Chapter 115: Holy Cow, This Is the Real Main Course

The theme of the day was a family banquet—a simple meal for the family to gather and make small talk.

Although this family, with each member running their own faction, shared not an ounce of affection, that didn’t stop them from exchanging pleasantries. They wore polite, fake smiles, putting on the appearance of a perfectly harmonious family.

The Empress Dowager praised the children, the consorts flattered the Empress Dowager, and with the Emperor and Empress presiding, the atmosphere was reasonably harmonious.

The musicians played softly, their melodious and soothing tunes filling the background without making it feel empty, yet never drowning out the conversations.

Xiao Li didn’t have a protagonist’s halo. To everyone in this room, her presence wasn’t actually all that important.

Xiao Li found a moment to glance at Lou Yan, who was standing beside the Emperor, and her train of thought took a strange turn.

Lou Yan was different today. He was holding a duster.

’This might be the first time I’ve ever seen him holding a duster. He almost looks like a proper eunuch... but that face of his really doesn’t fit the part.’

’What kind of eunuch stands that straight?’

’And let’s not even talk about his face. His features weren’t the kind of handsome that normal people in this world would appreciate. It was more like a face from a video game character model—androgynous and sinister, with bewitching phoenix eyes that screamed ’villain’ at first glance. Then there were those broad, V-tapered shoulders, that narrow waist, those long legs...’

’If someone like him existed back in my world, he’d have hordes of thirsty women swooning like idiots.’

’Especially in that dark purple robe. The oppressive aura, the wicked face, the cold gaze, the perfectly chiseled, untouchable physique... Tsk, a total dream for any S&M enthusiast!’

For once, Xiao Li’s mind wasn’t occupied with schemes and conspiracies; it was filled to the brim with dirty thoughts. But, of course, someone just had to come looking for trouble.

As if afraid she wouldn’t be heard, Jia Ruo announced loudly, "I’m not in any hurry. Besides, isn’t Imperial Sister Xuanyang still unmarried?"

All eyes turned to her. Xiao Li: "?"

She was clearly spacing out. Across from her, Xiao Jingyi tried to smooth things over. "Ahem, I’m sure Imperial Sister isn’t in a hurry to marry right now."

Xiao Li got it. ’So they’re talking about marriage.’

Jia Ruo sneered. "Fifth Brother, you’re quite mistaken. Imperial Sister hated her Prince Consort for not consummating their marriage so much that she killed the man. How could she not be in a hurry? Who knows how desperate she is for a man."

Any normal woman would have been furious by now, but Xiao Li wasn’t the least bit angry. After all, she was the woman who had boldly declared she’d take three thousand lovers. "As much as I despise you," she said, "you’re not wrong."

’I need a man, sure, but I’m not stealing someone else’s. What’s there to be ashamed of?’

Jia Ruo’s expression twisted. "You’re truly shameless."

Princess Consort Hui pulled Jia Ruo back, her gaze shifting to Xiao Li. "Jingzhao spoils Jia Ruo too much and has ruined her. Xuanyang, please don’t squabble with your younger sister. She’s likely just repeating some foolish rumors she heard. Don’t take it to heart."

Xiao Li raised an eyebrow. ’Princess Consort Hui was never this reasonable before. Back in the day, she was the most favored and arrogant woman in the entire imperial harem.’

’Seems old age has improved her self-restraint. Her words have certainly become more artistic.’

’It sounds like an apology, but she’s clearly taking a jab at me. She’s implying I caused such a scene that the whole world now knows I resented the Prince Consort for not sleeping with me.’

’Or to put it more bluntly, that I’m so shameless myself that I can’t blame Jia Ruo for speaking the truth.’

"Your words make me feel so ashamed, Princess Consort Hui. Jia Ruo can’t even tell right from wrong. Why would I ever bicker with someone so ignorant?"

Jia Ruo snapped, "Who are you calling ignorant?"

Xiao Li replied, "Whoever’s answering."

Tact? Xiao Li didn’t know the meaning of the word.

The one who starts the fight is always in the wrong. They dared to aim their barbs at her, so what was she supposed to hold back for?

’What’s the point of being all passive-aggressive and hiding behind veiled words? If they have the guts, they should just start a proper fight.’

Seeing the mother-daughter duo’s faces change, she turned her attack on Xiao Jingzhao. "Speaking of which, I was rather shocked today. The name of your new concubine is quite something, Second Brother. Lu Yanzhi, Liu Xueyin... and now she’s called Xue Zhi. For a moment there, I thought that pair of star-crossed lovers had come back from the dead."

Xiao Jingzhao felt his beloved tremble beside him, and his heart ached for her. His face clouded over. "Don’t you dare bring up your sordid affairs here."

Xiao Li sighed. "Now that’s not right, Second Brother. Fourth Brother and I were the victims. The affair was sordid, yes, but I wasn’t the sordid one. I just acted too quickly. If it had been Fourth Brother, he’d have surely dismembered that ’adulterer’."

She deliberately emphasized the word "adulterer," her meaning clear. The guilty party would naturally take the hint.

At that moment, Xiao Jingzhao’s face was terrifyingly dark, his eyes filled with vicious, murderous intent.

Xiao Li knew that Xue Zhi was Liu Xueyin. She was prodding him on purpose, and Xue Yin’s identity was his Achilles’ heel, leaving him unable to retort with any conviction.

"Xuanyang!" the Empress Dowager’s furious rebuke finally came, albeit late. "You murdered someone and you think you’re justified? I haven’t punished you, and it’s made you utterly shameless! Go back to your..."

Just as the Empress Dowager was about to pronounce a punishment, Xiao Jingyi abruptly stood up. "Your Majesty, shouldn’t we begin the banquet? I’m getting hungry."

As if finally remembering his duty to stop the farce, the Emperor feigned a lighthearted tone. "You rascal, all you think about is eating. Very well, serve the food."

The Empress Dowager’s tirade was cut short. Out of respect for the Emperor, she didn’t press the matter, but she still shot several venomous glares at Xiao Li.

’The older she gets, the more of an eyesore she becomes!’

Xiao Li looked at Xiao Jingyi, meeting his faint, reassuring smile with a slightly raised eyebrow.

’I can’t tell if Xiao Jingyi was helping me or the Empress Dowager.’

Xiao Li hadn’t made a move against the Empress Dowager because the one she’d bullied was the original owner of this body, not her. But if the Empress Dowager tried to punish her again today... well, third time’s the charm. She’d have to settle the score for this bullying.

She hadn’t expected Xiao Jingyi to cut the Empress Dowager off right as the words were on the tip of her tongue.

Now it would be much harder for her to make a move.

The barely touched fruit platters were cleared away, and steaming hot dishes were served.

As a young palace maid knelt to place a dish, she discreetly slipped a note into Xiao Li’s hand.

Xiao Li opened it. ’Well now,’ she thought, ’this is the real main course!’

The note was from Lou Yan. Her food had been drugged, and by more than one person.

Lou Yan had his people watching, so finding the culprits had been a piece of cake.

Chen Pingting had someone use a secret palace drug, similar to the one Xiao Li had been given before. It was an aphrodisiac, but much more potent—the kind that would make you lose all reason and go after anything that moves.

Tsk, tsk. How utterly vicious.

Jia Ruo had used a poison. It wasn’t lethal, but it would make all of the victim’s hair fall out.

’Revenge, huh? But just making my hair fall out? Isn’t that a little childish? After all these years, her torture methods haven’t matured at all.’

Then there was Xiao Jingzhao’s contribution: Seven Extremes Powder. One dose, and it was instantly fatal.

’Now that’s more like it.’

Lou Yan had also written that her meal had been prepared separately by his people and was safe to eat. As for the poisoned dishes, with the exception of the one containing the Seven Extremes Powder, the other two had been randomly distributed to the other tables. Who ended up eating them would be up to fate.

Tsk, tsk. ’That man is so wicked. So wicked he’s stolen my heart.’

Knowing the truth, Xiao Li deliberately began to eat the very three dishes Lou Yan had mentioned in his note.

Three pairs of eyes, at first tense, gradually grew feverish with anticipation. However, half an hour passed, and Xiao Li was still sitting there perfectly fine. They began to panic.

’Wait, why is Xiao Li fine? What happened to the drugs they used?’

A nearby palace maid cried out in alarm, "Princess Consort Hui, what’s wrong?"