Chapter 273: Controlling People’s Minds

Qu Ling invited Zhang Yun to have dinner together.

"There are some good things in the mansion, rarely seen in the capital. Stay and try them."

Since the princess invited her, Zhang Yun naturally had no objection.

She was also afraid that Yang Yi would sow discord while she was away.

After all, during this period of time, she said too many things that she shouldn't have said in front of Yang Yi.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yun felt regretful.

She would never confide in anyone again.

She said, "I am sorry to bother you by coming to your residence without your invitation."

Then she ordered the maid to bring the snacks and presented them to the princess herself. "I saw the princess like this snack at the market before, so I brought some here. I hope the princess won't dislike it."

Qu Ling raised his eyes and smiled, "You are thoughtful."

Then he ordered the servants in the princess's mansion to set out the snacks.

He said casually, "Speaking of the market, Song Yuzhen and Song Zhang were still alive at that time. How different things have become..."

Zhang Yun couldn't help but shiver.

Doesn’t the princess have any idea how the brother and sister died?

After listening to Qu Ling's words and combining them with what Zhang Yun said yesterday, Yang Yi felt disdainful.

Do I need to keep talking about killing two people?

The snacks were served and looked very beautiful.

The brocade box that Yang Yi brought was placed on a low table nearby, and no one paid attention to it.

The three of them sat down, and the maids came in one after another, bringing dishes.

Apart from the slight clinking of porcelain, no one made a sound.

"So many mushrooms!" Zhang Yun exclaimed, dazzled by the sight.

The table is filled with a variety of mushrooms.

"This is Matsutake clear soup, this is chicken stewed with chicken mushrooms, this is fried porcini with bacon, this is stewed tofu with tricholoma..." There are special people who introduce the names of the dishes.

There were also several plates of exotic varieties that Zhang Yun had never seen before, colorfully placed on ice-carved plates.

"Miss Yang, it's been a while since you came to Beijing from Yunnan. Do you miss home?"

Qu Ling slowly twirled his Buddhist beads and signaled his servants to serve Yang Yi a bowl of matsutake soup.

Yang Yi stared at the bowl of soup that was pushed in front of him and had a bad feeling.

She raised her eyes and met Qu Ling's half-smile.

"The princess has been to Yunnan?" Yang Yi tried to keep his voice steady, but in fact, cold sweat was already oozing out of his back.

Wherever she couldn't see, her nails were digging into her palms, causing them to hurt.

She comforted herself not to panic.

Few people in Yunnan know about her story.

His father had already dealt with those people, so Qu Ling couldn't find out anything.

"I've been there." Qu Ling answered casually, picked up a piece of mushroom and put it in his mouth to chew.

Yang Yi's throat rolled, and the hot steam rising from the bowl of soup in front of her blurred her vision.

She forced herself to remain calm and not reveal any flaws.

"Miss Yang, don't you like this soup?" Qu Ling suddenly asked.

Yang Yi forced a smile and said, "I drank too much tea just now."

Hearing this, Qu Ling picked up the soup bowl in front of him and took a sip, then said meaningfully, "I thought you were afraid of being poisoned."

Zhang Yun was enjoying her meal as her appetite was whetted by the exotic aromas on the table. She almost choked when she heard these words.

She picked up a piece of golden and crispy chicken mushroom and took a bite, her mouth immediately filled with fragrance. "How can something so delicious be poisonous?"

Even if the princess poisoned her father, she would only poison her father. She didn't need to bother to poison him, she could just kill him with one knife.

She continued to eat.

Yang Yi looked at Zhang Yun eating with relish, and then looked at Qu Ling eating calmly, and knew that it would be suspicious to refuse again.

She slowly picked up the chopsticks.

The flavor of the mushrooms bloomed on the tip of his tongue, but Yang Yi could not taste any joy at all.

Every bite feels like swallowing an unknown danger.

"What is this red mushroom called in Yunnan?" Qu Ling suddenly asked, pointing to a plate of mushrooms.

Yang Yi's fingers trembled, "Red sees green."

"I remember the locals called it the Ghost Laughing Mushroom," Qu Ling gently twirled his Buddhist beads. "They say eating it can cause hallucinations, and in severe cases, it can even be fatal."

Zhang Yun's chopsticks froze in mid-air, her face pale, "Princess..."

"Don't worry," Qu Ling chuckled, "The chef in my house knows how to handle these things best. As long as they are cooked properly, they will be a delicacy."

She looked at Yang Yi meaningfully, "I heard from His Majesty that Miss Yang can control people's minds. Could it be the work of these mushrooms?"

Yang Yi's clothes on his back were soaked. "How can these things control people's minds..."

"Then how do you control people's minds?" Qu Ling's eyes lit up frighteningly. "I'd like to see it for myself."

Yang Yi was on pins and needles.

Even Zhang Yun noticed something was wrong and put down his chopsticks nervously.

"Princess, you are a smart person. Can't you see that I said that to please His Majesty?"

Yang Yi decided to show weakness.

"I envied the princess for being favored by His Majesty, and I also knew the princess's murderous methods. I had a secret thought in my heart: if the princess could do it, I could do it too. That's why I said those words to His Majesty."

"But since Your Majesty has no use for me, and has sent me out of the palace, I will remain obedient and keep to myself, hoping to find a suitable husband and return to Yunnan."

She wanted to tell Qu Ling, I am not a threat to you.

Qu Ling raised the corner of his mouth slightly, "So, the statement that you can control people's minds is false?"

"yes."

Qu Ling rested his fingers on his chin. "But I got a prescription from Yunnan. It contains mushrooms and a special medicine that can control people's minds."

Hearing this, Yang Yi suddenly raised his head, his expression frozen.

"Miss Yang, the young doctor in my house has developed the medicine. Add it to your tea, and the mushrooms to your soup."

Qu Ling showed strong interest, "Let's try and see if these two things combined can control a person's mind."

Yang Yi was shocked and suddenly covered his chest and began to convulse.