Chapter 17: Drawing the Snake Out of Its Hole—Caught Red-Handed
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In Wang Feifei’s courtyard, there was a sharp crack.
A fine celadon teacup was smashed violently onto the ground, shattering into pieces.
“Deduct three months’ allowance from me?”
Wang Feifei’s gaze was filled with bitterness.
“She’s slapping me in the face!”
Her trusted attendant, Granny Li, bowed deeply, barely daring to breathe.
“Madam, please calm down. As for the matriarch…”
“Matriarch?” Wang Feifei sneered coldly. “That old lady has been deceived by that little wretch too! Selling off the dowry—she’s stabbing me straight in the heart!”
She paced back and forth, her chest rising and falling violently.
One careless mistake had brought her to this state.
Not only had the servants’ attitudes toward her changed, even Ye Chengzong had grown distant.
No, she could not wait any longer.
If that little wretch continued to act recklessly, the Ye household would soon have no place for her.
Wang Feifei suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She turned sharply and fixed her gaze on Granny Li.
“How many years have you served me, Granny?”
Granny Li’s heart trembled, and she immediately knelt.
“I have served since childhood, mistress. My life belongs to you.”
“Good. I only trust you.”
She reached into the bottom of her makeup box and took out a small package.
She pressed the paper-wrapped bundle into Granny Li’s palm.
“This time, don’t use those shameful means anymore.”
Granny Li’s palm grew heavy.
She knew exactly what was inside.
“Madam, if this is discovered…”
“Then make sure it’s done cleanly,” Wang Feifei leaned close and whispered word by word into her ear. “Make her die of illness—plausible and reasonable so no one can find fault. Once it’s done, I’ll secure a steward position for your son in the estate outside the city.”
Granny Li replied, “Your servant… will obey.”
…
Ye Qingyan had just seen off Chen Huai’an when a young maid in charge of cleaning entered quickly, head bowed.
“Miss.”
“Speak,” Ye Qingyan said, not looking up as she wiped a dagger.
“I just heard a commotion in Lady Wang’s courtyard. She… she called Granny Li into the inner room and didn’t come out for a long time.”
The young maid’s voice trembled slightly.
“When Granny Li came out, her face was pale, and she seemed to be clutching something.”
Ye Qingyan paused her wiping.
She lifted her eyes, her gaze cold and clear.
“Understood. You may go now. Don’t mention tonight’s events to anyone.”
“Yes, Miss.”
The young maid felt as if forgiven a great sin and hurriedly left.
“System, Wang Feifei is about to make her move.”
“Hmph! Finally! Such a despicable creature dares to be my opponent?”
The system’s voice carried impatience and cruelty.
“I need a foolproof plan to ensure she can never rise again, with undeniable evidence.”
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“Undeniable evidence? How petty!”
The system’s voice was full of disdain.
“In my court, I disdain trickery and deceit. I only use grand, open strategies, the mighty authority of heaven crushing all!”
“So, what do you suggest?”
“Since you’re hopelessly dull and crude, I’ll grant you a treasure to help break the stalemate!”
As soon as the words fell, Ye Qingyan saw a flash of light before her eyes.
With a gentle ‘ding,’ an object materialized on the dressing table.
Ye Qingyan stared, stunned.
It was a copper mirror, palm-sized.
The craftsmanship was exquisite, the back carved with intricate dragon patterns, the mirror polished to a brilliant shine, clearly reflecting her face.
“This…”
“Your Majesty, is this the treasure you mentioned?”
“This is the ‘Eye of the Sovereign’! It can see through hearts, discerning loyalty and treachery!” The system’s voice was proud.
Ye Qingyan held the copper mirror up to the candlelight, the light reflecting clearly onto the opposite wall, forming a bright spot.
She could hardly help but laugh inwardly—wasn’t this just a reflector?
Wait… reflection?
A spark flashed through Ye Qingyan’s mind.
Perhaps this ‘Eye of the Sovereign’ really was somewhat useful.
…
The next day, news spread through the household.
Miss Ye Qingyan had caught a slight cold and felt unwell. She had sought out a wandering renowned doctor who provided an ancient prescription that she needed to personally brew and take daily in her small kitchen.
When Wang Feifei heard this, she only sneered coldly.
“Sick? Fine, let her be sick forever.”
She held her troops back, only instructing Granny Li to wait for the right moment.
For three days straight, Ye Qingyan stayed indoors, only leaving at the prescribed times to brew the medicine in the little kitchen.
Unusually, she kept only a newly promoted second-class maid named Xiao Tao by her side.
Everyone said the young lady feared spreading her illness to others, sending even the most trusted Chun’er and Xia He off to other tasks.
On the fourth night, under a pitch-black sky with heavy clouds blocking the moonlight,
In the small kitchen, the medicine pot bubbled quietly over a low flame.
Xiao Tao, who was supposed to watch the fire, had fallen asleep by the stove.
A shadow silently slipped into the kitchen.
It was Granny Li.
She had been observing for days and finally seized this godsend opportunity.
She glanced at the sleeping Xiao Tao, a savage smile twisting her face.
Such a useless wretch.
She quickly took out the oil-paper package from her bosom and carefully opened it, revealing a grayish-white powder.
Approaching the medicine pot, she was about to pour the entire powder in.
At that moment, a faint light suddenly shone from the dark beam above the kitchen.
Granny Li instinctively squinted.
The light fell precisely on the paper package in her hand, cleverly reflected toward a dark corner outside the courtyard.
Hidden in the shadows, Ye Qingyan held the copper mirror.
She adjusted the angle slightly, letting the reflected moonlight project the scene of poisoning with perfect precision into a pair of eyes beyond the courtyard wall.
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There, the matriarch and Ye Chengzong held their breath, watching intently.
In the mirror’s light, every detail of Granny Li’s poisoning was crystal clear.
The matriarch’s face instantly turned ashen, trembling with rage.
Ye Chengzong clenched his fists, eyes bloodshot with fury.
“Act!”
Ye Qingyan’s sharp command shattered the deep night’s silence.
Crash!
The kitchen door was flung open violently as Chen Huai’an burst in with several burly house guards.
“Seize her!”
Granny Li panicked, her hand trembling, dropping the poison package onto the floor, scattering the powder everywhere.
She tried to flee but was held down tightly by two guards, unable to move.
The matriarch and Ye Chengzong quickly entered, their faces darkening at the sight of the captured woman and the spilled poison.
“Li family servant! You have some nerve!”
The matriarch’s voice trembled with fury.
Granny Li collapsed weakly to the ground, her face ashen.
Caught red-handed.
She was finished.
She instinctively lifted her head, her gaze piercing through the crowd toward the deepest shadow in the courtyard.
Wang Feifei stood there, hidden behind the rockery, her heart sinking to the bottom of a valley.
Worthless!
A useless wretch who only causes trouble!
Granny Li also saw her, a last flicker of hope flashing in her eyes as she opened her mouth to scream.
Wang Feifei’s eyes instantly turned icy and ruthless.
She could not leave any witnesses!
She made an extremely subtle throat-slitting gesture toward a deeper shadow beside her.
Seeing this, Granny Li’s hope turned into bitter resentment.
She would drag Wang Feifei down with her!
“Y-yes…”
She barely uttered a syllable.
Whoosh!
A sharp whistling sound suddenly pierced the air!
A black hidden dart, tipped with a faint blue poison glow, shot out from the darkness behind the rockery, aimed straight at Granny Li’s throat!
How ruthless! They intended to silence her permanently!
Everyone was shocked!
Ye Qingyan stood right beside Granny Li!
Under the threat of death, Granny Li suddenly summoned great strength, wildly struggling.
Pfft!
With this struggle, her body jerked sharply to one side.
The poison dart that should have pierced her throat changed trajectory at a razor-sharp angle, grazing her neck.
The arrowhead gleamed coldly, now aimed directly at Ye Qingyan, who was momentarily stunned by the sudden turn of events.