed him down: "Your Highness, both Zhonghang and I understand your intentions. This journey is fraught with danger, and it's not worth everyone risking their lives. But what good would it do if we stayed behind? Without Your Highness, Yan Prefecture would fall apart. No matter who takes over, without Your Highness' fortune, neither Yan Prefecture nor its ten thousand soldiers and civilians can survive!"
"Think of Xian'er, she is still so young. Could Your Highness bear to let her lose her loving father?" Ji Cui struggled, but Chi Ying firmly held him down, "We cannot face this mission with a death wish; instead, we must strive to come back alive at all costs!"
Cao Qian nodded vigorously: "Madam is right! Your Highness, you must not be in danger!"
Ji Cui closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and finally gave up: "Let's go."
The procession resumed its journey. Ji Cui leaned against the carriage wall, letting out a long sigh. Chi Ying, equally heavy-hearted, lifted the curtain to look outside.
Snowflakes danced wildly, turning the world into a sculpted wonderland of white, silent as if the universe had just begun, with everything in quiet repose.
No footprints marred the snow-covered road ahead, symbolizing the uncertain future they faced.