"The effects of the Beauty's Intoxication should wear off by now, Miss Liu!"

Yan An casually picked up a storybook from the table and started reading it.

How did you know?

Liu Ruyan stepped forward and grabbed Yan An's wrist tightly, her voice trembling. She had never told anyone about this before.

"Did Liu Xuening tell you? Was it that bitch?"

"Heh... Miss Liu, aren't you curious why Linglong Pavilion treats me with such respect?"

"Isn't it because of the Regent?"

It's because the Regent is real, but of course she won't admit it. If she did, it would obviously expose that Yue Xiyuan is the mastermind behind Linglong Pavilion.

"Hmph... Linglong Pavilion is not afraid of powerful and wealthy people. I am just the betrothed Regent's Consort. How could Linglong Pavilion treat me like this?"

Why is that?

Could it be that Yan An has another identity? If so, can Yan An still do business with me? If not, how can I avenge myself? But how can I kill Liu Xuening with my frail and aged body?

"Does this bottle of medicine look familiar, Miss Liu?"

Yan An took out a bottle of beauty cream from her sleeve and tossed it to Liu Ruyan.

Looking at the familiar bottle, which was exactly the same as the bottle of the beauty cream she had bought, a bad feeling welled up in Liu Ruyan's mind.

With trembling hands, I opened the bottle cap. That familiar scent... it was definitely it. Yan An was...

"You...you are Luo Zhi?"

Liu Ruyan was taken aback at first, then her eyes trembled violently. She couldn't help but shake, and forced a bleak smile as she asked that question.

"Miss Liu is quite clever. Back then at Yue Lai Ke, when you saw that I wouldn't give you a private room, you drugged me. I, of course, sought revenge for my grudges, which is why I gave you the powder that caused your face to break out in rashes. You paid for the beauty cream at Linglong Pavilion, and that settled our score. But I never expected that you would be tricked by Liu Xuening and have your face disfigured. After I rescued you, you could have recovered after applying the cream, although some dark scars would have remained on your face. It's just a pity that you were too greedy and fell for the villain's scheme. You're clever, but what you did was so stupid."

These events, spoken by Yan An, were like a thunderclap, shattering Liu Ruyan's reason into pieces.

"It's you! It's all because of you!" Liu Ruyan's eyes were filled with anger and remorse as she pointed at Yan An, her voice trembling.

“It’s me, and it’s not me. This princess is never one to provoke others. But if someone is so shameless as to seek death and provokes me, this princess has no reason not to see them off. Miss Liu, don’t you agree?”

Liu Ruyan felt utterly hopeless; the world before her seemed to collapse in the blink of an eye.

A chill emanating from Yan An surged up Liu Ruyan's spine, causing her hair to stand on end and her whole body to tremble uncontrollably.

“Miss Liu, you only have three days left to live. The person in front of you is someone you hate to the core. It’s impossible for you to settle accounts with me now. So, I wonder if Miss Liu would like to make some deals with this princess?”

Luo Zhi was indeed someone she wanted to get rid of day and night. A few hours ago, she learned that she only had three days left to live, and she was half-believing, half-doubting. Now that Luo Zhi was saying the same thing, she was truly doomed...

"Am I... really beyond saving?"

"yes!"

"I still want to do business with Princess An."

Yan An just said all this to test Liu Ruyan, to see if she genuinely wanted to do business with her, or if she was scheming against her. At this moment, it seems that Liu Ruyan hates Liu Xuening many times more than she hates her.

"Since Miss Liu puts it that way, then tell me, what kind of business does Miss Liu want to do?"

"Yesterday, I sent my maid out secretly to buy some more 'Beauty's Wine,' but since I only had a few taels of silver, Yunlai Pavilion wouldn't sell me a single drop. On her way back, the maid ran into Prince Xiao and Liu Xuening at Zuiyue Pavilion. I felt something was amiss, so I secretly went to Liu Xuening's courtyard that night and stumbled upon Prince Xiao's personal guard, Zebin, plotting with Liu Xuening. I didn't get close, but I saw Zebin give Liu Xuening a small packet of something. The packaging seemed to be medicine from Yunlai Pavilion. The two of them whispered for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. I vaguely heard them mention your birthday and Prince Xiao, and something about becoming the Regent after the matter was settled. I guessed they were planning to do something to you on your birthday."

"Miss Liu's information is incomplete. So, is Miss Liu planning to use these few words to make a deal with this princess?"

"I……"

"However, it doesn't matter. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Although we have some grudges, I am a kind-hearted princess and can let it go. So I will help you this time, which can be considered as fulfilling the wish of a dying person."

What do you mean by fulfilling the wishes of a dying person? Someone wants to harm her and has their eyes on Yue Xiyuan. How could she possibly let Liu Xuening and Yue Zhixiao go?

This is getting interesting. She's even a little curious about what kind of medicine Yue Zhixiao is going to use to scheme against her.

"You're willing to help me?"

Liu Ruyan's pupils trembled, and she stared at Yan An with surprise in her eyes.

"Since you say they're plotting against me, helping you is helping me. So tell me, what do you want in return?"

"I want Liu Xuening dead."

Liu Ruyan's eyes burned with fury, her violent black eyes flashing with a beastly ferocity, as if she wanted to tear Liu Xuening to pieces and kill her immediately.

"It's a bit difficult to make her die silently now, but we can use Yue Zhixiao to deal with her. If you can trust me, you can use this medicine first. It will keep you healthy for ten days. After ten days, you can leave this world with dignity. Soon after, I can let Liu Xuening go down to the underworld to accompany you."

Liu Ruyan trembled as she took the medicine bottle. Could this medicine allow her to leave with dignity? She wouldn't have to die like this. At this moment, Liu Ruyan even felt a sliver of hope that sneaking out today was the right thing to do.

"I believe you. Thank you, Princess An, for not holding my previous foolish actions against me."

"Miss Liu, you're exaggerating. It's just a matter of mutual exploitation. On my birthday, I still hope to watch a good show with you."

"Thank you, Princess An. I will do my best to celebrate Princess An's birthday. I will take my leave now."

Of course, she wanted to see Yan An deal with Liu Xuening with her own eyes, but now how could she get Liu Youlin to let her go?

After all, Liu Youlin had completely abandoned her. The kick Liu Youlin gave her mother left her with a chronic illness, and her health deteriorated day by day.

Liu Youlin ignored the mother and daughter, allowing the servants to bully them. She was no longer the eldest daughter of the Minister's mansion.

"This medicine is called the Cultivation Pill. Ordinary people can take it to strengthen their bodies, and martial artists can take it to increase their internal energy. However, I have tampered with this medicine. It will have an immediate effect after you take it, but after a month you will experience physical weakness, and within half a year you will lose all your internal energy and be on the verge of death. There is no cure and no way to verify it. Do you want it?"

Yan An took out a bottle of medicine from her sleeve. She was certain that Liu Ruyan would want this medicine.