Chapter 271: What Can You Do to Me?
Once Nan Xun finished reading that single line, the lively little paper figurine instantly lost all vitality. It slumped limply to the ground, becoming nothing more than an inanimate scrap of paper.
The curve of Nan Xun’s lips slowly flattened, and a chill crept into her gaze.
Gong Da was loyal to the National Preceptor. Unless absolutely necessary, she had no desire to confront him head-on.
But if he insisted on provoking her, then he shouldn’t blame her for being ruthless.
Her eyes flickered slightly, and she pushed open the door and stepped out of the main hall.
She had barely cleared the threshold when someone grabbed her arm hard.
Gong Seventeen scolded in a low voice, “You idiot—why did you come out?”
He dragged her into his side hall. Though the distance was only a dozen or so steps, Nan Xun still felt countless astonished gazes land on her. Some people even exclaimed outright:
“Oh my god, so yesterday’s demoness was actually Nineteen!”
“I told you—what other woman could scheme against my lord? If it’s Nineteen, then it’s not strange at all. Look how much my lord usually spoils her!”
“I still can’t believe it. Did my lord really… with Nineteen?”
“Shh, be careful. If Senior Brother hears—”
With a bang, Gong Seventeen slammed his door shut. He shot Nan Xun an annoyed look and got straight to the point.
“Congratulations. You finally got what you wanted.”
Nan Xun’s brows curved into a smile. “I also have to thank you, Seventeen, for lending me a hand. You were the one who tipped my lord off yesterday, weren’t you? Otherwise, how could he have arrived so quickly?”
Gong Seventeen clicked his tongue. “You idiot. You got what you wanted last night, but do you have any idea how dangerous a position you’ve put yourself in?”
Hearing that, Nan Xun’s expression turned serious. “Seventeen, thank you for the reminder. But my wish has been fulfilled. I fear nothing now.”
He mocked her mercilessly. “So you’re that self-aware—you’re even prepared for death. You know my lord can’t watch over you all the time. If Gong Da wants to deal with you, you’ll have only one ending: death.”
Nan Xun suddenly propped her chin on her hand and studied him, asking Little Eight in her mind, Is Gong Seventeen this worried about me because he likes me?
Little Eight made a gagging noise. I know you’re narcissistic sometimes, but I didn’t know you were narcissistic to this extent. Do you think you’re a silver ingot, loved by everyone?
Nan Xun: …
She suddenly asked Gong Seventeen, “If Gong Da and I really clash, who will you help—him or me?”
Before he could answer, she smiled. “Actually, don’t help either of us. Just stand aside and watch.”
From the very beginning, Nan Xun had never planned to hide inside the hall, because she knew the Empress would definitely summon her to the palace today.
Sure enough, before long, the Empress’s chief eunuch arrived.
This time, it was a direct verbal decree inviting her into the palace for a short visit.
Despite having schemed against Nan Xun just yesterday, the eunuch acted as if nothing had happened, calmly leading her into the Empress’s palace.
The Empress beckoned her to sit. As soon as Nan Xun took her seat, the Empress began to look her up and down. Princess Yao sat nearby, casting sideways glances at her.
“I see that Nineteen looks rosy and radiant today,” the Empress said knowingly. “Did something joyful happen yesterday?”
Nan Xun grinned. “For this humble subject, it truly was a momentous joy.”
Princess Yao giggled. “What a coincidence. I saw Fifth Imperial Brother today, and he looked utterly haggard—completely opposite from Miss Nineteen. I wonder which little demon drained him dry last night.”
Nan Xun lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, saying nothing.
The mother and daughter tried every way to humiliate her, but she remained unmoved, even appearing to be in a rather good mood.
After sitting for a while, Nan Xun took her leave. Princess Yao’s gaze darkened.
“Miss Nineteen, let me see you out.”
“Thank you for the trouble, Princess.” Nan Xun gave a slight bow and didn’t even bother to decline.
Halfway there, Princess Yao suddenly dismissed the attendants. She lifted her chin and sneered,
“So you really are something that can’t be shown in public. I thought you’d cry your eyes out, but it seems you quite enjoyed yourself. Then again, even though Fifth Prince isn’t the most favored, he’s still someone a lowly person like you could never aspire to. If not for my help, how could you ever have climbed into Fifth Prince’s bed?”
Nan Xun admired her contemptuous, arrogant expression, then suddenly laughed.
“Princess Yao, I truly should thank you. If you and Her Majesty hadn’t schemed against me, I might have had to wait much longer to climb into the National Preceptor’s bed. Last night, my lord arrived just in time and then… heh—became my antidote.”
Princess Yao’s smile froze instantly, then cracked, and finally twisted into something ferocious.
“You vile woman, what nonsense are you spouting? The National Preceptor? You think someone like you dares to covet the National Preceptor?”
Nan Xun covered her lips and laughed smugly.
“What? Did Princess Yao already forget the good deed you did? Where I went last night, what drug I was given—surely you know very well? I was with my lord, right in that little hall you arranged. We were utterly blissful, locked together until dawn, when my lord finally carried me back.”
Princess Yao’s eyes widened violently.
“Impossible—this is impossible! The National Preceptor is like a fallen immortal, pure and ascetic. How could he do such things with a wretch like you? Impossible! You’re lying—you bitch!”
Nan Xun shrugged and laughed just like her.
“That’s exactly why I need to thank you, Princess Yao. If you hadn’t placed such a powerful aphrodisiac in that hall, how could my lord have gone along with my wishes so conveniently?”
“You’re full of lies! The Fifth Prince was also in that hall. If he didn’t do anything with you, why was he fine? That aphrodisiac is extremely potent—once inhaled, only the union of yin and yang can neutralize it!”
Nan Xun was startled. What a vicious woman!
If Gong Mo Ran hadn’t arrived in time, even if she’d resisted, she would have been tortured to death by the aphrodisiac in the end.
Her gaze shifted slightly, and she suddenly exclaimed in surprise,
“Princess Yao, if you hadn’t told me this, I really wouldn’t have known. My lord clearly had medicine to counter the aphrodisiac, yet he was willing to use his own body to detoxify me. Oh my—could it be that my lord had feelings for me long ago but had been suppressing them, and thanks to you providing such a perfect opportunity, he simply went with the flow and finally met me honestly? If that’s the case, then I really must thank you, Princess~”
“You—you—you bitch! I’ll kill you—!” Princess Yao’s face twisted grotesquely. She screamed and raised her hand to slap Nan Xun.
Nan Xun stood perfectly still, calmly watching her.
In the next instant, Princess Yao’s movement suddenly halted. The hand meant to strike Nan Xun veered unnaturally and landed with a sharp smack on her own face.
She stared in horror at the smiling woman before her and muttered,
“Demoness… you’re a demoness!”
The curve of Nan Xun’s lips widened bit by bit.
“Even if I am—what can you do to me?”
