Chapter 172 A Pledge of Allegiance? Murder

Late at night, in a secluded little house in the back.

Uya remained weak, lying on the hard bed.

The whip marks on my back were still excruciatingly painful, but the pain had lessened considerably after using the good medicine that Li Guiping had given me.

His complexion regained some color.

The door was gently pushed open, letting in a cool night breeze.

Uya turned her head alertly and saw Li Guiping's slender figure silently enter the room.

"Manager Li?"

Uya was somewhat surprised and struggled to sit up.

What brings you here?

"Lie still and don't move, be careful not to tear the wound."

Li Guiping's deep voice sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

He approached the bedside, observed Wuya's complexion in the dim light, and nodded.

"Hmm, the recovery is not bad."

Uya was filled with unease, wondering why the Empress's confidante had come so late at night.

I could only ask cautiously.

"Master Steward...is there something you need to tell me?"

Li Guiping stood by the bed, his face mostly shrouded in shadow, making his expression impossible to discern.

All that could be heard was his calm, unwavering voice.

"You don't need to panic. I'm here today to give you an opportunity, a real chance to join us, a chance for Her Majesty to trust you and use you."

He paused, lowered his voice even further, and conveyed an unquestionable tone.

"As the saying goes, you need a pledge of allegiance to join a partnership. We need to see your sincerity and capabilities before we feel comfortable cooperating with you and paving the way for you in the future. Otherwise, how can we know if you'll make a mistake later, or... betray us in the end?"

Uya was startled and quickly pledged her loyalty.

"This servant would not dare. This servant has absolutely no disloyalty to Your Highness and the Steward."

"I dare not return."

Li Guiping's tone was clear and indifferent.

"It doesn't mean you won't do it in the future, nor does it mean you have the courage and ability to be worthy of Her Majesty the Empress's cultivation."

He then changed the subject and got to the point.

"Perfect timing. You also hate our master and are thinking of revenge. After all, the princess is the emperor's own cousin, and her status is very important. If anything happens to her, we servants who serve her closely will definitely be guilty of neglecting our duties and will all have to be buried with her."

He leaned slightly forward, his voice hoarse and laced with a sinister edge.

"However, the old nanny by her side was too shrewd. Keeping her around would be a huge obstacle to our affairs and to your future revenge. So, we decided to get rid of this old nanny... She suddenly fell ill and died."

Uya's breath hitched, and her pupils contracted slightly.

kill?

Li Guiping actually wanted her to kill someone!

The one they killed was the old nanny who was most trusted by the princess!

Li Guiping seemed to see through her fear, his tone devoid of any emotion.

"Only after you do this and get blood on your hands can we truly consider you one of our own. This is your pledge of loyalty."

Uya's heart pounded, and her palms instantly became sweaty.

She assumed that Li Guiping's instruction was the Empress's.

On second thought, that makes sense. The Empress is a figure of great stature; if she wants to promote a pawn, she must have absolute control and complete trust in her.

She gritted her teeth, a ruthless glint in her eyes, and nodded forcefully in agreement.

"This servant...this servant understands. What do you require of this servant, Steward?"

Li Guiping seemed quite satisfied with her reaction.

He slowly took out a small package carefully wrapped in oiled paper from his sleeve and placed it beside Wuya's pillow.

"This medicine is called raw aconite."

Li Guiping's voice was as calm as if he were introducing an ordinary object.

"Colorless and odorless, it is ground into an extremely fine powder. Whether mixed into food or soup, or... through skin contact, it can slowly penetrate the body. If there are tiny wounds on the skin, absorption will be faster and the effect will be more significant."

He explained in detail.

"The initial symptoms are nothing more than numbness in the hands and feet, aversion to cold, and general weakness, which seem no different from a common cold. In the later stages, the condition will suddenly worsen, turning into palpitations, chest tightness, and rapid breathing, and eventually... a sudden death. Even if the imperial physician comes to examine him, he will only think that the old man is too old and weak, and a common cold has taken his life. No one will know."

Uya stared intently at the small packet of powder.

She felt as if the poison was surrounded by a bone-chilling cold, making her feel icy cold all over.

She harbored a deep fear of the ruthless and insidious methods employed in the palace.

There is also the expectation that completing the task will allow them to turn the tables and take control of their lives.

There was also a morbid excitement about the impending retaliation.

A mix of emotions, difficult to describe.

She reached out with trembling hands and clutched the packet of medicine tightly in her palm, as if she were holding her future destiny in her hands.

She calmed herself and tried to make her voice sound composed.

"I understand, Steward. Please rest assured, I will be careful and handle this matter thoroughly. Even if it is discovered, I will never implicate you or Your Highness."

Li Guiping nodded in satisfaction as he watched the fierce look gradually forming in her eyes.

"You're quite sensible."

He paused for a moment, then offered his advice seemingly casually.

"Since you're so sensible, I'll give you one more piece of advice: the best thing about this medicine is that it can seep into the skin quietly."

His tone carried a hint of playful suggestion.

"If you think about it carefully, you'll understand what I mean. I don't think we need to explain how to use the medicine again, do we?"

Skin penetration?

Uya immediately began to calculate in her mind.

Mixing it into food is too risky and would be easily noticed by others.

But if... this powder is mixed with some oil.

They secretly smeared it on the old woman's undergarments or bedding...

She is currently the head palace maid, responsible for managing her mistress's clothes and bedding, and arranging laundry.

Touching these intimate garments is incredibly easy.

Handling it every day, over time, wouldn't that...

A knowing glint flashed in her eyes, and she whispered...

"This servant knows what to do, thank you for your guidance, Steward."

Seeing that she understood, Li Guiping said no more.

"Alright, you'd better take good care of yourself. In a few days, we'll see you take action. Understand?"

His tone carried an undeniable urgency.

"The sooner you finish this task, the sooner you will become a master and get what you want."

After saying that, he didn't linger. His figure disappeared silently from the hut like a ghost, blending into the night outside.

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Inside the house, only Wuya remained.

She clutched the packet of raw aconite tightly, her heart pounding like a drum, a mixture of fear and a twisted excitement.

Dealing with a nanny, while risky, is much simpler than dealing with Lady Tongjia directly.

Although... that old woman seemed to have said a few words for her yesterday, showing a hint of pity.

But this is a palace that eats people.

Anyone who stands in her way to power or revenge can be ruthlessly discarded.

Those few words of comfort, though seemingly insignificant, are utterly meaningless in the face of overwhelming power and the flames of revenge.

She even maliciously thought that it would be wonderful if she could give this medicine to Tongjia.

But she also knew that Lady Tongjia was the emperor's cousin, and if she suddenly died, it would be a shocking case.

Under thorough investigation, her personal maid, who had recently been whipped and might harbor resentment, was the first to be suspected.

The only option is to get rid of this troublesome old man first, and then slowly plot after I've climbed up and gained a firm foothold.

But then I thought, if we let Tongjia die so easily, it would only benefit that slut.

Letting Tongjia also experience the excruciating pain of being unable to live or die would make her feel even more satisfied.

A cold glint flashed in Wuya's eyes, revealing a ruthless and determined spirit.

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