"What's wrong, Wu?"
Xu Fu asked, but Wu was lying on the bed, trembling even more violently. As soon as Xu Fu stood up, Wu suddenly drew her sword with a swish and rushed out the door.
Xu Fu, confused, immediately followed. Wu walked alone down the street, and then, upon reaching a certain spot, followed someone into an alley.
Xu Fu quickly caught up.
"Wait, I'll give you money..."
With a swish, Wu's sword pierced the man's chest, and he immediately collapsed in a pool of blood.
"What are you doing?"
Xu Fu shouted, then quickly covered his mouth, his whole body shaking.
The anxiety vanished from Wu's face. She crouched down and deftly rifled through the dead man's pockets, taking his money.
"A sword, if it doesn't kill, will rust over time."
Wu spoke coldly, her face regaining its composure. As Xu Fu watched her pass by, a wave of dread washed over him.
The next day, Xu Fu anxiously waited in the room. The palace maid named Lily Xiao went out daily to buy supplies for the palace. Previously, Xu Fu and his son relied on Lily Xiao for information about the king and queen, bribing her for information. She was greedy, willing to do anything for money.
Around noon, Xu Fu heard two footsteps approaching.
"Sir, what do you need from this humble maid..."
The maid had barely finished speaking before she was about to scream, but Wu clamped her mouth shut, pressing the jagged blade against her throat in a chilling threat.
"Lily Xiao, don't panic. I'm not dead."
Xu Fu dropped his disguise and gave a sly grin at Lily Xiao. After a while, she finally calmed down.
After some questioning, Xu Fu learned that Lily Xiao now served a concubine who was not favored by the Deposed King of Qiland.
"Take this."
Lily Xiao cheerfully accepted the ten gold coins Xu Fu handed her, bowing repeatedly in thanks.
"This money is for you to use as funds to switch allegiances if you need. If things go well, I'll give you two hundred gold more."
Xu Fu spoke, and Lily Xiao stared at him in disbelief.
After confirming which concubine King Tianjian currently favored most, Xu Fu leaned in close to Lily Xiao's ear and whispered for a long while.
"No way, I can't do this kind of thing. Xu Fu, you'd better..."
"Three hundred gold..."
Lily Xiao fell silent, swallowing nervously, though hesitation still lingered on her face.
"Four hundred gold..."
Just as Lily Xiao was about to speak, she closed her mouth again. Xu Fu glanced at Wu, who immediately pressed the broken sword against Lily Xiao's neck.
"You've heard, haven't you? The previous thirty-one people all died at the hands of the one behind you. This price is more than fair—enough for you to retire in comfort and find a good husband. Or do you plan to end up a cold corpse?"
Xu Fu's threat worked. Lily Xiao agreed without hesitation.
"When you get back, if you think about betraying us, you'd better think twice."
After Lily Xiao left, Xu Fu let out a long sigh of relief and immediately sent Wu to buy some medicinal herbs he needed.
At that moment, another rumor spread through the city: the Queen Dowager's cousin, Victor Hou, had gained King Tianjian's favor.
That night, Xu Fu was in his room mixing medicines. His plan was simple: have Lily Xiao poison King Tianjian's favorite concubine, Lady Grace, a little each day. When the time was right and Lady Grace fell ill, the palace doctors would be helpless. Then, Xu Fu would spread word that the Lin Clan could cure her.
Everything was going smoothly. On the fifth day, Lily Xiao came by—she had successfully transferred to serve Lady Grace, King Tianjian's favored concubine. In the palace, Lily Xiao was the type who never offended anyone, always flattering and staying out of trouble. She had a sweet tongue, but Xu Fu had seen through her long ago: she was vicious to the core.
"Well, Xu Fu, I've already drugged her for you. What more do you want? Isn't it a bit much to come find me every day? What if..."
Suddenly, Xu Fu hugged Lily Xiao and laughed, then said:
"Lily Xiao, back in the palace, I always had my eye on you."
After a bout of passion, Lily Xiao smiled and left. Xu Fu was drenched in sweat, but his face was anything but happy.
"Is it done?"
Wu asked, and Xu Fu smiled.
After that, Lily Xiao would occasionally come to meet Xu Fu in secret. With his natural charm and smooth words, Xu Fu had Lily Xiao completely under his control.
A month later, the news everyone expected finally arrived: King Tianjian's favored concubine had fallen ill. Her limbs were weak, she sweated profusely, and soon many doctors, terrified, planned to leave, but the city gates were quickly sealed.
Everyone knew in their hearts, after what happened to the Queen Dowager, no one dared to treat this illness.
Still, some doctors were dragged into the palace to diagnose her. That day, Lily Xiao seized the opportunity, rushed out, and nervously found Xu Fu.
"Xu Fu, the doctor said Lady Grace was poisoned. What do we do? What do we do..."
Xu Fu looked quietly at Lily Xiao and then hugged her.
"It's fine. Don't go back. I'll take you away. It'll be okay..."
With a slash, the broken sword pierced Lily Xiao's heart. Wu wiped the blood off the blade with a cloth, while Xu Fu stared coldly at Lily Xiao, saying nothing.
"You're truly wicked, sharing a bed with her for days. Heh."
"She wasn't worthy to follow me."
Xu Fu said, and then Wu took out a sack and stuffed Lily Xiao inside.
That night, Wu found a garden in the city, buried Lily Xiao there, and left a note. It was the Lin Clan's garden.
Xu Fu waited quietly outside, his eyes filled with deep anger.
Rumors spread in the city: the Lin Clan had a way to cure Lady Grace's illness. Everything was going according to Xu Fu's plan. Sure enough, the Lin Clan was summoned by King Tianjian.
That night, Xu Fu took Wu to the Lin Clan. He had already instructed Adam Dale to prepare for their departure to Yan.
"Who is it?"
A servant opened the door. Xu Fu smiled.
"Tell your master, if he wants to cure Lady Grace, I have a way."
Xu Fu and Wu entered the Lin Clan smoothly. Dr. Henry Lin looked pale; as soon as they entered, he began asking questions and saying all the right things. Xu Fu brushed his hair aside.