As for her help, didn't Shangguan Jin ever think about why he should help her? Wasn't he afraid that the Demon Palace might have some ulterior motive?!
"The Eighth Prince is right," Shen Qianmo said calmly with a smile, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes. "I wonder how the Second Miss of the Prime Minister's Residence has been these past two days?"
"Chen Qianxin?! I've recently sent people to monitor her every move, she can't do anything underhanded!" Shangguan Jin said, his eyes showing no tenderness, only disdain, when he mentioned Shen Qianxin.
"Eighth Prince, you'd better watch your step!" Shen Qianmo didn't want to linger any longer. Even though she wanted to take revenge on Shen Qianxin, she still felt disgusted by Shangguan Jin's face.
For power, anything can be exploited. Family ties, love—they're all nothing but illusions. Is this the darkness of royalty?! Even though I've seen through it all long ago, why do I still feel disappointed, why do I still find it so hard to accept?
Looking at Shen Qianmo, whose attitude had suddenly turned cold, Shangguan Jin wondered what she had said wrong to anger this elegant and peerless palace master of the Demon Palace.
"Why do I keep thinking of Shen Qianmo when I look at the Demon Palace Master? Could it be that I have really fallen in love with that Third Miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion?" Shangguan Jin muttered to himself as he watched Shen Qianmo's graceful departure.
"Husband, what are you looking at?"
"Why did you come out?" Shangguan Jin turned around when he heard the voice. Shen Qianxin was wearing a pink dress with a long hem that trailed on the ground, but the pink color only made her face look paler.
Her pale face was inextricably linked to Shangguan Jin. In order to avoid a falling out with Shen Qianxin and at the same time sever her connection with the Prime Minister's Mansion, Shangguan Jin poisoned Shen Qianxin, causing her body to suddenly become weak, as if she were seriously ill.
This way, they could legitimately sever her connection with the Prime Minister's residence and send people to take care of Shen Qianxin so that they could monitor her day and night.
"I feel a little better today, so I thought I'd come out and keep my husband company." Shen Qianxin forced a smile on her pale face and continued, "It's been several days since I've been back to the manor, and I want to go back and see my father."
These past few days, Shangguan Jin has sent people to take care of her, staying by her side day and night. She has no way to send messages to Shen Lingyun. Moreover, Shangguan Jin's contact with the mysterious person is no small matter. Therefore, she must return to the manor.
"Qianxin's body hasn't fully recovered yet. Once you're better, I'll go with you, okay?" Shangguan Jin said calmly, but inwardly he sneered. She wanted to go back to the manor and report back? Not so easy.
"Okay." Shen Qianxin replied obediently, but in her heart she was pondering. Did Shangguan Jin suspect her?! What should she do?
"Alright, don't stand in the wind here. Let me help you back." Shangguan Jin's expression was gentle and seemingly impeccable, but in his heart he was thinking that Shen Qianxin was able to get out of bed so quickly. It seemed that the dosage he gave her last time was too small. He would have to give her more this time!
Seeing Shangguan Jin's gentle demeanor, Shen Qianxin's doubts were dispelled. She had only helped Shen Lingyun by informing him of the situation in order to protect her own position and prevent Shangguan Jin from doing anything that would affect her future as empress. In her heart, she still liked Shangguan Jin, and seeing his gentleness completely dispelled her doubts.
However, she still needed to find a way to inform her father about the mysterious person who had been in private contact with Shangguan Jin. After all, there was no room for any changes now, and if Shangguan Jin turned his back on her, her position would be threatened!
---Aside---
Thank you cw36836863 for the diamonds~ Mwah m ...
Chapter Three: Killing the Empress
"Who are you?! How dare you trespass into my palace?" Yao Xuekong was drinking tea when she looked up and saw a refined-looking man in white robes smiling at her. She couldn't help but be annoyed and said, "Guards!"
Shen Qianmo looked at Yao Xuekong with interest, a lazy smile playing on her lips, and said casually, "No need to call her!"
"How dare you speak to Her Majesty the Empress like that!" Two maids serving tea and water beside Yao Xuekong shouted at Shen Qianmo. As expected of those who had served the Empress for many years, they certainly had the air of authority.
"I hate those who bully others because of their master's power!" Shen Qianmo's eyes darkened, and she said with a hint of disgust. With a casual wave of her white sleeve, the two maids stared wide-eyed and slowly fell to the ground.
Seeing her two maids being killed so inexplicably, Yao Xuekong couldn't help but panic.
"Help! There's an assassin! Help!" Yao Xuekong, disregarding her imperial dignity, cried out in panic towards the door.
But after calling for a long time, there was no response at the door. Looking up, she saw that the person still had a half-smile on their face, and their eyes, as clear as a pool, were looking at her with sarcasm and provocation.
"You...you...who exactly are you?" Yao Xuekong saw no movement at the door, and then looked at the two maids who had died tragically. Finally, fear gripped her, and she looked at Shen Qianmo with terror in her eyes.
Shen Qianmo then raised a disdainful smile, her gaze as sharp as a sword as she looked at Yao Xuekong, "What, even the usually composed Empress is afraid?"
"Who exactly are you!?" Yao Xuekong was terrified by Shen Qianmo's gaze, and almost lost control. She forced herself to remain calm, stared at Shen Qianmo, and said in a hoarse voice.
Shen Qianmo remained nonchalant, watching Yao Xuekong with an expression of anticipation, and said indifferently, "It's only been a few days since we last met, does Your Majesty not recognize Qianmo?"
"Qianmo. You are Shen Qianmo?! But you are clearly..." Yao Xuekong looked at Shen Qianmo in disbelief upon hearing her words.
How could it be Shen Qianmo?! Shen Qianmo is clearly a woman, but the person in front of me is clearly a man. Yes, Che'er said that the Demon Palace Master always disguises himself as a man, so it must be Shen Qianmo! No, it's not Shen Qianmo. How could Shen Qianmo have such unparalleled beauty? Besides, she was killed on her way to marry into the Tianmo Kingdom, so how could she be here!
"Your Majesty must be curious about why Qianmo's appearance has changed?" Shen Qianmo said calmly, having enough patience to chat with Yao Xuekong one last time.
Seeing that Yao Xuekong remained silent, Shen Qianmo continued with a smile, "The Demon Palace's sacred medicine, the Disguise Pill, can change one's appearance after consumption. The Demon Palace's sacred medicine is exceptional, and its poisons are also quite formidable. The Empress will soon be able to taste them."
"You...you...what do you want to do?! I am the Empress!" Upon hearing Shen Qianmo's words, Yao Xuekong completely lost her composure, her face showing panic and confusion. She retreated backward, her eyes filled with fear.
She was well aware of the Demon Palace's reputation and the potency of its poisons. Rumors circulated that those who offended the Demon Palace were destined for a fate worse than death, largely due to the power of their poisons.
Seeing Yao Xuekong's panicked state, Shen Qianmo's smile deepened, her disdain evident in her eyes, as if the Empress's position meant nothing to her. "Empress? Why do you all still like to use your status to intimidate others even when you're about to die?"
She slowly walked up to Yao Xuekong, her eyes seemingly puzzled, and said slowly, "When Eldest Sister and Second Mother died, they said this; when Third Mother died, they said this; when the Crown Prince died, they said this; and now, Her Majesty the Empress, you're saying this again? It seems that power is indeed very important to you!"
Yao Xuekong looked into Shen Qianmo's dark eyes with a hint of confusion. She seemed like a beautiful girl who was naive and innocent, but at this moment, they looked like the eyes of hell. And Shen Qianmo's cherry-like mouth, which opened and closed, seemed to Yao Xuekong like a deadly dagger.
"They...you killed them all?!" Yao Xuekong's eyes widened, her eyeballs bulging slightly with fear. Where was even a trace of the Empress's majesty at this moment?
“That’s right.” Shen Qianmo readily admitted, as if those lives meant nothing to her. She stretched out her slender hand and slowly pinched Yao Xuekong’s mouth, laughing, “I advise you not to threaten me with anything about being the Empress anymore. Since I dared to kill you, why would I be afraid of such things?!”
Yao Xuekong looked at Shen Qianmo in fear and struggled incessantly, but she was restrained by Shen Qianmo and could not move.
"I also advise you not to struggle. Since I'm going to kill you, how could I possibly let you leave alive?!" Shen Qianmo mercilessly threw the poison into Yao Xuekong's mouth.
She will repay Yao Xuekong and Yao Ruoqin for all the horrific things they did to her, bit by bit! They conspired to abort her child; do they know how much pain she endured?! Do they know how much pain drove her to despair and made her want to die?!
"Ugh!" Yao Xuekong frantically tried to pry the pill out with her hands, but to no avail.
"Are all people this foolish before they die?!" Shen Qianmo looked at Yao Xuekong's actions, a bloodthirsty smile appearing on her lips. Yao Xuekong, today I will make you pay for my child's life. Don't worry, your precious niece will be joining you soon, along with your son!
"Ah!" A piercing scream came from Yao Xuekong's mouth. Her face was deathly pale, and she curled up on the ground, rolling around. Slowly, she could no longer scream. She just desperately grabbed her chest with her hands, tearing it to pieces until it was bloody and mangled. Her eyes were filled with deep resentment and pain.
"It seems the Heart-Corroding Pill is more effective than the Bone-Corroding Pill." Shen Qianmo looked down at Yao Xuekong, her eyes showing no pity. She was merely making these people pay the price for the evil deeds they committed in their previous lives!