Chapter 416 Falling into the Trap

"Snow, Madam Snow."

The maid's face was full of panic; it was obvious without even guessing that she had done something wrong.

"What are you doing?"

At this moment, Li Yingxue was so attracted by the aroma that she didn't have time to pay attention to the little maid's expression. She just kept looking in the direction of the stove.

The maid's face darkened further upon hearing this, and she stammered, "This is a tonic I brewed for our aunt."

"You're brewing tonics here? Do you think this is the kitchen?"

Before Li Yingxue could speak, Fei'er questioned her, pointing out that the place was secluded, not far from the front courtyard, and the small stove was clearly portable. Why couldn't they brew the tonic in the courtyard instead of choosing such a remote spot?

Li Yingxue was so focused on what was on the stove that she realized something was wrong after Fei'er reminded her.

"Tell me, what exactly are you doing?"

Li Yingxue's gaze turned cold as she tried to see what was on the stove, but the maidservant deliberately blocked it from view, and Li Yingxue couldn't see it clearly even after several attempts.

Of course, Li Yingxue could never have imagined that this thing was actually prepared for her. After all, in order to lure her over, the little maid had changed several deserted places before finally stopping here.

The young maid hesitated for a while, stammering and unable to speak.

Seeing this, Li Yingxue gave Fei'er a look, and Fei'er immediately understood and stepped forward to pull the little maid away. Then she saw a piece of meat-like thing being placed on a small stove. The meat was roasted by the fire and turned golden brown, making people swallow their saliva.

Why are you grilling meat here?

Li Yingxue's intuition told her that this meat was definitely not the kind of meat usually used in the kitchen. The aroma alone was very appealing. If she could take a bite...

Li Yingxue couldn't help but swallow hard. Fei'er turned to look at the little maid and said, "Aren't you going to tell the truth? We'll take you to His Highness the Crown Prince later and see how you try to deny it."

There is no Crown Princess in the Crown Prince's residence now, and only three women have been promoted to the rank of Lady. So the little maid knows without a doubt that as long as Li Yingxue takes her to see His Highness the Crown Prince, she will definitely be able to see him.

"Madam, I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong. Please, Madam, do not take me to see His Highness the Crown Prince."

The maidservant's mind raced, and she immediately knelt down and begged Li Yingxue for mercy.

"Then confess honestly!" Fei'er chimed in from the side. The little maid glanced back at Fei'er, then steeled herself and stopped hiding anything.

"Actually, this meat isn't ordinary meat. It's snow fox meat that my aunt got from somewhere. I heard that eating it can not only preserve your youth, but also make you smell like a fox and attract men."

The maid's voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, especially the phrase "attract men," which she barely hummed in her throat, but Li Yingxue and Fei'er still heard it.

"That's utterly despicable. No wonder His Highness has been so fond of her lately; she's resorting to such underhanded tactics."

The thought of that concubine's swaggering manner made Li Yingxue feel extremely annoyed. How dare she put on airs in front of her? She'd better see how she dealt with her.

"Fei'er, take the things and go see His Highness."

Li Yingxue was about to turn around when she spoke, but the little maid wouldn't let her leave. Wasn't her purpose in kneeling down and confessing precisely to get back to His Highness? If she took the things away again, wouldn't her goal be ruined?

"Madam, Madam, please, please don't tell His Highness the Crown Prince. Even if you tell him, our concubine will never admit it!"

As she spoke, the maid knelt down and hugged Li Yingxue's leg. Li Yingxue was heavily pregnant and naturally dared not break free, but threatened, "As long as you are willing to come with me to confess to His Highness, I will naturally beg His Highness to spare you."

Li Yingxue tried to appease the maid with this method, but the maid was not buying it at all. "Madam, as long as you are willing to let me go this time, I will send you a portion of fox meat every day. I just beg you not to take me to see His Highness."

The maid's eyes were full of earnestness, and Li Yingxue's originally firm heart wavered slightly upon hearing this.

Although this method is despicable, the meat is indeed of high quality, and the smell of the meat is so enticing that if Li Yingxue didn't still have some sense, she would have picked up the meat and taken a bite.

Seeing the change in Li Yingxue's expression, the little maid quickly pressed on, saying, "Madam, as long as you spare me this time, I will serve you like a slave from now on."

In a place like the Crown Prince's residence, you can lack everything, but you must have your own people. Li Yingxue had previously tried every means to place people in various places, but unfortunately, she didn't have enough money, so the people she could bribe were of little use.

After scanning the maid's face, Li Yingxue finally nodded in agreement.

"Since you've pleaded with me so earnestly, I'll keep it from His Highness the Crown Prince this time. But words alone aren't enough; how can I believe you?"

Li Yingxue had grown up in the Marquis's mansion, and although she wasn't as cunning as others due to her environment, scheming and intrigue were commonplace for her.

If she didn't have something in her hands, how could Li Yingxue have let the little maid go?

The maid wasn't stupid and naturally understood Li Yingxue's meaning. So she immediately took out a jade pendant from her bosom. "This is a token that my aunt gave me before, for me to use when negotiating outside. Now I'm handing it over to you, Madam, hoping to express my sincerity!"

Looking at the jade pendant, Fei'er immediately stepped forward, took it, and handed it to Li Yingxue.

"Alright, then you may leave!"

After examining the jade pendant, Li Yingxue noticed its color and quality, indicating it wasn't something a lowly maid could afford. She waved her hand, dismissing the maid. Although the maid looked at the piece of meat with great reluctance, she knew now wasn't the time for it, and left with a heavy heart.

Once the maid had gone far away, Li Yingxue could no longer resist. The meat looked so tempting that she gestured to Fei'er and immediately tore off a piece to eat.

The aroma made Li Yingxue squint her eyes, and in no time, she had devoured the meat.

Fei'er had been watching Li Yingxue from the side, and a cruel look gradually appeared in her smiling eyes.

Eat up, eat up, and soon you'll find out how what you eat can become your death warrant.

Li Yingxue finished the last bite of meat with satisfaction, glancing at the abandoned little stove, and took Fei'er back to her own courtyard.