Big Boss – Chapter 31

Have something sweet to eat

“Leave them in the room and go call Duke Liang,” she whispered.

Ye Youqing heard her words, her thoughts swirling for a moment, then she immediately understood her meaning. She beckoned Qin Xin over, whispered something to her, and the young girl, startled, hastily ran out of the room.

Concubine Xiao glanced nervously outside the door, forced a smile, and said, “Madam, now that the supplements have been delivered, I shall take my leave so as not to disturb your rest.”

As she turned to leave, unexpectedly, Ye Youqing strolled leisurely to the doorway, grabbed a chair and sat down, blocking the door firmly.

Concubine Xiao gripped her handkerchief tightly, shoulders tense, took a few breaths before speaking, “My lady, may I ask what you mean by this?”

Ye Youqing gazed at Ci Ke standing by Zhao Qingrou’s bed, shielding her, then spoke slowly, “Concubine Xiao has made a rare visit and brought so many good things. It’s only right to have you stay a while, as it would be impolite to leave so soon.”

Concubine Xiao’s face had turned from white to green. She forced a smile and gestured to a few maids before saying, “My lady is joking. These are just ordinary supplements, nothing special. I still have household matters to attend to. Please, allow me to leave.”

As she spoke, the maids quickly moved forward to grab the door latch behind Ye Youqing. However, Ye Youqing, casually fanning herself with a fan she had found, glanced at them, causing them to freeze in place, staring at each other.

“Concubine Xiao, don’t make things difficult for others. If they dare to harm their mistress, they will be sent to the authorities for punishment,” Ye Youqing said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the maids all stepped back in unison, exchanging anxious glances with each other.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense, with Concubine Xiao feeling trapped and hesitant to push through. She cast a threatening glance at Ci Ke, hoping she had not noticed anything.

“Come, good girl,” Zhao Qingrou reached out, took Ci Ke’s hand in hers, and gently pulled her down to sit. “Sit with me.”

Ye Youqing watched as Ci Ke stiffened, unable to hold back a smile.

Ci Ke was not used to being close to others. She knew being held by Zhao Qingrou would naturally be awkward, and suddenly, she looked towards Ye Youqing for help, seeking assistance with her eyes.

Ye Youqing shrugged, indicating her inability to intervene.

Fortunately, Zhao Qingrou was truly a woman as gentle as water, never oppressive, but rather, lovingly inquired if Ci Ke was getting used to it. After a while, the woman’s tense body slowly relaxed.

The scene was undoubtedly beautiful, with Zhao Qingrou’s graceful face smiling affectionately, while Ci Ke, though not smiling, also had a gentle expression.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and Ye Youqing’s ears perked up. She moved her gaze away from the enchanting scene, rose to take away the chair. At the same time, the door was knocked upon.

“Qingrou?” came the low, inquiring voice of Duke Liang from outside.

Ye Youqing extended her hand to open the door, allowing Duke Liang’s tall figure to step in. His stern aura, along with the heat from outside, quickly filled the room.

“Ye Lang…” Concubine Xiao, upon seeing him, took a few hesitant steps forward, pausing midway to wipe her eyes with a handkerchief.

“Duke,” Zhao Qingrou’s smile cooled considerably, as she simply uttered this word.

“What’s going on?” Duke Liang swept his eyes across the crowded room, impatiently waving his hand. “You all, get out.”

Upon hearing this, the maids hurriedly bent and rushed outside. Ye Youqing reached out, grabbed the collar of the maid with the ornate flower hairpin, pulled her out, and pushed her next to Concubine Xiao.

The maid stumbled, her gaze evasive, too scared to meet Ye Youqing’s eyes, with her head and chest almost colliding in fear.

“Qingrou, how are you feeling?” Duke Liang stood with his hands behind his back, inquiring.

Since the troubles in the Zhao family, Zhao Qingrou had been unwell, refusing to communicate with him, causing a growing distance between them. In contrast, Concubine Xiao was exceptionally good at winning people’s favor, leading him to pay more attention to her. Over time, she had forgotten her boundaries.

It wasn’t until after the last Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet that he noticed his intelligent daughter and main wife, whom he had neglected.

Instead of answering, Zhao Qingrou, Ye Youqing walked up to him, picking up the bowl of medicine and supplements brought by Concubine Xiao earlier.

“Concubine Xiao, these are the things you sent earlier, all containing green eucalyptus fruits,” Ye Youqing placed them together, then turned, took out some dry powder from the place Ci Ke had touched earlier, casting a glance at Ci Ke.

Ci Ke understood and spoke, “While the green eucalyptus fruit itself is not poisonous, the petals have slight toxicity. Continuous inhalation can harm the liver, and if consumed after poisoning, it can speed up the toxicity.”

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was shocked. Duke Liang widened his eyes, looking at Concubine Xiao, who was already unsteady.

Concubine Xiao was supported by the maid before she could stand firmly. After swallowing a few times, she finally spoke, “So what? I was just kindly sending some soup and medicine. How can you be so suspicious, talking about petals and fruits, tarnishing the reputation of good people!”

“You, this servant, why are you talking nonsense!” Concubine Xiao tried to grab Ci Ke, but Ye Youqing firmly stopped her with one hand, preventing her from touching Ci Ke.

Protected by Ye Youqing behind her, Ci Ke’s eyes drooped briefly before raising again with a sarcastic smile, “Duke, if you don’t believe it, you can find someone to search the room where the Madam used to stay, especially the ventilation hole in the corner, to see if there’s any residue of petal powder.”

“So much green eucalyptus flowers in use, it’s not easy to find; the place that sold them will surely have a record,” Ci Ke added.

“Do not use the household’s physicians,” Ye Youqing supplemented.

Duke Liang glanced at Ci Ke, then at Ye Youqing, before directing his gaze towards Concubine Xiao, who was already sweating profusely. The sweat running down her forehead had ruined her makeup, turning into a mess.

With a slow nod of his head and a trembling at the corner of his mouth, Duke Liang shouted sternly, “Someone, go summon the Imperial Physician. Conduct a thorough search of the Evergreen Pavilion. Until the Imperial Physician arrives, no one is allowed inside!”

He looked back at Concubine Xiao, his gaze seemingly weighing a ton, causing the woman to stagger before finally collapsing on her knees with a trembling like chaff.

“Ye Lang, I have not… I have not…” Concubine Xiao’s voice grew smaller and fainter, eventually like a mosquito’s hum.

With such a poisoning incident happening in his own household, and with it being his most favored concubine, Duke Liang seemed almost dizzy with anger. He pressed his hand to his forehead, let out a heavy sigh, and gritted his teeth, “Someone, lock Concubine Xiao in the side courtyard, guard her closely, and do not allow anyone near her.”

With a wave of his hand, several servants rushed in from outside, almost dragging Concubine Xiao away, amidst her piercing screams and cries that gradually faded into the distance.

As the room grew quieter, Qing Xin pressed against the wall in fear, Zhao Qingrou’s body trembled slightly, seemingly frightened by the realization of being poisoned. Only Ci Ke and Ye Youqing remained calm – one with a fixed gaze for unknown reasons, the other calmly fanning themselves.

Duke Liang looked at Zhao Qingrou for a moment, feeling a twinge of guilt for her having been unknowingly poisoned in his own residence for so long. He reached out hesitantly, wanting to approach her, but Zhao Qingrou avoided his gaze.

He had to stop his footsteps, let out a sigh, offered a few comforting words, had the servants fetch another Imperial Physician to check, then left in big strides.

The door opened and closed again, leaving only four people inside.

Ye Youqing walked over to Zhao Qingrou, gently patting her shoulder, and softly said, “Mother, we will clean up the poison, and there will be no more trouble in the future.”

“Mother is not afraid,” Zhao Qingrou weakly smiled, holding Ye Youqing with one hand and Ci Ke with the other, “Thank you both today. If it weren’t for you two, I…”

“No need for thanks among family,” Ye Youqing shook her head.

Zhao Qingrou smiled gently, then spoke again after a while, “It’s also thanks to Ci Ke. Such a good girl coming to our residence is our blessing.”

Ci Ke averted her gaze, her face blushing discreetly.

“And also, men in this world have a tough fate. You both must find good partners in the future, or you might end up like me, wasting a lifetime,” Zhao Qingrou said earnestly.

“Don’t worry, Mother,” Ye Youqing said with a smile, her eyes passing over Ci Ke. She noticed Ci Ke’s suddenly flushed face, stepped back, and freed herself from Zhao Qingrou’s hand.

“Madam, I will go clean up the poison,” she said, then turned and hurried away.

That evening, the Duke’s residence was in chaos. Concubine Xiao from the side courtyard cried half the night, then found a rope and threatened to hang herself unless she saw Duke Liang. Ye Chengzhu and Ye Chengfu knelt outside Duke Liang’s study, crying and pleading for hours, making the whole household restless.

A sound of breaking porcelain came from somewhere, followed by a scream, causing dizziness in those who heard it.

Ye Youqing had no choice but to sit up, put on her coat, and as the candlelight flickered to life, Ci Ke entered the room carrying a candlestick, placing it by the bedside.

“I suppose she tried to slit her wrists this time,” Ye Youqing said helplessly, stifling a yawn. She had been awakened three or four times already, and it seemed like she wouldn’t get any sleep tonight.

“Why do you know so much about poisons?” Ye Youqing suddenly asked, looking at Ci Ke hidden in the shadows.

Ci Ke fell silent for a moment, took a step forward, and the candlelight illuminated half of her face, casting a graceful silhouette, her eyes shining like water, shimmering with emotion.

“Taught,” she replied.

“Taught?” Ye Youqing tilted her head slightly.

“In the past, while serving at the palace, attending to the Noble Consort, I was taught many common medicines, including the green eucalyptus fruit,” Ci Ke answered.

Ye Youqing nodded. It was normal for a personal maid in the palace, a place as dangerous as that, to learn some medicine and poison knowledge.

“Why would you be willing to help me?” Ye Youqing asked again, genuinely puzzled. Ci Ke had a very cautious nature, and Zhao Qingrou had no real connection with her. Even if she wanted to help, it wouldn’t be with the same fiery and angry attitude as before.

“I’m not helping you,” Ci Ke quickly stated, sounding a bit annoyed.

Ye Youqing looked at her but remained silent.

After a moment, Ci Ke continued, her voice wavering, “There used to be a young court lady in the palace, close to the Noble Consort, treated well by her and favored by the Emperor.”

“Later, she died in the same manner.”

Ye Youqing’s heart sank, suddenly feeling the room to be suffocating, unable to breathe properly.

Ci Ke didn’t cry, but under the candlelight, something seemed to be flowing in her eyes. Ye Youqing knew she had touched a tender spot and was unsure how to comfort her. She felt around the bedside, found a piece of candy wrapped in paper, and handed it to Ci Ke.

Ci Ke was stunned, staring blankly at the candy in her hand.

Ye Youqing took the candy back, unwrapped it, and gently placed it in the woman’s mouth, smiling warmly.

“Have some sweets, it will make you feel better.”

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Early the next day, a woman emerged from the Duke’s residence, draped in a cream-colored cloak that covered most of her face, and walked along the main street towards the palace.

The street was not yet bustling; only a few vendors who had risen early were starting to bustle about. Ci Ke navigated through the alleyways skillfully, looking alert and like she was carrying something in her sleeves.

It had been a long time since she had secretly entered the palace, and she had lost contact with her aunt. There were some things she needed to deliver to her aunt without delay.

The journey went smoothly as usual, but when she was only halfway to the palace, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, whirling around.

Behind her, it was deserted and desolate, with only a few vendors around. A gust of wind blew, lifting some fallen petals and locust tree leaves.

The sky was still dim, without the glow of the dawn, with a hazy light filtering through the clouds, casting a blurry veil over Bianjing.

Ci Ke’s throat tensed, as if nothing had happened, and she turned back, continuing to walk quickly. But as she passed by a secluded alley, she suddenly turned in and began running with swift strides.

The person who had been secretly following her moments ago, upon seeing this, quickly sprang out from their hiding place and also dashed into the alley. Ci Ke desperately fled, feeling the surroundings intensely shaking, with chaotic footsteps behind her, signaling multiple pursuers.

She couldn’t help but curse. Although the woman’s slender figure was nimble, she couldn’t outrun someone with martial skills. In no time, the breath of those pursuers was already close by.

As her heart and lungs tightened even more violently, Ci Ke’s vision began to blur. She knew she couldn’t escape for much longer. In a desperate moment, she saw a stack of hay ahead used for feeding horses. So, she dashed forward and forcefully pushed the hay stack over, temporarily blocking the pursuers.

Running through the alley, Ci Ke returned to the main street, but the people behind her continued to chase relentlessly, at least five of them, determined to capture her at all costs.

As her steps grew heavier and breathing became more difficult, a sense of desperate panic surged within Ci Ke. What should she do? In such a vast city like this, where could she possibly run to?

In this critical moment, a name that had never appeared before suddenly invaded her mind.

Ye Youqing!

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