Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 277 Liu Family’s Mother and Daughter Are Really Going Too Far

Chapter 277: Chapter 277 Liu Family’s Mother and Daughter Are Really Going Too Far

After the banquet began, Madam Liu and Liu Sisi focused all their attention on Qi Yu.

However, after waiting for a while, Qi Yu’s face showed no change in color, and her actions and demeanor were no different from those of others, not at all appearing as if she had been drugged.

Could it be that that wretched woman didn’t drink that cup of wine?

Madam Liu’s expression stiffened for a moment, and the wine cup in her hand nearly shattered.

Liu Sisi’s face also looked extremely ugly. This was only the first stage of her scheme; if it failed, how could she proceed with the following steps?

The mother and daughter exchanged a glance, both looking unsuspecting.

They quietly summoned Xiang Lan to ask, and Xiang Lan was also completely baffled, whispering, "But I saw the poison being added to the wine, and it was indeed served to Princess Qi’s table."

Moreover, just now, they all witnessed Princess Qi emptying the wine from her cup.

Liu Sisi clenched her teeth with hatred, "It must have been discovered by that wretched woman. She took advantage that we were unprepared and swapped the wine in the cups, what a cunning trick!"

Madam Liu, however, didn’t believe her scheme could be so easily thwarted. She snorted coldly, "Wasn’t it said that Princess Qi is foolish and stupid? I think it was an accident; perhaps she knocked it over herself."

Liu Murou sat quietly at the side, sipping tea, looking serene and detached, but her ears had been keenly attuned, picking up the whispered conversation between the Liu mother and daughter.

The Liu mother and daughter had never taken her seriously; how could they have imagined that their carefully planned scheme had been almost completely overheard by her?

Liu Murou slowly curved her lips into a smile that was pure and harmless.

Soon, she would go to Princess Qi, as she had planned in advance, and tell her everything about the Liu mother and daughter’s plot.

In doing so, Princess Qi would naturally understand that she was on her side.

While the Liu mother and daughter were still entangled with why Qi Yu had not been poisoned, Liu Murou had already quietly left the table.

Qi Yu was chatting with Song Yuerou in a secluded spot with fewer people.

"Cousin-in-law, how did you know that the Liu mother and daughter put poison in the cup?" Song Yuerou had heard about this from Qi Yu, but she couldn’t figure out how Qi Yu had precisely guessed the Liu mother and daughter’s intentions and had even managed to swap the poisoned wine ahead of them.

Could she foresee the future?

Qi Yu curved her lips in a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, with a hint of coldness in her gaze, her tone was indifferent, "Since the day they sent me the invitation, I knew it was a trap. Just now, when I saw the maid pouring wine trembling, I guessed there must be deceit."

What she didn’t say was that she had attended countless such banquets; almost every time, these people would concoct some mischief to harm her.

Neither the Empress nor An Ruoya had gotten the better of her, yet the Liu mother and daughter were quite confident.

She just didn’t expect the Liu mother and daughter to come up with such a rudimentary plan.

Using poison was an outdated method; even the Empress wouldn’t bother with it anymore.

No wonder Liu Sisi dared to blatantly scheme against Li Mingjue in broad daylight; it turns out it wasn’t the case of ’like attracts like,’ as they were all foolish together.

Hearing her words, Song Yuerou still had a furrowed brow, and her tone was somewhat stern, "This Liu mother and daughter are really going too far!"

Qi Yu patted her hand, motioning for her not to be angry.

Song Yuerou wasn’t usually one to get heated, but she was provoked by the Liu mother and daughter’s dirty and vile tactics.

The two were chatting intermittently when suddenly a gentle voice came from behind, "Princess."

Qi Yu turned around and saw a young woman about the same age as Liu Sisi, who upon closer inspection, bore some resemblance to Liu Sisi, but was somewhat less striking.

However, there was a hint of ruthlessness in the woman’s eyes, well-concealed, yet not escaping Qi Yu’s notice.

This person is ambitious.

She thought to herself but showed no sign of it on her face, instead she arched an eyebrow at the person in front of her and asked, "And you are?"

Liu Murou curtseyed, speaking in a respectful tone, "This humble girl is Liu Murou."

Upon hearing the name, Qi Yu realized that she was also from the Liu Family.

Qi Yu smiled, "I see you are quite young; you must be the youngest daughter of the Liu Family, right?"

Liu Murou kept her eyes lowered, responding, "Replying to the Princess, this humble girl is indeed the youngest in the family."

Qi Yu continued to probe seamlessly, "Then the one seated above, is she your sister?"

She couldn’t be bothered to even mention Liu Sisi’s name, simply using a pronoun that made her discontent with Liu Sisi audibly clear to anyone.

A sharp light flickered in Liu Murou’s eyes as she replied softly, "Replying to the Princess, this humble girl is merely born of a concubine and cannot claim the precious status others have, so how dare I presumptuously call her sister?"

Back and forth like this, Qi Yu had already discerned her attitude, yet she pretended to be angry and said coldly, "What does being born of a concubine matter? I too was born of a concubine."

Realizing her slip of the tongue, Liu Murou hurriedly said, "Princess, please don’t be angry, Murou misspoke."

Qi Yu snorted lightly, "Considering it’s your first offense, I’ll let it pass."

Liu Murou’s heart leapt into her throat as she muttered a thankful, "Thank you, Princess."

Song Yuerou, who was treated as if she was invisible, didn’t mind and just quietly watched her cousin-in-law’s performance.

She had a poor impression of the Liu mother and daughter, and she felt the same about this suddenly emerging Liu Murou.

Though Liu Murou’s tone was exceptionally humble, each word she uttered seemed to carry a hidden edge, and her speech flowed as if it was well-rehearsed.

Facing Qi Yu’s scolding, her expression didn’t change in the slightest, indicating she was well prepared.

Song Yuerou thought to herself, her expression turning serious as her eyes fixed on Liu Murou, fearful that she might play some trick.

Qi Yu still seemed carefree, and seeing Liu Murou standing before her with her head lowered and silent, she asked, "Have you come to the Princess for any matter?"

Hearing her question, Liu Murou quickly looked up, her expression showing some panic and nervousness.

She bit her lip gently as if making a decision, and then said to her, "This humble girl... indeed has something to inform the Princess about."

"Oh?" Qi Yu raised an eyebrow and inquired, "What matter?"

On the surface, she appeared naive, but inwardly she thought, Liu Murou’s acting skills were much better than Liu Sisi’s.

Look at that little expression and those small gestures, even knowing how to put on a full act.

If it weren’t for the fact that she had seen so many palace dramas in her past life, honing her ability to discern truth, she really might have been fooled by that look of concern and conflict on Liu Murou’s face.

Liu Murou cast a cautious glance around before whispering to her, "If the Princess is willing to trust this humble girl, please come with me."

Qi Yu frowned slightly, as if weighing whether or not to trust her words.

At the critical moment, Song Yuerou offered timely advice, "Cousin-in-law, why not listen to what Miss Liu has to say? She seems quite serious."

Only then did Qi Yu feign agreement and nodded, "Very well."

Liu Murou sighed a breath of relief inwardly and led the two of them to a secluded spot before saying, "This humble girl has just personally overheard that Madam Liu has already arranged people within the estate, seeking to harm the Princess."