Chapter 3: The Imperial Gift of Crane's Crown Poison—Dear Concubine, Please Drink More
[The traitorous minister repeatedly behaved outrageously; his words and actions were disgraceful. A cup of “Crane’s Crown Poison” is hereby specially bestowed. By imperial decree!]
“No… elder brother, system elder brother! Your Majesty! I was wrong, I truly was!”
Jiang Tan pleaded frantically, “I have an elderly parent above and… oh no, I have no one to rely on, I’m weak and pitiful. Please show mercy. I will be a compliant subject from now on and never harbor treasonous thoughts again!”
The next moment, Jiang Tan felt something heavy in her hand—a warm, supple object suddenly appeared in her palm.
It was a exquisitely crafted white jade bowl, filled halfway with steaming soup.
The bright red broth contained plump goji berries and sliced red dates, emanating a rich, sweet fragrance mingled with herbal aromas.
“So this is the legendary deadly ‘Crane’s Crown Poison’? But why does it smell so delicious?”
Jiang Tan’s survival instinct clashed fiercely with her foodie instinct.
She carefully brought the “poison” bowl closer and lightly dipped her tongue on the rim to taste a tiny drop of the broth.
An unmistakably pure sweetness, flavored with red dates and rock sugar, exploded on her taste buds.
Jiang Tan was stunned. She tentatively asked, “Your Majesty… this Crane’s Crown Poison… it seems to taste sweet?”
The imposing voice in her mind fell silent. The silence stretched on for a full ten seconds, long enough for Jiang Tan to think the system might have crashed.
Just as she was about to taste again to confirm, the voice responded with a hint of embarrassed anger, stubbornly insisting:
“Hmph! This is an improved formula! How could worldly things compare to my imperial gift? My poison is no ordinary substance!”
A ridiculous yet unmistakably clear thought surged in Jiang Tan’s mind.
This system emperor might just be a half-baked counterfeit! This so-called tyrant’s lingering soul apparently lacks full capability and often makes such absurd mistakes.
The “Crane’s Crown Poison” bestowed was actually a genuine, nourishing red date and goji berry tonic soup!
Fear gave way to relief, accompanied by a spark of mischievous delight.
“Aunt Wang, and my dear father, your blessings are coming up ahead!”
Because she had “behaved disgracefully and offended her father,” Jiang Tan was sentenced to three days of house arrest in her dilapidated “Qingqiu Courtyard.”
On the second day of confinement, Aunt Wang, usually dignified, kind, and gentle, could no longer bear the worry and sent someone over immediately.
The visitor was Zhang Mama, Wang Feifei’s trusted servant.
“Miss, are you feeling better? Aunt Wang is anxious and restless in the room, worried sick. She specially asked this old servant to bring you some calming tonic. Please drink it while it’s hot.”
Zhang Mama’s face was filled with earnest concern, her triangular eyes darting about on Jiang Tan.
After being slapped by the master, Jiang Tan had become somewhat unhinged, babbling incoherently.
Aunt Wang sent her under the guise of a visit but really to confirm whether this troublesome legitimate daughter was truly mad.
Jiang Tan lowered her eyes and looked at the bowl of tonic Zhang Mama offered.
A calming tonic? Perhaps a brew to send one to eternal rest.
If it had been the original owner of the body, she might have just drunk it without hesitation.
But now, inside this body lived Jiang Tan, a comedic woman from the 21st century who had read the drama “Empresses in the Palace” a hundred times.
She lifted her head, revealing an innocent, carefree smile.
“Zhang Mama, you’ve come just in time!” Her voice was clear and bright, bubbling with excitement. “I just got something great and was worried there’d be no one to share it with!”
Ignoring the calming tonic in Zhang Mama’s hand entirely, she turned and pushed the exquisite white jade bowl of “Crane’s Crown Poison” toward Zhang Mama.
Zhang Mama’s gaze was immediately drawn to it, a trace of greed flashing in her eyes.
That white jade bowl looked worth a fortune. “Oh my, what a precious thing! It looks so valuable,” she flattered.
Jiang Tan smiled even more brightly, her face sincere and even a little proud as she said, “This is a celestial soup my mother sent me in a dream last night! It’s amazing!”
She lowered her voice mysteriously and whispered into Zhang Mama’s ear, “It’s called ‘Crane’s Crown Poison.’ My mother said it’s the best for health and can make one live to a hundred!”
“Crane’s… Crane’s Crown Poison?!”
Zhang Mama’s smile instantly froze.
How could she not have heard of “Crane’s Crown Poison”—the most infamous ancient poison throughout history?
Yet the person speaking was this supposedly mad young lady before her.
Her eyes were pure without a trace of deceit. Holding the calming tonic, Zhang Mama felt the bowl burning hot in her hands. Looking at the “Crane’s Crown Poison,” cold sweat trickled down her temple.
This young lady was clearly crazy. Could her words be trusted?
But what if she wasn’t mad and was testing her? No, she must be mad!
Taking poison for a tonic! But if the girl really flipped out and she, an old servant, did not comply, she would be no match here in Qingqiu Courtyard!
If word got out that a servant had provoked the mad mistress, even Aunt Wang couldn’t save her!
Zhang Mama forced a smile more painful than crying. “M-Miss, this… this is celestial soup, a gift from madam. I’m just a servant. How dare I drink your things? You should drink it yourself to recover your health.”
“Oh no, that won’t do!” Jiang Tan was insistent, her face stubborn like a child’s. “My mother said good things must be shared! You serve Aunt Wang every day and still come to see me—what hardship! You must drink first!”
She reached to pick up the “Crane’s Crown Poison.”
Zhang Mama was frightened and backed away, almost spilling the calming tonic. “No, no, Miss, you mustn’t!”
“Why not?” Jiang Tan’s smile vanished, replaced by hurt and obstinacy. She stomped her foot and raised her voice, “You won’t drink? Do you look down on my mother? Do you think the gift she sent is no good?!”
That accusation hit Zhang Mama’s legs like jelly.
To look down on the deceased original madam? If that got out, no words could save her.
Just as Zhang Mama was trapped in her dilemma, sweating profusely, Jiang Tan suddenly brightened.
She stopped forcing Zhang Mama and carefully picked up the white jade bowl of “Crane’s Crown Poison” herself.
Then, under Zhang Mama’s horrified gaze, she dashed out of the room like a gust of wind.
Zhang Mama’s heart skipped a beat, sensing trouble.
Sure enough, the next moment, Jiang Tan’s clear, filial cries echoed throughout the Jiang residence’s backyard.
“Aunt Wang—! Aunt Wang—!”
She ran while shouting loudly to ensure everyone could hear.
“I’ve brought you something good!!”
Her voice immediately caught the attention of all the servants inside and outside the courtyard.
Carrying the bowl of soup, she ran unhindered toward Wang Feifei’s splendid “Jinxiu Pavilion.”
“Aunt Wang! This is the Crane’s Crown Poison my mother gave me!”
“My mother said you’ve been overworking yourself with household affairs and look unwell lately.”
“This soup is the best tonic. You must drink more and carefully nourish your health!”
To an uninformed listener, this sounded like a touching gesture of filial piety from a dutiful legitimate daughter to her aunt.
But to those in the know, it was a death sentence in disguise!
The deceased original madam’s “gift” of “Crane’s Crown Poison” to the mistress of the house as a tonic?
What a “filial piety that moves heaven”!
At that moment, inside Jinxiu Pavilion:
“She’s been in her room all along, no crying or fussing, and apparently eating well.”
Wang Feifei sneered, “She’s just a fool. How could she cause any trouble?”
“Seems she really was dazed by the master’s slap. Zhang Mama should be back soon. Once she takes that calming tonic, she’ll sleep for three days and three nights without remembering a thing.”
No sooner had she spoken than Jiang Tan’s earth-shattering cries rang outside.
“Aunt Wang! I’ve brought you something good!”
“This is the Crane’s Crown Poison my mother gave me! You look unwell. You must drink more to nourish yourself!”
Wang Feifei’s face instantly darkened like iron. Angry and shocked, she sprang from her chair and rushed outside.
She stepped out just as Jiang Tan reached her courtyard gate.
“Aunt Wang!” Jiang Tan’s eyes shone even brighter, and she hurried up to her, forcibly shoving the bowl of “Crane’s Crown Poison” into Wang Feifei’s hands.
The warm bowl pressed into her palm, causing her body to stiffen.
Around them, servants peeked and whispered.
The grand spectacle of “The legitimate daughter’s madness and filial devotion to Aunt Wang” had officially begun.
Wang Feifei looked at the innocent smile on Jiang Tan’s face, then down at the bowl of “Crane’s Crown Poison” in her hands, a chill rushing from her feet to the crown of her head.