Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 124: Do You Want to Visit the Imperial Palace?

Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Do You Want to Visit the Imperial Palace?

Qi Anran was held at knifepoint, and regardless of what the person said, she instinctively responded, "Okay."

Upon realizing the situation, her expression changed slightly. Incredulously, she asked, "You want me to kill Qi Yu?"

Could this person have a grudge against that fool?

With this thought, Qi Anran suddenly felt that the person behind her wasn’t so frightening anymore.

After all, the enemy of one’s enemy is a friend.

The person withdrew the knife but kept a dagger pressed against her waist, not allowing her to turn around, and said indifferently, "I will help you kill her."

By this time, the maid outside had noticed that the candle inside the room had been extinguished. She knocked on the door and called out, "Miss, shall I come in and light the candle for you?"

Qi Anran felt the blade at her waist push deeper and hastily shouted, "Scram!"

If someone really came in, she feared she might truly be silenced for good.

The maid was just about to push the door open but retracted her hand in fright when she heard the shout.

She meekly acknowledged and quickly walked away.

Only these personal maids knew that Qi Anran was not as gentle and charming as she appeared to be on the surface. Her moods were erratic, and she often lashed out at them with slaps and scolds.

Noticing the footsteps receding, Qi Anran swallowed nervously and said to the person behind her, "She’s gone, can you let go of me now?"

Although she knew this person wouldn’t kill her, being threatened with a knife like this gave her a feeling of being at someone else’s mercy.

The person moved the blade slightly upward, using the tip to lift her chin as he sneered, "Are you ordering me around?"

His voice was deep, yet not unpleasant to listen to. If the situation had been different, one might even detect a hint of tenderness in his tone.

Qi Anran’s entire body broke out in goosebumps, and she dared not speak anymore.

In the darkness, the person continued in a low voice, "I will give you a packet of poison, all you need to do is find a way to make Prince Qiu’s Princess drink it."

Qi Anran nodded and then heard him say, "If you do not follow through, I will personally ensure you drink it."

Her pupils constricted sharply, and Qi Anran broke out in a cold sweat.

She did not even realize when the person had left; she stood there in the dark for a long time, until she came back to her senses and let the maid in to light the candle.

The next day, Qi Anran went to the Wang’s chamber early in the morning. Finding her in good spirits, she brought up the events of the previous night.

Upon hearing this, Wang’s eyes gleamed. She gripped Qi Anran’s hand, her tone urgent, "Now that we have covert support, we must kill that wretch this time!"

She had been bedridden for several days, growing anxious and seething with anger, worrying about how to deal with that wretch Qi Yu.

Now, it was a welcome turn of events to have a mysterious person willing to help them.

Qi Anran still retained a sliver of reason and asked uncertainly, "What if we are discovered, would that not be..."

"What’s there to fear!" Wang interrupted impatiently, waving her hand, "You are just too indecisive, which is why that wretch keeps stepping all over us time and time again!"

Qi Anran’s face turned deathly white, and biting her lip, her tone took on a venomous edge, "This time, I will definitely kill her!"

In the Prince Qiu Residence, Qi Yu had just returned from the Yongchun Hall when she received an imperial order from the palace stating that the Empress wished to see her.

"The Empress wants to see me for what?" Qi Yu frowned.

She didn’t know many of the concubines in the harem, except for Noble Consort Anran, she had little impression of the others.

And her impression of the Empress wasn’t good either.

She still remembered the first time she met the Empress, right after she rescued Li Mingjue from the Imperial Mausoleum, and they went to the palace together.

The fleeting ruthlessness in the Empress’ eyes didn’t escape her, and it made her cautious of the Empress every time she entered the palace, in addition to guarding against Noble Consort Anran — this Empress who kept her true self hidden well.

The eunuch who came to deliver the decree was Fú Gōnggong, an attendant by the Empress’s side, and he was already very dissatisfied seeing that she did not kneel.

Upon hearing the question, he scolded aloud, "How audacious! The thoughts of the Empress, how could they be guessed by a mere Princess like you!"

Qi Yu knew that the eunuchs in the palace were accustomed to bullying others and throwing their weight around, but this was the first time one had been so rude to her.

She glanced at the eunuch and retorted in a cold voice, "When this Princess speaks, is it your place to interject?"

"You!" Fú Gōnggong, having served by the Empress’s side for many years, was used to being given some degree of respect by everyone he met.

He had long heard that the Princess of the Prince Qiu Residence was a fool who knew no etiquette.

And today, he saw that it was indeed the case.

He sneered mockingly, "Once you enter the palace, you’ll get what’s coming to you, Princess!"

Qi Yu raised her eyebrows slightly, a mere eunuch thought to threaten her?

She waved her hand, signaling Lǐ Bó to close the doors of the Prince Residence, "Gōnggong, please take care, this Princess will not see you out."

For the first time being met with a closed door, Fú Gōnggong was so angry his face twisted.

Fuming, he stormed back to the Imperial Palace, and as soon as he entered the Empress’s palace, he knelt down and cried out, "Princess, you must stand up for your servant!"

The Empress found his behavior odd and asked, "What happened?"

Fú Gōnggong wiped his tears and recounted what had happened at the Prince Qiu Residence, deliberately distorting the facts to make the Empress believe that Qi Yu was disrespectful to her.

After listening, the Empress’s expression cooled, "What a Princess of Prince Qiu, when I kindly sent someone to invite her, she dared to affront me!"

Angered, she caused a stir among the kneeling attendants, and seeing his scheme successful, Fú Gōnggong intensified his lie, "The Princess said that even if it’s the Princess who sends for her, she does not care to come!"

"She dares to defy me!" The Empress grew so angry she smashed the teacup by her hand.

Li Huaixi and Qi Anran entered just in time to witness this scene.

The two exchanged glances, equally clueless as to what had transpired.

Li Huaixi’s face was stern as he looked around and scolded, "Bold servants, daring to make Mother angry!"

Fú Gōnggong hurriedly repeated what he had said earlier, shifting all the blame onto Qi Yu.

Li Huaixi scoffed, "When she enters the palace later, see how this Princess deals with her!"

Qi Anran, standing to the side with her head bowed, showed a flash of triumph in her eyes.

She was just worrying about how to poison Qi Yu.

Now, it turned out quite well, as this wretched woman was foolish enough to offend the Empress without knowing what’s good for her, she decided to first enjoy the show before making her move.

Qi Yu was being fussed over and dressed up by Chunlan, and she felt annoyed thinking about having to enter the palace to see the Empress soon.

Seeing the person in the mirror with furrowed brows who never seemed to relax, Chunlan couldn’t help but offer comfort, "Princess, we’ll just enter the palace and pay our respects to the Empress, have a small chat, and then we can come back."

Qi Yu let out a deep sigh, "If only it were that simple."

Chunlan had always been in the Prince Qiu Residence and didn’t know how terrible the women of the harem could be.

As the master and servant were talking, Kong Ran came running in with small steps, "Sister, are you going out to have fun?"

Qi Yu was amused by this question and pinched his little face, "Not for fun, sister is going to the palace."

Kong Ran had heard of the great Imperial Palace in the capital city but had never seen it. His eyes widened with curiosity as he asked, "Is it that very big Imperial Palace?"

Seeing the longing in his eyes, Qi Yu was struck with an idea and smiled at him, "Would you like to go to the Imperial Palace for a visit?"