Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 101: Presenting a Grand Gift to Prince An

Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Presenting a Grand Gift to Prince An

Qi Yu waited until she had drunk the tea before she smiled faintly, "It’s nothing much, just that I thought the Princess had been bored in the palace for quite some time, so I sought you out for a chat, that’s all."

Princess Lingya naturally did not believe her.

But she had more patience than Adi, deciding not to act until her enemy did.

After exchanging a few trivial pleasantries, she wanted to see what Qi Yu intended to say.

Qi Yu was even more unruffled than she was, and any astute observer could tell that Qi Yu did not invite Princess Lingya over for idle chitchat.

Yet, she held her patience and deliberately spoke nonsense.

Half an hour later, Lingya was becoming impatient. She frowned at the person who had been playing Tai Chi with words: "Is this how the Princess of Prince Qiu Residence asks for a favor?"

She was convinced that Qi Yu sought something from her, and her tone grew prouder than before.

Qi Yu smiled slightly and praised, "The Princess is indeed quick-witted, nothing escapes those soul-hooking eyes of yours."

Lingya snorted with smug laughter, "The Princess of Prince Qiu Residence has beaten around the bush for so long, isn’t it just because you’re too embarrassed to ask for my help? I am magnanimous and will not dwell on the unpleasantness of the past."

In truth, she did not say these words with much confidence.

Although last time Qi Yu had declined her offer of cooperation, the matter of the prior bewitchment was unresolved, and she did not know if Qi Yu had any more tricks up her sleeve.

Qi Yu fixed her gaze on Lingya, making her feel uneasy, and then said in a calm and unhurried manner, "Princess, how are you feeling right now?"

Lingya’s brow furrowed, thinking that Qi Yu was deliberately sidetracking the conversation again.

But the next second, she felt dizzy, and the purple orchid on her forehead throbbed with sharp pain.

Her eyes turned cold as she looked at Qi Yu with a menacing chill: "What have you done to me!"

Qi Yu watched her expression unwaveringly and eventually replied leisurely, "I have not done anything to you. There is poison in your body, and this cup of tea was merely to help disperse some of the poison."

Lingya looked at her suspiciously, trying to discern whether her words were trustworthy.

Qi Yu continued, "Have you felt any nausea or vomiting in the past few days?"

Hearing this, a look of shock crossed Lingya’s face.

She indeed felt unwell lately, unable to stomach even the most delicious foods and feeling a desire to vomit after just one bite.

But the symptoms were so mild that not even Adi, her closest confidant, had noticed. How could Qi Yu be aware of this?

Qi Yu stood with calm composure, allowing Lingya to scrutinize her, and confidently stated, "The poison has reached your heart. If you do not find an antidote within two months, you will surely die."

Lingya’s clear eyes widened unbelievably as she looked at her.

Although the doubt in her eyes had not completely dissipated, the fact that Qi Yu could correctly identify her symptoms and make such a bold claim meant that she already believed her partly.

And she recalled what Adi had said before: after taking the medicine from the State Preceptor, her condition would change drastically.

Adi would not lie to her. If there was indeed something wrong with that bottle of medicine, then it was very possible she was poisoned as Qi Yu had said.

As Qi Yu saw Lingya’s expression grow increasingly somber, she knew Lingya had realized something and timely cast her bait, "The Princess must have guessed by now that the only person who can save you is me."

Lingya remained silent, her demeanor showing she subjectively did not want to accept this fact, but she couldn’t deny the truth in Qi Yu’s words

She was capable of curing the witchcraft poison on Prince Qiu, and any other poison was trivial to her.

"So what is it? What does the Princess of Prince Qiu Residence want to get from me?" Lingya, whose vital interests were firmly in Qi Yu’s grasp, had no choice but to be reluctantly at her mercy.

Qi Yu looked at her wary expression and smiled, "The Princess need not worry. If I can save you, killing you would also be as easy as turning my hand."

Lingya was nearly driven to smash the teacup she held by such shameless words.

As a princess, she had never been threatened in such a manner.

Qi Yu, however, continued to speak with a calmness that belied the frost within her eyes. "A few days ago, Qi Anran sought you out, correct?"

Although it was a question, her tone was one of certainty.

Lingya knew she must have already investigated thoroughly; there was nothing for her to hide. "Yes."

Still, the fact that Qi Anran had come to her was quite secretive. Could it be that the Prince Qiu Residence had infiltrated the Imperial Palace with spies?

This thought sent a chill down Lingya’s spine.

Qi Yu candidly stated, "Princess, rest assured, I do not have a penchant for planting spies. All this is merely conjecture on my part."

If Qi Anran wanted to target her, she would need to find a reliable ally.

Who else could be more suitable than Princess Lingya, who bore a grudge against her and wielded the Witchcraft Technique?

By now, Lingya had thoroughly lost faith in every word Qi Yu said, her tone more cautious when she spoke, "Indeed, Princess Anran did come to see me, but I did not agree."

Though she also resented Qi Yu, after several confrontations, she had realized that she was no match for Qi Yu.

Moreover, she had just learned that Anran was colluding with her eldest Imperial brother to harm her.

She was focusing all her efforts on guarding against Li Ming’an; even if she wanted to target Qi Yu, she had the will but not the strength.

When Qi Anran had come to her, suggesting that she curse Qi Yu with witchcraft, Lingya had refused on the spot.

She believed Qi Yu had come to discuss this very matter, but saw the person opposite her shake her head and look at her with a sly gaze, "No, I want you to agree to her request."

"Why?" Lingya was completely baffled.

The more she saw of Qi Yu, the more inscrutable she seemed.

Knowing full well that Qi Anran wanted to harm her, why would she actively set a trap?

Qi Yu did not elaborate further, simply stating, "You just need to make a show of it, let Qi Anran believe you have cursed me with the Poisonous Insect, and that will suffice."

Although Lingya didn’t fully grasp what she was planning, her own life was in Qi Yu’s hands, and naturally, she had no right to refuse.

She could only nod, "Alright, I understand."

Qi Yu knew she was smart; fooling Qi Anran would be more than easy for her, so she didn’t worry further.

There was one more thing she had to clarify, "Is Heifeng still alive?"

Lingya paused, then replied, "Alive, I’m keeping him around for a reason."

She still wanted to uncover more of Li Ming’an’s secrets, and Heifeng could be used to bite back at him. Keeping him alive was more valuable to her than his death.

"But, he’s practically no different from a dead man," she added coolly.

Qi Yu understood from that response that she had cursed Heifeng with witchcraft, binding him to her will.

She couldn’t help but click her tongue in amazement, "Such witchcraft is truly miraculous."

Though genuinely expressing wonder, to Lingya, it sounded like mockery.

The Witchcraft Technique of Tulan was indeed quite a phenomenon; apart from their own developed antidotes, a solution to break its effects had yet to be found.

Yet Qi Yu, a woman of a different nation, had managed to break it with ease, how could this not anger her?

She turned her head to one side, her tone icy, "Does the Princess want Heifeng?"

After all, Heifeng was of little value to her; if Qi Yu wanted him, she would give him up.

However, Qi Yu let out a light laugh, her tone somewhat mischievous, "I would like you to deliver a grand gift to Prince Anran."