Chapter 263: Herbal Medicine—Set Up
The Empress was extremely displeased. She had merely listened to Yao’er and thought that taking this woman in for her son would help him compete for the throne in the future. Who would have thought that this woman, who looked so harmless, actually harbored ambitions?
Ambition wasn’t a bad thing—but the position of principal consort absolutely could not be given to this woman. She had already earmarked that spot for the Left Chancellor’s legitimate second daughter.
“Your Majesty,” Nan Xun said unhurriedly, “it’s not that I wish to covet the position of principal consort. Rather, disciples of the Mo Ran Hall are forbidden from marrying for life. Has Your Majesty ever seen a Mo Ran Hall disciple take a wife?”
The Empress froze. “But you are a woman—how can that be the same?”
“Your Majesty, let’s speak plainly,” Nan Xun said with a faint smile. “What you value is my status as a Mo Ran Hall disciple. But if I were to marry, that status would be of little use. Besides, the National Preceptor might avoid suspicion and shift his support to the Fifth Prince instead.”
The Empress’s expression changed abruptly. After a long moment, she said awkwardly, “This palace failed to consider matters thoroughly. Miss Nineteen, pretend you never heard anything said today.”
Nan Xun dipped into a polite bow. Before leaving, she glanced at Princess Yao and found her smiling back—her gaze viciously cold.
After walking some distance, Nan Xun faintly heard the Empress reproaching her daughter. “Yao’er, this was inappropriate. Fortunately, this palace did not force the matter.”
Princess Yao replied coquettishly, “I know, Mother. It was my oversight. I only happened to see Second Brother staring blankly at Gong Nineteen’s portrait, so I wanted to bring a good match to fruition.”
Nan Xun frowned slightly. She had a feeling that this visit to the palace wasn’t going to be that simple.
Could Princess Yao really just let her go like this?
Yet along the way, Nan Xun encountered no further mishaps.
When Gong Mo Ran learned that the Empress had summoned Gong Nineteen, he uncharacteristically asked about it.
Nan Xun recounted everything that had happened in the hall, detail by detail. After hearing it, Gong Mo Ran didn’t even furrow his brows.
Nan Xun was a tactful person. Aside from her initial attempt to fight for herself, once the big boss seemed intent on distancing himself, she cooperated fully—answering only when asked, saying nothing extra.
After Nan Xun turned to leave, Gong Mo Ran’s cool gaze settled on her retreating figure, some emotion churning in his eyes.
He was said to be sentimental—yet it turned out he was ruthless.
Still young, after all. Her temperament wasn’t settled yet.
Forget it. This was fine. This outcome was exactly what he wanted.
After this, the Empress summoned Nan Xun to the palace every few days. Each time, they merely sat and chatted briefly; sometimes Princess Yao was present, sometimes not.
Another half month passed. Princess Yao’s wedding was approaching, and the chief eunuch who always summoned Nan Xun arrived at the Mo Ran Hall once more.
Nan Xun was getting annoyed. She didn’t even bother changing clothes and went with him directly.
The other disciples found this unsurprising, though they were puzzled. Did the Empress really like Nineteen that much, to summon her again and again just to chat?
They weren’t worried about Nineteen leaking Mo Ran Hall secrets—she hadn’t been there long and hadn’t learned anything yet.
Nan Xun followed the eunuch ahead of her. As they walked, she sensed the route was wrong and asked, “Eunuch, wasn’t it the Empress who summoned me? This path looks unfamiliar.”
The eunuch explained, “Her Majesty went to admire the flowers over there. Just follow this servant.”
By then, Nan Xun had already sensed something was off. Although it was the same eunuch today, he hadn’t read out an imperial decree.
Nan Xun had been waiting for this day, so she didn’t expose him.
The eunuch led her to a small side hall. The scenery was beautiful, but the location was remote—few people ever came here. It was perfect for killing someone and covering it up.
They clearly didn’t want her dead; otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone through so much trouble.
“Her Majesty is resting inside,” the eunuch said. “Miss, you may go in directly.”
The moment Nan Xun stepped inside, she heard a crisp clang outside.
The courtyard gate had been locked by the eunuch!
Nan Xun paused, then walked farther in. She wanted to see exactly what Princess Yao and the Empress were up to.
“Little Eight, is there a back door?” Nan Xun asked.
“No. If you want out, you’ll have to climb the wall.”
Nan Xun said, “I’ve thought of a possibility. There might be a corpse lying in this side hall, and they want to frame me.”
Little Eight glanced around quickly. “Not a corpse. It’s breathing.” And the breathing was frighteningly heavy.
Before it could say more, Nan Xun had already pushed the door open.
As soon as the door opened, a strange fragrance hit her nose. Her vision swam instantly, and an odd sensation surged through her.
She understood at once: …
“Little Eight, give me a pill that makes me immune to all poisons,” Nan Xun said weakly. In the blink of an eye, her voice turned soft and seductive.
“Give my ass. I told you ages ago—my pills can counter a hundred poisons, but not aphrodisiacs.”
Nan Xun was furious. The drug was strong. She’d only taken one whiff earlier and already felt like she was floating. Now, after breathing it in who knows how many times, she felt like her body no longer belonged to her—sliding toward shameless depravity.
Her steps were unsteady. Seeing a male lying on the bed, she clearly wanted to stay away, but her legs wouldn’t obey, carrying her closer step by step.
With half-lidded, sultry eyes, Nan Xun looked over and found the person familiar—wasn’t it that… Fifth Prince?
Heh. What she’d said to the Empress the first time had really worked. The Empress had taken it to heart and turned around to scheme against the Second Prince’s rival, the Fifth Prince.
Judging by the Fifth Prince’s state, he had clearly been drugged as well and was slowly coming to.
Nan Xun sat at the edge of the bed and reached out to pat his face. When he opened his eyes, she leaned in and smiled like a little妖精. “Fifth Prince, you… uh, do you have a way to get out?”
The Fifth Prince was even more muddled than she was. The intense reaction in his body made him yank Nan Xun toward him and start tearing at her clothes.
Nan Xun got angry and smacked his head away. “Hey—get lost. You think you’re worthy of touching me?”
She kicked him away and pointed at the main door, squinting as she ordered, “Go. Go smash that door. If you can’t break it, ram it with your head. Hurry up~”
“Holy crap, Little Eight—why do I sound like this~~ Ugh, so annoying~~”
Little Eight: …
Kicked away, the Fifth Prince crawled back toward Nan Xun on instinct. He didn’t know what she’d said—he just wanted relief. He was miserable.
His persistence infuriated Nan Xun. She lifted her leg, ready to kick him flying—
Just then, with a loud bang, the hall door was smashed open by a tremendous force. The door shattered into pieces, debris scattered everywhere.
From the outside, it looked as if the man and woman on the bed were already entangled, their posture indecent beyond measure.
Gong Mo Ran’s gaze darkened abruptly. Something surged violently in his usually calm eyes, and an unnamed fury flared in his chest.
With a sweep of his long arm, the man pressing down on Nan Xun was flung hard to the floor.
